Tell me please if the woman has already been President why is she allowed a third term?  The question rattled through my head as I watched the latest Democrat Party debate.  Wolf Blitzer had just asked Hillary Rodham-Clinton if she had been naive when getting on board with the Iraqi war.  As she meandered along some other talking points in giving her response she reflected that “we” bombed Saddam in 1998.  This is persistent in Rodham-Clinton’s claims that she has already served 2 terms as Commander-in-Chief.  Yet moments later when asked a question about her spouse the royal we came to an abrupt halt.  Now she distances herself from her co-President. 
 For those of you just arriving at this page you need to understand that I’ve decidedly libertarian-conservative leanings.  In no way do I support any member of the Democrat Party campaigning for President.  Mr. Obama is a nice man and I respect his earnestness but I just don’t get the liberal infatuation with Mrs. Rodham-Clinton.  I hear from Democrats constantly decrying the war.  Obama opposed it from the start and Mrs. Rodham-Clinton has a much different story.  Therefore, no war opposing Democrat should offer her allegiance.  What gives here?  A vote for the woman is hypocrisy.  It’s a vote for the status quo.  She’s the candidate of the much hated establishment.  “The Man”, if you will, from the language of her generation, which was common when said generation occupied college campuses and occupied campus administrative offices. 
You’ll also notice “Democrat Party”.  If it were “Democratic” there wouldn’t be super-delegates.  These are the people selected to give Mrs. Rodham-Clinton the nomination if the rank and file dare slip into the Obama camp.  The so called party of the people is adopting some very authoritarian pretensions.  Conservatives are incensed the Republican Party may select John McCain but if by Wednesday morning he’s the apparent then the party will abide by the voices of Main Street.  I’ve been in media for 22 years and I’ve made a great many observations.  One thing very clear to me is the shift among Democrats to a passion for big money, country clubs and celebrities.  How does this serve people like me, trying to support a little girl on a broadcaster’s salary?  Steven Spielberg was in the crowd at the CNN debate.  We’ve nothing in common and he couldn’t begin to fathom the gyrations my mind does when it comes time to pay the bills and, as I write the checks, consider what groceries I can skip to meet my obligations. 
You’ll notice I’m a libertarian-conservative but not a Republican.  I’m weary of a party now joining the crowd and taking money from my pocket to support its addiction to earmarks, many of these excused with claims I’ll benefit.  The beneficiaries are all well connected developers, lobbyists and cronies.  Last week I by chance stumbled across some old tapes of Ronald Reagan speaking on behalf of the Goldwater campaign 44 years ago.  Reagan spoke of a government getting out of the way to allow citizens to make mistakes, mistakes we learn from.  An example would be you don’t sign a mortgage for a McMansion on a McDonald’s paycheck.  You’ve now been educated and it isn’t my responsibility to bail you out.  Your church may offer some solace and it’s possible I’ve helped your church and now you can help the rest of us by ignoring the promises of Rodham-Clinton, Obama and any Republican offering candy for a ride in the car.  Judas Priest, my friends, we can do better.  There is an old cliché about folks getting the government they deserve.  I’m sure this is true because few of you saw the debate.  You were watching another channel hoping for an update on Miss Spears, Mark Harmon or the dead actor whose picture adorns all the celebrity rags I saw at the grocery checkout on the way home from work.  My thoughts weren’t with that fellow as I was distracted by the cost of my 4 items. 
Responses are welcome.  Goodnight.
 

A member of The Milton Historical Society approached me shortly before Christmas and asked me to video-tape long-time local residents for showing at the upcoming “Opening of the 1957 Time Capsule.” Being a lover of all things nostalgia and amateur film making, I agreed without bothering to check my schedule and wife.

Knowing my involvement with the event, Maria Evans (Editor, TalkOfDelmarva.com, the Blog) asked me to “cover” the event for you, the BLOG readers. Again, I agreed without checking my available time.

In this time, much has happened in Milton… so here it is:

The Time Capsule Opening

When I arrived at the Milton Theatre it was already standing room only! Every seat in the place was taken and folks were milling about in the common area. There was a certain energy and excitement about the crowd. There were folks who had lived their entire lives in the area and people who had recently moved in.

Mayor Don Post did a surprisingly great job as Master of Ceremonies for the event. I saw him to be entertaining and well-spoken on the stage working without a script and dealing with some technical issues.

The announcement was made that they were about to remove the concrete top to the capsule and the standing crowd proceeded out the door to watch. Those with seats tended to stay where they were, eying the size of the crowd who had already gone out to surround the small box.

Not long after, the wooden crate which was inside the outer capsule was carried into the Milton Theater. As it passed people craned their necks to get a glimpse of the contents.

I raised my camera as high as I could getting two shots off as it passed, this one shows what would come to disappoint many in the audience..

Water Damage! Sadly, water had found its way into the capsule during its 50 year slumber, damaging much of the contents.

The good and bad news was that most of the documentation placed in the capsule was redundant! Items such as the High School Yearbook and Sesquicentennial Brochures, posters and even the banner had already been preserved by members of the community and were in better shape than the contents of the capsule!

Local business woman and member of the Milton Historical Society Ellen Passman took the stage and began a lengthy dissertation in “50’s speak” which garnered many laughs.

During the event they showed my 15 minute film of interviews about life in Milton in the 50’s by many local residents which was also a crowd pleaser.

After the show we celebrated with a reception. In all it was a great time to reflect on Milton’s past with an eye to the future as young and old shook hands and got to know each other better to the sounds of 50’s music.

You know, talking to a few station personnel today, we had an interesting, though somewhat seemingly sexist, conversation regarding cars, heating (nope, Willyville, I didn’t check my mail yet) and the question of “Why are women always so cold” — I’m going to just throw the obvious out there first to keep from all the snide comments about us guys being “too fat” — yes, ha ha.. We’re all very fat from sitting around on the radio all the time. Okay, now that that’s out of our system, let’s get back to the point. 

Every car trip, every evening at home, movie theaters, restaurant, petting zoo, church, rock show, bicycle ride, ocean voyage, trip to the moon — every time… “Can we turn the heater up, I’m so cold.” — “roll the windows up” — “my feet are cold” — “we’re too far from the Earth’s sun, I think we went a little off course” – 

I think that God (or Chrysler, maybe) created those new cars with the separate heating controls for this very reason… The next model will have a partition in the middle of the car to create two very separate controlled environments. His and hers… His will be a comfortable 68-74 degrees; hers will be a sleepy 373.1339-Kelvin (or as I like to refer to it as “enough to melt my face”.) 

I looked online for a possible scientific explanation (other than “shut up, fatty”) — here’s what I found on a Web site called “The Straight Dope” written by straight dope Cecil Adams: 

Women have a higher ratio of surface to volume than men and thus shed heat faster. The reasoning here is that heat generation is determined by volume (radius cubed), while heat dissipation is determined by skin surface area (radius squared). The smaller your size, the lower your heat generation/heat dissipation ratio, and the colder you are. Probably part of the answer–see below. 

Men have more heat-generating muscle mass. Muscles are well supplied with blood vessels. The more muscle, the more blood flow and the more warmth. 

Women have a higher vasoconstriction threshold temperature. Vasoconstriction is the process by which, as the external temperature falls, blood flow to the skin is restricted in order to divert blood to internal organs, thus maintaining core temperature. The theory: as ambient temp falls, women shut off blood flow to the skin sooner in order to provide more warmth to their unborn babies, so they feel colder. Interesting idea but as yet unproven–though women do seem to have lower skin temperature when exposed to cold. 

Women get colder during menstruation. Supposedly this is due to anemia, hormonal changes, etc. However, most studies haven’t shown much difference between menstruating and nonmenstruating women in terms of heat response. As you say, female aversion to cold doesn’t seem to be confined to a particular time of the month. 

I’ve also heard it claimed that men feel warmer because they wear three-piece suits and get offices with south-facing windows, whereas women are apparently shivering in rags in the dark. Setting aside the gross generalizations in this picture, when’s the last time you saw anybody except a lawyer wear a three-piece suit? 

The most persuasive research (for example, “Comparison of Thermoregulatory Responses Between Men and Women Immersed in Cold Water,” Tikuisis et al, Journal of Applied Physiology, October 2000) suggests that varying male/female response to temp is largely a result of size and body-fat percentage, not some fundamental biological difference. Men have a higher metabolism only in the sense that a big car uses more gas than a little one. (To be fair, you can find studies that point to a different conclusion–as I say, the experts disagree.) Anyway, you can either work with large (or no) women, be a pig, or deal with it. Personally I like 25 degrees Celsius just fine. 

Do any of these seem plausible or is another one of the universe’s infinite mysterious? I prefer to not find out the true explanation or a resolution because I’ve grown fond of the constant arguing and my unreasonable responses of “Man, put on another coat or something.” 

People seem puzzled when I won’t give a blanket endorsement to Mitt Romney as the savior of our land.  Yesterday there was a notice in the broadcast trade newsletters that the behemoth Clear Channel planned a hiring freeze and additional budget cuts.  This is a company that has variously owned between 12-hundred and 15-hundred TV and radio stations.  It’s the outgrowth of the 1996 Clinton/Gore Telecommunications Act, which promised more choices and variety.  Apparently there wasn’t a date affixed with the promise.
 

Clear Channel stands to make billions this year just through political advertising.  The company is also planning to unload somewhere in the neighborhood of between 400 and 500 properties to Bain Capital.  The face of Bain Capital is Mitt Romney.  Imagine having a President controlling a large swath of the media.  Something akin to this did happen in Ireland in the 1940s, 50s and 60s as the leader of that country controlled much of the media.  There was little dissent and a stagnating economy but the media sang its leader’s praises and he continued on in positions of government power past the ripe old age of 90 and at death was hailed as the greatest Irish hero since the days of Boraime. 
 

The other day on the program I mentioned Bain Capital’s efforts to sell 3com to the communist Chinese.  The company could allow an enemy to crack U.S. defense encryption codes.  Perhaps the profit motive is greater than the security of our country?  An on-air caller asked why we weren’t hearing much media attention of what could, in some quarters, be considered treason. 
 

Let me attest that work in the media is ever more difficult to obtain and finding a new position after losing a job is no picnic.  If you’re going to have a new boss very soon are you willing to be the man or woman causing his reputation great harm?  There are folks in the media who will argue these considerations never enter into the decision making process.  Yes and these people also slay dragons and save damsels in distress.  Do you believe there are elements of the media willing to lie?  Consider this paragraph evidence.
 

Reporters and editors and many talk show hosts are afraid.  Witness reactions from Democrats in the Senate to comments made by Rush Limbaugh.  Government isn’t happy with dissent.  No government and no member of any government will tolerate dissent if there is an instrument for silencing.  Ask a local state representative his feelings about the lack of cheerleading on my program. 
 

I work for a living and because my daughter needs my support.  I’ve no intention of allowing her to fall under the sovereignty of a communist or crescent moon but increasingly we see elements of the establishment willing to sell our freedoms and future for profit.  The threat is exponential when the seller is coupled with public office. 
 

For the Clintonistas the goal is power and only power.  For Mitt Romney it may be power with the goal to enrich the self at public and national expense.  Those of you complaining that McCain is no option have a question to answer.  Where were your contributions and support for Tom Tancredo, Ron Paul or Duncan Hunter?  In politics I trust my instinct and refuse to follow the herd.  The only other metaphor I can see is that of lemmings racing over a cliff. 
 

Bill Colley
Notes From Home
January 26, 2008

This is what creates the modern libertarian-conservative.  I post it because the pictures are pretty…

 

http://www.cuba-ny.com/

According to the 2007 Ocean City Police Department Annual Report, there was a nearly 8% drop in serious crime. Overall crimes against individuals dropped 20%, while overall crimes against property dropped 6%. Aggravated assaults dropped by more than 38%, and Breaking and Enterings dropped by nearly 18%. They say a drop of 20% in crimes against persons is quite significant. Police credit greater officer visibility and improved technology to track statistics.

Chief Bernadette Dipino of the Ocean City Police Department says,

“It substantiates the recent citizen survey where the overwhelming majority of respondents said they felt Ocean City was a safe community.”

So although the area is getting more and more built up, serious crimes are down and people feel that Ocean City is a safe place to live. Around here there seems to be more of an increase of crime, especially among young people. Arrested recently for burglary and theft in the Lewes/Milton area were five boys including one 12-year old, two 13-year olds, and two 15-year olds. Here is the story from WGMD News:

“Five Sussex County boys and one adult are now facing several charges of burglary, theft, criminal mischief and conspiracy. The crimes were reported to police between the months of September 2007 and this month. Police say the boys forced their way into homes by breaking windows, and once inside stole electronic items and alcohol. Now here are their ages—13 year old Diandre Mapp of Lewes is at the Stevenson House on 33-thousand dollars bail. 12 year old Michael Mapp of Lewes—also at the Stevenson House. 15 year old John Maker of Milton—his bail was set at 10-thousand dollars unsecured bail with a co-signer. 13 year old Jordan Maker of Milton had the same bail amount, 15 year old Brandon Marvel of Lewes is now at the Stevenson House on 11,500 dollars secured bail, and the adult—45 year old Calvin Harmon has bail set at 8-thousand dollars cash.”

Also today, one teen has gotten in trouble and more might as well for the exploding of soda bottle bombs:

“A 15 year old from Magnolia has been arrested in connection with several incidents involving the exploding of soda bottle bombs. The incidents occurred Wednesday and Thursday in the London Village and Paris Villa developments and caused about $100 in damage. The teen is charged with three felony counts of manufacturing, using and transferring or possessing an explosive device. The juvenile is being held at the Stevenson House in default of 9-thousand dollars bond. Fire investigators do expect additional arrests will be made. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.”

In a news story from earlier this month, WGMD reported:

“Five boys were involved in a home invasion and assault. Milton police say five boys, ranging in age from 12 to 15 years old assaulted a 14-year old Milton boy and one of them had a knife. Milton officers learned that the five boys from the Milton area, forced their way into a Milton home and assaulted him numerous times. One of the victims held a knife in front of him and made threatening remarks. The boy did receive medical attention and has been released. All of the boys were charged with assault, terroristic threatening, and other charges. Four of the juveniles were released on unsecured bond to the custody of their parents and one is at the Stevenson Home in default of bond.”

It seems like more and more juveniles are getting into trouble. And these are just a few examples. You have to wonder what is going on with all of these young kids committing these crimes. Also, if you live in Ocean City, with the drop in serious crime, do you still feel safe? Or if you live in Sussex County, do you feel safe with the overall growth of the county?

 

This was in my email this morning.  It’s in response to the Romney cheerleading squad (I should also note that a second emailer tells me there is documentation that a defense contracting company of which Romney is a major partner is being sold to China)….

 

Mr. Colley,
I don’t normally do this, but I am compelled to correct a caller to your show of Wednesday, 23 Jan at around 5:15pm. You were discussing SEN McCain and the caller mistakenly said that SEN McCain was one who pushed the issue to go into Bosnia. Specifically, he stated that there was never any evidence of genocide uncovered in Bosnia.  Implying that SEN McCain was wrong then and it is wrong for us to be in Iraq today.  Also, while criticizing GEN Clark, he mistakenly said that Clark’s actions associated with the airfield in Pristina, Bosnia almost led to WW IV. Not sure when we had WW III, but Pristina and the airfield are in Kosovo, Serbia, not Bosnia. Pristina is a few hundred miles east across the Drina River.  But I digress.

My real issue is that we as Americans tend to have very short memories, if we ever really understood something in the first place. To make it worse, some people feel compelled to use their mispreceptions to argue some political point.  Case in point, the caller who was criticizing SEN McCain.  (NOTE: I am not advocating SEN McCain, only attempting to correct some misperceptions.)  I must state, unequivocally, that many US Soldiers saw first hand the aftermath of the genocide in Bosnia and I was one of them. I served three tours in Bosnia and one in Kosovo, among other places I visited. I spent much of the summer of 1998 leading Soldiers charged with the mission to provide security for a team of forensic experts from the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY for short. During that summer, the ICTY uncovered some 20 grave sites that had between 20 and 50 sets of human remains in each one. Other ICTY teams found similar sites in subsequent years.  The victims were all Bosnian muslims executed by the Serbs serving under Milosovic, Mladic, Krstic, and a few other suspected war criminals. The victims were all from a small town in southeastern Bosnia called Srebrenica. In all, the Serbs executed some 8000 muslims within a couple of days in early July of 1995. Some of the best public documentation of the massacre can be found in the book, “Endgame,” by David Rohde. Rohde won a Pulitzer prize writing for the Christian Science Monitor while reporting on Bosnia and Srebrenica.  You may find this website of some interest.  http://www.columbia.edu/itc/journalism/nelson/rohde/
Many have called the Srebrenica Massacre the worst atrocity in Europe since WW II.  But then again, that was a few years ago, and many have forgotten.   Many have also forgotten the atrocities attibuted to Sadam Hussein, but again, I digress.

Personally, I find it offensive when someone makes broad sweeping incorrect comments, such as there was no genocide documented in Bosnia, in order to further their own political arguments for or against someone or some issue.  I tried to call into your show, but could not get in.  I can only hope that someday, someone will correct the caller and perhaps encourage him to do some research and get the facts straight.   Frankly, the mostly liberal media sets the tone and promulgates the perceptions that many Americans have about issues like why we went to Bosnia or Kosovo or Iraq.   The sad part is that because most Americans do not know the facts, they will never fully appreciate what the US military has done and continues to do on a daily basis.   

Just for reference, I am a native Delawarean.  I listen to your show for an hour or so M-F, when I am leaving my business in Lewes and returning home to Smyrna. I respect the fact that you are not afraid to correct callers, like to you did with this one when he stated that you were a McCain supporter. I also served my country for 27 years as a Soldier in the US Army prior to retiring in 2006.  Having said that, I must also acknowledge that everything contained in this email represents only my personal views of the facts and does not necessarily represent those of the US Army or the Department of Defense.
Sincerely,
Name witheld by poster.

A woman at work suggested I should write.  She isn’t a hen but a Blue Hen.  I’ve been henpecked until I’m blue in the face so this is a try at some random thoughts.  I wanted to share a You Tube video.  In it an angry Hitler vents about the Cowboys-Giants game and that he just bought a 70 dollar T.O. jersey for the Super Bowl and now can’t wear it.  Then he finds solace that his fantasy league team went 13 and 3 and won a championship.  The English translation below the picture contains adult language in respect to the play of Eli Manning, sorry.  Not appropriate for this site.  

It’s primary season.  Here are some reasons you’ll know there is a primary approaching in your state. 

 A.  John McCain is carried off campaign bus “All tied up”.  McCain wins over hostile crowd with some very Houdini like impersonations.  He then gets jeered in Wilmington after refusing the “London Broil” at a Vietnamese eatery.  

B.  Not to be forgotten, Mike Huckabee has himself nailed to a cross in imitation of the Lord.  He then appears on stage for a jam session with Jared’s band.  Later the candidate will blame his loss on an inability to play the bass guitar. 

C.  Another former Arkansas Governor, campaigning for his wife, also gets nailed. 

D.  You come home and find Fred Thompson napping on your couch. 

E.  A former Arkansas Governor is sleeping in your bed.  Or so that’s his claim. 

F.  Rudy Giuliani insists his porridge is too hot.  He agrees to eat the “London Broil”. 

G.  Clinton staff empties spackling compound and trowels from local hardware stores before televised debate. 

H.  Fred Thompson is endorsed by Delaware Narcoleptic Research Foundation. 

I.  Dennis Kucinich appears at a union hall for a campaign rally.  Only one person attends.  An excited Kucinich offers Mike Protack a cabinet level seat in gratitude.  They spend an hour chatting about fantasy football, then Protack explains he already has a new job lined up. 

J.  Terry McAuliffe suggests Obama wants to keep us in the “dark” about his health plan.  Obama’s staff charges the Clinton campaign with racism. 

K.  A former Arkansas Governor apologizes and asks if Obama has any sisters working on the campaign.  

L.  You see Ron Paul “all tied up” and abandoned at sea and bobbing off the coast after suggesting people “suck it up” and get back to working for a living.

  

More on these breaking news stories later… 

 

Heard this morning on the WGMD Dan Gaffney morning show - “Dover” by John Flynn of Hockessin

Hear it again - John Flynn - MySpace

John Flynn website

Here are the lyrics -

Dover                                    By John Flynn

 Elijah was a sergeant, 42 years old
from Mesa Arizona, Elijah won’t grow old
Patrick was with C Troop, Second Armored Cav
His buddies all remember how Patrick loved to laugh
Seth was from East Brunswick, just a newly wed
Somewhere in New Jersey a young widow bows her head
Daniel was from Boston shipped out from Fort Bragg
His mother got back Daniel with a folded flag  

Chorus:
Oh big airplane bring’em down easy
Out of the Delaware skies
Oh big airplane Dover is waiting
to welcome the  heroes you fly… home

William was in Anbar, combat engineer
1^st Marine Division, William isn’t here
Alan rebuilt bridges for Battalion B
Next to cause of death they wrote the letters I E D
Gussie was a scrub nurse hailing from Fort Bliss
Gussie had a spirit this world’s gonna miss
Jeremiah’s son cries on his mamma’s knee
There was no armor plating on his dad’s humvee

Chorus 

Scrubbed wooden pallets with white straps cinched over
Long boxes of flag draped aluminum
The C-5 is crowded when it lands in Dover
The honor guard boards and makes room again

Making straight for Nineveh, just like Jonah’s whale
Holy truth you swallow, overseas you sail
Precious is the cargo sacred was the gift
offered in the sandstorm from which your wings lift
Those who would pay homage can’t watch you set down
Behind barbed wire sentries miles from their town
No one breathes to question this silent parade
Except for the anguished loved ones left to say

© 2005 Flying Stone Music

After much contemplation, here is my list of the top 5 sandwiches:

 

5. Basic Grilled Cheese.  (best with American or Cheddar on white bread, served with tomato soup) 

4. Turkey and Swiss cheese with lettuce tomato and mayo. (Mayo and turkey are made for each other.)

3. BLT; Bacon Lettuce and Tomato.  This sandwich is best served in a big “club’ style, cut into four triangles held together with toothpicks and turned sideways.  My favorite childhood sandwich.

2. Filet-O-Fish.  The McDonalds classic with the famous ½ piece of American cheese and special tarter sauce.  I could eat these all day like candy!

1. Grilled Rueben.  Rye bread with corned beef piled high with Swiss, and 1000 Island or Russian dressing, and sauerkraut… mmmm see you at Irish Eyes!