20060714 KDDC Computer Head

"Computer Head"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 14th, 2006

20060713 KDDC Mazel Tov Isreal

Israel at War
July 13th, 2006

Soccer Dad has several good posts on the Israeli response to the naked unwarranted series of provocations by mashugga militant Palestinians.

He is a mentsh and his blog may very well be the best place for a plethora of good information and analysis.

It would appear that Israel is out of patience and who can blame them.

You may want to also follow developments in the Jerusalem Post.

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20060713 KDDC Syndicator says Coulter did not plagiarize

Review of Coulter material indicates no plagiarism
July 13th, 2006

In a story by AP, picked up by a number of news outlets, it would appear that Ann Coulter did not plagiarize in her recent book nor in her syndicated columns as has been widely alledged by many liberal blogs.

Gee!

Syndicator Denies Coulter Lifted Material

Syndicator Dismisses Allegations That Pundit Ann Coulter Lifted Material From Other Sources

By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer

NEW YORK Jul 10, 2006 (AP)— The syndicator of Ann Coulter's newspaper columns rejected allegations that she had lifted material from other sources, saying a review of the work in question turned up nothing that merited concern.

"There are only so many ways you can rewrite a fact and minimal matching text is not plagiarism," Lee Salem, editor and president of Universal Press Syndicate, said Monday in a statement.

"Universal Press Syndicate is confident in the ability of Ms. Coulter, an attorney and frequent media target, to know when to make attribution and when not to."

Read the rest of the story here or here, here and here.

20060713 KDDC 10 Most NYTimes Articles read in last 30 days

According to the New York Times; listed below are the 10 most read articles read online (NYTimes.com) from June 13 - July 12, 2006.

1. What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage By AMY SUTHERLAND, Published: June 25, 2006 I wanted - needed - to nudge my husband a little closer to perfect.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/25/fashion/25love.html?ex=1168228800&en=d846623e61424139&ei=5087&nl=ep&emc=ep

2. At Colleges, Women Are Leaving Men in the Dust By TAMAR LEWIN, Published: July 9, 2006 A quarter-century after women became the majority on campuses, men are trailing in more than just enrollment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/09/education/09college.html?ex=1168228800&en=ccef434f4a8165a9&ei=5087&nl=ep&emc=ep

3. Star Jones Reynolds's Departure From 'The View' Was in the Works for Months By JACQUES STEINBERG, Published: June 28, 2006 Ms. Jones Reynolds said she had been told sometime before the announcement of Rosie O'Donnell's hiring that her contract was not being renewed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/28/arts/television/28star.html?ex=1168228800&en=5b70046d497308a7&ei=5087&nl=ep&emc=ep

4. Rogue Giants at Sea

By WILLIAM J. BROAD, Published: July 11, 2006 Scientists are now finding that rogue waves are far more common and destructive than once imagined and are launching new research projects to study them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/11/science/11wave.html?ex=1168315200&en=59de275f1960643a&ei=5087&nl=ep&emc=ep

5. Blast Levels Manhattan Town House; Inquiry Focuses on Injured Owner By JAMES BARRON, Published: July 10, 2006 Officials were investigating whether the gas explosion was a bizarre last chapter in a divorce battle over who would own the building.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/10/nyregion/10cnd-blast.html?ex=1168228800&en=bca9e8cbba982c51&ei=5087&nl=ep&emc=ep

6. Lay's Death Complicates Efforts to Seize Assets By SIMON ROMERO, Published: July 6, 2006 In yet another bizarre twist to the Enron saga, the sudden death of Kenneth L. Lay may have spared his survivors financial ruin.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/06/business/06legal.html?ex=1168228800&en=06cf4bab882f2f21&ei=5087&nl=ep&emc=ep

7. Surprising Jump in Tax Revenues Is Curbing Deficit By EDMUND L. ANDREWS, Published: July 9, 2006 Tax revenues are climbing twice as fast as the administration predicted in February, so fast that the budget deficit could actually decline this year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/09/washington/09econ.html?ex=1168228800&en=9feec181caf4afbb&ei=5087&nl=ep&emc=ep

8. A Star Falters, France Fades, Italy Rejoices By JERE LONGMAN, Published: July 10, 2006 Italy won its fourth World Cup title, but the match is certain to be remembered for Zinedine Zidane's behavior.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/10/sports/soccer/10cup.html?ex=1168228800&en=0cd414541928d135&ei=5087&nl=ep&emc=ep

9. Hiding in Plain Sight, Google Seeks More Power By JOHN MARKOFF and SAUL HANSELL, Published: June 14, 2006 A sprawling new data center in Oregon shows the extraordinary drive to beat Microsoft and Yahoo.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/14/technology/14search.html?ex=1168228800&en=35586c51ddc007ec&ei=5087&nl=ep&emc=ep

10. Enron Founder Dies Before Sentencing By JEREMY W. PETERS and SIMON ROMERO, Published: July 5, 2006 Kenneth L. Lay, who was convicted of fraud and conspiracy, faced the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/05/business/05cnd-lay.html?ex=1168228800&en=f1712e0c13abd963&ei=5087&nl=ep&emc=ep

20060712 KDDC Undated circa 1980s pic of Westminster City Employees

Undated circa 1980s pic of Westminster City Employees
July 12th, 2006

Can you please help me identify the folks in this picture? Some of the names are easy, but I don't remember all the names... I'm getting old and of course, the mind is the first to go.

If you can help, please e-mail me at kdayhoff@carr.org. Please include the letters KDDC in the subject line so your e-mail can make it through my spam filter. Thanks a bunch.

KED

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20060712 KDDC Westminster City Workers repair water main break

Westminster City Workers repair water main break
July 12th, 2006
Picture Date: Tueday evening July 11th, 2006
(c) Kevin Dayhoff

Pictures now. More information later.
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20060711 KDDC The World According to Keith Olbermann

"The World According to Keith Olbermann"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 11th, 2006

Although I am not preoccupied with Mr. Olbermann, I was amused with today's post by "Expose the Left." I have watched Mr. Olbermann's show before and figured if his benchmark was Fox News, then why watch the critizism - I'll just watch Fox News and decide for myself.

In all candor, I don't really gravitate to folks with no original thoughts who otherwise wish to be relevant by harshly criticizing those who do think about the issues and work hard at their craft. As my Mom always said, you can't get to heaven based on the sins of others. Well one cannot spin themselves to success by criticizing the success of others...

And I have grown suspect of anything the New York Times prints.

Anyway, Expose the Left says:

NY Times Fluff Piece On Olbermann Has No Mention Of Actual Ratings

The New York Times (who else?) ran a story on the “success” of Countdown and how it has become the “centerpiece” of MSNBC’s lineup.

Throughout the article, columnist Bill Carter writes about Countdown’s ratings only by it’s growth and not by actual numbers. An ignorant reader would come away thinking Olbermann is some television star who is a real competitor in the cable news race. The only indication Carter gives of Olbermann’s actual ratings is when he calls Countdown a “dot in the rearview mirror of Fox News.”

Read the rest here.

20060711 KDDC Governor Visits Frederick

Governor Visits Frederick
July 11th, 2006

Writing for the Frederick News Post, Cliff Cumber has filed a story on the governor's vist to Frederick yeaterday.

The article is a good read. Click on "Ehrlich spotlights new running mate" to check it out.

Also be sure to view the video and the slideshow on the Frederick News Post page in which the article appears. They are both very well done.

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20060710 KDDC Of Free Speech and Personal Security

Of Free Speech and Personal Security

Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that someone isn’t really out to get ya

July 10^th, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

In an ideal world, the Blogsosphere would be the perfect vehicle to realize a great democratizing-leveling of intellectual and respectful dissent, discussion and dialogue about the challenges we face in the new millennium.

What a great sentence. What a great ideal.

If only it were true.

For us geeks who were around in the beginnings if the internet, many shared a renewed sense of utopian hope for the great futures that could be provided by this new technology.

Especially for those of us who hold so dear the concepts of Jeffersonian direct participatory democracy in which all citizens may have a direct say in how government governs. In the beginnings of our great country, when, to state the obvious, the population was not as large, we could actually get together physically in a “town meeting” and have our voices heard.

That’s obviously not possible now that we want millions of folks to participate as opposed to several hundred… From an historical perspective, the internet and blogs have certainly been timely. Now, more than ever, the “town meeting” is facilitated by blogs.

Fortunately a great deal of the internet represents the best of our greater community.

However, as with all great things, there is a “but’ required…

And that is – BUT unfortunately, as it has painfully developed, the Blogsosphere is also a reflection of a not-so-pretty picture of the unpleasant soft underbelly of our society. That is the part about people behaving badly.

It is enough to make you despair – and worry about one’s livelihood, safety and of the well-being of your family simply because someone out there forgets to take their medication and wants to “visit you” either metaphysically as in examples of “DDOS” (Distributed Denial Of Service attack) or actually behave in a threatening manner. Certainly one can disagree with a position without discussing or disclosing a debate opponent’s home address.

Some bloggers have chosen to write under a non de plume, for various reasons. Some of us, from the more idealistic set, write under our real names and are nevertheless careful not to give out too much information as to locational whereabouts out a sense of responsibility for our families and for our own safety.

Great examples of which are not only the recent Kabuki Morals play acted out for “Protein Wisdom,” but also played out in “20060421 Support Your Local Michelle Malkin” or here, here, “Taking down a blogger,” “Post Turns Comments Off,” “Crossing a Line” – and Mr. Goldstein’s response at: “Inside Higher Ed: “We are as fair as we can bring ourselves to be”

Michelle Malkin has been at the forefront of much the responsible debate as to what to do and she has called to our attention a really remarkable discussion on “NZ’s Desk” at “The Truth Laid Bear.” Please find that discussion here. It is a fascinating read.

Ultimately we all need to “harden the infrastructure,” because if the past is prologue, we will be dealing with folks attempting to silence our voices for quite some time. Apparently some folks find conservative bloggers fairly threatening.

Hats off to Michelle Malkin for helping to facilitate this important discussion.

We can’t make a difference if we have no voice and that would appear to suit many liberals just fine.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060710 KDDC Time for Japan to Re -Arm

Time for Japan to Re-Arm?

July 10^th, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

A Yahoo News video report this morning says, “‘Japan Considers Strike Against North Korea.’ Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary says his country is looking at whether a preemptive strike against North Korea's missile bases would be allowed under their constitution.”

Additionally, Yahoo News is carrying an Associated Press article by Mari Yamauchi this morning that certainly begins to put the crisis over North Korea’s rouge state behavior in another light. (“Japan may postpone North Korea resolution”)

That is, if the world and the United Nations won’t live up to its responsibilities, perhaps Japan needs re-arm and take matters in its own hands.

Meanwhile, where is China and Russia on this, besides sitting on their hands?

Okay, asking Russia to act responsibly may be a stretch, but certainly China, who wishes so assiduously to assume a leadership role in world events must realize that it has quite a stake in this unfolding drama.

Gee, if this isn’t déjà vu all over again.

When President George W. Bush was attempting to reign in Iraq’s rouge state behavior under Saddam Hussein, the United States could not get any cooperation from Germany, Russia and France.

Well, duh, the reason we could get no cooperation out of the French, Germans and Russians was simple. They were making too much money off of Saddam Hussein. Oh never mind that he was a weapon of mass destruction all by himself, as long as they were making money, what the heck. Besides, the United States will clean up the mess, after France, Germany and Russia had made enough money off the tortured and dead Iraqis left in the wake of the mad-man reign of Saddam Hussein.

Japan did send some non-combatant troops to Iraq, but didn’t they bug-out recently, leaving us holding the bag.

In a case of situational ethics, Senator Hilary Clinton has said that the president’s policy on North Korea has failed because he insists on working with our partners in the United Nations to come to a consensus as to how to go about reigning in North Korea’s behavior which is threatening the tranquility and stability of Asia.

What was it that she said, that the president was outsourcing United States foreign policy. Oi gevald!

But other liberals have criticized the president for acting unilaterally in Iraq.

My moonbat decoder ring is not helping me at the moment as to just what the liberals would want us to do with North Korea. Be sure to keep reading the New York Times, as are the North Koreans, to see what secret plan the president may ultimately have in mind.

Maybe it is time that Japan spend some of its GNP on arming itself and looking after its own interests, instead of the United States being the big brother for everyone in the world – at our expense.

Won’t China, Russia and Korea, North and South Korea, for that matter, find Japan re-arming “quite special?” After-all, throughout history, they have always had a "special" friendship. NOT.

Okay Russia and China, if you don't want Japan to re-arm, how about stepping up to the plate and having a meaningful conversation with your buddy in North Korea.

For a reality check, any pre-emptive strike against North Korea may need to be carefully thought out. North Korea does have a million troops 30 miles from Seoul, South Korea.

And oh, I did decide to somewhat ignore the issue of one wonders what all the moonbat, “cut and run” anti-military folks in California think of the current sorry state of affairs now that North Korea is trying to plug in the coordinates of San Francisco into their rockets.

So far, the only folks in peril from the North Koreans are fisherman in the Sea of Japan, however, that could change.

One wonders which side of her mouth California Senator Dianne Feinstein or Representative Nancy Pelosi is currently using - now that it may settling-in on her that Cindy Sheehan or Michael Moore are no match for the North Koreans.

And also remember, it is a San Franciscan city councilmember that questions why the United States should even maintain a military.

It’s time, for some other nations and American elected officials to take on a renewed sense of responsibility in these matters. Perhaps that time is now. /Kevin Dayhoff

_________________

Japan may postpone North Korea resolution

By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer 52 minutes ago

TOKYO - Japan said Monday it was considering whether a pre-emptive strike on North Korea's missile bases would violate its constitution, signaling a hardening stance ahead of a possible U. N. Security Council vote on Tokyo's proposal for sanctions against the regime.

The vote itself could be delayed for several days, a news agency reported.

China asked Japan to postpone the vote until later this week and Japan is prepared to accept, Kyodo News agency said.

Japanese officials had earlier vowed to push ahead with a resolution that would impose sanctions on North Korea for its missile tests last week, but said Tokyo would not insist on a Monday vote.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters his government wants a vote on the measure "as soon as possible."

"I think we must send a message that's as clear as possible" to North Korea, he said.

Japan was badly rattled by North Korea's missile tests last week and several government officials openly discussed whether the country ought to take steps to better defend itself, including setting up the legal framework to allow Tokyo to launch a pre-emptive strike against Northern missile sites.

"If we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack ... there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles is within the constitutional right of self-defense. We need to deepen discussion," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said.

Japan's constitution bars the use of military force in settling international disputes and prohibits Japan from maintaining a military for warfare. Tokyo has interpreted that to mean it can have armed troops to protect itself, allowing the existence of its 240,000-strong Self-Defense Forces.

Read the rest of the Yahoo News article here.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060710 KDDC Incoming Airborne Terrier

Jack Russell Terrier and the Ball
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 3rd, 2006

While visiting friends recently, their neighbor's Jack Russell Terrier came bounding over to say hello. What a hoot! This dog was so friendly and had tons of energy, it made me tired just watching it. It could play with a tennis ball for hours.

And every once in awhile, as if it were washing the ball off, it would place the ball in the fishpond. Well, that was also too much fun. Of course, one only knows what the goldfish thought of that. They may still be in counseling.

There is lots of information on the internet on Russell Terriers. One of the other places I read for additional information was here.

I was first introduced to Jack Russell Terriers by a running buddy, Gary Horst. His dog, also a wonderful delight, is named "Jazz." Perfect name as it seems a dog of this breed must certainly jazz-up one's life.

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20060709 KDDC A cartoon about the NYTimes you can just love

Mike Lester: "I hate getting American Soldiers' blood on my fingers"
July 9th, 2006

Oh, I've been wanting to post the above cartoon by Mike Lester for several days.

OMG - I Love it!

Read what "Darly Cagle's Professional Cartooon Index" has to say in his July 7th, 2006 post" "ANOTHER CARTOON CONTROVERSY."

Today's cartoon controversy comes from our own Mike Lester of the Rome (GA) News-Tribune. This controversy grew out of an editorial in the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper which ran Mike's cartoon at he right; the editorial led to a story by Romanesko on the Poynter.org site, a must read for journalists, and that, in turn, led to a story on Editor & Publisher, the journal of record for the journalism business.

Frankly, I don't see that this cartoon should be controversial. There are so few conservative cartoonists that when when strong conservative cartoons come up, newspapers get unusual responses from liberal readers...

Read the rest here.

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20060709 KDDC Italy wins the World Cup

Italy wins the World Cup
July 10th, 2006

For all the rabid soccer fanatics out there. Italy has won the World Cup. I’m just happy it wasn’t the French.

MSNBC has posted an Associated Press story:

Italy beats France for title on penalty kicks

Italians hit all 5 shots, claim 4th World Cup; Zidane ejected for head-butt

BERLIN - Italy let France do nearly anything it wanted Sunday, except win the World Cup. That belongs to the Azzurri, 5-3 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Outplayed for an hour and into extra time, the Italians won it after French captain Zinedine Zidane was ejected in the 107th minute for a vicious butt to the chest of Marco Materazzi. It was the ugliest act of a tournament that set records for yellow and red cards, diving and, at times, outright brutality.

Read the rest of the story here and: Italy-France box score; Zidane ejected from final for head-butt and Sound off on soccer discussion boards.

Also:

• Italy beats France on PKs for 4th title

• Zidane gets red card, ejected | His legacy?

• Best XI: top players, your picks for World Cup

• From the Fan: What a long, strange trip it was

• Slide shows: Hairdos | Damsels | Beckham

• Today's scores | Schedule | Discuss | Vote

• Images: Highlights, more | MORE COVERAGE

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20060708 KDDC An analysis from AP on the current Gaza standoff

An analysis from AP on the current Gaza standoff

Updated: 3:48 p.m. ET July 8, 2006

MSNBC is carrying an analysis of the current standoff between Isreal and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the recent capture of 19-year-old Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit:

Gaza: A tale of lost opportunity, angry reprisals

Already troubled area to suffer far-reaching setbacks from abducted soldier

It is worth the read. As much as I support the Isreali response... the analysis puts some things into perspective that I had not considered. For example:

"Shalit was seized June 25 in a cross-border raid by Hamas-linked militants, who have demanded the release of some of the 9,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

That demand has widespread support among ordinary Palestinians, which cuts to the heart of the stalemate. Hamas could be finished politically if it gives up Shalit without a prisoner swap, and Israel fears that caving into militant demands would only encourage more attacks."

The analysis begins by saying:

"JERUSALEM - Gaza’s transformation into a battlefield is a tale of lost opportunity and ill-fated visions.

The capture of a young Israeli soldier and Israel’s tough response have threatened Israeli support for withdrawal from the West Bank, exposed rifts among the Islamic militants of Hamas and rendered the Palestinians’ moderate president irrelevant.

Expectations that Palestinians would begin building their own state following Israel’s historic withdrawal from the impoverished Gaza Strip last year have given way to despair and escalating bloodshed."

Read the rest of the analysis here.

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20060708 KDDC Contact

"Contact"

(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 8th, 2006

20060708 KDDC Committee Presentation of the Declaration of Independence

"Committee Presentation of the Declaration of Independence"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 8th, 2006

20060708 KDDC Old Car Gas Pump and Tree

"20060707 Old Car Gas Pump and Tree"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 7th, 2006

20060708 KDDC la ministra de Asuntos Exteriores de Austria, Ursula Plassnik

El primer vicepresidente y ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Samuel Lewis Navarro y la ministra de Asuntos Exteriores de Austria, Ursula Plassnik, durante la IV cumbre de Jefes de Estado y de Gobierno América Latina y Caribe-Unión Europea que se celebra en la capital austríaca del 11 al 13 de mayo de 2006.

www.mire.gob.pa/noticias.php?id=1646


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20060708 KDDC Austria's Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik

Ursula!

"Serbia's President Boris Tadic (R) welcomes Austria's Foreign Minister and President of the EU Council Ursula Plassnik before their meeting in Belgrade June 30, 2006. REUTERS/Marko Djurica (SERBIA) Hat Tip:Princess Sparkle Pony's Photo Blog.

And yes, she is 6' 3" tall!

Read more about Bundesministerin Dr. Plassnik here and here and here and here.

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20060708 KDDC Hastert and Bush caption contest

"Dennis Hastert and George Bush, seen here today in Chicago" in a July 7th, 2006 AP photo.
July 8th, 2006
Hat Tip: Wonkette.

This has caption contest written all over it.

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20060708 KDDC President Bush Discusses Immigration

President Bush Discusses Immigration

July 8th, 2006

From the other day... July 5th, 2006... The president visited a Duncan Donuts to make some great points about how diversity makes our country strong.

I sure wish he would also find an agriculture operation in which he could visit and also make the point that the "guest worker" program and immigration reform is crucial to agriculture in our country.

Please see my May 31st, 2006 Tentacle column: "The Great Mexican Maginot Line."

I wholeheartedly support the president's position on immigration.

From the White House web site:

President Bush Discusses Immigration in Alexandria, Virginia
Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins
Alexandria, Virginia
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 5, 2006

Fact Sheet: Basic Pilot: A Clear and Reliable Way to Verify Employment Eligibility
In Focus: Immigration

THE PRESIDENT: I just had a really interesting conversation. First of all, this business is owned by two Iranian American brothers. They are small business owners, they are entrepreneurs, they are employing people. And then I met with the district manager, who works with the two Iranian American brothers, happens to be a Guatemalan American citizen. She is learning business. She is taking on additional responsibility. Then I talked to the store manager, who was a Salvadoran American.

These people remind me that one of the great features of our country is that people are able to come here and realize dreams. One of the problems we have because our economy is strong is that small business owners have trouble finding workers. People come here to work.

And one of the things we've got to do is to make sure that they have a verification plan that will enable them to determine, as they hire new workers, whether or not the workers are here illegally. See, it's against the law to hire somebody who is here illegally. And we intend to enforce that law. Part of a comprehensive immigration plan is to give employers the tools necessary to determine whether or not the workers they're looking for are here legally in America. And we've got such a plan -- Basic Pilot, it's called. It's working.

Please read the rest of the White House piece here. Also, be sure to watch the video.

Immigration Reform

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org

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