“Dayhoff Westminster Soundtrack:” Kevin Dayhoff – “Soundtrack Division of Old Silent Movies” - https://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ combined with “Dayhoff Westminster” – Writer, artist, fire and police chaplain. For art, writing and travel see https://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Like any online user, Annie LaCourt can easily scour for news from around the world, but sometimes she prefers to make the Internet more intimate and local, all about her hometown of Arlington.
LaCourt reads The Boston Globe’s “Your Town’’ news pages on Boston.com's Arlington site. She also gets news from GateHouse Media Inc. and its Wicked Local Arlington site, and she subscribes to a 4,000-member town e-mail discussion board called “The Arlington List.’’ She also visits another community news site called yourarlington.com.
...
LaCourt now has another choice: Patch. It’s AOL Inc.’s network of hyperlocal websites sprouting in Massachusetts and elsewhere across the country. Like its competitors, Patch is covering Arlington’s 42,000 residents on a micro-local level with stories about town hall meetings, the school board, high school sports, and events at the library.
Boston Globe reporter Johnny Diaz today writes about Patch.com, the AOL-owned network of hyperlocal news sites that is (excuse me) sprouting up around the country.
As I noted earlier, Diaz writes that Patch is up against considerable competition in Greater Boston, principally from GateHouse Media’s Wicked Local websitesand the Boston Globe’s Your Town sites — both of which, unlike Patch, are tied to established newspapers.
After I posted my earlier Patch item, I heard from a Patch local editor (LE, in Patch-speak) who described working conditions that sound pretty challenging. Granted, community journalists in general work very hard for not much money. But the LE who wrote to me suggested that Patch takes it to another level.
The LE who contacted me asked that her name not be used, but gave me permission to publish her e-mail. I have verified that she is who she says she is. I don’t consider this to be the last word, and I would welcome a response from Patch. The e-mail:
The working conditions for local editors at Patch sites raise the question of whether this model is sustainable or about whether this is the reality for journalists working in this new media age.
As President Touts Progress Made Under Surge Strategy He Opposed, it is Imperative That He Focus on the Long-Term Security of Iraq and the United States
Washington (Aug 2)
Today, President Obama is giving a speech highlighting the transition of the mission in Iraq from a combat to an advisory role later this month. While the President may be eager to use this speech to “to check off another of the major promises he made during the campaign,” he may be less willing to revisit his own opposition to the surge strategy that, along with the courage and sacrifice of the troops that implemented it, is responsible for the progress that has been achieved to date.
In early 2007, the situation in Iraq was bleak. A new strategy had been announced that represented the best, and possibly last chance to prevent Iraq from slipping into the hands of terrorists and insurgents. At that time, President Obama blasted the new strategy, arguing that it would only make the situation worse:
Then-Sen. Obama said the surge would actually worsen sectarian violence in Iraq. Then-Sen.Obama: “I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse. I think it takes pressure off the Iraqis to arrive at the sort of political accommodation that every observer believes is the ultimate solution to the problems we face there. So I am going to actively oppose the president’s proposal. … I think he is wrong, and I think the American people believe he’s wrong.” (MSNBC’s “Response To The President’s Speech On Iraq,” 1/10/07)
Then-Sen. Obama: “We cannot impose a military solution on what has effectively become a civil war. And until we acknowledge that reality -- we can send 15,000 more troops, 20,000 more troops, 30,000 more troops, I don’t know any expert on the region or any military officer that I’ve spoken to privately that believes that that is going to make a substantial difference on the situation on the ground.” (CBS’ “Face The Nation,” 1/14/07)
Then-Sen. Obama: “Given the deteriorating situation, it is clear at this point that we cannot, through putting in more troops or maintaining the presence that we have, expect that somehow the situation is going to improve, and we have to do something significant to break the pattern that we’ve been in right now.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 10/22/06)
Republicans, and millions of Americans, argued that our troops and the new strategy should be given the opportunity to succeed. In the three-and-a-half years since the surge was implemented, our men and women in uniform have performed brilliantly, bringing about a tremendous amount of progress in Iraq. Nevertheless, much difficult work remains.
As the U.S. continues its drawdown, a recent spike in violence underscores the need to maintain a long-term commitment to ensuring stability and security in Iraq. The United States has a vital national security interest in maintaining a close alliance with a free and democratic Iraq. While insurgents may attempt to challenge the political landscape, it is imperative that the United States recognize that the progress that has been made is not irreversible, and that Iraq must not be allowed to become a safehaven for terrorists to plan and launch attacks against the United States.
As the drawdown of U.S. forces continues throughout the next 17 months, we hope that President Obama continues to keep in mind his promise to listen to the commanders on the ground and make decisions based on their counsel:
As a presidential candidate, then-Sen.Obamatold CBS’ Harry Smith that the President has to be “mindful of the situation on the ground and what the commanders say.” Smith: “If you are to be elected president and your commanders on the ground there and your secretary of Defense said, ‘Hold back; you can’t be pulling these people out; we’re going to create a civil war and a bloodbath,’ what would you do?”...Obama: “[I] think there is going to be some flexibility. And obviously I would consult with commanders. We have to be mindful of the situation on the ground and what the commanders say.” (CBS’ “The Early Show,” 2/4/08)
NOTE: House Republicans, led by House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) introduced aresolution (H.Con.Res. 310) honoring the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Armed Services who are currently serving, or have served, in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Some Jewish leaders are outraged about an Arab-American museum’s plan to erect a statue of veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas, who lost her job after making anti-Israel comments.
Jewish leaders worry that the roughly $30,000 statue proposed for the Arab-American National Museum in Dearborn, Mich., could be interpreted as rewarding Thomas for saying the Israelis should “get the hell out of Palestine” in late May. The comments cost Thomas her job with Hearst Newspapers in June, ending her almost 60-year career that had her covering every president from Kennedy to Obama... http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Helen-Thomas--Arab-American--statue/2010/08/03/id/366463?s=al&promo_code=A6AD-1
The afternoon at the annual CarrollCounty (Maryland) 4-H FFA Fair started out tame enough. Children were giggling. There was ice cream, burgers and french fries to eat; the weather was appropriately hot, and antique tractors were performing the stylized minuet of square dancing in the upper horse arena.
But soon after 6 o'clock in the evening, the scene of the antique tractors had transformed into the clash of the alien mutant titans of the farm equipment world, as the giant machines danced in the makeshift heavy metal mosh pit of the third annual combine demolition derby at the country fair.
With names like “Smoking Panther,” “Pink Elephant,” “Black Widow,” and “Save the Ta Tas - Fight for the Cure,” the hulking machines paraded into the gladiatorial arena to the delight of the overflow crowd as the announcers, John Roop and Rachael Troppman, introduced the contestants.
[…]
Just before the action began, Forrest Shaw, the assistant chief of the Pleasant Valley Fire Department assembled the scores of firefighters and EMS personnel from fire departments throughout the county, for final instructions.
“This is a neat event. We're here to make sure everyone is safe,” said Shaw as he surveyed the large audience that kept creeping toward the fence and the large concrete barricades in place to keep the machines in the arena separate from the crowds packed on the surrounding sloped seating area.
[…]
Pink Elephants on parade
The opera performed by the giant bellowing machines took place in four acts. Three heats with the winners of each of the heats appearing for the final duel.
The “Smoking Panther” driven by Kenny Nusbaum, survived heat No. 1. The High Clas Farm entry, the “Pink Elephant,” piloted by David Clas, prevailed in the second heat. And the crowd favorite, according to announcer Troppman, “Save the Ta Tas,” the Lakeview Farms entry captained by Jeff Harrison, won the third heat.
[…]
Survival of the pinkest
The end came at 9:45 p.m., as the “Pink Elephant” was declared the winner - as the second place finisher, the “Smoking Panther,” fell silent - vanquished after putting up quite a fight.
In addition to bragging rights, the first place finisher took home a prize of $1,000. Second place won $500, and this year's third place finisher, “Save the Ta Tas,” donated its $250 prize to the “Susan G. Koman for the Cure” breast cancer foundation.
“Isn't this fun?” said Troppman from the announcers' stand. “The families, friends… and the farms put so much creativity and effort into their combines - and then it's fun to see them crash into each other.”
The Buzz, in the Green Valley Shopping Center, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, and the owners show no signs of slowing down. Offering an assortment of freshly baked treats, breakfast, lunch, coffee drinks and ice cream, The Buzz has developed a large, local following in southern Frederick County and is becoming a popular meeting... http://www.towncourier.com/urbana/2010/07/28/the-buzz-turns-one/
Dick Null, who handles much of Dave Johansson’s maintenance work in Westminster, stops for a moment to chat on the Sentinel parking lot at Main and Liberty Street in Westminster.
(Enlarge) The "Sponge Bob" combine was rigged to mechanically tip his hat to the crowd. (Photo by Kevin Dayhoff)
Combine Demolition Derby is smashing good time at the Carroll 4-H and FFA Fair in Westminster 'This is all-Americana, baby' … fair continues through Aug. 6 By Kevin Dayhoff
The afternoon at the annual Carroll County 4-H FFA Fair started out tame enough. Children were giggling. There was ice cream, burgers and french fries to eat; the weather was appropriately hot, and antique tractors were performing the stylized minuet of square dancing in the upper horse arena.
But soon after 6 o'clock in the evening, the scene of the antique tractors had transformed into the clash of the alien mutant titans of the farm equipment world, as the giant machines danced in the makeshift heavy metal mosh pit of the third annual combine demolition derby at the country fair... http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/4576/Carroll-County-Fair-Westminster-4H-FFA/
Published July 25, 2010 by Carroll Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... wrap-up Aug. 7. The annual agricultural fair benefits Carroll youngsters through 4-H programs ... ; Food concessions are available throughout the fair and include pit beef, turkey, ham, ... to be fan favorites. Staples, including the fair parade Aug. 1 and the cake ... ...
Our cover image this week is powerful, shocking and disturbing. It is a portrait of Aisha, a shy 18-year-old Afghan woman who was sentenced by a Taliban commander to have her nose and ears cut off for fleeing her abusive in-laws. Aisha posed for the picture and says she wants the world to see the effect a Taliban resurgence would have on the women of Afghanistan, many of whom have flourished in the past few years. Her picture is accompanied by a powerful story by our own Aryn Baker on how Afghan women have embraced the freedoms that have come from the defeat of the Taliban — and how they fear a Taliban revival.
Boston Globe reporter Johnny Diaz today 
