If You Like Martin O'Malley ...

... Then You'll Love Frank Kratovil



This sign was on the road leading into today's Tawes Clam Bake in Crisfield. Kudos to whoever made it! There was also another great sign (same size and design) that I believe read:

O'Malley & Kratovil
like
Tax & Spend

cross posted at Delmarva Dealings

BREAKING NEWS ON GANNETT'S DECLINING STOCK PRICE

DJ Newspaper Stocks Fall On Gannett Results, Scripps Downgrade.

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Newspaper stocks took another beating Wednesday following Gannett Co.'s (GCI) discouraging second-quarter results and Lehman Brothers cutting its investment rating on E.W. Scripps Co. (SSP) shares, suggesting that a bottom for the industry is still well off.

Shares of Gannett declined 7.8% to $16; the stock earlier hit levels last reached the day after Black Monday in 1987. Scripps lost 7% to $8.93 while New York Times Co. (NYT) fell 5.1% to $12.19, hitting a 13-year low, and Washington Post Co. (WPO) edged 1.3% lower to $567.94.

Gannett reported a 36% drop in second-quarter profit amid margin and ad weakness; the results weren't final as the company is still computing the size of write-downs which could reach $2.9 billion. Earnings met estimates due the company's massive efforts to reduce costs, but revenue fell short of expectations, indicating a continued struggle for the publisher of 85 daily newspapers and operates 23 television stations in the U.S.

Meanwhile, analysts at Lehman Brothers downgraded Scripps to underweight from overweight, saying they liked the company better before it split off its profitable cable and Internet divisions into a separate company called Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (SNI).

With Scripps now primarily a holder of newspapers, the firm said it sees ad revenue falling off at a steeper pace. Lehman now says Scripps should see a 12% ad revenue drop in 2008 and another 8.7% decline in 2009.

Wednesday's share drop is not surprising for an industry that is still looking to find its feet in a wave of competitive pressure from online media sources, rising production costs and weakened economy weighing on sales and ad revenue. The combination has proven to be difficult to combat for the industry.
Following Gannett's earnings release and disclosure of June ad revenue, JPMorgan Chase analyst Alexia S. Quadrani said, "The ongoing deterioration in June results suggest a bottom is still nowhere in sight." Furthermore, shares of publishers will continue to feel the crunch after other companies start reporting quarterly results next week, most of which are expected simply add to the wave of bad news hitting the industry.

By Kejal Vyas, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5460, kejal.vyas@dowjones.com

Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today's most important business and market news, analysis and commentary: http://www.djnewsplus.com/al?rnd=tbcz0xXX1Jauzo6mglEnJg%3D%3D. You can use this link on the day this article is published and the following day.

HOLY COW. . . . GANNETT TUMBLES AGAIN . . . AND MARKET IS UP!

Gannett Corporation, The Daily Times parent company, tumbled dramatically again today. Their stock just traded down $1.81 per share to $14.62/Share . . .down from yesterday's record low of $16.43

It seems like everyday now they are setting new record lows.

If you own this stock my recommendation is get rid of it ASAP while you can.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=gci

THIS JUST IN!!!

I've just been contact by Joe who advised me of the following:

Sunday, Deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office observed a Crown Victoria that resembled an unmarked police cruiser travelling at a rate of speed that appeared to be higher than the posted speed limit. Upon stopping the vehicle the deputy identified the driver as David Wayne Cox. Mr. Cox allegedly produced a badge and identified himself as a Dorchester County Sheriff's Deputy. Further investigation revealed that Mr. Cox was in fact NOT a Deputy Sheriff and was allegedly impersonating a police office - complete with handcuffs. Further investigation also revealed that Mr. Cox is a Salisbury City Firefighter currently assigned to Sation 16. According to Joe, the Sheriffs Office obtained an arrest warrant and promptly responded to Station 16 at which time they took Mr. Cox into custody. Also, located in the vehicle were loaded magazines to a .45 handgun.

Remember, these are the facts as they were relayed to me. The suspect should be considered innocent until proven guilty!

As The Stomach Turns At Station 2

An animal from the Salisbury Zoo informed me that the female Volunteer Firefighter went out on a medical rescue call recently and was exposed to Hepatitis B.

She filed the proper paperwork when she returned to the Station and the Fire Chief and Asst. Chief went off on her because she requested the standard medical attention anyone exposed to Hepatitis B would expect.

It turns out they allegedly told her they were NOT going to pay for all the medical attention as it would cost the Fire Department around $10,000.00 a week. Allegedly they were trying to intimidate her away from the medical treatment, even though it's a Workers Compensation Claim.

It also turns out the guy they were rescuing CAME BACK POSITIVE FOR HEPATITIS B! So what does this message say to anyone wanting to volunteer for the Salisbury Fire Department?

Does someone WITH A NAME want to tell me my story is wrong??????

Habitat For Humanity Golf Tournament September 5th

GO HERE for more details on the The Roop Group Golf Tournament.

The Eastern Shore Soccer Club's U16 Tryouts

The Eastern Shore Soccer Club's U16 boys travel team,the Ballerz, will be conducting tryouts for the upcoming season.

Positions on the team are available for several premier players as well as positions on a newly created team in the U16 Classic division.

The newly formed Classic team will partner with the Premier team for skill and tactical training, scrimmaging and traveling. The Classic team will also have the opportunity to play in the Maryland State Cup.

Both the Premier and the Classic team will play year-round, competing against some of the best teams in the state and the country. At this time, the U16 Ballerz are ranked 4th in the state of Maryland by gotsoccer.com and soccerincollege.com.

Interested players must have been born between August 1, 1992 and July 31, 1993. We will accept Premiere U15 players born between August 1st, 1993 and July 31, 1994.

Tryouts will be held August 2nd from 10:00 am - noon and August 3rd from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm at Crown Sports Center's outdoor fields. A one time field cost per player will be $5.00.

Information about the year-round calendar will be available at tryouts.

For more information contact:

Coach Harry Anderson - 443-373-1743

Coach Tom Townsend - 443-735-6121

Riding The Big One

I'm pretty sure this is Laird Hamilton, noted as the greatest big wave rider of all time. It's a real short video, some say it's not the same as surfing, always a negative Nelly in every bunch, you see if they weren't towed out past the wave break they would most likely never make it alive just to get up on the board. I looked a quite a few UTube's of big wave riders, all doing great and amazing work. I could never tell someone that stood up on a surf board with two balls straddling a stick to take this monster on anything else but a REAL big wave rider. The first couple seconds are deceiving, then when he cuts loose from the jet ski that carried him out far enough to ride that beast you can slowly see the magnitude of this wave, 100 foot at least I bet, warning if you get sea sick, this video alone might make you hurl LoL Just Kidding..... Big'un though, a must see, people are just nuts~!!! Click on the link below, no joke........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlPqL7IUT6M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0Pw7vKtqpo

To Be 6 Again...

A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife, looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like to have for her Birthday.

'I'd like to be six again', she replied, still looking in the mirror.

On the morning of her Birthday, he arose
early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park. What a day!

< /SPAN> He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there was.
Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.

He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.

Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&M's. What a fabulous adventure! Finally she wobble d home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, 'Well Dear, what was it like being six again??'

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. 'I meant my dress size, you dumb ass!'

The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he's gonna get it wrong.

Thank You Letter

My fellow Americans:

As your future President I want to thank my supporters, for your mindless support of me, despite my complete lack of any legislative achievement, my pastor's relations with Louis Farrakhan and Libyan dictator Moamar Quadafi, or my blatantly leftist voting record while I present myself as some sort of bi-partisan agent of change.

I also like how my supporters claim my youthful drug use and criminal behavior somehow qualifies me for the Presidency after 8 years of claiming Bush's youthful drinking disqualifies him. Your hypocrisy is a beacon of hope shining over a sea of political posing.

I would also like to thank the Kennedy's for coming out in support of me. There's a lot of glamour behind the Kennedy name, even though JFK started the Vietnam War, his brother Robert illegally wiretapped Martin Luther King, Jr. and Teddy killed a female employee with whom he was having an extra marital affair and who was pregnant with his child. And I'm not going anywhere near the cousins, both literally and figuratively. And I'd like to thank Oprah Winfrey for her support. Her love of meaningless empty platitudes will be the force that propels me to the White House.

Americans should vote for me, not because of my lack of experience or achievement , but because I make people feel good. Voting for me causes some white folk to feel relieved of their imagined, racist guilt. I say things that sound meaningful, but don't really mean anything because Americans are tired of things having meaning. If things have meaning, then that means you have to think about them.

Americans are tired of thinking. It's time to shut down the brain, and open up the heart. So when you go to vote, remember don't think, just do. And do it for me.

Thank You.

Barack Hussein Obama, Jr.

There's A Maniac On The Loose In Salisbury

"Joe,

Last night at about 11:25pm, one of my employees on her way to work was followed into the industrial park by a Black mail driving an Off white or white Cherokee. When she stopped at the railroad tracks he decided to come around her and he stopped beside her car, at that time she panicked and sped up, the gentleman did the same, she said he tried to ram his car on her car, when this gentleman saw that another car was coming he decided to sped up and headed towards the daily times, it so happened that the car that he saw was another one of my employees. I called the City Police, however they were to late getting there, this gentleman had already took off.

This is terrible, we have a MANIAC on the loose! I just want to let you know so other females are looking out for this kind of vehicle, and to be very careful!"

Meter Technician Gets Fired By The City Of Salisbury

When you have an employee who is doing their job and getting results, what do you do with them? Well, the City of Salisbury FIRES them, that's what they do and have done.

Yesterday the City of Salisbury terminated an employee because they were doing their job, (IMO) too well. The word has been going around for the past three months that too many tickets have been given out and some have even said too many alleged FOB's were complaining.

Even Council Members have brought this up in meetings and I believe Councilwoman Cohen asked, how can someone be giving out too many tickets?

Well, it turns out, the City of Salisbury's revenue has dramatically increased in money brought in from meters because people are doing what they're supposed to and they're feeding the meters on time. Considering the City just increased new fees on meters in Salisbury, these increased numbers BEFORE the rates went up and this allegedly didn't sit well with the Mayor.

Granted, they used a different excuse for termination by stating this person didn't put the bags on the meters the night before, (they simply forgot but did put them up early the next morning and every Council Member did get their space) but the word throughout the Council was that this person had been too aggressive.

OK, now put two and two together. You get hired for a job and your job is to give out tickets to anyone violating the law. You do exactly what you're told but then you find yourself in a pickle because the Mayor wants to raise the rates for the Meters, but wait a minute, the numbers are now showing this isn't actually necessary. SO, the person writing all the tickets gets terminated for some ODD reason, the numbers go back down, allowing the Meter rates to increase.

Let me ask you a question Folks. Aren't YOU the one getting screwed in the end? YOU are the ones that will have to pay the increased rates for parking Downtown. Then take a look at the Downtown Plaza. Do you think increasing the rates is going to draw MORE people to the Downtown area? Or do you think it's going to decrease the value of ALL properties Downtown and allow some friends to get some really great deals on properties down the road?

I'll end with this. I walked into the Zoo over a 12 day period and found 9 dead ducks. I complained and even posted the pictures of them dead each and every day, back when. It wasn't till the 13th day that Jim Rapp finally set a trap in the Zoo to get the animal that was killing all the ducks. No one was FIRED for that, yet a Meter Technician gets fired for allegedly not placing bags over the Meters? Homey Don't Think So! Is the Tilghman Administration asking the Meter Technician to break the law by NOT writing tickets when someone is violating the law? Oh, what's a FOB? LOL

Question of the Day, Wed 7/16

This question brought to you by a concerned Salisbury resident:

Will Salisbury's new $80,000,000 WWTP have a backup generator so it can continue operation in the event of a power outage?

A Letter To The Editor

Don't restrict the voices of council representatives

A council member should never lose contact with his or her constituents.
Unfortunately, the simple majority on the Salisbury City Council practically
has forgotten this practice.

I remember when City Council President Louise Smith was campaigning for her
slot -- she jumped like a monkey on the corner of Camden Avenue and Riverside
Drive. She fooled many people -- including me -- but people learn from their
mistakes, and I certainly learn from mine.

As a citizen and taxpayer of Salisbury, I support people from both the City
Council and the mayor's office. I understand that there will be disagreements
between the two sides of our government, but that is democracy, isn't it?

I have shared this thought with Mayor Barrie Parsons Tilghman in the past.

I don't see anything wrong with councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen
asking legitimate questions to the administration.

For Smith and the other two members of the simple majority to change the
speaking time rules is just anti-democracy and anti-civility.

There are many city taxpayers who cannot attend meetings on a regular basis.
Hence, we depend on the voices of those council members who are still in
contact with their constituents.

Please do not silence their voices because by doing so, you are attempting to
silence the people who sent you there.

Justiniano Leon Jr.

Salisbury

The Salisbury Downtown Plaza Continues To Fall Into Disrepair

At least when John Jacobs was in charge of Public Works the Downtown Plaza was managed and taken care of.

Now, the Mayor his hired Mr. Caldwell and obviously the City has bigger concerns elsewhere and they refuse to take care of the grounds. I've been watching property owners working on the weekend to care for the plants and trim them but if things keep going at this pace it will take no time before the point of no return.

The third photo is Doug Church's property with all the trash and cigarette butts, etc. The second photo is the fountain on the Plaza in which the City has turned off with no explanation? The algae is growing very quickly, to a point you can't even see some of the money people are tossing into the fountain.

Well, anyway, the pictures speak for themselves. This Mayor has screwed this City so deep into the ground it isn't funny. Look at the curbing everywhere. It's cracking and falling apart, just like the sidewalks. She's taxed you to death and we're getting nothing back in return. Instead, you get a $10,000,000.00 Fire House and a $14,000,000.00 TIF for a Developer.

Yeah, let's vote in another Housewife to run a multi million dollar business with no past experience. Comegys can't pay his own personal bills, nor can Shanie. Let's see how stupid the Salisbury City Taxpayers are in the next election? I happen to think people have become more educated and Barrie's group are going to look like complete fools for even trying.

Delegate Gregory Hastings Visits Salisbury

Delaware Delegate Hastings came to the County Council Meeting on Tuesday to support his Father who receive a Proclamation from Wicomico County. It seems Public Service runs in the entire Family. Mike Elliott of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Department is Greg's Brother In Law.

William "pop" Hastings has been the Chaplain of the Pittsville Fire Department, recently retired. It certainly was a pleasure meeting these fine Gentlemen and being a Delaware Resident and a property owner of Pittsville, it made it all that much better. Thanks for your service Pop.

Exciting Breaking News!

Could ESPN be coming to Salisbury? It looks like a strong possibility thanks to Fernando Guerrero and Hal Chernoff.

ESPN contacted Hal Chernoff Tuesday and asked him to check into the availability of the Wicomico County Civic Center for August 15th. That's right Folks, Fernando MIGHT get the opportunity to fight LIVE on ESPN right here in his Home Town!

We'll keep you posted on the arrangements and availability but if this were to happen, everyone needs to show their support by purchasing tickets and showing support so ESPN & HBO will show interest in covering more events here locally.

Thanks for the excitement Fernando. What a great kid!

I Don't Do This Often

However, when someone puts up a REALLY good Post, I link to them. In this case, Councilwoman Cohen has outdone herself on the Deer situation and I'd like to send everyone over to their Site to see in detail exactly what has been said and done referencing this Deer. GO HERE to see their Posts.

Thank you Mrs. Cohen & Campbell. I know how busy you both are and to take the time to care for an animal as you have clearly done is amazing. Folks, if you care about that Deer please go to their Site and see how the Tilghman Administration will side step anything and everything that Joe Albero gets his hands on simply out of spite.

Oh Barrie, thousands upon thousands of people JUST GOT EDUCATED on you!

MORE EVIDENCE MARYLAND HAS TURNED INTO A SOCIALIST STATE

"Joe:

It is not a figment of my imagination when I disclose case-upon-case where our State has embarked upon a Socialist path. It actually came to the forefront when the Baltimore Colts tried to convince Baltimore's Mayor that he needed a more modern Stadium to house Maryland's original football team -the Colts.

But the average Joe Blow didn't hear about what transpired as the internet had not fully erupted on the scene just yet. But here is an excerpt of Robert Irsay's obituary posted in the Indianapolis Star Newspaper. I've even provided the link:

http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/people/i/irsay_jim/stories/1997_0115.html

"It was, ultimately, a stadium squabble in Baltimore that brought Irsay to Indianapolis. He wanted improvements, including things such as luxury boxes. He also claimed he had been promised a new stadium. Baltimore officials, then and now, deny any such promise was made.

Irsay shopped the team around to several cities years before moving to Indianapolis, though he also insisted to Baltimore reporters that he had no intention of moving the team.

It all came to a head in 1984, when Irsay agreed to move the Colts to what was then called the Hoosier Dome. The Indianapolis financial package was less lucrative than Baltimore's final offer, according to some reports, but Irsay would later say money wasn't the only consideration.

"We didn't pick Indianapolis for the monetary value," Irsay said. "We took it because of the people here, the domed stadium, which is beautiful, and, in general, I took the best situation for my family and the coaching staff."

Irsay moved the Colts to Indianapolis one day after the Maryland Legislature passed a law allowing the city of Baltimore to take over the franchise by eminent domain.

Fifteen Mayflower vans loaded with all of the team's possessions began moving out of the Colts' office and training facility in Owings Mills, Md., shortly after midnight because it was feared the franchise would be seized after daybreak. "They not only threw down the gauntlet, but they put a gun to his head and cocked it and asked, `Want to see if it's loaded?' " Michael Chernoff, the team's general counsel, said after the move. "They forced him to make a decision that day."

I've got news for Robert Irsay. . . he made the right move because I know full well the Maryland Legislature would have confiscated his team. They tried a similar action recently with Wal-mart - FAIR SHARE HEALTH ACT.

So when you notice hordes of local businesses exodus our State, then ask yourself, why, and who is to blame. Personally, I wish the legislature wouldn't be allowed to go in session because it seems they do more harm than good. Maybe Abraham Lincoln knew more about Marylanders politicos than one gives him credit when he ordered his general - under arms - to force each member of our legislature to sign an alliance with the North.

'Those that ignore history are doomed to repeat it'.

Johnnie Miller"

Gary Tries To Intimidate The Barrie-Louise Way

Monday night, Gary Bubba Comegys interrupted himself to accuse Tim Spies -- by name -- on PAC14 of mouthing an obscenity at him. I was sitting on that side of the room, and nobody heard a peep out of Tim or saw a thing. From that distance, even if Tim were mouthing something, it would be hard to make it out. Why would Gary be staring at Tim Spies to begin with anyway?

Folks, council chambers smacks of Intimidation Central. First we have Barrie Tilghman falsely accusing Tim Spies of all sorts of things in the paper during last year's campaign, every bit of it false as others confirmed. Then we have Louise Smith yelling out G.A. Harrison's name instead of just saying, "Sir, you need to stop." Or "Members of the audience must control themselves."

Remember that poor lady who snickered that Louise singled out when everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, in the room couldn't help cracking up during Louise's ridiculous grandstanding easel routine about the audit? Louise drew everyone's attention to that woman as if she was the only one who laughed, like she was trying to create a riot. But that lady stood up to her!

But wait! I forgot Louise Smith calling MY name out on PAC14 to order me BACK into the room! Louise, you are NOT my mother or my teacher, and I'm not an 8-year-old in short pants. I will leave a public meeting any time I damn well feel like it. This IS still America, the last time I checked.

But it doesn't feel like it in those chambers. What citizen is going to want to come even watch, let alone speak, for fear of every smirk, cough or fart getting their name yelled out like they were criminals?

But let me get back to Gary. Why is he picking on Tim Spies? Because Tim nearly beat him in the election? A little more of that Barrie-style retaliation we've heard so much about -- hell, EXPERIENCED first hand!!!

Tim Spies, a Navy veteran of Operation Desert Storm, registered nurse, former police officer, former firefighter, community worker and leader, member of Mensa (that's the group for really smart people, Gary), and all around good guy, is just living his life, still attending meetings and giving back to his community.

So what does Gary lie-about-blocking-handicap-ramps-and-text-messaging-in-meetings Comegys do? Try to smear Tim some more? And who am I going to believe based on these credentials? Dee, dee, deeee! No, this is all about intimidation of citizens and political opponents. No wonder it's hard to get good people involved and to run for office.

People, don't take this lying down...fight back! Just SHOW UP!

Pretty soon, they'll start calling that room the "City Council TORTURE Chambers."

OH, NO! I've gone past my 5 minutes! Sorry, folks!

A Zoo Professional Chimes In On The Sick Deer At The Salisbury Zoo

"I mentioned to Joe about this last year. If the deer has been castrated the lack of testosterone would not help regulate the growth of the antlers. Antlers act like a cancerous growth, if you will, while in velvet. The hormone levels help determine size and when to stop growing.

I have seen some cases of castrated males receiving testosterone shots to minimize this condition, but can be a very difficult thing to get right.

Ideally they should have vasectomized the male. However, it is the testosterone that make the male aggressive and dangerous to keeper staff and other animals on exhibit. Ideally you should have a separate holding yard for the male during rut.

Castration works well for horned animals although some of the male characteristics reduce (muscle, coloration, etc.), but nothing like the antler growth problem.

When I interviewed for the director position, Gary, the curator, did not ask me a single question about myself, experiences or philosophies. Steve Sarro actually told me he did not take the position because he could let remove Gary from his position.

I do not believe this animal has to be put down with out first trying hormonal replacement first or if that is not the case determining what the actual cause is. Get a second opinion. I utilize multiple vets at my facility.

Is it not that errors and weird things happen in animal care. We are constantly learning new things and adjusting our husbandry tactics. Besides dealing with the new information about species, we should not forget the strange individuals that throw a wrench into things.

So the question here, has the new director and zoo team have the methodology to address these types of concerns, and how do they communicate that with the authorities and public?"

PAC-14 - The Smell Isn't Going Away

Try as they might, the smell isn't going away at PAC-14. Despite pulling the plug on their planned presentation before the Wicomico County Council, the disastrous performance at Monday night's Salisbury Council meeting will linger for quite a while.

It's obvious that a few individuals with a bunker mentality think that by holing up the public will simply go away. I for one will not!

Refusing to answer a few basic questions on Monday night only leads to more questions. For example ...

... Since a group of individuals without the legal authority to act, including PAC-14 board chair and SU Vice President Betty Crockett and Salisbury City Administrator John Pick, have chosen to go around the legally appointed board of directors, how is PAC-14 paying its bills?

... Who passed the PAC-14 budget since Ms. Crockett has refused to call any board meetings for over a year?

... Who hired the consultant who put together this grand scheme to raise cable rates?

... Why do Mike Goodson of PAC-14, Pick and others involved in this fiasco continue to stonewall both elected officials AND the taxpayers about who serves on the now infamous "transitional task force"?

These are just a few more questions. I am confident that more will come up each day that these individual continue to hide information from the public as to how their money is being spent.

A public resource, funded by taxpayer dollars, that performs a true public service, PAC-14 has unnecessarily become the subject of suspicion because of the over-reaching and secrecy of a few - to the detriment of us all.

cross posted at Delmarva Dealings

Calling All Bloggers ...

... and Blog Readers

Dave Mastio of BlogNetNews has kindly asked me to take over as editor of BNN - Delmarva. To do a decent job, I need your help.

BNN - Delmarva is a little bit different than the BNN feeds that we are used to here in the political blogosphere. It is not limited to political blogs.

If you have a blog related to anything on the Delmarva Peninsula, please let me know. If you know of a Delmarva blog (with a focus on any topic) that is not included in BNN - Delmarva, let me know.

The best way to do this is to email me at: delmarva.blogger@gmail.com and put "BNN - Delmarva" in the subject line.

Thanks.