20070302 Carroll unprepared to attract new jobs

Carroll unprepared to attract new jobs

Growth and Development

March 3^rd, 2007

Kelsey Volkmann, writing for the Baltimore Examiner has an article in the March 2^nd, 2007 edition of the paper about Carroll County’s current inability to attract jobs and commercial tax base.

Attracting meaningful jobs and employment and tax base in Carroll County is critical to Carroll County’s future. Yet getting the public policy in Carroll County to chart a different course that takes into consideration the importance of attracting jobs and employment is like changing the course of the Titanic in our county - considering the present level of rampant NIMBYism.

And zoning laws in Carroll County are tantamount to that acronym, something to the affect of BANANAS – “Build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything.”

Hardly a month goes by when folks do not rally against any new business and economic development in a negative contagion that has its roots in a sea change of public opinion against any new housing development.

As much as I have personally had enough of the new houses folks must begin to understand that there is a difference between economic development and residential development.

If that understanding does not develop soon, we will never be able to pay the necessary property taxes to keep the ever-increasing level of services in Carroll County.

Not to mention the enormous “transportation tax” Carroll County citizens are paying to commute to meaningful employment outside of the county.

See my post from December 9th, 2000: 20001209 Transportation 2nd Biggest Family Exp.

A report released November 30 by the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) finds that households in the Baltimore region spend, on average, 14.7 percent of their budget, or more than $5,000 per year, on day-to-day transportation. That places transportation costs higher than health care, education, food, or any other household expenditure except shelter.

The report, "Driven to Spend," compiled data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and found that the poorest fifth of Americans pays a significantly larger percentage of income -- 36 percent—on transportation.

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Carroll ‘unprepared’ to attract new jobs

Kelsey Volkmann, The Examiner

Mar 2, 2007 3:00 AM

Carroll County - Carroll “is wholly unprepared to take advantage” of opportunities to attract new jobs, a new study reveals.

“Despite its size, location [and] educated and affluent population, Carroll’s economic performance is still that of a rural residential suburb,” according to a report from consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff…

“Carroll’s current inventory of zoned industrial land is in the wrong places, too broken up and outside existing sewer and water services areas.”

Consultants presented their findings Thursday to the Economic Development Commission.

Read the rest of her article here.

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20070302 The White House Weekly Review

The White House Weekly Review

February 25-March 2, 2007

Sunday, February 25, 2006
President and Mrs. Bush hosted a State Dinner for the Nation's Governors in the East Room of the White House.

"I'm looking forward to our meetings tomorrow. It's a really good chance to talk about important issues for the country. ... I believe that governors add a lot ... to the worth of our nation. And I believe if we work together, we can do a lot of good things."

President Bush Hosts State Dinner for the Nation's Governors

• Guest List for the State Dinner in Honor of the Nation's Governors
• After Dinner Guest List for the State Dinner in Honor of the Nation's Governors
• Entertainment at the State Dinner for the Nation's Governors
• Menu for the Dinner in Honor of the Governors of the States and Territories

Monday, February 26, 2007
President Bush met with the National Governors Association. He later presented the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Crandall. Then, the President participated in the presentation of the annual report to the Nation by the Boy Scouts of America.

"In men like Bruce Crandall, we really see the best of America. He and his fellow soldiers were brave, brave folks. They were as noble and selfless as any who have ever worn our nation's uniform. And on this day of pride, we remember their comrades who gave their lives and those who are still missing. We remember the terrible telegrams that arrived at Fort Benning, the families devastated, the children who traced their father's name on panel three-east of the Vietnam Memorial wall."

President Bush Meets with the National Governors Association

President Bush Presents the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Crandall

• In Focus: Veterans

Tuesday, February 27, 2007
President Bush met with President Elias Antonio Saca of El Salvador. The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including our common commitment to strengthening democracy and economic development and our joint effort to address the problem of criminal gangs. The President then traveled to the U.S. Department of State, where he participated in the ceremonial swearing-in for Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.

"American diplomacy is really critical to ensuring the safety and the security of our citizens. Terrorist enemies follow an ideology of hatred and death. In the long run, the only way to defeat them is to offer a vision that is hopeful and positive and optimistic. Spreading that vision requires strong leadership here at the State Department, and John Negroponte has the talent and the experience our nation needs in a Deputy Secretary of State. He's going to do a superb job for the American people."

President Bush Meets with President Saca of El Salvador

President Bush Attends Swearing-In of John Negroponte as Deputy Secretary of State

• In Focus: Global Diplomacy

In the afternoon, President Bush welcomed the 2006 NBA Champions, the Miami Heat, to the White House.

"Heat players volunteer their time in all kinds of causes, ranging from reading to drug prevention to youth basketball. This is a championship team on the court, and this is a championship team off the court, and it is my high honor to welcome to the White House as the NBA champs."

President Bush Welcomes the 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat to the White House

Wednesday, February 28, 2007
President Bush met with leaders of 11 military service organizations, some of whom are partnered with the Defense Department’s “America Supports You” program, to thank them for their efforts in support of America’s troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world.These organizations have sent thousands of care packages, letters, and other items of support to our troops overseas as well as their families at home.

"One of the most enjoyable things I do as the President is to hear stories of my fellow citizens... stories of compassion, stories of care. I just talked to social entrepreneurs who have decided to help improve the lives of our servicemen and women and their families. There are some remarkable acts of kindness by people who have taken it upon themselves to serve their country by helping a neighbor in need."

President Bush Meets with Military Service Organizations

• In Focus: Defense

Thursday, March 1, 2007
President Bush traveled to the Gulf Coast, where he visited with grant recipients in Mississippi and later met with Mississippi elected officials and community leaders in Biloxi. The President had lunch with Louisiana elected officials and community leaders in New Orleans before visiting the city's Samuel J. Green Charter School.

The Federal government has committed more than $110 billion to help the Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane Katrina. President Bush remains committed to progress on all fronts in the Gulf Region, and will discuss progress in education as well as other reconstruction efforts.

"There's still work to be done here in Mississippi, and the Governor and I are going to go listen to some of the local officials describe to me what's on their mind and how we can continue to help. But times are changing for the better, and people's lives are improving, and there is hope. And I congratulate the good folks in this part of the country for their resiliency, their courage, and the fact that they never abandoned hope."

President Bush Meets with Elected Officials and Community Leaders in Louisiana

President Bush Meets with Mississippi Elected Officials and Community Leaders

President Bush Meets with Gulf Coast Grant Recipients

President Bush Visits Samuel J. Green Charter School

• Fact Sheet: Working with State and Local Leaders to Help Rebuild the Gulf Coast
• In Focus: Hurricane Katrina

Friday, March 2, 2007
Prior to departing for Indiana, President Bush announced he will travel to the storm ravaged areas of Georgia and Alabama on Saturday. Later, President Bush visited Silver Street Elementary School in New Albany, Indiana, and made remarks on No Child Left Behind. The No Child Left Behind Act is helping to raise student achievement in our Nation's schools, and Silver Street is an example of the law's good results – students at the school have met Indiana's achievement benchmarks every year since 2002. The President later met with students from University of Louisville's McConnell Center.

"I'm talking with people on the leading edge of change. And the reason why I've asked them to come in to see me is because I want to make sure that the goal I set by reducing gasoline usage by 20 percent over a 10-year period is a realistic goal. I know it's a necessary goal: it's necessary for national security purposes; it's necessary for economic security purposes; and it's necessary in order to be good stewards of the environment."

President Bush Discusses No Child Left Behind Reauthorization

• In Focus: Education
• Fact Sheet: The No Child Left Behind Act: Preparing Our Nation's Students to Succeed

President Bush Expresses Condolences to Tornado Victims in Georgia and Alabama

Monday, February 26, 2007

Press Briefing by Tony Snow

President Attends the 2007 Republican Governors Association Gala

President Bush Signs Antitrust Modernization Commission Extension Act of 2007

Notice: Continuation of the National Emergency Relating to Cuba and of the Emergency Authority Relating to the Regulation of the Anchorage and Movement of Vessels

Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives

Irish-American Heritage Month, 2007

Nominations Sent to the Senate

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Press Briefing by Tony Snow

Vice President's Remarks to the Traveling Press

Interview of a Senior Administration Official by the Traveling Press

Nomination Sent to the Senate

Personnel Announcement

Personnel Announcement

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Press Gaggle by Tony Snow

President to Welcome Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand to the White House

Women's History Month, 2007

American Red Cross Month, 2007

Save Your Vision Week, 2007

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Ask the White House
David Almacy, White House Internet & E-Communications Director, discussed the the White House website.

Press Gaggle by Dana Perino

Presidential Delegation to Accra, Ghana for the 50th Anniversary of Independence

President and Mrs. Bush Saddened by Loss of Mario Chanes de Armas

Implementation of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement with Respect to the Dominican Republic and for Other Purposes

Message to the Congress of the United States

Notice: Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Zimbabwe

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

Personnel Announcement

Vice President's Remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference

Mrs. Bush's Remarks to the Press at Midway Atoll

Friday, March 2, 2007

Press Gaggle by Dana Perino

Amending Proclamation 8031 of June 15, 2006, to Read, "Establishment of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Momument"

President Bush to Welcome President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil to Camp David

Mrs. Bush's Remarks at the Announcement of the Native Hawaiian Name for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument

• Fact Sheet: Fulfilling the President's Vision for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument

Saturday, February 24, 2007

President's Radio Address
Embargoed until 10:06 AM ET

20070301 Boston police blow up traffic counter – save city

Boston police blow up traffic counter – save city

March 1, 2007

Police Blow Up Suspicious Device In Boston

The bravery never seems to end in Boston Massachusetts, the home state of what many of us otherwise feel is the greatest known threat to our national security, Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. Alright, well maybe that’s political hyperbole, but nevertheless, last Wednesday, Boston police once again fearlessly saved the city and civilization as we know it by blowing up a traffic counter.

WBZ Boston has the story and gives us a glimpse at the tense moments. To see the video of this heroic act – click here or here for the video on “MyFox 25 News Boston.”

Actually, the video at “My Fox 25 News Boston” video is quite comprehensive…

“Part of Boston Shutdown After Suspicious Device Found Last Edited: Wednesday, 28 Feb 2007, 5:18 PM EST Created: Wednesday, 28 Feb 2007, 5:18 PM EST”

The WBZ coverage reads:

Feb 28, 2007 12:33 pm US/Eastern

Police Blow Up Suspicious Device In Boston

(WBZ) BOSTON There were some tense moments in Boston's financial district Wednesday morning as police were forced to blow up a suspicious device.

The bomb squad shut down busy Devonshire Street after someone spotted a green box chained to a no parking sign.

The box turned out to be some kind of traffic counting device and was completely harmless.

Can you remember the terrorism scare in Boston of several weeks ago:

First Suspicious Device Found Near MBTA's Sullivan Station
Timeline: Publicity Stunt Gone Wrong
Officials' Response to Crisis

I feel safer already.

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20070301 The Present Winter Union Bridge Pilot Feb 27 1920

The Present Winter Union Bridge Pilot Feb 27 1920

March 1^st, 2007

A colleague recently shared with me a quote for whom she could not remember who to credit, “February is the Monday of the year.”

February has never been my favorite month. I so dislike the short days, the cold, ice, and snow.

An old long defunct Carroll County newspaper, the Union Bridge Pilot wrote on February 27^th, 1920, “‘If March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion,’ is another weather legend that has been handed down from early times, and is still believed by many.”

Well, let’s hope. For me, spring cannot come soon enough.

The rest of the article reads as follows. I have re-paragraphed it for easier reading. For some reason old newspapers rarely believed in paragraphs…

The Present Winter

Union Bridge Pilot, February 27, 1920.

In commenting on the weather conditions which we have just experienced the Frederick News says the following: "Three weeks of the ground-hog's reign closed Monday. During that time, it has rained 9 times, snowed five times and hailed twice. There were cold, clear and cloudy days and a few warm days.

Yesterday was St. Matthias' day, and having found plenty of ice, according to tradition he broke, and spring is at hand. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of this week are emberdays which rule the weather, for three months.

"If March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion," is another weather legend that has been handed down from early times, and is still believed by many.

During the past 12 years, this prophesy has never failed, said one resident yesterday, in speaking about weather legends. "Still another prediction calls for a wintery March. The caterpillar was black at the tail, and this signifies that the latter part of the winter will be the hardest. The only question raised is to decide whether February is to be considered the last of winter. February is really the last winter month, as spring begins the third week in March. The chickens were heavily feathered which called for a hard winter. "

People in discussing the weather predictions for the next month differ on the question as to whether the end of the winter is at hand or whether March must be considered.

According to time worn predictions March of 1920 will be considered a part of this winter, and the hardest part of the winter is ahead. A late spring is looked for, but this is merely supposition on the part of ones making the prophesy."

20070301 Fix your ceiling tiles or this gecko will die

Fix your ceiling tiles, or this gecko will die

http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/2007/03/fix_your_ceilin.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrixhUg1SCg

March 1^st, 2007

Copious amounts of Dr. Pepper were lost when I watched this ad earlier today on “Adfreak.com.”

The latest winner of the Dayhoff Dr. Pepper Award is this ad from Thailand: “Fix your ceiling tiles, or this gecko will die.”

The video is must see and prepare to smile… It was posted by David Kiefaber who said:

“Maybe it’s me readjusting to the North Carolina climate, but I’m honestly too touched by this Thai ceiling-tile ad to make fun of how patently ridiculous it is. Even the obvious Geico gecko reference seems coarse after seeing one teary-eyed gecko reach out to the other and barely missing as it died. Thank God the chess players’ over-emotional response kept it from being another Suicidal Robot. Although I couldn’t help but notice the falling scene’s eerie resemblance to the beginning of Cliffhanger. From Neatorama, via Spare Room.”

Click for other

20070228 An Open Letter to All Rosie O’Donnells

An Open Letter to All Rosie O’Donnells

February 28th, 2007

Many thanks to Charles County Café for calling to our attention: An Open Letter to All Rosie O’Donnells

Perhaps take this opportunity to go this website and check out many of the other great posts…

The Charles County Café also gave credit to “Posted by Tony Penny in Entertainment News, Cultural & Race.”

Charles County Café introduced the YouTube video by saying, “Amazing video…”

I could not agree more. This video is powerful stuff.

The video was loaded on February 22nd, 2007 and the remarks by the creator of the video are just as good at the video…[1] I have posted them below in a footnote because true to form, many of the comments on the YouTube site are truly offensive and I cannot recommend that anyone go to the site – at least to the comment section... I have no clue as to why a site as sophisticated as YouTube allows offensive language. Wouldn’t you think that a site this technologically advanced could screen certain words in the comment section?

Of course one of the lessons we can see reinforced by way of Ms. O’Donnell’s lack of apology is that being a liberal means that you never have to say that you are sorry. I have no quarrel with Ms. O’Donnell or that she made a mistake – that’s simply human. Her personal lifestyle orientation is of no material matter to me, I really don’t care- - it is none of my business. It is her lack of taking personal responsibility and apologizing that has exacerbated the offensiveness of her behavior.


An Open Letter to All Rosie O’Donnells
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJCkHu3trKc



A video of the offensive incident the “Open Letter” is referring to can be found here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnSuZz3gWuE



####

[1] UPDATE: rosie has given a truly heartfelt response to my work in her blog.after a brief overview of some comments, here's my reply:1) regardless how ya'll felt about the video, i truly appreciate all of you taking the time to provide your honest opinions of it. i believethis can help address where we're really at andimprove everyone communicating with one another2) i understand that rosie was joking. i am actually addressing her defensive reaction upon being told why, "ching chong," might beinappropriate or offensive. 3) i do not hate rosie. this situation is merely a way to frame the discussion of people beingopen to learn from one another, admitting thatthey might be ignorant about some things. iactually believe the sentiment in the piece applies to all groups. hence, "to all..."4) i am currently under the impression that theterms, "queer community," "plus-size," and,"lesbian," are all politcally correct. however,i will research the validity of that belief.5) i am not threatening that asians will punishall the non-asians in the future. i am implyingthat the population of the world is predomi-nantly asian, and that just because in one context she does not interact with asians, doesn't mean that a context will not occur inwhich she will have asians in her life.6) woody fu produced this. ryan ling edited it.thank you to tinnie chow 4 everything.

20070227 African Teen Orphans Visit Maryland For Dance Tour

African Teen Orphans Visit Maryland For Dance Tour

Feb 27, 2007

African Teen Orphans Visit Maryland For Dance Tour

Richard Sher , Reporting

http://wjz.com/local/local_story_058175737.html

See the video here: http://wjz.com/video/?id=25392@wjz.dayport.com

(WJZ) BEL AIR, Md. Ten teenage girls from Namibia in Southern Africa are dancing their way through Maryland.

As Richard Sher reports, they are orphans, living at Children of Zion Village, in Northeastern Namibia, thanks to the wonderful work of Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Bel Air.

Church members Rebecca and Gary Mink are missionaries, who along with the church, bought the land, and built Children of Zion Village.

In all, 55 children, live there. Their parents either died from AIDS, or from the war in Angola.

[…]

The girls leave the states March 19th.

They will be giving a free public concert, Friday night, 7 p.m. at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, in Bel Air.

For more information call 410-836-7444 or Click Here to log onto the Children of Zion web site.

Read the entire article and watch the video here: African Teen Orphans Visit Maryland For Dance Tour

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Africa Namibia Children of Mount Zion Village

20070228 Volkmann Watch

Volkmann Watch

February 28th, 2007

Please note that in the photo above that Ms. Volkmann is fully compliant with: 20060330 Always Dress better than expected

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Westminster wants flexible zoning process - 02/28/2007
Westminster plans to review zoning that allows stores near houses after discovering the process needs work sessions to solve residents’ concerns.
http://www.examiner.com/a-590042~Westminster_wants_flexible_zoning_process.html

County growth opens common ground - 02/28/2007
Residents and the government can agree after all.
http://www.examiner.com/a-590053~County_growth_opens_common_ground.html

Carroll looks to Harford for help in solving problems with garbage, jail - 02/27/2007
Harford could be a picture of Carroll in the future.
http://www.examiner.com/a-587729~Carroll_looks_to_Harford_for_help_in_solving_problems_with_garbage__jail.html

Committee chairman: Campaign finance bill is ‘onerous’ - 02/27/2007
Legislation clarifying campaign finance activity would push residents out of the political process, a committee chairman says.
http://www.examiner.com/a-587731~Committee_chairman__Campaign_finance_bill_is__onerous_.html

Committees formed to find water - 02/27/2007
Carroll has named the subcommittees of a new task force charged with finding more water, while activists launched public education efforts about conservation.
http://www.examiner.com/a-587746~Committees_formed_to_find_water.html

Community growth meetings delayed - 02/26/2007
The ice storm earlier this month delayed community meetings scheduled to give residents an opportunity to share their opinions on how Carroll should grow.
http://www.examiner.com/a-585815~Community_growth_meetings_delayed.html

Area buffeted, not bruised by snow storm - 02/26/2007
The Baltimore region may have had a winter-weather flashback Sunday as more snow started falling just as ice from last week’s storm finally disappeared.
http://www.examiner.com/a-585817~Area_buffeted__not_bruised_by_snow_storm.html

Carroll divided over global warming issue - 02/26/2007
Yes. No. Maybe.
http://www.examiner.com/a-585818~Carroll_divided_over_global_warming_issue.html

Orthodox Jewish women 'get' divorce support - 02/23/2007
A wife testified Thursday that a bill would free women “trapped” in Jewish marriages, but her husband blasted it as a constitutional and religious violation.
http://www.examiner.com/a-581102~Orthodox_Jewish_women__get__divorce_support.html

Route 32 may get new name, look - 02/22/2007
Carroll’s road task force decided Wednesday to continue investigating the advantages of renaming highways and pushing for the widening of Maryland Route 32.
http://www.examiner.com/a-578876~Route_32_may_get_new_name__look.html

Group: Warfield needs professional promotion - 02/21/2007
Carroll should hire a developer soon to promote the Warfield complex so it can flourish into one of the county’s largest business hubs, a commissioner-appointed group says.
http://www.examiner.com/a-576770~Group__Warfield_needs_professional_promotion.html

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House Vote Tomorrow on H.R. 800 that would eliminate the right to secret ballot elections for workers

House Vote Tomorrow on H.R. 800 that would eliminate the right to secret ballot elections for workers

February 28th, 2007

I received this in an e-mail just a moment ago and I felt strongly that it was worth passing along and it is definitely worth the time to read and then - be in touch with your representative...

_____

More supporters of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act or Worker Intimidation Act who are being hypocritical about the right to secret ballot elections. H.R. 800 will come to a vote on the House floor on Thursday, March 1.

Congressman Bartlett opposes H.R. 800 and is an original co-sponsor of the Secret Ballot Protection Act, H.R. 866. Please note that this was one of the late Congressman Charlie Norwood's bills.

SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI - Pelosi owns a vineyard in Napa where workers have the right under California law to a private secret ballot. So the rights her workers have she wants to strip away from other workers. By the way, workers in Pelosi's vineyard have chosen not to organize a union. (Wine Spectator, 12/6/06)

REP. SANCHEZ, REP. SOLIS, REP. SANCHEZ AND REP. VELASQUEZ - All four of these members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus sent a joint letter to Caucus leader Rep. Napolitano asking for a fair and proper election within their committee. The four politicians requested that the leadership elections held last November be revisited so that everyone may participate, especially a member who had not been able to participate due to a run-off election (won and settled by, obviously, a secret ballot). They write, "We therefore believe that we need to follow proper rules of procedure and hold a vote by secret ballot." (Letter to CHC, Jan. 5, 2007)

My favorite two reasons of the top 10 in this Dear Colleague letter below to oppose H.R. 800.

1. Its sponsors in Congress are hypocritical. A 2001 letter sent by the lead sponsor and other current co-sponsors of "Employee Free Choice Act" to Mexican - yes, Mexican - officials, stated, "We understand that the secret ballot is allowed for, but not required by Mexican labor law. However, we feel that the secret ballot is absolutely necessary in order to ensure workers are not intimidated into voting for a union they may otherwise not choose." This rare instance of Members weighing-in on election between two competing Mexican labor unions underscores the fact that card checks - in any scenario - are prone to intimidation.

2. Its supporters in organized labor are hypocritical. Organized labor leaders have expressed strong support for secret ballot elections when workers are presented the opportunity to decertify a union at their workplace. Unions have argued passionately to the National Labor Relations Board that private ballots "provide the surest means for avoiding decisions which are the result of group pressures and not individual decisions."


COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 28, 2007

Top Ten Reasons How the So-Called "Employee Free Choice Act"
Undermines Democracy, Workers' Rights

Dear Colleague:

In a recent poll, nearly 80 percent of Americans opposed the deceptively-titled "Employee Free Choice Act" (H.R. 800), which would strip away workers' rights to private ballot voting and replace it with a highly-controversial public voting or "card check" system.

Tomorrow, the House will consider this flawed legislation that threatens the very democratic process that - ironically - allowed its very authors to be elected to public office. As we prepare for debate, below you will find merely ten of the countless reasons why the card check bill is a threat to democracy and the American workers the sponsors of the bill purportedly protect...reasons why nearly eight in ten Americans agree the card check bill should die in Congress:

1. It kills the secret ballot in the workplace. Members of Congress rely upon, treasure, and would fight to defend the secret ballot process to preserve when it comes to their own political careers...but apparently for some, not when it comes to the rights of workers. Under current law, unions may organize through either a federally-supervised private ballot election or a "card check" system. The so-called "Employee Free Choice Act," however, would kill private voting rights altogether and make workers' votes public through a mandatory card check, in which union bosses gather authorization cards purportedly signed by workers expressing their desire for a union to represent them.

2. It leaves workers vulnerable to coercion and intimidation. Mandatory card checks can strip workers of the right to choose - freely and anonymously - whether to unionize, and card checks notoriously leave workers open to coercion, pressure, and outright intimidation and threats. Such an instance of intimidation was highlighted in testimony provided earlier this month to a U.S. House labor subcommittee by Karen M., an employee who described tactics used in a card check campaign at her company in Oregon. During that card check drive, she told the subcommittee she and her colleagues were "subjected to badgering and immense peer pressure" and that she "exercised [her] free choice not to be in the union and [her] work life became miserable because of it."

3. It strips workers of their right to privacy in the workplace. Mandatory card checks make workers' union organization votes completely and utterly public. In other words, their co-workers, their employers, their union organizers, and union bosses themselves will know exactly how they voted. How is that free choice?

4. Its sponsors in Congress are hypocritical. A 2001 letter sent by the lead sponsor and other current co-sponsors of "Employee Free Choice Act" to Mexican - yes, Mexican - officials, stated, "We understand that the secret ballot is allowed for, but not required by Mexican labor law. However, we feel that the secret ballot is absolutely necessary in order to ensure workers are not intimidated into voting for a union they may otherwise not choose." This rare instance of Members weighing-in on election between two competing Mexican labor unions underscores the fact that card checks - in any scenario - are prone to intimidation.

5. Its supporters in organized labor are hypocritical. Organized labor leaders have expressed strong support for secret ballot elections when workers are presented the opportunity to decertify a union at their workplace. Unions have argued passionately to the National Labor Relations Board that private ballots "provide the surest means for avoiding decisions which are the result of group pressures and not individual decisions."

6. The bill simply amounts to Big Labor's Big Payback. Organized labor has seen its best days. It's hemorrhaging members at a steady pace - losing 325,000 members last year, down to 12 percent nationwide and 7.4 percent in the private sector. Faced with this reality, union bosses have reverted to full panic mode. And after they helped usher into Congress a new Majority - giving nearly $60 million in hard-dollar PAC contributions to them in the last election cycle, with tens of millions more for "get out the vote" efforts piled on top - they see a small window of opportunity; one final, desperate attempt to stop the bleeding.

7. When it comes to union coercion, its supporters look the other way. The bill would levy new civil penalties upon employers if they coerce an employee during a card check campaign. However, the bill remains silent on coercion from unions, choosing instead to stay silent and tacitly allow unions to participate in coercive tactics already well-documented in card check campaigns.

8. It strips away a worker's right to vote on contracts. The so-called "Employee Free Choice Act" is well-known for chipping away at a worker's right to vote in union organization elections, but it doesn't stop there. It also would strip a worker of his or her ability to vote on contracts as well. That means, by instituting mandatory arbitration, the bill would take away an employee's right to vote on a contract that controls work rules, pay, and benefits. Instead, by government fiat, that right would be given to a third-party mediator.

9. Americans support a federally-supervised private ballot election. According to a January 2007 McLaughlin & Associates poll, 87 percent of Americans agree that "every worker should continue to have the right to a federally supervised secret ballot election when deciding whether to organize a union." 89 percent believe a worker's ballot should remain private, rather than making it public through the card check. And 89 percent believe the secret ballot is the surest way to prevent intimidation from either employers or unions. As a result, 79 percent of those polled explicitly oppose the so-called "Employee Free Choice Act."

10. Union members support a federally-supervised private ballot election. In July 2004, Zogby International conducted a survey of more than 700 union members, in which 71 percent of union members agreed that the current secret-ballot process is fair. Zogby also found that 78 percent of union members said that Congress should keep the existing secret ballot election process in place and not replace it with another process.

Join us in voting YES for the democratic rights of workers by voting NO on the so-called "Employee Free Choice Act." For more information on the bill, please contact the Education and Labor Committee Republican staff at x5-7101.

Sincerely,


/s/ /s/

Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) John Kline (R-MN)
Senior Republican Member Ranking Republican Member
Education and Labor Committee Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee

20070228 Best Shoes of the Day

Best Shoes of the Day – The Daily Shoe Watch

February 28^th, 2007

I found this wonderful pair of shoes at a local frame shop in Westminster – Gizmos Art, Lyndi McNulty's. Aren’t they just divine?

If you ever been in Gizmos during the day the place is regular bee hive of activity and here at “Soundtrack” we were really appreciative that this nice young lady stopped for two seconds to let us capture an image of her shoes for everyone to admire.

For more on Shoes – go here.

For more on Gizmos Art, Lyndi McNulty's – go here.

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20070228 February 2007 Maryland Governor O’Malley press releases

February 2007 Maryland Governor O’Malley press releases

Press Releases

http://www.gov.state.md.us/press.asp

February 28, 2007

February 28 Governor O'Malley Rededicates Historic Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaque and Tree

February 22 O'Malley / Brown Administration Releases Transition Report

February 16 Governor O'Malley Announces Nominees for Maryland's Public Service Commission

February 16 Governor Martin O'Malley Submits "Green Bag" Appointments to Maryland Senate

Februray 15 Statement on Walter Sondheim, Jr.

February 14 Governor O'Malley Announces Plans to Host 2007 Bay Bridge Walk

February 11 Governor O'Malley Visits Maryland Correctional Training Center in Hagerstown

February 8 Governor O'Malley Announces Appointment of Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown to the East Baltimore Development, Inc. Board of Directors

February 7 Governor O'Malley, State of Maryland, Urges FERC to Deny Sparrow's Point LNG Project

February 7 Governor O'Malley Announces Nominees for Department of Business and Economic Development, Juvenile Justice, Aging, and General Services

February 6 Governor O'Malley Announces Transportation Veteran To Lead The Maryland Transportation Authority

Maryland Governor O’Malley press releases on "Soundtrack"

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20070228 Remember the Maine

The Destruction of USS Maine

Casualties on the USS Maine

List of Survivors, USS Maine

Online Images of USS Maine

USS Maine (ACR-1), the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the state of Maine, was a 6682-ton second-class pre-dreadnought battleship originally designated as Armored Cruiser #1.

El USS Maine (ACR-1) fue un acorazado de la marina de los Estados Unidos que zozobró en el puerto de La Habana en febrero de 1898 a causa de una explosión.

"Remember the Maine"

February 28th, 2007

My latest Tentacle column is up on the web: "Remember the Maine."
It’s a piece that has been in my head for quite sometime. Many folks are eager to compare the war in Iraq with the Vietnam War. To be certain, there are parallels available; however for the student of history, comparisons abound with the Spanish-American War. Read on – see what you think…

February 28, 2007

"Remember the Maine"

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Essentially unnoticed a couple of weeks ago was the anniversary of a dark day in American history that in its day was considered by our great grandparents as horrific as Pearl Harbor or 9/11.

It was on February 15, 1898, that a mysterious explosion sunk the USS Maine in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. Of its approximately 400 American seamen, 260 died.

The events of 1898 provide many instructive parallels to the events of the past several years and - at a minimum - to "Remember the Maine" gives us great insight from where we have come and why we are where we are today.

Go here to read the rest of the column.

The Sampson Board meets aboard the Lighthouse Tender MANGROVE. At the table from left to right, the men are Capt. French Chadwick, Capt. William Sampson, Lt. Cmdr. William Potter, Ens. Powelson, and Lt. Cmdr. Adolph Marix (judge advocate). Powelson was present to provide testimony based on the findings of the divers working aboard the wreckage of the MAINE

To read the “Sampson Board Report” (U.S.S. IOWA, First Rate, Key West, Fla., Monday, March 21, 1898. After full and mature consideration of all the testimony before it, the court finds as follows:…) go here.

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Kevin

20070226 The Happy Shoveler

The Happy Shoveler

(Too) early Monday February 26^th, 2007

20070226 Monday morning it snowed

Monday morning it snowed

Monday morning it snowed – the “Wonder Of It All.”

February 26th, 2007

For a Lauren Summerford “Jesusfreakhideout.com” January 2006 interview with the band – go here. She quizzed “the band's vocalist Derek Stipe on their name, their origin, and where they're headed…”

The band’s web site is here: www.mondaymorningmusic.com. Good for some tunes while working away at the keyboard.

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20070226 Monday Morning Squirrel

Monday Morning Squirrel
February 26th, 2007

20070226 A twelve-year old sets the Washington Post straight

A twelve-year old sets the Washington Post straight.

February 26^th, 2007

Fishbowl DC had an interesting post today in which it called to our attention a letter from a 12 year old who says that she does too read the newspaper.

Not only can she read – but she can write also.

Well, I gotta tell ya. I teach an after school class at a middle school. This semester we are using the “Newspapers in Education” curriculum because I also worried that young adults are not reading the newspaper.

Oh how wrong was I.

I have been pleasantly surprised at how much that age group is reading the newspaper… Of course much of it is determined by what they observe at home.

When asked why such-and-such was their favorite section, often the response was because a parent liked that section…

Find the Fishbowl post here: “Monday, Feb 26 Little Kids With Big News Appetites”

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20070225 Timothy Noah of Slate is being Wiki-Whacked

Timothy Noah of Slate is being Wiki-Whacked

I'm Being Wiki-Whacked - washingtonpost.com.

February 25^th, 2007

H/t: “Answers.com”

OMG – Way too funny. This is the winner of this week’s Dayhoff Dr. Pepper Award.

Apparently, Timothy Noah, who writes the "Chatterbox" column for Slate, the online magazine at www.slate.com, “is facing wiki-deletion on the basis of lack of notability.”

But ya can be sure that Anna Nicole Smith is in Wikipedia. Yep, sure thing – find her here. On second thought, why bother. (By the way, Tom McLaughlin is the real father of her baby…)

I now feel so much better that I am not listed. At least I don’t think that I am in Wikipedia? Phew: “No results found (for “Kevin Dayhoff”.) For help on searching within…”

Recently one of my editors issued an edict that he will not accept any cite or reference to Wikipedia in any of our columns. Well, this broke my heart… Okay, I’m over it, moving on here…

In the case of Mr. Noah, “Answers.com” called to our attention, “Timothy Noah of Slate pokes fun at Wikipedia's "notability" requirement by, among other things, calling it rococo (ridiculously elaborate). Note: The writer is facing wiki-deletion on the basis of lack of notability...

“Wikipedia already maintains rules concerning verifiability and privacy. Why does it need separate rules governing 'notability'? Wikipedia's attempt to define who or what is notable is so rococo that it even has elaborate notability criteria for porn stars. A former Playboy Playmate of the Month is notable; a hot girlfriend to a famous rock star is not. Wikipedia's stubborn enforcement of its notability standard suggests that... we limit entry to the club not because we need to, but because we want to.”

Writing in the Washington Post, Sunday, February 25, 2007, on page B02, Mr. Noah remarks, “Pardon me if I seem a little blue. My Wikipedia bio is about to disappear because I fail to satisfy the ‘notability guideline.’ ”

What follows is a fun read, find it here: “I'm Being Wiki-Whacked”

Mr. Noah, we feel your pain.

Kevin