Shades of BritneyMarch 17, 2007
I picked up new glasses the other day. I did not choose a Britney Spears eyewear frame. I did not have time to get a tattoo and my head shaved on the way home.
Already go that t-shirt in July 1972 in USMC Reserve boot camp…
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... an unusual addition to the Supplemental Appropriations bill
March 17, 2007
by Kathy at misterpolitics.com
Lifesite.com highlights an unusual addition to the Supplemental Appropriations bill to fund the war in
What does Planned Parenthood and emergency contraception have to do with the war in Iraq?
Just asking.
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Presidential limo okay after motorcade mishap in snow
Fortunately the mishap did not involve the presidential limo – pictured above.
Spring can some anytime now
March 17th, 2007
True to form for Maryland weather, after a couple of mild days in which I actually saw some folks gallivanting-about in their short sleeves; Friday’s weather sure was a wake up call that winter is not quite over and we live in Maryland.
In
I really did not have to go out in the frozen mess on Friday. I was just a happy to enjoy a snow day and do some much needed and overdue research for some upcoming columns.
Pictured above are some images I captured late Friday evening of the snow monsters that dutifully prowl the
It looks like one of the vehicles in the presidential motorcade heading up to
Fortunately the mishap did not involve the presidential limo – pictured at the top of this story.
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3 New Jersey Divers Die Off Florida Keys While Exploring Sunken Ship
March 16, 2007
I have friends who do a good bit of diving... Stories such as this always give one pause for thought...
KEY LARGO, Fla. —
Three friends from New Jersey, all experienced divers, died Friday while exploring the wreckage of a sunken ship off the Florida Keys, police said.
The men were taking part in a penetration dive into the wreckage, a type of dive which is "more dangerous than routine diving," Monroe County Sheriff's spokesperson Becky Herrin told FOXNews.com.
"These wrecks can be very confusing inside," Herrin said. "There's a lot of places to go wrong."
Causes of death for the men have not yet been determined.
The four men were friends traveling together to explore the wreckage of the USS Speigel Grove, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Department.
Herrin estimated that a total of eight to ten divers die yearly throughout the Keys, from a variety of different causes.
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,259210,00.html
State News
March 15, 2007
H/t: GOPCharlie
House moves budget toward a final vote
http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070314-104821-7700r.htm
House lawmakers gave tentative approval yesterday to the fiscal 2008 budget that includes no tuition increases for state colleges but more than half a billion in increases for K-12 public schools.
The $30.3 billion budget, which starts in July, includes $567 million extra for public schools in the final year of an education-reform plan known as the Thornton Act.
Still, state Republicans said the plan will result in fiscal disaster and suggested a spending freeze.
Such a plan would result in a delay in
"We have large, looming fiscal problems," said Anthony J. O'Donnell,
"If you have a dollar and you add 12 pennies to it, that's not a reduction," he said.
House GOP effort to cut budget falls short
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.cuts15mar15,0,7531993.story?coll=bal-local-headlines
House Republicans failed in an effort to force deep cuts in Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed budget yesterday, a move they said was necessary to prevent tax increases next year but one that Democrats said would diminish public safety and hinder education.
With annual gaps of more than $1 billion between spending and revenue expected in the next few years, Republicans proposed cutting all new spending from O'Malley's $30 billion budget, a reduction of $800 million.
"If we begin to deal with the deficit issue this year, it's manageable," said
House debates $30 billion budget
GOP amendment to freeze 2008 spending at 2007 level voted down Wednesday
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=57923
Three
Delegates Don Elliott, Rick Weldon and Paul Stull were among seven Republicans who joined Democrats to vote down the GOP amendment to a $30.3 billion budget proposal debated in the House.
"Next year local governments will get clobbered," said Minority Leader Tony O'Donnell, R-Southern
Delegate Joe Bartlett is a Frederick Republican who found himself in the minority of those of the eight-member
"We are asking that our government live within its means, just like every family in my district,"
Preliminary budget OK'd
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=160961&format=html
A Democratically ruled Maryland House preliminarily approved a $30 billion state budget Wednesday, squelching a Republican attempt to limit spending and delay additional school funding.
On the current course, Marylanders should "brace themselves for a massive tax increase next year,"
Democrats argued that the Republican proposal would critically hurt funding in several crucial areas.
A Republican chart showed their proposed 2008 spending increase at 1.5 percent vs. 6.5 percent for the version on which the House voted.
Bid to
GOP Targeted Education Spending
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/14/AR2007031402777.html
The Maryland House of Delegates yesterday gave preliminary approval to a $30 billion state budget plan, turning back a Republican effort to slash education spending, and moved toward passage of an ambitious proposal to reduce the number of Marylanders without health insurance.
House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell (R-Calvert) called the GOP proposal "a simple solution" designed to avoid even more difficult choices in the coming year. "Massive tax increases," O'Donnell said. "That's what facing us unless we act now."
Indictment of
Prosecutors confront twists and challenges in Bromwell corruption case
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.bromwell15mar15,0,5271929.story
Five years ago, Thomas L. Bromwell Sr. learned how deeply FBI agents had penetrated his inner circle.
James Eick, a Bromwell friend, had agreed to wear a recording device for federal agents. He was to capture any potentially incriminating conversations with the former
Tougher
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/03_14-01/TOP
On the surface,
Unlike in 28 other states, its a crime to deny access to a public document. Violators can be convicted of a misdemeanor and fined up to $1,000.
But courts rarely impose such penalties, and advocates for open government believe thats partly because its difficult to pursue a case against someone suspected of violating the law.
While we have laws with very nice-sounding titles, theres no teeth to the enforcement, said
Mooney gets call from cardinal
Keeler urges state senator to vote today for repeal of the death penalty
Sen. Alex X. Mooney fielded a surprise call this week from Cardinal William H. Keeler, who urged the Frederick Republican to vote today for a repeal of the death penalty.
Their five-minute chat, though notable because of the caller's position as archbishop of
Jessamy mourns death of intimidation bill
http://www.examiner.com/a-619945~Jessamy_mourns_death_of_intimidation_bill.html
Even though we failed this year, witness intimidation continues to be a very serious problem, Jessamy said.
Jessamy testified in February in favor of a House of Delegates bill, sponsored by Keith Haynes, D-District 44, that would toughen
"Green" bills could affect local businesses
http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6899&Itemid=35
With a newly elected Democratic governor many observers believe the state of
Should all of
http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6898&Itemid=35
Should the state of
Decision to halt horse park brings relief, disappointment
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/03_14-38/TOP
The state's decision to withdraw plans for an equestrian center at the former Naval Academy Dairy Farm in Gambrills has disappointed horse lovers but relieved the dairy's neighbors who are opposed to the plan.
Jim Steele, the chairman of Maryland Horse Industry Board, announced at yesterday's board meeting that plans to build the center on the 857-acre site have been dropped.
Hearing pushed on city raises
Councilman Mitchell says public should have a chance to testify on bill
Baltimore City Councilman and mayoral candidate Keiffer J. Mitchell Jr. called yesterday for a hearing and a vote on proposed pay raises for the city's elected officials, igniting what could become the first political showdown of this election year.
Responding to a proposal pending in the City Council that would give double-digit salary increases to the mayor, City Council president and other officials, Mitchell said the public should have a chance to testify on the bill. He said he does not support the raises.
Capital Notebook
O'Malley to name Brenner to PSC
Few senators at sex bill hearing
Wiretapping on school buses?
National News
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett presented with NAM Award
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=160957&format=html
Recognizing his strong voting record in support of American manufacturing and a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda during the 109th Congress, the National Association of Manufacturers honored U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., with its Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence during a presentation hosted by Volvo Powertrain North America.
The NAM Award is presented to members of Congress who vote in the best interest of the manufacturing economy at least 70 percent of the time on "key manufacturing votes" as designated by a special committee of
Taking the battle to Congress
A shipbuilding association is pushing to boost the size of the
With the size of the Navy's battle force fleet having fallen to 275 ships - the lowest level since before World War I - the American Shipbuilding Association has called on Congress to significantly increase the money the nation devotes to ships.
And now there's a move afoot to make that increase happen.
The fleet size issue is bound to come up during a hearing today on national defense sealift funding, said Lisa Wright, a spokesman for Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., the ranking member of the Seapower & Expeditionary Subcommittee.
"He wants to build more ships," Wright said of
O'Malley travels to D.C. with funding requests
Governor gives wide-ranging list to
On his visit to Capitol Hill yesterday to meet with
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin asked him to consider adding one more: global warming.
"
Signs Of Progress Seen In
The New York Times' David Brooks Says The Democrats'
The White House Says Senate Democrats'
Captured Al-Qaida Operative Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Confesses To Masterminding 9/11 Terror Attacks. "Khalid Sheikh Mohammed cemented his position as al-Qaida's most ambitious operational planner when he confessed in a U.S. military tribunal to planning and supporting 31 terrorist attacks, topped by 9/11, that killed thousands of innocent victims since the early 1990s. The gruesome attacks range from the suicide hijackings of Sept. 11, 2001 which killed nearly 3,000 to a 2002 shooting on an island off
OMB Director Rob Portman Says The Democrats' Path To Balancing The Budget Is "Paved With Higher Taxes, Higher Spending." "The Democratic blueprint fails to tackle the long-term fiscal debacle facing Social Security and Medicare, the federal retirement programs that will be swamped by the upcoming retirement of the Baby Boom generation. ... 'It's a missed opportunity because this is a nonelection year,' countered White House budget director Rob Portman in an interview. Traditionally, Congress is most aggressive on politically sensitive budget issues in such odd-numbered years. 'Their path to balance is paved with higher taxes, higher spending and what can only be characterized as budgetary slights of hand,' Portman said in a subsequent statement." (Andrew Taylor, "Few Tough Choices In Senate Dems' Budget," The Associated Press, 3/15/07)
This week in the Westminster Eagle
Grocery Store check out line literature
March 14, 2007 Daily Photoblog
I was minding my own business in the grocery store check out when I noticed a couple of folks ahead of me getting all animated and gesturing towards the grocery store check out line literature.
Amused and curious; when I got to that place in line I looked to the shelf and just cracked-up.
Hey, whatever floats your boat?
Who knows – maybe the articles are true?
It was first time I have ever seen folks actually purchase these papers. Except when I was younger I would purchase them from time to time for collage materials.
I could go on – but I guess I’ll stop while I’m behind.
What a hoot.
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Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook
03/13/07
by Kevin Dayhoff
Respond to the Westminster Eagle about this story
Email this story to a friend
On March 2,
The closing comes in the wake of the death of one of the students on January 23.
Since the closing was announced, many Carroll Countians have rallied in support of the academy suggesting that it would be better to meaningfully address and correct what precipitated the tragedy than close the academy.
Delegate Donald Elliott said the day Bowling Brook closed “was a sad day and it is my hope that it will again be restored to a place in the juvenile services system.
“Over the years we have all had contact with the young men from Bowling Brook, it was always a very positive experience,” he said. “In fact, where other places have difficulty hosting a juvenile services facility, Bowling Brook has enjoyed the affection of the community.”
Delegate Nancy Stocksdale recounted many experiences in which the young men of Bowling Brook had left a positive impression upon her and the community. (She has circulating a letter about Bowling Brook. Please find it below.)
She said that she has been “grieving just as if it was my school.”
Delegate Stocksdale added that if this terrible incident had happened in another facility… she doubted that the state would’ve closed down the whole place. “You take care of the problem. You fix it. Instead of isolating a tragic instant from the rest of the good work of the institution (the state) choose to convict the entire school.”
Tom Welliver said, “I have worked closely with these young men on numerous occasions. They were well mannered, respectful - and assisted with tremendously positive attitudes.”
For many years, the Bowling Brook students helped with the
Larry Collins, Carroll County Agriculture Center General Manager said, “The young men from Bowling Brook have been to the Ag Center many times and served in many different capacities… They have been excellent across the board. It would be a shame to lose such an important resource in our community.”
The Junior Woman’s Club of Westminster is circulating a letter which cites that Bowling Brook had “an 86 percent success rate. (Please find a copy of the letter below.)
Only 14 percent of the youth were arrested or referred back to the state agency within a year of their release. … The state average for group homes is 50 percent, but we have heard as low as 10 percent success rates. … We hate to see the success of the program overrun by this one failure.”
It is rare that a community rallies to have a juvenile facility in their own back yard. But all of us have a stake in saving young men for a productive future and in those efforts; Bowling Brook is part of the answer.
What is now necessary is for Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Donald W. DeVore and Gov. Martin O’Malley to hear from
Please review the letters from the Delegate Nancy Stocksdale and the Junior Woman’s Club of Westminster and then find a moment of your time to write to: Governor Martin O’Malley, Office of the Governor,
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From: Delegate Nancy Stocksdale
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 3:30 PM
Subject:
Dear Friends:
I am writing concerning the
I am saddened by the loss of a student there, and I offer my sincerest sympathy to his mother. I do not know all the circumstances, but I have always believed in the school and its program. Unfortunately, the Public Defender, Nancy Forster, made a statement on the day of this tragic event that she was “closing this school down because it is not safe.” She then proceeded to remove all the
I have attended awards luncheons at Bowling Brook where I witnessed the tears of the mothers who were so proud of the positive changes they saw as they watched their sons receive awards for their accomplishments in the program. I have seen the many trophy cases displaying the trophies earned from the achievements of the sports teams, and I have seen the pride in the faces of the students as they moved up through the ranks and accepted greater responsibility as “thoroughbreds,” a designation for seniors.
I have had an interest in that school since I first went there in 1993 on a tour with Congressman Bartlett. As a retired teacher, I have a special interest in the educational program at Bowling Brook, and I learned that approximately 80% of the students there pass the GED test. I think this is a great accomplishment considering the fact that some students come there with a 3rd grade reading level. Professors from
You may have seen the students competing in sports at our local schools or working for one of the many non-profit organizations in our communities. I know they have helped the
They have been there for us and now I am asking that you help troubled youth who may benefit from Bowling Brook’s program by writing letters of support for the Bowling Brook Preparatory School to Governor Martin O’Malley at http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail (telephone: 410-974-3901), and Donald DeVore, the Secretary of Juvenile Services at devored@djs.state.md.us (telephone: 410-230-3101).
I would appreciate it if you would ask as many people as you know, who are familiar with the school or who have attended functions where the Bowling Brook boys helped, to write letters or make phone calls. Although it may already be too late, Governor O’Malley will realize how we feel about the successful program. While many communities fight to keep juvenile facilities out of their neighborhoods, we need to fight to keep these good neighbors.
Thank you. I am grateful for your support.
Sincerely,
/s/
Nancy R. Stocksdale
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Governor Martin O’Malley
Office of the Governor
March 8, 2007
Dear Governor,
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the importance of the
Through our group’s events, we have had the experience to work on volunteer projects with the Bowling Brook students. It has always been a very positive experience working with these students. Every single one of them seemed eager to help, was extremely polite and greatly added to the efficiency of our event. Without their help – our work and time would be doubled. In our interactions with the students, they have shared their thoughts on the Bowling Brook program and how it has improved their lives.
In light of the serious issue that has occurred over the past few weeks at the school, our organization still strongly supports keeping this program open. There have been so many successes that have kept hundreds of young adults from returning to the penal system or a life of criminal behavior. On Oct 5, 2005, the
Our hope is that you will see the positive impact
Sincerely,
A member of GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of
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“Frank Keegan: Maryland’s Taney stained nation with Dred Scott ruling”
March 13, 2007
In case you missed it - - I had until the other day, Baltimore Examiner editor Frank Keegan penned an informative opinion in the March 5th, 2007 edition of the paper on Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney that is a great companion piece for the article that Kelsey Volkmann wrote the same day.
The two pieces can be found here:
“Frank Keegan: Maryland’s Taney stained nation with Dred Scott ruling”
Remembering the Dred Scott decision on its 150th anniversary
For other posts about Chief Justice Roger Taney and the Dred Scott decision – go here: Taney - Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney
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