On Wednesday the 60-cent-a-pack tax increase on cigarettes will take effect.. According to the State News, this will raise the total per-pack tax to $1.15.

In 2003, Gov Minner raised the cigarette tax $0.31.. Meaning, in 2003, prior to the initial tax-raise.. smokers were paying only an extra $0.24 per pack… Still a great bit lower than the city of New York’s awesome tax-hike

from the Cato Institue in 2003: Mayor Michael Bloomberg hiked the city’s cigarette excise tax from 8 cents to $1.50 per pack. That hike, coupled with a series of recent increases in the state cigarette tax, has pushed the price of legal brand name cigarettes to more than $7.50 per pack.

It’s a paradox really, though… How can the state and it’s imfamous Quit-Line (pictured left) allow people to quit… but still bring in all of those lucrative nicotine stained tax dollars?

Ah, yes.. raise the tax more and more and more… But, what do we do when those fed up with the tax-hike then quit smoking? Which is one of Minner’s goals, right? To decrease childhood smoking? (Tell that to the family in Lone Star Steak House that I witnessed allowing their 14-year-old so enjoy that sweet Carolina smoke even more than he enjoyed that Awesome Blossom).

Wow, that does look awesome… I want to share with you an e-mail I received today on the smoking tax coming direct from my inbox to your eyes… enjoy:

Having been out of town, I return to be greeted by the States’ latest visit to the Cigarette ATM machine. Cigarette smokers already pay more taxes than other Delaware (indeed, US) citizen.  Democrats in Congress are moving to add .61 cents to a pack of cigarettes.  I don’t believe that there is conclusive evidence of the health drawbacks.  Cigarettes are being taxed again and again because having demonized cigarette smokers, it is a popular tax. Those who don’t foresee that the next ATM tax will be on THEIR particular vice (pleasure), have their heads stuck in sand.  Politicians would happily tax alcohol and beer, however the number of those who like to drink constitutes far too many voters to irritate.  Especially in an election year.  From the information available, politicians view cigarette taxes as their own slush fund.  They should think about killing the golden goose however.  I read recently that the number of cigarette smokers have declined. The article stated - “new smokers wanted”. Recently thieves stole several thousand dollars worth of cigarettes in Magnolia, Delaware. This type of theft will probably greatly increase as it did when the first cigarette taxes arrived. It’s time (past time, really)  to let up on taxing cigarettes and to work at better managing government and state finances.

So, I went to see the new Simpsons movie yesterday, and while in line, I was eye-molested by the guy in from of me’s oh-so-saucy t-shirt.. Let me preface this by saying, I wasn’t offended by the guy’s t-shirt.. not because of high-community standards.. but, offended by the taste of the gentleman… I ask you, my brethren, is this photo captured by my WGMD Local eye-spy camera phone funny?

Now, I’m not telling you, Wichita Lineman, that you don’t like it hot.. maybe you do… to me that means you like to get electrocuted.. but whatever floats your superconductor…

Why do people find it suitable to tell us all in eye-shot how the “like it” or how they “do it”.. I give you another fine example from cafepress.com

Really? That’s very subtle… here’s some more that I didn’t feel appropriate posting the actual images of…

it seems as if they have some of these delightful t-shirts for almost every job…

  
(these are just not true)

The worst of the bunch: TEACHER’S DO IT WITH CLASS… !!!!

 (*sigh*)

And the oddest of the bunch: mediators do it until both parties are satisfied.. I’m sure they’ve sold a load of those…

I’m gonna market this one to all the other lazy bloggers out there…

A caller on WGMD this week brought up an interesting point. He said although the U.S. Public Interest Research Group states that Delaware is getting hotter, their report says that the average temperature in Wilmington was 2.1 degrees above average in 2006. Does “2.1 degrees above average” mean Delaware was warmer in 2006 than in previous years? The caller said this is rather deceptive. Here is what Thomas Glazer of the US Public Interest Research Group says concerning global warming:

“According to the National Climatic Data Center, the 2006 summer and 2006 overall were the second warmest on record for the lower 48 states. 2007 is on track to be the second warmest year on record globally.”

Glazer presents the key findings for the state of Delaware (note the number of times it says above normal).

 In 2006, the average temperature was 2.1°F above normal in Wilmington. Nationally, the average 2006 temperature was at least  0.5°F above normal at 87% of the locations studied. 

Wilmington’s above-average temperatures in 2006 are part of a  broader warming trend since 2000. Between 2000 and 2006, the average  temperature was .5°F above the 30-year average in Wilmington.  Nationally, the average temperature during this seven year period was at least 0.5°F above normal at 87% of the locations studied.

Two of Delaware’s hottest years on record have occurred in the last five years. 2002 was the fourth warmest year with an average  temperature 2.6°F above normal. 2006 was the third warmest with an  average 2.7°F above normal

 Here are some questions to consider:

1. Do above normal temps for a few years mean there is a warming trend globally, nationally, and locally?

2. The report does say that two of Delaware’s hottest years on record have occurred in the last five years. How far do records go back? Does this mean there is a warming trend? Does it include all the centuries leading up to this time? In general does this really mean anything? Is 2.1 degrees above average that significant?

3. Having said all of this– could the earth indeed be going through cycles due to the condition of the sun among other factors, thus leading to increased temperatures globally?

4. Should there still be an effort to move ahead with global warming pollution controls?

“I took a trip down to look at the fair.  When I arrived I found nobody there…”  (Renaissance:  A Trip to the Fair © 1975  Repertoire Records)
 

It’s Delaware State Fair time and if you went by the results of a recent WGMD Opinion Line question – most people responding said they didn’t plan to attend the fair at all.
 

I went to the State Fair last night – mainly for the Brad Paisley concert and there were LOTS of people at the fair!   There were lots of excited and gleeful sounds coming from the rides on the midway and even more people wandering through the fairgrounds checking out the attractions and the food - even though the booths with the world’s smallest horse and world’s smallest woman seemed to have no takers – not even at the bargain price of 50 cents!
 

Unless you’re a Future Farmer or 4-Her, looking for the thrill of the midway or some ‘to-die-for’ carny food, or just some great music, then there’s not much for you at the fair.  Even though I really just passed through to the Grandstand – I had a blast watching the people and all of humanity taking in the fair with me. 
 

There are still a few more days left for you to experience the 88^th annual Delaware State Fair but come Sunday – it will all be gone.
 

One of our great local Army dads gave me a US Government “Meal Ready To Eat”          (MRE).  I decided to review it for anyone thinking of joining our Armed Forces.Menu # 9  Beef Stew:

     Beef stew in a pouch was pretty good, and weighed in at 280 calories.  I suggest using the tiny little bottle of Tabasco to kick this up a notch.  Avoid the salt in the MRE, you’re getting enough sodium in this without adding more.

     Vanilla Dairyshake in a bag reminds me of any over the counter protein drink.  You have to rip open the bag and add ¼ canteen cup full of water and shake for 60 seconds.  I did this but found it to still be very lumpy and not completely blended.   It was a tasty treat even with the dry lumps and hit me with another 450 calories, 140 from fat!

     The cookie was huge, 280 calories, and was quite tasty.  Warning: do not eat the “Fresh Pax” included with the chocolate chip cookie.  It contains iron, not fit for human consumption.  I’m glad it was included though because it made the cookie surprisingly fresh tasting.

     Next it was strawberry jam, (good) at 70 calories on crackers (the worst item in the MRE) at 180 calories.  Without the jam, you may as well use the cracker as a weapon, it is hard and dry.  My older brother was in the Army when I was a kid and had C-rations, I think these crackers were left over from 1971.

     I over ate when I swallowed the kippered beef snack, 60 calories.  I recommend saving this as a true snack later fellas, you may need it.

    The pack also included Chiclets, coffee with cream and sugar, waterproof matches, a moist towelette, and some kind of strange water activated “heater in a bag”.  I didn’t even attempt to use the heater for the beef stew, it seemed way complicated, and the stew was fine at room temperature.

     Total calories 1220.  Four stars.  I’m ready for  20 miles with a 60 pound pack.

     I’m keeping the Sheryl Crow “one sheets” of toilet paper for later use, but I doubt I’ll blog that.

Wow, what a mess!

 

Though not a fan or supporter of her husband, could one help but respect and admire “Ladybird” Johnson for her early efforts to improve our environment and her lasting (??) legacy to the generations following her?  I rememberd when she became the power behind the “beautification” process of this land with so much natural beauty and wealth. The disappearance of garish billboards, for instance.  Part of Americana, perhaps, but did nothing to enhance the natural scenery as one drove across country.  Since I was in and out of the country for years at a time, I didn’t see gradual change. I’d leave for two, three or more years and upon my return it was startling…in the best possible meaning of the word…to see more and more of our habitats, glades, fields, not blocked by huge signs advertising everything from shaving cream to sun lotions to motels and diners.

Even more astounding…no, breathtaking…was the riot of colours along highways and interstates when the wildflowers bloomed.  First place I noticed it was when I returned to live in Maryland.  Foolish me, I thought every major median might…or would…bless our tiresome travels with poppies, coreopsis and every other wildflower (weeds, to some) indigenous to either State or country in general.  Not always, though.  What happened to this portion of the First State?  I have it on very good authority that up north, around the State line, medians were or are being “beautified”. Then again, down here we have jersey barriers or concrete paved medians, no floral tributes to the growing season.  And, more and more not matter where one travels, the billboard are creeping back up…more a tribute to materialism than nature.  One just has to Look at Rte. 1…particularly from Five Points to/from the beaches.  Somehow I’d think the many establishments lining the north and south lanes would speak for themselves but I guess not.  And to add insult to injury, rolling neon signs are adding to the clutter and garishness.  Such a pity.

Ms. Johnson didn’t just plant seeds in the fertile ground but in the soul…she was in the forefront of environmental improvement years ahead of other’s time.   But I guess boredom…or profits…supercede a pleasant, peaceful landscape.  All is not lost, however.  Maybe when you’re thinking about next year’s plantings you’ll take a look at the many wildflowers indigenous to our State and consider planting at least a few.  They are easier to grow, hardier during our variable weather conditions…perhaps because they “belong”.  Some may tell you “they are just weeds”…wouldn’t you think, though, that the only difference between a “weed” and a “flower” is perception?  By the way, I wonder how often any of us actually depend upon billboards to decide where we want to eat, sleep or shop?

Sure would be a shame for Ladybird Johnson’s legacy to die with her.   

   

Finally made it to the new Farmer’s Market at Grove Park in RB.  I was all set to go a couple of weeks ago but then discovered it was a late afternoon market and, being unwilling to tackle the traffic, crowds, parking etc. by that time of the day, opted out.  Today I subbed for someone at work so had the perfect opportunity, getting off at five.  Parking was no problem at all and the market is very nicely set up under trees.  I was looking for three stalls in particular…primarily the Lavender Fields Farm stall followed by Sam Yoder and Delaware Meat (or Packing?) Co.  Found the Lavender stall…hard to drag myself away but, at least when I did, I was euphoric…:)  No sign of Yoder’s and the Delware Meat (or Packing?) Co. seemed to be out of what I wanted (as were many of the stalls selling breads etc.).  One thing I did notice was that the organic produce stands had some of the best looking produce I’ve seen in a long time..particularly of the organic variety. 

 

I wish it was a morning market but I’ll definitely return though perhaps still not on a hot, beach/tourist season day (mostly because I don’t like the heat)…maybe if I work another Tuesday…but I’m thinking towards Fall, if they keep it going that late in the year.  In this year of extremely arid weather, with local farmers struggling to do their best, support your Farmer’s Markets…wherever they are.  It’s worth it both to yourself and to them for the effort.  The cheeses are delicious, fruits fresh and unblemished and the Lavender products…well worth the visit all by itself.    

Frank Infante’s children have been found (see below post INFANTE KIDS NO LONGER MISSING). Today on the Jared Morris show, I interviewed Mr. Infante regarding the disappearance and recovery of little Frank and Frankie.

Mr. Infante adresses the court system in Delaware, the “bias” towards mothers and the future of his family, in this all-too-cozy family drama.

Listen to the Infante Interview Audio Here: (mp3 appox 15min).

Please let’s hold comments like this to a minimum. (I didn’t say not at all, just a minimum):

On June 13th inane commenter said “This particular blog and subsequent comments are despicable. Why is WGMD even entertaining this matter?” - Which of course is the text equilvalent of “Why don’tcha jus talk ’bout sumthin’ else?”

You can hear the original story from the beginning. On June 07th, I had Frank Sr. on the program to address the initial missing children report.

Original June 7th, 2007 Audio (appox 25 min, mp3).

After being shown on a tv program in the UK my sister sent this to me, today.  Definatey an “Awwwww!” minute or two but…something to think about.  They do this so they don’t float away from each other, separated from the group.  Call it hokey, make accusations of “Kumbaya” but seems to me they know better than we of the perils of distancing ourselves from one another, living in our glorified bubbles, being at risk when we “divide”.   Forget about stopping to smell the coffee…or the roses.  If you can watch this without giving it some thought you’re more to be pitied than scorned.