(We'll get to that in a second...) First, the local newspaper's "Sources Say" has brought CP some publicity, though not too positive I might add. And of course, it once again refuses to name "Capital Punishment" , but if the local newspaper is afraid of CP, we understand. After all, the paper just reported that mayoral appointee/consultant and F.O.E. Don Lamb Minor is resigning from the city's election board. All the paper could say is "Local bloggers said the city Ethics Commission opened an investigation into whether the mayor violated city purchasing rules when she hired Lamb-Minor's firm and other outside consultants without seeking competing bids from other firms or individuals." (I don't believe anyone said there was an ethics investigation except the paper) What they really meant was. "We're too lazy or disinterested to write about such matters even though we have a well paid staff so we'll just let those unpaid local guys do the tough reporting...and not give them the credit". Well, CP and Muckraker will take any thanks we can get, thank you very much.
Now we turn to Friday's "Sources Say" column which begins with, "Perhaps local political commentator and blogger Paul Foer should wear a sign alerting passers-by of his possibly toxic chemical imbalance."...and gets worse. Read it for yourself at Who is Nuts? and then come back here for comment.
First of all, what the heck do they mean by saying that I "regularly draw the ire of city officials with long-winded tirades against perceived injustices and waste within city government." Perceived injustice and waste? Heck, as we just showed above, CP uncovers real injustices and wastes that the local paper keeps missing. They completely missed the real story about the nut trees--and I do have one in my yard by the way. I was making a jab against our tree-hugging and tree-planting mayor--who had left the room by the way (also missed by Sources...)-- to tell the true story of a mayor in Milford, CT who cut down nut trees at the request of a woman who was worried that the nuts would fall in her yard and endanger her allergic grandchildren. ( See here: Milford, CT Nut Trees)
I held up the source, a book called "Life Without Lawyers" to make the point that when local governments or any governments get too involved in the minutiae of regulation through undue fear of risk or lawsuit, we all suffer collectively and lose freedom. Therefore, the "nut tree" story was apropos to the misguided Bisphenyl issue. Yet "Sources Say" missed that story but instead focused on the inane, offensive comment of FOE Beth Garraway, who was the focus of a story here Annapolis Capital Punishment: CP Will Not Scarraway Because of ... when she libelously accused me of threatening city council-- at the same meeting!
Who is nuts? Is it the citizen who questions whether our own city council should get involved in over-regulating businesses about their perceived concerns about a possibly dangerous though widely-used chemical? Can Ellen seriously expect her personal fiefdom of DNEP to go head to head against the FDA, CDC, EPA, NIH or CPSC? Who is nuts--a citizen reminding our council not to overstep its bounds or a friend and donor to the mayor who serves as the mayor's choice to chair a committee which says we should raise the mayor's salary this year from $70,000 to $120,000 while downtown is boarded up, the Market House is empty, Citicorp has become a penny stock, and the world's economy is crumbling? You decide if our city council that collectively knows nothing about pharmacology or bio-chemistry can determine the dangers of Bisphenyl, which as I pointed out, is commonly used to coat teeth to prevent cavities in dentist's offices in this city (none of them seemed to know that). Do our alderman, who individually have sat on council for less time than the average dentist goes to school, know more about Bisphenyl than do they?
Who is nuts? Is it Paul Foer or FOE Beth Garraway and the sponsors of that silly bill?
I will not be intimidated by the mayor, or by any Friend of Ellen, including local political operative, big-time donor, fund raiser and blowhard, Dr. Julia Elizabeth Garraway! Your game is up. Yours and the mayor's game. Nuts to you.
I AM PAUL FOER AND I APPROVED THIS MESSAGE.
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Saturday, March 7, 2009
Who is "Nuts"--Paul Foer or FOE Beth Garraway?
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7:56 AM
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Friday, March 6, 2009
Governor O'Malley To Support CP
Yes. It's true. I read it in a news article and I quote:
"Gov. Martin O'Malley, who had lobbied hard for a full repeal, has indicated that he will propose new regulations to allow capital punishment to resume in the state."
He was talking about this blog-right? I was getting worried there for a minute....whew!
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Thursday, March 5, 2009
I'm Off To See The Wizard.....
...at Annapolis High School. The school's Panther Productions is proud to present this year's spring musical, "The Wizard of Oz". This show will feature students from Annapolis High and from Rolling Knolls Elementary (Somebody has to play the Munchkins I suppose). Friday and Saturday shows start at 7 p.m. Sunday's show starts at 2 p.m. March 6-8 and March 13-15. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Children under 3 are free. School or church groups over 20 get a discounted price of only $5 per ticket.
I can tell you from having gone to three or four Panther Productions, that I fully expect this one to be equally outstanding! The price is a bargain too....even for way, way, way off Broadway....but not Riva Road.
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
ESCAPE: Opening March 6 At The American Contemporary Gallery
I think that would be great on a mural at Church Circle....or would that be State Circle?
Here is how gallery owner John Bodkin describes his current show:
It is about the art of escaping from reality, fantasy, taxes, or maybe just yourself. We see the art that takes us to a place that offers what we need or gives us what is missing. This show takes us to the path that is rarely followed and offers nothing from the proverbial middle of the road. Come and enjoy the work of six nationally recognized artists in a very special show that offers so much to so many.
For information Escape to this web-site.
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Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Pianists Hod O'Brien and Luke Russell Play to Benefit St. Johns/GeorgianExchange Program
"Georgia On My Mind" is a jazz benefit concert featuring world-renowned pianist Hod O'Brien (www.hodobrien.com) and local pianist Luke Russell. The concert will be held on March 28th, 2009 at 7pm in FSK Auditorium at St. John’s College.
Tickets are $25 at the door and $20 pre-sale, and are available at www.jazzforgeorgia.com.
The benefits of the concert go to OLEG (Organization for Liberal Education in Georgia) Inc. St. John’s College students founded OLEG to promote lasting change in the nation of Georgia through traditional liberal arts education. After decades of oppression and conflict, OLEG wants to offer education as a solution to the region’s struggles.
In OLEG's up-coming 2009 summer program, American students and professors will help develop the curriculum at a fledgling liberal arts college in Tbilisi, which is basing itself on the St. John’s College Program. OLEG is the organization that makes this relationship possible.
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11:49 AM
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Muckraker Says School System May Award Bid For Computer System to Higher Bidder
Officials say $80,000 difference is worth it; school board must OK the deal. See Highest Bidder? at our partner blog, Aundel Muckraker.
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8:00 AM
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The Duden Report and More Weird, Weikel Wackiness
"Make it a New Year's Resolution to read the Duden Commission Report. In 1996, long before Ellen Moyer was Mayor, Dick Israel decided to run for Alderman or Ross Arnett moved to Eastport, Democrat Mayor Al Hopkins and his Council asked lawyer (now Judge) Dick Duden to form a Commission to study the issues related to local governance -- including hiring a City Manager. "
So says Chuck Weikel, a Democratic activist and FOE who has been opposed (as are most FOE's) to creating a city manager form of government, recently posted this on his "Democrats for Chuck" web-site. He adds:
"The Capital, local bloggers and some elected officials don't want you to see or know their conclusions. But the report, titled "Report of the Annapolis Governmental Structure and Charter Revision Commission," dated September 9, 1996, has been posted on the City of Annapolis website. Read it by clicking here. Its conclusions will surprise you. Know your facts. Save our 1708 City Charter."
What most upsets me is that Chuck did not mention me by name when he referred to "local bloggers." Yet again, this member of the Democratic Central Committee calls for civil discourse and Democratic unity while attacking two Democratic elected officials (he mentions three, but never attacks Ellen O.) What makes Chuck think anyone is suppressing this? Are we also suppressing Hammurabi's Code, the Talmud, Bhagavad Gita and the Magna Carta because we don't publish them? They're just not that relevant here, but if he insists.....I could link to the Tibetan Book of the Dead next week....
Long before he started making noise in Annapolis (not counting his Academy days), The Duden Report made a number of recommendations, but its relevance today is relative but the report also said the issue should be revisited--which is what we are doing. Ellen O. posts this report on the city web-site, and if you think the Duden Report is so great, why does he not come to city council and testify as such?
Just to disprove his point, this "local blogger" will link again to The Duden Report in case you missed the link above: duden-commission-1996
Rather than excerpt portions, just read the report for yourself. Draw your own conclusions and don't believe anyone who tells you this report is being suppressed. The report recommended removing term limitations for the mayor and discussed making our elections nonpartisan. What say ye to that, Ellen and Chuck, ye highly partisan Democrats? What has Ellen or Chuck done to advance all the other recommendations in the report that have not been adopted? I don't know, but they repeatedly use this same report to bolster their fight against the one change in it we really need--it's just not the change they want.
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7:32 AM
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Monday, March 2, 2009
Taylor's In It Now
So far he just has a web page with a photo on it, but former Alderman Wayne Taylor tells CP he is running for mayor as a Democrat and will make his formal entry on March 3. He was a Democrat as alderman, then supported another Republican candidate for alderman in his former ward and went to work in a Republican administration. At his single-page website, Wayne is seen looking very visionary as he peers stoically and thoughtfully into our collective future. In the background, an American flag waves atop a huge cross. Who is taking his pictures--Mike Huckabee???
So, let's see...that makes McFall, Cordle, Renaut and Shropshire as formally announced. Taylor and Cohen about to announce. Fox, Flyntz and Pierre have web-sites saying they are running and I think there is a fellow named Pantelides as well. Gee. I guess if only we raise the mayor's salary, we'll get some serious and qualified candidates.
Taylor will be our featured guest at Sip N' Blog on March 19.
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Sunday, March 1, 2009
Waldman on Commuting From Annapolis To DC
We are pleased to present our guest columnist Andrew Waldman who provides his reflections on Annapolis with an emphasis on transportation, quality of life and related issues:
I’d like to take some time to reflect on what seems to be a very important part of my life as a new Annapolitan--commuting.
When I started thinking about commuting from Annapolis to downtown D.C. months ago I was convinced that I’d want to drive. Driving gave me the advantage of showing up and leaving whenever I wanted. This seemed to me like the freedom I’d always had living in Ohio, a place where it takes only 20 minutes to drive 20 miles.
My commute to my new job was supposed to be just 25 miles from door-to-door according to Google Maps. That translates to 38-41 minutes of driving. I figured that I could bet on about 45 minutes per day in D.C. traffic.
My bet was not far off – I typically made it to work in 45-50 minutes and back home in just a little more time. But what I didn’t bet on was all the other junk that comes with driving.
I won’t delve into the monetary costs of driving –gas prices or car registration fees, for example – because we all experience much of the same when it comes to that. I may do that in a later columns, but what I found remarkable about my commute was that I was arriving to work tired and leaving exhausted. My hands were sweaty from clenching my steering wheel when I ended my drives. I felt like less of a human every day.
Irritability, anger and impatience are three traits you develop by driving in the D.C. Metro area. These were things I rarely experienced while driving in rural Ohio, where the roads are wide and you share them with Amish buggies. But once I did the drive to D.C. a few times, I decided I’d better think about new ways to get to work.
One alternative was moving inside the WMATA (Metro) radius. Costs, however, were too high. Another was to venture onto a bus run by Dillon’s Bus under contract from MTA, which my girlfriend’s mother alerted me to just after I moved here. I initially shrugged that idea off, believing my ability to get to work faster was more important.
But that all changed on an October morning when my car was in the shop. I had no choice but to catch the Dillon’s 950 from the Naval Academy stadium. I paid my $4.25 and got to reading a book while some other driver toiled over the terrible traffic.
I had to do this for a few days, and when I finally returned to my auto commute, I dreaded it even more. Not only was I stressed from the traffic, but I had tasted the stress-free fruit borne from the non-driving-to-work commuter tree.
Then my luck improved even more. My employer offered me a subsidy to help pay for transit. Of course I took it. Now, I save lots of money on gas (not driving 300 miles a week has that effect on the wallet) and I get to enjoy reading, listening to music, or work--or even write columns for Annapolis Capital Punishment.
I admit that there are a few things I wish were done differently on the MTA buses. I wish they accepted the SmarTrip card system used by WMATA, instead of cash, and I wish more of them made the local stops (there’s also a tendency for drivers to show up at local stops late in the morning. I haven’t figured this out yet), but so far, I’ve got no serious complaints. The stress-free life I lead on my one-and-a-half hours on a bus each day far outweigh the costs of driving on the roads.Please send comments, subscribe, share with your friends, and support our sponsors. Join us at Ahh Coffee! in Eastport almost every Thursday from 8-9 am.
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8:12 AM
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When Is The Future??? Will The Sun Rise Tomorrow? Not in Baltimore.
If reading an article in today's newspaper is in your future, read today's Sun which has what must be one of the weirdest articles I have ever read on any topic. It is about a survey of attitudes about our future and includes memorable quotes such as:
"People are worried."
Yeah. Well, most folks are. It gets worse.
"I think the future is often a function of what people anticipate and expect."
Uh, yeah, more often than not...I think. After all, it ain't here yet, and when it gets here, well, it will be the present. Funny-eh? Nostalgia ain't what it used to be either. And no matter how you look at it, the present is always with us. I see your future reading:
The Sun Will Not Rise Tomorrow.
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7:17 AM
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Speaking of The Future...
Today's local newspaper asks this question in a banner headline today:
"Will the Market House fiasco taint Mayor Moyer's legacy?"
Will it? Will it? That's like asking if Watergate tainted Nixon or Iraq and soaring deficits tainted Bush?
Oh well. The article by Ryan Justin Fox will no doubt elicit strong criticism from every quarter, but I think it appears to be fair. Remember that the editors write the headlines. What strikes me, yet again, is how Moyer finds every way possible to skirt the issue, not take the blame. It is amazing how she so strongly opposes the city manager form of government, saying there needs to be a city-wide elected authority and yet she has that, and changes tune every time there is controversy. She inists we have professional management. The she proceeds to blame the council. Blame the tenants. Blame the lawyers. Blame. Blame. Blame. Shame. Shame. Shame.
On a slightly more optimistic note, can you believe that yours truly was quoted?
"Bush had his Katrina; Moyer has her Market House," local commentator Paul Foer said in January."
Of course I was labeled as a local commentator, so don't expect it to drive any traffic this way. After all, I only quote and refer people with direct links to the local newspaper on an almost daily basis (Sometimes I even use its name....)
Yeah. New Orleans had her Katrina. Annapolis had her Isabel. L.A. had its Yorty. Philadelphia had its Rizzo. Cleveland had its Kucinich. Chicago had its Byrne. If we only had paid them more, they would have governed better. Let's raise the salary of the next mayor from 70k to 120k.
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6:50 AM
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