20060819 KDDC Carroll Co. Commissioner Dean Minnich

Carroll Co. Commissioner Dean Minnich

August 19^th, 2006

For more information click here.

Pasted below, please review Carroll County Commissioner Dean Minnich:

Dean’s Thoughts

What I stand for:

Frugal, efficient and open government

Quality schools

Managed growth allowing for affordable and incremental investment in public safety (fire and ambulance services, policing, courts and justice system) and a sustained quality of life.

Economic development

Preservation of farms and open space.

Thoughts on government:

The less government, the better; but government must provide the foundation to protect the overall quality of life in the community.

Local government, closest to the people, is best. State and Federal government should defer to county and municipal governments whenever possible.

State mandates should be better funded. Up to 80 percent of the cost of local government goes to fund mandated services required by state or federal laws; only 20 percent of the local budget is left to the discretion of the commissioners. No state or federal legislation should be passed without funding by the entity that creates it. If a state or federal law is passed with funding, and that funding is subsequently reduced or eliminated, the law should be automatically repealed.

Thoughts on taxes and revenues:

Growth should pay for growth. Seven of ten homes sold are sold to new arrivals. We need to find alternatives to the property tax and rising assessments to pay for residential growth. Most new residents could afford and would be willing to pay a fee at settlement that would take the pressure off current homeowners.

Anything that impacts the financial reserves of property owners on fixed incomes should be required to have a safety valve or exclusion, so senior citizens or long-time residents are not assessed or taxed out of their homes by growth or rising costs of government caused by new residents.

Thoughts on rules and regulations

The fewer bureaucratic regulations, the better. Basic rules for order are laid out in a reasonable master plan, in which the citizens have a voice. Out of that come planning and zoning ordinances and the foundation for allowing people to live together in communities with a maximum of personal liberty while recognizing the rights of others to the enjoyment and value of their homes and property.

Economic development

We are predominantly a residential county, but we must continue to maintain and grow our economic base to help pay for the costs of services, provide employment and economic vitality, and enhance our sense of balance and community.

First, we will help local businesses and industries grow and prosper. Second, we will work with the towns and state agencies to encourage appropriate new industry that will add to the overall well-being of our county. That emphasis will include the new high-tech economies of research, knowledge and high-tech information/communications, through the development of employment campuses in strategic locations.

Three Major Issues

1. Continuity and institutionalization of the planned growth policies developed over the past three years. Consistency, balance, maintenance of adequate facilities requires it. On-again, off-again growth policies are bad business and bad public policy – and ultimately more expensive to the taxpayer. I would continue the growth policies of the current board of commissioners as determined through the Pathways initiatives and the input of the communities. I would also continue to work with the towns and the council of governments to develop surface water reservoirs and address the need for smart growth around towns and the preservation of farmlands.

2. Sound fiscal policies. Continuity of quality of life requires balance and consistency in maintenance of effort to provide good schools, public safety, recreational facilities and economic development while controlling the costs of government. It requires finding the common ground where needs and wants are met while holding the line on the tax rate. Four years ago, we proposed that “growth should pay for growth,” with fees and taxes on new home construction. Polls showed public support for that concept. We need to find a way to work with delegates to Annapolis to make that happen, and take the pressure off property assessments as the way to pay for needs.

3. Form of local government. The delegation should represent the county’s interests in the state general assembly, but the county government should run the county’s day to day operations and be directly accountable to the public. I will support hearings and public discussion of Code Home Rule government.

If that passes, I will revisit the issue of five commissioners elected by district along the lines recommended by the duly-appointed, bi-partisan redistricting committee (also known as Option 2), which was voted in by a majority in the last election, but thrown out by the courts because of the ineptitude of some members of our delegation in Annapolis.

Before we change the county government, we would hold additional educational sessions and a public hearing. The delegation has already indicated that if Home Rule does not pass, and the responsibility for decisions on local form of government stays with the delegation, they will try to put through Option One again, despite the fact that it was opposed by most residents, two business associations, and all eight incorporated towns' mayors and councils (unanimously).

Straight Talk Leadership

By Authority: Friends of Dean Minnich, Joyce Buckman, treasurer

20060819 KDDC Commissoner Perry Jones

Commissoner Perry Jones
August 19th, 2006

20060819 KDDC Reaction to New York Times parody

Feedback on “20060816 KDDC NYTimes Warsaw Ghetto Uprising an Over Reaction.”

…More on the satire of the New York Times’ coverage of the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict and the New York Times’ coverage of the war on terrorism.

Although I usually do not respond to comments, the comment left by Zum was thoughtful and responsible in its approach and that kind of dialogue is always good, whether we agree of disagree.

Thank you for your feedback Mr./Ms. Zum.

If you did not catch it because the post has fallen off the front page of kevindayhoff.com, Zum says:

“I looked at this NY Times paper you've posted and at first look I was really skeptical that it could be the real thing. American sentiment in 1943 was very anti-Nazi since we were fighting the Germans at that time and having every front page article being anti-semitic seemed absolutely ludicrous to me.

I started to do some research and found that the New York Times archives did not have any articles with these headlines, and especially not on May 10, 1943. I researched the famous photo further and found out that it was actually originally taken by German SS troops and printed in a report to Himmler that was only recovered AFTER the war-----well after 1943.

Finally, I did some more looking around and found out that the whole thing is a hoax published by the The People's Cube, a Web site devoted to lampooning left-wing "political correctness." You can get all the details here:

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_1943_nytimes.htm

It's extremely ironic that you posted this to decry media propaganda when that is exactly what you have fallen prey to yourself. I hope you post a correction and apology so that the issue can be laid to rest in an honorable manner.

And I hope that you start to double check some of the propaganda that you post. There is a lot of misinformation flying around the internet and I hope that you feel strongly against being a tool of propaganda organizations, especially when they are outright lies.”

In the interest of full disclosure, I had hypothecated that the depiction of the May 10^th, 1943 New York Times was a satirical hoax before I popped it up on the blog. Or, allow me to say it this way, I certainly hoped that it was a hoax.

That said, the venerable Old Gray Lady has recently presented with signs of senility, if not, outright dementia in its coverage of the Bush Administration’s policies and approach to the war on terrorism.

For more on this line of thought, please read my August 16^th, 2006 Tentacle column: “London's calling.” Or, “Operation Mata Hari.”

There have been many recent responsible commentaries about how alarmed folks have become with the Times’ approach to putting Americans in danger in its passionate hatred of the Bush Administration.

Several pieces within easy reach of my keyboard are two Michael Barone columns, one from Monday, August 14^th, 2006, titled, “London plot exposes Left.” Or perhaps a better example is Michael Barone’s June 26^th, 2006 column, “Why do "they" hate us?”

Specifically, I am appalled at the propaganda approach of the liberal media in support of Hezbollah. To be certain, I have no first hand knowledge of a specific New York Times article or editorial that was detrimental to the Israeli cause. I have read suggestions and anecdotes that the Old Gray Lady was on Israel’s case. I have given-up on utilizing the New York Times as an important information source. I did discuss some of these issues here.

The thought that some folks may have considered that the satirical depiction of a hoax New York Times’ front page to be “real” speaks well for the suggestion that the New York Times has become iconography (the poster child, if you will) for irresponsible approaches to our nation’s national security and the safety and welfare of Americans – or anyone else that the jihadists may want to harm.

After all, satire works best when the “suspension of disbelief” works. In the case of the New York Times, many of us have long since lost any ability to give the New York Times any benefit of doubt.

To the point that the recent comment made by Ann Coulter has received so much play… Are you aware that the New York Times’ “reaction to al-Zarqawi's death was to lower the U.S. flag at the Times building to half-staff. (Ha ha -- just kidding! Everybody knows there aren't any American flags at The New York Times.)”

Zum calls to our attention an Urban Legends and Folklore article about the “May 10^th, 1943 New York Times” front page satire. Now ya know a satire has arrived when Urban Legends feels the need to address it.

In the article, Urban Legends asks the question: “Do you think this parody is a valid critique of the editorial stance of today's NY Times?”

My view is a resounding, YES!

Urban Legends says:

1943 New York Times Calls Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 'Over-Reaction'

Netlore Archive: Circulating via email, an image purporting to show the front page of the May 10, 1943 edition of the New York Times with a headline declaring that the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against Nazi oppression was an 'over-reaction'

Comments: Nothing of the sort ever appeared on the front page of the New York Times. It's a parody, ripped from its original context in a satirical article published by the The People's Cube, a Web site devoted to lampooning left-wing "political correctness."

Albeit heavy-handed and overwrought to the point of incoherence, the piece is an attempt to ridicule those who have criticized Israel for a "disproportionate use of force" during its recent military conflict with Hezbollah by implying they would have done the same in reaction to the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising by Polish Jews against Nazi oppression during World War II.

Given any thought, the headlines themselves betray the author's satirical intent: "European Leaders Blame Jews for Disproportionate Response," "Jewish Resistance Shatters Hopes for Peaceful Final Solution," and "Peace Vigil Calls for a Cease-Fire." It's an understatement to say they don't reflect the reality of the time.

For good measure, I scanned the New York Times archives and found several articles reporting the horrific conditions in the Warsaw Ghetto, the events leading up to the uprising, and the uprising itself, none of which evinced even a hint of criticism toward the Jews who took up arms against the Nazis in 1943.

Many feel that The People's Cube approach was appropriately “heavy-handed and overwrought to the point of incoherence,” In response to the New York Times’ “heavy-handed and overwrought to the point of incoheren(t)” approach to issues of our safety and national security.

My only regret in posting the parody of the New York Times is that I did do the parody myself. When I was younger and had different time constraints, I so enjoyed doing the very same approach to newspapers with a consistent irresponsible approach to currents events and issues of the day.

If anyone owes anyone an apology, it is the New York Times.

I will be flying in a week, and I sure hope that the New York Times does not reveal anymore anti-terrorism programs between now and the time I board the plane… to Hezbollah – or anyone else who wants to cut my head off simply because I am an American and because they have issues going back to the reign of Caesar.

I respect that militant jihadists are upset. I do not respect the killing of innocent civilians to promote a dialogue about their issues. Or hiding behind innocent civilians as they rocket and kill even more innocent civilians.

Ultimately, I have lost all respect for the New York Times. For that - I post parodies. This is a profoundly different approach than the New York Times, which expresses its lack of respect for the Bush Administration by putting all our lives in danger.

I also have a great deal of respect for Zum, for taking the time to write a thoughtful comment delineating his disagreement with the post. Thank you.

As always, your thoughtful consideration is appreciated regardless of the outcome on any particular issue. Whether we agree or disagree, always find my door open for friendly constructive dialogue.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060818 KDDC Geritol

Geritol

I was in the drug store the other day, re-stocking on vitamins – it’s an advancing age thing – and saw Geritol on the shelves.

I was not aware that it was still being marketed. Brings back memories of sitting with Mom and Dad watching The Lawrence Welk Show.

Back in the day when I was an elected official, I used to joke that there were days when I needed “Geritol IV-Drip” from my iron-poor blood.

I wished that I had looked at the label. I wonder what’s in it – besides ground up scrap iron.

I know, DUH – I’ll Google-it.

Yep – I found it. And this is what’s in it.

And oh, I found this in the FAQs:

Will the use of Geritol® increase my sex drive or fertility?

There's no evidence that Geritol® can increase fertility and we don't make that claim. We're not sure how the rumor got started, but there's no truth to it.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060818 KDDC Android Synchronization

"Android Synchronization"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
August 18, 2006

20060818 KDDC The NYTimes and the difference between Torricelli and DeLay

The New York Times: the difference between Torricelli and DeLay?

Soccer Dad, posting at the Pillage Idiot calls to our attention yet another example of hypocrisy on the part of the New York Times.

This link sends you to a web site that is banned in St. Louis. Too funny. I wonder if the Daily Kos was also banned?

Anyway, Soccer Dad writes, in part: “When it came to the race for senate in New Jersey a few years ago, the editors of the Times approved of the state's high court ignoring the law to allow former Senator Frank Lautenberg to run in place of disgraced Senator Robert Torricelli. An editorial on October 3, 2002 applauded this violation of the law.”

Soccer Dad continued, “What's equally predictable is that these high minded principles only apply if they are likely to produce the correct result… Friday's editorial about the race for Tom Delay's seat contained this line…”

Read the rest here.

A big thanks to Soccer Dad and the Pillage Idiot.

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20060818 KDDC That's a Haven on the horizon

That's a Haven on the horizon.
A billboard on Rte 140 in Westminster for Hampstead Mayor Haven Shoemaker, candidate for Carroll County Delegate to Annapolis, District 5A.
August 18th, 2006
Kevin Dayhoff

20060817 KDDC Re Elect District 5 Senator Larry Haines

Re-Elect District 5 Senator Larry Haines
August 17, 2006
For more information please click here.

Pasted below, please review Senator Larry Haines'

CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The citizens and voters of Maryland’s Legislative District Five have graciously bestowed upon me the honor and privilege to represent them in the State Senate and Maryland General Assembly for sixteen years.

I take the responsibility of public servant very seriously and am seeking re-election to the State Senate. As the ranking Republican member of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Senate Executive Nominations Committee.

I have had the privilege of providing leadership in many very important public policy issues including the Senate Special Commissions on Medical Malpractice Liability Insurance, Legislative Sportsman Caucus, Maryland Rural Caucus, and Taxpayers’ Protection Caucus.

The Senate President has given me the responsibility of serving on the Rules Committee, the Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, the Special Committee on Substance Abuse, the Congressional Redistricting Committee and the Transportation Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The past twelve years, I have served as Chairman of the Carroll County Delegation to Annapolis.

In 1990, I campaigned for a new and expanded State Police Barrack and a full service MVA Center for Carroll County and followed through on these promises. I have been instrumental and provided leadership in securing state funds for the Carroll County Hospital expansions, Hospice, the Carroll Community College Campus, the Agricultural Center, the Historical Society, the Carroll County Arts Council and other projects, including planning and development of the new courthouse.

I have sponsored a number of legislative initiatives of which 38 bills have become law including several major drug crime bills and increased funding for Maryland farmland preservation – now signed into law. I am recognized as the leader of the conservative block in the Senate for family and fiscal issues. I co-sponsored State Bill 4 known as Jessica’s Law, which mandates a 25 year mandatory sentence for a convicted sexual child molester. This bill was signed into law by Gov. Ehrlich in June.

Creating jobs at home, reducing taxes on families, and reducing the regulatory burden of local and state government will continue to be one of my top priorities.

The past Glendening/Towsend administration derailed and delayed our most significant transportation needs. During the 2003 legislative session I introduced a Joint Senate Resolution to fund and start construction of the Hampstead by-pass. With Gov. Ehrlich, myself, Del. Stocksdale and Del. Shewell we broke ground on June 30, 2006 - construction will be completed in 2 years.

We desperately need an inpatient drug treatment facility, and I have worked with the task force in helping this become a reality at The Springfield Hospital Center Prevention and Treatment Programs will be expanding as I serve on the Special Substance Abuse Committee.

I will continue to find sources to increase farmland preservation funding without increasing taxes.

I believe in small government, and that government should have a balanced budget just like our families, and that taxes must be cut to help families.

This is my twelfth year as Chairman of the Carroll County Delegation. As a Maryland State Legislator I have the responsibility to provide leadership that is in the best interest of my local constituency. I have a proven record of initiating and following through with local state projects.

I sponsored legislation to allow local governments to collect their own recordation taxes saving Carroll approximately $1 million annually based on recent collections. As Senator my role is to introduce local legislation initiatives. However, the Annapolis delegation has the final authority over local bills of which are subject to a public hearing prior to approval.

The current Board of Commissioners supported a 1% real estate transfer tax, the only bill the delegation rejected. This tax increase would have generated over $22 million in new annual revenue based on last year’s collections. This was an unnecessary increase, based on the surplus funds from other increased revenues. Direct aid from the state to Carroll County increased from $109,859 in FY 2004 to $155,228 in FY 2007 for a 41.3% increase.

My past initiatives to reduce government spending, reduce the property tax on owner occupied homes and the personal income tax will continue to be my program for tax reform.

My record is clear on gun control, gambling, abortion and capital punishment.

I oppose gun control, I support the second amendment, the citizens right to “keep and bear arms.”

Any type of legalized gambling is poor public policy. I have sponsored legislation to ban partial-birth abortion, which passed the Senate, and I have been the leader on pro-life issues.

Your support and vote is greatly appreciated.

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20060814 KDDC 4th Annual Members Exhibit Reception Aug 17 2006

4^th Annual Members Exhibit Reception August 17 2006

Please join Caroline and me – and many friends and neighbors at the Opening Reception for the Carroll County Arts Council 4^th Annual Members Exhibit: August 17, 2006 5:30 – 7:30 PM

The show will run from August 17^th, 2006 to September 20, 2006 at the Carroll Arts Center, 91 West Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157, www.carr.org/arts

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20060816 KDDC Vota for Moana

“Vota for Moana”

© Kevin Dayhoff

August 16^th, 2006

Westminster, MD - - This is the season for signs.

Recently your intrepid blogger found this group of signs at Main Street and the railroad tracks in Westminster MD.

Mystery surrounds just what Ms. Mona Lisa is running for.

In a related matter, we asked Westminster’s administrator of economic development, Stanta Ruchlewicz, about the economic impact of the Carroll County election season. “Well, ya know, it brings dollars into downtown Westminster,” remarked Mr. Ruchlewicz. “Recently it is about the only thing that’s happening in these parts.”

Asked if he knew just what office Ms. Lisa was running for, Mr. Ruchlewicz responded, “Don’t know. Don’t really care as long as the mysterious sign brings money into Westminster. It’s kinda neat, if I may say so myself.”

Asked how long the sign for Ms. Lisa has been at the intersection, “Don’t know. Been kinda busy recently,” remarked the assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, fleet management, kite flying, road sign, grass clippings removal, utilities maintenance and the soundtrack division of old silent movies.

Marianne Sheehan, the administrative assistant for the assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, fleet management, kite flying, road sign, grass clippings removal, utilities maintenance, letters and art, heavy metal music and the soundtrack division of old silent movies, remarked that the sign “looked good in that location and that it went well with the overall ambiance of downtown Westminster.”

Wayne Reifsnider, the assistant superintendent for streets, buildings, and parks said, “Well, ya know… Well, it’s a free country and people have a right to put up signs on private property, ya know. But I don’t know, ya know. Then on the other hand, well, ya know, it’s a neat sign and I just do my job. Mind my own business, ya know. Well, I best be moving along. See ya.”

More on this developing story as the city continues to unravel.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060816 KDDC Xtreme Sheehan defends ugly sheep

“As many as one out of every three sheep are butt ugly,” further elaborated a spokesperson for the Foundation for Beautiful Sheep. © Rhoiders

Xtreme Sheehan defends ugly sheep

Rhoiders Crawford, Texas

Kant BeTrue, Staff reporter and photojournalist, Rhoiders

Monday, August 16, 2006

News recently reached Crawford Texas that Australian scientists have called on the country’s farmers to report any ugly sheep found in their flocks.

A campaign called “Xtreme Sheehan sheep” aims to study sheep with undesirable Sheehan-like wool features to unlock the genetic makeup of the prized merino and ensure production of its high quality fleece.

Upon hearing the news, Cindy Sheehan was outraged, “We’re the one getting fleeced.”

Ms. Sheehan, who has for over forty days and forty nights, been on a milkshake-for-worldpeace and misunderstood-terrorists fast, weakly rose from her cot in an almost Ghandi-like manner to say, “The Australian genocidal practices against sheep are just another example of the failed Bush international diplomacy. Now sheep around the world are going to hate us.”

As her followers knelt before her in hushed tones, Ms. Sheehan continued, “That lying bastard, George Bush. You get that maniac out here to talk with me. My son died for oil. He died to make your friends richer. He died to expand American imperialism in the Middle East – and now Australia. He died to make sheep, worldwide free from the tyranny of the Bush administration.”

The South Australian Research and Development Institute said on Tuesday its search for “Australia’s ugliest merino lambs” may hold the key to securing the nation’s A$2.8 billion (US$2.1 billion) wool industry. Additional money has been requested to keep Cindy Sheehan out of the country.

The institute said ugly lambs — with uneven wool, strange fibers, clumps of wool that fall out, bare patches, no wool, or highly wrinkled skin — are usually culled by farmers.

“As many as one out of every three sheep are butt ugly,” further elaborated a spokesperson for the Foundation for Beautiful Sheep.

Responding to rumors that her campaign to end the terror and oppression of sheep will likely get her arrested later today, Ms. Sheehan whispered softly, “Now I know how Mickey Mouse feels at Disneyland”

"She's like a herald, waking everybody up," said Tom Matzzie, the Washington director for MoveOn.org.

Asked for a final comment, Ms. Sheehan responded, “Where’s my gawd-damned milkshake. I’m feeling weaker and light in the head.”

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20060816 KDDC The gears of 404

"The gears of 404"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
August 16, 2006

20060816 Vota for Mona

“Vota for Mona”

© Kevin Dayhoff

August 16^th, 2006

This is the season for signs.

Recently your intrepid blogger found this group of signs at Main Street and the railroad tracks in Westminster MD.

Mystery surrounds just what Ms. Mona Lisa is running for.

In a related matter, we asked Westminster’s administrator of economic development, Stanta Ruchlewicz, about the economic impact of the Carroll County election season. “Well, ya know, it brings dollars into downtown Westminster,” remarked Mr. Ruchlewicz. “Recently it is about the only thing that’s happening in these parts.”

Asked if he knew just what office Ms. Lisa was running for, Mr. Ruchlewicz responded, “Don’t know. Don’t really care as long as the mysterious sign brings money into Westminster. It’s kinda neat, if I may say so myself.”

Jeff Glass, Westminster’s assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, utilities maintenance and the soundtrack division of old silent movies said, “It’s like a Norman Rockwell moment. America at its best.”

Asked how long the sign for Ms. Lisa has been at the intersection, “Don’t know. Been kinda busy recently,” remarked the assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, fleet management, kite flying, road sign, grass clippings removal, utilities maintenance and the soundtrack division of old silent movies.

Marianne Sheehan, the administrative assistant for the assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, fleet management, kite flying, road sign, grass clippings removal, utilities maintenance, letters and art, heavy metal music and the soundtrack division of old silent movies, remarked that the sign “looked good in that location and that it went well with the overall ambiance of downtown Westminster.”

Wayne Reifsnider, the assistant superintendent for streets, buildings, and parks said, “Well, ya know… Well, it’s a free country and people have a right to put up signs on private property, ya know. But I don’t know, ya know. Then on the other hand, well, ya know, it’s a neat sign and I just do my job. Mind my own business, ya know. Well, I best be moving along. See ya.”

More on this developing story as it unravels.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20060816 KDDC NYTimes Warsaw Ghetto Uprising an Over Reaction

New York Times, May 10^th, 1943: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising an Over-Reaction

August 16^th, 2006

(From The People's Cube via Gates of Vienna and Michelle Malkin.)

The entire post at: Historians: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Was Overreaction (By Red Square 8/7/2006) is a must read. Hats off to the “Broom of Truth.”

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20060815 KDDC Missing Issue

"Missing Issue"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
August 15th, 2006

20060815 KDDC Check Out ation

"Check Out Ation"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
August 15th, 2006

20060815 KDDC Ben Cardin to cure cancer

Ben Cardin to cure cancer

August 15^th, 2006

Before I say another word, I gotta tell ya, God Bless everyone who is running for office. Considering today’s technology which allows saturation coverage of every candidate’s every waking moment. Anyone – everyone - can and will make a mistake or say something that will be taken out of context or utter words that may be misconstrued by the practitioners of professional outrage.

Need I mention this or this or here?

Never-the-less, BlogDC (“100,000 Airplanes” By Andrew Daniller) has the scoop that Congressman Ben Cardin is going to cure cancer.

No mention as to whether or not he invented the Internet.

Hat Tip: Wonkette: “More fuel for the debate on whether life in Washington imitates The West Wing or whether The West Wing imitates life. [Blog DC]”

Apparently BlogDC found it in a post on MyDD: “Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer” by Matt Stoller, Tue Aug 15, 2006 at 12:30:42 PM EST:

“Let's say a credible biochemist friend told you that it was likely that we could cure many forms of cancer by 2015. Would you believe him? Let's say, on the other hand, that a politician running in a hotly contested primary, told you that if you elected him he would cure cancer by 2015. Would you believe him? Welcome to Ben Cardin's strategy. Color me skeptical of Cardin's political approach.”

However, BlogDC made an inaccurate conclusion – Maryland’s Lt. Governor Michael Steele will be out next U. S. Senator.

Anyway – this is what the BlogDC said:

“Remember that episode of The West Wing from the middle of the third season when Bartlet had just been censured by Congress and needed a huge State of the Union bump to give him any chance of winning reelection and so he and Sam began to obsess about promising a cure for cancer within ten years as a message of hope for the country?

Well, I do, and Rep. Ben Cardin is stealing the plot (via Matt Stoller):

"We are going to lick cancer by 2015," Cardin told a group of 15 people

at the HopeWell Cancer Support Center on Falls Road.

Maryland, I hope you like Kweisi Mfume, because he's about to be your next Senator.”

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20060815 KDDC Who are these community leaders?

Who are these community leaders?
August 15th, 2006

The ladies pictured above are two of my most favorite folks in the world today.

Hint: I ran across them as I was researching a future column for which I had to use microfiche.

They were very kind and helpful to an old and aging artist and writer. They are that great mix of professional, knowledgeable and fun. That’s a wonderful way to be when ya wait on the public for over a third of your everyday life and Westminster and Carroll County is fortunate to have them working in our community.

PS: There was a third lady who was also very helpful, but she got really shy for the picture taking part of the program.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060815 KDDC Former CCPS employee charged with stealing

Former Public Schools employee charged with stealing school funds
Tuesday, August 15th, 2006

Westminster, Carroll County, MD - - The Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Ecker announced in a news conference this morning that a former Carroll County Public Schools employee with South Carroll High School has been charged with stealing school funds.

The news conference will be broadcast on Channel 21 at the following dates and times: Wed., 8/16, 11 a.m.; Thurs., 8/17, 5 p.m.; Fri., 8/18, 1 p.m.; Sat., 8/19, 9 a.m.; Sun., 8/20, 5 p.m.; Mon., 8/21, 8 p.m. Tues., 8/22, 10 a.m.

Although not named in the subsequent press release, the Carroll County Times reports, “Wendy Sue Bowers, 39, allegedly stole the money over a period of six years by keeping two sets of books,” according to an article written by Penny Riordan.

The Carroll County Times also ran the above photograph of Ms. Bowers.

A press release further reveals:

A former employee is being charged with stealing significant school funds from South Carroll High School. We estimate the amount stolen over six years to be just over $200,000.

The money taken was raised through athletic events, student fundraisers, vending machines profits, student yearbooks, and other such school-based accounts.

It was not funds provided to the school by the school system’s operating budget to support South Carroll’s instructional program.

How did we find out? In early spring, our Finance Department noticed deficits in South Carroll High School’s balances.

Once we the concluded that theft was a possibility, we immediately contacted the State’s Attorney’s office and requested their guidance.

We fully cooperated with them during the investigation.

Another obvious question is “How could it have happened?” We are still working on that answer. While we thought our controls were sound, they obviously weren’t good enough. We will correct them.

Our new procedures will have to assume that everyone is dishonest. That may seem harsh, but this former employee was a very trusted individual who was also a respected payroll clerk and finance clerk in our central office.

Not long after she arrived at South Carroll, she was able to create an intricate and systematic method of stealing that extended back at least six years and allowed her to pay school bills, but still take significant dollars

The next question is “How will we respond?” Our action plan will respond in four separate, but related ways:

1. Education of Staff: We will work with the State’s Attorney’s office, our auditors, our own legal council, and others to highlight real life examples of employee theft. We will provide specific information about how and why it occurs, we will heighten their awareness that, given the right set of circumstances, theft can and will happen anyplace.

2. Increase in School Account Oversight: We will work with our quality control department to provide for more direct supervision of school-based account. This action will include random visits to audit school records with class and club advisors and provide more oversight of school-based deposits and expenditures.

3. Increase in Audit Staffing: Currently, we only have a single person whose job is devoted to quality control. This staffing is inadequate for a school system our size. I will include in next year’s budget request, additional staffing in our audit department.

4. Revision of School-Based Account Control Procedures: As I stated, we are revising the procedures that provide controls to school-based accounts. While some of the cause of this theft was related to the former employee’s in-depth knowledge of the system and her stellar reputation, we can benefit by several changes in our procedures.

They will include:

(a) Eliminating the use of separate account software by financial secretaries. All financial transaction will be completed using the school system’s centralized finance system.

(b)A redesigned Fund Collection Record. This revised form will place an additional review of the deposit of funds for school-based accounts.

(c) Assign ownership of all school-based accounts. Some accounts such as student parking lot permits, vending machine funds and others are not regularly monitored because they are only deposit accounts that do not have regular expenditures to monitor.

(d) Provide more in-service training for administrators, secretaries, athletic directors, club sponsor, and anyone that collects money for school functions. (Currently we do provide in-service training each year for administrators and secretaries)

The money will be recovered, either through repayment of some or all of the missing funds by the former employee, or by insurance.

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20060814 KDDC Ceasefire Fallout begins

Ceasefire Fallout begins

August 14th, 2006

Now that United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 has been passed and the Israeli are going to depend on the United Nations to defend innocent civilians from being rocketed by Hezbollah, the ceasefire fallout in Israel begins.

First we have been assured that this ceasefire and disarming of Hezbollah will succeed this time because Kofi Annan will require all reports to be provided in triplicate.

I’m certainly reassured and buoyed for the future with that information at hand.

Not widely reported in the main stream media, much skepticism lies just beneath the surface as to whether this is a ceasefire or an opportunity for Hezbollah to re-arm pending round two.

The DEBKAfile reports that already, “Hizballah is filtering reinforcements into South Lebanon among returning refugees. They are taking up positions in the still undamaged bunkers and fortified civilian dwellings.”

(Yes, in Israel “Hezbollah” is spelled “Hizballah.”)

And a debate rages as to just how well the IDF performed. Rumblings about strategy, military preparedness, adequate, timely and adequate intelligence, and performance abound.

Meanwhile the Israelis honor their dead. One account I found in Haaretz was particularly poignant. An account about the first female soldier, Sergeant Major Keren Tendler, lost on active duty since the Yom Kippur War in 1973: “In life and death, she pushed all boundaries.”

In the coming weeks, there will be a great sorting out of what has happened and the implications of the future.

One thing to be sure, much of the media and liberal bias against Israel was once-again brought to the surface.

Read “Don't boycott the BBC,” by Stephen Pollard in the Jerusalem Post:

Switch on the BBC News and, other than the fact that it is in English, you might think that you had tuned in by mistake to al-Manar, Hizbullah's own TV station. The BBC almost always ignores any case Israel might have for taking action against terrorism and concentrates on what it calls, relentlessly, Israel's "disproportionate response" in Lebanon. Israeli spokesmen and women are interviewed, but are quizzed as if they are propagandists for war crimes.

So it's understandable that there have been calls for Israeli officials and politicians to boycott the BBC. Understandable, but wrong.

Read the rest here.

Many were surprised by the lack of support for Israel from liberal Democrats.

In Lebanon, “civilians” – used as human shields by Hezbollah were killed. In Israel, the Katyushas killed “Israelis,” – not “civilians,” mind you, but “Israelis.”

The doctored photograph phenomena will be debated for quite sometime. See the New York Times piece: “Ease of alteration creates woes for picture editors.”

Carolyn Glick says that “The Olmert government must go:”

From all sides of the political spectrum calls are being raised for the establishment of an official commission of inquiry to investigate the Olmert government's incompetent management of the war in Lebanon. These calls are misguided.

We do not need a commission to know what happened or what has to happen. The Olmert government has failed on every level. The Olmert government must go.

The Jerusalem Post carries a story about the political and the military fallout of the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict. Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.

Aug. 14, 2006 2:56 | Updated Aug. 14, 2006 15:30

The countdown for Olmert has begun By ANSHEL PFEFFER

Whatever way you analyze UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the cease-fire that might have broken out at 8 a.m. Monday morning, and even if you accept the government's claims that it's good for Israel, there is no way that it can be good for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

This was the war that was going to establish him as a bona fide leader. During the first few weeks, his popularity ratings soared sky-high as the public expressed its trust in the government's decision to go after Hizbullah. There was a great deal of disappointment and skepticism regarding the IDF's conduct following the twin kidnap debacles at Kerem Shalom on June 25 and two weeks later at Biranit, but for once the politicians seemed to be calling the right shots.

The rest of the story can be found here.

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