20060330 Always Dress better than expected

Always Dress better than expected

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Crosspost: Originally posted at - http://www.kevindayhoff.com/2006/03/20060329-always-dress-better-than_30.html I reworked it a bit when I brought it over to “Soundtrack.”

HAT TIP Wonkette

Examiner Watch

OMG - It would appear that there is a war of the wardrobe occurring in the pressroom these days. Since journalists have always been know to be such slaves to fashion, this blogger is simply aghast that such memos are even necessary.

Thank goodness, according to the mainstream media, all it would appear that I need to wear while slaving away at the keyboard is my pajamas.

It was noticed that the memo also addressed proper shoes…

And obviously, it goes without saying that the family values poster child, Britney Spears cannot work at the Washington Examiner.

Many thanks to Wonkette for keeping us up to date on such pressing matters.

DC Examiner Dress Code: Only Due Attention To Ones Self, Please

This just in from Wonkette:

http://www.wonkette.com/

March 29, 2006

What, you think working for a free paper is all loosey-goosey anything goes hippie bullshit? It's a business, dammit, you'll treat it as such! Here, for your perusal, are samples from the dress code at the DC Examiner (instututed, no doubt, after Vivienne Sosnowski showed up in torn denim mini-skit and studded collar) -- we note that it doesn't appear to have been written (or read) by a copy-editor.

From the "Appropriate" column:

Dresses (length cannot be more than three inches above the knee). ["more than"?]

Pants in business suitable fabrics. [Satin, leather, vinyl, etc.]

And the more fun "Inappropriate" column:

Any type of denim (including jean dresses, denim shirts, denim pants, denim skirts, etc.).

Any material resembling denim.

Khaki or Docker- style pants. [Harsh, but fair -- we have a similar rule against tucking your t-shirt into your jeans]

Stirrup pants and leggings. [That, along with their anti-sweatband and big sunglasses provision, explains their disappointing lack of hipster coverage]

Camouflage clothing [Despite this, they still manage to poach Wash Times staffers]

Clothing is not to be overly tight nor draw undue attention to ones self.

Full memo after the jump.

It is important for all employees to project a professional image of Washington Newspaper Publishing Company, LLC.

To create this image to our clients and /or visitors, WNP has implemented a dress-code policy. The following list is a guideline of what attire is appropriate and inappropriate. This list is not all inclusive but is a guide.

APPROPRIATE:

Dresses (length cannot be more than three inches above the knee).

Suits/pantsuits/ties.

Skirts (length cannot be more than three inches above the knee).

Blouses/shirts.

Blazers.

Vests.

Walking shorts/skorts in business suitable fabrics (length cannot be more than three inches above the knee).

Pants in business suitable fabrics.

Any type of business shoe (heels, flats, etc.).

INAPPROPRIATE:

Any type of denim (including jean dresses, denim shirts, denim pants, denim skirts, etc.).

Any material resembling denim.

Casual/sport T-shirts (including logo merchandise).

Casual shorts.

Khaki or Docker- style pants.

Stirrup pants and leggings.

Casual sandals, athletic or canvas shoes, casual boots, flip flops,

Flannel shirts.

Camouflage clothing

Bras, sport bras, tank tops, etc. (must be fully covered by clothing), short/crop tops. Mid drifts are not to be visible.

Employees dealing with and interacting with the public and clients are not to wear facial piercings.

Clothing is not to be overly tight nor draw undue attention to ones self.

Employees violating the code may be sent home, without pay, to change and may be subject to disciplinary actions up to and including termination.

Employees are also reminded that it is your responsibility to keep your work area clean. Papers are not to be stockpiled, work information is to be put away daily, excessive trash must be removed. If you see papers on the floor in your area or common areas, take the minute necessary to pick it up and throw it away or straighten it up. Employees are not to eat meals at desks or in work areas. All locations have break rooms! Do not keep food at your desk or store food in your work area.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

####

20060327 Dial N for Naked

20060327 Dial N for Naked

Dial N for naked

Hat Tip: My Nephew Smurf. Thank you Mr. Smurf!

Mon Mar 27, 2006 3:40 PM ET

I’m not really sure if Reuters uses permalinks and this is short and way too precious to be lost for future prosperity. Please enjoy the entire article below.

For the record, not only do I NOT make phone calls in the buff, but I also do not blog in my pajamas.

_________________

“LONDON (Reuters) - Up to a third of telephone users in Britain make calls in the nude, with men more prone to do it without clothes than women, a survey revealed on Thursday.

“Research commissioned by Britain's Post Office, which offers a fledgling home phone service, revealed that 40 percent of men admitted to nattering naked compared with 27 percent of women. The results were based on a survey of 1,500 telephone users.

“The research also showed that people were so busy that one in 10 people admitted to wandering off and leaving the caller talking to themselves.”

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

_________________

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

####

20060329 Always Dress better than expected

20060329 Always Dress better than expected

HAT TIP Wonkette

OMG - It would appear that there is a war of the wardrobe occurring in the pressroom these days. Since journalists have always been know to be such slaves to fashion, this blogger is simply aghast that such memos are even necessary. Thank goodness, according to the mainstream media, all it would appear that I need to wear while slaving away at the keyboard is my pajamas.

Many thanks to Wonkette for keeping us up to date on such pressing matters.

DC Examiner Dress Code: Only Due Attention To Ones Self, Please

This just in from Wonkette:

http://www.wonkette.com/

March 29, 2006

“

What, you think working for a free paper is all loosey-goosey anything goes hippie bullshit? It's a business, dammit, you'll treat it as such! Here, for your perusal, are samples from the dress code at the DC Examiner (instututed, no doubt, after Vivienne Sosnowski showed up in torn denim mini-skit and studded collar) -- we note that it doesn't appear to have been written (or read) by a copy-editor.

From the "Appropriate" column:

Dresses (length cannot be more than three inches above the knee). ["more than"?]

Pants in business suitable fabrics. [Satin, leather, vinyl, etc.]

And the more fun "Inappropriate" column:

Any type of denim (including jean dresses, denim shirts, denim pants, denim skirts, etc.).

Any material resembling denim.

Khaki or Docker- style pants. [Harsh, but fair -- we have a similar rule against tucking your t-shirt into your jeans]

Stirrup pants and leggings. [That, along with their anti-sweatband and big sunglasses provision, explains their disappointing lack of hipster coverage]

Camouflage clothing [Despite this, they still manage to poach Wash Times staffers]

Clothing is not to be overly tight nor draw undue attention to ones self.

Full memo after the jump.

It is important for all employees to project a professional image of Washington Newspaper Publishing Company, LLC. To create this image to our clients and /or visitors, WNP has implemented a dress-code policy. The following list is a guideline of what attire is appropriate and inappropriate. This list is not all inclusive but is a guide.

APPROPRIATE:

Dresses (length cannot be more than three inches above the knee).

Suits/pantsuits/ties.

Skirts (length cannot be more than three inches above the knee).

Blouses/shirts.

Blazers.

Vests.

Walking shorts/skorts in business suitable fabrics (length cannot be more than three inches above the knee).

Pants in business suitable fabrics.

Any type of business shoe (heels, flats, etc.).

INAPPROPRIATE:

Any type of denim (including jean dresses, denim shirts, denim pants, denim skirts, etc.).

Any material resembling denim.

Casual/sport T-shirts (including logo merchandise).

Casual shorts.

Khaki or Docker- style pants.

Stirrup pants and leggings.

Casual sandals, athletic or canvas shoes, casual boots, flip flops,

Flannel shirts.

Camouflage clothing

Bras, sport bras, tank tops, etc. (must be fully covered by clothing), short/crop tops. Mid drifts are not to be visible.

Employees dealing with and interacting with the public and clients are not to wear facial piercings.

Clothing is not to be overly tight nor draw undue attention to ones self.

Employees violating the code may be sent home, without pay, to change and may be subject to disciplinary actions up to and including termination.

Employees are also reminded that it is your responsibility to keep your work area clean. Papers are not to be stockpiled, work information is to be put away daily, excessive trash must be removed. If you see papers on the floor in your area or common areas, take the minute necessary to pick it up and throw it away or straighten it up. Employees are not to eat meals at desks or in work areas. All locations have break rooms! Do not keep food at your desk or store food in your work area.

”

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

####

20060327 MSM Plagiarism Strikes Again by Larisa Aleandrovna

MSM Plagiarism Strikes Again by Larisa Aleandrovna

March 28^th, 2006

'Only a blogger'

http://pajamasmedia.com/

PJM in LA, March 27, 2006 1:39 PM

Roger Simon thinks that Larisa Alexandrovna is taking it too easy on AP. The news organization was caught plagiarizing Ms. Alexandrovna’s work.

Related PJ Entries:

Plagiarism kerfuffle at the Washington Post

Short gig

On the hill alone

Larisa Alexandrovna is a journalist, essayist and poet. She is currently managing editor of Raw Story.

MSM Plagiarism Strikes Again – AP Welcome to the Party

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larisa-alexandrovna/msm-plagiarism-strikes-ag_b_17873.html

There are many things that bother me about plagiarism, but nothing irks me more than when a mainstream reporter (or organization) with all of the resources of a small nation at their disposal lifts from the small press, freelance journalists, and bloggers.

AP vs. Raw Story

Case in Point is my article on the new guidelines for security clearances.

The process of how I put this story together is important as it provides a brief glimpse into the amount of work and time I put into this research.

I got a tip in the form of a 2005 document that was issued "quietly" out of National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley's office, in which guidelines for issuing security clearances as well as access to government information had been updated from the Clinton administration's version.

I had to contact officials at the State Department, experts at think tanks, and several intelligence agencies to find out if […]

I wondered what the two documents side by side might show and what, if any, differences there were.

[…]

In order to identify changes, I had to put the 1997 and 2005 documents side by side and go line by line, noting in a spreadsheet the text of one and the other, and then noting what the change was, if any. This was a long, tedious, and frankly boring task.

[…]

The article can be found HERE.

[…]

On March 14, 2006, the AP did their own article, left out any attribution to me or my publication and lifted not only my research but also whole sections of my article for their own (making cosmetic changes of course).

[…]

Unfortunately this is far too common and has happened to me and to other writers and bloggers far too frequently. This time, however, we made a point of tape recording the AP apparatchiks admitting to taking our work and using it without attribution, stating "we do not credit blogs".

[…]

Yet, even after the advocacy groups reminded the AP of where they got the information, the news organization would not provide attribution.

Here are again, links to both articles:

Raw Story, March 13, 2006 and AP, March 14, 2006 (mind you, this is syndicated, so the plagiarism is compounded)

PLEASE READ MORE: (28 comments) 2006, Judith Miller, Valerie Plame

Read the entire article here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larisa-alexandrovna/msm-plagiarism-strikes-ag_b_17873.html

####

Ag, Bay groups remain wary of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Ag, Bay groups remain wary of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Update March 21, 2015 - Sadly this is a dead link: http://www.americanfarm.com/TopStory3.21.06a.html

3.21.2006 by STEPHANIE JORDAN

For years, the agricultural community has been distrustful of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

But in recent months, various officials from the farm community and the foundation have been able to sit at the same table and push for a common goal — to have a viable, profitable agriculture that protects the environment.

Both sides are critical of the “dating” relationship the two groups are experiencing, and both say that marriage is far into the future.

Down for the count?

Before 1997, CBF and the farm community had what some have called a mutual existence.

“I guess we had a non-relationship prior to 1997,” said Bill Satterfield, executive director of the Delmarva Poultry Industry.

In 1998, however, that changed, when Pfiesteria was discovered to have caused fish deaths in the Chesapeake Bay.

“We did what we believed was right at the time,” said Kim Coble, Maryland executive director for CBF. “That’s when the relationship severed. I think (the farmers) resented our call.”

That call was to crack down on nutrient management. A scientist from North Carolina State University had come out with research that said the Pfiesteria was caused by poultry manure. The foundation wanted poultry companies to share responsibility for their growers’ manure handling, and the Parris Glendening administration agreed.

“We may be part of the problem, but we’re not the biggest part of the problem,” said Buddy Hance, president of the Maryland Farm Bureau.

Though the research was disproved, the relationship between the two communities was severed.

“The two communities have been fairly separate historically, which is unfortunate,” said Michael Heller, farm manager of CBF’s Clagett Farm. “By approaching the problem in a one-dimensional way, they put the agricultural community on the defensive.”

Read more here: Update March 21, 2015 - Sadly this is a dead link: http://www.americanfarm.com/TopStory3.21.06a.html

Taking a risk

In the past, CBF would tell farmers one thing, but turn around and release a report that would say another, said Delegate Paul Stull, R-4A Dist.

“It seemed like every article that came out, (they) were ridiculing the farmers,” he said. “We all want to see clean water and a clean bay. Farmers aren’t the only ones polluting the bay.”

Hance received a call last summer regarding the the CBF’s report, “Vital Signs: Assessing the State of Chesapeake Agriculture in 2005.” The foundation called to ask him if he would be willing to go to the press conference in September announcing the report.

He checked with Farm Bureau leadership, and asked to see the report, which details the importance of agriculture to the Chesapeake Bay, ahead of time to help make the decision.

“Everyone always says be careful who you get in bed with,” Hance said. “We haven’t gotten in bed with anybody. People just have to move on. You can’t dwell on the past. You can’t hold a grudge.”

And meeting in the middle and working together, officials say, is the best way to accomplish goals for the both groups.

“I think we all need to know when we’ve got a goal to meet,” said Lew Riley, Maryland’s secretary of agriculture. “I think the farm community realizes the importance of the Chesapeake Bay. I think the environmental community realizes the importance of the agricultural community.”

Relationship counseling

Both groups can now sit at the same table in the Lowe House or Miller Senate buildings in Annapolis without going after the other.

“I’ve got to hand it to the farm community,” Coble said. “There wasn’t one person who wasn’t willing to turn the page from here. I have a lot of respect for the farming community for turning the page that quickly.”

But some are still critical of the cooperative spirit that has surfaced in recent months.

“It wasn’t that many years ago, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation was accusing agriculture of causing Pfiesteria in the Chesapeake Bay,” said Sen. Richard Colburn, R-37th Dist. “You just have to be careful in any new friendship. Hopefully it will be a lasting alliance. It’s a wait-and-see attitude that you have to take.”

And while farmers are happy to have CBF on their side, they say they are still wary.

“Everyone I’ve talked to is viewing it with guarded optimism,” said Steve Moore, a Sudlersville farmer. “In the past, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has been an adversary to the farmers, rather than an asset. We’re happy to see them working with the legislature … and we hope that continues.”

The foundation acknowledges the communication barriers of the past, and says it is working to show farmers that it really is on their side.

There were “mistakes of poor communication and we apologize for those,” said Will Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Saving the bay and saving the farm are just two sides of the same coin. If we lose our agricultural heritage, we’re going to lose the bay.”

Moving on

Changing its perspective has helped elevate the foundation in the agricultural community. The foundation now sees farming as the most cost-effective way to save the bay, and as the best way to help the environment.

“They had a change of direction,” said Jim Saathoff, a farmer from Denton whose land in Dorchester County would be impacted by the Blackwater Development. “We’re treading lightly. They’ve been honest so far, at least with me. They’ve come to realize that blaming the farmer isn’t going to save the bay.”
Saathoff said the organization deserves a chance to prove itself.

“Let’s work with them and see if they’re serious about this,” he said. “We don’t have many more chances to save the bay. The watermen will tell you there are dead zones out there, and farmers didn’t make them.”

Trust takes time, as it does with any relationship, and officials from both groups admit that change hasn’t taken place overnight. The farm community is still suspicious of the bay foundation, and the environmental community has accused CBF of being too lenient on farmers now.

But the groups say they are willing to give each other a chance.

“We’re not going to agree on everything,” Hance said. “We’ve agreed to disagree. So far, it’s working out. It takes time. We didn’t expect everyone to agree on everything. But you can still have differences and get the work done.”
Looking at the change of heart from both groups is almost a sigh of relief for some, and the sigh brings with it a hope for the future.

“There’s a very genuine sense that we really want to help farmers keep farming,” Heller said. “If we lose farms, we’re losing a valuable ally for solving water quality issues. It’s more than just a change in saying what we think of agriculture. We have to link farm viability and bay health, and not just focus on the bay health piece.”

Back to the future

Forgiveness is divine and the groups are moving forward, putting the past behind them, said Sen. J. Lowell Stoltzfus, R-38th Dist., and Senate minority leader.

“Inside, I still have a lot of frustration about what happened under the Glendening Administration. At the same time, we must extend the olive branch and we must go beyond that anger. We must work out a genuine, long-lasting partnership.”

As far as “first dates” go, Riley said he married his first date, and hopes that the groups will continue to work together to have a true partnership.

“It comes together very well when you’ve got a cooperative effort,” he said. “It’s encouraging to see the two sides coming together. Life’s a lot more pleasant for me and a lot more pleasant for farmers.”

Both sides recognize the advantages in working together, and look to cement a relationship that can go beyond dating.

“The farming community has met us more than halfway,” Baker said. “I think we’ve gotten over the past and we’re moving forward. We’re working for the future and trying to put the past behind us. We realize we have to earn the trust of agriculture, and we’re prepared for the long term investment. I believe it. I’m committed to it. We’re committed to it.”

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

20060324 “We Warned Them," Says PSC's Schisler

“We Warned Them," Says PSC's Schisler

Friday, March 24, 2006, WBAL Radio

The chairman of Maryland's Public Service Commission is dismissing claims by some lawmakers that they were blindsided by BGE's plans to raise rates precipitously when price caps come off in July.

WBAL News has obtained records that show numerous conferences and meetings between PSC agents and lawmakers over the course of several months last year.

At least 20 briefings or meetings are documented by the PSC.

According to chairman Kenneth Schisler met personally with Senator Thomas Middleton on October 19th.

Sen. Middleton is one of the supporters of a measure that would put the proposed merger between BGE's parent Constellation Energy and Florida Power and Light on hold in order to force a reduction in the proposed rate increases, said to average 72 percent or about $740 dollars more a year for BGE customers.

Schisler said he spent a great deal of time last summer trying to notify people of the pending increases.

House Speaker Michael Busch told WBAL News that some lawmakers might have been blindsided, but that Schisler never met privately with him since becoming chairman of the PSC.

Critics have charged the PSC with being too supportive of utilities and leaders from both parties in Annapolis have said the rate hikes are too high and must be lowered, or at lease deferred over more time, for customers.

####

Additionally, “The Sun Lies” wrote on June 29^th, 2006:

One of our readers sent us an email making a very good point. The author said that The Sun has found plenty of time to criticize the PSC, but not a single word of criticism towards a Senate deregulation committee that met only four times and did not produce any suggestions or reports. In their quest for journalistic glory, The Sun seems to have missed an entire chunk of the story that really details why this isn’t really about the PSC, but instead why this is about a partisan hatchet game by the Maryland General Assembly.

####

20060123 No proof seen Donner clan were cannibals

20060123 No proof seen Donner clan were cannibals

By Kevin Dayhoff Monday, January 23, 2006 11 PM

For the history buffs: (Hat Tip – Baltimore Sun, January 13, 2006) In a January 13, 2006 Los Angeles Times article by Eric Bailey: “No proof seen Donner clan were cannibals - Pioneers split into 2 camps; it appears only 1 group resorted to eating flesh.”

“SACRAMENTO -- Nudging the history books, archaeologists studying one of two campsites used by the ill-fated Donner Party during a snowbound Sierra winter 160 years ago announced Thursday that a study had unearthed no physical evidence of cannibalism.

The stranded emigrants settled into two camps during the harsh winter of 1846 and '47, and previous scientific studies confirmed cannibalism at the principal encampment, on the east shore of what is now Donner Lake.”

Hmmm, reminds me that in 1967, President Lyndon Johnson was quoted: "Do you know the difference between liberals and cannibals? Cannibals eat only their enemies."

That’s all for now folks. I need some ice cream and a nap.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

####

20060121 Ehrlich Submits Budget; MD Assembly Overrides Vetoes

Ehrlich Submits Budget; Senate Overrides Minimum Wage Veto; House Overrides Election Vetoes.

By Kevin Dayhoff Saturday, January 21, 2006 11 PM

Last Tuesday, January 17, 2006 was the day that Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich sent to the legislature his $30 billion state budget. More information is available at: Governor Ehrlich Submits $23.8 Billion Budget.

The Washington Post blog: Maryland Moment, had it’s own spin in, “Spending a Surplus.”

“With a news conference practically every day rolling out another spending initiative, there was little suspense when Gov. Bob Ehrlich delivered his $29 billion budget this morning.”

Gee, conveniently overlooked in the liberal commentary regarding the growth in spending in the Governor’s recently announced budget is that a majority of the spending growth is not discretionary.

The majority of spending growth is the result of mandated funding increases in education (Thornton), health care (Medicaid) and higher education (Cade and Sellinger formulas).

Each of these mandates were passed by the liberal legislature and governor PRIOR to the Ehrlich Administration. If the lawmakers have a problem with spending growth this year they should take a long, hard look in the mirror because they created it. They mandated the funding increases that are causing most of the growth.

In a January 17th, 2006 press release from the governor’s office: “Governor Ehrlich Introduces Fiscal Year 2007 Budget,” it was noted:

ANNAPOLIS – Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., today submitted a balanced, sustainable FY 2007 operating budget. For the fourth consecutive fiscal year, Governor Ehrlich balances the State budget without raising sales or income taxes, while making record investments in education and health care.

“Since taking office, we have turned $4 billion in inherited deficits into a $1.2 billion surplus through prudent fiscal management,” said Governor Ehrlich. “We have made government leaner and more responsive to the citizens of Maryland. This budget makes new investments in programs that make Maryland a cleaner, safer, and a more prosperous place to live while returning a portion of the surplus to the citizens of Maryland.”

Fiscal Responsibility: Governor Ehrlich saves for the future by allocating $644 million for the State’s “Rainy Day Fund” and establishing a $670 million reserve for Fiscal Year 2008 expenditures. The Governor proposes tax relief for military retirees, homeowners, caregivers, and small businesses, among others. The Governor also invests $100 million in future retiree health care. Maryland is one of only six states to retain its coveted “AAA” bond rating.

Education: To improve public schools, Governor Ehrlich proposes a record $462 million funding increase for K-12 education and $281 million for school construction, the largest allocation in 35 years. In addition to record investments in higher education, Governor Ehrlich proposes a $19.5 million (28 percent) increase in need-based college scholarships. Governor Ehrlich has doubled funding for need-based scholarships since taking office, helping more than 12,000 students go to college. Governor Ehrlich also launched a $1.5 billion capital campaign for the University System of Maryland.

Meeting Maryland’s Needs: The Governor proposes a $370 million increase in Medicaid and related programs to care for 770,000 vulnerable Marylanders and $43 million to fund wage increases for community health care workers. His budget also proposes full funding for Program Open Space to better preserve environmentally sensitive land. To attract and retain high-quality law enforcement officers, the Governor also proposes salary adjustments for police and correctional officers.

Fostering Economic Growth: The Governor proposes $20 million for stem cell research and $13.5 million for a new Center for Regenerative Research to attract world-class researchers. His budget also makes new investments in the biotechnology tax credit and nano-biotech to solidify Maryland’s reputation as a national leader in the technology economy. Governor Ehrlich also increases investments by $3 million (60 percent) for the Community Legacy Program to revitalize urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout Maryland. The budget also invests $10 million in state support for Maryland’s horse racing industry.

The Governor’s budget can be found online at: http://www.governor.maryland.gov.

An additional review of Governor Ehrlich’s budget reveals:

Environment:

Governor Ehrlich will fully-fund Program Open Space to preserve environmentally sensitive land. The Ehrlich Administration has preserved nearly 60,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land since 2003. The Governor also makes new investments in targeted watershed projects and to rebuild wastewater treatment plants.

Higher Education:

The Governor announced a $172 million funding increase for higher education and launched an unprecedented capital campaign for the 13-campus University System of Maryland. Governor Ehrlich has boosted higher education funding by $219 million since taking office, bringing it to its highest point in history.

K-12 Education:

Building on his unprecedented investments since 2003, Governor Ehrlich proposed a record $462 million funding increase for public schools. Since taking office, Governor Ehrlich has fully-funded public schools with a $1.4 billion increase. The Governor also increased school construction funds to $281 million, a 35-year high.

Disabilities Investments:

The Governor proposed nearly $90 million in funds to lower unemployment levels for individuals with disabilities and to support them in their communities. The Governor’s proposal fully implements a Medicaid Buy-In for workers with disabilities and enables more than 1,500 people to return to work without losing health coverage under Medicaid.

Sex Offender Initiative:

Governor Ehrlich will dramatically toughen Maryland’s sex offender laws by requiring lifetime imprisonment, lifetime supervision upon release for sexually violent predators and child sex offenders, toughens registration requirements, and closes a loophole that allows registered sex offenders to enter school grounds or childcare facilities.

Tax Relief:

Governor Ehrlich proposes tax relief for homeowners, military retirees, caregivers, small businesses and many more. Governor Ehrlich’s ability to turn $4 billion in projected deficits into a $1.2 billion surplus means taxpayers deserve tax relief.

Homeowners:

In addition to a 15 percent state property tax cut, Governor Ehrlich proposed overhauling the Homeowners Tax Credit Program to help 50,000 low and moderate income Marylanders. The Governor’s plan would save the average qualified homeowner $167 more on their property tax bill.

Science & Technology:

Governor Ehrlich will invest an unprecedented $13.5 million to build a new Center for Regenerative Research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and $20 million to fund stem cell research, solidifying Maryland’s reputation as a national leader in science and technology. The Governor also makes new investments in Johns Hopkins University, East Baltimore Biotech Park, University of Maryland, and the Teacher Education and Technology Center at Salisbury University.

State Employees:

For the third consecutive year, Governor Ehrlich gives state employees Cost of Living Increases and steps, and accelerates salary schedules for law enforcement and correctional officers.

****

News also traveled quickly last Tuesday: according to WBAL’s website: Ehrlich Submits Budget; Senate Overrides Minimum Wage Veto; House Overrides Election Vetoes. You may want to take a minute of your time to review the reporting of WBAL's Robert Lang and The Associated Press on the deliberations and votes taken in the legislature today.

Minimum wage. WBAL says:

“… today, Maryland became the 18th state to require a higher minimum wage than the federal baseline Tuesday when lawmakers voted to raise the wage a dollar, to $6.15.

The higher wage, which takes effect in 30 days, became law when the state Senate voted by the required three-fifths margin to override Gov. Robert Ehrlich's veto from last session. The House voted to override the veto last week.

As to the vote to override Governor Ehrlich’s vetoes of the two election bills. WBAL says:

“Lawmakers also overturned Ehrlich's vetoes on two election bills.

One would allow people to vote up to five days before an election -- including on a Saturday. The other would make it easier to cast provisional ballots for voters who show up at the wrong precincts. The House overrode those vetoes today, after the Senate overturned them last week.”

House Minority Leader Anthony O'Donnell (R): “… says the bills open the door to voter fraud since county election officials would not be ready to enforce the law.”

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060117 Sen. Kennedy Severs Ties to Harvard Club

20060117 Sen. Kennedy Severs Ties to Harvard Club

By Kevin Dayhoff Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11 PM

Sen. Kennedy Severs Ties to Harvard Club

(Hat Tip – Baltimore Sun, January 17, 2006)

First, on the national news front; today it was revealed by the Associated Press: Sen. Kennedy Severs Ties to Harvard Club. In a story By ANDREW MIGA, Associated Press Writer, January 17, 2006, 3:14 PM EST:

“WASHINGTON -- Sen. Edward Kennedy, who criticized Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's past membership in a controversial Princeton University alumni club, severed his ties Tuesday with a former Harvard college social club that bans women members.”

I guess I don’t feel an overwhelming urge to hurtle myself off a bridge in commentary on this turn of events. Instead take a look for yourself: Kennedy Wants Executive Session To Subpoena Alito Records (AUDIO); Political Teen; Cat fight in the big house...; or - Full transcript here. CT at Severe Writer’s Block has this cogent comment:

“Remember The Boy Who Cried Wolf? Someone needs to remind the Democrats the moral of that story. Making every SCOTUS nominee look like an extremist is not going to help them in the long run.” 1/11/2006 07:35:00 PM

“Michelle Malkin also has video.”

You can draw your own conclusions about Captain Oldsmobile.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060117 J Fund WSJ columnist visits MD Gen'l Assembly

20060117 John Fund WSJ columnist visits MD General Assembly

By Kevin Dayhoff Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11 PM

John Fund On the Trail

Word in the hallways of the Maryland Statehouse today was that John Fund, noted Wall Street Journal – OpinionJournal columnist, John Fund attended a session of the Maryland General Assembly (MGA) today. Mr. Fund writes a column called “John Fund On the Trail.”

No definitive word as to why Mr. Fund was in town. It is reported that he listened in on the debate as to whether or not to override House Bill 391 – minimum wage.

My guess is that Mr. Fund may have been more interested in House Bill 622 - absentee voting on demand…

For a number of years, Mr. Fund has lectured on issues of “voter fraud.”

In his bio published for a lecture on “Elections 2000 and Voter Fraud,” at the Ashbrook Center for Public affairs at Ashland University on Thursday, October 19, 2000, it reports that:

“John Fund is a member of the Editorial Board of The Wall Street Journal, where he previously served as deputy features editor. He is also an on-line columnist for MSNBC’s Internet news service and a regular on-air contributor to the Fox News Channel and CNBC.

His work has appeared in such magazines as Esquire, Reader’s Digest, Reason, New Republic, and National Review. He has written extensively on Congressional reform, Constitutional issues and the influence of money in politics.”

Around September 2004, Mr. Fund released a book on “America’s election problems.” This according to a September 13, 2004 book review that appeared in National Review, “Democracy Imperiled – America’s Election Problems.”

The book is titled: Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy, from Encounter Books.

Democracy Imperiled is a lengthy read – 3,046 words, but fascinating and troubling…

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060116 Photo Faux Pas at the New York Times

20060116 Photo Faux Pas at the New York Times

By Kevin Dayhoff January 16, 2006 11PM

It would seem that the New York Times has goofed on a picture it ran on the January 16, 2005 front page of its website. You can see the picture here. Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin · January 16, 2006 10:13 AM What's wrong with this picture?

Ms. Malkin elaborates: “The only thing that would have made this staged news better: A canoe.”

Please check out her reference to: “A canoe.” It is more fun than you can stand.

Meanwhile, back to the New York Times photo in question…

Thomas Lifson, the editor and publisher of the American Thinker, has much to say… Photo fakery at the New York Times (Hat tip: Lucianne )

“Is a fake staged photo fit to print? What if it staged in a way that makes the US forces fighting the War on Terror look cruel and ineffective? The evidence argues that yes, it can run, and in a prominent position - at least in the case of the New York Times website.

It appears that the Times, once-upon-a-time regarded as the last word in reliability when it comes to checking before publishing (which makes them so much better than blogs, of course), has run a fake photo on the home page of its website. The photo has since been removed from the home page, but still can be seen here.

The picture shows a sad little boy, with a turbaned man next to him, a little bit further from the camera, amid the ruins of a house. Other men and boys peer in from the background….”

Remember, we not responsible for the content of any website linked in this blogspot. You can talk with them about it. Right now, I’m going to have a big bowl of ice cream and take a nap.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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