Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Blogosphere MD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogosphere MD. Show all posts

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Jump on the new media bandwagon by Richard Simon, Multimedia Reporter

Jump on the new media bandwagon by Richard Simon, Multimedia Reporter

On the Record

October 24, 2008

Richard Simon has an interesting post about the new social media on the web site “On the Record

I’ve been pretty positively impressed with Facebook for keeping track of friends and colleagues who are now spread throughout the far corners of the globe…

Meanwhile Mr. Simon writes:

When I was in college four short months ago, almost everyone I knew had a Facebook or MySpace account. If you didn’t have one (I was in this camp for a little bit), you felt like you were out of the loop on so many issues. Little did I know that outside of the land of academia, this still holds true.

Last night,
Warschawski, a Baltimore public relations firm, hosted a “Martini Marketing Event” at Luckie’s Tavern in Power Plant Live, where social networking guru Peter Shankman spoke about the current state and future of social media.

If you’re not familiar with Shankman’s work, he is the founder and CEO of
The Geek Factory and a go-to guy on marketing issues for CNN, Fox News and MSNBC.

The lecture was pretty eye-opening as Shankman talked about how prevalent social media has become. At one point, Shankman said “social media is life.” He asked the attendees to raise their hands if they had a Facebook account, and almost every hand went up.


[...]

Read Mr. Simon’s entire post here: Jump on the new media bandwagon

20081024 Jump on the new media bandwagon by Richard Simon

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Rumors of Senator Brinkley’s untimely leadership demise are unfounded


Rumors of Senator Brinkley’s untimely leadership demise are unfounded

Saturday, June 7th, 2008 by Kevin Dayhoff


Westminster, Md. - Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with Senator David R. Brinkley, (R) Dist. 4, Carroll & Frederick Cos.


I have had the pleasure of working with Senator Brinkley for a number of years; as a fellow elected official, a constituent, and as someone I have covered as a reporter.


Recently the Maryland blogosphere has been titillated with rumormongering and wild speculation, disguised as news reporting, about Senator Brinkley.


I had a blunt and candid conversation with the longstanding and well-respected elected official, in which he acknowledged straightforwardly that recently he and his wife have recently sought marriage counseling.


He also verified that three Frederick County Sheriff’s Deputies went to his house one evening last week. There were no citations as a result of the visit.


On the phone he reiterated essentially what Frederick News-Post writer, Meg Bernhardt wrote in Thursday’s paper. He said that his marriage has hit a rough patch and that he and his wife are working their way through it.


As an aside, may the first person who has not had the opportunity to put a bit of extra effort into their marriage cast the first stone.


I heard exactly what Ms. Bernhardt wrote. Senator Brinkley said:


“We are working on our marriage… We have been in counseling. We are very optimistic on the outcome and frankly reinvigorated. We thank everybody for their calls and prayers of support. Our family is making time to work through this.”


Senator Brinkley said to me, on behalf of himself and his wife:


“Marital issues challenge many Maryland households as they have ours. We are seeking counseling and are very optimistic of the outcome.


We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and concern from so many people. We thank all who hold us and our family in their prayers.”


As is so often the case, how one addresses a challenge is as critical as the challenge itself and it appears that Senator Brinkley has charted a clear-headed responsible approach. I did not expect anything less of the gentleman and I was not disappointed.


Other than that, at my advanced age, it is my view that this isolated event is a personal matter.


The issues at hand are not the stuff of “political scandal” as one Maryland website appeared to be so assiduously interested in generating.


Beginning last Thursday afternoon, as I was quietly attempting to enjoy a Dr. Pepper; I stumbled upon a truly enigmatic series of not one, not two, but eventually seven or so articles reporting on Senator Brinkley with the sort of wide-eyed excitement I usually associate with people recounting their abduction by aliens.


I’ve been a reader of this web site since it recently burst on the Maryland blogosphere and this is essentially my first profoundly unhappy experience.


Perhaps, as a grizzled and crusty observer of more than a few “political scandals,” some real – most not, maybe my jaundiced eye is not one of this web site’s targeted base.


Nevertheless, for what it is worth, here I am on your computer screen to say that the magnificent series of seven scintillating articles were badly done.


At my advanced age I have developed relatively good radar for journalistic silliness produced by the cracked mirror by which much of the media views its navel. Ultimately the writers of the magnificent series of seven scintillating articles must live with the reputation of having written such slipshod drivel.


With my seasoned media values mood decoder ring at the ready; I take no pleasure in pointing out the numerous liberties taken by these writers with the matter in question; but after seven articles, it is a heavy burden from which I cannot avoid being unyoked.


The endless series of articles utilized an approach that employed unique journalistic standards. All right, the articles used an approach that is inconsistent with the journalistic standards of which one should aspire, if they wish to be taken seriously in the long haul.


Someone much brighter than me once said that “Politics is high school drama taken to a new level.” This is more like a “B” movie about middle school.


The tawdry, titillating, anonymous quote-filled articles reminded me of a food fight of middle school proportions with the gratuitous use of “sources say,” “allegations,” “rumors are swirling,” “alleged scandal,” and “as details gather.”


After several paragraphs of this drivel I had arrived at the conclusion that the writers had interrogated a ghost for their salacious walk on the wild side.


With no idea where to begin allow me to be amused with the broad sweeping nefarious conclusions drawn by way of the fact that Senator Brinkley missed Gov. Bob Ehrlich's portrait unveiling.


Even though I had also planned to attend, in the end, I did not go either. As a matter of fact, I was out that evening with another woman – my mother-in-law. As much as I am a big fan of Governor Ehrlich, my mother-in-law outranks the governor and I gave her some company for a social event that evening.


I’m so happy that I avoided any over-analysis as to my absence.


As a matter of fact, under the circumstances, it would have been irresponsible for Senator Brinkley to have attended any recent political gatherings in lieu of tending to the needs of his family.


Elected office in Maryland is extraordinarily difficult on marriages – as is exemplified by the series of articles in question. Most of our marriages survive because many of us had the fortune to marry saints – of which category I include my wife. Let me tell you some stories about irresponsible newspaper articles…


Moreover, to carry it to reductio ad absurdum, although there were events that evening in which both Senator Brinkley and Senator Hillary Clinton did not appear; rumors that they got together are also untrue. That may be about the only wild speculation missed by this august series of article, but then again, the day is young…


For journalists and elected officials to rush to judgment without factual information and then speak publically about the aforementioned speculation is not responsible. Responsible journalists don’t draw facts from conclusions, we draw conclusions from facts.


The rush to judgment on the part of some of the actors in this Kabuki morals play does not command respect. The fact that nefarious conclusions have been drawn about Senator Brinkley’s future leadership because of family challenges or that he did not attend a few events are no more warranted a conclusion than you standing in a garage makes you a car.


When small minded and petty people are shielded by the anonymity of the internet this is the result…


What, in all likelihood has happened is that these writers got used. A political writer simply cannot believe everything they are being told when it is obvious that their source is using you to advance a political agenda at the expense of a colleague’s inadvertent misfortune.


In all likelihood, if the writers of this drivel had attempted to thoroughly examine the “ghosts” that put out this character assassination on an objective basis, the outcome may have been completely different – or at least, gasp - balanced.


However, the results fell flat as the writers overlooked - that by allowing only the opinion of the purveyors of personal destruction, with an axe to grind - to form the basis their conclusions, the articles failed to constitute any responsible semblance of objective examination or responsible journalism.


By challenging their source(s), it would have been obvious to the most pedestrian political observer that in all likelihood Senator Andy Harris and Senator Brinkley are not on each others’ Christmas card list.


If you will recall it was in December 2006, that a divided Republican caucus labored over the choice of choosing Senator Brinkley over Senator Harris to be the Senate Minority Leader


One meeting on December 5, 2006 deadlocked seven to seven for over 10 hours without a winner. Finally on December 18, 2006, the Republican caucus decided upon Senator Brinkley over Senator Harris.


Then on December 26, 2007 Senator Brinkley endorsed State Sen. E. J. Pipkin over Senator Harris in the primary contest in which Senator Harris ousted Maryland’s 1st Congressional Representative Wayne Gilchrest.


Now keep that in mind when you read Senator Harris being quoted, “if the charges of marital infidelity leveled against Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-New Market) are true, ‘Voters would expect’ Brinkley to step down from his leadership position… ‘If it turns out these rumors are true-I think this is why voters are looking for change.’”


Here’s a newsflash for you, most reasonable folks expect Senator Harris, who aspires to gain a higher office with greater responsibilities, to withhold his judgment until all the facts are thoroughly heard.


And yes, voters have expressed a desire for change – away from the what Sen. Alex Mooney explained on December 19, 2006, in a Frederick News-Post article: “I do think Andy would have been more confrontational ... I always thought (Mr. Brinkley would) do a good job, (it's) just that I thought Andy would do a better job.”


A better job at being confrontational – that is.


What change voters want is an end to the bomb-throwing confrontational approach to public policy making – and the Democrats in the Maryland General Assembly. In consideration of the fact that the Democrats vastly outrank and outnumber Republicans in the Maryland legislature, voters were demanding a more measured, thoughtful and sophisticated approach to promoting a conservative agenda in a cobalt blue state.


Actually, what voters want is a change from rush-to-judgment and reckless comments like “Voters would expect Brinkley to step down from his leadership position,” based on rumors and innuendo.


Finally one of the writers wrote yesterday:


“The silence is deafening to his friends. Those who would like to see him go are thinking he could be ousted if he doesn't quit or quell the anxiety of others. Multiple sources have said that the caucus will stall for him until Monday. After that, things change.”


Perhaps this explanation is meaningless to those who practice professional outrage, but there is no “silence,” as has been suggested.


Of course, one can only imagine Senator Brinkley’s reluctance to take phone calls from folks who have a demonstrated an inability to be human or who have behaved with a wonton disregard for facts in order to promote an agenda or attempt to increase their relevancy with breathless recklessness.


As to the wild, self-serving suggestions that he resign from his leadership post - - for what reason, pray tell?


My conversation with the Senator left me with the impression that he has no interest in “resigning.”


In the rapacious world of the Maryland blogosphere where there is a greater narcissistic loyalty to 15 minutes of fame, and the highly rewarding realm of the politics of personal destruction, at some point in time it may be important to aspire to the highest of journalistic standards of sourcing, cites and objective news reporting.


Senator Brinkley has steadfastly devoted years to public service with integrity. At a time when he is facing personal challenges, responsible and reasonable folks are more than willing to give him and his family some space.


Since there is no political nexus with his personal challenges and his responsibilities to his constituents, the matter is really not fodder for responsible journalists. Unless there is an interest in writing about how a community leader has come upon a personal-family problem as a result of some unfortunate events – and has chosen to address it by getting help.


####


20080607 Rumors of Senator Brinkley’s untimely leadership demise are unfounded

Sunday, May 11, 2008

20080511 The Gunpowder Chronicles

The Gunpowder Chronicles

Sunday, May 11, 2008

The folks over at The Gunpowder Chronicle are thinking out loud that maybe Ed Hale Should Stop Talking?: Eddie Hale -- robust supporter of O'Guvnah and would be land-baron of Baltimore -- spoke up at the annual 1st Mariner Stockholder's Meeting and prognosticated that the stock had reached its lowest point, and was poised for a rebound. More – click here.

While you are over there graze several other posts that are worthwhile:

Happy Birthday Israel: Thursday, May 8, 2008 was the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Israel.

Way to Go Steve Larsen and O'Guvnah!: Remember how O'Guvnah promised us in his 2006 campaign how the O'Guvnah era in Maryland Politics would usher in a brand new Public Service Commission... one not "so connected" with power utilities that they regulated? How rate increases would be rolled back? How electricity would be made affordable again?

The Road to Hell Is Paved with Good Intentions: Of course, the ACLU and the liberal lawyers are leading the way. Just ask the victims of former Guantanamo detainee Abdullah Salih Al Ajmi.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

20080114 Tom LoBianco’s initial blog post


More good news in the Maryland blogosphere; Tom LoBianco, the Maryland state politics reporter with the Washington Times has started a blog on the Washington Times’ website.

Check it out:

Main | With O'Malley, everyone's a critic »

Greetings and salutations

Posted on January 14, 2008 5:30 PM

Welcome to my blog, be sure to check in frequently for updates on Maryland politics.

[…]

The regular session of Maryland's General Assembly runs through early April. So keep your eyes here for updates throughout the day on some of the frontburner topics this session: taxes, homosexual "marriage," energy policy, the state's death penalty and illegal immigration.

I'll also link my stories for the day here and try to work in some of the best of the Maryland blogosphere from the state's citizen journos.

So let's get kickin' with my story today on the lack of civility in Gov. Martin O'Malley's "One Maryland."

LoBianco On Maryland

Monday, January 14, 2008

20080114 Maryland Blogger Alliance as of Jan 14th 2008

Maryland Blogger Alliance as of Jan 14th 2008

Pillage Idiot (Rockville)
Soccer Dad (Baltimore)
Maryland Conservatarian (Rockville)
The Baltimore Reporter (Baltimore)
Technosailor (Woodlawn)
monoblogue (Salisbury)
Crablaw (Reisterstown)
Kevin Dayhoff (Westminster)
Politics, Hon (Baltimore)
blogger1947 (Gwynn Oak)
Jousting for Justice (Owings Mills)
The Voltage Gate (Frostburg)
Howard County Md. Blog (Ellicott City)
The Hedgehog Report (Columbia)
The Pubcrawler (Gaithersburg)
C. Dowd's Blog (Lansdowne)
Oriole Post (Silver Spring)
Escape from Pianosa (Baltimore)
Maryland Politics Today (Laurel)
The Greenbelt (Laurel)
Leviathan Montgomery (Silver Spring)
Going to the Mat (Frederick)
Pines Above Snow (Columbia)
Creating a Jubilee County (Pr George's)
Talk Lab (Columbia)
Inside Charm City (White Marsh)
The Candid Truth (Pasadena)
PG Chic (Pr. George's)
Mike's Nether Land (Severna Park)
Tinkerty Tonk (Abingdon)
It's Our Wits That Make Us Men (expat)
abolitionofman.com (Baltimore)
Red Maryland (Boonsboro)
Capital Punishment (Annapolis)
The Spewker (Pikesville)
The Main Adversary (Baltimore)
GOPinionPlus (Linover)
Annapolis Politics (Annapolis)
That's What I Think! (Columbia)
mad anthony (Nottingham)
Common Sense (Williamsport)
Maryland Chesapeake Blog (Annapolis)
PsychoPhil (expat)
Red Writes (Columbia)
Clark's Picks (Chestertown)

Thursday, January 03, 2008

20080102 Fragmentary patchworks


Fragmentary patchworks of autochthonous and foreign elements.

January 2nd, 2008 by Kevin Dayhoff

Happy New Year Mr. Isaac Smith. Thanks for the mention - The List (No, Not the Washington Post's). [Free State Politics Maryland's online progressive community.]

Michael Swartz's list of local blogs to watch in 2008 is pretty good. It is missing a few good blogs of note, however…

As much as I agreed with most, but not all, of Mr. Swartz’s list, your list is right on the money. I also miss Stephanie Dray’s Jousting for Justice. And I am very happy that Crablaw's Maryland Weekly is back…

And thanks for calling to our attention the Washington Post’s list: Year in Review 2007 - “The List: What's In and Out for 2008” BY HANK STUEVER - WASHINGTON POST STAFF WRITER - – what a hoot. (And don’t miss giving The Year That Was 2007 by Brian Griffiths a good read. He obviously spent some time thinking about it…)

Your post could not have been timed better as it came shortly after a conversation with a dear colleague who said they like my blog – although I’m too liberal.

Ay caramba - whatever.

Along that thread, another colleague said “Dayhoff … your problem is that you like everybody.”

To that I plead guilty – life is way to short. Then again, maybe not – I don’t like mean people; and that personality defect occurs in folks from all political persuasions.

I simply do not allow politics to dictate my friends - - and I don’t like folks who do pick their friends based on politics. (I’ll be having lunch later in the week with a dear friend with whom I disagree about everything when it comes to politics.) I can disagree with folks about issues, but more often than not – I like the person…

As far as your observation: “… his actual blog hard to read -- its look is extremely busy and most of the posts are just link aggregations…” Hey, you oughta be in my head…

At least with the blog, there is an attempt at organization… I also find my blog “hard to read” and try as I might, after blogging for a number of years, it is still way too busy.

Perhaps my blog is a manifestation of being a hypergraphic attention deficit disorder hyperactive dyslexic. Maybe – just maybe, one day I’ll figure out what I’m doing. Being a technology geek – one would’ve thought blogging would be easy for me. It is not.

At this point, on the blog evolutionary scale, my blog is a monkey on roller skates. The monkey may or may not be wearing a pink tutu - this is for you to decide.

Years ago, I thought blogging would be easy for a columnist and short story writer. It has not been the case. And within the last number of months, I picked up a third (newspaper) column every week; which just proves the “Peter Principle” is real. I’m now way beyond my intellectual and cognitive abilities.

Heckfire – some days, I’m proud to have even found the time, much less the cognitive abilities - to post “link aggregations.”

Meanwhile, I am painstakingly determined to promote constant attention on current procedures of transacting business focusing emphasis on innovative ways to better, if not supercede, the expectations of quality. What I really need in order to navigate the treacherous waters that lie ahead is a list of specific unknown problems I will encounter.

Always remember, the purpose of my blog is to discuss fragmentary patchworks of autochthonous and foreign elements as juxtaposed by the undeniable command mortality of insignificant self-inflicted syntactic semiotic economics which sometimes may cause irreproducible results unless there is a pre-emptive digital fallibility matrix which would require an integrated third-generational triangulated refinement of indefinite managerial potential.

As I wax philosophic with metaphysical postulations, incomplete aphorisms and inconsistent sophism that allows me to conclude, more and more sure, that the only true thing about anything is nothing.

Now I know you believe you understand what you think I just said but I am sure that you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.

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 civil and constructive dialogue.

Pray for my wife.

Best wishes for a great 2008.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com, Winchester Report and The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun. Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed

Sunday, November 04, 2007

20071103 Hollywood still out of touch by Michael Medved

Hollywood still out of touch by Michael Medved

A big Hat Tip to Gunpowder Chronicle for calling to our attention “Hollywood Fails to Grasp Reality -- And What America Wants

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Still Out of Touch

Posted by: Michael Medved at 11:19 AM

Message movies condemning America’s war on terror currently fill your neighborhood multiplex, but the theatres playing such films hardly fill with people.

Read the entire post here: “Still Out of Touch.” Mr. Medved gives us a quick review of some of the drivel that is Hollywood these days…

Sunday, October 07, 2007

20071006 Katie Couric praises Attila


Katie Couric praises Attila

October 6th, 2007

“Happy Anniversary Attila! Luv ya man,” praised an effusive Ms. Couric as news of the Pillage Idiot’s third anniversary was received with accolades from all over the globe.

Attila over at the Pillage Idiot has been enlightening readers now since October 5th, 2004. We have now delightfully enjoyed his work for three years.

Accolades have poured-in from all over the universe, but here at Soundtrack, we were especially touched by Katie Couric’s heartfelt best wishes…

Happy Birthday Attila.

####

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

20070618 Stacking the deck against Justice Thomas by Pillage Idiot

June 18, 2007

Attila at the Pillage Idiot has obviously spent considerable time and energy in penning an excellent review – of a review of "Supreme Discomfort, The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas" to Orlando Patterson.

Mr. Attila’s post is certainly well worth the time and I highly recommend it and want to thank Mr. Attila for taking the time to pull it all together so that others may benefit from his insights.

In a feeble attempt to add to Mr. Attila’s excellent commentary I call the readers attention that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas actually answered this book eloquently in a speech before the National Bar Association in Memphis, Tenn., on July 29th, 1998.

{A note to Mr. Crablaw, he mentions Marvin Gaye's album, What's Going On?}

See my article on “Soundtrack,” “20070423 What Going On?”

And see the end of this article…

Supreme Court Justice Thomas said a number of poignant things, including:

I'd like to thank the members of the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association who have been so courageous and forthright and kind to invite me to join you this afternoon. As has become the custom, a wearisome one I admit, this invitation has not been without controversy. Although this is unfortunate, this controversy has added little value in the calculus of my decision to be here.

[…]

Unlike the unfortunate practice or custom in Washington and in much of the country, the court is a model of civility. It's a wonderful place. Though there have been many contentious issues to come before the Court during these initials years of my tenure, I have yet to hear the first unkind words exchanged among my colleagues. And quite frankly, I think that such civility is the sine qua non of conducting the affairs of the Court and the business of the country.

[…]

With respect to my following, or, more accurately, being led by other members of the Court, that is silly, but expected since I couldn't possibly think for myself. And what else could possibly be the explanation when I fail to follow the jurisprudential, ideological, and intellectual, if not anti- intellectual, prescription assigned to blacks? Since thinking beyond this prescription is presumptively beyond my abilities, obviously someone must be putting these strange ideas into my mind and my opinions. Though being underestimated has its advantages, the stench of racial inferiority still confounds my olfactory nerves.

[…]

Of course there is much criticism of the Court by this group or that, depending on the Court's decisions in various highly publicized cases. Some of the criticism is profoundly uninformed and unhelpful. And all too often, uncivil second-guessing is not encumbered by the constraints of facts, logic, or reasoned analysis. On the other hand, the constructive and often scholarly criticism is almost always helpful in thinking about or rethinking decisions.

[…]

I have found during my almost 20 years in Washington that the tendency to personalize differences has grown to be an accepted way of doing business. One need not do the hard work of dissecting an argument. One need only attack and thus discredit the person making the argument. Though the matter being debated is not effectively resolved, the debate is reduced to unilateral pronouncements and glib but quotable clichés.

[…]

The summer of 1971 was perhaps one of the most difficult of my life. It was clear to me that the road to destruction was paved with anger, resentment, and rage. But where were we to go? I would often spend hours in our small efficiency apartment in New Haven pondering this question and listening to Marvin Gaye's then new album, What's Going On? To say the least, it was a depressing summer.

What were we to do? What's going on?

[…]

Read the entire speech here: 19980729 Clarence Thomas Answers His Critics by Clarence Thomas

Meanwhile, Mr. Attila begins his piece by noting:

A book-review editor can elicit a positive or negative review of a book (and the subject of the book) simply by choosing a reviewer with known views.

You know all you need to know about the New York Times's feelings toward Justice Clarence Thomas (as if you didn't know it already) when you see that the Times Book Review assigned the review of "Supreme Discomfort, The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas" to Orlando Patterson. Patterson, a respected black intellectual, is a sociologist, not a lawyer. If the Times had had any interest in examining Justice Thomas's legal views, it would not have offered the review to a non-lawyer.

Why is that relevant? Justice Thomas has been a member of the Supreme Court for 15 years and, contrary to the ever-present sneers about his taking orders from Justice Scalia, he has developed a strong and individual jurisprudence over that time. You'd barely know this from reading Patterson's review.

Please read the rest of the article, “Stacking the deck against Justice Thomas” by the Pillage Idiot

_____

Marvin Gaye "What's Going On / What's Happening Brother"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s

####

Monday, April 23, 2007

20070423 Carnival of Maryland 5 will be posted later in the day


Carnival of Maryland 5 will be posted later in the day

April 23, 2007

UPDATE on Maryland Blog Carnival

Hosted by members of the Maryland Blogger Alliance.

The Maryland Blogger Alliance (MBA) “Carnival of Maryland 5” will be posted later in the day.

The wheel is still turning but the peripatetic gerbil that powers this blog juggled a few too many balls in the air this past weekend and has “crashed.”

If you have not had a chance to read our previous four Carnivals, please take this opportunity to review some of the best that the Maryland blogosphere has to offer:

Carnival of Maryland #1 - 2/25/2007 was hosted by Bruce Godfrey on “Crablaw Maryland Weekly” on February 25, 2007.

Carnival of Maryland - second edition hosted by Attila of the Pillage Idiot on March 11, 2007.

Carnival of Maryland #3 was hosted by The Ridger on “The Greenbelt” on March 26th, 2007

Carnival Of Maryland 4 hosted by W. Crodhil on “Politics, Hon,” on April 8th, 2007.

Meanwhile, if you’re a MD blogger, and you’d like to join the MBA, you can contact the Pillage Idiot’s Attlia at- pillageidiot -at- hotmail -dot- com.

Attila, pictured above with Katie Couric, wrote on March 11, 2007: “The Carnival was the brainchild of members of the Maryland Blogger Alliance (see sidebar). You don't have to be a member to contribute to our Carnival, but we strongly urge you to join if you're a blogger in Maryland. There's really no downside to it. We're an eclectic bunch. We have no political litmus tests for membership, and an increasing number of our members don't focus on politics at all.”

Members of the Maryland Blogger Alliance are:

Pillage Idiot (Rockville)

Soccer Dad (Baltimore)

Maryland Conservatarian (Baltimore)

The Baltimore Reporter (Baltimore)

The Sun Lies (Baltimore Area)

The Not So Free State (Woodlawn)

monoblogue (Salisbury)

Crablaw (Reisterstown)

Kevin Dayhoff (Westminster)

Politics, Hon (Baltimore)

blogger1947 (Gwynn Oak)

Jousting for Justice (Owings Mills)

The Voltage Gate (Frostburg)

Howard County Md. Blog (Ellicott City)

The Hedgehog Report (Columbia)

Rockin' Catoctin (Frederick)

The Pubcrawler (Gaithersburg)

C. Dowd's Blog (Lansdowne)

Oriole Post (Silver Spring)

Escape from Pianosa (Baltimore)

Maryland Politics Today (Laurel)

The Greenbelt (Laurel)

Snail's Tales (Germantown)

Leviathan Montgomery (Silver Spring)

Going to the Mat (Frederick)

The AT Wire (Cumberland)

####

Saturday, March 03, 2007

20070303 The Pillage Idiot says


March 3rd, 2007

I’d like to echo the remarks the Pillage Idiot recently made in a blog post: “$)*%&#@(&!.”

Kudos for our fearless leader of the Maryland Bloggers Alliance for saying that “George Carlin's seven words you can't say on the radio” rarely appear in his blog.

I must say that it is one of the reasons that I enjoy his blog.

I am dumbstruck to find the use of foul language in the blogosphere. Yeah, it’s an exercise of free speech, but nevertheless the right to free speech comes with responsibilities.

Whenever I come across a blog site or blog post with foul language, I exercise my right to move on to another web site – in haste.

If someone has such little grasp on their language skills and cannot articulate a position without the use of the foul language, my view is that they have little to offer me as to their opinion.

I dare say that I am hardly “little Miss Goody Two Shoes,” (Where did that expression come from anyway?) but I try hard to talk the walk and avoid the foul language on this web site and applaud Attila for his post and his blog.

Find his post here.

####

Sunday, November 19, 2006

20061119 Nancy Pelosi vows to knock some heads


Nancy Pelosi vows to knock some heads

November 19th, 2006



Nov. 15, 2006 (Rhoiders) Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, seen here as she approached a Democratic caucus meeting, has vowed to knock some heads after her set-back in the choice of her rival MD Rep. Steny Hoyer for the No. 2 House leadership post.**

Hoyer Claims No 'Bad Blood' With Pelosi

By HOPE YEN, The Associated Press, Sunday, November 19, 2006; 3:24 PM

WASHINGTON --
Rep. Steny Hoyer acknowledged Sunday he was seeking assurances from incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi that she would not retaliate against his supporters after he won the No. 2 House leadership post.

Hoyer, D-Md., insisted there was "no bad blood" with Pelosi after she publicly supported
Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania for the job of majority leader. Hoyer said he was confident Pelosi would not punish House colleagues who voted 149-86 last week to make Hoyer the majority leader when Democrats take control in January…

OMG, I simply could not imagine a vindictive unpleasant Speaker-elect Pelosi. Whatever would make Representative Hoyer think that?

I really appreciated
Crablaw, peering out from beneath the dust of the construction work taking place on his site, to call to our attention yet another wonderful moment of irreverence by the fearless leader of the Maryland Blogger Alliance, Attila, of the Pillage Idiot:

Pillage Idiot Takes On Pelosi and the New Democratic Congress Attila - perhaps the least likely satirist on the Maryland web to be smacked with the label "politically correct" - takes on the incoming Democratic majority and Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi. posted by Bruce Godfrey at 11/18/2006 10:40:00 AM PERMALINK

But first;
Crablaw, I liked your old site, so what is your site going to look like when you are finished with the “UNDER CONSTRUCTION?”

Meanwhile, I thoroughly enjoyed “
Nancy Pelosi rearranges the House,” and you will too. Go check it out.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

**I need to acknowledge, once again, that the inspiration of this “PillageShop” is the
Pillage Idiot and in a circumspect manner, Jousting For Justice’s recent post: “…And this is how I feel.”

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

20061107 Pray for my wife

Pray for my wife

November 7th, 2006

I enjoyed Soccer Dad’s post about Dan Gainor’s piece on blogging in Maryland. You can find it here. To refresh your memory, my post is here.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to the fearless leader of the Maryland Blogger Alliance, Attila at the Pillage Idiot.

And yes, Ms. Dray, I agree with you about the title of the piece. If Mr. Gainor’s experience is anything like mine, even though I have a fabulous working relationship with my editors, I have essentially never had any input on the titles to my columns or articles. Editors jealously guard that dominion.

But I gotta tell ya, Mr. Gainor put one heckuva lot of work into what is the most definitive piece yet on blogging in Maryland. Thanks.

Yes folks; the number one rule of blogging is to have an understanding spouse. It goes along with the same joke about artists: whadda ya call an unmarried 50 year-old artist? Homeless.

I am fortunately married to one of the neatest women on the planet. (Sorry Mr. Modjesky.) Not only is she waaaay cool and understanding, but she actually has a job - - and she does small engine repairs. Thank Gawd!

Now I am going to go out and gleefully cancel out Ms. Dray’s votes.

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/