“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
A credit card fraud case in Marathon this week highlights the ongoing struggle individuals, small businesses, corporations and law enforcement must face in the digital age to protect financial and personal information.
This year will be a historic one, marking three important anniversaries: the 100th anniversary of the eruption of World War I, the 75th anniversary of the start of World War II and the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The first two dates have been the source of heated debates among German intellectuals. The Fischer controversy in the early 1960s had to do with assigning blame for the eruption of World War I, while the dispute between historians in the mid-1980s revolved around culpability for the Holocaust. Both debates were informed by the positions in what was then a divided nation, including views on German unification.
History is not just history, but also a part of the present. This is especially true of Germany. The overwhelming history of the 20th century engulfed the country and shaped the consciousness of politically active citizens.
Both debates ended in victory for those who advocated Germany accepting the greatest possible culpability and therefore sought to exclude the possibility of German reunification, fearing that a unified Germany could lead to fatal consequences, perhaps even a third world war. As a result, German consciousness was strongly influenced by this acceptance of guilt for decades to come.
A New Identity for Germans?
In the meantime, new information has come to light on the issues in both debates, which tends to support the losing side. Could this lead to a new national identity for Germans?
The importance of this question underscores the need to revisit the Fischer controversy and the dispute among historians in this historic year. It also focuses our attention, once again, on a controversial concept of the day: revisionism. It was once anathema to one side of the debate, and subsequently to the other. But it's a necessary debate.
"Last night, economics, business, and public policy writer Megan McArdle spoke about her new book The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success at Sixth & I in partnership with Politics & Prose. McArdle started out by sharing a personal experience of her 2 years of unemployment following business school."
"BROOKLYN, NY—Acknowledging that the man’s right-wing views are more nuanced than one might expect, 36-year-old liberal Diana Hardwick confided to reporters Tuesday that her conservative acquaintance Brady Daniels is, quite frustratingly, not racist."
"BROOKLYN, NY—Acknowledging that the man’s right-wing
views are more nuanced than one might expect, 36-year-old liberal Diana
Hardwick confided to reporters Tuesday that her conservative acquaintance Brady
Daniels is, quite frustratingly, not racist."
More than $100 million spent with nothing to show for it
February 11, 2014
Dear Kevin-
Senator
David R. Brinkley
Maryland has become known as a test kitchen for liberal policies. After the passage of Obamacare in DC, Maryland spent more than $100 million to voluntarily set up and market its own exchange. Led by Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Democrats in Annapolis patted themselves on the back for leading the way. Yet, when these health care exchange web sites went live last fall,Maryland's site made the Federal rollout look like a success. Hard to believe, isn't it?
Now Maryland is scrambling to find a way to clean up this mess and help the many Marylanders who lost their existing health care plan and could not sign up for a new plan on the State's exchange web site.
I am leading the call for a full independent investigation to uncover how these millions of tax dollars were spent and who is responsible for the mess. Only through an independent investigation with the power to subpoena will we be able to learn the truth. The Democrats are avoiding investigating this and getting the answers we as citizens deserve until this summer, conveniently timed after the Primary Election.
As always, if I can ever be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me in Annapolis or my District office.
"Two-hundred-sixty million dollars through all these appropriations and we still don't have something that's working . . . " Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley said.
. . . Frankly, the best idea we've heard so far is from Senate Minority Leader David R. Brinkley who called for an independent probe. That was good enough for the Democrats when they weren't happy with hiring and firing practices in the administration of Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. nine years ago, and the same standard ought to apply today.
Senate Minority Leader David R. Brinkley (R-Frederick), who wants the state to hire outside counsel to investigate, scoffed at the suggestion that such an inquiry would reduce the number of Marylanders who get health insurance.
"They are recognizing that there's an ongoing problem, but they don't want to address it because it might cause embarrassment to the lieutenant governor in his gubernatorial bid," he said.
HEAVIEST SNOW ACCUMULATION OF THE SEASON EXPECTED IN NEXT WINTER STORM
Residents should take precautions now for storm that is expected to start late Wednesday
REISTERSTOWN, MD (February 11, 2014) – Maryland residents should prepare now for what is expected to be the largest snowfall of the season. Forecasters are predicting about 6-10 inches of snow – or more — for most of Maryland depending on the final track of the storm.
In anticipation of the storm, Governor Martin O’Malley has issued a State of Emergency Declaration, which will allow the state to deploy members of the Maryland National Guard, allow emergency contracting by the Department of General Services and waive certain rules and regulations to speed recovery from the storms.
Forecasters predict this will be a heavy, wet snow. Because many trees were weakened by last week’s ice storm, it is possible that some remaining trees may not be able to hold the added weight and could fall, impacting electric service. Residents are advised to prepare for potential power outages and to conserve power as much as possible.
“It’s been a long winter for many Maryland families. With the polar vortex, a bad ice storm and several snow storms already this year, it’s incredibly important for all Marylanders to remain vigilant and find smart ways to safely conserve energy,” said Governor O’Malley. “Once again we ask our residents to be prepared, avoid travel if at all possible, and remember to keep an eye on relatives, friends and neighbors.”
Residents should have a disaster supply kit with water, non-perishable food, a battery- or crank-operated radio and other necessities in case of an extended power outage. Now is also the time to make sure cell phones and other devices are fully charged in case of a power outage.
If you must travel in bad weather, makes sure your car’s battery, tires and wiper blades are in good condition and always have more than half a tank of gas in the car. Add a car charger, blankets and extra snacks and drinks to your car’s supply kit, and if you must drive, make sure someone knows where you are going and your planned route in case you become stranded.
Do not leave pets exposed to cold and snow for long periods. If your pets must remain outside, make sure they have a dry shelter, plenty of food and drinkable (non-frozen) water. Do not put blankets or pillows in their shelter as they may become wet and frozen in a snow storm.
Several websites can provide more winter preparedness information:
Residents also can follow storm-related activity in Maryland at the MEMA website listed above or by following MEMA on Twitter @MDMEMA or following MEMA on Facebook.
There are also several ways to track road conditions in the state from the Maryland State Highway Administration:
The parent company of 1st Mariner Bank said Monday that it
has signed a deal to sell the bank after years of regulatory demands that it
increase its capital, potentially ending the company's long struggle to right
itself after the mortgage crisis.
A group of investors, many with local ties, have agreed to
buy the Baltimore bank — the largest based in the region — and recapitalize it
with about $100 million.
First Mariner Bancorp, the parent company, said it filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday afternoon in Baltimore federal court to
"facilitate the transaction."
[…]
"For four years, the bank has been under a regulatory
order that it's been trying to satisfy, and we've reached the finish
line," said Mark Keidel, interim president of 1st Mariner Bank. "This
agreement … puts the bank on much firmer financial ground — and quite frankly
gives us the ability to be back on offense."
At a press conference this morning, the results of a new study on minimum wage prepared by economist Stephen S. Fuller, Ph.D., George Mason University, were released by the Maryland Foundation for Research & Economic Education.
Over ten bills have been introduced in the Maryland General Assembly this session and will receive hearings in the House and Senate this week.
In an extensive research report, Fuller concludes that raising the minimum wage in Maryland would:
1. increase the price of consumer goods;
2. reduce employment and personal income;
3. weaken the state's competitive position relative to adjacent states having lower labor costs;
4. slow the growth of gross state product; and
5. slow population growth and weaken real estate values.
The full report has been posted on the WBAL-TV website (Click Here).
The big news for the New Year's celebrations in Westminster in 1897 was the opening less than a week before of a new train station in town.
According to research for the Historical Society of Carroll County by Jay Graybeal, the Democratic Advocate newspaper reported the opening of the station on Dec. 26, 1896.
A big deal was made over the fact that the station had indoor bathrooms: "Toilet rooms for ladies and gentlemen open from each of the waiting rooms… and the mirror in the ladies' department is already in active operation."
