This week in The Tentacle the week of February 9 2009

This week in The Tentacle

Monday, February 16, 2009
General Assembly Journal 2009 – Part 6
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
Another whirlwind week in Annapolis. From helicopter trauma transport to expensive steak lobbying dinners, the range of topics spans the important to the ridiculous.

What’s in it for me?
Steven R. Berryman
In my efforts at ever expanding personal open-mindedness, the other morning I went straight for The Washington Post to learn the well-camouflaged details of the final $787 billion dollar spending package, called “The Porkulus” by Rush Limbaugh, and “The Spendulus” by Laura Ingraham.

Friday, February 13, 2009
"Of the People, by the People, for the People"
Roy Meachum
Two months before Franklin Delano Roosevelt swept into the Oval Office, on a voter tidal wave, a bill was offered to the Senate that would distribute to the public one trillion dollars in "funny" money meant to disappear when the crisis was over. Supporters called it "self-liquidating, negative interest money."

Life Ain’t Always Beautiful
Joe Charlebois
During the past two years our country has taken a turn on to an unmapped and rocky road. Our financial institutions have left us practically faithless in their ability to operate soundly.

Change We Can Believe In: Addendum & Erratum
Bill Brosius
Addendum: because the story seems to have no ending; report the story one week, and more arises the next. Erratum, because of a substantial error I made.

Thursday, February 12, 2009
Happy Birthday, Mr. President
Chris Cavey
In December 1808, an uneducated farmer and his pregnant wife purchased 348 acres of farmland in Hardin County, Kentucky, for about $200 and the assumption of a prior mortgage. Less than 60 days later, on February 12, 1809, a son was born – Abraham Lincoln.

Get to Work? Don’t Talk It to Death!
Joan McIntyre
For nearly a month I fielded questions from the public on all sorts of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) issues and solid waste in general and found answers for them. Equal cooperation is not forthcoming from the other side of this issue.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Political Heresy and Unvarnished Truth
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Yesterday, in 1899, the future 31st president of the United States, Herbert Clark Hoover, married Lou Henry in Monterey, CA. Happy anniversary, Mr. President.

Up The River – Part 2
Tom McLaughlin
Kapit, Sarawak – During our overnight in Sibu, the desk clerk recommended a Chinese restaurant for Foo Chow cooking. We were surprised at the strange, fresh, clean taste of the meal. Absent the oily flavor associated with Chinese food in the states.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009
MET's Latest Hits the Sky
Roy Meachum
It's been a while since we looked in on the Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET). A cast member suggested I see "Almost, Maine:" I was there for opening night. Julie Herber didn't steer me wrong, which is consistent with what I know about the finest actress in this part of the world.

From Awful to Worst
Farrell Keough
The Board of Education is moving full force to ensure their new Taj Mahal is going to be built. They have used many mechanisms to side-step the tough questions and portray things in a good light. In short, we have not been given the full and accurate truth.

Monday, February 9, 2009
General Assembly Journal 2009 – Volume 5
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
Four weeks gone, but it seems like four months. Already we’ve seen some interesting debates and disputes, but the really troubling stuff lies ahead.

Big Lies
Steven R. Berryman
Famous lies of our time include: “The check’s in the mail,” “The computer is down,” and, “You can trust me.” The smaller lies – and, thus, easier to verify – are the hardest to tell and to maintain.

20090216 SDOSM This week in The Tentacle

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/