Steve Smith joined us Wednesday afternoon.  He’s with the Christian Storehouse in Millsboro.  Several people were curious about how they can get involved as a volunteer or help provide for the needy.  A number to reach Steve would be 302-934-8151.

He also directed some folks to the New Life store in Lewes.  302-644-0171. 

Also if you live in Laurel or Seaford or some other community not mentioned I can tell you that Steve’s office can direct you to the right place in your community and on both sides of the state line.  It’s a great opportunity to live your faith.

One of my old talk show cohosts is serving in Iraq.  A great American originally from Canton, Ohio and later from Texas.  He writes to say members of his unit could use items such as Pringle’s and M&M’s. 

You can write him at:  Sgt. Jon Alvarez, HHC 425th CA BN APO AE 09344.

God bless them all.

Hey Rick.. Does this count?

There was some speculation on the radio this morning whether or not Adolf Hitler actually drove a Rolls Royce — Well, here I present absolute evidence that (wax) Adolf Hitler did indeed enjoy a sweet ride in a Rolls Royce.. The thing is… It can’t be proved..

In the last few hours left in today I thought I would talk about Veteran’s Day.  I know that maybe this holiday may get lost on a lot of people my age (18-25), but this day is always held special in my heart.

I come from a family with a very long history of veterans.  All the way back to my great great great great uncle (I may be missing a great in there) who fought in the Civil War, to my great-grandfather who fought in WW I and both grandfathers who fought in WW II, my uncle who fought in the Korean War, my father who was in Vietnam, and my cousin who came back from Iraq about a year ago.  What a selfless family I have!

It’s interesting because I have heard this reaction many times among vets, especially WW II vets. When I called my grandfather today to tell him thank you for giving so many years of his life to our country, and his response was:  “No thanks needed.”  He said that he had an amazing time while in the navy, and that he wouldn’t have done anything differently.  It was his duty.

My other grandfather came into Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941.  I can’t imagine the carnage that he saw on that day, and the fact that he still went on to go and fight in WW II I find to be amazing.

My father was one of the lucky ones who was in Vietnam and came out on the other side, unscathed physically and mentally, and married my mother a short time later.  I love the fact that Dad didn’t wait for the draft, he looked at his situation, and knew that joining up was just the thing to do.

Same issue with my cousin who when he was shipped to Iraq, he went without complaint and did his duty, he loves his job and I know that he would go back to Iraq if he were asked.

In some ways, it makes my life so demeaning.  I work a few hours a day, the rest doing menial tasks around my new home.  But its because of these men and millions of other men who fought so that I can do those things every day without another thought.  Every time I think that life is hard or difficult, I think about what my family has done so that I HAVE a life and I usually shut up.

I have such amazing role models in my life, who have molded me into the person that I am.  I have the Hinders work ethic that I know I get from these honorable men.  I think that I would be an even better person if I had gotten to know my other grandfather who died before I was born.

I guess what I am trying to say is that through second hand experience, I know the sacrifice that veterans have made, and while there is always one day a year that we celebrate veterans, every day should be veteran’s day.  Because it’s not like our freedom only comes once a year, it’s every day.  Men and women are fighting every day to provide us the blanket of freedom.

But for now, I want to say thank you to my veterans: James Murdock, Norman L. Wymard, Wayne Thompson Murdock, Justin Hinders, Leon Murdock, Thomas Hinders, Paul Justin Hinders, and thank you for everything that you have done.  And thank you to every other veteran out there.  Trust in that so many people including myself, thank you for everything that you have done.

Since arriving on Delmarva almost 15 months ago I’ve often been reminded of regional differences. For instance where I come from we speak English and you only think you do. Back in the highlands people live in homes and here people live in humes. You drive cars and we drive kurrs. You drink wawder and we drink wodder.

Some drunken wife beaters refer to me as a New Yorker and this is technically correct. I was born in the southwestern part of the state, which is the northern spine of the Appalachian range. The Alleghenies, if you will. New York City was an 8 hour drive. Cleveland, Toronto and Pittsburgh were just 3 hours at a steady clip. The closest city of any consequence was Buffalo, an hour or so to the north. Why of any consequence when it’s known for just three things? Snow, disappointing sports franchises and chicken wings. Snow can’t be exported unless on the back of an Alberta Clipper. The Bills can be exported to Toronto but we aren’t sure it’s going to be successful transplant surgery. The history of chicken wings is unique. Birthed at The Anchor Bar in 1964 this snack has conquered much of the world. With the exception, it appears, of Delmarva. You lack for any consistent efforts at pizza but we’ll leave that for another day.

This is just as much a restaurant review as it’s a chicken wing review.

Let me say that the folks at Uncle Willie’s make great fried chicken. I didn’t expect this as I thought of it only as a place for gassing up and buying a newspaper. The staff at Uncle Willie’s uses the same method for wings, however. It’s fried chicken in the shape of a chicken wing. If you want them hot you get a packet of deli hot sauce to tear open and barely cover your wings. Nothing special about prepackaged hot sauce and while I’m saying this I should note traditional chicken wings aren’t breaded. If I want breaded chicken I’ll buy Banquet at Food Lion and heat it in my oven at hume.

A good chicken wing isn’t breaded and while it requires more than a thumbnail measurement of hot sauce the wings shouldn’t be swimming in sauce soup. Sauce soup is my experience at Grotto. On Sundays Grotto offers a wing special during football games. Last year it was 5 dollars per order. While you can’t beat the price and the atmosphere of the joint is friendly let me argue good wings aren’t pulled from chicks. Good wings come from grown animals and while eating require the use of both hands. An order of wings is also one dozen and not ten or less. It isn’t a special if the wings are downsized. It’s also not a special if I can’t order it at a table while watching the Bills. Philadelphia fans have their own special foods. For Buffalo fans there are just two choices, wings or beef-on-weck. Recently I discovered you can’t order the wing special unless you’re at the bar. The restaurant has a dozen or so TVs but at the bar you get Eagles, Redskins or Ravens. At least those are the limits at the Long Neck location. So the offer should read wings on special only if you like Philly, Washington or Baltimore.

Good wings are meaty. When you bite into them the meat is white. Pink meat is meat somebody hasn’t fully cooked. Good chicken wings are crispy and the sauce is thick but adheres to the skin of the chicken. Wings may be barbecued but this is just an option for children. Many years ago I went into a restaurant and ordered some wings while watching a baseball game. I asked for them hot. The owner came out and explained he had his own recipe for garlic wings. Henry Ford once said you could get a Model T in any color as long as it was black. Buick countered with blue and green and yellow and Henry learned quickly about customer service. I ate the garlic wings. Then the owner wanted to know what I thought about his artistic creation. “If you’re planning on reinventing the wheel best to keep it round”, I replied. He wasn’t happy. He wasn’t alone.

A fellow telephoned my show a couple of weeks ago and told me I could watch the Bills at a bar at Peddler’s Village. So on Sunday I dropped in. The specials include chili and some tiny cheeseburgers. An order of wings will set you back 9 bucks. I counted 7 in my bowl. Then I had to ask for blue cheese. You don’t have blue cheese and you don’t have a chicken wing eating experience. The wings came plain but I was given a bottle of sauce I could sprinkle across them. Aw, Shucks, J.D., I’m not coming back.

Lately you’ve seen these chain restaurants opening in various neighborhoods and claiming to specialize in wings. The wings are meaty, well-cooked and the sauce clings to the skin. A few years ago I read where some restaurant chain bought wings at The Anchor Bar and spirited the order off to a lab for analysis, then copied the sauce. The Chinese do this with manufacturing technology. Some folks call it patent infringement. Others simply call it theft. I don’t like thieves.

Old Dom’ at The Anchor Bar intended wings to be finger food. Like popcorn or peanuts or even as I once found at a bar in Auburn, New York, smelt. In the beginning of the wing era there was no extra charge. The wings brought in the working men who then bought drinks. Some folks in these parts don’t have a clue.

Here are Miss Delaware Pictures from this year’s pageant:

Current Miss Delaware Galen Giaccone being interviewed by WGMD News Reporter Joe Ciccanti:

 Miss Delaware 2008 Galen Giaccone

2007 Miss Delaware Brittany Dempsey

2007 Miss Delaware Brittany Dempsey with WGMD News Reporter Joe Ciccanti

 2007 Miss Delaware Brittany Dempsey with WGMD’s Anthony Joseph

 2006 Miss Delaware Jamie Ginn with WGMD’s Anthony Joseph

 Miss Delaware contestant Kayla Martell with WGMD News Reporter Joe Ciccanti

 I must say, it was a tough job for the both of us!

 

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from the Jared Morris radio show live in Georgetown on Return Day on WGMD Radio. (available on on WGMD’s blog talkofdelmarva.com or WGMD.com OnDemand)

It’s raining.  It has been raining almost steadily since I woke Election Day morning.  It’s a few minutes of 3:00 P.M. Wednesday as I start writing this.  I won’t finish in one setting.  It’s scheduled to rain throughout Thursday, when I’ve a live 4-hour broadcast scheduled from a hotel balcony.  Looking out at the steady downpour it doesn’t escape me it represents how I’ve felt about recent events in this country.  The rain follows a drought, one that crossed over two summers on this peninsula.  Just weeks ago a farmer told a Salisbury, Maryland newspaper he feared his fields would catch fire.  Last week we finally had some rain.  Then Indian summer followed over the weekend.  It was 75 degrees Saturday when I went to an event called Punkin’ Chunkin.  I was there when the sun set in the west and I watched it sink across the broad and flat terrain.  Then I drove home with the sunroof open and the lovely breeze. 

It has come to an end, my people’s monopoly on the sometimes aptly named White House.  Now the fellow with the platitudes tossed to adoring crowds like so many rose petals must govern.  As one writer said, Mr. Obama can best manage American decline.  Nobody talks about the future of a vast empire.  They talk of decline and living with less.  It’s our gift for our children and grandchildren.  A United Nations report suggests we ration meat.  Two servings per week in the industrialized world and the report warns alcohol production must cease in order to divert resources to feeding billions.  Where it was once believed people best managed their own decentralized affairs we now have a President-Elect claiming he’s a citizen of the world.  It has come to pass.

What can he accomplish by fiat?  I was reading today there isn’t a constitutional basis for the Wall Street bailout.  Government makes decisions and we get whipsawed and then we wonder how it all crumbled around us.  By crumbling I’m talking about individual liberty.  Another fellow wrote if you expect government to provide you healthcare you must be aware a neighbor is picking up the tab.  I’m willing to help folks I see in need but have always considered I’m the best judge of what I can provide.  When I’ve been flush I’ve written checks to feed the homeless and to put coats on the backs of the cold.  When I’ve been cold and hungry I’ve had friends throw me a lifeline.  Decisions they made of their own free will. 

Now we’re entering a new phase of human history and I fear.  I’ve been accused of bigotry for suggesting some of you voted for Obama without considering what he really represents.  I’ll toss you one positive about this election.  Many young people living in our teaming cities have believed they’ve only a handful of options in life.  In some cases just two, pushing a broom or dealing drugs.  Obama’s election offers an alternative but beyond I can’t see how “change” and “hope” will fill any tummies or turn the ship of state around.  Now he must govern.  It isn’t an easy task and it’s made more difficult because he’s accepted the argument his work is to best manage decline.  You see the paradox, don’t you?  Hope and decline don’t really share any victory platforms. 

For all of you who get the warm feeling liberals get from bathing in rose petals I remind you it’s cold and damp and the long range forecast isn’t comforting. 

(refresh often for live updates)

BREAKING: (according to sources)
– FOX NEWS PROJECTS WIN FOR OBAMA/BIDEN

DELAWARE UPSETS!

– BENNETT DEFEATS DONNA STONE
– SCOTT DEFEATS NANCY WAGNER
– WILLIAMS DEFEATS VALIHURA

7:58

Fox News Projections

Obama: Delaware/Vermont
McCain: South Carolina/Kentucky/Oklahoma

8:04:

Obama takes same states Kerry did in 2004: Ill., Pa., N.J., Md., Mass., Conn., Me., DC., Del., N.H.;

McCain takes Tenn., S.C. and Okla

8:05 — WGMD Local Election coverage starts.

8:06 Voter Turnout HUGE!

by 3:00 50% voter turnout in DE

HOB 85% turnout by 7:15 - - Mariner Middle School 81%

FOX NEWS PROJECTS: Obama Wins MA, MD, IL, DC, CT, DE, NJ, ME; McCain Wins OK, TN

8:09 John Brady calling from i-95 — “I’ve been campaigning in Sussex… in Wilmington… it has been a momentous experience for me personally running on a statewide ticket, i’ve learned a lot.. I’m anxiously awaiting.. I want to first thank everyone who voted for doing their duty today. I am satisfied I did everything I could to send the message across Delaware”

8:15 - Dan Gaffney “AP and others calling Delaware for Jack Markell”

8:19 Trish Hinders talks to Jack Markell supporter http://www.wgmd.com/images/stories/audio/Election/trish1.mp3

8:23 Dan Gaffney — Big Voter Turnout on the 41st District

8:24 — Bill Lee concedes election to Jack Markell with zero districts reporting.
Audio from Wilmington with WGMD’s Andy Lynch

8:30 - Obama takes PA. N.H, Conn, NJ, Del, Md, D.C., Ill. Maine, Vt
McCain Ok, Ark, Ala, Tenn, Ky, SC according to Fox News

8:32 — Mari Lou “Warm Rain didn’t keep voters away”
// Trish Hinders “It’s had an interesting effect… people are waiting for Markell to come to the ballroom” people beginning to celebrate Markell victory.

8:33 Scott Wilkens at Sussex Dem HQ — waiting for results — “great turnout!” — “no final numbers” “amazed by the number of people that came out..”

8:36 Obama 102 / McCain 49 (foxnews)

8:37: Fox News: PA with 21 electoral votes for Obama and NH (4)
Obama 103 / Mccain 54

8:40 — Dan Gaffney “We Have A Governor Markell”

8:41 - McCain takes Alaska (foxnews)

8:43 — No numbers coming in yet — Joe Cicannti at Sussex Election HQ — exepecting results in the next few minutes.. “overall number of voters” responsible for delay.

8:44…McCain camp objects to Fox (and others) calling PA for Obama. (Listener report Pat Patterson)

8:45 Bill Colley “within the next 70 minutes we’ll have all the answers on the presidential election.”

8:50 Scott Wilkens “things looking so far so good for the democrats in delaware”

Trish Hinders Rep HQ in Wilmington; Chris Coons “We are still waiting for any kind of results” led everyone in a resounding chant of “Yes We Can, Yes We Can” — everybody kind of in the dark right now

AP from WGMD’s ML — AP calls Mike Castle for reelction of Nagle. AP calling Biden for Senate.

Joe not heard any rumors of computer glitches.

Audio from 8:50 Trish/Scott/ML/Joe

8:56: “Transmission problem in New Castle County affecting whole state”

9:00 fox news: Kansas, North Dakota Wyoming for McCain
Wis, NM, Minn, NY, Rhode Is. Mich for Obama

Obama 180 / McCain 81

9:05 — Dem win Senate in NH and NM (foxnews) Fox News on projecting PA for Obama

9:06 — Bill Lee speech in Wilmington

“I called Markell to congratulate him” “all the major networks calling it for Markell… for the sake of me and my family.. the fate of DE is in his hands and I wish him success..” “Jack is taking us in the wrong direction” “I expect the rep. part to come around and will turn this thing around in a hurry… we have a couple of races behind us to give us better results than this one has.. we’re hanging on for Copeland and Brady… [with Castle] we’ll be able to establish a platform for the party based on rep. principles.. for me, not a sad ending… we had a marvelous campaign.. Jack earned the mantle of change from that government.. i apologize to you that i was not able to do what i wanted to do.. i did it because i thought we had a scenario were we could provide you with a victory… i failed you… i apologize.. you did not fail me.. as long as you’re honest… you’ll never hang your head.. your first loser of the night is going to get out of the way.. this is not a bad night for me…”

Trish Hinders “Yes We Can” chanting in Wilmington…

Joe in Georgetown: “right now we are hearing that John Atkins won the race” / Biff Lee wins… the numbers are starting to come in now.. ???? … QUESTIONABLE …

Listener response: 9:06…McCain can’t get any more than 284 electoral votes at this point.

9:16 — with 11% reporting in MATT DENN IS LEADING — CASTLE AHEAD 63% –

9:19 == Sussex Election HQ JOHN ATKINS WINS — BIFF LEE WINS

Pat Patterson on the blog: 9:20…My home state, Ohio, goes to Barack Obama.

Don’t blame me…I voted for Chuck Baldwin.

9:20 — “still no Sussex County Numbers”

9:23 — Gerald Hocker Wins “I’ll work as hard as i can, not only for the 38th, but for the people of Sussex County” — HOCKER Audio

9:26 — other sources.. ABC News projecting Obama 195 McCain 76

9:28 — Scott Wilkens with Prelim results — 33rd district — Bob Walls leads Peterman..

9:30 other sources.. ABC News projecting Obama 195 McCain 90

RECAP — BILL LEE CALLS IT QUITS/MARKELL WINS == HOCKER WINS == SUSSEX HQ SAYS ATKINS/BIFF LEE WIN == CASTLE WINS == BIDEN WINS SENATE == AP OBAMA WINS DE/MD/PA

9:32 — Trish speaks to upstate voter…

BLUE STATE

with 83% of votes.. MATT DENN WINS 64% — STEWART WINS 64.4% OF VOTE — MARKELL WINS 71.6% GOVERNOR

9:41 — Absentee numbers causing trouble in Sussex (Audio)

9:43 — Gary Downes leads Simpson 52% - 42% “We might be staying up with the folks in California tonight!” — Scott Wilkens Milton!

9:46 — News Agencies Obama 200 / McCain 130

BLUE STATE!

9:49 – Terry Spence loses in the 18th to Michael Barbieri — Vince Lofink loses! 48.7 - 48.3 — dist. 29 Thornburg loses to Charles Paradee III 50.1 49.9 — Valahura loses! to Williams — Donna Stone loses to Bennett. Wagner loses to Scott.

Stewart “it’s been a hard campaign.. looking to delawarians for help”

10:04 Copeland is defeated (audio from copeland)

“Hello my name is Charlie Copeland, and I’m a republican… it’s a tough environment out there, you all have seen the numbers.. it’s hard to beat George Bush.. i think we had a great race.. we had a ticket top to bottom that was full of quality candidates that went out there and told the truth.. we have a lot of problems that won’t be solved by more spending… we need to be the loyal opposition, we need to come together and help make sure delaware gets back on the right track.. let’s be honest this state has been run by dems for 16 straight years.. and where exactly are we? i view this as a night to say ‘let’s reload let’s get back on the horse and start moving forward”

10:15 - ML “I’ve never seen anything like this… this is the most amazing thing I have ever seen”

10:19 TRISH HINDERS ON MARKELL’S SPEECH (audio)

10:20 JOHN BRADY CONCEDES (audio)

“I’ve learned a lot, I’ve met a lot of great people.. numbers were just not with me.. this is not the end of the big guy.. i say that for one main reason… my license plate says big guy and i renewed it for 2 more years.. i’m back to work tomorrow as recorder of deeds… you may see me two years from now.. and four years, who knows what i’ll be running for!”

10:30 Pete Schwartzkopf talks DEM victories (audio)

“I was the very first one confirmed as a winner tonight… we thought Nancy Wagner’s race could go either way… Terry Spence went down.. Valihura.. Lofink.. We picked up 8 seats.. We had a good group of people out there.. they worked hard.. they fought hard.. and were successful… Six short years ago we were down to 12 people in the house.. we’re up to 26 right now.. (will be running for majority leader) trying to figure that out within the next week”

10:35 caller Rick (audio) (funny!)

“Spence and Valihura, the architects of the smoking bill ‘bye-bye!’”

10:41 Bill Colley “McCain Can’t Win”

11:02 — FOX NEWS PROJECTS BARRACK OBAMA AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Current Obama 284 McCain 145 — Stay tuned to WGMD 92.7 or on the web at www.wgmd.com for more election coverage and live with Dan at 5:30am

–END OF WGMD LIVE BLOG–

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Jared Morris in East Gate Pres Church Halloween Dunk Tank You Tube Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAlHOIxqbJc