20061128 Picking Out the perfect tree by Laura McCandlish

Picking out the perfect tree by Laura McCandlish

November 5th, 2006 – November 28th, 2006

Later on this evening at 5:30 PM, Tuesday, November 28th, 2006, is the third annual County Tree-Lighting Ceremony in front of the Carroll County Office Building at 225 North Center Street.

Laura McCandlish, writing for the Baltimore Sun had a nice piece published on November 5th, 2006 on Mr. Jim Slater and me picking out the tree on Thursday, November 2nd, 2006.

Unfortunately, the link has gone dead, so I’ll paste her entire article in the blog.

Please find more stories by Ms. McCandlish in the Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun, click here.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/carroll/bal-ca.trees05nov05,0,6007720.story?coll=bal-local-carroll

From the Baltimore Sun

Picking out the perfect tree

Officials search high and low in county for holiday spruce that's a cut above the rest

By Laura McCandlish, Sun Reporter, November 5, 2006

Picking out the perfect tree

The first tree, in Sykesville, is too green from lack of sunlight and on the large side. And the third tree, in Westminster, is too squat and might be diseased. But the second tree, in Hampstead, is just right.

With lush, balanced branches tinted a true blue-green, the blue spruce lives up to its name.

"That is pretty darn close to being a perfect tree," says Jim Slater, Carroll County's environmental compliance officer.

The winning tree will be chopped down within two weeks, trucked to the County Office Building in Westminster and propped up outside on a stand in the water fountain to prepare for the holiday tree-lighting ceremony Nov. 28.
It's fast becoming an annual tradition.

The commissioners revived the tradition in 2004 after more than a 30-year hiatus. For unknown reasons, the tree lighting at the county office building had been discontinued in the early 1970s.

About 930 possible trees from 24 county properties were offered as candidates for the county tree this year, according to Vivian Laxton, the county's spokeswoman.

Normally, a van full of tree hunters treks out to choose the tree. But this year, it's Slater and former Westminster Mayor Kevin E. Dayhoff alone in the front seats of the cavernous county van. What they lack in numbers, they make up with enthusiasm.

Though on opposite ends of the political spectrum, Slater and Dayhoff are friends who share a passion for all things arboreal.

"We are the two grandparents of environmentalism in Carroll County," Dayhoff says as the van sets out for South Carroll.

Though it's early November, it's an unlikely day to search for a Christmas tree. The balmy weather, hovering around 70 degrees, and a vivid blue sky scream spring.

Westminster also took advantage of the mild conditions by starting to hang the city's holiday decorations last week.

Slater drives the van by dried cornstalks and rolling green pastures bathed in sunlight, framed by trees painted in fall colors - green turning to gold, crimson, rust and burnt amber.

The county's Environmental Advisory Council is in charge of selecting the tree. Member Brian Rhoten, who is an arborist, couldn't make it. He was busy judging a tree climbing contest.

During the drive, Dayhoff gleefully identifies passing trees.

"That's a beech over there," he says.

And later: "Oh, the holly trees are just outrageous!"

He and Slater extol the merits of various species of Christmas trees.

"The concolor [white] fir is the best Christmas tree ever," Dayhoff says.
Slater agrees.

"I believe it was originally bred in North Carolina, at the Biltmore Estate," Slater says. "I had one last year."

Why the concolor fir? They're aromatic, soft and supple to the touch, yet strong enough to withstand the weight of lights and ornaments.

"When you're decorating a blue spruce, you come back bloody," Slater says of the trees' sharp needles.

That's not a big issue for the county's outdoor tree. In fact, all three of this year's finalists are blue spruces.

"Another one that's gotten real popular is the Frazier fir," Slater says.

The first tree being considered, which partially obstructs the view of Joan Candy's home on Country Fair Lane, stands about 35 feet tall.

"It still has lights on it," Slater says, inspecting and snapping photographs of the spruce.

"Yeah, I used to decorate it when it was little, but I gave up," Candy says.
She planted the tree. How long ago?

"Long enough that it's grown that big," Candy says. Her husband, Albert Selby, a former Carroll Orphans' Court judge, died last year.

"It just seems appropriate to have the tree end up at the County Office Building," Candy says. "Maybe I could hang a little ornament on it with his name."

No one is home at the North Woods Trail home in Hampstead. But Slater and Dayhoff are instantly sold on the tree.

Heading to the third and last stop in Westminster, the sun melts toward the tree line. It's 4:30 but the sun is already starting to set.

There are two spruces in the yard at the home on The Strand. Neither will do. Nor will the more rampantly growing Norway spruce in the backyard.

The Hampstead tree ended up beating out the others. But Dayhoff said he appreciates all the offers.

"We like the idea of folks donating a tree grown too large or otherwise scheduled to be cut down," he says.

For the holiday tree-lighting on Nov. 28, the Winters Mill High School chorus, a flute quartet from Sykesville Middle School and an adult ensemble will all perform.

In addition to Christmas music, Hanukkah songs were sung in past years. Theresa Bethune of Westminster has volunteered to bake cookies for the event. The Westminster Ridge retirement community plans to donate hot cocoa.

More cookie bakers are also needed, Laxton said.

laura.mccandlish@baltsun.com

To volunteer, contact the Office of Public Information, 410-386-2804.

Copyright © 2006, The Baltimore Sun

20061128 CC Commissioners scheduled to be sworn in Dec 4

The 58th Carroll County Board of Commissioners are scheduled

to be sworn-in 3 PM on December 4, 2006

News Release

Board of County Commissioners Julia W. Gouge, President

Dean L. Minnich, Vice President

Perry L. Jones, Jr., Secretary

Carroll County Government

225 North Center Street

Westminster, Maryland 21157

410-386-2043;

For more information, contact: Vivian D. Laxton,
Public Information Administrator, 410-386-2973

For Immediate Release

Swearing in of 58th Board of Commissioners scheduled

November 28, 2006 – The 58th Board of County Commissioners will be sworn in by Clerk of the Court Donald Sealing at 3 p.m. on Monday, December 4. Incumbent Commissioners Julia W. Gouge and Dean L. Minnich will be joined by newly elected member Michael D. Zimmer.

The ceremony will take place in the Carroll County Circuit Court Annex, in Courtroom 4. The event is open to the public.

# # #

20061125 Westminster Municipal Band in Wster Xmas Parade

Westminster Municipal Band in the Westminster Xmas Parade




November 25th, 2006

The Westminster Municipal Band, a Carroll County tradition since 1893, plays in the annual Westminster Christmas Parade last Saturday, November 25th, 2006.

For other posts on the Westminster Municipal Band click here.

For more information on the Westminster Municipal Band, click here for their web site.

20061127 Be the best you can be.

Be the best you can be.

Overcoming obstacles

Pictured above: George Dennehy, right, plays first-chair cello at Oak Knoll Middle School in Hanover County, Va.. George, born with bilateral upper-limb deficiency, has no limbs beyond his shoulder blades and has learned to do almost everything with his feet. (Lindy Keast Rodman, Associated Press)

Although I have a reputation for reading (too) many newspapers, I’ll tell ya a secret – I really scan the articles and just look at the pictures. Often the articles have too many big words for me.

In all seriousness, I am a newspaper photograph junkie and I had noticed Lindy Keast Rodman’s work in the Richmond Times-Dispatch some time ago.

I found this picture in “The Day in Pictures” section of the Baltimore Sun web site. I recognized the name of the photographer and went to the Richmond Times-Dispatch web site to try and find the picture on the web site…

I did not find the picture, but I found the article for which the picture may very well have accompanied. The article, “With feet and toes, young cellist makes beautiful music,” By HOLLY PRESTIDGE, Richmond Times-Dispatch; is worth a quick read. You can find it here.

It begins:

HANOVER, Va. - George Dennehy sits first chair in the cello section of the string orchestra at Oak Knoll Middle School in Hanover County.

As he leans back slightly on a stool, the toes on George's right foot move over the cello's strings as the toes on his left foot control the bow.

George's feet are his hands; his toes are his fingers. He was born with bilateral upper-limb deficiency, so he has no limbs beyond his shoulder blades.

He has learned to do almost everything with his feet _ typing on the computer, eating, setting the table, opening doors, playing the cello.

Read the rest here. (I do not know if the Richmond Times-Dispatch uses permalinks – so if you are accessing this post and the link is dead, e-mail me at kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com and I’ll load the rest of the article…)

Thank you Richmond Times-Dispatch, Holly Prestidge and Lindy Keast Rodman, for a great and uplifting story.

This great picture of Mr. Dennehy provides a bit of a springboard to mention the importance of Special Education programs in our school systems and the subject of mainstreaming.

When at all possible, I believe passionately about mainstreaming, i.e., integrating children with disabilities or special needs into the classrooms as much as possible. The rewards for all the children and society in general far outweigh the expense.

Give a child a chance and they will engage, adapt and overcome every time; provided they are given the proper opportunity to excel; given proper support and allowed to develop compensatory approaches to many of the day-to-day activities we tend to accept as routine.

And this is win-win for everyone.

Kevin

20061127 An incredible story about an amazing swimmer

An incredible story about an amazing swimmer

November 27th, 2006

For more on this story, please see Crablaw’s post.

For a related post, please see, "2oo61127 Be the best you can be,"

or posts on Carroll County 4-H Therapeutic Riding.

Top photo: Paralympian Jessica Long holds multiple swimming world records. "I like being chased," she says. (Sun photo by Doug Kapustin) Nov 17, 2006 For the Related story, please see: Catch me if you can in the Baltimore Sun.

Bottom photo: Paralympian Jessica Long, 14, of Middle River, holds multiple swimming world records. "I like being chased," she says. (Sun photo by Doug Kapustin) Nov 27, 2006

“Catch me if you can,” From the Baltimore Sun By Paul McMullen, Sun reporter, November 27, 2006

At 14, Jessica Long of Middle River is winning gold and setting records with the U.S. Paralympic swim team

Jessica Long's proficiency in the pool is apparent after a few strokes. Bobbing up and down on the breaststroke, she's indistinguishable from the practice partners in her lane, but something seems missing from her otherwise impeccable freestyle form.

The less splash swimmers make with their hands, the faster they go, but Long's kick leaves a curiously scant trail.

The 14-year-old from Middle River has mastered the pull and push of water well enough to set multiple world records, but her athleticism is fully comprehended only on the pool deck. A double amputee below the knees, Long walks on prosthetic legs.

On Thursday morning, Long left her parents and siblings for Thanksgiving in Chicago, joining the other members of the U.S. Paralympic swim team.

Read the rest of the story here.

####

20061127 The US Census Bureau breaks society down into five core generational segmentations

The US Census Bureau breaks society down into five core generational segmentations

Hat Tip: Mrs. Owl

I’ve always been fascinated with some of the communication dysfunction that occurs between men and women, different races and cultures and between generations.

Mrs. Owl was kind enough to e-mail this brief overview as to communication between generations. I enjoy speaking to young adults in the Carroll County Public Schools… and with that and in my role as an uncle, I have always liked to think that I do a fairly good job at reaching the youngest generation; however, I never-the-less worry that I need much improvement.

Anyway, I hope that you agree that the following is an informative introduction to the subject of intergenerational communication…


Listening – Generational!
By Dr. Jeffrey Magee, PDM, CSP, CMC

Executive Summary: Listening to individuals from the generational footprint they bring to the conversation can drastically change the outcome – connect with them at their level and attain success, insist upon communicating from your level solely and your guaranteed failure!

With the diverse environments you live and work today, there is something more important than just gender and race when it comes to really communicating and listening to others for success. Consider the five diverse generational segmentations (COACHING for IMPACT ©2003 by Dr. Jay Kent-Ferraro and Dr. Jeffrey Magee, www.JeffreyMagee.com/library.asp) in the work place today, and some of the similarities and more importantly the enormous difference between how each one operates and processes.

Effective leaders merely make observations, not judgments of right versus wrong or good versus bad, in reflecting upon the differing age segmentations in an organization and thus ways to better connect with each.

The United States Census Bureau breaks society down into five core generational segmentations (birth through death) and if we are to simply use these same five segmentations in the work place, we could segment individuals (yes we are making generalizations here, and there can always be an exception!) into categories with unique traits or characteristics, which could serve as guide posts of how to frame your communication exchange to solicit greater listening and awareness.

Consider the five generational segmentations and the ABCs (Attitudes, Behaviors, and Characteristics) of each for better connections:

1. Centurion (those over 55 years of age; exit point employees) – more structured, formal, conservative, dedicated, and loyal, identity is rooted in what one does, change resistant …

2. BabyBoomers (those from 38 to 55 years of age) – more status driven, materialistic driven, opinionated and ego driven, live to work …

3. Generation X (28 to 38 years of age) – entitlement expected, more outgoing and impatient, question authority and norms more, self indulgent, live for the now …

4. Generation Y (22 to 28 years of age) – More social and relationship driven, work to live, not as class conscious, highly educated, more liberal, change accepting …

5. Generation MTV (17-21 years of age; entry point employees) – looking for association causes to be dedicated to, more structured and accepting of others and situations, concerned for the future and consideration of their peers, live for the now with a reflection on the future, very tech savvy …

When listening to others, listen from the vantage point of the generational segmentation as a footprint from where they come from and you will have a greater awareness of why one says what one says and how to connect with them more effectively.

####

20061127 You Tube and Google Video

You Tube and Google Video

November 27, 2006

I have enjoyed loading videos on to my YouTube account. I have been happy enough with YouTube; however, I decided to explore a bit and try Google Video for a compare and contrast of the services.

Then - right after I loaded a video, I came across this post, “Jihad Video at Google,” on Little Green Footballs and it has given me some pause.

I have not viewed the video to which, LGF is calling to our attention; however, I did read through the comments.

I guess I would love for Google to explain itself. Anyone else have any thoughts?

####

20061127 Commentary on Media bias by Hugh Hewitt

Commentary on Media bias by Hugh Hewitt

November 27th, 2006

Hugh Hewitt has a post published on Sunday, November 26, 2006: “The Killer Myths of the Appeasement Media,” that is a thoughtful and thought-provoking read for those of us who do media criticism.

The post begins, intriguingly enough, with:

“It is useless to debate the leftwing bias in the MSM, which is like debating the temperature at any given place on any given day. Opinions may differ as to what it feels like, but there is a factual answer. No matter what your opinions are about the MSM, the fact is that the Beltway-Manhattan MSM tilts way, way left.”

Read the rest here.

####

20061127 Ode to shallow narcissism

Ode to shallow narcissism

Or Lady Chatterley's Jaguar

November 27th, 2006

I’ve never had any interest in a Jaguar – nor Kate Winslet, for that matter, but I could be persuaded to change my mind about the later.

As much as I can rant about shallow Hollywood types, I guess we all have our human fragilities and limitations.

As one of my favorite Pastors once said, how can we rail against sin unless we understand it and the inevitable savage pilgrimage that results? For which I have always resorted to reading D. H. Lawrence – (in spite of Kate Millet’s reproach) who, to the best of my knowledge, never used the term headlights. It is one opportunity for censorship for which one can be sure he regrets.

Anyway, one of my old cars on the farm sure is just happy to see the picture of Ms. Winslet – err. I mean the Jaguar.

And with that, I’ll quit while I’m behind. To continue will invite a visit to the monastery of Monte Cassino.

If you are thoroughly confused, click on: “It's inspired some other things, too.”

KED

20061127 The Carroll Co. Commissioners’ Agenda

The Carroll Co. Commissioners’ Agenda for the Wk of Nov. 27, 2006

Board of County Commissioners

Julia W. Gouge, President
Dean L. Minnich, Vice President
Perry L. Jones, Jr., Secretary
Carroll County Government
225 North Center Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157
410-386-2043; 1-888-302-8978
fax 410-386-2485; TT 410-848-9747

The Carroll County Commissioners’ Agenda for the Week of November 27, 2006 ~ Revision 4

Please Note: This weekly agenda is subject to change. Please call 410-386-2043 to confirm a meeting you plan to attend. All meetings will be in Room 300A, (Unless otherwise noted) Carroll County Office Building.

Indicates Outside Activities

Monday – November 27, 2006


9:15 a.m. Administrative Session ~ Closed
Chief of Staff, Mr. Steve Powell


6:00 p.m. Planning Commission
County Office Building ~ Room 003
Commissioner Gouge


Tuesday – November 28, 2006


9:30 a.m. Board of County Commissioners Open Community Discussion
County Office Building ~ Room 300 A
Commissioners Gouge, Minnich & Jones


10:00 a.m. Open Session

Bid Approval ~ Inmate Telephones
Carroll County Detention Center ~ Sheriff Kenneth Tregoning
Bureau of Purchasing ~ Mr. Rich Shelton

Bid Approval ~ Farm Museum Electrical Upgrade
Farm Museum ~ Mrs. Dottie Freeman
Bureau of Purchasing ~ Mr. Rich Shelton

Bid Approval ~ Piggyback Wicomico County Contract for Airport Security
Office of Performance Audit and Special Projects ~ Mr. Joe Varrone
Bureau of Purchasing ~ Mr. Rich Shelton
Tuesday – November 28, 2006 ~ Continued


Bid Approval ~ Bridge Architect Services for County Office Building and
Parking Garage
Department of General Services ~ Mr. Ralph Green
Bureau of Purchasing ~ Mr. Rich Shelton

Preliminary approval of loan request from Reese & Community Volunteer Fire Company and execution of resolution
Office of Comptroller ~ Mr. Rob Burk

Pending Amendments to Chapter 81-Animals
Discussion, deliberation & possible adoption
Department of the County Attorney ~ Ms. Kimberly Millender
Carroll County Humane Society ~ Ms. Nicky Ratliff

Proposed Amendments to Chapter 44 County Pension Plan
Request Approval for Public Hearing
Department of the County Attorney ~ Ms. Kimberly Millender
Department of Human Resources ~ Mrs. Carole V. Hammen & Mr. Bill Bates

Bid Approval ~ US Communities Contract/Arbor Associates, Inc.
Department of Recreation & Parks ~ Mr. Jeff Degitz
Bureau of Purchasing ~ Mr. Rich Shelton

Approval of Chesapeake Trust Grant
Department of Management & Budget ~ Mr. Ted Zaleski

Administrative Session ~ Chief of Staff, Mr. Steve Powell


1:00 p.m. Open Session

Exercise Option Contracts ~ County Held Agricultural Land Preservation Easements ~ Green Property
Department of Planning ~ Mr. Steve Horn

Amendments to Zoning Maps 46 & 52 to reflect recent annexations
Department of Planning ~ Mr. Steve Horn

Pending Amendments to Chapter 103 regarding transfer of lot yield across zoning lines & clustering ~ discussion, deliberation & possible adoption
Department of the County Attorney ~ Ms. Kimberly Millender
Department of Planning ~ Mr. Steve Horn


Proposed Amendment to Chapter 103 to allow residential uses as an accessory use within planned business centers
Request Approval for Public Hearing
Department of the County Attorney ~ Ms. Kimberly Millender
Department of Planning ~ Mr. Steve Horn
Tuesday – November 28, 2006 ~ Continued


Proposed Amendment to Chapter 223 to create "business parks" as a principal permitted use subject to restrictions in IR zone
Request approval for Public Hearing
Department of the County Attorney ~ Ms. Kimberly Millender
Department of Economic Development ~ Mr. Larry Twele
Department of Planning ~ Mr. Steve Horn

Proposed Amendment to Chapter 223 to address vegetation and other obstructions that block site distance for roads and driveways
Request Approval for Public Hearing
Department of the County Attorney ~ Ms. Kimberly Millender


5:30 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony
County Office Building
Commissioners Gouge & Minnich

Wednesday – November 29, 2006


8:00 a.m. NACo (National Association of Counties)
Dublin, Ohio
Commissioner Gouge


8:00 a.m. MACo (Maryland Association of Counties) Board of Directors
Calvert House ~ Annapolis, Maryland
Commissioner Jones


Thursday – November 30, 2006


8:00 a.m. NACo (National Association of Counties)
Dublin, Ohio
Commissioner Gouge


8:00 a.m. MACo (Maryland Association of Counties) Board of Directors
Calvert House ~ Annapolis, Maryland
Commissioner Jones


8:00 a.m. Economic Development Commission
County Office Building ~ Room 105
Commissioner Minnich



Friday – December 1, 2006


8:00 a.m. NACo (National Association of Counties)
Dublin, Ohio
Commissioner Gouge


8:00 a.m. MACo (Maryland Association of Counties) Board of Directors
Calvert House ~ Annapolis, Maryland
Commissioner Jones


8:00 a.m. Fuel Oil Dealers Association Breakfast
Baugher’s Restaurant
Commissioner Minnich


Saturday –December 2, 2006


8:00 a.m. NACo (National Association of Counties)
Dublin, Ohio
Commissioner Gouge


Sunday – December 3, 2006


8:00 a.m. NACo (National Association of Counties)
Dublin, Ohio
Commissioner Gouge


8:05 a.m. “The Commissioners’ Report” - WTTR
Commissioner Minnich

11/27/06 ~ dln

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to the Carroll County Government and its programs, services, activities, and facilities. If you have questions, suggestions, or complaints, please contact Ms. Jolene Sullivan, the Carroll County Government Americans With Disabilities Act Coordinator, at 410-386-3600/1-888-302-8978 or TTY No. 410-848-9747. The mailing address is 225 North Center Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157.

CARROLL COUNTY, a great place to live, a great place to work, a great place to play

20061126 Pelosi, Pea Soup, Solyent Green, Setting Hair on Fire

Pelosi, Pea Soup, Solyent Green, Setting Hair on Fire, and the meaning of life in an Age of Global Warming.

Pelosi's message to voters? Ethics, shmethics

November 26th, 2006

It is one of those series of “way too weird” moments that only can happen in the Internet age – or to an attention deficit hyperactive blogger with a serious internet surfing habit; however, grazing the net several days ago I came across an interesting column by Martin Schram. I said to myself; “Self, this would be a great “Other Voices” piece in the Carroll County Times, to give the paper a bit of balance.”

Several days later, whoa - there it was, in the Carroll County Times, Saturday, November 25th, 2006 edition of “Other Voices.”

It was then that I remembered that “Seph’s Mom” wants her to write:

“How about a nice controversial article like the reigning Dem Nancy Pelossi…”

Ms. Dray then interjects: “She's not even a reigning reindeer until January.”

“… who wanted to clean upthe culture of corruption- and plans to appoint afederal judge who was impeached and removed forbribery and corruption!!!”

Ms. Dray writes: “Congress can't appoint judges--that's the President's job. You must be talking about Representative Alcee Hastings, who used to be a judge but was impeached for corruption. His impeachment apparently convinced the morons in his district to elect him to Congress instead….”

Please see the rest of the post: “Can't We Get Through Christmas Before The Wurlitzer Starts Up?” It is a very bright conversation about Speaker-elect Pelosi, Senator John Kerry, Representative Alcee Hastings and more. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

To be sure, I can’t agree enough that it would be nice to get a break before the next Congress convenes - - and especially before the Maryland General Assembly Opera gets cranking up next January.

I’m glad that I am not the only one who gets advice as to what to put on the blog and what not too. Between the blogs and the columns I write, I get lots of advice…

I so wanted to help Ms. Dray out and write a scathing retort about “Nancy Pelosi’s Reign of Error,” (sub-titled: “The Pending Pelosian Malthusian Prerogative.”) And I just could not bring myself to do it. The Speaker of the House-elect makes my milk curdle and my blood boil. (See post script below.)

In an unguarded moment, combine Representative Pelosi in the same paragraph with Senator John Kerry and I go into spastic convulsions, for which Father Lankester Merrin is needed immediately. My head spins and I spew split pea soup.

(Speaking of pea soup is there any truth to the rumor that former Vice-president Al Gore’s sequel to “An Inconvenient Truth” is “Global Warming and Solyent Green - the Halliburton solution?” That Speaker-elect Pelosi wants to make the rich into Solyent Green to actually feed the middle class – after she nationalizes their banks accounts. Remember, “Solyent Green is people” and one of the reasons for the need for Solyent Green was global warming…)

Imagine Al Gore as Charlton Heston …!? … As he searches for "What is the secret of Solyent Green...



So, anyway, Ms. Dray – and her Mom, gets a pass from me. I’ll let Mr. Schram have the honors.

Mr. Schram writes for the Scripps Howard News Service: “Veteran newsman Martin Schram focuses on the intersection of the news media, policy and politics.” His columns appear on Tuesdays.

His column last Tuesday, November 21st, 2006 was titled, “Pelosi's message to voters? Ethics, shmethics ” – [0.7742 SCHRAM-11-21-06 2006/11/21 13:16:02 Editorials and Opinion 776 words By MARTIN SCHRAM]

Last Saturday, it appeared in the Carroll County Times as: “Dems have ethics shortfalls too,” By Martin Schram, Other Voices, Saturday, November 25, 2006

The slug on the Scripps Howard web site reads:

“Some hail as unprecedented the manner in which California Democrat Nancy Pelosi has chosen to begin her surefire reign as the first woman ever to be speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. But they have forgotten Ralph Perk. They have forgott...”

Picking up exactly where the slug stops, a bit more of the column goes like this:

“…en the 1970s day when Cleveland's erstwhile mayor sought to enliven an otherwise humdrum dedication of a new construction project by cutting the ribbon not with a boring scissors but with a blowtorch - and set his own hair on fire…”

OMG, with a column that begins like this, it quickly becomes “must read” material. Go here to read the rest. You will not regret the time…

I gotta go. All this keyboarding has made me hungry for some Purée Mongole - extra rich and creamy. Soon to be a specialty of the Dems’ cafeteria in the RHOB.

Kevin

POST SCRIPT:

Oh I wish that “Joisting for Justice” was not a Maryland Blogger Alliance member. I so wanted to write a scathing retort about “Nancy Pelosi’s Reign of Error.” And I just could not bring myself to do it. The Speaker of the House-elect makes my milk curdle and my blood boil.

Not that I will not disagree with a fellow MBA member. But I wanted to project some frustration and make it really snarky.

But alas, just as 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 and 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 coverage.

Besides the opera that is what we know as that august 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 and extraordinarily talented.

So, anyway, Ms. Dray – and her Mom, gets a pass. I’ll let Mr. Schram have the honors.

20061126 Analyze The Democrat Promise

Analyze The Democrat Promise

November 26th, 2006

Hat Tip: Grammy

UPDATE: (Nov. 27th, 2006) Be sure to take note of the Pilliage Idiot's post - "Now they tell us!"

Another e-mail of wisdom passed on to me from “The Grammy.” It may cause one to stop and ponder the future under the next Congress – with a Democratic leadership.

The Democrats promised "A New Direction For America - Vote Democratic"

The stock market is at a new all-time high and America's 401K's are back.
A new direction from there means, what?

Unemployment is at 25 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Oil prices are plummeting.
A new direction from there means, what?

Taxes are at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Federal tax revenues are at all-time highs.
A new direction from there means, what?

The Federal deficit is down almost 50%, just as predicted over last year.
A new direction from there means, what?

Home valuations are up 200% over the past 3.5 years.
A new direction from there means, what?

Inflation is in check, hovering at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Not a single terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11/01.
A new direction from there means, what?

Osama bin Laden is living under a rock in a dark cave, having not surfaced in years, if he's alive at all, while 95% of Al Queda's top dogs are either dead or in custody, cooperating with US Intel.
A new direction from there means, what?

Several major terrorist attacks already thwarted by US and British Intel, including the recent planned attack involving 10 Jumbo Jets being exploded in mid-air over major US cities in order to celebrate the anniversary of the 9/11/01 attacks.
A new direction from there means, what?

Just as President Bush foretold us on a number of occasions, Iraq was to be made "ground zero" for the war on terrorism -- and just as President Bush said they would, terrorist cells from all over the region are arriving from the shadows of their hiding places and flooding into Iraq in order to get their faces blown off by US Marines rather than boarding planes and heading to the United States to wage war on us here.
A new direction from there means, what?

Now let me see, do I have this right? I can expect:

The economy to go South
Taxes to go Up
Employment to go Down
Terrorism to come In
Tax breaks to go Out
Health Care to go the same way gas prices have gone
[…]

But what the heck !

I can gain comfort by knowing that Nancy P, Hillary C, John K, Edward K, Howard D, Harry R and Obama have worked hard to create a comprehensive National Security Plan, Health Care Plan, Immigration Reform Plan, Gay Rights Plan, Same Sex Marriage Plan, Abortion On Demand Plan, Tolerance of Everyone and Everything Plan, How to Return all Troops to the U.S. in The Next Six Months Plan, A Get Tough Plan, adapted from the French Plan by the same name and a How Everyone Can Become as Wealthy as We Are Plan. I forgot the No More Katrina Storm Plan.

Now I know why I feel good after the elections.

I am going to be able to sleep soooooo much better at nights knowing these dedicated politicians are thinking of me and my welfare.

####

20061127 Westminster Common Council Agenda

Westminster Mayor and Common Council Meeting of November 27, 2006
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 P.M.
Confirmation of Appointment of Roland L. Unger as City Treasurer
2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 13, 2006
3. PUBLIC HEARING:
Amended Development Plan for Wakefield Valley
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
October 2006 Departmental Operating Reports
5. BIDS:
Replacement Water and Sewer Facilities on Gorsuch Road
Recoating of Digester Covers
6. REPORTS FROM MAYOR
7. REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
a. None as of November 22, 2006
9. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Appointment of Board of Examiners – Carroll County Commerce Center
b. Confirmatory Deed – John Street
c. Zoning Text Amendment Request
10. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
11. CITIZEN COMMENTS
12. ADJOURN
THE NOVEMBER 27, 2006 MEETING OF
THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL WILL BE HELD AT THE
JOHN STREET QUARTERS, 28 JOHN STREET.
PARKING IS AVAILABLE.

20061127 Westminster Common Council Agenda

Westminster Mayor and Common Council Meeting of November 27, 2006

AGENDA

1. CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 P.M.

Confirmation of Appointment of Roland L. Unger as City Treasurer

2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 13, 2006

3. PUBLIC HEARING:

Amended Development Plan for Wakefield Valley

4. CONSENT CALENDAR:

October 2006 Departmental Operating Reports

5. BIDS:

Replacement Water and Sewer Facilities on Gorsuch Road

Recoating of Digester Covers

6. REPORTS FROM MAYOR

7. REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES

8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

a. None as of November 22, 2006

9. NEW BUSINESS:

a. Appointment of Board of Examiners – Carroll County Commerce Center

b. Confirmatory Deed – John Street

c. Zoning Text Amendment Request

10. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

11. CITIZEN COMMENTS

12. ADJOURN

THE NOVEMBER 27, 2006 MEETING OF

THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL WILL BE HELD AT THE

JOHN STREET QUARTERS, 28 JOHN STREET.

PARKING IS AVAILABLE.

20061124 Casino Royale

Casino Royale

November 25th, 2006

UPDATE (Nov. 27, 2006): Joealbero over at Salisbury News has a good short post on Casino Royale, that is short, to the point and spot-on.

I hope that you are sitting down as I tell ya that I actually took a bit of a break over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Yes, of course, even a geek like me will take time out for the family dinners and the “My Dinner with Andre” conversations over coffee after dinner; however, I took some “real” time off and went to see the latest James Bond movie.

I’m not a real fan of the James Bond series or genre; however, I have been known to have sat through several. And no, I can’t name one. Whatever.

In the interest of transparency, I actually went to be a good “uncle.” After all, the family puts up with my constant pre-occupation with art and writing. And I still “owe them” for all the family stuff I missed for 6 years as an elected official. And I love being “the Uncle.” Gotta be one of the neatest titles there can be. So I want to do it well.

Actually, I am a movie fanatic, but in recent years, I have found little to entice me into the movie theatres. Alotta skin, violence and simplistic formulaic plots with over-paid, over-egoed shallow Hollywood types… Ah, no thanks. I think I’ll watch the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on government cable access, instead.

Well, guess what? I very much enjoyed the movie. No, to be sure there was no deep hidden intellectual, existential or “art-movie” value to the movie.

It was just entertaining as heck and I liked spending time with the family…

Review? Nah, I don’t wanna make the movie into a work project.

Actually, the only real criticism of the movie, really had nothing to do with the movie itself. The movie theatre in which I saw the movie had the soundtrack turned up way high and my ears rang for quite some time afterwards.

For me that isn’t a good thing as I already have hearing lose from tractors and chainsaws on the farm and with the business for many – too many years…

Is this the way the movie theatres do it nowadays, blast the soundtrack at ya? It was pretty disconcerting. Next time I’ll bring my skeet-shooting ear plugs.

If ya have some friends and family and ya like movies and don’t wanna be bogged-down in some deep conversation about Hegel’s Dialectic Progression as to applied to the movie, go see “Casino Royale.”

Oh, as far as a review, try Reel Fanatic’s post first and go from there… And oh, the comments are intelligent also, so be sure to go the comment section on Reel Fanatic’s post.

For a few good pics from the movie, go here.

See the Sony Pictures’ trailer for the movie here.

For a few previous posts on movies – go here.

I’m back to work…


####

20061125 Jack Price Feb. 2, 1920 to Nov. 15, 2006 is going home

Jack Price Feb. 2, 1920 to Nov. 15, 2006 is going home

November 25th, 2006

Jack Price, a local sheep farmer, community leader and horticulturist, passed away on November 15th, 2006. He’s going home.

I attended his memorial service this morning, along with hundreds of Carroll County community leaders, farmers and fellow church members.

Unfortunately, I do not know who took the photo above, but it is so moving and so – Mr. Price.

Please see Carrie Knauer’s May 14th, 2004 article on Mr. Price: “20040514 Jack Price Gardening A late-found love by Carrie Knauer.”

In my forward to her article that I have posted on “Soundtrack,” I wrote:

Another in a great series of articles by Carrie Knauer, who writes for the Carroll County Times. I grew up in Westminster United Methodist Church at the intersection of Main and Center Street; Jack Price’s adopted church, when he first came to Westminster in 1963 and started sheep farming. He was very helpful with my 4-H photography projects and even my rabbit projects in the 1960s. Some of my earliest photographs are of Mr. Price’s farm around 1967. Later in life when I started my landscape business, Mr. Price was one of my biggest supporters and fans.

I will probably have Mr. Price be the focus of next Westminster Eagle opinion column. For now, the obituary in the Carroll County Times read:

Fred H. 'Jack' Price Jr., 86, of Westminster

Carroll County Times Obituaries for Thursday, November 16, 2006

Fred H. "Jack" Price Jr., 86, of Westminster died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, at his home after a brief illness.

Born on Feb. 2, 1920, in rural western North Carolina, he was the son of the late Rev. Fred H. and Amy Helms Price. He was the husband of the late Ollie Price, his wife of 54 years.

He graduated from North Carolina State University in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics and a minor in animal husbandry. He was active in the YMCA, the debating team, the livestock judging team, and a member of Alpha Zeta.

After a short time as Assistant county agent in Iredell County, N.C., he enlisted in the Navy Air Corps and served as a transport pilot during World War II.

Following the war, he and his wife relocated in Maryland where he worked on livestock farms. In 1963, they settled in Westminster, where he developed a large flock of registered Hampshire sheep. He enjoyed showing his sheep at fairs and sales and using his Border Collie dogs to help handle the sheep on the farm.

He retired from farming in 1992 and built his current home in Westminster on his farm property. He enjoyed perennial flower gardening and landscaped the gardens around his home.

Surviving is devoted friend Joyce L. Brown, his partner for eight years.

He was predeceased by his sister Ann.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Westminster United Methodist Church, 162 E. Main St., Westminster, with the Rev. David Highfield and longtime friend Dr. Ira Zepp officiating. Interment will be private.

There will be no public visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Carroll Hospice, 95 Carroll St., Westminster, MD 21157.

Arrangements are by Pritts Funeral Home & Chapel, 412 Washington Road, Westminster.

####

20061125 OMG I want this T Shirt

OMG I want this T Shirt

Crablaw wins the Dayhoff Dr. Pepper Award

November 25th, 2006

Crablaw wins the Dayhoff Dr. Pepper Award for his post from just after midnight on Saturday, November 25th, 2006, “New Taneytown Pride T-Shirt!”

Dr. Pepper was squirting from my nose as I stumbled upon Crablaw’s Ash Grey 100% cotton Taneytown Pride T-Shirt.

Go here now. It is too good to be true.

For previous posts on the Taneytown English First initiative – go here.

####

20061125 Soccer Dad’s Intelligent update on John Bolton confirmation

Soccer Dad’s Intelligent update on John Bolton confirmation

November 25th, 2006

As a follow-up to 20061119 John Bolton and his recent remarks on the UN, Soccer Dad weighs in with some comprehensive and intelligent commentary in the matter of confirming U.S. Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton.

Please find it here. “Bolton for the Door.”

And previously, he had called to my attention some additional information and commentary sources:

Martin Peretz's take on Bolton: http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20060828&s=peretz082806

or here

http://jewishworldreview.com/0806/peretz_bolton.php3

Thanks a bunch Soccer Dad.

Kevin

20061124 Happy Thanksgiving from Tom Beyard

Happy Thanksgiving from Tom Beyard

November 24th, 2006

The Westminster Director of Planning and Public Works is currently serving our country in the Middle East.

He asked me to “say Happy Thanksgiving from (him) and hopefully a happy holiday season. I spent my Thanksgiving with our soldiers at LSA Anaconda, Balad, Iraq, north of Baghdad. I hope to spend Christmas with our soldiers at Bagram, Afghanistan, where we also have soldiers working.”

I asked Command Sergeant Major Beyard what he needed, if anything.

He responded by saying: “I am doing fine and our unit is doing fine. Your thoughts are fine with me. No need to send anything.”

Join me in thanking CSM Beyard for his service and wishing him a Happy Thanksgiving.

Kevin

PS: The best way to leave a message for CSM Beyard is to leave it in comments…

20061123 Bloggers and the Courts Barrett v Rosenthal

Bloggers and the Courts Barrett v Rosenthal

Barrett v Rosenthal in the Supreme Court of California

November 23rd, 2006

November 25th, 2006 UPDATE: Please see Crablaw’s discussion here: Kevin Dayhoff and Michelle Malkin Make Sense on Barrett v. Rosenthal

Michelle Malkin has a post about the November 20th, 2006 decision in the Supreme Court of California; Barrett v. Rosenthal, that perhaps some of our local attorney bloggers may investigate and report upon.

“Internet defamation: A dissent” by Michelle Malkin November 22, 2006 08:28 AM begins:

I suppose, as a blogger, I should join in and cheer the much-buzzed-about decision in Barrett v. Rosenthal this week, which ruled in California that Internet users who post (to Web sites or discussion groups) defamatory statements originally made by others are immune from liability.

[…]

Many of my friends and colleagues in the blogosphere see the decision as a triumph for Internet free speech. See Glenn Reynolds, Danny Glover, and Justin Levine at Patterico's, for a sample of opinion.

Read the rest of her post here. It is well worth the time. She provides a summary of the case from Eugene Volokh and some additional insightful commentary.

My initial reaction is ambivalence. This is a knife that can cut both ways. On the one hand, as a blogger, I am certainly willing to accept legal protections…

On the other hand, I would rather that bloggers be held to the same standards as apply to the “print” media - - and what I am held to in my columns which appear in the print media.

Here’s the rub. In my capacity as a former appointed, elected official, and public figure; and now as a blogger, I would rather have some recourse against some of the more colorful assertions about me, my decisions and my participation in decisions. Yes, I understand full well, that as an elected official, some of my rights are taken away from me as to what folks can say…

Never-the-less, as a person who has been the subject of misleading information in the past, I certainly have no interest in giving folks, carte blanche, to say whatever they wish in the blogosphere.

Folks love to expound about their “right to free speech” but all too often the room gets silent about the responsibilities that go along with the right to free speech – especially in the blogosphere.

Ms. Malkin said it well further down in her post:

But aren't bloggers the ones arguing that we should be treated like MSM journalists? Isn't that what the Apple vs. bloggers case was all about? Remember? Seems to me that some bloggers want to enjoy the benefits of MSM status (fighting for the same coverage as traditional journalists under shield laws, as in the Apple case), but avoid the consequences (getting sued if they re-publish defamatory material online).

####

20061122 Meet Mary Katharine Ham Bull City native

Meet Mary Katharine Ham, Bull City native, TownHall.com blogger and darling of the right wing by Fiona Morgan, Indy Weekly from Durham, North Carolina

Ham dishes on Durham, journalism and women with guns

NOVEMBER 22, 2006

BY FIONA MORGAN Indy Weekly from Durham, North Carolina

A couple of months ago, Mary Katharine Ham started getting calls from producers at Fox News and Larry King Live, inviting her to represent the right-wing point of view on the air. Ham, who grew up in Durham and now lives in the Washington, D.C., area, is a full-time blogger at TownHall.com, a conservative multimedia Web site, where she has worked since 2005 (www.townhall.com/blog/MaryKatharineHam).

In the run-up to this year's election, she also gained notoriety for her video blog entries, including a Republican Get-Out-the-Vote campaign ad done as a spoof of late-night phone-dating ads.

In her early 20s, with long brown hair and a broad smile, Ham is a rising media star. On election night, she was among some 30 keyboard scribblers invited to CNN's "blog party" at a Washington nightspot. (She was joined there by fellow Durhamite Pam Spaulding, whose Pam's House Blend blog addresses race and gay and lesbian issues from a decidedly liberal perspective—though neither was aware they shared a hometown.)

Ham occasionally relates anecdotes of her experiences in Durham, which she describes as a liberal college town where she frequently finds herself the only conservative in the room (or at the bar).

After attending Riverside High School and the University of Georgia and working at a small-town N.C. newspaper, she joined the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank.

Her father, Jon Ham, the former managing editor of The Herald-Sun, is now a vice president at the conservative John Locke Foundation, where he writes a column for Carolina Journal.

We spoke with Ham by phone and e-mail from her office.

Indy: Besides blogging for Town Hall, you've recently become a bit of a TV personality. How did that happen?

Mary Katharine Ham: [Prominent conservative blogger] Michele Malkin has been very kind to me and sort of promoted me and been someone to look to for advice. I guest-blogged for her and shot a couple of video blogs for her site. She's on a couple of shows, and I had another friend who's been on CNN for a while, and both of them ended up not being able to do various gigs and they recommended me.

You started your career at a newspaper in North Carolina, is that right?

Yes, I worked for the newspaper in Rockingham. Because it was a small paper, I did pretty much everything: I laid stuff out and I reported, mostly sports and features, and then I got to do a little bit of opinion. They needed the columns filled and they were very nice to let me give it a shot even though I was right out of school. A couple of opinion pieces got picked up online by bigger Web sites, so I thought, maybe I could take a shot at that.

What were they about?

The first one was a column in which I defended Rush Limbaugh for the Donovan McNabb dustup. [In 2003, Limbaugh resigned from ESPN after saying the Philadelphia Eagles player had been promoted because he's black.] So few writers took that tack that [Limbaugh] put all of them on his Web site, every column that defended him. And my line was, basically, the media likes to call out racial insensitivity, but usually only on one side. You've got [Chicago Cubs manager] Dusty Baker going on and on about how white boys can't play in the heat, and that's fine, but if you're Rush Limbaugh you're going to get crucified. So basically I was saying, if you're going to call it, call it both ways.

How did you end up at the Heritage Foundation?

I was looking around at different newspaper jobs and I decided I could either do opinion journalism or sports journalism. I thought that was where I'd be most comfortable in the newsroom. I went up to D.C., interviewed at The Washington Times and the Heritage Foundation. At the Heritage Foundation, everybody was really excited and pumped about what they were doing. I had never met so many like-minded people in my entire life, so that was kind of exciting.

You say that your experience of Durham is that it's a very liberal town. That's interesting because my experience is that it's a very mixed town, politically.

I grew up in Trinity Park, which has a lot to do with it. I grew up in the Duke professor community, which, especially in my neighborhood, is overwhelmingly liberal. If you go to certain parts of town, certainly things are different. But my impression has always been that the conservatives, if they're in Durham, are certainly the silent minority.

What formed your political philosophy?

Our family was a bit more conservative than the folks in our neighborhood were, but we were never overtly politically conservative until later in the Clinton years.

I'm more of a fiscal conservative. I grew up in public schools, largely minority public schools—I was always one of several white kids from the neighborhood. And I just noticed in those settings that—and it took me a long time to figure out what was going on—that federal programs for fixing problems such as poverty and social ills and these kind of things were not working exactly the way they were supposed to. Not only that, but they looked to me as if they were harming the people they were meant to help.

In what way?

Just sort of breeding a kind of dependence on government, it occurred to me somewhere around high school, was not a good idea because you want people to have more potential than that. You always want to give people a helping hand, which is why I support private charities, which I think are more efficient at actually helping people than the government is.

And you observed this in your classmates?

Right. I watched families that had come undone and kids that weren't getting support at home, and it occurred to me later that a lot of that could probably be attributed to the fact that many of them were dependent on government instead of their families making their own way and taking ownership of their own lives.

What other experiences formed your political views?

I'm strongly pro-gun. The idea of gun control never made sense to me, since it only leaves law-abiding citizens without the means to protect themselves while all the criminals persist in owning illegal guns. It's also a bit of a women's issue for me. There is no better way to equalize a fight between a male attacker and a woman than a 9mm. Armed citizens who know what they're doing with a firearm can be a great crime deterrent.

Violence against women is a huge problem, and one I've been concerned about since the days of the Trinity Park rapist. I just take a different tack than liberals when it comes to deciding how to defend women. I occasionally collect news stories into columns about everyday women—grandmothers, moms, sisters—protecting themselves and their families with their guns. I think they're inspirational.

As far as other things that I'm passionate about, my father served in the military and both my grandfathers did, and that's always been something that we're very proud of. Not to say that that's only a conservative thing, but growing up in Durham that was always something I was sort of outspoken about.

I'm a Christian, so I'm a social conservative, but I'm much more focused on fiscal issues.

Do you consider yourself a feminist?

I do consider myself a feminist in that I want an equal playing field and equal rights with men. I have been discouraged by the modern feminist movement's tendency to campaign for "special" rights and extra help for women through government programs. It seems to me the opposite of empowering to tell women they need a particular political party or government program to succeed instead of encouraging them to create wealth and opportunity on their own, when they're perfectly capable of doing so.

Every time I tell a modern feminist—and I know many of them—that I'm a conservative or a Republican, I get the same response: "But, but, you're a woman. How can you be a woman and a conservative?" This is usually just a proxy for asking me how I can side with the generally recognized pro-life party. Well, thank you very much, but my entire political philosophy is not defined by the issue of abortion, and I think it's rather sad that many of my fellow women assume it should be. How myopic is that?

For most of your childhood your father worked at The Herald-Sun. Did that put stars in your eyes about media?

Starting in my early teenage years, my dad would take me to the courthouse on election night. Frankly, at the time I probably didn't even know what people were voting for. But it was very exciting. A newsroom on election night is one of the coolest places to be. I got really into that, the late-night pizza, everybody working on a deadline. That struck me as cool. And I've always been able to do very little other than write. [Laughs]

You really felt like newspapers were too liberal? Or you felt that you were too opinionated not to have it be part of your work?

Even in the very little exposure I had to the newsroom, it was overwhelmingly liberal. I was always having to, instead of writing my story, which had nothing to do with politics at all, I'd be defending my beliefs to editors who were having a political conversation in the room. Since I was the only conservative there, I would speak up and say, this is what I think and this is the other view on this. It just became this constant battle. I was always having to worry about, are they going to ask me to do some story that I feel like is slanted in such-and-such a way?

Did you ever feel that you were asked to do a story that was slanted?

Yeah. At one point, there was a Wal-Mart coming to the town, and everyone was very excited about it because it was going to be the coolest thing to hit Rockingham in quite some time. And we were going to do this exposé series on how horrible Wal-Mart was, with very little balance on how it was going to bring millions of dollars to the county and all of these goods and products that people could buy. It worked out fine, but that was one of those situations where I was like, I think I'm going to run into this a lot.

What is it like to be a public face representing conservative views?

It's very odd. I didn't imagine I'd be doing this. It's certainly fun. What I've actually been struck by is how little you get to say on TV. I'm used to an unlimited medium—I write on the Internet, so I can write forever. On TV, you just have to be on your toes, very succinct.

I've been very lucky to get to do a job that's a ton of fun and fight for things I believe in every day. Not a bad position to be in, whether you're liberal or conservative.

http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A40489