20070822 Edward Hopper: Poet of the ordinary

Edward Hopper: Poet of the ordinary

Posted Saturday, August 25, 2007

My Tentacle column for this past Wednesday, August 22, 2007 is on Edward Hopper: Edward Hopper: Poet of the ordinary

On a recent trip to Boston, I leapt at the opportunity to see the genius of Mr. Hopper, considered by many art historians to be one of the most influential, if not one of the most popular artists of the twentieth century.

Although shows in recent years have featured portions of his work, it was the Whitney in 1980 that put together the last major comprehensive retrospective show of his work, “Edward Hopper: The Art and the Artist,” took place at the Whitney. That show also toured London, Düsseldorf, Amsterdam, San Francisco, and Chicago.

In 1999 an exhibition of fifty-six watercolors from 1923 until the mid-1940s debuted at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This was the work, painted in Gloucester and Cape Cod, which first caught the eye of the art world and collectors. Forty at the time, his watercolors that finally made him financial secure after struggling many years supporting himself as a teacher and a commercial illustrator.

Seventy of his paintings toured Europe in 2004. It traveled to Cologne, Germany and the Tate Modern in London England where published accounts have noted that in the three months it was exhibited, it was viewed by 420,000 folks becoming the second most popular in the history of the gallery.

[…]

The voyeuristic stark world of American Scene realist artist Edward Hopper was recently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston Massachusetts.

While the exhibit ranges extensively from Mr. Hopper’s early prints, watercolor landscapes and scene paintings, to his iconographic oil paintings, the exhibition focused on a 25-year period of peak artistic expression from 1923 to about 1948. The show distributed about 100 pieces of art, in chronological order across 8 gallery-rooms, including 12 prints, 34 watercolors, 48 oil paintings, and two of his “ledger” notebooks containing his sketches and notes.

Art from 39 public and 13 private collections has been brought together to give visitors the opportunity to listen carefully for the “poetry” of Mr. Hopper’s otherwise famously spare, mute landscapes, blunt geometrics and austere interiors in which the beauty is in the common place, the unexpected, and the unexceptional.

[…]

The Tate restates that one of the many reasons Mr. Hopper remains relevant today is that he has “inspired generations of artists, writers, and filmmakers including David Hockney, Mark Rothko, Alfred Hitchcock, Todd Haynes, and Norman Mailer.”

Coinciding with the National Gallery of Art show will be yet another Hopper-inspired work of art - an opera, “Later the Same Evening: an opera inspired by five paintings of Edward Hopper,” by renowned composer John Musto and librettist Mark Campbell.

The opera will be performed November 15-18, 2007 at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, and December 2, 2007 at The National Gallery of Art

Additionally, the artistic impact of Edward Hopper’s work is the subject of a new documentary film that accompanies the exhibition.

It is narrated by actor, writer, and Hopper art collector Steve Martin and produced by the National Gallery of Art. In the Washington area, the documentary will be shown on WETA Channel 26 on Thursday, September 6 at 10:30 p.m. and in the Baltimore area on MPT Channel 67 on Sunday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Read the entire column here: Edward Hopper: Poet of the ordinary

The Carroll County Arts Council is sponsoring a bus trip on September 25 to experience this must-see event in this year’s fall art calendar. Call the Arts Council at 410/848-7272 for details.

Mr. Hopper’s art may have been relatively mute in its spare commentary yet it continues to inspire the viewer to lend their own story to each enigmatic piece and artists in other media continue to add an interpretation of their own. The National Gallery exhibition is a must see event in this fall’s art and culture calendar.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com and Winchester Report.

20070822 Westminster Eagle Week in Review

Westminster Eagle Week in Review

Posted Saturday, August 25, 2007

2007 Carroll County Public Schools School Bus Schedules

Kevin E. Dayhoff

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County fair emerged with Carroll's agricultural awareness
In researching the predecessor to what we now know as the Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair -- which began in Taneytown in 1897 -- some folks have suggested that there was once a "fairground" at the site of the current Carroll County Regional Airport.

Well, perhaps they are partially right. Historic... [Read full story]

Local News

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Carroll County fair ambassador heads to state stage
As the 2007 Carroll County Farm Bureau Ambassador, Sarah Rawlings handed out ribbons to all the livestock winners at this month's 4-H and FFA Fair and posed in all the photos during the livestock auction.

Now that the fair is over, the 17-year-old will represent the farm bureau on a larger stage, ... [Read full story]

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City parks, trail earn POS funds

A ramp replacement, a new playground and an extension to Wakefield Valley Trail are all projects in Westminster that have been approved to receive Program Open Space money from the state.

The projects are approved for a total of $209,893 from POS, designated to Westminster through Carroll ... [Read full story]

Business Briefs

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Taking a dive in Carroll

It may seem odd to some people that scuba divers from all over the state come to Carroll County to dive.

George Carter doesn't find it curious at all.

In fact, he counts on it.

Carter has been diving professionally for more than 20 years and is co-owner of Undersea Outfitters located in Finksburg. What is it about Carroll County that attracts divers from all over the state?

One draw is Hyde's Quarry, located between Westminster and New Windsor off of Route 31. The quarry has been a staple of the diving scene for years, presenting a training ground for fledgling divers as ... [Read full story]

Focus on People

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Focus on People

Carroll CAP has pivotal role in Tri-Wing event

Twenty-six members of the Carroll Composite Squadron joined some 250 Civil Air Patrol cadets and officers from as far away as Nevada and Michigan at the annual Tri-Wing Encampment, held at Camp Fretterd in Reisterstown, July 28-Aug. 5.

The Tri-Wing ... [Read full story]

Opinion

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Carroll County's school year starting on a strong note

Editorial

Carroll County Public Schools will open on Aug. 27 on a high note after learning last week that every school in the county met federal guidelines in the most recent round of standardized testing in math and reading.

Every school in the system made the benchmarks for "adequate yearly pr... [Read full story]

For Better or Worse

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My relationship with wildlife is something to bee-hold
Doug was leaning back on the sofa, engrossed in something on his laptop screen, when I burst through the door off the deck and made a mad dash for the freezer.

"Ow ow ow ow ow ow!" I yelled. I needed an ice cube and I needed it fast.

"It's like living with a 5-year-old," Doug sighed. He sat forw... [Read full story]

Wolf at the Door

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Throwing a wrench, and a little soup, into match making
Recently I happened to read a column written by two young people about their reaction to dating and their advice to others.

I loved the column -- if simply to muse how wrong they were!

"Dear Abby" I'm not, but nevertheless, for those of you looking for a soul-mate, I believe I have some advice.<... [Read full story]

Culleton on Carroll

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Carroll has to stop growing homes and start growing jobs
First, there was the prediction from some regional planning council or other that Carroll was to be the fastest growing county in the next decade.

Next, there was the presentation by our own Economic Development Director Larry Twele that military base realignments would bring more than 400 new hou... [Read full story]

Community Calendar

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Community Calendar

ARTS

The Carroll County Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., will host its annual Members Art Show, Aug. 16-Sept. 29 in the center's Tevis Gallery. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Wednesday; Thursday until 8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more details, call the center at ... [Read full story]

[Local news archives]

Caution: Busy on Board

Van Parys balances hectic schedule as student and school board member

Topics of conversation for new high school seniors these days might be summer vacations, breaks from homework and early plans for homecoming.

But last week, Liberty High School senior Rachel Van Parys was instead focusing on the environment, dress codes and "constructive possession."

These are the things the 16-year-old has to think about as she prepares for her year representing fellow students as the student member of the Carroll County Board of Education.

"I'm pretty excited," she says.

Van Parys... [Read full story]

Local News Saturday, August 25

School system again calling all volunteers
During the past school year, the Carroll County Public School system benefited from the support of 15,609 registered volunteers who collectively provided 113,710 hours of service.

"They make countless things happen," said Jane Farver, coordinator of the Carroll County Public Schools volunteer prog... [Read full story]

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News Briefs

Shepherd's Staff collects for prescriptions

Carroll County's Shepherd's Staff wants to give you a pig.

As part of the nonprofit's effort to support county residents in need, Shepherd's Staff is seeking business owners to help the group raise money for its prescription assistance program.

The "... [Read full story]

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City parks, trail earn POS funds

A ramp replacement, a new playground and an extension to Wakefield Valley Trail are all projects in Westminster that have been approved to receive Program Open Space money from the state.

The projects are approved for a total of $209,893 from POS, designated to Westminster through Carroll ... [Read full story]

More Headlines Back-to-School 2007-08

Kevin E. Dayhoff

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Bergman: Closing credit for a master of cinema
On July 30, 2007, the acclaimed, enigmatic Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, passed away at age 89.

Bergman's genius is the source of an endless fascination for me. He was born in Uppsala, Sweden, a small college town on July 14, 1918. He drew much of his inspiration by attempting to figure out th... [Read full story]

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Agriculture in Carroll has always been 'fair' game

The 2007 Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair drew to a close last Saturday as herds of folks flocked to pack up and clean up the grounds of the Carroll County Agriculture Center.

It's another successful fair for the history books.

Late last Friday evening, Andy Cashman -- the fair's overall livestoc...
[Read full story]

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Song of the South: No grits, no glory

Recently, my family ventured on our annual sojourn south. It's a combination family reunion and vacation, as folks rendezvous from literally all over the world to a house with its very own ZIP code in Nags Head, N.C.

Many are aware of North Carolina's Outer Banks as a family values-oriented destin... [Read full story]

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Barnes keeps adapting to meet changing needs of law enforcement

Westminster Police Department Captain Randy D. Barnes, 50, graduated on June 8 from the 229th session of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

The Westminster mayor and Common Council recognized Captain Barnes at the last council meeting.

Westminster Common Council president Roy ... Read full story]

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More Headlines Carroll working to save and share 'Our Barn'

Commissioners should start 'coffin' up cash on 144-year-old debt

Helen Thomas to speak at McDaniel College

Like the ever-ready bunny, at age 86, the "The First Lady of the Press," Helen Thomas soldiers-on in what many understand to be her single-minded mission to save the nation, even if she needs to do it all by herself.

A celebrated author, member of the White House Pres Corps, former United Press International reporter, and currently a Hearst newspaper columnist, Helen Thomas is slated to lecture at McDaniel College in Westminster Thursday evening, April 12.

In an era when the challenges faced by our nation are debated 24 hours a day by partisan talking heads well tra... [Read full story]

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Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook
On March 2, Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy in Keymar announced that after 50 years in operation, it would close on March 9.

The closing comes in the wake of the death of one of the students on January 23.

Since the closing was announced, many Carroll Countians have rallied in sup... [Read full story]

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A sordid saga of communists, reservoirs, congressman, and pumpkins
Contrary to what is being circulated; the Union Mills reservoir project in Carroll County will add another layer of protection to the site of the “pumpkin papers,” and this national treasure is not threatened.

Recently the old Whittaker Chambers “pumpkin patch&... [Read full story]

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Who was Oriana Fallaci?

Who was Oriana Fallaci? On September 15, Oriana Fallaci, the Italian lioness of letters, died of cancer.

Although Ms. Fallaci was one of the world’s greatest artists of letters; she is today, relatively unknown in the United States.

A prolific – quite controversial - journalist and existential writer with an aggressive and indefatigable approach to life, she had been shot several times and left for dead, had torrid affairs and put on trial.

She never skipped a beat.

Born in Italy on June 29, 1929 Ms. Fallaci served in the fascist resistance ... [Read full story]

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More Headlines

“The Wizard of Oz”
Local news coverage, in Spanish, of the tragic accident in Westminster
Former Texas Governor Ann Richards has died
The Carroll County Wormseed Story
IN HIS OWN WORDS: Larry Haines’ experience growing wormseed
Carroll County Maryland Vietnam Memorial Park, Westminster
On Memorial Day, Freddy Magsamen is No. 11 in our hearts
Flower & Jazz Festival Kicks Off the Spring Event Season in Westminster
IN HIS OWN WORDS: An Interview with Carroll Budget Director Ted Zaleski, part 6
IN HIS OWN WORDS: An Interview with Carroll Budget Director Ted Zaleski, part 5
IN HIS OWN WORDS: An Interview with Carroll Budget Director Ted Zaleski, part 4
IN HIS OWN WORDS: An Interview with Carroll Budget Director Ted Zaleski, part 3
IN HIS OWN WORDS: An Interview with Carroll Budget Director Ted Zaleski, part 2
IN HIS OWN WORDS: An Interview with Carroll Budget Director Ted Zaleski, part 1
Feedback on Westminster budget? Here's mine
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: an interview with Commissioners Minnich and Jones, part 1
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: an interview with Commissioners Minnich and Jones, part 2
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: an interview with Commissioners Minnich and Jones, part 3
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: an interview with Commissioners Minnich and Jones, part 4
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: an interview with Commissioners Minnich and Jones, part 5
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: an interview with Commissioners Minnich and Jones, part 6
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: an interview with Commissioners Minnich and Jones, part 7
Gordon Parks - An American Cultural Icon passes Away at 93
Community Leaders take action against underaged drinking
Carroll County Children’s Chorus Sing Spring

20070824 Quote of the day - Courage

Quote of the day – Courage

Friday, August 24, 2007

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I'll try again tomorrow."

Maryanne Radmacher Writer and artist

Thanks TC

20070823 Quote of the day - Gravitate

Quote of the day – Gravitate

Thursday, August 23^rd, 2007

Responsibilities gravitate to the person who can shoulder them.

Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) Writer and publisher

Thanks TC

20070813 Wall Street Journal: Karl Rove to Resign at the End of August

Wall Street Journal: Karl Rove to Resign at the End of August

Karl Rove to Resign at the End of August

By a WALL STREET JOURNAL Staff Reporter

August 13, 2007 4:00 a.m.

Karl Rove, President Bush's longtime political adviser, is resigning as White House deputy chief of staff effective Aug. 31, and returning to Texas, he said in an interview with Paul Gigot, editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page.

(See related editorial.) 'THE MARK OF ROVE'

Read the editorial by The Wall Street Journal's editorial page editor, Paul Gigot, on his interview with Karl Rove.

Mr. Rove, who has held a senior post in the White House since President Bush took office in January 2001, told Mr. Gigot …

Read the rest of the article here: Karl Rove to Resign at the End of August

The Wall Street Journal published the interview Monday.

RELATED ARTICLES AND BLOGS

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'The Mark of Rove'

Bush Invokes Executive Privilege

White House Won't Rule Out Eventual Pardon for Libby

House Democrats Issue New Subpoena

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118698747711695773.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news

20070531 Feeding time for the baby Robins

Feeding time for the baby Robins…

May 31^st, 2007

Several weeks ago we became the landlords to new tenants at our wildlife reserve here in the Westminster City Limits – a family of Robins decided to build a nest right outside our back door.

Today, I tried (once again) to get some pictures of Mr. (or Mrs.) Robin feeding their chicks…

I know very little about Robins. Although I have observed, what I have hypothecated to be, Mr. and Mrs. Robin trading places in tending to the eggs and the hatched chicks…

As an aside, I’ve always liked my digital camera – although I at first, reluctantly let go of my old professional grade Konica camera equipment.

Rarely have I missed the old Konica equipment – until moments like this… With my old Konica film camera I could zero in on Mr. and Mrs. Robin as if you were standing inches away from them.

Not so, with the current grade of point-and-shoot digital equipment that I have – “Nikon Coolpix 5200,”

So I guess now that I have truly discovered the drawbacks of the current grade of equipment – I either need to go out and purchase an upgrade – or what I may very well do; and that is - - go upstairs in the attic and dig out my old equipment…

Anyway – enjoy the pictures.

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Animals Birds

20070424 Ozzie and Harriet

"Ozzie and Harriet"

Posted April 24, 2007

The adventures of America’s favorite family, Ozzie, Harriet, David and Ricky Nelson.

I don’t know when this episode aired. The show “Ozzie and Harriet” appeared on ABC from 1952 to 1966.

This episode features a commercial for the Kodak Brownie Starmatic camera.

In this episode Dave, Ricky and Wally go horseback riding at the Lazy K Stables…

Check out the car as they leave the house to travel to the stable.

Wally rides a horse named Bertha. His mounting technique is well, unique…

And check out the riding instructor.

It would be luck that I would end up taking lessons from “Hank,’ the other riding instructor.

They decide that perhaps they need some additional horseback riding instructions… But not from George or Bill or Bob…

Well, watch the clip and smile broadly at era long since gone by.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MC8U_vlq-A

Yeah, for all my nieces and nephews who read the blog, this was TV when your uncle was growing up.

Of course, this is the other side of your uncle:

Ozzy Osbourne-Dreamer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbJqswLi3uE

For the lyrics, it’s my favorite Ozzie song…

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20070424 The Washington Post Sleuth

The Sleuth - Mary Ann Akers

Compilation as of Tuesday, April 24^th, 2007

Posted at 2:15 PM ET, 04/24/2007

Kucinich Halts Impeachment Hunt Against Cheney

UPDATE, 3:45 p.m. ET: Kucinich now plans to hold his news conference announcing articles of impeachment against the vice president at 5 p.m. ET today. (Kucinich was in the Speaker's Lobby off the House chamber just moments ago personally handing out press releases announcing that the big event is back on.) Let's hope Cheney doesn't have a dental appointment or anything between now and then!...

Open Government, What Open Government?

UPDATE, 4:00 P.M. ET: After the letter circulated widely on the Internet, Rep. Obey changed his mind and will now allow cameras into the conference committee proceedings. Original Post: Radio and television reporters who cover the House aren't so pleased with Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (Calif.) notion of transparency. After the Democrats won control of the House, Pelosi promised to make Congress "the most open...Congress in...

Rich Little Bravely Answers Washington's Call

Most people who endured Rich Little's performance at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner Saturday night had the same reaction ... bless his heart. Rich Little brought his presidential voices to Washington on Saturday night. (Getty Images) Bless his heart for getting trapped in a time warp that won't let him escape 1981. (The man is still hinging his act on Richard "Tricky Dick" Nixon...

White House Dinner: Stomping Ground

Tomorrow's White House Correspondents' Association Dinner is shaping up to be a Republican presidential primary cattle show. The most bizarre cattle show ever, considering the side attractions include the singing, faux-hawked pop culture icon Sanjaya and oh-so-last century icons Jane Fonda and Rich Little, who's emceeing the event. While none of the major Democratic presidential contenders are taking a break from campaigning to attend the...

Congressman Hits on Actress Kerry Washington

Who knew that a Congressman's funding request for sewer projects in his district could be so... so sexy? When Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) went before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Thursday, he found himself appealing instead for the affection of famed silver screen beauty Kerry Washington. Washington, who starred in "Ray" and "The Last King of Scotland" among other films,...

Rummy and Newt, War and (In)Fidelity

Donald Rumsfeld and Newt Gingrich have more in common than being out of power. They're both apparently fans of the legendary German composer Richard Wagner (that's pronounced VAHG-ner, while lifting your head and looking down your nose).

Rummy and Newt were spotted Tuesday night - separately - at the Kennedy Center enjoying Placido Domingo's stirring performance in Die Walkure, the second of four operas that make up Wagner's Ring cycle.

Brownback Wins This Week's Fundraising "Award"

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) has won this week's Most Outrageous Fundraising Solicitation award. In an email to potential supporters today, Brownback, who is running for president, prays for the families of those killed in the Virginia Tech shooting tragedy, then segues to Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling on partial birth abortion, and then - you guessed it - to...

Romney: In the Bunker on Shooting Incident

It seems Mitt Romney, who's been working hard of late to establish his pro-gun bona fides, is the only major presidential candidate whose campaign web site does not prominently feature the candidate's reaction to the Virginia Tech massacre. Others have made the incident front and center on their web sites. Take, for example, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. The very first thing you see...

Articles of Impeachment To Be Filed On Cheney

Looks like he's reached his boiling point.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), the most liberal of the Democratic presidential candidates in the primary field, declared in a letter sent to his Democratic House colleagues this morning that he plans to file articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney.

Kucinich has made ending the war in Iraq the central theme of his campaign. He has even taken aim at the leading Democratic presidential candidates in the field for their votes on authorizing the war.

Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to impeach the president, vice president and "all civil Officers of the United States" for "treason, bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

Bush Administration: Breakdown

Is this is a metaphor for something? Congressional oversight committees and reporters covering the U.S. attorneys firing scandal waited with bated breath Thursday night for yet another huge document drop revealing more details in the Bush administration's plan to fire eight U.S. attorneys. They waited, and waited. But the documents weren't delivered to the House and Senate Judiciary committees until this morning because -- no...

Flacking the Good Flack

Here's a good one: Guess who's giving crisis communications advice on how Don Imus should have spun his way out of the derogatory slur he made about the Rutgers women's basketball team? Answer: the former spokesman for ex-Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), whose racist and sexist gaffes contributed to his downfall in the 2006 mid-term elections. That's right, Burns' former press secretary, Matt Mackowiak, is dispensing...

The Imus Factor

Finally, a meaty issue that divides Democratic presidential candidates -- Don Imus. To shun or not to shun the embattled radio show host for uttering some demeaning remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team, that is the question. Sen. Chris Dodd(D-Conn.), who announced his presidential candidacy on "Imus in the Morning" instead of some place in his home state, won't rule out going on Imus's...

Race for the Golden Gavel

Two freshman senators are locked in a tight race over who will be class geek. Both Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) want to be the very first among their class of nine senators to win the Golden Gavel Award, which was created in the 1960s as an incentive to get wide-eyed new senators to learn the rules and procedures of the snootier...

Edwards Campaign Modifies Online Fundraising Practice

John Edwards's presidential campaign has modified its online fundraising approach to give visitors an "opt-out" option if they are just trying to send a sympathy note to Elizabeth Edwards about her cancer recurrence. The change reflects an apparent attempt to separate the handling of Mrs. Edwards's illness from the incessant need for money to fund her husband's campaign for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. The...

Biden Slams Sam Fox Recess Appointment

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (D-Del.) finally weighed in today on the Bush administration's surprise recess appointment of Sam Fox to be ambassador to Belgium. Democrats are outraged, arguing it is illegal for President Bush to use a recess appointment to install someone whose nomination was no longer even pending before Congress. Biden, who is running for president and was stumping in Iowa...

April 22, 2007 - April 28, 2007
April 15, 2007 - April 21, 2007
April 08, 2007 - April 14, 2007
April 01, 2007 - April 07, 2007
March 25, 2007 - March 31, 2007
March 18, 2007 - March 24, 2007
March 11, 2007 - March 17, 2007
March 04, 2007 - March 10, 2007
February 25, 2007 - March 03, 2007
February 18, 2007 - February 24, 2007
February 11, 2007 - February 17, 2007
February 04, 2007 - February 10, 2007
January 28, 2007 - February 03, 2007
January 21, 2007 - January 27, 2007

20070423 Welcome to the Carnival of Maryland 5

Welcome to the Carnival of Maryland 5

April 23rd, 2007

Welcome to the Carnival of Maryland 5 or what I have come to perhaps understand as the bi-weekly Maryland Blogger Alliance magazine of the mind.

All the articles are great and we’re sure that you will enjoy the variety and talent in each piece.

Table of Contents:

Article No. 1: “Delmarva Shorebirds 2007 home opener,” by Michael Swartz writing on “Monoblogue,” Saturday, April 14^th, 2007

Article No. 2: “Three gentleman ducks” by The Ridger writing on “The Greenbelt,” Sunday, April 8^th, 2007.

And a bonus feature, a sequel from The Ridger’s article on Carnival Of Maryland 4 hosted by W. Crodhil on “Politics, Hon,” on April 8th, 2007: “The Redwings in the Park,” on April 2nd, 2007. The sequel is titled, “Nature Red in ... Beak and Shoulder?” which is dated April 11^th, 2007.

Article No. 3: “Baltimore's inner harbor” by Soccer Dad, writing on the web site, “Soccer Dad,” on Wednesday, April 18^th, 2007.

Article No. 4: “Guns guns guns…” by Robert C. Carter writing on the web site, “Escape from Pianosa,” on Saturday, April 21^st, 2007.

Article No. 5: “Maryland Voters Officially Irrelevant” by W. Crodhil, E.I.C. writing on “Politics, Hon,” on Wednesday, April 11, 2007.

Article No. 6: “20070422 Media Smackdown” by Kevin Dayhoff writing on “Kevin Dayhoff – Soundtrack Division of Old Silent Movies,” on Sunday, April 22^nd, 2007.

Sports Section:

Article No. 1: “Delmarva Shorebirds 2007 home opener,” by Michael Swartz writing on “Monoblogue,” Saturday, April 14^th, 2007

Mr. Swartz introduces the article by saying; “Just a slice of life on the Eastern Shore. Politics gets sort of boring after awhile, and I'm a big fan of my adopted hometown team!”

“… I had a good time watching the opener and getting back to baseball again. I also rectified an oversight from last year, now I’m a paid member of the Shorebirds Fan Club…”

Read the entire article here: Delmarva Shorebirds 2007 home opener. Enjoy the pictures and the enjoyable commentary…

Nature Section:

Article No. 2: “Three gentleman ducks” by The Ridger writing on “The Greenbelt,” Sunday, April 8^th, 2007.

And a bonus feature, a sequel from The Ridger’s article on Carnival Of Maryland 4 hosted by W. Crodhil on “Politics, Hon,” on April 8th, 2007: “The Redwings in the Park,” on April 2nd, 2007. The sequel is titled, “Nature Red in ... Beak and Shoulder?” which is dated April 11^th, 2007.

In the “Three gentleman ducks,” we’re introduced to three gentleman mallards, who are possible named Ping, Pong, and Po? “So here they are, Three Gentleman Mallards who hang out together in the park.”

One can only imagine what they were discussing?

See the pictures here: “Three gentleman ducks”

On April 2, we learned that “Last year there was a pair of redwings nesting in the cattails. This year - this past week - I've seen three males, chasing each other at times. Today, two of them were sitting in trees next to each other calling loudly, and the females were there…” In “Nature Red in ... Beak and Shoulder?” we learn that “the redwings have a winner ... he got the prime real estate ...”

The Ridger then introduces us to “a duel between cardinals.”

Catch the great pics here: “Nature Red in ... Beak and Shoulder?”

Travel Section:

Article No. 3: “Baltimore's inner harbor” by Soccer Dad, (“With something like a 10-60 record as coach of my children's soccer teams why do I do it? Because I'm Soccer Dad!” – He can coach my nieces and nephews anytime – Winning may or not be everything but values are forever…) writing on the web site, “Soccer Dad,” on Wednesday, April 18^th, 2007.

In his article he has posted a number of pics “of Baltimore's Inner Harbor” from a “recent trip to the Maryland Science Center…”

And for a bonus Soccer Dad threw in a Westminster image, in a Brechtian mode of ironic distance, which is of “Ansel Adams meets Rainer Werner Fassbinder” quality. It is a must see photo (scroll to the bottom of the post…) – although it may take a few sessions with the GEICO Cavemen’s therapist to understand it.

[My favorite recent post by Soccer Dad is here: “My blog as refrigerator.”]

Political Commentary section:

Article No. 4: “Guns guns guns…” by Robert C. Carter writing on the web site, “Escape from Pianosa,” on Saturday, April 21^st, 2007.

Mr. Carter writes, in part: “…in the wake of the horror at Virginia Tech this past week, I’ve been reading a lot about what people have to say about guns… A no-guns allowed policy doesn’t guarantee a killing spree, but it certainly makes it easier…”

Mr. Carter, a “a student, writer, satirist, webTV creator, photographer, athlete, thinker, traveler, blogger and improv comedian,” obviously put some time in his commentary…

Read his entire thought-provoking essay here: “Guns guns guns…”

Article No. 5: “Maryland Voters Officially Irrelevant” by W. Crodhil, E.I.C. writing on “Politics, Hon,” on Wednesday, April 11, 2007.

Mr. Crodhil laments “With the signing of the so-called "popular vote" bill this week, MD Governor Martin O’Malley has in essence, deemed the votes of every single Marylander completely, and totally, irrelevant on the national level.”

Read his thought-provoking explanation here: “Maryland Voters Officially Irrelevant” (And he calls to our attention that Pillage Idiot and Pubcrawler also have thoughts on this matter…)

Media Commentary section:

Article No. 6: “20070422 Media Smackdown” by Kevin Dayhoff writing on “Kevin Dayhoff – Soundtrack Division of Old Silent Movies,” on Sunday, April 22^nd, 2007.

Last week was a long and hard week for our nation and by the end of the week I had “had it” with the media coverage of the tragedy at Virginian Tech and I had been reduced to a NJ Turnpike toll collector stare.

As an uncle, I already have a Doctorate in Modern Anxiety with a minor in ennui… when it comes to being concerned for the next generation. I have three members of my family in college, two that just graduated, and two that will enter college shortly – all nieces and nephews.

I love talking with them as they are arguably some of the neatest folks on the planet. But the idea of some of the slobbering, feckless, pandering media-types interviewing the students at Virginia through the cracked mirror by which much of the media views its navel, got burdensome.

I was impressed that the Virginia Tech students consistently presented with poise and outclassed the media hacks.

Another thing for certain, in today’s obsessive media, last week proved once again, that the media certainly have been well trained to bark on cue…

The other day, I had but only minutes to stop for a moment and catch-up with the news and all I got were psychologically violent images of “the killer” and the media “interviewing the ghost.” Unhappy, I made, what turned out to be, one too many cups of coffee and turned to my local newspaper…

I opened the paper – “and lost it.”

“Why anyone would want to trivialize the tragedy at Virginia Tech by taking the opportunity to promote a political agenda is beyond comprehension.

Right now I have no time for folks who wish to ride their favorite political hobbyhorse on the back of what is otherwise an enormous human tragedy.

What we need right now is the steady glow of a prudent and human response and not a series of blinking lights.

Read the rest of my “media commentary” (rant) here: “20070422 Media Smackdown.”

Oh yes, I’m feeling a little better today. Thank you for asking.

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Thank you for joining us for Carnival of Maryland 5 – the Maryland Blogger Alliance bi-weekly magazine of the mind. It’s been a pleasure hosting this great event. For more information on the CoM, click here.

If you’re a MD blogger, and you’d like to join the Maryland Blogger Alliance (MBA), you can contact the Pillage Idiot’s Attlia at- pillageidiot -at- hotmail -dot- com.

If you have not had a chance to read our previous four Carnivals, please take this opportunity to review some of the best that the Maryland blogosphere has to offer:

Carnival of Maryland #1 - 2/25/2007 was hosted by Bruce Godfrey on “Crablaw Maryland Weekly” on February 25, 2007.

Carnival of Maryland - second edition hosted by Attila of the Pillage Idiot on March 11, 2007.

Carnival of Maryland #3 was hosted by The Ridger on “The Greenbelt” on March 26^th, 2007

Carnival Of Maryland 4 hosted by W. Crodhil on “Politics, Hon,” on April 8^th, 2007.

For more simply great reading, click on any of the following web sites that belong to the mid-Atlantic’s premier blogger collective:

Members of the Maryland Blogger Alliance are:

Pillage Idiot (Rockville)

Soccer Dad (Baltimore)

Maryland Conservatarian (Baltimore)

The Baltimore Reporter (Baltimore)

The Sun Lies (Baltimore Area)

The Not So Free State (Woodlawn)

monoblogue (Salisbury)

Crablaw (Reisterstown)

Kevin Dayhoff (Westminster)

Politics, Hon (Baltimore)

blogger1947 (Gwynn Oak)

Jousting for Justice (Owings Mills)

The Voltage Gate (Frostburg)

Howard County Md. Blog (Ellicott City)

The Hedgehog Report (Columbia)

Rockin' Catoctin (Frederick)

The Pubcrawler (Gaithersburg)

C. Dowd's Blog (Lansdowne)

Oriole Post (Silver Spring)

Escape from Pianosa (Baltimore)

Maryland Politics Today (Laurel)

The Greenbelt (Laurel)

Snail's Tales (Germantown)

Leviathan Montgomery (Silver Spring)

Going to the Mat (Frederick)

The AT Wire (Cumberland)

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