20060728 KDDC Flying Corn

"Flying Corn"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 28th, 2006

20060728 KDDC Central Florida squirrel

The rarely photographed Central Florida squirrel. For those of you out West, this species has also been spotted in Arizona and California.

Hat Tip: Analog Jones Thanks

20060728 KDDC Blogger Ana Marie Cox makes good

Blogger Ana Marie Cox makes good

July 28^th, 2006

Poynter Online calls to our attention that Ana Marie Cox has been named the new Washington editor of Time.com.

David Weigel, writing on Wonkette, also carries a post.

See the Time.com press release at the bottom of this post…

For those not familiar with Ms. Cox, please enjoy her bio, as posted on her blog, “Ana Marie Cox:”

ANA MARIE COX had a long, disastrous career in mainstream media before being forced into the shallow waters of the blogosphere. While an editor at Mother Jones, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and The American Prospect, her poor people skills made her unpopular, while her sarcasm drove people away. Internet journalism, with its higher tolerance for misfits, provided an early home—she is a survivor of Suck.com, Feedmag.com and Inside.com. She was discovered at a drugstore by Nick Denton, who made her Wonkette. She is now a columnist for TIME and time.com and is at work on her next book, an anthropological study of young conservatives. Her husband Chris Lehmann is remarkably well-liked and an editor at CQ Weekly.

Admittedly, the path that Ms. Cox has traveled is not the most traditional; perhaps this is why I admire her accomplishments. She has tons of talent, enormous chutzpah and I rather like the non-traditional approach.

That is certainly not to say that I like everything that she writes nor do I wish to emulate some of her approaches, but the writer has a certain class and charisma, and I certainly welcome her refreshing approach.

As far as her writing on Wonkette, I never understood her gratuitous use of expletives. I felt that it detracted from her writing and was, well – unnecessary.

Whatever.

I’m not sure when I started reading Wonkette… I do recall the web site’s instant celebrity status after Ms. Cox outed Jessica Cutler, better known as "Washingtonienne.”

If you will recall, it was Jessica Cutler, who cut a wide swath of entertainment on Capitol Hill, all the while, working as a staff assistant to Republican Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio.

Cutting a wide swath of entertainment is certainly not a new phenomenon in Washington, DC, but Ms. Cutler’s unique approach was to blog about her exploits and conquests.

Look up “Blog Interrupted” by April Witt, published Sunday, August 15, 2004; Page W12 on washingtonpost.com. Or, for more fun than you can stand, go to: “The procrastinations of Kelly Ann Collins and friends.”

Hmmm.

To be sure, not everyone appreciated Ms. Cox’s style. Which simply made for more amusement. Michelle Malkin certainly took issue with her in her piece: “The Skanks on Capital Hill.” Although I understand, if not even agree with everything Ms. Malkin said; all Ms. Malkin did was legitimize “Wonkette,” which is not quite what I think that Ms. Malkin had in mind.

In politics and journalism, some things are best left ignored. I’ve never, for a moment felt that moral underpinnings of American were going to be undermined by Ms. Cox.

All this said, we will have to see what she does with Time.com. I’ve never included Ms. Cox on my list of must-read conservative writers, to say the least. When one considers Ms. Cox’s politics, it is not a wonder that Al Jazeera didn’t hire her.

Then again, Time magazine is barely on my list of reading material either. I get the same news from the Daily Kos – and it is much more colorful on Kos.

Meanwhile, Matthew Sheffield at NewsBusters has this to say…

Time Mag Elevates Liberal Blogger to Editor Post

Posted by Matthew Sheffield on July 27, 2006 - 14:55.

Time magazine's online operation announced today that it has promoted former liberal blogger Ana Marie Cox to be its Washington editor. Previously, she was the founder of the airhead politics blog Wonkette. Before that, she worked for the liberal magazine Washington Monthly.

Thus far, Time's online stable includes not one conservative blogger. At present the self-described politically neutral magazine employs Joshua Marshall, Andrew Sullivan, Cox, and its White House correspondent Mike Allen, not one of whom is a conservative much less a Republican. So how is it that Time can get away with this?

_________________

Time Inc. news release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday July 27, 2006

ANA MARIE COX NAMED WASHINGTON EDITOR, TIME.COM

NEW YORK-Ana Marie Cox has been named Washington Editor of TIME.com, it was announced today by Richard Stengel, managing editor of TIME. Her appointment is effective July 31, 2006.

Cox joined TIME in March 2006, as a contributing writer. In her new role she will be coordinating TIME.com's political coverage as well as continuing to create features and essays for both the print and online editions.

Prior to her experience at TIME, Cox was the founding editor of the political blog Wonkette.

"Ana Marie is a sharp and witty observer of the Washington scene and has the ability to spot political angles in surprising places," says Stengel. "In her new role, she'll bring her great web instincts to covering the hot topics of the day."

Cox is also the author of the novel Dog Days, a political satire of Washington, D.C.

_________________

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

####

20060727 KDDC Miss Caroline at the Bar at the Folies-Bergère

Miss Caroline at the Bar at the Folies-Bergère

Photoshop with Caroline…

Kevin Dayhoff July 27^th, 2006

With all appropriate apologies to Édouard Manet, who painted a wonderful piece of art entitled, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère in 1882. The painting by Mr. Manet was an oil on canvas, 96 × 130 cm. in dimensions and it was the last major piece of art painted by Mr. Manet.

The Folies Bergère is a famous Parisian music hall, located at 8 rue Saulnier, that remains in business to this day. It originally opened as an opera house called the Folies Trevise on May 2^nd, 1869. On September 13, 1872 it was renamed the Folies Bergère.

Some of the famous American dancers who performed there were Loie Fuller in the 1890s. In the 1920s Josephine Baker was quite a sensation with her provocative “Bananas Dance.”

Although Miss Caroline has not, to the best of our collective knowledge, danced at the Folies Bergère; the above Photoshop hypothecates what it would like if she were to appear at the bar…

####

20060727 KDDC FruitBird

"FruitBird"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 27th, 2006

20060726 KDDC Upcoming Carroll County Political events

Upcoming Carroll County Political events

July 26^th, 2006

Attend as many as possible. Be informed. Be involved

Also, check along the right hand column… scroll down and if you do not see your campaign website listed – e-mail it to me. Thanks

_________________

>Commissioner Candidates Forum sponsored by the Eagle/Gazette/FACC
August 3rd 7:00pm Sykesville Fire Hall
Senator/Delegates Forum sponsored by the Eagle/Gazette/Facc
August 17th 7:00pm South Carroll Senior Center

>South Carroll Business Association
Candidate's Forum
August 10th
Sykesville Fire Hall
6:30pm Delegates
7:30pm Commissioners

> The Doug Howard for County Commissioner campaign will host an information meeting, 3-7 p.m., on Aug. 11, with the topic of community services, at the office of BDG Entrepreneurial Services, 174 Klees Mill Road, Sykesville. RSVP at dougforcarroll @aol.com.

> The Republican Women's Club of Carroll County will host a "Meet and Greet the Candidates" picnic 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the Carroll County Farm Museum. Free, donations welcome. Call Josie, at 410-848-4678; or Linda, at 410-871-0699.

> Michael Zimmer, candidate for county commissioner, is holding a lunch fund-raiser at Liberatore's in Eldersburg, on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at noon. $50 per person; sponsorships are also available for $1,000, $500 and $250. Sponsors receive two admissions. RSVP by calling 410-552-0685 by Aug. 3; or visit www.voteforzimmer.org.

> Lt. Gov. Michael Steele will be at a fundraiser for Larry Helminiak, candidate for the House of Delegates, District 9B, on Aug. 2, 6-8 p.m. Call 410-795-0567 by July 30 for details and to RSVP.

> A pasta buffet dinner catered by New York J&P Pizza will be held at Freedom Optimist Community Center, Sykesville Road, Eldersburg, on Monday, Aug. 14, 6-9 p.m. to benefit the commissioner campaign of Dave Greenwalt. Music will be provided by the jazz band Brad Collins and Company. Tickets are $35. To reserve, 410-795-1122.

> The South Carroll Republican Club meets the second Tuesday of each month at Ledo Pizza, 577 Johnsville Road, Eldersburg. Dinner is 6 p.m., meeting starts at 7. Call April, at 410-875-0520.

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20060726 KDDC Vacation Minestrone Soup

"Vacation Minestrone Soup"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 26th, 2006

20060726 KDDC Flower

"20060726 Flower"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 26th, 2006

20060725 KDDC The Shining City on the Hill

"The Shining City on the Hill"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
July 25th, 2006

20060725 KDDC Recycled Water

Recycled Water

July 25^th, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

Paul over at Wizbang has posted an interesting item about what very well may be a portion of the water supply for all of us in the distant future.

For those not following the story, Australia is experiencing quite a drought.

As the world – and Maryland – continues to search for the increasingly elusive future sources of water - - desalinization and recycling anthropogenically tainted wastewater may very well be the future.

Indeed, the water that comes out the discharge pipe of the Westminster Wastewater Treatment Plant is arguably cleaner that what is brought into the intake at the Water Treatment Plant.

Although, a closed system is worthy of consideration, perhaps what may be more palatable is to position a re-uptake intake several hundred yards downstream from the Wastewater Treatment Plant and give Mother Nature an opportunity to further purify the water.

Beyond, public perceptions, the one scientific challenge is the increased number of pharmaceuticals that now make it through the wastewater purification process.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) such as Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Carbamazepine, Cimetidine, Codeine, Cotinine, Diltiazem, Hydrocodone, Ketoprofen, Metformin, Nicotine, Paraxanthine, Salbutamol, Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim, and Estrone.

For more information on the issue of pharmaceuticals and PPCPs, go here or here.

More research may be needed in utilizing recycled water - and Maryland certainly does not need to be the beta on this, however, years in the future, recycling – or using “reclaimed water” may be a solution.

For more information, consider going here.

The San Diego municipal web site, says:

“In San Diego water is too precious a resource to be used just once. To meet future water demands and avoid shortages, while reducing our dependence on imported water, the City of San Diego has built the North City Water Reclamation Plant and the South Bay Water Reclamation Plant. These plants treat wastewater to a level that is approved for irrigation, manufacturing and other non-drinking, or non-potable purposes. The North City Plant has the capability to treat 30 million gallons a day and the South Bay Plant can treat 15 million gallons a day. Recycled water, also referred to as reclaimed water, gives San Diego a dependable, year-round, locally controlled water resource. Using recycled water is cost-effective, reliable and good for the environment.”

If anything, may any discussion of future use of recycled water be a signal that we need to really start taking this water thing very very seriously.

For the immediate future, the county needs to pull out all the stops on developing the Union Mills and Gillis Falls reservoirs.

And oh, the editorial in a local publication on July 5^th, 2006, was a simplistic and uninformed cheap shot that certainly did not serve the best interests of the public.

Before one endeavors to criticize the City of Westminster about water allocation, please bear in mind that you are preaching to the choir. Westminster painfully understands that it must find more water.

The current administration and board of elected officials have continued to work hard at identifying and securing future sources of water, including ideas that cannot be discussed publicly which involve property acquisition.

Other ideas that are working their way through the system are along the lines of running a pipe up to the Union Mills reservoir water source while the reservoir works its way through the permit process.

The formula that MDE is currently using is sound as far as maintaining a basic public health, safety and welfare matter. If the drought of record from 1964 to 1966 were to be repeated, public safety would be a concern. Working in concert with MDE will be in everyone’s best interests. Never-the-less, the new, retro-active conservative quantification of water supply resources have put municipalities across the state in a bad place.

To deal with this new reality, scaling back the number of building permits per year is undoubtedly in order, but one thing that City officials may very well want to look into, is finding a good opportunity to give the Bair v. Mayor and Council of Westminster, 221 P.2d 642 (Mary. Ct. of Appeal 1966), a court test. A lot has changed since 1966.

Please know that two years after the City purchased the water system from a private company (in 1964,) the Maryland Court of Appeals declared the water system a "public utility" and promulgated a ruling that forces the City to provide water to any property near an existing water line.

In Bair v. Mayor and Council of Westminster, 221 P.2d 642 (Mary. Ct. of Appeal 1966), the Maryland Court of Appeal found that “when a municipality undertakes to perform duties of public service companies, it must, insofar as services are reasonably within its range of performance, furnish services to all applicants within the area supplied and cannot unjustly discriminate between consumers therein.”

Speaking for myself, housing developments are getting old. The continued onslaught on our quality of life is getting well beyond acceptable levels of collective tolerance. We must re-think this and plan better.

Meanwhile Paul at Wizbang writes:

“Drought-stricken Australia Considers Accepting Reality”

As a scientist, I'm amazed this is even being debated.

Drought-stricken Australia considers drinking recycled sewage

Residents of a drought-stricken Australian town will vote this week on whether they're prepared to drink water recycled from sewage -- the first such scheme in the country and one of only a handful in the world.

The controversial proposal has divided the town of Toowoomba in the state of Queensland, which has faced water restrictions for a decade.

Local Mayor Dianne Thorley, who is leading the "Yes" campaign, said that without drought-breaking rains the town's dams could dry up within two years.

She insisted the 73 million dollar (US 55 million dollar) plan to pump purified wastewater back into the main reservoir for drinking was safe.

"Somewhere, sometime we have got to stand up and change the way we are doing things," she told AFP as the town prepared for the July 29 referendum.

"Otherwise our great grandchildren are going to be living in something like the Sahara desert."

A vocal "No" campaign opposes the proposal, and says there are unforeseeable health risks for the town's 100,000 residents.

"The scientists say it should be safe," said local councillor Keith Beer, one of three members of the nine-strong council that opposes the plan. "That is not good enough for me, for my kids and my grandkids."

Paul at Wizbang sums it up this way:

For those of you cringing out there, I have some bad news for you. Every drop of water you've ever consumed has been recycled sewerage. Yes, even that fancy French bottled stuff.

Water, like everything in life, has a cycle. That coffee you consumed this morning was dinosaur excrement at one time. I live at the bottom of the Mississippi river. I don't need to tell you what I drink every day.

We're so self-deluded. We'll dump treated sewerage effluent into a natural body of water then we'll later use that same body of water as an input for a municipal system... But if you try to hook one to the other, people freak. What do they think happens in the middle and why don't they think we can reproduce it?

A closed system is actually safer as there is less chance of accidental contamination by toxins.

I understand it's "icky" to many people but closed (actually they're semi-closed) systems make infinitely more sense.

####

20060725 KDDC Allan Lichtman visits the Laurel City Council Meeting

Allan Lichtman visits the Laurel City Council Meeting
July 25th, 2006

Wonkette is reporting that Maryland U. S. Senate candidate Allan Lichtman has visited a meeting of the Laurel City Council and made quite an impression.

Yes, this is an unsubstantiated story and the immediate question that comes to mind is that anyone who knows Laurel Mayor Craig Moe wonders why in the world would Mayor Moe put up with this behavior. Well respected and a seasoned veteran of municipal matters, Mayor Moe is not one to suffer fools easily.

Whatever, this is what Wonkette says:

Believe it or not, there’s another Maryland U.S. Senate candidate who wakes up every morning asking “How can I make an ass out of myself?” If this keeps up, who wants to run Wonkette’s Baltimore office? Today’s This hour’s story, about the race’s most Hobbit-like character, comes via an anonymous e-mail.

Maryland Democratic US Senate candidate Allan Lichtman turned up unexpectedly at the City of Laurel Council meeting last night with three ill kempt campaign workers in tow. His appearance was a surprise to most of those in attendance, who were expecting only to get on with the public business. While the scruffy volunteers clad in shorts, sandals and Lichtman t-shirts handed out campaign literature to the attendees, Lichtman generously (and loudly) offered to autograph a copy of his book for the City Council. He then spoke from the lectern for 15 minutes and concluded by claiming that Bill Clinton had originally decided to run for President after being inspired while reading one of Lichtman’s books. The candidate’s minions also solicited contact information from the audience as he shook the hand of everyone, including the Mayor, the Council, the staff and the audience… while the Council meeting continued. It was a wild and surreal experience.

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20060725 KDDC President signs American Flag Display Act

President Signs the "Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005"

Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett present for the signing

July 24, 2006

Back in January 2005, Congressman Bartlett (R-MD) introduced H.R. 42, "Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005,” which would prevent condominium and homeowner associations from restricting how the American flag can be displayed.

It certainly may seem a no-brainer to the average American, however, as unbelievable as it seems, such legislation had become necessary. We live in an era when many privileges we had come to accept as routine, are not acceptable in a world turned upside down.

For example, I find myself bewildered that we find ourselves in a time and place in our society where School Prayer is a Crime and pornography is a protected form of free speech.

Cliff Cumber, writing for the Frederick News Post notes, “Mr. Bartlett, a Republican representing Western Maryland, said he was shocked to learn from constituent and flag dealer, Hugh Warner, that some homeowner associations and condos prevented the flying of the flag.”

Well, “shocked” is one to put it. Can someone please explain what a homeowners or condominium association was thinking when it was written in the by-laws that a person could not display a flag.

Mr. Cumber also reported: “In a press release sent in late June, National Independent Flag Dealer's Association President Lori Watson said people in every state were affected by the law that banned the flying of the U.S. flag. ‘I've had WWII veterans in tears, calling me and begging us for years for our help so they can fly the American flag,’ she said.”

Unbelievable.

In many published accounts, the American flag display act is one of ten pieces of legislation being referred to as the "American Values Agenda."

Perhaps they should be referred to as the “Common Sense Acts of 2006.”

The collection is reported to include “protections for the public display of religion, tax relief for families, prohibition of cloning and defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The agenda was developed by House leadership.”

Of the flag display act, according to the White House web site, President George W. Bush said, “Today, I was pleased to sign into law the "Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005."

“Americans have long flown our flag at their homes as an expression of their appreciation for our freedoms and their pride in our Nation. As our brave men and women continue to fight to protect our country overseas, Congress has passed an important measure to protect our citizens' right to express their patriotism here at home without burdensome restrictions.”

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett’s office reports:

“Americans Now Free to Display the Their American Flags at Their Homes

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett Present When President Bush Signed H.R. 42 into Law - First American Values Agenda of House Republicans to Become Law”

“It was quick, but very exciting," said Congressman Roscoe Bartlett of the meeting in the Oval Office today with President Bush where he signed his bill, "The Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005" (H.R. 42) into law.

The press release went on to say, “Effective immediately, it will ensure the right of an individual to display the flag of the United States at their home.”

The House approved it on June 27. The Senate approved it on July 17.

"It's very exciting to know that Americans are now free to fly the flag at their homes," said Congressman Bartlett. "I was alarmed when I learned that some homeowners associations and condos all over the country prevent Americans from flying the American flag.”

“It's hard to see how flying an American flag could depreciate the value of a condo. That's why I introduced this bill. H.R. 42 provides reasonable guidelines to guarantee Americans the freedom to display the American flag at their homes.

I am grateful for the support I received for this bill from the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, American Veterans (AMVETS), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), the American Legion, the National Independent Flag Dealer's Association and the Community Associations Institute (CAI)."

U.S. House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement after President Bush signed into law the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act, sponsored by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD):

"Every American should be able to display the American flag on their own residential property. Simply put, homeowners associations and condominiums should not be able to restrict the rights of those wanting to display the flag at their homes. Displaying the American flag should be the right of each and every citizen and I'd like to thank Rep. Bartlett for his work on this important legislation and the values it represents for our country."

Various newspaper articles can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Compiled from a press release from Congressman Bartlett’s office, various news accounts and information gathered from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/

For additional information: Contact Lisa Lyons Wright at 202-225-2517 or 202-225-9554 or lisa.wright@mail.house.gov

####

20060624 KDDC Coverage of the Carroll County Fair

Coverage of the Carroll County Fair

July 24^th, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

Whether you are new to the area or a Carroll County native of many generations, the Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair is one of the highlights of the year.

A history of the Fair appeared in the Sunday edition of the Carroll Sun. “Still going strong after a century of change” by Ellie Baublitz is great review of the history of the beginnings of the Fair, that I sure wish that I had written.

This year as in the last several years, some of the best coverage can be found in the Carroll County Times.

Be sure to check out the several articles in the Sunday, July 23^rd, 2006 edition.

As usual, staff reporter Carrie Knauer does a great job with bringing to the readers attention that the Fair is coming and what goes into the making of the Fair.

If you have any questions, check out: “Notes from the Carroll County 4-H & FFA Fair,” a Fair blog by Ms. Knauer. There you can type in questions – and get answers. Click here to access the blog.

And oh, someone please get whoever took the latest picture of Ms. Knauer to take another picture of Jamie Kelly. See my previous post on this matter – here: “20060622 KDDC A picture suggestion for Jamie Kelly.”

The Carroll County Times does not use permalinks, so go to the following articles as soon as possible to check Ms. Knauer’s stories from the Sunday Carroll County Times: “Fair's events appeal to city folk, too,” and “NEW COMPETITIONS, events REFLECT PAST, PRESENT,” and “Tricked out tractor: Harney youth takes part in new mechanical arts competition.”

In the last hyperlink referring you to the “Tricked out tractor…,” there is a great photo by Kyle Nosal, “Kevin Ridinger, 16, stands on his restored 1941 Farmall H tractor, right, and an original, unrestored 1940/50's Farmall H tractor outside of his home Wednesday afternoon.”

Then again, the Times has a history and tradition of excellent photographers and great use of photos in the paper.

It will be interesting to see what the paper does with the newly introduced use of video with the Fair. The possibilities are endless.

As the Fair approaches and gets into full gear, be sure to follow Ms. Knauer’s coverage.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060723 KDDC Annual Tawes Clam Bake

The annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield

The annual dinner theatre of Maryland politics

July 23^rd, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

Caroline and I have attended the Crisfield event in the past, but our family schedule did not allow us to make the pilgrimage this year.

We’ve always enjoyed it when we have attended in the past. It is quite an experience. It has, over the years, taken on a larger than life, cult-like politico-religious aura. Sorta like going to church once a year at Easter. The annual political pilgrimage to the Holy Grail of politico-religious ceremonies.

Caroline and I have been traveling down to the Eastern Shore for many many years, especially after my brother was transferred to the Easton Black and Decker plant in 1983.

Not only is the shore visually beautiful, but native Eastern Shore folks are a special breed. After spending a few days on the shore, one really comes to understand that there really is no life west of the Bay Bridge.

If it were not for the force of family that has been in Carroll County for generations since the 1700s, I would’ve moved to the shore many years ago for the quality of life.

I’ll bet that folks on the shore have a longer life expectancy that those of us who persist in the hectic hornet’s nest we call the Western Shore. Well, now that I think of it, I’ll bet that folks who live in Southern and Western Maryland have longer life expectancies also.

We were first drawn to the Tawes festival because we are history buffs and enjoy the fact that the legacy of J. Millard Tawes has lived on for so many decades after his celebrated public service for the citizens of Maryland.

We also like seafood.

For a previous post about J. Millard Tawes, see my April 28^th, 2006 entry: “20060426 Sept. 2000 Tawes Card Crisfield Museum Presentation.”

For more about Governor J. Millard Tawes or the Clam Bake, click on “J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum;” and here, or here.

The soap opera that we know as Maryland politics has also certainly been a bonus for us. It is the dinner theatre of Maryland politics. Crisfield has great food, great company and great theatre.

Actually, many really nice folks go there and it is the one occasion to see colleagues and leaders in a relaxed social setting.

Except when the event occurs during an election year. Then all the possers come out of the woodwork, as if most regular folks can’t tell when someone is obviously out of place at an event in which they only appear when it is in their own self-interest.

Apparently two of the best political writers in the Maryland region made the annual trek, Tom Dennison and Alan Brody, who write for the Gazette. Things would be different – as in, for the better – if we had more writers like Messrs. Dennison, Brody and Doug Tallman, who also writes for the Gazette.

In a Friday, July 21^st, 2006 article in the Gazette, filed by Messrs. Dennison and Brody entitled: “Retail politics, wholesale fun - Candidates! Voters! Apparatchiks! Crab guts! Tawes shindig has something for everyone,” the event has been brought to life in a manner that makes other writers envious.

The only thing that could have made it better is if a scratch and sniff could have been provided to allow the readers the smells of Old Bay, crabs, beer and thousands of folks all crowded together in the heat and humidity of the lower shore.

They introduce the piece by saying:

CRISFIELD — Politicians came by land and by bay — one even left by air — to Maryland’s premier political frat party, known as the J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake, a sweaty 30-year tradition that serves as the kickoff for the fall’s busy election season.

Read the rest here, it is worth the effort of the click and the time to read it.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060723 KDDC PA Guardsman cleared of charges in Iraq

Pennsylvania Guardsman cleared of charges in Iraq

July 23^rd, 2006

Good news for the American military.

However, in the big picture, decisions in combat are made on the nanosecond level and the last thing we want American soldiers to do in combat is to start hesitating as that will only result in the needless death of more American soldiers.

This is exactly what the enemy wants American men and women in uniform to do - hesitate and worry that the next shot will subject them to baseless second-guessing-charges and months of hassles and humiliation at the hands of the liberal main stream media and the Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, MSNBC is carrying a Reuters story: “U.S. military clears soldier of killing Iraqi - - Pa. Guardsman had been accused of murder, cover-up in Ramadi,” - Updated: 1 hour, 33 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - The U.S. military has cleared a soldier of unlawfully killing an Iraqi civilian after investigators concluded Specialist Nathan Lynn had reason to believe the man was carrying a gun when he opened fire.

Charges were brought against Lynn last month at a time when several murder investigations into U.S. troops in Iraq have prompted questions about their behavior and complaints from the new Iraqi government about a culture of impunity among soldiers.

“The commander ... has withdrawn ... the charges,” a military spokesman said on Saturday. “He is now authorized to rejoin his unit in Pennsylvania.”

Read the rest of the story here.

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20060722 KDDC Mr and Mrs Wilson

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson

July 22^nd, 2006

Lorie Byrd calls to our attention an insightful column about Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame in a post on Wizbang: “The Joe and Val Story Remains the Same.”

In a July 21^st, 2006 post on Wizbang, she says:

The Joe and Val Story Remains the Same

My Townhall column today is about how even as more and more facts become known that contradict Joe Wilson's tale, the Plame story in the mainstream media remains unchanged. I also compare the media unraveling of the Duke lacrosse rape case to that of the Wilson-Plame story. I would welcome anyone to convince me that I am wrong about this one, because I really want to be.

Update: Eric commented that media reaction to Katrina would have been a better example than the Florida Recount example I used. It is a better example, especially since it is so recent. The Recount example is good, too, because it shows how even now, six years later, the myths remain. I wish I had thought of the Katrina one first, though. There are literally dozens of examples of media myths that remain unchanged in the face of facts, but the Duke Lacrosse rape case is actually much more rare. Can anyone else think of a big news story in which perception changed so rapidly when new facts became known? If this doesn't make much sense, it will help to read the column first.

Be sure to read her column on Town Hall.

And be sure to find such good tips by reading Wizbang regularly.

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20060722 KDDC The Radical Islamist paper of record

The latest from the Radical Islamist paper of record

July 22^nd, 2006

The favorite radical Islamists’ newspaper of record, the New York bureau of the Al Jazeera, otherwise known as the New York Times, is at it again.

Michelle Malkin calls to our attention the July 22^nd, 2006 issue of the New York Times with its feature article: “U.S. Speeds Up Bomb Delivery for the Israelis.”

For more interesting information on the New York Times - go here : Grey Lady Traitor

_________________

By DAVID S. CLOUD and HELENE COOPER

WASHINGTON, July 21 — The Bush administration is rushing a delivery of precision-guided bombs to Israel, which requested the expedited shipment last week after beginning its air campaign against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, American officials said Friday.

The decision to quickly ship the weapons to Israel was made with relatively little debate within the Bush administration, the officials said. Its disclosure threatens to anger Arab governments and others because of the appearance that the United States is actively aiding the Israeli bombing campaign in a way that could be compared to Iran’s efforts to arm and resupply Hezbollah.

The munitions that the United States is sending to Israel are part of a multimillion-dollar arms sale package approved last year that Israel is able to draw on as needed, the officials said. But Israel’s request for expedited delivery of the satellite and laser-guided bombs was described as unusual by some military officers, and as an indication that Israel still had a long list of targets in Lebanon to strike.

Read the rest here. Hezbollah has already read it, you may as well be just as informed as our enemies.

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