20061206 Go Ask Stuckey

Go Ask Stuckey

December 6, 2006

My latest Tentacle column has been posted: “Go Ask Stuckey”

This column was a sheer joy to write as I was able to emphasize the positive and showcase some of the exceptional writers with whom I have had the privilege to briefly work in the Maryland Statehouse news pool.

Folks like Tom Dennison, Doug Tallman, Justin Palk, S.A. Miller, Clifford Cumber; to name a few quickly. (Mr. Dennison is leaving for the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative – and will be very much missed…)

My only regret is that as the deadline for the column loomed, I was not able to get all the quotes I wanted…

When I cover the Maryland General Assembly Opera; in spite of the fact that I so enjoy media criticism, what goes on with my colleagues in the downstairs press room, stays in the press room. I try to give the colleagues, with whom I work, a wide berth and some comfort to not have some snitch looking over their shoulders and swiping at their antics in the pressroom and/or coverage.

Besides the opera that is what we know as that august Maryland legislative body, the worst in the nation, gives me plenty to write about - - and the folks in the press room in the Annapolis Statehouse are really neat, extraordinarily talented - - and quite a hoot.

But actually, I don’t believe in frivolous gotcha journalism as it, more often than not, does not give the readers a true picture of the individual involved. I mean, if a person who is in a public position to affect the development or implementation of public policy messes-up over and over again, well, then that behavior becomes relevant.

Otherwise folks should be respected as individuals who have dared to leave a comfortable cocoon and take-on a community leadership role. It is only appropriate to give them some benefit of doubt, a chance to be human – be real and have some fun…:

In a conversation with Carroll County Commissioner Dean L. Minnich, the other day, we touched upon the fact that we have both seen it from both sides and we agreed that it is important in journalism to let people be people.

We just both wished that all the local and state newspapers saw it that way.

One newspaper in particular is insufferable in their approach and both Commissioner Minnich and I have both been on the receiving-end…

Anyway, what Washington Post Mathew Mosk recounted as Governor Marvin Mandel’s take is worth repeating…

“Former governor Marvin Mandel, who became House speaker just after Stuckey arrived, recalled fondly the days when reporters and lawmakers shared a suite at the Maryland Inn, where they would unwind after a day's work. ‘We were able to talk freely with reporters,’ Mandel recalled, ‘say what was on our minds without having to worry about how it was going to look in the next morning's paper.’”

My column began:

The Associated Press' Tom Stuckey, one of the venerable and distinguished members of the Maryland Statehouse press newsroom has retiring.

Mr. Stuckey, 67, the Associated Press' longest-serving State House bureau chief, started working for the AP in 1962 and began the Maryland government beat the next year, when Gov. J. Millard Tawes resided in the governor's mansion. William S. James was Senate president and Marvin Mandel was House speaker.

In the ensuing four decades, he became a legend, and legions have admired his work.

Read the rest of the column here.

20061204 How to Lose a War by The Baltimore Reporter

How to Lose a War by The Baltimore Reporter

Maryland Blogger Alliance member, The Baltimore Reporter has a must read post By Robert Farrow titled, “How to Lose a War!”

December 4th, 2006

He begins with a great Mark Twain quote: “Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy can only take your life. It is far better that you fear the media, for they will steal your HONOR. That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoemaking and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poorhouse." -Mark Twain

“I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are." General William Sherman

Let’s set the wayback machine and pretend, shall we. Let’s pretend today’s media had been around in WWII and covered the attack on Pearl Harbor. ( …and lets pretend TV sets were common in 1941. ) So close your eyes and imagine a fuzzy black and white program as the announcer says…..

Read the rest here.

20061203 Rumsfeld memo leaked by New York Times

Rumsfeld memo leaked

December 3, 2006

UPDATE: Fellow Maryland Blogger Alliance member, The Baltimore Reporter also weighs-in: Rumsfeld’s Memo of Options for Iraq War

Sunday, December 3rd, 2006, The New York Times published a leaked copy of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s November 6th, 2006 memo to the White House which delineated some ideas for an adjustment in the approach to the war in Iraq.

MICHAEL R. GORDON and DAVID S. CLOUD wrote “Rumsfeld Memo Proposed ‘Major Adjustment’ in Iraq.”

I guess at this point in time, I have not much to say about the constant leaks of classified materials by the New York Times, which only continue to endanger the lives of you and me and our men and women in uniform.

The leak of the memo is as much a puzzle as the memo itself.

Meanwhile, you may find Michelle Malkin’s remarks of interest. I could not find a post on the Rumsfeld memo on the Daily Kos or MediaMatters…

Perhaps we will have to wait to hear from Katie Couric on Monday before we are really aware as to what we all think about this latest breach of national security and its ramifications…

I did write about the Secretary of Defense in November 8, 2006 my Tentacle column on the day his resignation was announced. As fate would have it, I wrote, “Rumsfeld must stay:” “Just in time for the mid-term elections, the Military Times Media Group, which publishes the Army Times, Marine Times, Air Force Times and Navy Times, ran an editorial last weekend which pronounces: "Rumsfeld must go."”

Oh my. Well, ahem, moving on here…

Previous Tentacle columns on the New York Times include:

December 28, 2005, Operation Mata Hari , Kevin E. Dayhoff
In the war against terrorism, folks, whose only goal is to promote themselves in total disregard for our safety, recently launched “Operation Mata Hari.”

November 2, 2005, Gray Ladies Down , Kevin E. Dayhoff
American newspapers are in deep trouble. I have mixed feelings about this. For many of us who have hit the half-century mark, we remember the days when the bulk of our news was delivered by several newspapers in a single day. This gave us the news from many different points of view.

The New York Times December 3rd, 2006 article begins:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 — Two days before he resigned as defense secretary, Donald H. Rumsfeld submitted a classified memo to the White House that acknowledged that the Bush administration’s strategy in Iraq was not working and called for a major course correction.

“In my view it is time for a major adjustment,” wrote Mr. Rumsfeld, who has been a symbol of a dogged stay-the-course policy. “Clearly, what U.S. forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough.”

Read the rest here.

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20061107 Pray for my wife

Pray for my wife

November 7^th, 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/

20061106 A last minute reading list for political junkies

A last minute reading list for political junkies

November 6^th, 2006

A colleague of mine has passed along the following last-minute reading list for peripatetic political junkies in need of a fix. Me, I’m in full metal Maalox mode.

Happy reading. Remember to breathe - - put the coffee down and eat something. Whichever side of the aisle you reside, we need you after the election to help figure all this out.

Parties in final push for voters

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.turnout06nov06,0,7286328.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Black ministers with clout back Ehrlich

http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20061104-112722-6888r.htm

GOP has hope Md. can buck trend

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.elections05nov05,0,4615449.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Candidates bank on national stars

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/elections/bal-md.trail06nov06,0,1179818.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Ehrlich and O'Malley to bask in light of Giuliani and Clinton

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.trail05nov05,0,1217882.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Cummings leads Democrats in getting vote out

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.cummings06nov06,0,2763243.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Battle for control of Md. legislature tightens

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.assembly05nov05,0,4157830.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Care urged when voting

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.voting04nov04,0,5883627.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Emphasis on turnout

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.trail04nov04,0,759165.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Fierce races, more spending

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.ads04nov04,0,6575707.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Leaders Say They Endorsed Republican to Wake Democrats

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/05/AR2006110500986.html

Ehrlich, O'Malley Likely to Set Different Tones in Annapolis

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/04/AR2006110400951.html

Familiar Steps at the End of Campaign Trail

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/04/AR2006110400950.html

Democrats on edge as governor's race narrows

http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20061103-105605-5264r.htm

Politics from the pulpits

http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20061106-123546-4159r.htm

Ehrlich, O'Malley bring out the big guns

http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20061106-123115-1490r.htm

Suit eyes extended absentee voting

http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/

Mfume son joins Steele to rally Baltimore voters

http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20061104-112723-3354r.htm

Elections chief says voting system has no proven flaws

http://www.examiner.com/a-380755~Elections_chief_says_voting_system_has_no_proven_flaws.html

Giuliani, first responders rally for Governor Ehrlich

http://www.examiner.com/a-381546~Giuliani__first_responders_rally_for_Governor_Ehrlich.html

Governor's race in a dead heat to the finish

http://www.examiner.com/a-381585~Governor_s_race_in_a_dead_heat_to_the_finish.html

Ehrlich raises eminent domain as polling issue

http://www.examiner.com/a-378930~Ehrlich_raises_eminent_domain_as_polling_issue.html

Governor makes first visit to gallery walk

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyid=53723

1 day to E-Day: High turnout expected

http://www.cecilwhig.com/articles/2006/11/06/news/01.txt

'I don't feel like my vote counts'

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061106/NEWS01/611060301/1002

####

20061106 Ranting and Raving in Maryland by Dan Gainor

Ranting and Raving in Maryland

Ranting & raving for the whole world to see

By Dan Gainer of The Examiner

November 6^th, 2006

Hat Tip: MY Mom, relayed to me by my wife – Mom saw the hard copy version off-line.

I see where Crablaw is aware of it… Mr. Godfrey, until you get to some connectivity later in the day, the hard copy article can be found on page 28 and 29.

Dan Gainor of The Examiner has penned a lengthy piece in the paper about blogging. He has been working on this piece for quite some time and many of us were looking forward to what he found out – and subsequently reported.

I have only sped-read it - - I’m on deadline for a column and won’t have time to post much about it until much later in the day. What I have read looks to me like a rather in depth look at the Maryland Blogosphere. It also looks like an incredible amount of work on the part of Mr. Gainor and it is appreciated. Yeah, from a quick glance- it is perhaps the most definitive work on blogging in Maryland that I have yet to see. A big thank you to Don Gainor.

I did a quick read looking for mentions of Maryland Blogger Alliance colleagues.

I also noticed that a colleague from the Howard County “Gang of Four” was mentioned: “Dave Wissing, a 31-year-old Columbia engineer who writes the Hedgehog Report…” For more info: See here and here.

** Maryland Blogger Alliance colleagues **

The Baltimore Examiner’s Dan Gainor’s

The Best Local Blogs

November 6^th, 2006

Looking for a hot local blog? Check out these:

» Maryland Politics NOW — www.mdpoliticsnow.com

**** » Kevin Dayhoff site — kevindayhoff.blogspot.com

» Blogtimore — blogtimore.com/

» Maryland Democrats Blog Network — www.mddems.org/ht/d/sp/i/583271/pid/583271

**** » Soccer Dad — soccerdad.baltiblogs.com

» Charm City Chronicle — charmcitychronicle.blogspot.com

» Baltimore Crime — baltimorecrime.blogspot.com

» Anger Hangover — angerhangover.livejournal.com

» The Hedgehog Report — www.davidwissing.com

» Your Neighborhood Librarian —

yourneighborhoodlibrarian.blogspot.com

****» Free State Politics — freestatepolitics.blogspot.com

****» Baltimore Reporter — baltimorereporter.com

» Alanlaz — www.alanlaz.blogspot.com

Clips from mentions of Maryland Blogger Alliance members, by Mr. Gainor include:

Local blogs don’t just lean right. Bruce Godfrey a 37-year-old Reisterstown attorney who posts on www.crablaw.com, said his favorite post was about his own political evolution. He called it “A Libertarian Limps Leftward,” and the writing detailed his political shift from right to left. The GOP, he now says, “ballooned the deficit through unfunded wild spending beyond the wildest drunken dreams of the last Texan president, Lyndon Johnson.”

And:

Resentment of traditional media is a driving force for many bloggers.

Robert Farrow, a 36-year-old nursing home director from Halethorpe, is one of several people who write for baltimorereporter.com. The blog comments on journalism including CNN, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun and The Baltimore Examiner. Farrow is critical of today’s news media. “Journalism is supposed to report the facts, editorials are supposed to give opinions, but this is no longer the case,” he stated.

And:

David Gerstman, a 45-year-old Baltimorean who blogs as “Soccer Dad,” said media bias was “what inspired me to get involved in blogging in the first place.”

And:

Owings Mills writer Stephanie Dray, a 35-year-old former attorney, said her “blogging is essentially publishing your own syndicated column on the Internet.”

And:

Former Westminster mayor Kevin Dayhoff’s blog mixes news and commentary and photos such as his Sept. 19 report of a fatal Westminster crash “involving a bicyclist and a Carroll County Sheriff’s deputy.”

And:

Former Westminster mayor Kevin Dayhoff, 53, is one of many bloggers who mixes politics with local news and items of interest — much like a newspaper. He says blogging is “an alternative electronic conversation about current events and issues. An electronic show and tell.”

That show and tell and can be a strange mix. Dayhoff’s posts tell of his trip to Ocean City, running into Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley and struggling to make his mobile Internet connection work. “I felt like the computer-geek that I am,” he wrote, telling about moving the car back and forth to get a signal. “Pray for my wife,” he added.

Go to: “Ranting & raving for the whole world to see” to read the fruits of Mr. Gainor’s hard work.

####

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/

20061106 The Baltimore Examiner’s Don Gainor’s The best local blogs

The Baltimore Examiner’s Don Gainor’s

The Best Local Blogs

November 6^th, 2006

** Maryland Blogger Alliance colleagues **

Looking for a hot local blog? Check out these:

» Maryland Politics NOW — www.mdpoliticsnow.com

**** » Kevin Dayhoff site — kevindayhoff.blogspot.com

» Blogtimore — blogtimore.com/

» Maryland Democrats Blog Network — www.mddems.org/ht/d/sp/i/583271/pid/583271

**** » Soccer Dad — soccerdad.baltiblogs.com

» Charm City Chronicle — charmcitychronicle.blogspot.com

» Baltimore Crime — baltimorecrime.blogspot.com

» Anger Hangover — angerhangover.livejournal.com

» The Hedgehog Report — www.davidwissing.com

» Your Neighborhood Librarian —

yourneighborhoodlibrarian.blogspot.com

****» Free State Politics — freestatepolitics.blogspot.com

****» Baltimore Reporter — baltimorereporter.com

» Alanlaz — www.alanlaz.blogspot.com

20061029 The Carroll Sun’s campaign literature

The Carroll Sun’s campaign literature

October 29^th, 2006

Several folks have been in touch about the back-to-back articles by the Baltimore Sun - Carroll Sun branch of the Maryland Democratic Party in Carroll County.

The articles: “Commissioners - Two shun Zimmer as GOP splits support” and “Republicans split in Carroll County - Democrat Beard gains GOP backing,” have appeared in the October 28^th and 29^th, 2006 edition of the paper.

Much of it is inside-baseball that is not a great deal of concern of the many Moms and Dads trying to attend as many children’s athletic events this weekend as possible. Or the folks who are just intolerant of the esoteric machinations of who-struck-john or gotcha politics.

As an aside, the humor as when the Democratic Party opened a campaign headquarters in Westminster after decades of not having one was that it was not needed as long as the Baltimore Sun had an office in town. (In the interest of full disclosure, that is not an original thought - - it was shared with me by a liberal colleague…)

I was happy that the Dems opened a campaign headquarters in town because the more ideas on the table and candidates on the ballot, the better for Carroll County.

On my way home from dinner last night, I stopped the Dems’ headquarters, after I noticed Frank Rammes toiling-away in the front window.

I liked Frank when he was a Republican and I still like Frank, now that he has switched parties. I just wanted to say hi.

Politics is the business of community leadership and I admire everyone who steps forward to offer their services. When it comes to the business of leadership, may the best plan win – and leave the personal politics out of it.

Back to the Baltimore Sun Democratic campaign pieces; I only read them a moment ago and then I only scanned portions of it.

Yawn.

So what is new?

Actually they are both well-written, if you accept them for what they are – persuasive political rhetoric. If the articles had been labeled as “analysis” or if they had been offered as “columns,” that would have been appropriate.

News articles they were not.

I remember well when the dominant party in Carroll County was the Democratic Party. In those days it was quite conservative.

There was consistent and persistent friction between the conservative-wing of the Democratic Party and the more liberal wing. Much of it was just a rancorous as it is today – only it was the different factions of the Democratic Party doing the bickering.

It was around the late 1970s when the Carroll County Democratic Party started to veer abruptly to the left. Around the time that John Willis ran for the House of Delegates.

As time went on, many of the conservative Democrats left the party and it was not until around 1990 or so that the numbers of Republicans surpassed the registered Democrats.

I think that differences of opinion, whether from within a political party or between parties - - are good for Carroll County.

I rather like differences of opinion being tolerated within a party and I think that it is necessary. As the Carroll County Democratic Party leadership became intolerant of different points of view, many left the party.

Of that note, the Republican Party in Carroll County should pay close attention. As soon as the leadership of the Republican Party becomes intolerant of opposing points of view as to the direction of the party, folks will leave.

Hopefully, the leadership of the Carroll County Republican Party will continue to encourage differences of opinion, discussion and dialogue. The minute that those necessary disagreements are no longer tolerated, the party will cease to be relevant in Carroll County.

If anything, the Carroll County Democratic Party would be smart to get back to its conservative roots in order to win some folks back to the party.

Just as I was about to move on with my day, I got an e-mail from a colleague who spent a bit of time writing up a paragraph or two about the two articles and I found the commentary to be thought-provoking.

I will paste them below and then I’ll go back to work. For everyone who got in touch about the two articles… Thank You. I have saved them. In the future, they will be excellent examples as to why the Baltimore Sun has lost its credibility and relevancy… See: “20061029 The Sunset of the Baltimore Sun.”

Meanwhile, my colleague said:

Baltimore Sun Whacks Carroll GOP – Here’s a surprise –

The Baltimore Sun has run two articles in two days critical of Republicans – more specifically about the Republicans in the Baltimore metropolitan region’s stronghold of Carroll County.

Who’d of thunk it!

Competitive local primaries always disrupt party unity. Supporters have made heavy investments in their candidates – with time, money, talents, etc. – and strong emotions after a primary are expected.

Is this something new?

No.

Does this happen only to Republicans – No.

It is part of the fundamental nature of democratic governments – that democracies work best when they run on conflict. Carroll County Republicans have had significant internal controversies in the past:

1) the fight over the 1985 Orphan’s Court vacancy where three members of the Central Committee resigned;

2) the filling of a vacancy in the ballot for the 1986 sheriff’s race where several prominent Republicans supported the Democratic incumbent Sheriff Sensabaugh;

3) the 1990 state senate primary where the incumbent who lost to Larry Haines endorsed the Democrat Jeff Griffith;

4) the 1990 “Victory” slate for Republican central committee; and the list could go on.

Internal strife is not a sign of a party on the brink of collapse (as the Baltimore Sun and the doomsayers would have you believe) but instead symbolizes a big, open-tent, healthy local party that offers the best candidates and the best solutions to problems in Carroll County.

From my perspective …, these Carroll County internal battles are tame as compared to the infighting and back-stabbing... in the (Democratic) delegations from Baltimore City, Prince George’s County and elsewhere.

But the Baltimore Sun will never miss the opportunity to try and make Republicans look bad – no matter where they live in the state.

####

20061029 Newspaper endorsements in the MD gubernatorial contest

Newspaper endorsements in the Maryland gubernatorial contest

October 29, 2006

Below please find links for newspaper gubernatorial endorsements in the Maryland contest for the State House:

20061029 Baltimore Sun Endorsement of O’Malley

20061023 Washington Times endorsement of Ehrlich

20061025 Washington Post endorsement of Gov Ehrlich

20061026 Howard County Times endorsement of Governor Ehrlich

20061015 Hagerstown Herald Mail Endorsement of Ehrlich

20061015 Hagerstown Herald Mail Endorsement of Ehrlich

####

20061029 The Sunset of the Baltimore Sun

The Sunset of the Baltimore Sun

October 29^th, 2006

Fellow Maryland Blogger Aliance member, Soccer Dad has a unique angle on the matter of folks continuing to call for Tribune to divest itself of the flagging Maryland newspaper flagship - - increasing a mere sycophant coal tender for the Maryland Democratic Party, the Baltimore Sun.

Please read his post here: “Eclipsing the sun?”

He also has a link to the Washington Post story about folks clamoring for a sale.

The Baltimore Sun seems hell-bound to throw itself off a cliff and has lost any credibility with me. I do not revel in the slow suicide of the Baltimore Sun. I view it as a tragedy.

The only way out for the Sun at this point would be different ownership.

For more on the subject, read my Tentacle columns:

April 26, 2006 - Baltimore’s Sun Still Dimming

April 12, 2006 - Governor Crothers, Meet Dan Rodricks

January 11, 2006 - Journalism in 2005

January 4, 2006 - A Tale of Two Introductions

December 21, 2005 - Who is Max Cleland?

October 19, 2005 - “The Sun and the Bay”

####

20061025 The Washington Post and the future of journalism

The Washington Post and the future of journalism

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff October 25^th, 2006

I awakened this morning to an e-mail which called to my attention that the Washington Post has endorsed Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich for another four years in the Maryland State House.

From a quick review of other e-mails, it seems that many are surprised. I, on the other hand, am not surprised.

In an era when so many folks are quick to paint much of the “old-guard” of the main stream media with the same brush as being knee-jerk liberal: here or here - - just for quick examples. Or of Howard Kurtz??? – for some irony, … here and here. Go figure.

It is not my assessment of the Washington Post that it is knee jerk sycophant liberal; as I have witnessed it evolve into attempting to report on the news “straight down the middle.”

To be certain, there have been fits and starts and the transition has not been smooth, however, it is important that credit be given where it is merited – and the Washington Post, for me, has entered territory where I am willing to give it some benefit of doubt.

I had an opportunity to talk with Mr. Jim Brady, the Executive Editor of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive at a Maryland Delaware DC Press Association seminar several months ago. Granted, it was a brief conversation, but it came on the heels of an excellent presentation by him (Newspapers & New Media) and whatever doubts that I had about the Washington Post trying to let go of it’s elitist liberal past before had a chance to talk with Mr. Brady during a later break, during the Maryland Delaware, DC Press Association seminar, “New Media Day,” May 11, 2006 were answered.

For more on this go to: “Post Editors Discuss Their Craft,” from September 28, 2006. It’s an audio of a conversation with “The Washington Post Executive Editor Len Downie, washingtonpost.com Executive Editor Jim Brady and Post columnist Howard Kurtz (Howard Kurtz's Media Notes) talk about the paper and future of journalism.” Listening to this audio is well worth your time, for anyone who is interested in the multi-platform approach to delivering the news.

Yes, I am one of those folks who grew-up addicted to newspapers and can still enjoy actually holding a newspaper as I read it. However, for the most part, I read (scan) perhaps as many as 10 newspapers a day – all on-line. At this point, I would almost rather read a manuscript, a memo – and the newspaper on the computer screen.

For more commentary on the Washington Post and the virtual world of blogging, see my Tentacle column on January 25^th, 2006: “How is Internet media held accountable?”

And yes, before your itching fingers reach for the keyboard, the Washington Post still has some political writers that have not read “the memo,” but old habits die hard for some.

I continue to be encouraged by what the Washington Post is doing these days and endorsing Governor Ehrlich for another term even raises further their standing with me. Hopefully many of the folks at the Washington Post can take credit for the transformation of the paper - - I credit Jim Brady.

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/

20061019 10 Most Read Articles on NYTimes from the past two weeks

10 Most Read Articles on NYTimes.com from the past two weeks

@TIMES - Inside NYTimes.com
Thursday, October 19, 2006
-----------------------------------------

Here are the 10 Most Read Articles on NYTimes.com from the past two weeks (as of 9 a.m. ET, October 19).


1) Yankee Dies in Plane Crash, Official Says By MARIA NEWMAN and WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM, Published: October 11, 2006 Cory Lidle, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, was killed today when a plane crashed into a residential high-rise building on New York City's Upper East Side, a city official confirmed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/11/nyregion/12crashcnd.html?ex=1176609600&en=795e29d8531a1b74&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at1

2) To Be Married Means to Be Outnumbered By SAM ROBERTS, Published: October 15, 2006 Married couples, whose share of American households has been declining for decades, have slipped into a minority.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/us/15census.html?ex=1176609600&en=99c95d1dd848dcb2&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at2

3) Evangelicals Fear the Loss of Their Teenagers By LAURIE GOODSTEIN, Published: October 6, 2006 Evangelical Christian leaders are warning one another that their teenagers are abandoning the faith in droves.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/06/us/06evangelical.html?ex=1176609600&en=b29752956653649f&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at3

4) Seduced by Snacks? No, Not You
By KIM SEVERSON, Published: October 11, 2006 According to Prof. Brian Wansink's research, people make over 200 food decisions a day -- and are outwitted at every turn.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/11/dining/11snac.html?ex=1176609600&en=dceeac04bfda2b2e&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at4

5) Old but Not Frail: A Matter of Heart and Head By GINA KOLATA, Published: October 5, 2006 A central issue only now being systematically addressed is why some people age well and others do not.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/05/health/05age.html?ex=1176609600&en=12e93a3c6d843c52&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at5

6) An Elephant Crackup?
By CHARLES SIEBERT, Published: October 8, 2006 Attacks by elephants on villages, people and other animals are on the rise. Some researchers are pointing to a species-wide trauma and the fraying of the fabric of pachyderm society.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/magazine/08elephant.html?ex=1176609600&en=c3e89a06bff6d039&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at6

7) A History of Sex With Students, Unchallenged By DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI, Published: October 10, 2006 A N.J. school district is being sued for failing to stop a woman with an appetite for under-age boys.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/nyregion/10teacher.html?ex=1176609600&en=d2d193fb08657bb5&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at7

8) Study Links Extinction Cycles to Changes in Earth's Orbit and Tilt By JOHN NOBLE WILFORD, Published: October 12, 2006 Scientists say periodic changes in Earth's orbit may account for the apparent regularity with which new species of mammals emerge and then go extinct.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/science/earth/12extinct.html?ex=1176609600&en=9fc4a5a53674ca70&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at8

9) As Exemptions Grow, Religion Outweighs Regulation By DIANA B. HENRIQUES, Published: October 8, 2006 Religious organizations enjoy an abundance of exemptions from regulations and taxes. And the number is multiplying rapidly.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/business/08religious.html?ex=1176609600&en=a72b34791f8cf28a&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at9

10) With YouTube, Student Hits Jackpot Again By MIGUEL HELFT, Published: October 12, 2006 Jawed Karim, one of YouTube's three founders, hit the equivalent of the Powerball when Google bought the site.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/technology/12tube.html?ex=1176868800&en=70ce5340ae85d3c3&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at10

20060923 Local News in Spanish

Local News in Spanish

September 23, 2006

My latest post on the Westminster Eagle blog, The Winchester Report, is up. It is: “Local news coverage, in Spanish, of the tragic accident in Westminster.”

09/23/06 By Kevin Dayhoff

Last Tuesday night there was a tragic accident in Westminster in which a bicyclist, a native of Mexico, was killed on Route 140.

The Carroll County Times published an article week by Ari Natter and Tomas Pagan-Motta in the print edition which referred the reader to the story – in Spanish – online.

The Times is to be congratulated for including an article in the language of the victim.

I only wish that the paper had been able to find the space to publish the Spanish version in the print edition. Better yet, I wish I had thought of it first.

[I added the hyperlinks…]

Read the rest of it here.

For previous posts:

20060921 KDDC Spanish language coverage of the tragic traffic ...

22 Sep 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

In regards to the local news coverage of the tragic accident in Westminster in which a bicyclist was killed on Rte 140, the Carroll County Times published an article today by Ari Natter and Tomas Pagan-Motta in the print edition which ...

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

20 Sep 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

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. ...

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20060824 Top Ten most read NYTimes articles in last two weeks

Top Ten most read NYTimes articles in last two weeks

@TIMES - Inside NYTimes.com
Thursday, August 24, 2006

* Here are the 10 Most Read Articles on NYTimes.com from the past two weeks (as of 11 a.m. ET, August 23).

1) A Face Is Exposed for AOL Searcher No. 4417749 By MICHAEL BARBARO and TOM ZELLER Jr., Published: August 9, 2006
Detailed records of searches underscore how much people reveal about themselves when they use search engines.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/09/technology/09aol.html?ex=1171771200&en=fc3fb3310bf58bd7&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at1

2) Elusive Proof, Elusive Prover: A New Mathematical Mystery By DENNIS OVERBYE, Published: August 15, 2006 Grisha Perelman has quite possibly solved one of mathematics biggest mysteries, Poincare's conjecture, but has since disappeared.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/15/science/15math.html?ex=1171771200&en=211e2755c6b8e992&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at2

3) British Authorities Say Plot to Blow Up Airliners Was Foiled By ALAN COWELL and DEXTER FILKINS, Published: August 10, 2006 At least 24 people, said to be mainly British-born Muslims some of Pakistani descent, were arrested.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/10/world/europe/11terrorcnd.html?ex=1171771200&en=ff642b16a4f80bc9&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at3

4) Fat Factors
By ROBIN MARANTZ HENIG, Published: August 13, 2006 It's clear that diet and genes contribute to how fat you are. But a new wave of scientific research suggests that, for some people, there might be a third factor - microorganisms.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/13/magazine/13obesity.html?ex=1171771200&en=091c29f788379524&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at4

5) On the Web, Pedophiles Extend Their Reach By KURT EICHENWALD, Published: August 21, 2006 In an elaborate online community, stories are swapped and tips for getting near children are sought.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/21/technology/21pedo.html?ex=1171944000&en=49ea9b5be1def26c&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at5

6) Suspect in Ramsey Case Says Death Was an Accident By MARIA NEWMAN, Published: August 17, 2006 John Mark Karr, an American teacher, has been charged with murder, kidnapping and sexual assault in the 1996 death of 6- year-old JonBenet Ramsey.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/17/world/18ramsey.ready.html?ex=1171771200&en=da44fa6743010862&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at6

7) Weighing a Switch to a Mac
By THOMAS J. FITZGERALD, Published: August 10, 2006 Retail stores, iPods and new Intel chips are increasing the appeal of making the jump from a PC to a Mac.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/10/technology/10basics.html?ex=1171771200&en=79a0e08ceca3dc85&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at7

8) With Child Sex Sites on the Run, Nearly Nude Photos Hit the Web By KURT EICHENWALD, Published: August 20, 2006 Web sites for pedophiles offer explicit images of children who are covered by bits of clothing to avoid child pornography charges.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/business/20model.html?ex=1171944000&en=cfeb447a10ba4a3b&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at8

9) The Trouble When Jane Becomes Jack
By PAUL VITELLO, Published: August 20, 2006 Transgender operations are a matter of sometimes bitter debate among lesbians, raising questions about identity, politics and loyalty to the cause.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/fashion/20gender.html?ex=1171944000&en=2790561f1c4ee9fc&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at9

10) Arrest in Ramsey Case Presents More Questions By RICK LYMAN and RALPH BLUMENTHAL, Published: August 18, 2006
It is unclear whether John M. Karr's confession is genuine or the product of a troubled, attention-seeking man.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/18/us/18ramsey.html?ex=1171944000&en=d4437747537d2cb0&ei=5087&excamp=mkt_at10

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