House Resolution number 75 has passed the House here on the last night of the 144th General Assembly Session. Several people here were requesting a copy of this resolution as it is of great interest to them. This resolution establishes protections for mentally disabled people in the State of Delaware including Lauren Richardson, who WGMD reported on back in the spring. Here is a quote from House Resolution 75:

“The impetus for this Resolution comes from the case of Lauren Richardson, a 24-year old Delaware woman who, after suffering brain injuries and impaired consciousness, now faces the possible removal of her nutrition and hydration, despite the absence of her clearly specified and legal consent to any such a course of action. The State of Delaware has, through recent legislation prompted by the abuses at the Delaware Psychiatric Center, endeavored to protect the rights of mentally disabled patients in the First State. Lauren, as a mentally disabled person, is enumerated those same protection and rights.”

The Resolution further adds:

“Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives of the 144th General Assembly of the State of Delaware that it is against the public policy of this State and this State’s interest in life, health and safety, for hydration and nutrition that is not harming a patient to be involuntarily removed from a non-terminal, apparently brain-incapacitated patient if doing so will cause the individual’s death. Furthermore, such withholding of hydration and nutrition without: 1. Clear written direction from a legally competent patient or, 2. A valid written advance health-care directive that was previously executed by a patient who is now incapacitated and that either allows such withholding under such circumstances or grants an agent authority to make that decision by an incapacitated patient is also against the public policy of the State of Delaware.”

For more on the story of Lauren Richardson, which is similar to the Terry Schiavo case, go to www.lifeforlauren.org.

I graduated Temple University on February 1, 2008, thinking that people would come clamoring for me and want me to work for their radio station.  I have been wanting to work in radio ever since my first year at Temple and I was chomping at the bit to get going.  The phone didn’t ring, no real e-mails, a few rather dismal interviews, and 4 months later I was beginning to loose faith that I would be able to start my dream right out of college.  And then out of thin air I got an e-mail from Dan Gaffney from WGMD in Delaware asking for an interview.  I had told myself that if I didn’t get the job there then I was done with radio for a while and I would try to find some other job in the media.  The interview went well, and I kept my fingers crossed.  Finally I got the call that I had been waiting for for 4 months!  I would be a reporter and manager of the board from 7:00 to 12:00.  Couldn’t really ask for much more.  In a flurry of packing, finding a place to live, and getting everything set up, in a week and a half I had packed my whole life, left everything I knew and was in a little house in Delaware figuring out where my couch would go in the family room.  It wasn’t a perfect transition, but it was pretty darn close.  I won’t deny that there were many, MANY tears involved when I had to say goodbye to my parents and my boyfriend of 5 years (who is trying to find a job so he can move down with me).  The next day I started my new job at WGMD.  I was relieved to find that everyone here was friendly and always willing to help if I asked.  There was (and still isn’t) no such thing as a stupid question, I learned an extreme amount in only a week, the later hours weren’t bad at all, and thankfully no major disasters while I have been in charge.  But yet I was still unsure of myself and how I was doing.  I was still extremely homesick, my boyfriend was here for the whole week, but he was leaving soon, and I just didn’t feel like at my job I was making much of a difference.  Then two things happened in the span of two days.  On Friday night after I had made my last newscast of the night at midnight, I saw that there was a call coming in.  It was an older woman, who has been a long time listener, and she wanted to call and tell me that she really liked my stories and liked that there was a late night newscast.  She welcomed me to the area and told me she would be tuning in from now on late at night to hear me.  That five minute phone call meant more to me than anyone could imagine.  I drove home with a smile on my face that night that’s for sure.  Then last night, as my boyfriend and I were watching the sunset from a section of beach only 10 minutes away from the house, I got this overwhelming feeling, that I had made the right decision, that things would be easier in time, and that Sussex County was the place for me.  I look forward to getting more accustomed with the people and the area as time passes and after all my boxes are unpacked and my house looks less like Hurricane Andrew made a visit.  Thank you to the crew at WGMD for making me feel welcome, the woman who inadvertently gave me a boost to my spirit, and even to the beach for calming my spirit.  Until next time!

On June 18, I predicted Aaron Chaffinch (D)  would step in to fill the seat vacated by Representative Ben Ewing.  Today,  June 25th, WGMD news reports he has just filed to run:

Another hat has been thrown into the 35th District ring. Former State Police Superintendent Aaron Chaffinch is hoping to succeed Representative Ben Ewing for that seat now that Ewing has announced his retirement at the end of his term. Chaffinch is running as a Democrat against Sussex County Register of Wills David Wilson, who is running as a Republican.

I love that old time magic microphone!  Here is another vibe I’m getting:

Chaffinch will win.  So will former Representative and new Democrat John Atkins.  Looking at a few other statewide races and it seems like the Democrats will take over the Delaware House of Representatives in November.  Can you say Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf? 

Often I’m reminded of how unique and rare WGMD radio is in the broadcast universe. In recent weeks many large companies have conducted the latest round of staff purges. One of the saddest was at a news/talk station in Washington. The station’s ratings weren’t what parent company Citadel wanted and apparently nobody at corporate blames previous blood lettings for the decline. The nation’s capitol has dozens of radio stations but in a one industry town there is very little radio coverage of the daily business of the country.

My first broadcast paycheck came from a small radio station in the little town of Wellsville, New York. The station was housed in a pole barn and across from a rail yard. Back in 1986 the industry was already through its first major round of downsizing, which came as Wall Street discovered in the early 80s that broadcast properties could return 40 cents on the dollar. As competition from cable and later the internet mushroomed the goal of achieving a 40 percent return required whittling away at the product. I’ve been on the receiving end of the whittling and it wasn’t personal. In 1989 a small radio station told me I was getting the hatchet and had 3 weeks to search for a new line of work. Minutes after I was notified I received a telephone call offering me a job at one of the best radio station’s in the country. Sometimes we get lucky. The station that hired me that day had an enormous staff and news cruisers and a mobile studio. These were expensive to maintain but the station was number one in its market, a rarity for AM radio, and had a wide lead over the competition. It was only years later and after two ownership changes and after repeated cuts that ratings plummeted.

A few weeks ago two television stations in my former hometown of Syracuse suffered another round of layoffs. Profit margins must be down to 30 cents on the dollar. At one of the stations 13 people were fired and not long afterward management rented the city’s convention center and tossed a party for the station’s weather cat. I’m told this morning the story was at the top of the newscast. It’s actually the third weather cat. This all got started a little more than ten years ago when a cat started showing up at the station’s outdoor weather set. Apparently it was attracted by the lights. The lack wit doing the weather made a couple of jokes about the “weather cat”. The promotions department then got involved and a contest was created to try and find a name for the cat. “Doppler” was the winner. Shortly thereafter the stray cat was found in the street, crushed by a passing motorist. Then it dawned on station management that strays made poor mascots. A staffer was detailed to the ASPCA and returned with a reasonable facsimile. “Doppler” number two was provided with an office and while shy could still be carried to the set each day. When number two was called home to kitty heaven another trip to the pound occurred and the Chief Meteorologist had it written into his contract that he would be the only member of the staff handing the cat, however. Cat number three has anxiety issues. A pet psychiatrist has been hired and now each day leashes “Doppler” and walks it a few more feet in the direction of the weather set.

The party must have done skittish kitty wonders! As for the TV station it still wallows in the ratings basement and the weather forecasting is about the same as it was ten to twelve years ago. Fewer stories are getting covered, unless of course you consider the stories about the weather cat, and the public must not notice the overall decline in quality. Or perhaps management is deluded and blames competition from cable and the internet for declines in local TV viewing. Because after all it wouldn’t be the geniuses making decisions about renting convention halls for parties for stray cats. The place must have been packed by people not interested in rising gas and food prices. Not interested in government spending and not interested in any efforts to reduce street crime. Thousands, I’m sure, set alarms to rise early this morning to see coverage of a cat’s birthday party. Oh, and can we slash another 13 jobs before Christmas? Kitty wants a lot of presents.

That is supposed to be a 24 year old Barack Obama on the left of the photo in the mans hand.

Was Obama ever a Muslim?  His campaign claims he “never was” a muslim; his half brother might not have received that press release as reported in IsraelInsider:

In a remarkable denial issued last November that still stands on the official campaign website, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs issued a statement explaining that “Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised as a Muslim, and is a committed Christian.”

Apparently Malik Obama, himself a Muslim, had not read the press release.

Melanie Phillips is the most recent commentator to draw attention to the massive body of evidence that leaves no doubt that Barak Hussein Obama was born a Muslim (Islam is patrilineal) and raised a Muslim (so registered in school, acknowledging attending Islamic classes, reported accompanying his step-father to the mosque, and able to recite the Koran in the original Arabic).

As the Jerusalem Post reports, “Barack Obama’s half brother Malik said Thursday that if elected his brother will be a good president for the Jewish people, despite his Muslim background. In an interview with Army Radio he expressed a special salutation from the Obamas of Kenya.”

Having a background as a Muslim would not be a problem, but lying about it and engaging in elaborate cover up today would be a problem.  This would not be “change we can believe in”.

I hope his campaign can provide more details to clear up the confusion.

Delaware lawmaker Ben Ewing, a Republican who represents the 35^th district has announced he will not seek re-election due to health concerns.

 He is endorsing Republican Dave Wilson, the current Register of Wills as his replacement. 

Dave will be a strong candidate for the R’s but maybe not strong enough if the D’s run one of the candidates I hear also want the seat;  Sussex County Councilman Finley Jones, or former Delaware State Police Superintendent Aaron Chaffinch.  Jones is very popular in the district and has less baggage than Chaffinch, but Chaffinch has strong ties to various fraternal societies that could propel him forward. 

My magic microphone gives the Democrat edge to Chaffinch.  Finley will sit tight and wait for Senator Adams to vacate his seat.

Taffy Bricker has been a long time supporter/caller to the Dan Gaffney Show on WGMD.  It was Taffy’s husband, Gary Bliss who was shot to death by Delaware State Police in Oak Orchard this past Wednesday. 

I interviewed Taffy this morning about her loss.  Listen to it here:

http://www.wgmd.com/SOUNDS/FEATURES/061308-taffy-edit.mp3

Taffy praises the way the police handled the situation; she talks about how bad she feels for the officers who were visibly shaken after having to shoot her husband.  She also wanted to explain her husbands mental illness and Post Traumatic Stress he suffered after his years in Viet Nam.

I have met Gary Bliss, and always considered him to be a wonderful man.  His loss is a sad tragedy for him, and his wife Taffy.

Taffy, my prayers are with you.

Yesterday on my program someone called regarding the Didgeridoo (based on, I guess, a network Radio Shack commercial featuring said instrument.) — Here’s an e-mail I got from KJ from Longneck complete with a photo of his very own Didgeridoo.

Here’s a picture of my, “Didgeridoo”, complete with instruction book and an Australian Kangaroo whip that I acquired on one of my past trips to Australia.

The Didgeridoo was and still is used by the tribes of the northern Territorial Aborigines. It is made from branches that have been hollowed out by termites. The length is usually about three feet long. The branch is tapered the small end being the mouth piece. Bark is stripped and the wood is smoothed. The wood is then stained and then decorated with tribal images.

Well, if this listener has anything to say about it.. AUDIO MP3 :05sec… This very unofficial results from an early morning poll on the Jared Morris radio show regarding the Cape Vote today… The results stand from a phone poll:

No: 25 votes
Yes: 6 votes
Not In district, but No: 7 votes
In district, but not voting: 1 vote

Cape Voters,

Before you head to the polls to vote tomorrow 06-12-08, Listen to this audio here: (especially if you missed Dan’s Morning Show and The Jared Morris Show).

George Stone/Selby Discuss Vote (with Analysis) (.mp3 appox:20 min)

On Gaffney’s Morning Show today, Superint. George Stone and School Board Pres. Estelle Parker Selby discussed tomorrow’s vote. Voters will decide on rebudgeting funds and a new $1.6 Million (already collected funds) Turf Sports Field. An interesting interview in and of itself, however, during my program at 10:30am (the Jared Morris Radio Show) — Dan and I reviewed a few audio segments from Dan’s earlier interview and some interesting points were made regarding boys vs. girls sports, the condition of the current artificial turf field and discrepancies of Cape statements regarding the standing field.

As I said on today’s program, I’m not telling you either way to vote… It’s up to voters and parents to decide how they feel about the current situation in the Cape District. Read up on the vote, listen to the above interview and analysis and best of luck.

JMX