Frustrated Fliers Rank Best, Worst Airports - Money News Story - WCAU Philadelphia Philadelphia International Airport the best!?!?! Really??? What are they smoking?

I have lost all confidence in the JD Powers organization's ability to accurately study and report. I have flown extensively. Philadelphia International is by far the worst large airport that I have been in. I will go to great lengths to avoid it, because of the delays and their 90% proven track record of losing my luggage. Yes... 90% of the time that I fly out of PHL, my luggage is mishandled and misplaced.

Perhaps the flaw in the study was because they were interviewing people who are still flying from that airport? Maybe they should interview the refugees like me, instead?

Today in the News Journal I read that a group of teens have started a "boycott Christiana Mall" campaign. The mall has recently required parental or adult supervision on certain weekend and evening hours.

The teens reasoning ranges from... they come there to spend money, so they shouldn't be excluded... to... they have the legal right to drive, so they should have the right to go in the mall.

Well, Christiana Mall is private property. As such, within certain constitutional limits, the owners can exclude who they want to, when they want to. We have no "right" to demand access to another person's private property.

It has been the boisterous, disrespectful, and criminal behaviour of some amongst the teen crowds which have made the mall unpleasant and unsafe for society and the mall employees. Certainly it is not all teenagers who act this way at the mall. But the restrictions imposed seem reasonable and appropriate.

Adult and parental supervision is lacking in our society now across the board. Not just in the malls but everywhere. The lack of personal and parental responsibility is a significant factor in many social problems that we face.

Yesterday the United States Supreme Court defended our citizens' civil rights again!

In the case of District of Columbia vs Heller, the Court confirmed that we still have the individual right to keep and bear arms as set forth in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

A full copy of the Opinion (link below) may take us a while to read and digest, but the short answer is... our bulworks of freedom have withstood another assault from those who would erode our civil rights.

DCvHeller.pdf

One perspective on the concept of "militia" that I have not yet seen addressed in my skim of the Opinion, is that it is important to remember when conducting this analysis that The United States was formed and initially defended by individuals with their own personal firearms who assembled and dared to stand up against the previous government. The Constitution clearly states that we are at least to maintain that. How are we to maintain this ability if we change the meaning of "militia" to now mean the army of the government? The armed forces of These United States (which I fully support) are yet still the standing army of the government that the "militia" could be called upon to oppose, should the federal government continue to try to erode our individual and states' rights.

Some say that the National Guard is the new militia. I suggest to you that the evolution of the National Guard has taken it many strides from the constitutional concept of the militia. How different really is the National Guard from the standing federal army? I say it is not so different, when a stroke of the pen from the President can nationalize and mobilize the National Guard.

But alas, the horse is dead. The result of the Decision is correct. And we can still yet live in a free America.

The State of Delaware is giving parents the opportunity to take advantage of the Safe Kids Card Child Identification Program, which keeps records every parent should have on hand in one place, in case of an emergency situation where a child is missing.

In today's Wilmington News Journal, candidate for governor, Mike Protack's plan for dealing with illegal immigration is unveiled. I suggest that it is misguided and the costs are severely underestimated.

It seems to me that the real problem we are facing in this regard is the under-collection of taxes as compared to the increase in public services provided. And this is because employers are breaking the laws by hiring illegal workers and by refusing to collect the wage taxes and withholdings. It seems from the article that Mr. Protack agrees with this concept.

Where we differ then is in how to deal with the problem. Protack suggests that by equipping the police with better technology, and by requiring everyone above the age of 16 to carry official identification, the government can make sure they know who is in the State and what they are doing. I say hogwash. The government is invasive enough as it is.

The cost of the technology and ID cards is miniscule as compared to the cost of harassment to all of us, illegals and legals alike. And Protack suggests that everyone that shows up on the computer as illegal be arrested on the spot and handed over to immigration officials. Does he have any clue what cost that would pose on our police systems? I can see it now... busloads of undocumented persons being bounced back and forth between Dover and Philadelphia because nobody has room for them and nobody will accept them. That plan is doomed.

Why don't we attack the problem where the problem is? The problem is with employers not collecting the taxes and withholdings. The problem is the wink-and-nod culture that we have cultivated here in America, by Americans, and for American greed. If we enforce the laws which require the collection of taxes and withholdings, then the rest of the problem will go away. We won't need multi-Billion Dollar boondoggle fences and other extreme losses of the personal liberties we cherish. Harassing the immigrants only attacks the symptom of the problem, not the cause of the problem.

A house in Wilmington has been ordered closed under the Delaware Drug Nuisance and Social Vices Abatement Act. It is the first time such action has been taken in Wilmington. However, similar action was previously taken against a house in West Rehoboth.

I have mixed feelings about this law. It seems like a great idea on the surface- I don?t think your average law abiding citizen thinks ?my dream house is going to be right next to a crack house.? I guess what worries me is the potential for abuse with the provisions about lewd acts and obscene material.

A recent Supreme Court ruling, Baze v. Rees, ended the Federal moratorium on lethal injections in the United States. In Delaware, a State Supreme Court judge rejects lethal injection challenge but a Federal Court appeal is still pending.

What I find particularly outrageous about the lethal injection challenge is that Robert Jackson III, the criminal that first made the claim that the lethal injection in Delaware is ?cruel and unusual punishment,? murdered his victim with an ax in her home. Did she have the choice whether or not she wanted to be killed in a way that was so brutal??

For an alternative perspective, related to John F. Brady for Delaware State Insurance Commissioner, information can be found at his campaign website.

Monday my mother and son were on a mission to find a new, furry family member. Sunday night we discussed what I was looking for. I wanted one that would be friendly, good with kids, and protective of us. I was in 4th grade when my parents brought home our first Irish Setter. We have had six of them among the family. They are great dogs with fun personalities and they could not be any better with children. A setter was first on my list. A couple of friends of mine mentioned that the Eastern Shore Animal Rescue League rescues English Setters from kill shelters and tries to find homes for them. So my mother and son went there to meet the dogs and they were smitten. They brought Rudy home with them that day. He is the most delightful animal I have ever met. He is sweet, affectionate, and great with my son. However, he must not have had the greatest life before because he is afraid of so many things from the kitchen to the back yard after dark. We are slowly overcoming his fears; he is no longer afraid to ride in my car. He is also in need of training. He does not seem to be familiar with the command sit at all, but we have been working on heel with him and he is doing really well with it. Hopefully within a couple of months he will be fully settled in and not so afraid any more.

Last month I went to settlement on my first home. It was not a brand new house of my dreams, but rather an older home with tons of potential. Now it is up to me to take it from home with potential to home of my dreams. Perhaps I am being overly optimistic, but I think I can do it. However, every time I look at my little castle, all I can see is a list of things to be done. This is the tale of the first item on the list?dealing with the old paneling that is EVERYWHERE in my house. I understand that there was a time period when wood paneling was all the rage, but it is even on the ceiling in my dining room. How could anyone have ever thought that wood paneling on a ceiling was a good idea???

This weekend, hammer and pry bar in hand, I started the task of pulling down the heinous GREEN paneling that was on one wall of my office. Two boo-boos, lots of cursing, and 4 hours later my room was liberated of the nasty green paneling. The job itself was not bad. However, looking at the walls under the paneling with the 5 or 6 layers of old wallpaper dating back to the 1950s, all of the nail holes, and the remaining glue that held the paneling up, I am rethinking my strategy. Since applying new drywall to every room of the house is not an option for me (nasty drywall allergy and big swollen cartoon hands), I did some researching to see what else could be done.

In the course of my research I came across three methods that did not seem so bad:
1. Covering Paneling With Drywall Compound
2. Paint Wood Paneling
3. Transform wood paneling using wallpaper to cover grooves

I was wondering, though, if anyone reading this had any good suggestions (short of blowing up the house and starting again) for dealing with hideous wood paneling.

Inspired by reading a News Journal article this morning, about the oldest documents in the State Archives (letters and such of a Swedish settler, also bearing signatures of Governor Printz), I dug into the back of the vault to pull out some of my most favorite reading materials.

I have several old books from the colonial period, bearing owner signatures of historical significance. Last year I tried to donate them the the University of Delaware Library because I saw what a nice facility they have for maintaining fragile old documents. But alas, the UD was so awash with its own cumbersome bureaucratic self-important inefficiency, that I could never get a call back from the right department.

My favorite read is not my oldest book. It is Principles of Revolution (that's the short title for the actual Title... Principles and Acts of the Revolution in America: or, an attempt to Collect and Preserve Some of the Speeches, Orations, & Proceedings, With Sketches and Remarks on Men and Things, and other Fugitive or Neglected Pieces, Belonging to the Revolutionary Period in the United States; Which Happily, Terminated in the Establishment of their Liberties: With a view to represent the feelings that prevailed in the "Times that Tried Men's Souls," to Excite a Love of Freedom, and Lead the People to Vigilance, as the Condition on Which it is Granted, By H. Niles).

Just the long version of the title to the book alone inspires me. They sure had a way with words. This is an 1822 book with inscriptions by such familiar people as Commegys; Polk, and the like.

Today I will attempt to transcribe a letter from His Excellency George Washington to General Gage, from Caimbridge, August 11, 1775:

Sir - I understand that the officers, engaged in the cause of liberty and their country, who by the fortune of war, have fallen into your hands, have been thrown indiscriminately into a common jail appropriated for felons - that no consideration has been had for those of the most respectable rank, when languishing with wounds and sickness- that some of them have been even amputated in this unworthy situation.

Let your opinion, sir, of the principle which actuates them, be what it may, they suppose they act from the noblest of all principles, a love of freedom and their country. But political opinions, I conceive, are foreign to this point. The obligations arising from the rights of humanity, and claims of rank, are universally binding and extensive, except in the case of retaliation. These, I should have hoped, would have dictated a more tender treatment of those individuals, whom chance or war had put in your power. Nor can I forbear suggesting its fatal tendency to widen that unhappy breach, which you, and those ministers under who you act, have repeatedly declared you wish to see forever closed.

My duty now makes it necessary to apprise you, that, for the future, I shall regulate my conduct towards those gentlemen of your army, who are, or may be in our possessioin, exactly by the rule you shall observe towards those of ours who may be in your custody.

If severity and hardship mark the line of your conduct (painful as it may be to me) your prisoners will feel its effect; but if kindness and humanity are shown to ours, I shall, with pleasure, consider those in our hands only as unfortunate, and they shall receive from me that treatment to which the unfortunate are ever entitled.

I beg to be favored with an answer as soon as possible, and am, sir, your very humble servant.
G. Washington

I don't usually get involved in politics, mostly because it disgusts me. But once in a while I get spurred to speak, like now.

I noticed in today's News Journal that John F Brady has announced his candidacy for Insurance Commissioner. Oh my gosh. Please no.

My personal opinion, from having directly observed his behaviour and work product, is that he is not fit for the public service. I was duly unimpressed with his professionalism, ethics, and the quality of his work.

So with concern and a sense of desperate urgency, I say... "Anybody But Brady".

I pledge to contribute $100 each unto the first five legitimate candidates for Insurance Commissioner who oppose Mr. Brady. The first five to be determined by the time and date that they contact me by email at info@delawoffice.com. Legitimate is to be defined for these purposes as candidates who have formally filed their candidacy. This pledge is valid only for this election year.

I challenge other concerned citizens and businesses to match my pledge.

The Linzer Torte - The Cooking Adventure (first in a series)

With the best of intentions (we all know where that paved road leads) ,I promised to create and bring a culinary delight to my charming colleagues as an early holiday gift. Alas, on the momentous night of its preparation, a total failure of the heating system struck our household. Now, Dear Reader, I would like to be able to report of the unparalleled success of my adventure into gourmandy; however, that is not the case. My significant others felt, quite to my astonishment, that my efforts would be better served if I were to, and I hereby paraphrase my ultimate significant other, ?stop worrying about a frickin? torte and get the heat on.? Grasping (with little assistance mind you) that the logic of the additional heat provided by a cooking oven did not overcome the significant lack of appeal of a cold house - I mean, really, people don?t sleep on their kitchen floor next to the stove in the dead of winter waiting for a torte to finish its baking? Isn?t it closer to the coffee pot? Nonetheless, in the best interest of spousal harmony not to mention the thought of how cold a couch would be in a home with no heat and the lack of additional body warmth provided by most significant other (most likely forever), I blew off the torte. Upon waking the next day in a most displeased state (no torte and the extra body warmth thing never materialized), I reported to work the next day, which I will be happy to tell you about in the next installment.

By Scott (with significant contribution by Ms. Magaw which is hereby acknowledged)

I love the holiday season. The spirit, lights, decorations and music bring out the gigantic kid in me. Everyone seems a little less grumpy to me this time of year. Here is a list of holiday related things to do that get me in the holiday spirit:

Internet Fun:

Naughty or nice rating (Christmas Naughty or Nice List)

Elf yourself (www.elfyourself.com)

Here is my elf yourself (http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1222724658)

Growing up there were some places my family went to visit every year. Even though they were essentially the same from year to year, they kept me spellbound. As I got older and had a child of my own it was wonderful to see the glee these displays always brought to me mirrored in his face.

Here are some of my favorite festive places to see this time of year:

Longwood Gardens (http://www.longwoodgardens.org/)
Macy?s Dickens Village (Macy*s - Our Stores - Events - Events)
Wanamaker?s light show (LIGHT SHOW)-details for times of shows can be found on link above for Dickens Village.
Wilmington Western Railroad Santa Claus Express & Holiday night express (Wilmington & Western Railroad)

The best light display I have ever come across:

Rich Faucher?s house 1054 Red Lion Road Bear, DE (http://www.lightorama02.com/VideosTemp/Static%20Christmas%20House.wmv)
I hope everyone enjoys their holiday season!!

By Michele

Studies are showing that sleep provides the body with strength to fight cancer. And conversely then, disruptions in our sleep and with our internal clocks weaken our resistance to cancer.

Will OSHA ban night shifts? What about police, overnight transport, nighttime security services, will these all be required to alter procedures to lessen the carcinogenic consequences of night shifts?

Will our "Open 24 Hours" country have to start setting curfews?

These studies are still in their early years, but significant between sleep and many health issues are being found. Things such as breast cancer research involving light.

Studies are also involving the gene that regulates the internal clock, and what affects it.

Other studies explore how high fat diets disrupt the clock, and how sleep disorders have serious consequences to one's health.

A recent Chancery Court action was filed seeking to stop the City of Wilmington from seizing private property under the Slum Clearance Redevelopment Act (31 Del.C. 4501, et seq). It is alleged that the politicians of Wilmington are being used as pawns by the developer, with the promise of creating a higher tax basis. It is also reportedly alleged that the area sought to be condemned and seized is not an urban blight area, using the developer's own headquarters as an example, as it is inside the proposed seizure area.

The expansive use of eminent domain puts us on a slippery slope. At the bottom of the heap, along with the ethics of many politicians, are our liberty and property rights, along with the failed experiments with communism.

While a 40% rate hike (from 1.25% to 1.75%) might at first glance seem extreme, the recent Register of Wills closing cost increase is in most cases modest, and in any case, long over due.

The New Castle County Register of Wills is the most user friendly government office that I have dealt with. I applaud them. The rate hike is effective for estates where the date of death is on or after July 1, 2007.

Please consult an attorney to get an accurate explanation of how this might effect any given particular estate, or estate plan.

Some local ATM's have been fitted with Skimmers to steal your bank account information when you access the ATM. Be cautious when using an ATM. If the swiping mechanism looks larger than normal, or otherwise different, go somewhere else. The News Journal reported these problems in Bear.

With each approaching holiday, I find myself most intrigued by the history behind the customs and rituals than the actual celebration. Reclusive in nature, I would much rather immerse myself into a good read or history channel presentation than endure social gatherings that revolve around these events. This, of course, is the weary adult speaking-as a child, the magic was all encompassing and the mere anticipation of these times was enough to make me giddy. Now that I am a parent, I am fortunate enough to observe this same enthusiasm within my child.

With this said, Halloween is right around the corner. I ask myself, just why I?ll be accompanying my little girl on a begging for candy mission throughout my neighborhood. And just why will I be opening my door to ?treat? those children that have in the past played the old,? ding, dong, ditch? game with my doorbell? Upon researching this subject, after failing to provide my inquisitive kid an acceptable explanation, I prefer to broadly describe it as a mish mash of pagan and Christian traditions. I personally enjoy the story of Celtic community bonfires and the bringing home of a flame in hollowed out gourds and turnips. There?s also the idea of ancient people wearing costumes/animal skins and heads to confuse evil spirits. Today, our children are using their imagination to morph into anything from sweet Disney characters to more scary creepy figures. My daughter, who is now well out of her cute girlie princess phase, has selected a skeleton costume. And well, our dog may be sharing in this tradition this year too.

by Kelly

With wide eyed wonder that only a child could have, I read and re-read my grandfathers King Tutankhamen issue of National Geographic. I wished with every fiber of my being to travel to Egypt and set my eyes (and chocolate smeared hands) upon the beautiful treasures of a long forgotten boy pharaoh. Now, many years later, I need only travel as far as the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA to view these priceless artifacts.

I am not a patient person by nature, and normally will not ?do? lines, but this exhibit is special. I will pay my $27.50 entrance fee, and wait (with the restraint comparable to that of an 8 year old) for my visit with the boy pharaoh.

Kelly

We don't have an immigration problem, as I understand it. What we have is a tax evasion problem. Too many U.S. employers are willing to break the law by not withholding and paying the employment taxes associated with those that they hire.

The answer is not in the building of fences, because the problem is not that people are crossing the borders. The problem is with our own citizens and employers in building a culture in which it is acceptable to not pay taxes. And the problem is with the misallocation of resources.

When we apply the resources to fix the real problem, and when we clean up our culture of crime, we can improve the situation. Until then, we are just serving pork.