This week in The Tentacle http://www.thetentacle.com/
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Mom, Apple Pie and BaseballOne of the sure signs that winter’s icy-cold grip will soon give way to warmer temperatures and spring flowers is the opening of Baltimore Orioles’ spring training.
Bargaining for The Collective Interest
Governors across America are faced with the worst possible scenario. Can they save their governments from certain fiscal ruin by obtaining concessions from government employee unions to offset personnel costs?
The Name Dzulkifli
Kuching, Malaysian Borneo – When my son was born, we elected to choose a name reflecting his mixed heritage. By tradition, if the child was a girl, my wife would name him; and if a boy, I had the honors.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Frederick RepublicansAfter November voting swept him into Winchester Hall, Board of County Commissioners’ President Blaine Young announced he would not seek re-election. Injured hearts – and purses – seem to ensure that he will sit home four years from now.
Getting What You Voted For
So, many remarkable occurrences are taking place throughout the nation, state, and locally. While our 24/7 news would have us believe many of these events are happening with a rapidity never seen before – in truth, our federal legislators are but “sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
The Case of the Unfinished Wall
It all started about 14 years ago when Capt. Edward “Massie” Simpkins began the process of removing “peeling paint” from the west elevation of his residence located at 134 W. 3rd Street in downtown Frederick.
Monday, February 21, 2011
The Keys to The StadiumMotherhood, baseball, and apple pie. These three things nurture us, sustain us and entertain us. It seems our entire national ethos revolves around these things. How, then, accepting the role each plays in defining our character, could any of these become the basis for a local political controversy?
Madison, Egypt
Egyptians everywhere were rejoicing in sympathy with America as they watched coverage of the “freedom riots” of Madison, Wisconsin, broadcast byal Jazeera with permission of CNN.
Man versus Machine
One of the highlights last week for me was sitting in at the Fredericktowne Rotary dinner with my fellow Rotarians. At our table, the discussion centered around “Jeopardy!” and the battle of wits between the human players and a computer.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Revenge Bruce Ivins!Employing the FBI’s $800,000 grant, the Academy of Science’s National Research Council investigated the anthrax case that resulted in the suicide of Bruce Ivins.
In Contempt of America
The Obama Administration has a terrible habit of interpreting the Constitution as it sees fit. It has acted as anything but a co-equal branch of government.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Caught in The ActWhat’s worse? Being caught with your pants down, or letting them down in the first place? This is the situation in which the United States finds itself as the drama of the Egyptian revolution unfolds.
Really! It’s Still Washington’s Birthday
Why is Presidents’ Day weekend the best time to buy a mattress? Back in the day, when we were kids February was one of the best months. The shortest winter month was always good for a snow day or two, plus we got two days off (unless on a weekend) to celebrate birthdays for Presidents Washington and Lincoln.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
In The Line of Fire…Less than a month after it was reported on TheTentacle.com that deaths of on-duty law enforcement officers in 2010 spiked, comes the news that 11 police officers were killed in the line of duty in January.
Reacting from Afar
Kuching, Malaysian Borneo – I read with great concern the statements by Frederick County Commissioners Kirby Delauter and C. Paul Smith about their views on the role of mothers in society. They seem to feel that by cutting Head Start funds, mothers will be forced to stay home with their children and society will be better.
Learning to Apologize
Having the right of way doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply the brakes to avoid a collision. Such is the case of this writer’s commentaries here atwww.thetentacle.com regarding Fort Detrick’s Area B groundwater remediation controversy. Editorial license requires caution in discussing personalities, hence the need for brakes and arresting gear.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Egyptian EnnuiIn recent days, endless chatter and opinions about Egypt’s future induced in me a condition known as ennui, defined in Merriam Webster: “feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction.”
Surviving Your Children’s Education
Now is a good time to give our local community colleges another look. No longer are they the equivalent of “13th grade,” or the sole life raft of marginal students.
A Failure to Inform
The time has come for our local newspapers to evaluate and re-evaluate their role in our community. Recent current events – and the embarrassingly lack of adequate reporting by our newspapers – raise serious doubts about their usefulness and effectiveness in our community.
Monday, February 14, 2011
When $74 Billion Just Isn’t EnoughLast week, Rep. Harold Rogers (R., KY), the chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, announced the Republican spending cuts to President Barack Obama’s 2011 budget. The sweeping GOP spending cuts lop off over $74 billion of programmed spending by the Obama Administration, and gut hundreds of programs popular with Democrats, inner city voters, and liberal special interests.
Multiple Hijackings
When I was growing up in Rockville in the 60’s, a hijacking was what happened to unfortunate commercial airliners, bound for Miami but violently diverted to the Communist Cuba of Fidel Castro.
Super Bowl, Charter Board and Builders
Well, it was another interesting week in Frederick County. The week began with Super Bowl festivities. Many here gathered around their bowls of chips and HDTVs, all wanting to see what would happen this year – with the commercials.
This week in The Tentacle http://www.thetentacle.com/
*****
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