Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

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

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Maryland Public Policy Institute: Unintended Consequences


Unintended Consequences

The Maryland Public Policy Institute


by John J. Walters  SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

When I was growing up I was told to always consider the worst possible outcome of whatever I was about to do.  Apparently our current administration wasn’t ever told that when they were growing up, because we’re only now beginning to see the unintended consequences that healthcare reform can and will bring to America.  Health insurance companies in several states have recently announced that they will stop selling children’s policies in response to the mandate that no individual under the age of 19 be denied coverage for any reason whatsoever.  So far, Maryland is unaffected.  But we must wonder: for how long?

So why stop selling policies that cover children only?  It does seem a little barbaric.  Shouldn’t a sense of decency compel the insurance companies to continue?  Unfortunately, health insurance companies are not in the business out of a sense of decency.  They sell health insurance for the same reason most people have jobs: to make money.  Clearly, if they are going to stop selling children’s policies it is because they do not think they could make a profit off them anymore.


20100923 MPPI Unintended Consequences

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Man thought to have been hit and killed by train in Sykesville MD


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Police Department

On October 12, 2010 at about 9:30 pm, the Sykesville Police responded with the Sykesville Freedom Fire Department for a report of a pedestrian struck by a train, on the CSX tracks near Harman Dr.  Upon arrival, it was learned that a male and a female had been sitting alongside the tracks, and the male had been struck by a westbound freight train.  He was pronounced dead on the scene.  Main St. in the Town of Sykesville was blocked for about three hours by the stopped train, while the investigation was conducted.

John R. Williams, Jr.
Chief of Police
Sykesville Police Department
7547 Main Street
Sykesville MD  21784
(410) 795-0757      FAX (410) 795-8864

Sykesville Town House  7547 Main Street  Sykesville, MD 21784  410-795-8959

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Jerry Brown announces NOW endorsement one day after Meg Whitman slur


PolitiCal

ON POLITICS IN THE GOLDEN STATE

Jerry Brown announces NOW endorsement one day after Meg Whitman slur

October 8, 2010 |  2:05 pm
Jerry Brown announced he has received the endorsement of the National Organization for Women, less than 24 hours after the emergence of a recorded message in which Brown can be heard in a conversation with advisors in which someone calls Whitman a "whore." Coincidence? You be the judge.
Whitman's campaign pounced after the audio was made public, sending out a release Thursday night from spokeswoman Sarah Pompei calling the use of the term "an insult to both Meg Whitman and to the women of California.  This is an appalling and unforgivable smear against Meg Whitman.  At the very least Mr. Brown tacitly approved this despicable slur and he himself may have used the term at least once on this recording."
As if on cue, Brown's campaign Friday released the endorsement from NOW championing Brown's record on women's rights.  "As Governor, Mayor, and Attorney General, Jerry Brown has promoted and defended women’s rights,” said California NOW President Patty Bellasalma...  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/10/jerry-brown-announces-now-endorsement-one-day-after-meg-whitman-slur.html
RELATED:  Jerry Brown associate calls Meg Whitman a "whore" (AUDIO)
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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Poll numbers, media frame debates By Adam Bednar

Poll numbers, media frame debates

Tuesday, October 12, 2010 By Adam Bednar, Times Staff Writer

The competitiveness of a campaign and the media coverage of it are major factors that affect how voters view a political debate.

Gov. Martin O'Malley and former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich taped the gubernatorial campaign's first of four debates Monday morning, and it was broadcast that night.

Before noon, both campaigns tried to frame the results as a triumph for their respective candidates by sending out e-mails claiming victory to news organizations.

Controlling the tone of the coverage during the following news cycle is almost as important as the candidates' performance in the debate, according to Richard Vatz, a professor of communication and rhetoric at Towson University.

"Many people don't get their reactions from the debate itself; they get it from the reporting of the debate," he said.

[…]

Herb Smith, a professor of political science at McDaniel College, also said the impact of a debate is relative to a campaign's competitiveness.

[…]


20101012 CCT Bednar Poll numbers media frame debates

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Monday, October 11, 2010

Jay Ambrose: Dems want to avoid certain words

Ambrose: Dems want to avoid certain words

Saturday, October 9, 2010 By Jay Ambrose

The news is bad economically for the country and bad politically for the Democrats, and there may be some words they will want to avoid, such as "food stamps." I would throw in "oil spill" and "light bulbs," though it will take me a few paragraphs to get there.

Meanwhile, here's a new, foreboding record for the United States - 41.8 million people receiving the aforementioned food stamps in a human catastrophe brought on by unemployment rising scarily again. With an eye to November's midterm elections, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has responded by referring to Democrats as "the party of food stamps," as opposed to the Republicans, viewed by him as "the party of paychecks."

It's rhetoric packed with partisan purpose, to be sure, but also some analytical insightfulness. Properly devised safety nets are needed when the free market is not delivering everything it can, but a chief reason it is not performing well right now is a government scaring businesses into investment of the kind where you first find a mattress and then stick your money underneath it.

The perceived threats are multiple - what might happen when the Obamacare mayhem fully kicks in, if the dollar keeps collapsing, if debt keeps accumulating, if taxes go up, if no one stops the madness that assumes it's not free exchange that is finally the source of all wealth, but the cleverness of the leftists now in power…  http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/article_37bdbdfe-d326-11df-a559-001cc4c002e0.html

20101009 Ambrose Dems want to avoid certain words

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Rescuing resources: WasteNot! Carroll pitches in By Lois Szymanski

Rescuing resources: WasteNot! Carroll pitches in By Lois Szymanski




Friday, October 8, 2010 By Lois Szymanski, For Neighborhoods

The grassroots organization Waste Not! Carroll has been working to keep recyclables out of the county’s trash since 2009. At last month’s Maryland Wine Festival at the Carroll County Farm Museum, nearly 70 volunteers promoted recycling and composting and helped the museum’s efforts. Together, they diverted more than nine tons of resources from the waste stream.

“That figure includes the efforts of vendors, attendees and the farm museum staff,” said Don West, cofounder of Waste Not! Carroll.

The museum staff concentrated on the wineries and was able to recycle 7.58 tons of recyclables.

Waste Not! Carroll was assigned food vendor areas and sent an additional 1.26 tons of recyclables to the county.

West said that, in addition, they removed what he estimated to be an additional ton of compost, aluminum and other recyclables…  http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/neighborhoods/article_1257668a-d24c-11df-be4e-001cc4c03286.html
  
20101008 Szymanski WasteNot! Carroll pitches in

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Baltimore Sun: Snookered in the gulf

Our view: Obama was too quick to accept BP's low-ball estimate of the oil spill's size

October 10, 2010


Days after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, officials at BP were still assuring the Obama administration their estimates showed the blown-out well was only leaking about 5,000 barrels of oil a day into the surrounding waters. That was the figure the administration initially used to describe one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history, even though other government experts and independent scientists were already warning that the spill was likely much larger than oil company officials were letting on…  http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-oil-spill-20101010,0,3836793.story

20101010 Suned Snookered in the gulf

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Ehrlich greets 150 at fundraising event in Westminster Sunday




The event was organized by retiring five-term Maryland Dist. 5 Republican Sen. Larry Haines …  “Ehrlich greets 150 at fundraising event in Westminster Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010” “This (Carroll County) is the promised land (for Ehrlich,)” said Haines, who introduced Ehrlich and his family to the crowd.  Haines focused on the economy in his opening remarks.  Current Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley “can’t fix it.  But Bob Ehrlich can,” said Haines, who went on to say that in three weeks, the voters can give Ehrlich that opportunity…  October 10, 2010 photo by George Welty

Former House of Delegates member and candidate for Haines’ former Maryland Dist. 5 seat, Joe Getty…  “Ehrlich greets 150 at fundraising event in Westminster Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010”  Getty then took the podium to introduce the many elected officials and candidates for office in the room, as well as a number of business and civic leaders; who time off from a beautiful fall Maryland Sunday to rub elbows with Ehrlich and his family…  October 10, 2010 photo by George Welty
Former House of Delegates member and candidate for Haines’ former Maryland Dist. 5 seat, Joe Getty…  “Ehrlich greets 150 at fundraising event in Westminster Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010” Photo by George Welty October 10, 2010
Former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich.  October 10, 2010 photo by George Welty
Retiring five-term Maryland Dist. 5 Republican Sen. Larry Haines Photo by George Welty October 10, 2010
Former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich.  October 10, 2010 photo by George Welty
Former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich.  October 10, 2010 photo by George Welty
Former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich.  October 10, 2010 photo by George Welty
(Left to Right) Former House of Delegates member and candidate for Haines’ former Maryland Dist. 5 seat, Joe Getty, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, and retiring five-term Maryland Dist. 5 Republican Sen. Larry Haines Photo by George Welty October 10, 2010
Ehrlich greets 150 at fundraising event in Westminster Sunday

Crowd urged to help him win over 80 percent of the vote in Carroll County in the general election on November 2.

Monday, 10/11/10 “Ehrlich greets 150 at fundraising event in Westminster Sunday” October 10, 2010 - - Updated October 27, 2010 with pictures by George Welty: http://georgewelty.blogspot.com/

For more pictures by George Welty: http://georgewelty.blogspot.com/ from this event, go to: http://georgewelty.blogspot.com/2010/10/bob-ehrlich.html


With just three critical weeks left before the general election, Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert L. Ehrlich made yet another in a series of campaign stops in Carroll County early Sunday evening.  The event was billed as a “10-10-10 Rally for Bob Ehrlich.”

Ehrlich spoke for about 30 minutes at the fundraising event with 150 enthusiastic supporters at the Best Western Hotel in Westminster, where he urged the crowd to help him win over 80 percent of the vote in Carroll County in the general election on November 2.

The event was organized by retiring five-term Maryland Dist. 5 Republican Sen. Larry Haines, with some help by former House of Delegates member and candidate for Haines’ former seat, Joe Getty.

Getty and former Maryland Governor Ehrlich worked together before when he served as policy director in the Governor’s Office when Ehrlich served as governor from 2003 to 2007.

Ehrlich, accompanied by his family, made their way to Westminster immediately after the Baltimore Ravens 31-17 victory over the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium earlier in the day.

“This (Carroll County) is the promised land (for Ehrlich,)” said Haines, who introduced Ehrlich and his family to the crowd.  Haines focused on the economy in his opening remarks.  Current Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley “can’t fix it.  But Bob Ehrlich can,” said Haines, who went on to say that in three weeks, the voters can give Ehrlich that opportunity…

Getty then took the podium to introduce the many elected officials and candidates for office in the room, as well as a number of business and civic leaders; who time off from a beautiful fall Maryland Sunday to rub elbows with Ehrlich and his family.

Carroll County commissioner candidates, Dave Roush, Dist. 3, Robin Frazier, Dist. 1, and Hampstead Mayor Haven Shoemaker, Dist. 2, were in attendance.  Also attending were outgoing County Commissioner Mike Zimmer and retiring Maryland Dist. 5A Del. Tanya Shewell, along with a candidate for her former seat, Justin Ready; as well as Mount Airy town council members David Blais and Wendy Peters.


Ehrlich introduced his family, thanked Haines and Getty for their prior service and made a special mention of Amanda Boyd Miller, who has served as the chair of Ehrlich Carroll County campaign efforts.

In his remarks, Ehrlich took the opportunity to talk about why he entered the gubernatorial contest, noting that only seven Republican governors have served in the Maryland Statehouse.  “I’m the only living Republican governor” who has served…, said Ehrlich.

Ehrlich noted that many folks have asked him “What got me into this…  What changed your mind,” to run again for office after his defeat to O’Malley in the 2006 gubernatorial contest.

From 2005 to 2008 the electorate said, it wanted more taxes, more government spending, more bureaucracy, and more government regulation, said Ehrlich.  That was what the message was…  That’s what elected officials thought was (the message) the American public was sending, said Ehrlich.

Then around 2009, Ehrlich noted that he was attending meetings in places like Montgomery County, “expecting maybe 60” people; only there would hundreds of people there.  “Small business people; people who had never been in politics before…”

However, “Something sent them over… something on the federal or state level…”  And they were saying “enough.”  Then came the governor’s race in Virginia, which was won by a Republican…  And then New Jersey, a traditional Democrat stronghold, chose a Republican governor, “And I began to really take notice,” of a change in the mood of the voters, said Ehrlich.

“Then (former U.S. Senator) Ted Kennedy’s seat in Massachusetts went to a Republican” and that coupled with the New Jersey governor’s race results; and “we started to think this was news-worthy.”


Ehrlich mentioned his opponent very little during his remarks, except to note that in the “bluest state in the country,” his opponent started in March with a campaign, not on his record for the previous four years, but began by running on “Bob Ehrlich is a bad guy…  I was to blame for the Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico) oil spill.  It has gotten goofier ever since,” laughed Ehrlich.

“O’Malley is not running on his record.  He has no record to run on except raising taxes,” quipped Ehrlich.  “We want our lives back.  We are not anti-government.  The Marine Corps is the government.  Maryland State Police is government.  We’re for appropriate government.

“Our secret plan for the next 23 days (until the general election) is to really work hard…  Then on November 3rd, (the day after the election) is my time and I’ll get back to work,” said Ehrlich.

After his remarks, Ehrlich spent over 30 minutes mingling with those who attended the event; having his picture taken and going over campaign talking points.

After the event, Getty noted that the fundraiser was scheduled to help Ehrlich fund the last three weeks of running television ads in the Baltimore – Washington market, “one of the most expensive in the country,” noted Getty.

Over the last week, Ehrlich’s opponent has continued to wage an all-out media blitz campaign…, said Getty.

It is important that we help raise funds to respond to these attacks.  “It’ll cost $1 million a week from now until the election,” said Getty who acknowledged a large campaign-funding disadvantage to O’Malley, which “allowed him (the current governor) to go on TV early. 

“Governor O’Malley has a 3 to 1 advantage,” said Getty as he asked rhetorically about media reports that O’Malley still has $9 million left to spend in his war chest on additional television ads.

Meanwhile, later today, O’Malley and Ehrlich are scheduled to participate in their first gubernatorial debate of the election contest.  “I’m looking forward to it,” said Ehrlich as he gathered his family for the trip home.

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Related:

Ehrlich Events in Carroll County

By Getty for Senate on Saturday, October 9, 2010


The next few days offer great local opportunities to be engaged in the Bob Ehrlich for Governor campaign.

On Sunday (the day before the first Gubernatorial debate), Senator Larry Haines is hosting a major fundraiser and Rally for Bob Ehrlich at the Best Western Westminster.  We will hear from Governor Ehrlich about his views on the status of the campaign as he prepares for Monday's debate. Call me if you need information about this event (Joe Getty mobile phone 443 744 9338).

On Monday, volunteers and friends of the Getty for Senate campaign are gathering for a Debate Watch Party to watch the televised debate together at Greenmount Station Restaurant (1631 North Main Street, Hampstead). Come at 6 pm if you want to join us for dinner (dutch treat - separate checks). At 7 pm, we will watch the WJZ-TV debate on the Greenmount Station widescreen television and I will offer commentary from my perspective of having attended the 2002 debates.

On Tuesday morning, you can hear post-debate analysis directly from Governor Ehrlich at the Senator David Brinkley Breakfast Fundraiser (October 12 - 7:30 a.m.; Dutch's Daughter, 581 Himes Avenue, Frederick; $125 per person; Contact: David Brinkley 301-698-9206).

Kevin Dayhoff Photo by George Welty October 10, 2010
Don't miss out in participating in one of these great opportunities. 

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Also: Early voting for the November 2, 2010 Maryland General Election begins Friday October 22, 2010 through Thursday, October 28, 2010, except for Sunday, October 24th when early voting centers are closed.

The Dugout Canoe Project A film by Ken Koons

The Dugout Canoe Project

A film by

Ken Koons  


The Dugout Canoe Project was created at McDaniel College, in Westminster, Maryland, as part ofthe Common Ground on the Hill summer traditional arts program.
Starting with a 3 foot diameter by 12 foot long Sycamore tree and using only hand tools and fire, the community constructed this dugout to see what could be learned from traditional ways of working wood.
These videos explain how the boat was made and what the community discovered from working on the project.

Narrators:
Joe Baker, Archeologist 
Charlie Billie, Seminole Tradition Bearer
Shelton Browder, Journeyman Blacksmith, Colonial Williamsburg 
Guy Davis, Bluesman and Performer 
Ken Koons, Journalist
Walt Michael, Director, Common Ground on the Hill
Göran Olsson, Swedish Tradition Bearer


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Mary Leona Gage, Miss Maryland from 1957, who had Miss USA title stripped, dies

Miss Maryland from 1957, who had Miss USA title stripped, dies




By Liz F. Kay, The Baltimore Sun

5:27 p.m. EDT, October 10, 2010

Mary Leona Gage, the 1957 Miss Maryland pageant winner who was Miss USA for only a day before officials stripped her of her title because she was a married mother of two, has died in Los Angeles at 71.

A son, Robert Kaminer, told the Associated Press Saturday that Gage died of heart failure at a Sherman Oaks hospital Tuesday.

Gage was the only Marylander ever selected as Miss USA. And, like Vanessa Williams and Carrie Prejean decades later, she was not the last to become famous after a pageant scandal.

Immediately after she lost the Miss USA title, she was featured on the Ed Sullivan Show and appeared in other television shows…  http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-former-miss-md-gage-dies-20101010,0,7018130.story

20101010 Leona Gage Ennis Miss MD 1957 dies

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The long unhappy pageant of Mary Leona Gage By John Woestendiek


baltimoresun.com

The long, unhappy pageant of Mary Leona Gage

One glorious day in 1957, Miss Maryland, Leona Gage, was crowned Miss USA. Then her past caught up with her, and a troubled future began unfolding.

By John Woestendiek

Sun Reporter

April 10, 2005


20050410 The long unhappy pageant of Mary Leona Gage

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Saturday, October 09, 2010

Fearing the Chávez Model

Fearing the Chávez Model
Friday, October 8, 2010

For many in Latin America, the Chávez model is the greatest threat to economic and political liberalism since the armed insurrections of the 1980s.
GUATEMALA CITY— One word is repeated to me by all the Guatemalan businessmen I'm meeting while here: Chávez. The Venezuelan strongman is the bete noire of Guatemala's economic leaders. What Hugo Chávez represents to them is nothing less than the rollback of liberal democracy in Latin America. They fear the "Chávez model," as they put it, of using democratic tactics to undermine liberal governing systems.
Venezuelans recently voted for a new National Assembly, and though Chávez supporters retained their majority, they lost their two-thirds supermajority that allowed them to push through constitutional changes on their own. This puts Chávez in a strong position for his 2012 reelection bid. Democrats throughout Latin America wait to see when Washington will finally take Chávez seriously as the most dangerous man in the Western Hemisphere...  http://www.american.com/archive/2010/october/fearing-the-chavez-model?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+American+(AMERICAN.COM+--+A+Magazine+of+Ideas,+Online)&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

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Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Road sign


Road sign

Cellphone

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Bridge Out


Bridge Out

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