Well, good friends, I've decided to end my self-imposed exile and start posting again. I'd been posting previously sometimes two a day and kinda got myself burned out. I'd also been out of work for over two years and felt that I should be concentrating on finding a job, rather than blogging.
Well, I've found a job. My creative juices are flowing again, as my new job entails writing and editing ad copy and creating graphics for the web. Hopefully, my muse is back and I'll write more than one or two posts a week, but until then, I'm going to ease myself back into the swing of things and just write when the mood hits me. I'm in a "better place" than I have been for quite some time.
It's been a while, November, in fact, so I'll end this by saying I'm back, not full-time, but back, nonetheless. I'll also be posting more personal things, especially about my kids (I'm so proud of them).
Short and sweet is the order of the evening, so I'm signing off now, I'll be back sooner than later and that you can take to the bank.
B.
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Sunday, March 27, 2011
Greetings from A Better Place
Friday, November 5, 2010
Time to Catch My Breath
There's a lot of change going on here at home. Some of it good, some of it bad, but there's definitely a change.
We have something new here that hasn't been tried before, at least in this household. My oldest child with my wife, Karen (I have an older son from the "practice" marriage), has started high school. Now I know you may say "we all have (or have had, or will have) kids in high school, Bill, what makes this so different?". Well, good friends, it's different because it's happening to me.
Yup, it scares me to say, I've unleashed a teenager on Plymouth Writemarsh High School.
Skipping back a bit, at the end of 8th grade, Jesse decided that he wanted to join Drum Line, so he could play bass in the "pit". Going to the meetings and the mini-camp at the end of the school year, he was recruited to play in the pit for the marching band, also. What he didn't realize then, was that when he joined, so did his whole family.
The commitment to the band is not for the casual user or the faint of heart. Jesse, who does not yet drive, has either practice, a game or a competition or any combination of the three, on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. He has scouts on Monday, so 5 nights a week, Jesse is out of the house from at least 5 until 9-9:30 at night. Guess who drives him?
I'm not writing this to complain. You see, I've become rather fond of the Plymouth Whitemarsh Marching Colonials. So much, in fact, that I'm starting to feel a bit melancholy that the season is just about at it's end.
Some of the senior kids will be moving on to college or tech school, and new faces will replace them next year. These seniors never looked at my son (or any of the freshmen) with the normal disdain that the "regular" kids may, but took these newbie band members under their collective wings, mentored them, and became role models, someone to aspire to be like. These kids are something special, and it will be bittersweet to see them go...happy for them because they now get to start a new chapter in their lives, sad because this very well could be the last time we cross paths with these special young people.
I've also seen a huge change in Jesse. He's become his own person, not just "our son" but really developed into an incredible personality. He plays the bass like a seasoned pro, and is better at it than I ever was, at 14 years old. He has nowhere to go but forward.
I've realized, too, that Jesse is not at all like me. He looks a bit like me, enjoys the same music and movies that I do, but things pretty much end there. Scraps is laid back where I'm kind of intense. He's got a very dry sense of humor, I'm more bold and in your face about it. He likes muscle cars, I'm into bikes.
He has one very important trait that I've never had...the talent and drive to succeed. He knows what he wants out of life, at 14, and I'm still searching.
While I'm waxing nostalgic about the season that just passed, he's looking forward to Jazz Band, and Drum Line. Sign up meetings are in a week or so. From what I gather, he'll only be out of the house 4 or 5 nights a week.
I'm glad I have a few weeks to catch my breath...hopefully, he'll ask me to drive him.
(Plymouth Whitemarsh placed first overall in their division at their first competition at Lower Bucks Central High, placed second at the State Championships at Hershey, PA, placed third at a regional competiton at Abington High School, and placed 6th at the Nationals today in Annapolis, MD. PW's scores were increasingly better with each competition, scoring their highest point total of the year, 91.465, at the Nationals)
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Last Post For a While
Things haven't been too good lately for you humble blogger.
I've been spotty in posting here on my beloved blog for the past 2 years, but there's underlying issues that have been keeping me from doing so, none of which are important enough to share.
Understand that I am loathe to do so, but I must concentrate my energies and talents elsewhere for the time being.
Therefore, your humble blogger is taking a hiatus...a sabbatical so to speak, to pursue more important things without the distractions of trying to keep up with my blog.
I'm sure I'll see you later. Maybe on the 'cooler, maybe back here, but not for a while.
Anyway, I'll be around.
Peace, out.
B.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
An Open Letter To Michael Nutter
Dear Your Honor, Mr. Mayor Michael Nutter,
I write a blog.
I live in Montgomery County.
People in Philadelphia read my blog.
Am I subject to the "blogger tax" also? If so, would you be so kind as to come collect it yourself? I could use the laugh while I explain the first amendment to you. I could also explain to you that you can't tax thoughts, just because someone writes them down. Otherwise, you could tax my 10 year old daughter's diary, couldn't you? Or, tax Stu Bykofsky's column, because that's not news, that's an opinion column, just like blogs.
See, Mr. Mayor Nutter, the possibilities are endless. If you really need the money, maybe you should change the Philadelphia 911 service to a 1-900 number. There's money in that and it would cut down on false alarms and nuisance calls to your emergency services. Or, change the number for the city hall switchboard to a toll call. Then all the kooks who call on a regular basis will be charged for bothering your receptionists while they are chatting and texting and filing their nails. Can you imagine the $$$ you would generate while your staff kept some poor slob on hold for 40 minutes?
Oh, and another thing you can do...copywrite the word "Philly Cheesesteak". Then, you could collect a fee from every crappy stand across the country who thinks they can make our hometown sandwich actually taste like the real deal.
Or, you could just leave everybody alone and realize that you can't tax free speech. It's guaranteed in our constitution, so important, our founders thought, that they made it the First Amendment. If you want to charge a blogger (who may not have the means to pay) to speak his mind, then you violate his constitutional right to free speech.
By the way, drop the $300.00 business fee to bloggers who earn a measly pittance for running ads on their blogs...you're going to lose that one, too and you've already embarrassed yourself enough by the mere mention of it.
That is all.
Sincerely,
Bill Shaw
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
Ethics (?) Czar J-Huff Seeks State Supreme Court Ruling
More taxpayer money is to be wasted, folks, if Joe Hoeffel gets his way.
It seems that the Commonwealth Court is no place for J-Huff, he expects his and Jimbo's flawed ethics policy to be ruled on by the State Supreme Court.
Republican Commissioner Bruce L. Castor, Jr., thinks it probably should go to the Supreme court, just to have it done and over with. Commissioner Castor's response? From this mornings Inquirer (on Philly.com):
Jimbo could not be reached for comment...he's probably in his Taurus, headed down the shore to spend some campaign mon...er to relax for the weekend.Castor said Wednesday he believed the Supreme Court would uphold his belief that the ethics rules Hoeffel and Commissioners Chairman James R. Matthews passed were inherently flawed. He objects to their creating rules for employees of other elected officials.
"They've become the laughingstock of Pennsylvania for thinking that they can do this," Castor said. "So that the county taxpayers don't suffer, I'll argue the case myself."
I'm sure this isn't the last we'll hear of this kids...read the Philly.com article here.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Jimbo/J-Huff Lose in Commonwealth Court
Like we didn't know this would happen.
Our clueless leaders, Jim Matthews and Joe Hoeffel, took their "Ethics Clause" case to the Commonwealth court to once again, try to block any and everybody employed by Montgomery County from "being political"
The so-called "Ethics Clause" was struck down in Montgomery County Municipal Court as being unenforceable, as the Commissioners can't tell the individually elected row officers who can or can't work for them...or what they can or can't do during their free time. According to Judge Nicholas, the commissioners “do not have statutory authority to regulate the hiring, firing or supervision of employees of row officers.”
Well...just to waste taxpayer money a bit more, Jimbo and J-Huff decided to argue the case a bit further, and got their asses handed to them. According to the Times Herald:
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania dealt a fatal blow to Montgomery County’s ethics ordinance by affirming a prior decision that invalidated a law barring row officers and their employees from participating in political activities.With this ruling coming from the Commonwealth court, it is now binding statewide. By tipping at windmills, both Jimbo (Don Quixote) and J-Huff (his faithful servant, Sancho), both incomprehensible egomaniacs, have actually created policy statewide that they never intended.
The opinion Tuesday by a seven-judge panel was unanimous. And although the opinion by President Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter affirmed Section 1 of the ordinance applying specifically to lawsuits brought by two row officers, Montgomery County DA Risa Vetri Ferman and the late Sheriff John P. Durante, and remanded the rest of the law for further consideration, a concurring opinion by Mary Hannah Judge Leavitt characterized any further legal challenge as “an exercise in futility.”
According to Republican Commissioner, Bruce L. Castor, Jr., “...what Matthews and Hoeffel had done was meant to hurt me and my friends (in DA’s Office), but they effectively made a law binding the entire state (opposite of what was intended).”
Matthews has redefined "The Peter Principle" in a whole new way. It should be renamed "The Jimbo Principle".
You can read the Times Herald report here.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
Too much monkey (C)-Biz-ness
Hahaha...Looks like the dynamic duo are up to their old tricks once again.
Now, they have an insider making "recommendations" for them!
Apparently, a new player in the RFP process has emerged...and the guy was hired without Republican Commissioner Bruce L. Castor, Jr. having any idea he was being hired, let alone having input on his hiring.
Enter G. Fred DiBona III, of DiBona Associates, hired by Jimbo to "assist staffers and HR in evaluating bids and RFP's.
No doubt, this "insider baseball" is the reason CBIZ has been awarded the contract to negotiate Montgomery County's health benefits contract once again. Of course, Jimbo and J-Huff, both recipients of campaign contributions from CBIZ executives, voted to have G. Fred handle the bid process, the guy admits freely that he knows the "players". From today's Times Herald:
DiBona also conceded the process that picked CBIZ was a “subjective determination,” and that evaluating consultant companies was not something he ordinarily does.Also, Mr. DiBona "admitted when questioned by Castor that he knew the firms by name that he helped county officials rank"...this smells suspiciously of the weasels hiring the fox to guard the henhouse...it's so transparent, it's laughable, Jimbo!
“It’s not a regular part of my business,” he said.
The selection process was tipped in favor of CBIZ given that “The guy who is paying (DiBona) is CBIZ’s guy,” Castor said, referring to Matthews.
Here's the entire Times Herald story:
Montco Renews CBIZ Contract
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Saturday, July 17, 2010
Vee Need To Zee Your Paperzzz...
Bob Ford: The tangled story of the Iroquois lacrosse team
As usual, it is about the papers again.
The men, mostly those white men - also again, also as usual - have official papers upon which they have written their rules and their laws and their treaties. They are very sorry, but it is all there on the papers.
The Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy have papers, too, but those are no good. It is a shame and everyone is very sorry, but those papers are meaningless. Please stop showing us your quaint, useless papers.
The Iroquois, who were among the inventors of the game of lacrosse, perhaps as far back as 1,000 years ago, were invited to compete for the fourth straight time in the quadrennial world championships, currently being held in Manchester, England.
The inclusion of the Iroquois Nationals is not merely a ceremonial nod to the past. The Nationals finished fourth in the three previous competitions and are, in fact, ranked fourth in the world.
Unfortunately, the passports from their sovereign nation, issued by Haudenosaunee, the native word for the Iroquois Confederacy, do not contain the proper radio-frequency identification chips. The passports, in fact, are just made of paper, if you can imagine that.
The Iroquois have apparently not kept up with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative which went into effect last year. Travelers who wish to leave and reenter the United States and Canada must have the right kind of passports and security devices. As mentioned before, the Iroquois just have pieces of paper and those are no good.
The U.S. Department of State punted this flaming political problem into the lap of the Department of Homeland Security, where it stayed for a few days, no doubt after having its shoes removed before being properly screened, wanded, and patted down.
There is a great need for Homeland Security, of course, but that is not a concept that needs to be explained to American Indians. The Iroquois homeland once stretched across most of New York State and into Canada. The Oneida, Seneca, Mohawk, Cayuga, and Onondaga tribes, along with others who formed the Iroquois nation, built their houses where they chose and they hunted, farmed, and fished where they pleased.
Sometime in the 17th century, a French missionary watched the Iroquois play a game of their own invention in which, 100 players to a side, on a field that could be miles long, the Indians passed a round object back and forth using forked sticks with weaving between the forks. The missionary wrote about what he saw and called the game "la crosse." As was the habit of Europeans, he didn't really care that much what the Iroquois called it.
Having waited long enough for the Homeland Security people to come back from lunch, the State Department and, more specifically, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, went into action. The Iroquois had a choice. They could take U.S. or Canadian passports, which would solve everything, or they could merely take a one-time waiver and promise to straighten out their worthless pieces of paper before the next world championships. The Iroquois were not particularly interested in becoming citizens of a country that systematically destroyed their way of life, so they went for what was behind Door No. 2 and took the waiver.
Well, that settled that, and the Iroquois were all set to travel, until the English cleared their throats and said, "Not bloody likely," or something of the sort.
The United Kingdom was not sufficiently assured that the United States would allow the Iroquois players, coaches and family members - a traveling party of 43 - to reenter the United States after the tournament ended. The English have pieces of paper, too, and they like to abide by them. There may well be thousands of immigrants, many from their far-flung former colonies, now living in British cities plotting destruction and unrest on a daily basis, but the English are not going to accept the possibility of having an American Indian lacrosse team on their hands as well.
That is how things stood on Thursday as play began in the world championships and the Iroquois Nationals forfeited their opening game in round-robin play. After a break in the schedule, the Iroquois are scheduled to play four more games beginning Saturday. The elimination games follow, leading to the championship game July 24.
There is hope that the Iroquois will still get to the tournament in time to play the rest of their games. If the United States promises, cross-its-heart, to let the team come back, and if England can remove its bureaucratic head from its stuffy posterior, there is a chance the Nationals will be able to once again proudly represent their people.
Many pieces of paper are in the way, however, and will have to be moved. Those pieces of paper are good ones. They have meaning and are worth something. The Iroquois are sad about all this, but they aren't surprised to learn that their own papers don't count for very much. They have heard that a time or two before.
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Friday, June 4, 2010
Bob Kerns Re-Elected to 4 Year Term as MCRC Chair, Unanimously!
Last evening Bob Kerns was re-elected to a four year term as chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Committee. He was re-elected unanimously, the first Chairman to be elected unanimously consecutively in 12 years.
This is important for a couple of reasons: First, Kerns inherited a party that was in the midst of half a decade of turmoil and bedlam and few people thought he'd be successful in bringing the party together or winning elections. He did both. Second, it exposes yet another Jim Matthews lie.
After he was censured unanimously by the party's executive committee in November 2008, Jimbo told the press and took to the airwaves on Michael Smerconish's show telling them that Kerns only got the censure through because members of leadership were afraid to vote against it for fear their votes would cost support for their favored Judge candidates. Of course, after Judges were endorsed and elected the censure is still as popular and in force as ever before...but hey, I give the guy credit for creative spin.
But the second part of his explanation was that Jimbo and his supporters "let Bob Kerns become chairman. We gave him the job because no one wanted it. He's a two year chairman". Not only was KJIII being disingenuous, because he actually DID run someone aganist Kerns...Jim Vlahos from Lower Pottsgrove, who had to withdrawal from the race because he had no support in 2008. Now Kerns has just been reelected unanimously to a four year term.
My guess would be that Jimbo called each and every committeeperson in Montgomery County and pledged support for Bob Kerns, "allowing" him to be chairman once again...I also have some swamp land in the Jersey pine barrens that I'd like to sell you...
How can you tell something is untrue? Usually because Jim Matthews is the source.
Eighteen more months 'til he's gone for good. Enjoy, Jimbo, enjoy!
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Wednesday, April 28, 2010
When an Ordinance Becomes an "Umbrella"
I've been thinking alot lately about Ordinance 10-3...the one that pretty much says that the Commissioners may pick from an "approved" list of vendors, in lieu of using the recently scrapped RFP ordinance of 1998.
The new ordinance states that all vendors for the County...ALL vendors, must first be approved by the commissioners, and by commissioners, I mean J-Huff and Jimbo. That means that the coroner must first have the commissioners approve an outside vendor for forensic work, the Sheriff's department must use approved vendors for their safety equipment, and the DA must use approved vendors for lab work, fingerprint analysis, and for expert witnesses who may very well put a bad apple in prison...every last one must be approved.
Let's revisit the last one, the DA's office.
If the DA is working on a case, and they have to go before the county commissioners to hire the services of an expert who will be providing valuable information and technology to both arrest and convict a known criminal, wouldn't that tip the hand in the favor of the accused, as they pretty much will know what's coming at trial. The DA cannot be hamstrung like that, and should be allowed to contract for their own services, outside the county's approved vendor list.
This brings to mind one example that makes me wonder if the ordinance was written exclusively to obstruct such investigations. Say, for example, that a forensic accountant is required by the District Attorney's office to (hypothetically, of course) investigate some kind of financial fraud? If one of those being investigated happens to be an official who is friendly with one of the two controlling commissioners, couldn't said commissioners approve a forensic accountant who contributes to their campaign account may not be so inclined to count every penny?
It makes one wonder, doesn't it.
DA Risa Vetri Ferman is taking steps today to make sure this doesn't happen by asking the commissioners to repeal and rethink Ordinance 10-3, or be subjected to yet another lawsuit...one the commissioners (the two in power) can't afford for the county to fight and, again, lose.
The commissioners should very well be visiting this issue as this is published, download a very interesting letter sent to them yesterday here.
B.
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Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sightings: XXVII
Chairman Bob Kerns attended two of them-Springfield, then the Ambucs event.
As reported by a friend who attended both events as well, Chairman Kerns left the Springfield event, and our buddy, King James III waltzed in not a minute later.
Coincidence? Yeah, right.
Apparently, Jimbo was literally sitting in the parking lot waiting for Kerns to leave. My source says JimTurd walked in just way too soon after Kerns exited. Unfortunately, Jimbo isn't as slick as he believes himself to be and your humble blogger has this tidbit to report to you today.
It's great to have friends!
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Thursday, April 22, 2010
Castor Right Again, Jimbo Has Egg on His Face
Jimbo and J-Huff once again voted against Republican Commissioner, Bruce L. Castor, Jr., on a lousy ordinance penned by King James III's royal solicitor, BABs...and once again, Castor's "nay" vote was more than justified.
You see, this ordinance was nothing more than a quick, "cover our ass" ordinance made up in a back room (or back alley) to squash any action that may have been taken against the commissioners for violating statute 98-02, which required 5 requests for proposal be sent out to procure services for the county.
Barry, being the astute attorney that he has proven time and again to be, didn't foresee the ramifications of his new ordinance, 10-03, beings that the commissioners would have to "approve" vendors for all county offices, including the duly elected (or acting) row officers.
The Sheriff's Department has formally filed suit against the county, challenging the legality of the new ordinance as it pertains to professional services and the row offices. The Public Defender's office and the office of the President Judge have also chimed in.
According to Margaret Gibbons in today's Intelligencer:
County President Judge Richard J. Hodgson said the policy does not fit the courts needs, whether it is hiring private defense attorneys to represent murder defendants or experts to help the court in its own decisions, according to Matthews.
The public defender's office, which hires expert witnesses to help in that office's defense of its clients and contracts with private attorneys to represent the office's clients in preliminary legal proceedings, also informed Matthews of its concerns.
Keith Phucas, of the Times Herald, quotes Commissioner Castor:
“(The new lawsuit) is just like the ethics ordinance (litigation),” Castor said. “Every time we try to take control of the row officers, it’s like a power grab.”
Well, Jimbo, next time you'd like to waste the taxpayer's money defending a lawsuit against another of your cockamamie "get out of jail free" ordinances, do yourself a favor...consult with a REAL lawyer, not that nincompoop you hired because he handles your campaign finances and likes to go to PJ's with you for drinks, paid for by checks he approves and your human resources manager signs from your campaign fund.
A real lawyer like Republican Commissioner Bruce L. Castor, Jr, for one...
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Jimbo's Having Car Trouble...
Jimbo may not be as "in the clear" as he thinks, concerning his campaign finances.
According to Department of State spokesman Charlie Young, "an elected official is obligated to prove the assertion that he’s effectively campaigning night and day." (Times Herald, 04/18/10)
“The burden of proof would be on the official to show that he’s campaigning ‘24/7,’” Young said.
“If they’re using campaign funds for anything other than to influence the outcome of an election, then they’re violating campaign finance and reporting law,” Young said.
I'm sure that living the "Starbucks culture" is "effectively campaigning night and day", isn't it, Jimbo? As is beers with Barry at PJ's, huh?
Matthews response?
When the law requires a daily diary, you won’t have me to kick around anymore"Um, Jimbo? The law does require one...it's called a "campaign finance report".
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Missing John
I went to the Conshohocken Bakery yesterday. Tuesday is rye bread day, and I needed an Italian bread for dinner, so I got one of each. The Conshy Bakery makes the best bread for my money.
They've installed a portrait of Sheriff John P. Durante over the pasta case to the right of the counter. It's John's "official" portrait, of him in uniform. On the frame is a small brass plate with "1949-2010" engraved on it. It's both grand and understated at the same time, a fitting memorial to my dear friend.
So, I'm the only customer, Scraps is with me, and the woman behind the counter asks "is there anything else I can do for you?" (mind you, I'm looking up at the portrait). I replied, "Can you bring him back (pointing up and to my right)?".
We both smiled, I paid for my bread and went home, missing John.
Just thought I'd share.
B.
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Friday, April 2, 2010
King James III-Episode XXIX
Now, Jimbo scolds citizens for having an opinion. AN OPINION? I guess because it's not his opinion...who's the demagogue now, Jimbo?
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King James Explains It Away...
King James III snarkily explains that driving a Ford Taurus (that his campaign pays for) is not an "enhanced lifestyle"...I don't want to be a "noodge", but if somebody else decided to pay my car payments, this would, in fact, enhance MY lifestyle. A great deal, mind you.
Check out the video:
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Thursday, April 1, 2010
All good things, et al...
Yesterday, I was served with a cease and desist order from a certain person to stop posting about him/her on the blog. The paperwork said I could be sued for financial damages if I "failed to comply" within 48 hours and remove all previous posts about him/her.
Although I am loathe to remove this body of work from the internet, I am also loathe to pay monetary damages to an a**hole for exercising my first amendment right to free speech.
As of midnight tonight, I will no longer be posting on "Writemarsh" and will be taking the blog down, piece by piece over the next several days.
I appreciate each and every one of my followers and hope to someday resurrect this page. But for now, I'll take it easy and concentrate on other pursuits.
Thanks for joining me here over the past 2+ years...it's been a helluva ride.
B.
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