20060624 KDDC As Confusion reigns over Upcoming Electric Rates

The Maryland Democratic Party adds to the confusion

with a misinformation campaign

June 23^rd, 2006

By Kevin Dayhoff

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

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

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

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

Read the rest here.

Be sure to read the last paragraph…

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

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

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060623 KDDC Truck Rodeo video on Carroll County Times We site

Truck Rodeo video on Carroll County Times web site

By Kevin Dayhoff

June 23, 2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some of the explanation of the video is pasted here:

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

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

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

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

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060624 KDDC The Running Mate Decision

The Running Mate Decision

By Kevin Dayhoff

June 24^th, 2006

I’m working on my next Tentacle column. This column will be on MD Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich’s Lt. Governor decision. Next week, it is expected that Governor Ehrlich will be announcing his anticipated candidacy for re-election.

Lost in the recent drama over the special Maryland General Assembly session over the BGE rate increase mitigation plan has been who the governor is going to pick as a running mate.

A couple of hints of who the governor may pick, here and here.

In preparation, I’ll be re-reading some of my notes and preparation materials for some of my previous columns in which I have written about the MD Lt. Gov. selection:

December 8, 2005

The Lieutenant Governor Decision

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Now that Lt. Gov. Michael Steele is off and running to be our next U.S. senator from Maryland, many are wondering just who would make a good choice for a running mate for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich. Never mind that the election is almost a year away.

December 7, 2005

Why We Have a Lieutenant Governor

Kevin E. Dayhoff

How did Maryland ever survive without a lieutenant governor? In over 371 years, there has been a constitutional office for that job for only 38 years.

December 14, 2005

Politics in the Enchanted Forest

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The political silly season has already begun in Howard County, known as the former home of the "Enchanted Forest." In our neighboring county, politics have recently started to resemble the storybook theme park that prospered in Ellicott City from 1955 to 1988.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060624 Governor's Veto Message on the BGE Bill SB1

Governor's Veto Message on the BGE Bill SB1
June 24, 2006

Hat Tip: The Tentacle

Friday, June 23, 2006

Governor's Veto Message on The BGE Bill

Editorial

As a public service, The Tentacle is today making available a copy of the veto message Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. sent to Senate President Thomas (Mike) Miller of the Maryland General Assembly. Click here!