20060624 KDDC The NYTimes exposes a top secret antiterrorism program

Once again, the New York Times exposes another top secret anti-terrorism plan put in place to protect Americans.

June 24^th, 2006

By Kevin Dayhoff

The New York Times, the favorite daily newspaper of al Qaeda, and quite possibly a satellite version of Aljazeera, has once again chosen to sell out our country’s national security interests in the furtherance of selling newspapers and supporting the media war on the war in Iraq.

In an article published last Friday, titled, “Bank Data Sifted in Secret by U.S. to Block Terror,” written by Eric Lichtblau and James Risen, the Old Grey Lady acts out on senile dementia and details a top secret classified program in which bank transactions which may involve the transfer of funds for the purpose of promoting or supporting terrorist acts, are tracked and investigated.

The operative word here is that the article “details” the top secret program, not merely reveals that it exists.

Bear in mind, this is our government investigating the money trail of funds that are suspected of being destined to be possibly used to conduct terrorist acts against Americans.

The Los Angeles Times ran a concurrent story the same day: “Secret U.S. Program Tracks Global Bank Transfers,” “The Treasury Dept. program, begun after the Sept. 11 attacks, attempts to monitor terrorist financing but raises privacy concerns,” by Josh Meyer and Greg Miller, Times Staff Writers, 12:06 PM PDT, June 23, 2006

Once again, many law-abiding Americans want to know “where’s the beef.”

Just as with the program which monitors overseas phone calls to phone numbers suspected of belonging to terrorists, many Americans, according to several polls, simply do not have a problem with this.

What Americans do have a problem with is being subjected to acts of terrorism in which innocent Americans die. Or, to be more specific, Americans have a problem with our country not doing everything possible to avoid another national tragedy like 9/11.

To suggest that my rights are being violated is simply ludicrous. If some “Jack Bauer” type (of the hit TV show, “24”) wants to listen to my phone calls with my wife coordinating dinner, they are welcome to do it as long as the agent doing the monitoring takes their turn bringing home a pizza from Classico Pizza and they get the soft squeezable toilet paper.

As one can imagine, Michelle Malkin is annoyed; q.v.: Messages for the blabbermouths; Backlash against the blabbermouths; NYTimes blabbermouths strike again; How about a nice big glass of...; et al.

Ms. Malkin called for Photoshoppers to submit photo-art visualizing disgust over the Times, once again, detailing a government national security secret for all the world, especially the very folks who wish to do us harm, to see.

I’ve pasted a few of my favorites above. Great talent.

For White House spokesperson, Tony Snow’s reaction, click on this: Tony Snow video.

The New York Times has also put a video on their web site in which reporter, Eric Lichtblau, talks about the story. The NYTimes introduces the video: “Eric Lichtblau reveals a secret Bush administration program to access to financial records. (Producer: Adam B. Ellick).” See the video by clicking here.

For Andrew C. McCarthy’s reaction, writing for the National Review, click here for his column, “The Media’s War Against the War Continues.”

The New York Times behavior is incomprehensible and reprehensible.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060624 KDDC As Confusion reigns over Upcoming Electric Rates

The Maryland Democratic Party adds to the confusion

with a misinformation campaign

June 23^rd, 2006

By Kevin Dayhoff

As confusion reigns over the BGE electric rate increase, the Democratic Party posted an advertisement on their web-site, The Baltimore Sun, claiming to have a “calculator” that will calculate the difference in your electric bill by comparing the Maryland General Assembly rate relief plan and the plan worked out by Governor Ehrlich.

I can no longer find the ad on the Baltimore Sun web-site, but you can view it here.

Apparently, Jay Hancock, pictured above, the excellent business reporter for the Baltimore Sun, thinks that the “Democrat "calculator" is hokum:”

“Democrats published a Web page that purportedly compares the electricity rate-relief plan passed last week by the General Assembly with that of Gov. Robert Ehrlich. Unless you are amused by terrible statistics, don't bother with the "calculator" showing what your BGE bill would be under different scenarios. It will give you zero useful information and, in fact, adds to the confusion over electricity that Democrats accuse Ehrlich of sowing. House Speaker Mike Busch, please take down this site that has been put up in your name. Your plan can be defended based on facts; you don't need this kind of junk.”

Read the rest here.

Be sure to read the last paragraph…

“Well, this isn't boiling. It's slicing and dicing and pureeing and turning beef into BS. If you want to see an intelligent comparison, read Brad Olson's story from last week. It shows that the Democrats' plan is slightly better from a financial standpoint, not grossly superior as portrayed on their Web site. There is enough confusion surrounding this issue already.”

For Governor Ehrlich’s reasons as to why he vetoed the legislation, go here or Click here!

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060623 KDDC Truck Rodeo video on Carroll County Times We site

Truck Rodeo video on Carroll County Times web site

By Kevin Dayhoff

June 23, 2006

In a continuing drive to bring the Carroll County Times into the electronic news media era, the local paper founded on October 6, 1911, when photographs were hardly used in newspapers, is posting videos on their web site.

For a paper the size of the Carroll County Times, this is a big deal, although other Landmark newspapers, (the Carroll County Times is owned by Landmark Community Newspapers, a subsidiary of Landmark Communications) such as The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA; The Roanoke (VA) Times and the News & Record in Greensboro, NC, have been making great use of video for some time.

It could be argued that considering the size of the paper and market, The Roanoke (VA) Times, may have one of the best web-sites of any community newspaper.

In the Maryland area, one local newspaper that has made a huge stake in the future of video on an otherwise, traditional local newspaper web site is

www.delawareonline.com, the web site of The News Journal, out of Wilmington, Del.

I’m told that the Truck rodeo video was shot and edited by assistant editor Jamie Kelly?

Although, the video is certainly not in the entertainment league with the Connie Chung video, nor does it appear that the Times will be giving You Tube a run for its money anytime soon, the advent of video on the web site is a welcome advance in getting out the local news.

Especially, for example, considering the possibility of showing a quote by a community leader in addition to printing the quote. So much of communication is non-verbal and lots of the translation can be lost in the print version.

The article explaining the Truck rodeo can be found here: Truck Road-eo competition gives plow drivers chance to strut their stuff. The image pasted above, is from the Carroll County Times video… I got a kick out of the part where the backhoe operator was demonstrating operator skills by placing the tire over the pole...

The video is here: Watch the video and here: Serious Snow Removal… (Oh, go here instead.)

For an index of the videos offered on the web site, go here.

Some of the explanation of the video is pasted here:

Truck Road-eo competition gives plow drivers chance to strut their stuff
Watch the video (Oh, go here instead.)

“Driving around an obstacle course or maneuvering big rigs and backhoes in difficult conditions may seem like a fun way to spend a day, but for participants in the annual Paul A. Croasmun Memorial Truck Rod-eo, it can also be a learning experience.

“The event was held Thursday at Carroll Community College. Drivers competed in a variety of tasks designed to simulate things they might encounter while removing snow.

“The day started out with local competitions, followed by a K-9 demonstration conducted by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, a sobriety driving simulation course, a backhoe competition and then a regional competition involving drivers from Frederick, Howard, Baltimore and Carroll counties competing for a regional trophy.”

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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