(c) Kevin Dayhoff
June 14th, 2006
Harry's Main Street restaurant
65 West Main Street
Westminster, MD 21157
410-848-7080
Closed on Sunday
http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/search/label/Restaurants%20Harry%27s%20Main%20Street
Kevin Dayhoff - Soundtrack Division of Old Silent Movies - www.kevindayhoff.net - Runner, writer, artist, fire and police chaplain. The mindless ramblings of a runner, journalist, and artist: National and International politics. For community see www.kevindayhoff.org. For art, writing and travel see www.kevindayhoff.com
CBS to Drop Ex-Anchor From '60 Minutes'
By Howard KurtzWashington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 15, 2006; Page C01
NEW YORK -- CBS executives have decided there is no future role at the network for Dan Rather, making it certain that the man who sat in the anchor chair for 24 years will depart by this fall.
Lights Out In Maryland
I share with you, dear reader, a perspective (that I happen to share) from the Wall Street Journal.
Lights Out in MarylandApril 15, 2006; Page A6
No homeowner would be overjoyed to hear that his electric bill is going up by 72% on July 1. In an election year, that just might make him mad enough to blame the politicians seeking his vote.
So it goes in Baltimore and surrounding areas in central Maryland, where 1.2 million homeowners were informed recently that they would have to shell out an average of $743 more a year for electricity, and where the Governor and every member of the state legislature are up for re-election in November.
But if lawmakers are worried, they have only themselves to blame. In 1999 the assembly imposed price controls as part of legislation deregulating the state's electrical power industry. Hoping to avoid taking political responsibility for that decision, the legislators froze residential rates at 1993 levels minus 6.5%. Seven years later that political bill is now coming due.
The legislature's ire has focused on Constellation Energy Group, parent of Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., the state's largest electric utility. In an effort to blackmail the utility into agreeing to below-market rates, it tried to block a planned merger between Constellation and Florida Power & Light that has nothing to do with the rate increase. Not only was this probably unconstitutional — the U.S. Constitution protects interstate commerce — it was arguably illegal under state law. The assembly wanted to bypass the Public Service Commission, the regulatory body created nearly a century ago with the specific aim of insulating public utilities from politics. The commission is currently evaluating the proposed merger.
But the politicking didn't stop there. Legislation passed both houses requiring the merger to be studied by Attorney General Joseph Curran Jr. Mr. Curran happens to be the father-in-law of Martin O'Malley, the Democratic Mayor of Baltimore running for governor against Republican incumbent Robert Ehrlich. The legislation called for Mr. Curran's office to report back in January — a convenient two months after the election.
The effort fell apart last week when the Governor vetoed the legislation as well as a second bill stripping him of the power to appoint members to the Public Service Commission. The Governor then worked out a deal with the House to reintroduce price caps (with moderate increases) until 2009. But the Senate wouldn't go along so neither the compromise bill nor an override of the vetoes passed before the legislative session expired on Monday. Governor Ehrlich is now trying to work out a deal for lower rates with Constellation, while also considering calling the legislature back to Annapolis. But why bother? The longer the legislature stays out of session the safer everyone is.
Constellation is the only Fortune 500 company headquartered in Baltimore. It employs hundreds of people at an energy trading floor downtown — jobs that could easily be moved to a friendlier state. After this experience, it's not hard to understand why Constellation might want to do just that.
This episode is just one more example of how Maryland is developing a reputation for being a bad place to do business. Within the past year, the legislature has increased the minimum wage and foisted a new health-care tax onto Wal-Mart. During his four years in office, Governor Ehrlich has had to beat back $7.5 billion in tax hikes in a state with a budget of about $29 billion. The message being sent to job creators is clear: Lights out.
April 18th, 2006
In Humiliating Microsoft, Apple's Simply CharmingRead the rest here. The article has available the ad, if you have not seen it.New Ads Skewer Windows' Various Shortcomings
By Bob Garfield
Published: May 14, 2006
Apple is one weird company. It makes great products and bizarre decisions. But above all, in all its stubborn Jobsian iconoclasm, Apple is consistent. You know what it means, what it stands for and what it will always stand for.
Namely: Microsoft sucks.
Surprise for Reporters: Bush to BaghdadRead the rest here.
By By E&P Staff
Published: June 13, 2006 10:00 AM ET
NEW YORK President George W. Bush, seeking to bolster support for Iraq's new government and the U.S. war effort at home, made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday to meet Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Surprise for Reporters: Bush to BaghdadRead the rest here.
By By E&P Staff
Published: June 13, 2006 10:00 AM ET
NEW YORK President George W. Bush, seeking to bolster support for Iraq's new government and the U.S. war effort at home, made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday to meet Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Corrections and clarifications
Monday June 12, 2006
The Guardian
In an article Is it OK ... to drink cow's milk? (Ethical living, page 26, G2, June 6), two mistakes were introduced in the editing. Comments which were made by by an unnamed former dairy worker, whose mother runs an animal sanctuary, were mistakenly attributed to Gordon Tweddle for which we apologise. We also caused the writer to say that cows are responsible for "19% of global warming". In fact cows are responsible for 20% of methane gas, and methane gas accounts for 19% of global warming.
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In Humiliating Microsoft, Apple's Simply CharmingRead the rest here. The article has available the ad, if you have not seen it.New Ads Skewer Windows' Various Shortcomings
By Bob Garfield
Published: May 14, 2006
Apple is one weird company. It makes great products and bizarre decisions. But above all, in all its stubborn Jobsian iconoclasm, Apple is consistent. You know what it means, what it stands for and what it will always stand for.
Namely: Microsoft sucks.
HOUSE ECONOMIC MATTERS | SENATE FINANCE |
---|
10:00 A.M. Joint Hearing Room
Legislative Services Building
Annapolis, MD
Subject: - Electric Restructuring Legislation
- Joint with the Senate Finance Committee
NOTE: Members of the Senate Special Commission on Electric
Utility Deregulation Implementation are invited to attend.
10:00 A.M. Joint Hearing Room
Legislative Services Building
Annapolis, MD
Subject: - Electric Restructuring Legislation
- Joint with the House Economic Matters Committee
NOTE: Members of the Senate Special Commission on Electric
Utility Deregulation Implementation are invited to attend.
Graduation Party
I have written it before and I will write it again that we are very fortunate to have many fantastic young adults making their way up the leadership ranks these days.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
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Video: The airstrike remix
posted at 1:44 pm on June 8, 2006 by Allahpundit
Dedicated to all the brothers and sisters at Yearly Kos, who I know would enjoy this little bit of triumphalism as much as I do.
Read the rest here.This week, on spacious lawns surrounding a turreted, gargoyle-encrusted mansion north of London, thousands of hedge fund managers and the bankers and lawyers who love them gathered for their own alternative festival, called Hedgestock.HERTFORDSHIRE, England, June 8 — Jerry Garcia must be spinning in his grave.
20060609 KDDC Women’s Club Basket Bingo fundraiser
The Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department social hall was the place to be this Friday evening as about 200 basket bingo-ers were out in full force.
They all came out to support the Westminster Women’s Club’s fundraising event to purchase defibrillators for the
Caroline, Grammy and I attended. I enjoyed chowing down on the food provided by the Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.
Hat’s off to the Westminster Women’s Club and everyone who worked hard to make this event a success.
If you would like to make a donation to help the Carroll County Agriculture Center purchase defibrillators, please make a check out to: Westminster Woman's Club,
Kevin Dayhoff writes from
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
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June 08, 2006
The Wisdom of Solomon?
"Faced with the inability of two bickering attorneys to resolve even the most innocuous scheduling questions without his intervention, a Florida federal judge yesterday ordered the two to meet on the steps of the federal courthouse and resolve their latest quarrel by playing 'one game of 'rock, paper, scissors,'" Fortune reports. Underneath Their Robes (via Wonkette)"is nothing short of awesome."
Posted by Daniel Freedman at June 8, 2006 10:18 AM
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA ORLANDO DIVISION
AVISTA MANAGEMENT, INC., d/b/a Avista Plex, Inc.,
Plaintiff,
-vs-
WAUSAU UNDERWRITERS INSURANCE COMPANY,
Defendant.
______________________________________
ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff's Motion to designate location of a Rule 30(b)(6) deposition (Doc. 105). Upon consideration of the Motion – the latest in a series of Gordian knots that the parties have been unable to untangle without enlisting the assistance of the federal courts – it is
ORDERED that said Motion is DENIED. Instead, the Court will fashion a new form of alternative dispute resolution, to wit: at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, June 30, 2006, counsel shall convene at a neutral site agreeable to both parties. If counsel cannot agree on a neutral site, they shall meet on the front steps of the Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse, 801 North Florida Ave., Tampa, Florida 33602. Each lawyer shall be entitled to be accompanied by one paralegal who shall act as an attendant and witness. At that time and location, counsel shall engage in one (1) game of "rock, paper, scissors." The winner of this engagement shall be entitled to select the location for the 30(b)(6) deposition to be held somewhere in Hillsborough County during the period July 11-12, 2006. If either party disputes the outcome of this engagement, an appeal may be filed and a hearing will be held at 8:30 A.M. on Friday, July 7, 2006 before the undersigned in Courtroom 3, George C. Young United States Courthouse and Federal Building, 80 North Hughey Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801.
DONE and ORDERED in Chambers, Orlando, Florida on June 6, 2006.
Copies furnished to: Counsel of Record
Unrepresented Party
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Program Coordinator: Karen Scott: trp4h@adelphia.net or Peggie Roland: peggier@att.net.
Oh - the top collage came off the 4-H TRP web-site. I wish it were mine, however, I'll bet Karen and Harold Scott did it... or maybe Peggie Roland?
Kevin Dayhoff - kdayhoff@carr.org
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Jun 8, 3:48 AM EDTRead the rest of the AP story here.Iraqi PM: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi killed
By PATRICK QUINN
The Associated Press is reporting that terrorist, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has been killed.
Associated Press WriterBAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida-linked militant who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, has been killed in a U.S. air raid north of Baghdad, Iraq's prime minister said Thursday.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Zarqawi was killed Wednesday evening along with seven aides.
Read more here.Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (October 20, 1966 – June 7, 2006) was a Salafi muslim militant, a guerrilla leader, and the self-proclaimed leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. One or more individuals identifying themselves as Zarqawi took responsibility, on several audiotapes, for numerous acts of violence in Iraq, including the killing of civilians and the taking of hostages. He was also allegedly responsible for many other acts of violence, including the beheading of hostages in Iraq.
As an Islamist militant, Zarqawi opposed the presence of U.S., Israeli and Western military forces in the Islamic world. In September 2005, he reportedly declared "all-out war" on Shia Muslims in Iraq [1], and is believed responsible for dispatching numerous Al-Qaeda suicide bombers throughout Iraq, and especially to areas with large concentrations of Shia civilians.
Zarqawi, believed to be a long time ally of Osama bin Laden, was a high-ranking member of bin Laden's Al Qaeda network, and since October 2004 had referred to his own organization Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, or Monotheism and Holy War Group, an insurgent network operating in Iraq, as "Al-Qaida in Iraq". On October 21, 2004, Zarqawi officially announced his allegiance to Al Qaida; on December 27, 2004, Al Jazeera broadcast an audiotape of bin Laden calling Zarqawi "the prince of al Qaeda in Iraq" and asked "all our organization brethren to listen to him and obey him in his good deeds." [2]
Zarqawi was the most wanted man in Jordan and Iraq, [3] having participated in or masterminded a number of violent actions against United States and Iraqi targets. The U.S. government offered a USD$25 million reward for information leading to his capture, the same amount offered for the capture of bin Laden before March 2004. On 15 October 2004, the U.S. State Department added Zarqawi and the Jama'at al-Tawhid wal Jihad group to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations and ordered a freeze on any assets that the group might have in the United States. On February 24, 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice's FBI also added al-Zarqawi to the Seeking Information – War on Terrorism list, the first time that he had ever been added to any of the FBI's three major "wanted" lists. [4]
One alias, Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh, is believed to be his real name. The surname Zarqawi literally translates as "man from Zarqa". Zarqawi is a native of the Jordanian town of Zarqa, located 30 minutes northeast of the capital Amman.
Scott Ott often writes satire that gets mistaken for real news because he skirts incredibly close to the truth, while pushing just enough over the top to make a point.I found the following offering to be a particularly good example. (Hat tip to Betsy Newmark who described the piece as "satire so accurate it hurts.")
(2006-06-03) -- The American Society of Professional
Journalists today said it would offer major news organizations like CNN and the
New York Times a "core values" training course in the wake of an incident in
Haditha, Iraq.
The journalist training comes as the Pentagon offers its
own brand of values reinforcement for U.S. troops.
"We're just going to cover the basics," said an unnamed
trainer, "We'll reinforce the bedrock values that 99.9 percent of journalists
already live by, but may not always remember under the stress, fear and
isolation of war."
The following is a partial list of topics from the "core
wartime values" course for journalists:
-Hold the presses! Innocent until accused.-How to use the word "alleged" and still get your point across.-Finding a quotable Congressman to say what you mean.-Top-notch news analysis in a word: Vietnam.
By: Lorie
Byrd
But Rep. Jack Murtha, D-PA, supports the troops…
Temper Fi, posted 5/30/2006 8:58:45 PM by Bryan
Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin: "Incident at Haditha, Pt II." May 30th, 2006.
and Hats off to Sanctuary for an excellent Photoshop that tells a story better than a page full of words.
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5p: | 6p: | 7p: | 8p: | 9p: | 10p: | 11p: | |
FNC | Gibson: | Hume: | Shep: | O'Reilly: | H&C: | Greta: | O'Reilly: |
152 | 246 | 252 | 460 | 328 | 293 | 311 | |
CNN | Blitzer: | Dobbs: | Blitzer: | Zahn: | King: | Cooper: | Cooper: |
164 | 336 | 246 | 176 | 247 | 223 | 199 | |
MSNBC | Hardball: | Abrams: | Hardball: | Countdown: | Scarborough: | Cosby: | Situation: |
103 | 69 | 128 | 186 | 136 | 117 | 82 | |
HLN | HLN: | Prime: | Beck: | Grace: | Beck: | Grace: | Showbiz: |
70 | 50 | 77 | 139 | 91 | 84 | 70 | |
CNBC | Kudlow: | Cramer: | Money: | Deal: | Cramer: | Deutsch: | Deal: |
| 143 | 77 | 258 | 86 | 51 | 242 |
5p: | 6p: | 7p: | 8p: | 9p: | 10p: | 11p: | |
FNC | Gibson: | Hume: | Shep: | O'Reilly: | H&C: | Greta: | O'Reilly: |
856 | 1,126 | 1,054 | 2,149 | 1,414 | 1,217 | 919 | |
CNN | Blitzer: | Dobbs: | Blitzer: | Zahn: | King: | Cooper: | Cooper: |
524 | 921 | 605 | 560 | 1,302 | 739 | 412 | |
MSNBC | Hardball: | Abrams: | Hardball: | Countdown: | Scarborough: | Cosby: | Situation: |
209 | 184 | 320 | 416 | 360 | 266 | 234 | |
HLN | HLN: | Prime: | Beck: | Grace: | Beck: | Grace: | Showbiz: |
150 | 86 | 116 | 426 | 140 | 157 | 143 |