Hello all!

First off thank you to everyone who posted and has made me feel welcome….yes, even you momma.

So this entire week I have been in gaming nerd heaven. There was a convention held in LA called the E3 Convention. All week, the big gaming companies like Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony showed people what they can expect for the upcoming year with new games, updates to the consoles and demos of games. As I sat back and watched all the new game demos and trailers, and interviews, I was in amazement about how far we have come. I remember as a child my parents had a old computer called a Commodore 64. There was a game that I used to be obsessed about called Wizard. it was a simple 8-bit game filled with dungeons and puzzles and over 100 levels to have a ball with. The fact that I can remember certain levels is amazing, but the fact that now I am playing games where I am in whole other worlds, I am someone else, with graphics that make me think I am looking at real time, not a game is amazing. I know that games have had a bad rap these past few years. I was waiting in line with my boyfriend at midnight to get the new Grand Theft Auto IV game. Talk about a game that has gotten a lot of publicity, both good and bad. But that topic is for a whooooooole other blog when I feel like being on a soapbox.

As I sit and think about how technology has come so far, I also think about how the criticism has gotten harder as well. But I also think about how maybe 80 years ago, movies were going through the same kind of criticism, and actually sometimes they still have a hard time. I think that everything has to go through the paces. While right now people have problems with the gaming industry, there will be something else in the future that takes the heat off of the industry. It’s the circle of life baby.

The fact of the matter is, the gaming industry is here to stay. During Microsoft’s conference there was a fact that I found very interesting. More people buy games than anything else. More than DVD’s or music, right now games are “the king of the world”. Instead of a family sitting around the dinner table playing Monopoly, they are all sitting on the couch playing a game of bowling using the Wii. We are evolving every year. Sometimes I wonder if the Parker Brothers would approve or not, but the fact of the matter is, while you may disagree with some games, you cannot deny that they are beginning to bring families together. Instead of Mom and Pop thinking that a kid who loves video games is a kid heading for trouble, now you are seeing more parents trying to understand where the kids are coming from. And trust me, kids are dying for you to be involved and understand.

Another piece of information I found interesting was the fact that the ratio of men who buy gaming systems or games is almost even now with women. 52% of men vs. 48% of women. I am proud to say that I am one of those people. I know that my boyfriend who is also an avid game player enjoys the fact that he can sit down and play a game and I will happily watch him or play along as well. As a matter of fact, I am considering buying a Nintendo DS to add to our growing collection of gaming consoles (between the two of us we have 3 so far).

At the end of the day, video games have made such an impact on my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I will always have the memories of playing Wizard with my sister and friends, of playing Decent with my Father and Frogger with my mother, of how Super Mario helped me survive my first semester of college, and how some of the happiest memories of me and my boyfriend has been playing some kind of game just laughing and having a great time being together. The E3 convention makes me think of this every year, of how far we have come technology wise and how far gaming has come with me and the memories I have made in my life.

I wouldn’t have it any other way. Until the next blog, take care!

Dear Constituent:

First, let us assure you we value your thoughts as much as we value the strength of the U.S. Dollar. These are both things dear to our hearts. More on hearts, lungs and kidneys later.

While I understand you’re paying more for groceries, fuel and heat let me assure you things could be much worse. Recently we and our staffs visited several third world countries and things there, in a rare few words, are really, really bad. At one point we spent two whole weeks in one Caribbean backwater. Actually, the water was quite warm and it allowed our very, very hardworking staffs an opportunity to inspect the beaches and reefs. Weighed down with towels and in some cases scuba gear these diligent public servants concluded drilling would be seriously, seriously wrong.

The ocean, we learned, is teeming with aquatic life. If you had ever made the sacrifice we did you would certainly as well see this. It’s always easy to stay on the sidelines and complain but leadership requires action.

The sea creatures are just as much God’s creatures as you are. As a Christian you must certainly understand the need to savor life and future life. We savored much of it pan fried.

It would be a mistake to harm these lovely beaches, waters and the life these things support. It’s our concerted opinion the sacrifices we will all make, and we sacrificed two weeks of our lives on the beach, will make the world a better place. Yes, there are talk radio hosts spouting that we don’t care about human life but let me say it’s easy to criticize when you haven’t been fighting in Washington or on the beaches of Aruba. We have always chosen human life. Or is that offered choice when it comes to human life?

How can you save the planet? Ignore your radio and this winter we urge you ignore your thermostat. A nation that can’t drive will be a healthier walking nation and a nation that keeps its homes cold in winter will create a tremendous opportunity. By spring 2009 there will be far fewer of you placing your heavy carbon footprints on this lovely, lovely planet. Those still left walking in April will offer the benefits of exercise, which will far outweigh their old bodies. A little Washington humor, you see?

Some will argue the other nations of the world may not join us. This kind of talk frightens the Chinese and Russians. In fact, drilling rigs will be an impediment to the growing Chinese submarine fleet. A provocation the world can no longer abide. The violent, failed and aggressive polices of George W. Bush and Mr. Cheney must come to an end and clearly you can see the war-like approach these rigs would really, really constitute.

The Chinese offer us a path to the future. A shining path. And they’ve a booming industry in spare human parts. It’s something those of us favoring choice versus life can certainly appreciate.

Once more, thank you for the correspondence. Enjoy the summer while you can. A chill is in the air.

Sincerely,

Joseph Biden, U.S. Senate, Delaware

Thomas Carper, U.S. Senate, Delaware

Some folks have recently asked about contact numbers for U.S. Senators and Representatives.  Here are the names of those representing our listening area.  I’m also researching an online petition about drilling which could be sent to these people.

Delaware

U.S. Senate

Joseph Biden (Democrat)

Wilmington

1105 N. Market St.
Suite 2000

Wilmington, DE 19801-1233

tel: (302) 573-6345

fax: (302) 573-6351

Milford

24 NW Front St.
Windsor Building Suite 101

Milford, DE 19963

tel: (302) 424-8090

fax: (302) 424-8098

Washington D.C.

201 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

tel: (202) 224-5042

fax: (202) 224-0139

Tom Carper (Democrat)

Washington, D.C.
United States Senate
513 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2441
Fax: (202) 228-2190

Georgetown
12 The Circle
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: (302) 856-7690
Fax: (302) 856-3001

House of Representatives

Michael Castle (Republican)

Washington Office
1233 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
p: 202.225.4165
f: 202.225.2291

Georgetown Office
p: 302.856.3334

New Jersey

U.S. Senate

Robert Menendez (Democrat)

317 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202.224.4744
202.228.2197 fax

One Gateway Center,
Suite 1100
Newark, New Jersey 07102
973.645.3030
973.645.0502 fax

Frank Lautenberg

Camden Office

One Port Center
Suite 505, Fifth Floor
2 Riverside Drive
Camden, NJ 08101
Phone: (856) 338-8922
Fax: (856) 338-8936

Washington, DC

Hart Senate Office Building
Suite 324
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3224
TTY: (202) 224-2087
Fax: (202) 228-4054

House of Representatives

Frank LoBiondo (Republican)

District Office

5914 Main Street
Mays Landing, New Jersey 08330
1 (800) 471-4450 or (609) 625-5008 (phone),
(609) 625-5071 (fax)

Washington Office

2427 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-6572 (phone),
(202) 225-3318 (fax)

Maryland

U.S. Senate

Benjamin Cardin (Democrat)

509 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-4524
Fax: 202-224-1651

129 East Main Street, Suite 115
Post Office Box 11
Salisbury, MD 21803
Phone: 410-546-4250
Fax: 410-546-4252

Barbara Mikulski (Democrat)

Washington, DC
503 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-4654

Salisbury
The Gallery Plaza Building
212 W. Main Street
Suite 200
Salisbury, MD 21801
Phone (410) 546 - 7711
Fax (410) 546 – 9324

House of Representatives

Wayne Gilchrest (Republican)

Washington, DC Office
2245 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone 202-225-5311
Fax 202-225-0254

Mid & Lower Shore
One Plaza East
Salisbury, MD 21801
Phone 410-749-3184 / 410-376-3052
Fax 410-749-8458

Who is best suited to be Mayor of Rehoboth Beach?

From WGMD News:

“Rehoboth voters will go to the polls August 9th. The candidates for Mayor are Commissioner Paul Kuhnz and incumbent Sam Cooper. The candidates for town commissioner are non-resident incumbent Dennis Barbour, resident incumbent Ron Paterson and non-resident and non-incumbent Lorraine Zellers.”

Commissioner Paul Kuhnz had some rather harsh words to say about Mayor Cooper at this month’s candidate’s Forum. Kuhnz says he makes himself available to the people of Rehoboth, but he asks the people of Rehoboth when they ever see Sam Cooper around. Here is the quote:

“When is the last time you saw Sam Cooper on the boardwalk? When was the last time you saw Sam Cooper in a restaurant downtown or shopping in one of the shops? I’ve never seen him on Rehoboth Avenue. I have seen him walking in the neighborhoods walking his dogs. That’s great, but I have never seen him outside of his neighborhood except for driving.”

Is there anyone from Rehoboth who either agrees or disagrees with that statement?

Furthermore Kuhnz says, “The Mayor needs to be the ambassador of the community. The mayor needs to be involved with the community–both on the business side and the residential side.”

Here is a quote from Mayor Cooper regarding his relationships to the business people in Rehoboth:

“I would confess that I probably am not down meeting with business people enough, but I have a business to run of my own and put a lot of time in for the city, but I don’t do enough. I would admit it.” He also said, “I do think that I’ve always leveled with the citizens of Rehoboth Beach and have been honest with them. I’ve told them exactly as I see it.” Cooper adds that on the other hand, Kuhnz has tried to cover things up.

“My opponent has clouded what he has proposed in the past–here at this forum–he has tried to cover it up.”

Other highlights of the candidates’ forum include an issue brought up about police cars on the roads. Commissioner Kuhnz stated the following:

“I think we need to get the police cars off Rehoboth Avenue. I think… Especially during the summer, speeding isn’t something that we need to think about.”

Again if you live in Rehoboth or visit Rehoboth for that matter, do you agree or disagree with that statement?

Kuhnz further adds,

“One of the big things we need to look at is upgrading Baltimore Avenue. I am afraid we are going to lose a lot of the businesses on Baltimore Avenue if we don’t do the streetscape.”

Now Kuhnz was talking about tourism here. He is looking for ways to improve the city for the enjoyment and benefit of the visitors: ”To encourage tourism, we need to go back and think about what the vision is for the city–from the city’s perspective, from the residents’ perspective, as well as from the business owners. I think the secret is to make the experience of the visitors better…I think we have a very safe environment, but the friendly environment needs to happen. We do now have policemen walking the streets, and I think that’s great, but they need to be smaller ambassadors, if you will, for the city–giving out directions, helping people where they need to go, giving directions to stores–to services.”

Concerning some proposed projects in the City, Mayor Cooper stated,

“I think the big issues that have come out in this election is the convention Center and the parking garage. I do not favor either of these projects as my challenger does–as Mr. Kuhnz has been a big supporter of these two projects–I do not. I don’t think we can afford them. I’m not sure we need them.”

To hear more on the issues discussed and debated, click on the following links:

www.wgmd.com/newspost/uploads/REHO%20FORUM%201.mp3

www.wgmd.com/newspost/uploads/REHO%20FORUM%202.mp3

Who was the man who used to walk up and down the Rehoboth Boardwalk and shout “REPENT” !?  Callers remember him from the 70’s, do you?

I just received this e-mail about this interesting town character:

Dan, my husband and I listen to your program everyday — starting at 5:30 a.m., and enjoy hearing what has happened in our area during the night and for the latest news and topics that you and your listeners offer.  Yesterday one of the topics was the boardwalk ministries in Rehoboth.  One of your listeners called and mentioned an old fellow who, years ago, used to walk the streets and boardwalk in Rehoboth proclaiming the coming of our Lord and calling for everyone to “Repent”.  At the time I thought how wonderful that he had the Holy boldness to proclaim our Lord!  And he did this for several years.

 

Then, one day during the summer, my first husband [who passed away in '78 with leukemia], our son and I were at the old Blue Hen Mall in Dover.  It was early evening and we were returning to our car when we saw this older, raggedy black man, who was carrying his usual walking stick.  We recognized him at once as the man we had seen many times before on the boardwalk in Rehoboth.  Then something happened that I will never forget — it is etched permanently in my mind.  There were two young men in their early twenties who had a large boxer dog on a leash.  The dog was barking at the old man and straining at his leash.  The men unleashed the dog and told him to “sic” the old man.  The dog started running across the parking lot, bent, to all appearances, upon tearing the old man up.  This is the wonderful and unforgettable part:  The old man turned around when he heard the dog, who at this point was racing toward him.  He stopped, stood still, pointed his finger at the dog, and shouted at him, “Jesus,” “Jesus,” “Jesus.”  The dog stopped, stood still for a moment, and retreated to his owners as quickly as he had come.  There is power in the name of Jesus!  Glory to God!

 

My car has a large and new dent and it appears a blessed event.  A friend called me Saturday and mentioned he was going to church Saturday evening.  I was planning a 7:30 service Sunday but decided I wanted to see the man and his wife.  Her sister died last week and I just believed I needed to see them in person this week.  When I arrived at church I backed into a parking space.  My first inkling was to pull directly into the space but backing out can only subject someone to possibly piling into me.  This place is crawling with tourists and I offer witness to the strange driving habits of cars tagged New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Then, again, my back bumper is scraped from contact last summer with a bolder and as I’m considering trading the car for a new Civic Hybrid or Prius maybe somebody should pile into my car’s rear end.  The bumper would be replaced and perhaps help at trade in. 

Shoulda, woulda, coulda.  After church I visited with Rich and his wife and also with the Principal from a local school.  The man has dropped 67 pounds over 9 months and we compared weight loss notes.

In the parking lot a crowd gathered.  When I walked from the church some folks approached.  “A woman backed into your car”, a fellow said.  There is now a grapefruit sized dent on the forward bumper and it’s dislodged just below the front left headlamp. 

The woman was parked nearby.  She was most remorseful and in 50 years of driving this is her first fender-bender.  God bless her.  I must have had my first before 50 days as a licensed driver.  The woman has already notified her insurer and next week I’ll get an estimate.

Why do I get into these entanglements with the nearly sainted?  I bought my car when it was still on the delivery truck.  It never made the showroom floor.  Seven months later I was parked at work and the Chief Engineer walked into the broadcast booth to inform me he had backed into my still shining new vehicle.  A week later it came out of the repair shop and looked great.  One week later I was stopped at the end of an off ramp when a harried pizza delivery man plowed into my car.  More replacement parts followed.  It should be made clear the engineer and the pizza shop owner were very, very nice people.  You would welcome them as neighbors.  I find I feel worse for these people than I feel for my car or myself. 

It leads me to an ever growing belief that many good people have the occasional bad day behind the wheel.  Maybe even a great many bad days behind wheels and we can examine our own consciences and remember some very close calls.  Think about it the next time someone cuts you off at the grocery parking lot.  Before you make the obscene gesture you might consider that in the previous week you cut off someone else. 

I’ve been looking at photographs of shiny new cars this week and then I look at my dented and nicked and reliable form of transportation.  It’s frustrating but I can’t be angry with these other folks.  Darn.

Just think, next year at Independence Day we’ll all be riding bicycles, Vespas and horses.  Then about which what will we complain?

Happy Birthday America!

Check this out - Flag Jumper

sent to WGMD by Irv & Edie Blackburn!!

Delaware lawmakers have deemed local residents too stupid to properly handle sparklers, bottle rockets and firecrackers.  Are those arrested for trying to bring a little bang to holiday,  patriots or pinheads?

Five people have been busted for possession illegal fireworks after State Police and fire officials watched them buy fireworks at Pennsylvania distributors. Then, when the fireworks were brought into Delaware, the five were arrested. All fireworks – even sparklers – are illegal in Delaware. Police say this was just the first of several similar operations planned for the weekend.

Patriots or Pinheads?

This might be worth checking out if you are looking for ways to save on groceries:

http://grocerysavingtips.com/

Online coupons are also available at this link:

http://coupons.smartsource.com/Web/index.aspx?Link=YUYHAVQJ5PCUY

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.