Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Sad Times for Eastman Kodak
Kevin E. Dayhoff
There have been many tragedies of economic malaise in the last five years. Kodak’s recent filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy seems especially sad; and it is only fitting that we pause for a moment to pay our respects.
Adventures in Language and Television
Tom McLaughlin
Kuching Malaysian Borneo – “Sayang, Sayang!* Porn Stars are on! Come quick, you will miss porn stars,” my bride exclaimed.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
“Once a Catholic, Always a Catholic”
Roy Meachum
Barack Obama caught hell at Washington’s Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend. That’s not news. But Saturday the right-wingers scoffed at the president’s shift on birth control insurance, away from the position the Tea Party is founded on.
Two Out of Three IS Bad
Farrell Keough
Three candidates of interest are running for the Maryland 6th District: Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, State Del. Kathy Afzali, and State Sen. David Brinkley. Two of these candidates are running on platforms describing themselves as Constitutional Conservatives, while the third is actually running on his own record.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Health vs. Religion
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Service Kathleen Sebilius announced recently the Obama Administration's rollout of the regulations regarding the national healthcare initiative.
Fed Up? Become a Watchdog
Jill King
Is the media biased, or just getting lazy? With a new world of technology, it doesn’t take much to get the story; all you have to do is be there. Camera’s, recording devices, and flip cams are now all the rage, along with tweeting, social media, and the word press.
Too Little, Too Late
Michael Kurtianyk
Last week, the five largest providers – JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Ally Financial, Wells Fargo and Bank of America – agreed on a deal with 49 states (not Oklahoma) to settle charges of “abusive and negligent” foreclosure practices dating back to 2008.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Black Tuesday for This Democracy
Roy Meachum
Nobody expected it, especially Donald Trump. On Tuesday the week before, the super developer popped his buttons at the Nevada GOP presidential primary victory, claiming his late endorsement of ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney made the sterling difference.
Obfuscation and Broken Promises
Joe Charlebois
A death sentence has been handed down this week by President Barack Obama’s administration. The United States Constitution’s First Amendment was sentenced to death.
Preparing Students for the Real World – Part 2
Amanda Haddaway
Today we continue with the responses of candidates for the Frederick County Board of Education in this year’s election to a basic question. Yesterday we posted the responses of three of them.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Questioning the Liquor Board Request to Raise Fees
Joan Marie Aquilino
After reading a recent article titled, “Frederick police chief wants second liquor inspector” by Katherine Heerbrandt in The Gazette, it just made me wonder if we’ll ever get the full story from the Frederick Liquor Board.
Preparing Students for the Real World – Part 1
Amanda Haddaway
The race for the Frederick County Board of Education is heating up and there’s a crowded candidate field with 12 people vying for three seats. Over the next few months, candidates will be asked a variety of questions about their positions on various topics associated with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS).
English Officially? The Debate Begins Anew
Blaine R. Young
We have heard a lot of discussion, and I am sure we will hear more, about a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to establish English as the official language for Frederick County. The Board of County Commissioners will conduct this hearing on February 21 at Winchester Hall.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Eurozone Crisis: It is all Greek to me!
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Now that the Super Bowl is over there may be no better time to focus some attention on the continuing Greek tragedy that is unfolding over in the economic Twilight Zone, known as the Eurozone.
Mardi Gras: A Hot Date
Norman M. Covert
“It cannot be,” a learned student of pagan and religious rites said with fervor. “Mardi Gras cannot be celebrated after Fat Tuesday and ‘Trash’ Wednesday!”
Sliced Bread
Tom McLaughlin
Kuching, Malaysian Borneo – There are no “amber waves of grain” here in tropical Borneo, hence, no bread. The white air sold as “bread” in the very few stores that carry it does not even stand up to a knife spreading melted butter. It usually tears becoming an orb of gob.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
“Carpetbagger”
Roy Meachum
Maryland Senate President Mike Miller is a piece of work. I’ve observed him since he climbed into the “upper chamber” top seat in 1987. The electoral process that year was my introduction to how brutal state politics can be.
Contradictory Evidence on Bay Pollution
Shawn Burns
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley regularly says that septic systems are “one of the biggest causes of pollution in the bay.”
Land Use Cage Match: Are You Ready for This?
Earl 'Rocky' Mackintosh
The fight rages on as the Frederick Board of County Commissioners press forward with the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Review.
Monday, February 6, 2012
The Foundering GOP Message
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus was being interviewed by CBS News Bob Schieffer on the Sunday morning political talk-fest a week ago yesterday.
Sick and Tired of Politics
Cindy A. Rose
When former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney made the unrehearsed comment that he wasn’t worried about the poor, did anyone really think that’s exactly what he meant?
From a First Visit, A Lifelong Appreciation
Michael Kurtianyk
My first experience visiting a public library occurred when I was in the first grade in Syracuse, NY. I was fortunate enough to go with the second graders to our local library.
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