Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems

Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems - www.kevindayhoff.com Address: PO Box 124, Westminster MD 21158 410-259-6403 kevindayhoff@gmail.com Runner, writer, artist, fire & police chaplain Mindless ramblings of a runner, journalist & artist: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, technology, music, culture, opera... National & International politics www.kevindayhoff.net For community: www.kevindayhoff.org For art, technology, writing, & travel: www.kevindayhoff.com

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

20060919 KDDC Everything men need to know about women’s shoes


Everything men need to know about women’s shoes

Columnist Maude Franceschina, writing for the Frederick News Post explains in her September 19th, 2006 column, everything men need to know about women’s shoes.

Well sorta. I still have many questions. I haven’t a clue as to why anyone would want to where shoes in which they cannot walk?

I think very little about my shoes - - or what to wear for that matter. A point for which I am reminded from time to time. Apparently I am not in the running for being designated a clothes-horse. To which I usually respond by giving the fashion critic 50 cents so they can go call someone who cares.

Anyway – I liked her final line, which I did understand: “I plan to wear red cowboy boots when voters reject the soft on national security Democrats this November (I couldn't resist).”

If the Democrats do prevail in the “Fall elections - Democrat Wave Theory”, we will all need our running shoes.

Fortunately, President Bush’s approval rating is on the rise according to a September 19th, 2006 Gallop News Service article by Joseph Carroll: “Bush job approval up to 44%:”

“Highest approval rating so far this year. PRINCETON, NJ -- A new USA Today/Gallup poll finds George W. Bush's job approval rating is now at 44%, which is an improvement compared with the public's assessment of his performance in recent months. Bush's job approval ratings have been fluid in recent weeks, measuring as high as 42% in mid-August, but dropping back to 39% earlier this month.”

Read the rest of Gallop piece here.

And enjoy Ms. Franceschina’s column here.

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20060919 KDDC Bicyclist killed in late night accident on Rte 140 in Westminster









Bicyclist killed in late night accident on Rte 140 in Westminster

Photos by Kevin Dayhoff © www.kevindayhoff.com Sept. 19, 2006

A dark stretch of eastbound Rte 140 between the Rte 27 overpass and Center St. in Westminster was the scene of a fatal accident involving a bicyclist and a Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy late Tuesday evening.

The accident was first dispatched at 10:40 PM and Westminster, Pleasant Valley and Reese Fire Departments responded.

There is a number of street lights out in this dangerous stretch of highway and the fire companies stayed on scene for hours to illuminate the area as the accident reconstruction team from the Maryland State Police conducted a joint investigation of the accident with the Westminster Police Department.

Police agencies from Westminster, the Maryland State Police and the Sheriff’s Department remained at the accident for several hours.

No additional details were available as this is being posted. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

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

20060919 KDDC Bicyclist killed in late night accident on Rte 140 in Westminster









Bicyclist killed in late night accident on Rte 140 in Westminster

Photos by Kevin Dayhoff © www.kevindayhoff.com Sept. 19, 2006

A dark stretch of eastbound Rte 140 between the Rte 27 overpass and Center St. in Westminster was the scene of a fatal accident involving a bicyclist and a Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy late Tuesday evening.

The accident was first dispatched at 10:40 PM and Westminster, Pleasant Valley and Reese Fire Departments responded.

There is a number of street lights out in this dangerous stretch of highway and the fire companies stayed on scene for hours to illuminate the area as the accident reconstruction team from the Maryland State Police conducted a joint investigation of the accident with the Westminster Police Department.

Police agencies from Westminster, the Maryland State Police and the Sheriff’s Department remained at the accident for several hours.

No additional details were available as this is being posted. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

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

20060919 KDDC Bicyclist killed in late night accident on Rte 140 in Westminster









Bicyclist killed in late night accident on Rte 140 in Westminster

Photos by Kevin Dayhoff © www.kevindayhoff.com Sept. 19, 2006

A dark stretch of eastbound Rte 140 between the Rte 27 overpass and Center St. in Westminster was the scene of a fatal accident involving a bicyclist and a Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy late Tuesday evening.

The accident was first dispatched at 10:40 PM and Westminster, Pleasant Valley and Reese Fire Departments responded.

There is a number of street lights out in this dangerous stretch of highway and the fire companies stayed on scene for hours to illuminate the area as the accident reconstruction team from the Maryland State Police conducted a joint investigation of the accident with the Westminster Police Department.

Police agencies from Westminster, the Maryland State Police and the Sheriff’s Department remained at the accident for several hours.

No additional details were available as this is being posted. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

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

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

20060917 KDDC Cartoon MD Primary Election Voters What Voters


MD Primary Elections on September 12, 2006: "Voters? What Voters?"

"Voters? What Voters?"

Cartoon by (c) Kevin Dayhoff

September 13, 2006

State elections administrator Linda Lamone and Maryland General Assembly Speaker of the House, Mike Busch engage in a spirited conversation about the Maryland primary elections on September 12th, 2006: “Voters? What Voters?”

For a previous post on Maryland’s primary election fiasco, see my post on September 15th, 2006: “20060915 KDDC Crablaw is staying on top of Maryland’s primary election fiasco.”

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Monday, September 18, 2006

20060917 KDDC Oriana Fallaci buried today Sunday Sept 17 2006




Oriana Fallaci buried today Sunday September 17th, 2006

Oriana Fallaci: Burial Sunday At Florence Evangelical Cemetery

(AGI) - Florence, Sept 16 - Now it all seems confirmed: Oriana Fallaci, who passed away at the Santa Chiara clinic in Florence on the night of September 14th, will be buried tomorrow in the Evangelical Cemetery of Laurels at Galluzzo. There will be no formal funeral, at her request, just a few old friends to say good-bye and then the burial. (AGI) 161350 SET 06

15 Settembre 2006 10:50 [Cronaca] Fallaci: Morta In Clinica, Funerali In Forma Privata: [..](AGI) - Firenze, 15 set. - Oriana Fallaci e' deceduta nella casa di cura Santa Chiara, una clinica privata, nel centro storico fiorentino, dove era ricoverata dalla scorsa settimana. La giornalista e' stata assistita dalla sorella Paola e da un nipote che l'hanno seguita fino all'ultimo momento [..]

For my previous post on Ms. Fallaci, please see:20060915 KDDC Italian lioness of letters Oriana Fallaci had died today: 15 Sep 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff: Italian lioness of letters Oriana Fallaci had died September 15, 2006 A difficult schedule and several deadlines unfortunately do not allow me to drop everything and write about her. However, I will post about her as soon as I get a ... Read the rest here. ####

Risultati da 1 a 10 di 15 documenti trovati su: Oriana Fallaci:

15 Settembre 2006 09:32 [PCM - Oggi in Italia] Firenze: E' Morta Oriana Fallaci, Era Malata Da Tempo: [..](AGI) - Firenze, 15 set. - Si e' spenta in un ospedale fiorentino, a 77 anni, dopo una lunga malattia, Oriana Fallaci, la scrittrice controversa, contestata in piu' di una occasione per le sue dichiarazioni, di recente soprattutto a causa dei suoi interventi relativi ai rapporti con l'Islam. Nata a [..]

15 Settembre 2006 14:01 [Cronaca] Oriana Fallaci Si E' Spenta Nella Notte A Firenze: [..](AGI) - Roma, 15 set. - Si e' spenta nella notte in un ospedale fiorentino, a 77 anni, dopo una lunga malattia, Oriana Fallaci, la scrittrice controversa, contestata in piu' di una occasione per le sue dichiarazioni, di recente soprattutto a causa dei suoi interventi relativi ai rapporti con l'Islam[..]

15 Settembre 2006 09:48 [Cronache locali - Firenze] Fallaci: Renzi, Straordinaria Espressione Della Fiorentinita': [..](AGI) - Firenze, 15 set. - 'Oriana Fallaci era una delle piu' straordinarie espressioni della fiorentinita' nel mondo. Una fiorentinita' che ha testimoniato, nella sua prestigiosa carriera di giornalista e scrittrice, tanto nei suoi pregi universalmente riconosciuti quanto negli aspetti che sono sta[..]

15 Settembre 2006 11:14 [Cronache locali - Firenze] Fallaci: Due Giorni Fa La Visita Di Mons. Fisichella: [..](AGI) - Firenze, 15 set. - Oriana Fallaci, secondo alcune fonti, avrebbe ricevuto due giorni fa a Villa Santa Chiara, a Firenze, dove era ricoverata, la visita di Monsignor Rino Fisichella, rettore della Pontificia Universita' Lateranense, cappellano di Montecitorio, con cui la scomparsa scrittrice [..]

15 Settembre 2006 10:54 [Politica] Fallaci: Napolitano, Protagonista Di Vivaci Battaglie: [..](AGI) - Roma, 15 set. - Il Presidente della Repubblica Giorgio Napolitano, appresa la notizia della morte di Oriana Fallaci, ha inviato ai familiari un messaggio di intensa partecipazione al loro dolore, nel quale si legge: "Scompare con Oriana Fallaci una giornalista di fama mondiale, autrice di gr[..]

15 Settembre 2006 10:53 [PCM - Italy On Line] Fallaci: Napolitano, Protagonista Di Vivaci Battaglie: [..](AGI) - Roma, 15 set. - Il Presidente della Repubblica Giorgio Napolitano, appresa la notizia della morte di Oriana Fallaci, ha inviato ai familiari un messaggio di intensa partecipazione al loro dolore, nel quale si legge: "Scompare con Oriana Fallaci una giornalista di fama mondiale, autrice di gr[..]

15 Settembre 2006 14:26 [Cronache locali - Firenze] Fallaci: Martini, Ha Incrociato Storia E Politica Del '900: [..](AGI) - Firenze, 15 set. - "Ci lascia una grande giornalista e scrittrice che, come pochi, ha incrociato con la sua attivita' professionale la storia e la politica di decenni cruciali del Novecento. Una personalita' ricca e complessa che ha vissuto a contatto con il mondo mantenendo pero' un forte l[..]

15 Settembre 2006 12:10 [Politica] Fallaci: Bertinotti, Protagonista Del Dibattito Culturale: [..](AGI) - Roma, 15 set. - "Nell'apprendere la notizia della scomparsa di Oriana Fallaci, illustre personalita' della letteratura e del giornalismo italiano e protagonista del dibattito culturale sui temi del mondo contemporaneo, esprimo a Voi tutti i sentimenti del profondo cordoglio mio personale e d[..]

15 Settembre 2006 12:07 [PCM - Italy On Line] Fallaci: Bertinotti, Protagonista Del Dibattito Culturale: [..](AGI) - Roma, 15 set. - "Nell'apprendere la notizia della scomparsa di Oriana Fallaci, illustre personalita' della letteratura e del giornalismo italiano e protagonista del dibattito culturale sui temi del mondo contemporaneo, esprimo a Voi tutti i sentimenti del profondo cordoglio mio personale e d[..]

15 Settembre 2006 10:50 [Cronaca] Fallaci: Morta In Clinica, Funerali In Forma Privata: [..](AGI) - Firenze, 15 set. - Oriana Fallaci e' deceduta nella casa di cura Santa Chiara, una clinica privata, nel centro storico fiorentino, dove era ricoverata dalla scorsa settimana. La giornalista e' stata assistita dalla sorella Paola e da un nipote che l'hanno seguita fino all'ultimo momento [..]

Sunday, September 17, 2006

20060916 KDDC Who put the fun in Westminster Fallfest fundraising?


Who put the fun in Westminster Fallfest fundraising?

September 16, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

Westminster’s 29th annual Fallfest celebration begins tomorrow and continues through next Sunday. For many of us it is one of the highlights of the year. It is always fun when the greater Carroll County family gets together to celebrate everything that is wonderful about our community.

For a complete schedule of all this year’s Fallfest events – click here.

The annual Fallfest Parade at begins at 4pm on Sunday September 17th, 2006.

The Fallfest Mile run begins fifteen minutes earlier on Sunday September 17th, 2006 at 3:45pm. The race starts at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Monroe and ends on Longwell Avenue.

The Rides and Games begin Thursday 9/21 6pm to 10pm; Friday 9/22 6pm to 10pm; Saturday 9/23 10am to 10pm; and Sunday 9/24 12noon to 6pm.

Today, the annual celebration takes up a two-block area at the Westminster Playground. For directions, click here.

For more information, call (410) 876-1313 or go to: www.westminsterfallfest.com

This year’s community underwriter for Fallfest is Westminster Union Bank.

For a complete listing of all the Fallfest sponsors click here. Links to all the sponsors are also on this page. They are an integral part of making this great annual community event happen. Please take a moment review the list sponsors, patronize them in the future and take a moment to thank them for contributing and making difference in the community.

If you are not familiar with Westminster’s Fallfest, Donna Shybunko, a Fallfest volunteer for Kiwanis, says “Fallfest puts the fun in fundraising… I look forward to the fun in Fallfest every year to help raise money for the Kiwanis children’s programs.”

Part of the fun is the Fallfest board consisting of Michelle Adams, Carol Baublitz, Theresa Bethune, Karen Black, Tom Canon, Lori Welsh-Graham, Marshall Green, Ken Horak, Roberta Kasik, Brian Kasik, Jim Lay, Jennifer Mellor, and Ronald Schroers. These fun folks are some of Carroll County’s best dream keepers.

It is people like these Fallfest board members and the many Fallfest volunteers who staff the food booths, the games and the events that help make Carroll County our home, a great place to live, do business and raise a family. The dream keepers are citizens and not spectators. The dream keepers say “let’s do it” and then roll up their sleeves and go to work and have fun while doing it.

Mr. Canon explained that the Fallfest “board is unique because every member is a worker and shares a love of the community.” Mr. Kasik, said that he “loves working with the other members of the board (and enjoys) the shared commitment to the community.”

Last Thursday evening I had an opportunity to stop by a Fallfest board meeting and witness these dream keepers at work.

Two new members of the board, Ms. Bethune and Mr. Horak, remarked how well organized, motivated and driven the dream keepers were. Although as I entered the room they were all talking and gesturing excitedly, writing notes and banging away at keyboards.

When it comes to discussing all the partners in the community who make Fallfest a success, everyone agreed with Mr. Horak, when he was quick to add that none of them could do it without the support of their families. They also made special mention of the long hours and steadfast support of the Westminster Police and Street Departments.

The Fallfest Board dream keepers work 365 days of the year; thinking out-of-the-box, growing and evolving, to make the next four days of this week successful. When you attend Fallfest, keep in mind that in order to make Fallfest a success there are countless long meetings, endless paperwork, countless telephone calls, and late nights at the events. Most of the dream keepers use a personal week of vacation from work for the upcoming whirlwind of activities over the next several days.

The modern version of this annual fall harvest event began in 1978 to celebrate the Westminster revitalization efforts of the mid 1970s. Over the years the annual celebration has grown and so has the scope of the Fallfest board. It has increasingly become our community’s coordinator for reaching out to touch the lives of more families in Carroll County - - for supporting county family events, friendraising – err, fundraising and celebrations.

Mr. Canon calls it the “ripple in the pond” affect on the community. And he is the person who coined the phrase “friendraising.”

Last year Fallfest raised - - and then promptly gave away over $36,000.00 to local charities. Over 40,000 folks attended; for an estimated total economic impact for our community of over $400,000.00.

This year’s charities are Carroll Hospice, Habitat for Humanity for Carroll County, Kiwanis Clubs of Westminster and Mission of Mercy. There will be over 200 vendors and 30 local non-profit agencies promoting their agencies at the festival. For more information and the schedule of events, be sure to go to their web site: www.westminsterfallfest.com.

It seems that the Fallfest board is in the business of planting the seeds and harvesting the fruits from gathering our community together for a greater good.

When you attend this year’s festivities, be sure to thank all the volunteers and the Fallfest dream keepers’ board. They are easy to spot. They’re the tired ones, with the big hearts and huge smiles.

I’ll look forward to seeing you there. I’ll be the one sticking close to the food booths because another part of the fun of Fallfest is eating.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060916 KDDC A reprint of my Westminster Fallfest column from September 22 2004


A reprint of my Westminster Fallfest column from September 22 2004

September 16th, 2006

The picture above is from the 1983 Fallfest celebration when it was still held on Westminster’s Main Street. Today, the annual celebration takes up a two-block area at the Westminster Playground. For directions, click here.

In 2004, I was writing a weekly column for the Westminster Advocate. Many of those columns are not available on-line. My column, on the Westminster Fallfest, which appeared in the paper on September 22, 2004 is one of my most requested for reprints.

Posted below, please find a longer version of the column that appeared in the Westminster Advocate on September 22, 2004.

Please enjoy.

The Westminster Dream Team

September 22nd, 2004 by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff (2001-2005)

Like many communities, Westminster has its dreamers, its dream keepers and its dream slayers. The dreamers and the dream keepers are the stuff that makes a community a home; a great place to live, do business and raise a family. The dream keepers are citizens - not spectators. The dream keepers say “let’s do it” and then roll up their sleeves and go to work.

The soul of a community is evident in how well it promotes art, music, diversity and culture - and has fun. The integrity of a community is how well it treats the disadvantaged.

Westminster has a vibrant history of coming together in private – public partnerships to help make the community a better place. We also have a history of having a good time. We have parades, carnivals, festivals, celebrations, and we have Fallfest.

Fallfest is in a category all to itself. Fallfest is a wonderful concoction of dreamers and civic-minded generosity; a celebration of community, the arts, culture and music. All the while it raises lots of money and then – it gives it away.

The roots of the Fallfest go back to 1978 when a group of dreamers got together to promote awareness for the renewal of the downtown shopping district.

This built upon a time many years ago when Westminster came together in September for an event sponsored by the Retail Merchants Association called “Westminster Days”.

In an August 29th, 1947 article in the Democratic Advocate, it describes a big parade on Thursday evening and two days of downtown merchant sales on September 25th and 26th, 1947. “The climax…will be on Friday evening … when gifts donated by the merchants will be awarded in the State Armory, Longwell Ave.

Ron Schroers, of the Fallfest Board (aka The Westminster Dream Team), put together some facts and history for me. During the 1980’s, the volunteers decided to distribute the extra funds generated by Fallfest to support local charities. Ron wrote that “Over the years we have evolved into a multi-cultural and multifaceted organization known as Westminster Fallfest…”

The Westminster Dream team that runs Fallfest includes Michelle Adams, Carol Baublitz, Tom Canon, Joe Cimino, Lori Welsh-Graham, Marshall Green, Roberta Kasik, Brian Kasik, James Lay, Ron Schroers, and Valerie Westbrook.

They work 12 months a year. Each year the Fallfest Board interviews charities and non-profits and selects worthy organizations to benefit from Fallfest. Each charity chosen is required to provide over 300 staff hours throughout the year for Fallfest, thereby, they participate in helping themselves.

Over the years the list of recipients includes a who’s-who of organizations that make quite a positive difference in our community. Organizations such as: ARC – The Association for Retarded Citizens; 4-H Therapeutic Riding; RAD – Residents Attacking Drugs; Rape Crisis Intervention Service; Westminster Volunteer Fire Department; Christmas in April – Carroll County; Carroll Hospice, Inc.; Carroll County Food Sunday (food pantry); Girl Scouts of America – Carroll County; SOS – Senior Overland Service; Mission of Mercy (free medical/dental care); HSP (homeless shelter); Carroll County Foster Parent Association; Carroll County Children’s Fund…to name just a few. Some of the above rely heavily on Fallfest for a majority of their operating capital.

This year’s selected charities include Westminster Kiwanis Club, Human Services Programs of Carroll County, Mission of Mercy, and Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County.

Over the past 25 years Fallfest has distributed in excess of $150,000 to the community through local charities. Each year Fallfest attracts over 40,000 visitors to the downtown Westminster business district. Over $25,000.00 was donated to charities in 2003.

This year’s 2004 Fallfest dates are Sept 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th. Please plan to join your friends and neighbors at the Westminster Playground, have some fun and help the Westminster Dream Team extend a helping hand to so many needy folks in our community. Keep the dream alive.

© 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

20060916 KDDC Is a caped crusader a solution to Westminster Crime?

Is a caped crusader a solution to Westminster Crime?

Saturday, 09/16/2006

Is a caped crusader a solution to Westminster Crime?

By Kant BeTrue

Rhoiders Phoenix Hill Daily Herald Bugle

On August 14th, 2006, Westminster Police Chief Jeff Spaulding addressed the fact that the crime rate in Westminster increased by more than 14 percent last year, according to statistics compiled by the FBI, and Westminster Police Department officials say the increase is continuing into 2006,” this, according to an article in the Carroll County Times by Ari Natter.

The article continued: "I think it's important to understand crime is never static; there are peaks and valleys," said Jeffrey Spaulding, chief of the Westminster Police Department. "We are obviously on an upward trend."

“…In order to combat the rising crime rate, Spaulding said his department has moved resources where they are needed, increasing the use of bike patrols and surveillance details. A new officer has been added to the department's criminal investigation division, he said.”

But, in order to combat increased crime, did the chief ever think of using a scantily-clad superhero caped crusader, “who flies (over town) and shoots laser beams from her buttocks?” (09/14/2006 Katrina Cornwell, The News Examiner)

Or, “[i]magine (Westminster) being taken over by dastardly villains determined to wipe out country music and a scantily clad crime-fighting superhero named Thong Girl coming to save the day.” (09/14/2006 Katrina Cornwell, The News Examiner)

Can you imagine the mayor of Westminster announcing in a Westminster Common Council meeting under the time allotted as mayor’s announcements: “As you are all aware economic development is important to Westminster and in-line with that concept; ah, next week, ah, Wednesday and Thursday that is, the mayor’s office will be closed for the shooting of a couple movie scenes about a crime stopping super heroine.”

“We feel that the jobs and money that it will bring to Westminster are important to all our citizens.”

Just then a councilmember asks, “That’s great mayor. I mean isn’t this mayor just the best? What’s the movie? … Tell us a bit about the movie, just so we all know what a great job you are doing? This was all your idea?”

The mayor of Westminster responds, a bit flustered and clears his throat: “Yeah, well, let me see here.” Papers are shuffled… “I know I’ve got a synopsis of the plot somewhere here. I think. I thought. Oh, here it is. Now let me see here. Oh, I’ve got it. It’s a movie that’s based on a comic strip super heroine.”

“This is a chance for our people to get in the movies and make some money. I (am) excited about it…” (09/14/2006 Katrina Cornwell, The News Examiner)

“Totally wholesome entertainment, nothing dirty about it… She's not a porn star, it's all family entertainment. She's PG-13.” (09/15/2006 News Channel 5)

“The movie is called, well what is it called? Oh here, I’ve got it. It’s called: “Thong Girl 3: Revenge of the Dark Widow.” It is about “Thong Girl’s alter ego, Lana Layonme, went shopping at a lingerie store one day and put on a pair of red thong underwear, which gave her magical powers. Donning thong underwear, the risquĂ© superhero “polices the skies with an iron fist and a fiery butt” to keep Nashville safe, according the Thong Girl Web site at www.thonggirlfilms.com.” (09/14/2006 Katrina Cornwell, The News Examiner)

Pandemonium breaks loose…

Well, that was fun and it had Dr. Pepper squirting out through my nose. But fortunately or unfortunately, whatever your perspective - - such a thing, has not, is not, to the best of my knowledge, in the planning from Westminster’s august shining white house on the hill.

Although it would certainly liven things up a bit. Many of us would certainly take a super heroine in red thong underwear as the face of our front line on crime than the drooling over-the-hill hippie that we have now who comes to council meetings and throws a hissy-fit of kindergarten proportions like a two-year old in high chair throwing food.

But - - , oh, you knew that conjunction was coming. But, apparently this is sorta what has happened in Gallatin, Tennessee.

On 09/15/2006, News Channel 5 reported:

“Scandal has hit the Gallatin mayor's office. It's a case only a caped crusader can handle.

Though actually, it's a superhero who's at the center of the controversy.

Thong Girl, a superhero ready to save Music City filmed some scenes for her latest film in Gallatin's city hall, which has put the mayor in the spotlight.

A few weeks ago, Mayor Don Wright let a crew into his office to film three scenes for a new movie.”

Read the rest of their story by clicking on 09/15/2006 News Channel 5.

It actually gets better, if that were possible. According to (where I first started following the story) an article by Katrina Cornwell in The News Examiner on September 15th, 2006:

“In the third installment, Thong Girl faces off against her nemesis, the Dark Widow, who's out to take over country music and turn its artists into rappers, the filmmaker said.

Weiss was working on a scene involving a fictitious mayor, and he said he was pleased with the "agricultural look" of Wright's office, whose executive chambers are decorated with Civil War memorabilia and state artifacts.

"He gave us the run of City Hall," Weiss said. "He unlocked City Hall and told us to use whatever we needed. … We basically used the mayor's office. We also used the exterior of the building."

The mayor said he wasn't present to let crews into City Hall, but he had arranged for someone to let them into the building.

"It seems like I had a police officer or a fireman let them in," Wright said. "I think I was out of town that Sunday. I had someone do that and stay with them while they were here."

The filming took place on Sunday, Aug. 13, at City Hall, which is across the street from a couple of historic churches, including First Presbyterian. Weiss also has arranged with the mayor to close the downtown square Oct. 1 to shoot a scene where a fictitious mayor presents Thong Girl with the key to the city for saving Music City USA from the bad folks.

Wright is a writer himself. He is the author of the historical romance novel "The Last Plantation" and other books including "Gone to Texas" and "The Woodsman."

Read the rest of her article here. Ms. Cornwell had written about this story the day before and that article is almost just as much fun. It is where I got the ideas with which I paraphrased above. You can read it here.

Sorta puts a new meaning to: “it’s a bird. It’s plane. No it’s Lana Layonme, in a red thong, flying through the air, fighting crime…”

I wonder what Wendi C. Thomas over at the Memphis Commercial Appeal thinks of all of this?

This was almost as fun as "20060912 KDDC City officials resign over spouse’s porn on the Web."

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***Kant BeTrue, a Carthaginian whose family settled in Westminster after the Third Punic War, has been with the Rhoiders Phoenix Hill Daily Herald Bugle since the 1960s (he can’t remember exactly when in the 1960s…). A Pulverized Prize winner for journalism, he writes about issues ranging from the international syntactic semiotic economics to avatars of hyper-theoretical exploding toilets. Kant BeTrue’s column routinely appears in The Tentacle on Wednesdays. Reach him at kdayhoff@carr.org.

Back to News Index

Copyright © 2006 Rhoiders Phoenix Hill Daily Herald Bugle All Rights Reserved. On the news article evolutionary scale, this piece is an amoeba on roller skates. The amoeba may or may not be wearing a pink tutu - this is for you to decide. Never-the-less, this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Why you want to – I haven’t a clue.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

20060915 KDDC Court ruling on firing the Maryland Public Service Commission.

Howard County Maryland Blog comments on Court ruling on firing the Public Service Commission.


David Keelan over at the Howard County Maryland Blog sums up the court decision on the Maryland General Assembly’s dysfunctionate attempt to fire the Public Service Commission: “General Assembly whacked again.”


He begins:


The Courts struck down the General Assembly attempt to fire the PSC as illegal and unconstitutional. No one is going to jail of course (though maybe we should consider it).


This has got to be tiring for Senate President Mike Miller. Once again in his blind ambition to whack Governor Bob Ehrlich he got whacked himself. Three major bills (Wal Mart “Fair Shair Health Care Bill, and early voting, and now this).


Anyway (the Court opinion) goes on and on for 126 pages and lashes out at the Senate for even considering such bad legislation… The entire opinion can be read here.

Read the rest of his excellent post here.

I have written a number of times on this mess: First, my Tentacle columns…

June 7, 2006

Electrocuting The Elephant

Kevin E. Dayhoff

In response to a judge's decision on May 30 to overturn Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s "April Plan," to phase-in increases in electric rates, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) decided last Friday to go back to the original "March Plan" to phase in Baltimore Gas & Electric's deregulated electric rates due to go into effect July 1.

April 5, 2006

Shock and Amps – the Second Candle

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Members of the Maryland General Assembly’s leadership deserve a lifetime achievement award for ducking their responsibilities, scapegoating and obfuscating the truth in their response to the rate caps coming off Baltimore Gas and Electric as a result of the 1999 electric deregulation legislation.

April 4, 2006

Shock and Amps

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The recent power surge of Maryland General Assembly legislative initiatives in response to the end of the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company’s electric rate price freeze ought to be referred to as the “Omnibus Rolling Blackout Acts of 2006.”

In KDDC:

20060622 KDDC How Legislators voted on SB1 Electric Rate Restructuring

22 Jun 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

How Legislators voted on SB1 Electric Rate Restructuring SB 1 Economic Matters Report No.2, The President, "Public Service Commission - Electric Industry Restructuring" Voting on ON THIRD READING (Rules Suspended) (Emerg) in the House. ...

20060622 KDDC Gov Vetoes General Assemblys Electric Rate Hike Plan

22 Jun 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

Governor Ehrlich Vetoes General Assembly’s Electric Rate Hike Plan; Supports Consumer Choice Without Interest Charges. Thu 6/22/2006 3:31 PM. ANNAPOLIS – Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today vetoed Senate Bill 1, the Maryland General ...

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20060915 KDDC Harvard overrated

Harvard angst

For everyone that is in a tizzy over Harvard’s recent announcement that it will stop early admissions – just stop it already.

All the hand wringing and gnashing of teeth would be comical if this were to be a Saturday Night Live skit.

Maryland Conservatarian puts it all in perspective in their Tuesday, September 12th, 2006 post: “Screw Harvard:”

“Stop the presses: Harvard Drops 'Early Action' Admissions.

“Despite having Ted Kennedy on its alumni roll, Harvard continues to enjoy an over-hyped reputation…and apparently its administration buys into its own press clippings.”

“Harvard, after experimenting with an early-action policy that allowed students to seek similar treatment from other schools, ultimately returned to a policy similar to Yale's and Stanford's.” No sanctions planned for schools violating early-admissions guidelines

Oh Whatever. I’m going to take a nap now. Wake me up when this is all over…

Read the rest of the MC’s excellent post here.

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20060915 KDDC Crablaw is staying on top of Maryland’s primary election fiasco


The eyes of the nation are on Maryland’s election process

© Kevin Dayhoff September 15th, 2006

Crablaw is staying on top of Maryland’s primary election fiasco

Crablaw is staying on top of Maryland’s election fiasco. Please visit his site for the blow-by-blow and intelligent commentary. Bookmark his web site and check back with him in the coming days as hopefully the etiology of the mess is uncovered and measure taken to prevent it in the future.

To paraphrase one of Bruce Godfrey’s, Attorney and Editor in Chief, Crablaw Maryland Weekly, comments; we should all, no matter what political persuasion, support the right of each and very candidate in Maryland to be afforded a fair and honest election process.

Whether the candidate for office is a conservative or a liberal, the voters of Maryland deserve to have their collective decision respected – and each and every vote needs to count and be counted.

Maryland is once again on the keyboards and lips of political and business observers from throughout the nation and our great state is not being portrayed in a positive light.

We should all be ashamed.

Crablaw reports: 09/14/2006: The Election Fiasco - Beyond "Raging" Against the Machine

Yes, Maryland progressives and all fair-minded people are angry about the uber-fiasco in Montgomery County and similar farces in Prince George's County and the City of Baltimore.

Yes, we should be furious. But that is not enough

We should support and applaud all efforts to uncover the truth about what happened in the different jurisdictions that effected such a large disenfranchisement of literally tens of thousands of Marylanders, of American citizens.

We should support everyone who supports fair process and sunshine upon this fiasco.

Read the rest here.

14 September 2006:

Sun (AP): Montgomery County Election Board Hires Outside Consultant to Review Fiasco

In fairness to (Montgomery Elections Director Margaret) Jurgensen, it seems fair at first glance to allow the Elections Center to produce an independent report before anyone gets fired, unless that will put the reliability of the general election in meaningful doubt.

Read the rest here.

Sun: Maryland Election Day Fiasco Blame Game

Mr. Godfrey writes:

There is an article in the Baltimore Sun, September 15, 2006, on the current mutual recriminations regarding the Baltimore part of the election Fiasco between Maryland Elections Administrator (and long-time target of Bob Ehrlich) Linda Lamone, Ehrlich ally Gene Raynor, the Baltimore City Council and others. The article did not discuss the larger problems in Montgomery County.

WaPo article on Montgomery Election Fiasco

Mr. Godfrey writes:

This looks interesting.

Of Paul Valette, Mr. Godfrey writes: “Maybe this man deserves be fired. Maybe he does not deserve to be fired at all. I don't claim to know. Valette is a former military office and an attorney, two professions where standards and responsibility are supposed to matter. In Valette's case, sounds like they do matter to him. His straightforward response is most refreshing; it may or may not be sufficient.”

There are many more posts – check out his web site

Thanks for the excellent work Crablaw.

Oh PS: The Baltimore Reporter also has a post worth reading: “The Mess in Montgomery.”

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