The New Fire Station Tour

While I'll have several more posts to put up about the new Fire Station, I thought I'd go through what transpired verbally through my tour on Monday.

Originally when the meeting started there were 12 people there. As time went on it grew by a few more people but that was about it.

Chief See started off by telling everyone this was the second largest project the City of Salisbury has ever taken on, behind the new Waste Water Treatment Plant.

This building will replace the old Station 16. This station will house 8 bays for a working Fire Department. Special Ops will get 3 bays and the outdoor equipment will now be kept indoors. Gordy mentioned that piece by piece each piece of equipment will be replaced, new.

They mentioned the 53' tall Drill Tower but also mentioned that they will still go to Princess Anne to use their $2,000,000.00 burn facility for additional training. Makes me wonder why, since they have one of their own right up the street? Nevertheless, that will be up for surplus as well.

They stated that Gillis Gilkerson came in $53,000.00 below anyone else when bidding on the project. They are 30 days ahead of schedule. The building is 41,655 sq. ft and they even mentioned a typical Fire Station is 16,000 sq. ft. Depending on the numbers they threw out, which were divided and all over the place, they stated the building cost the Taxpayers $193.00 per square foot to build.

They mentioned it sits on 7.5 acres of land that they paid $311,350.00 for. I doubt they included this figure into the cost of the build out. As a matter of fact, I'm fairly confident they conveniently left that out. After all, it is a part of the overall cost.

At the end of the day the facility cost $9,553,927.00 so far. They went on to brag about how it's 3% below the budget for the project.

On April 1, 2008 the furniture and fixtures will be in and completed by the end of April. The video monitoring system throughout and around the building and audio and visual equipment will also be completed by the end of April. They also mentioned the old Station 16 will be available by July 1, 2008. You know, the $800,000.00 building they wanted to give away to Bill Ahtes. At this point I flat out asked See & Gordy, who owns the old Station 16? I heard it's owned by the Volunteers and their reply was, a simple title search will tell you that Joe. NO, that wasn't the answer to my question. Obviously they refused to answer it in front of everyone there.

A visitor asked if they'd be holding any banquets there and See replied, "Our Volunteers don't have time to do fundraisers." I want my guys doing training instead. He went on to say, Station II ran aprox. 800 calls last year. The Volunteers went on about 400 of those calls. (More of the same OC BS). The Volunteers don't go on ambulance calls Chief. Therefore, 1/2 of the time they could have been holding banquets. Besides, you could even afford to PAY a crew to cook and clean for these events, just use the facility. They did state that the Training room would be available to the Public for certain meetings.

You must be buzzed in when you walk into the facility. Gone are the days you can just walk into a Fire Station. I will have photos to follow this article.

The Turn Out Gear Room will house 110 racks for this equipment. Each set will cost the Taxpayers $1,800.00 each.

The Dormitory will sleep 8 people. There are no doors to close off each room. God forbid someone wake up at 3:00 AM after a night out and run face first into a door, right? Somehow they stated they could sleep 20 to 22 people there? There was another small area they figured they could put bunk beds in. See stated when he first started, they slept in the front seat of the Fire Trucks, so this is quite the luxury facility.

There is a Locker Room that houses 96 lockers. As mentioned earlier, there are 6 Unisex Bathrooms.


There is also what they call a "Safe Room." This is the area off to the side of the Fire Station in which I honestly feel is VERY misleading! The reason I say that is, if I were to hear this and raced to the Fire Station for safety, I would head to the main entrance of the building, wouldn't you? That's NOT the case here. The Safe Room is actually an entrance off to one side of the building, SO WHAT'S THE POINT?

The Paid and Volunteer Firefighters have their own Offices throughout the building. Of course, the Paid are in one wing and the Volunteers are in another, on opposite ends of the building.

At the end of my tour I turned to a friend of mine there and I said, Did that feel like a $10,000,000.00 Tour to you? He replied, F%$k No! Me either! The only thing that actually impressed me about the place was actually the kitchen. The way they boasted about all the plasma tv's going in everywhere kind of ticked me off. You'll be waiting in the front entrance and while doing so you'll be turned on to 24/7 videos of fires the Salisbury Fire Department have been to. The big $25,000.00 doors will be blocked by a museum, so what the heck did they buy them for? The Volunteers offered to pay CASH for all the new furnishings and guess what, Chief See & Deputy Chief Gordy said NO! They put it on the Taxpayers instead! Pieces of sh!t!

Like I said, whenever these guys want some money, I'd hang up the phone but not before I'd tell those SOB's to LET IT BURN, I don't give a sh!t!

The Dispatch in OC Delivers A Fantastic Story

Wendy Elliot brought to my attention the following article.........

MD Coast Dispatch

Vilified Cabbie Helps Saves Man's Life

By Shawn J. Soper, News Editor
Originally published March 21, 2008

OCEAN CITY- With an ironic twist of fate, an Ocean City woman vilified last summer by the local and national media when she was charged with murder in the death of her unborn fetuses was a hero of sorts this week when she helped save the life of an elderly man who collapsed in a West Ocean City store.

Christy Lynn Freeman found herself in the right place at the right time this week when she helped revive and later comforted an elderly man who collapsed from an apparent heart attack while in the checkout line at the Staples store in West Ocean City. According to witnesses, around noon on Tuesday, an elderly man waiting at the copy center in the store keeled over and hit the floor and Freeman, who was near the victim in line, first performed basic CPR techniques on him and helped keep him lucid until paramedics arrived.

According to Staples copy center manager Natosha Collick, who was on the scene on Tuesday, the elderly man collapsed and hit his head on the floor after what appeared to be a heart attack or stroke. Collick said Freeman immediately began basic CPR techniques on the victim, perhaps saving his life.

It appeared that he had a stroke, she said. He was unconscious for a minute or so, but she [Freeman] helped revive him. She said she had taken a CPR course and it looked like she knew what she was doing. She checked his vital signs after he was revived and she did a very good job.

After 911 was called, Freeman stayed with the victim and continued to monitor his condition while waiting for paramedics to arrive, according to Collick.

She held his hand and kept him alert, asking him silly questions he should know the answer to, she said. He hit his head on the floor when he fell and she sat there holding his head in her lap until the paramedics got there. She really had no concern for herself during the whole thing.

As most will remember, Freeman was arrested late last July when police found the remains of her stillborn infant wrapped in towels under a vanity in the bathroom of her Ocean City residence. The case against Freeman escalated when the remains of two more fetuses were discovered at the bottom of a trunk in her bedroom and fourth was found in a recreational vehicle parked in the driveway.

The strange case created a national media circus in the resort at the height of the summer tourist season. Most of the major networks set up shop in and around Freemans residence on otherwise quiet Sunset Drive in Ocean City as the story unfolded.

Freeman was initially charged with murder in the death of the first fetus discovered, but prosecutors later dropped those charges and proceeded with a murder charge in the death of one of the fetuses found in the trunk believed to be a twin born sometime in 2004.

During a jailhouse interview following the discovery of her most recent fetus on July 27, Freeman told an OCPD detective one the fetuses found in the trunk was the first of two twins she delivered in 2004, which she allowed to die in the toilet. The admission led state prosecutors to drop the charges against her for the death of her most recent child in late July and apply first-degree murder charges against her for the death of her full-term or near full-term infant in 2004. Freeman later said she made the confession under duress out of concern for her longtime boyfriend Ray Godman and the couples four grown children.

In August, States Attorney Joel Todd presented the preliminary evidence to a Worcester County grand jury, but any indictment was put on hold pending the final report from the state medical examiners office. In September, the medical examiner said the cause of death of three of the fetuses was undetermined and the manner of death was ruled not applicable, which essentially meant they were not viable fetuses at the time of their death.

Basically, the medical examiners report said there was no proof of life with any of the fetal remains examined, and without proof of life, there could be no prosecution for homicide. Todd then recommended the grand jury not indict Freeman based on the findings of the medical examiner. In September, all charges against Freeman were dropped and she was released from jail after several weeks had passed since the initial discovery back in late July.

Seven months later, life goes on for Freeman and her family. Their Classic Taxi business, which took a big hit during the weeks and months after the case began to unfold late last July, now goes by the name Flashback Taxi, but the unmistakable cars are still seen prominently on the streets in and around the resort with Freeman often seen behind the wheel.

German U-Boat Enigma Machine

Cape Hatteras has a brand new museum which is being completed at the very tip next to the ferry service. The Graveyard of the Atlantic museum will house artifacts from both the land and sea of the Outer Banks area. The coolest find they have is a German Enigma Machine from a U-Boat which was sunk off Hatteras and the machines were used for sending and decoding messages. The acquisition of the machine by the Allies was an important piece to turning the tide in the war. The machine, as the local historian said, was able to generate over 400 million lines of code. The pinnacle of this exhibit, the Enigma Machine still mechanically works! After a few parts gets refurbished, due to the ocean dissolving them, the machine will be able to work by hand. Pretty impressive after surviving an attack and the sea. The type-writer is submerged in a solution to make it stable so it may eventually be placed in open air.

The exhibit when finished will be a great must stop for vacationers!

The Salisbury Fire Department Weight/Workout Room

Chief See stated that some 116 Firefighters die each year due to heart attacks. Well Chief, my guess would be the cigarettes and trying to keep tabs on who's at their home when they're stuck at the Fire Station. However, Chief See would like everyone to believe that this state of the art workout facility will keep his men and women healthy.

Pardon me for saying this Chief but your fat. I too carry extra weight on me but as of recently I chose to go on a diet and am quickly losing what I gained this winter. You made no mention of working out in there, therefore I expect you to be in that 116 statistics, sorry to say. Gordy isn't far behind.

Nevertheless Folks, See also stated there is not one facility in any Salisbury Fire Department for them to work out. Well, that's not exactly the truth. They used to have commercial equipment that was donated to them but they THREW IT OUT in order to build this new facility and buy all brand new equipment. Someone stated here not that long ago that there were also arrangements to take it to the dump, while another Firefighter allegedly pulled up and reloaded the equipment to take home.

That being said, let's now talk about the 5 high tech PLASMA TV's going into this room! Yes, you heard me right. Chief See stuck his chest out talking about how this facility will be no different from a professional gym. Only the very best for the Boys and Girls there, eh Chief?

I know of maybe a hand full of people that will actually take advantage of it but like a Pool Table, it will soon become a thing of the past and once the local Gym starts bringing in new equipment, the Taxpayers will be required to update the facility and after a few months it will be worthless once again.

Today's Wildlife Photo

Well, they certainly don't make light fixtures like they used to!

The Kitchen To Die For

"If a Fireman touches it, he will break it." Chief See wanted everyone to know the reason they went for ALL commercial products is based on the fact that "he" believes they're going to break it. That sure makes "ME" wonder what in the hell we're doing buying $1,200,000.00 Fire Trucks for any Idiot who touches it and is expected to break it?

Nevertheless, here's your $10,000,000.00 Kitchen, Ladies & Gentlemen. It's ALL about what these guys don't have at home and feel they deserve at WORK. Oh, and if you think I'm finished, you're wrong!

Let's now talk about the last picture, it's what they call the Day Room. That's where these guys will be eating. Just outside this room is sliding doors that takes you out into an outdoor area where they'll have a Grill for outdoor cooking as well and a large area to relax behind an 8' tall metal fence.

Getting back to the Day Room. There will be not one, but two Wide Screen TV's in this area for the Firefighters. Oh, you're not going to believe just how many plasma tv's there are going in throughout the entire facility.

Nevertheless, this is your new kitchen and dining area. Mind you, this tour was designed to keep everyone out from seeing the multi million dollar furnishings soon to arrive and they don't want you to see. I'll be sure to get another tour before they swing the doors for business.

Ladies, they won't give you your own bathroom, DON'T do any of the cooking! Oh, keep in mind, they'll be doing no banquets or renting a Hall as they believe they're too busy for functions and they're professional Firefighters, not cooks and bus boys. Are you listening Pittsville?

PETA Invades Ringling Brothers

While representatives from PETA stood across the street from the Circus, most everyone visiting completely ignored their presence and they left no impact.

PETA, (IMO) is one of those organizations that can, (at times) go way too far with their complaints. However, in other cases they do a fantastic job exposing some pretty sick people out there. Picketing a small Circus is NOT going to stop people from going in.

So you know, I spoke with several of the people standing out there and they ALL got a last minute e-mail at SU, (they're students) to volunteer. These were NOT long term PETA lovers/supporters.

One person was standing there with a picture of an elephant with straw on top of him/her and what looked like some mud. She thought this was disgusting and not clean. PLEASE! Go to Africa woman! See them roll in the mud, OMG! Then they might even have grass on them, OMG! I'm not saying the life of these animals isn't bad. I certainly wouldn't want to be caged up. However, you Idiots, go around the corner to the local Salisbury Zoo and practice what you preach!

Children Interact With Performers

Yesterday's Pre Show allowed the children to get up front and sometimes in the show with these performers and quite frankly, it was exciting for these kids. How many times in their lifetime will they ever get a chance like this? I know when I was a kid, we couldn't afford to go to any of these shows. I happen to think the price is extremely reasonable and with promotions, I expect to see these events Sold Out.

Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Baily Circus Is In Town

While the Civic Center was kind enough to allow me a private tour of yesterdays Pre Show, many people I spoke to yesterday were completely unaware that the Circus was in Town for a few days.

Show dates are, today at 7:30 PM. Saturday, 11:00 AM, 3:00 & 7:00 PM. Sunday, 3:00 PM and Monday at 3:00 PM. Tickets start at $14.00 but if you check around locally you can get coupons for a $4.00 discount. I believe the up close seats are $32.00 each.

The house was packed last night as people lined the entrance area and well outside the building as they were treated to an up close and personal time with some of the Clowns and performers.

More to come......

Gee Whiz!!!

Communication Workers of America District 7 are outraged after a Qwest supervisor distributed disposable urine bags to about 25 male field technicians.The idea is to reduce the time they spend leaving a job site to find a bathroom and take a potty break and Qwest claims some men had asked for the bags.ICK!
If someone prefers to use the pee-bags that's cool but it should not be mandatory.A spokesman for the union said that the company has made an issue in the past over techs leaving a work site to find a bathroom because of the "time it wastes".If they are out where no people are they can just piss in the bushes like 98.9% of the male population does-and if they are in a place where they cannot pee outside,then WHERE are they supposed to go to pee in the bags?In the cabs of their company work trucks?Whats next?Buckets to sh*t in?
Utility companies have been buying these bags from a company called American Innotek for years for their outdoor workers and thats accomodating,but no employee should be pressured to use them instead of using a real bathroom somewhere.

Common Sense Does Exists Somewhere In America

Asking people to speak English IS NOT discriminatory in Philadelphia. Willie Don would be proud. More from WPVI-TV Philadephia. For the record, I always take my steaks "Whiz Without."

Burglary Suspects Caught

James Webb

Tim Jones

Beginning the week of March 10, 2008, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office began receiving reports of residential burglaries that were occurring during daytime hours while the houses were unoccupied. The burglaries were all similar in nature involving forced entry and the thefts of hand held electronics and laptop computers. Due to the high frequency of these reports and the assumption they were related, Sheriff Lewis committed a deputy full time to these investigations.

The Sheriff’s Office was able to develop a general suspect description along with a description of a possible suspect vehicle. Armed with that information, the deputy detailed to this investigation observed a vehicle matching the vehicle description occupied by two males who fit the suspect description on 3/19/2008. That deputy was able to develop probable cause for a stop and when he made contact with the occupants, the deputy observed miscellaneous computer equipment in plain view on the back seat. A WCSO drug K9 responded to the scene and did a scan of the vehicle, alerting positively to the presence of illegal drugs in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed what the deputies recognized as marijuana. After finding the marijuana, further search uncovered two laptop computers, a router, a modem and two pairs of gloves. Deputies on the scene believed Webb and Jones to be the subjects who were responsible for the series of burglaries that had occurred over the previous week All the items recovered from the vehicle were able to be traced to two burglaries that had occurred on 3/19/2008. In one of the burglaries, the homeowner had not even discovered that he had been the victim of a burglary.

James Webb attempted to flee from the scene while in handcuffs and was apprehended after a short foot chase. Both Webb and Tim Jones were transported to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office where these cases were further investigated. They were subsequently transferred to the Central Booking Unit of the Wicomico County Detention Center where both Webb and Jones were booked and taken before a District Court Commissioner.

James Webb was held in the Wicomico County Detention Center without bond while Tim Jones was held on $100,000 bond in the Wicomico County Detention Center.

The WCSO will continue to investigate Webb and Jones’ involvement with other recently reported burglaries. If anyone has any information that might assist the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, you are asked to please call 410-548-4890.

WICOMICO COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S COMMISSION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE WICOMICO YOUTH & CIVIC CENTER

Another As Seen On Salisbury News

March 20, 2008

Statement of Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., Wicomico County Executive

“I am very pleased to announce today the appointment of the Honorable Alfred T. Truitt, Jr., as the Chairman of the County Executive’s Citizens Study Commission on the Future of the Youth and Civic Center. Judge Truitt is one of our county’s most distinguished citizens. He has had a long, outstanding career as an attorney and judge. His presence at the top of this new commission will assure it instant credibility and guarantee its success.

“The Citizens Study Commission on the Future of the Youth & Civic Center is charged with formulating a plan to fulfill the ongoing mission of one of our county’s most valuable assets. The Commission will explore all aspects of future Civic Center possibilities as they define the best way to continue serving our citizens.

“It is no secret that our Civic Center is showing its age and is in need of extensive renovation and modernization. Before we commit the millions of dollars it will take to accomplish that, wisdom dictates we conduct a full evaluation of this revered county facility to determine its best use for the years ahead. There is no doubt that if the Civic Center is to survive as a viable, profitable site for major events and big name performances, it must be as good as or better than similar venues in the region. I am asking the Commission to thoroughly evaluate that situation and am encouraging them to consider all options including whether a change to a new location is desirable.

“At the same time, I am concerned that, in our zeal to be self-sufficient, we may have forgotten the ‘Youth’ part of the Civic Center’s name and out-priced it’s availability to many in our community. It is my hope that the Commission will discuss how to provide a true community center that will serve the needs of our young people, civic associations and other members of our county who just want to have a nice place to congregate and enjoy their respective events.

“The Commission will study all facets of the Civic Center operation and will, at the end of its work, make recommendations for the best way to serve the citizens of our county who have come to rely on the WY&CC for recreation and entertainment.

“The actual membership of my study commission will represent a broad cross-section of county interests and will reflect the diversity of the culture of our community. Final membership will be determined in the next week and a formal charge will be issued. I hope to have the work accomplished with a report on my desk by the first of July, 2008.

“I am extremely grateful for Judge Truitt’s willingness to chair this important exercise and for those citizens that will be called upon to serve.”

Things Are Rocking In The Parsonsburg Area Today

Apparently there was a petroleum spill on Rt. 50 near Forest Grove Rd. That was the first tip I got. Then I heard it's a sewage spill. Either way, I'm not heading that way to possible see an A.S.A.P. Truck on the road discharging human waste all over the place. Then again, when the first call came in it stated it was fuel. Maybe 1/2 of their tanks store diesel fuel and the other half is human waste?

Old Ocean City Road Closed

If you plan on traveling down Old Ocean City Road near Esham Rod, DON'T! They just closed off the road due to a grain truck, (as seen above) going completely off the road. It's too soon to tell why, it is what it is.

OBX Pics Part Deux

I had the luck to be the first person to put their footprints in sand this morning. A small front moved through which kicked up the sound. The wave action is so much better than up here and I wished the water was warmer to do some body surfing. I loved watching the sand-pipers on the cusp of the surf and sand. They reminded me of children running towards and from the waves in a playful game.

I'm still trying to find a way to stay for a little bit longer....

Republican Congressional Nominee Andy Harris Searches Shore For 2nd Home

While the Daily Times had an article referencing Senator Andy Harris possibly purchasing a home here on the Eastern Shore, they never contacted Andy or his immediate Staff for the facts.

For the last 20+years, Andy and his family have been vacationing on the Bay and on the Shore. Every Summer, Andy and and his family spend a week on a boat on the Bay traveling up and down the Eastern Shore. Over the years, his family has fallen in love with the beauty and the people on the Shore. They have been thinking about getting a second place on the Shore for years and the timing finally just seems right.

Andy will be representing the entire first district and having a home on the Shore will help him do just that. This will also give him much more time with his family which is something he cares very deeply about.

There was talk in the Daily Times article that he was considering Cambridge. Andy has not settled on any place in particular and his search continues.

Young Republican Meeting A Week From Today

Just as a reminder, the Lower Shore Young Republicans will be having their monthly meeting on Thursday, March 27 at 7pm. The meeting will be held at the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce Building. The Club has grown to well over twenty members in its early existence and is still rapidly expanding, as our club is open to all individuals ages 18-40 in Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset Counties. Possible activities for the year include Relay for Life, a Food Drive for Joseph House, Happy Hours, and other social events. Hope to see many of you there! Feel free to contact us with any questions at lowershoreyoungrepublicans@gmail.com.

Today's Grapevine

"New zoo director

Congratulations on the new zoo director. That is awesome. Our city zoo is finally getting the leadership it needs. I just hope the new director Joel Hamilton does not find out about the forces of evil before he gets settled in town."

You're kidding me, right? This guy actually got hired without meeting the Mayor first?

One Year Ago Today

It was one year ago today, Gary Comegys Wife was antagonizing Tim Spies at the Forum and refused to stop waving her pen while Tim was speaking. Gary thought that was so cute. Then, if you'll recall, she went on to ask me to please take a picture of her better side, so I did. No argument there.

Dee, Dee, Deeee Lights

On each and every one of the bays in the new Fire Garage they have these lights that tell you when you can and cannot go. Since when has a Firefighter ever paid attention to a Red Light?

Chief See stated that you'd be amazed at how many doors are lost because they drove through before the door was completely open. SEE WHAT I MEAN! Now they have stop and go lights to allow you to know when it's safe to pull in or pull out. Just for the fun of it fellas, do you also have these lights in your homes? When the red light is on you stay at the Fire Station?

Another 2 Major Cracks In New FD Floors

While I delivered photos yesterday of the cracks in the floor at the new Fire Station, here's more! If you'll notice, the crack extends out of the first block and towards the shoes of the person standing there in a northerly direction. Do notice AGAIN that the expansion joints have once again FAILED and there is in fact a serious problem with this floor. We all know See & Gordy will be desperately telling everyone the concrete is perfectly sound, no problems. However, you also will not see them fix it.

Base Molding To Die For!

After we were brought into the Conference Room the very first thing I noticed was the SOLID OAK base molding. I thought to myself, this has got to be at least 6" tall and "I" don't even have solid oak base molding in my home and I can afford it!

Honest to God, Ladies & Gentlemen, you have commercial grade carpet and a drop ceiling in this room, what in the heck do they think they're doing putting in solid oak trim for? I mean, quite honestly, some Redneck chose this and I guarantee they'll have cherry furniture in the room, you mark my words.

The Trailer Trash got their first taste at a free checking account and went out and bought what they thought was the very finest. IMO, what a waste of a tree and the environment for a cheap thrill! Vinyl base molding like ALL other commercial properties would have been just fine. However, someone in a trailer with faux oak on their base molding wanted the real thing and at your expense, they got it.

Little Ricky Did Some Splainin

"Hi Joe my name is Ricky Mullins. I am 12 years old and I just started my own blog. The address is rickshotspot.blogspot.com. I wanted to have one because I went to your blog every day and my blog is like for kids in my school and like updates on stuff in school like dances and all that stuff. I also want to include things that go on in school that grown ups never hear about and maybe other stuff. Sometimes I go to Salisbury News and get some ideas off your blog, and i dont copy it. I would like to know if I could go to your blog and look to get some ideas to put on mine. Please come by sometimes and read what I have to see if you can give me some pointers. Please exuse my spelling and grammer. I am the product of the public schools.

Your friend Ricky"

For many, school is actually out for those kids that go to year round school. That being said, who'da thunk we'd have such a young audience?

Ricky, we're very pleased you enjoy this Blog. I know and respect your Uncle very much, (Granddad) and know he'll protect you from certain articles and comments. I have created a link to your Blog in the hopes that many will come visit you today to see the Mini Me in you, LOL!

Thanks for coming by little man and we'll chat again soon.

Budget Amendment

Click on images to enlarge.

Amendment To FY08 General Fund!

Click on image to enlarge.

This should be an early morning eye opener!

A VIEW FROM THE WEST: Is Anyone Impressed?

It has been about a month since Baltimore Sun Columnist Dan Rodricks took over the midday slot for Dan Rodricks on WYPR. This is the station that you guys can hear on 106.9FM. Your Public Radio Corporation asked us to give them a chance to show that they can do something better than they guy they threw out of the building, Marc Steiner. So I have to ask…are you impressed with him, because I surely am not.

I happen to tune in one day. The topic of hour one was Wal-Mart. Yeah, I’m sorry that story was real hot…in 2006. The second hour was about grammar…it was National Grammar Day when I listened (I did not know there was such a thing.) The replacement show does not have any teeth and has been dealing with mostly magazine type stuff. This observation is based on what I read on their website on what aired that day.

In short, there has not been any vast improvement of Steiner’s show…as a matter of fact, Marc Steiner was way better and Rodricks cannot hold a candle to him at this point. WYPR’s management said that they wanted a show that addressed the issues of Marylanders, not just Baltimoreans. I don’t think National Grammar Day is a hard-hitting issue, involving Marylanders. I personally don’t care about what happens with a discarded cell phone. I would home that most people would donate them to organizations that fix them up and give them to people in need. And let me tell you the difference between 1908 and 2008…you are reading this post written by a black guy….need I go further?

But that’s just me, what do you think?