The 53

And if things couldn't get worse in DC....

Holy smokes, are things not good right now in DC for the Obama Administration.  The questions about Benghazi continue, there is this nonsensical targeting of conservative groups by the IRS, and now, the seizure of Associated Press phone records in a leak investigation.  Fantastic column about all this stuff can be found in the Washington Post, here.

All of this, of course, in a time when cooperation between the parties in DC is at a recent low, and when cooperation is sorely needed in order for the country to continue to get it's financial house in order.  Also, the suddenness of these three items-- Benghazi has been around for some time, but these other items have come to surface only over the last couple weeks.  Oh, and there's also a fourth major brouhaha on the horizon, and that would be the emerging sex scandals in the military.  Sex scandals involving service members responsible for educating and enforcing sexual harrassment policies in the military.  Classy.

I'm not one of those who sit behind a keyboard and cry outrage and for heads to roll.  That's not what I do.  I have a great deal of respect and a bit of admiration for this President.  And even if I didn't, that wouldn't be what I would do.

However, I do believe it is the President's MO to be thoughtful and deliberate and let the facts out before acting.  In this atmosphere, though, I would advise that he ought to get out in front of the curve and the news cycle on this.

This President also has an MO of not backing down from a damn thing and he needs to meet this thing head-on.  A comprehensive approach to self-cleansing the executive departments-- not just investigating these several incidences and circumstances-- should be introduced.  Whether this is the appointment of one or more independent counsuls, a commission of some sort, I don't know.  But give some group or some individuals six months to look under every rock in every department and see what they find.

This is a President who likes to challenge government and the American people to think differently.  That's why so many people hate him; they hate to be challenegd.  We need to see a great example of this thing immediately before the downward spiral accelerates and things get far worse than they already are.

Another murder, another arrest

An arrest has been made in the murder of Deborah Castellano of Columbia on May 4.  Turns out it appears it's an ex-boyfriend.  There's an article about it here.

This guy didn't have much of a plan.  He had just broke up with the woman, he lived in North Carolina, so he rented a car the day before the killing and returned it with over 1000 miles on the car.  The distance between Baltimore and Charlotte, NC: 438 miles, or 876 miles round trip.  About 14 hours in the car.  So, it ain't exactly rocket science to figure out where this fool went.

And of course, if you had a bad relationship with someone, so much so that there was a domestic violence complaint filed, then you move over 400 miles from this person-- well, obviously, what you have to do is to is take them out.  Just going about your separate lives can't possibly be an option.  Good Lord.

I am very happy that there have been arrests in both of Howard County's homicides this year.

Jon Weinstein for District One

Back to writing about stuff around here.

I was sad to miss Jon Weinstein's campaign kickoff and announcement on Saturday.  Jon is a Democratic candidate running for Howard County Council in District 1, which is Ellicott City, Elkridge and Hanover, generally speaking.  As with all good politicos nowadays, Jon has a website, and you can find it here and learn all about him.  And give money, of course.  Even running for County Council nowadays will run a successful candidate well into the six figures.  To the left of the decimal.

OK, so remember what I was saying about dominoes falling?  This may be more like one of those logic puzzles they put on the SATs, where you have a group of things and a set of conditions and you have to answer questions about which thing could be before what other thing and such. 

So what do we know?  We know Guy Guzzone isn't running for Exec and that Jon Weinstein is running for Council in 1.  Jon definitely would not run against Courtney Watson in 1, therefore, Courtney must be running for Exec!  Ding ding ding!!!  There's an assumption we can make.  Colonel Mustard in the study with a candlestick?  Not so fast, my friend!

Back to Jon Weinstein and his candidacy.  His background as a business person, service member and public servant (and, rumor has it, a former Republican) makes him a wonderfully well-suited candidate for this office in this district.  District 1 likes its Council members to have intelligence and to be possessing backbone.  Jon has no shortage of either.

Not sure who will face Weinstein on the Republican side.  There are suggestions that former State Delegate and Transportation Secretary Bob Flanagan will run again, but really, the local GOP would benefit from having a fresh face in the race.  But far be it from me to give them advice!  Nevertheless, District 1 is key to the Democrats' maintaining a 4-1 advantage on the County Council, so I'd expect, regardless of the Republican candidate, a very competitive race.

Today on Marshmallow Man TV: Epilogue?

Happy Mother's Day!

From yesterday's news, clear that the story surrounding the death of our friend Dennis is entering a new phase.  A phase not unlike all other similar situations, but made unique, as each situation is, given the circumstances.  I speak of those and how I am choosing to respond in the below video.

Back to what passes as normal tomorrow.

  

Wordbones

I first met Dennis Lane in fall of 1991.  I was the President of the Young Democrats of Maryland and was helping my home chapter, the Young Democrats of Howard County, organize a roast for Jim Kraft, then a local Democratic activist and recent candidate for the House of Delegates.  Jim is now a member of the Baltimore City Council.

His then-wife conspired with me to bring some interesting people together from Jim's life for this impromptu roast, which was to be a surprise.  One of the roasters was Dennis Lane.

Dennis volunteered to be the opening act for the evening, and what an act he was.  He was witty, pleasant, charming, knew how to get up to the line but not cross it, and his historic knowledge of Howard County was incredibly impressive.  He struck me as a person of great substance and we stayed in touch, following each other's progress in the county for the next 20-plus years.

Dennis is responsible for making this blog what it is.  At the Columbia Foundation Spring Party in 2008, he pulled me aside and gave me a considerable critiquing of my blog, or more specifically, my blog habits.  He appreciated my writing very much but was very critical of me for my infrequency of posting.  He felt my style and voice unique and needed, so much so that, even though it at times conflicted with his, he challenged me to make the voice heard so much more.  Daily if possible.  And thus, this blog started producing more product, and it became more than a hobby to me.  It became a thrill and a pleasure.  And I have Dennis Lane to thank for that.

Dennis was the glue that bound the blog community together in this county.  Some of us local bloggers write to be hopeful, some write to be informative, some write to be nearly-scholoarly, some write to be irreverent (ahem!)... but Dennis was the blogger here who everybody liked.  Who everyone respected.  To whom we all asked for insight and opinion.  And my heavens, there were few people freer with their opinions than Dennis Lane.

And now Dennis is gone.  We all know this.  I will spare the link to the article.

My heart is so filled with sadness and horror.  I woke up early this morning-- around 4:30am, virtually the precise hour Dennis's soul left this world.  I felt there was something disruptive in my world-- and selfish me, I thought it had to do with my family, my career, or my finances.  It was not.

I bleed for all the people destroyed by this tragedy.  For Dennis, for his daughter and the young man who allegedly committed this horrific act.  For his ex-wife and his fiance.  For all of his family.  And for all of his friends, acquaintances, readers, people who heard the name Dennis Lane or Wordbones somewhere.  And for our entire community.  This is the second homicide within a week in Howard County.  Another unconscionable act committed by souls so sick and troubled to have conceived and carried out such an act.

A number of us convened earlier at Clyde's this evening to contemplate the day's events and to make sense of it all.  Social media today brings the possibility of every day being a micro- 9/11.  This evening I reviewed the Twitter and Facebook posts of the day.  Stuff about Anthony Brown, Ken Ulman, restaurants, the CA Board, development of Columbia.  And then, late morning, something about a stabbing in Ellicott City.  And scarcely more than an hour later, the news that Dennis had left us.  And from that second, for those of us affected by Dennis's passing, the day stopped making any sense.  In fact, it stopped, period.  And those of us at Clyde's were all victim's of that day's micro-9/11.  I am sure there were many others today in the lives of others.  But this was ours, tailor-made especially for us.  And thank God we had a place to all be together and talk for awhile.  I am sure Dennis liked that.

I think also that Dennis would, ever being the respectful man, find tribute appropriate for the occasion.  And sorrow.  But maybe not sadness.  This was a man who loved life and I think what we can do-- what I can do-- is be sad as appropriate, but, after that time, move forward and beyond.  I am glad that I have laughed today, after I heard the news.  I think Dennis would have liked that too.

So as I begin to close this post, a post which began with heavy heart, I find the crack of a smile emerging on my face.  Because I think to the last time I saw Dennis-- he and his fiance were walking around Lake Elkhorn on St. Patrick's Day.  He was smiling from ear to ear and striding happily in the sun.  And I think that's how he would like to be remembered.

This being such, I find solace and I hold joy in my heart for the fact that Dennis J. Lane was a person of significance in my life.  An example for this blogger and community leader to follow.

My friend, I hope you know the joy of walking in the light of He who passes beyond all human understanding.  May you know his eternal peace and love.  And may you know that your short time on this world has left fond memories and thoughts by so many.

Peace be with you, Dennis Lane.  Until we meet again.

Looey Gov watch begins

I betcha this song is going through the hallways of Lt. Governor Anthony Brown's house today.  Question is, is it also being blared at high volume in Ken Ulman's house as well?

I had heard originally that this thing was going to happen and was going to be announced at Brown's announcement that he's running for Governor in 2014 tomorrow.  Now I hear that this thing will be announced perhaps closer to the July 4th holiday, to allow for another boffo media hit, and so the ticket can rock and roll for a summer of campaign fun!  Seems to be a fairly closely-guarded secret, and not sure if anything will come out before tomorrow's event.

What I am NOT hearing, though, is that this thing is NOT happening.  Therefore, please allow the political dominoes in Howard County and throughout Maryland to begin to fall!

BTW, as to the song at the top of this post, I happen to prefer this version to the original!

The Best Fundraiser I won't be attending

I have been a staple of The Columbia Foundation's Spring Party for the past several years; however, I have a conflict with the occasion of this year's event.  So I figure the least I can do is promote it!

For those of you who don't know, Columbia Foundation has become the Community Foundation of Howard County, and this year's event is to celebrate their name change and expanded mission.  It goes on this year on Tuesday, May 14 from 5:45-8:30pm at the Horowitz Center at Howard Community College.  You can get more details and register to attend here.

It's a great time, great food and drink, and it's always good to support charity in Howard County.  So go!

Taser-mania!

I swear, Anne Arundel County is so much more fun lately than the area one former elected official used to only refer to as "the District of Howard."  Because the latest thing is that now, in AA County, you can have a taser or a stun gun!  Yes!  And who said in AA County, they don't know how to party?  You can read all about it here.

So private ownership of a taser or stun gun is now legal in Maryland, on a case-by-case basis.  Isn't it funny that county legislatures can determine whether or not one can carry a stun gun or taser, but yet state law mandates that other county issues have to get passed before the entire freaking General Assembly?  Goofy.

I have an admission to make.  In the late 80s, during my college years in Baltimore, I owned a stun gun.  Not a taser; the old school type that didn't shoot anything.  One push of the button and I had 50,000 volts of fury at my disposal.  Never used it on anyone though.  Almost did.  So when did these become illegal?

I can kind of see the need to have one of these, though I wouldn't buy another one.  Kudos to Anne Arundel County for embracing the taser!

 

Howard County Homicide

OK everyone.  While we're talking about effecting all sorts of wonders in our community like ending homelessness (which is noble, though I would love to see our county and State do more about the root causes of homelessness, like, say, actually NOT cut funding for drug and alcohol programs, and implement some strategies to get people on recovery into the workplace in decent paying job which befit their skills), concerning ourselves with what elected person is running against what other one, what the greatest restaurants are, what stores are closing and what are coming, and overall, just relaxing in the afterglow of our Chamber of Commerce weekend.... life happens in Howard County.  In the form of a homicide on Saturday morning.  Read about it here and here.  It happened.

We fancy ourselves such the land of milk and honey, the Reaganesque shining city on the hill, but we never, ever truly will be until this sort of filth fails to happen here.  I have no idea about what went on here.  Could have been a robbery, an attempted rape, an argument gone bad, someone seeing something they shouldn't have seen, an accident, whatever.  All I know is a life was lost and to me, that's worth no end of neat stuff we create in Howard County to apply salve to our upper middle class personas.

Simply not entertaining today any talk of the community where this occurred "not being safe".  Because the community is not Oakland Mills or Columbia.  It's Howard F'ing County!  And I used a term I haven't used in a long time for intended emphasis.  From one corner of the county to the other there needs to be outrage over this thing.  Not branding one corner of the community as bad.

And I don't blame the HCPD presence or perceived lack thereof for this, either.  Bad stuff happens everywhere.  And while we shouldn't be satisfied with an annual homicide count here greater than zero, we need to support our police while they work hard to solve this crime and bring any responsible parties to justice.

I am truly sick that while we all strive to achieve good things, reminders exist of the challenges that remain to be overcome before as a community can, we truly can reach our potential.  Because those reminders come at a high price, and are entered into a ledger written in blood red.

MMTV: Neuman vetoes rain tax? Big MMTV announcement! And Monday's written post

I've cut two, count them, TWO big editions of Marshmallow Man TV this weekend!

Today: Laura Neuman vetoes the rain tax; MMTV hitting the even bigger time starting in June, and a preview of Monday's written blog post, about the sad event in Howard County over the weekend.

You can watch this late Sunday edition of Marshmallow Man TV here, or see the inserted video: