Kazakhstan, Rocket Scientists, Trucks, And Catering

By Richard Clements

A recent Friday was like an old fashioned field trip. I got to take a break from my normal routine. My normal routine is delivering panels of concrete to buildings under construction. I have four trucks working this job on a steady bassis. The construction of these buildings is precise, accurate and fast.

Delivering units to Havre de Grace water treatment plant

Delivering wall panels to apartment building in Bronx

I received an order that got my interest to assist in the retrieval of a commercial satellite. It seems that the launch facility was a little rough in handling the satellite and banged it around so much it was now an insurance job. I can’t understand how this could have happened.

I arrived at the contracted hour before 12 p.m. on Friday at Dulles Airport. After looking all over the place for a rep from the freight company, I finally found some folks, rocket scientists, from Orbital Labs which is also in Dulles Va. I was given directions by them collectively, to the area of operation, that turned out to be wrong, than a second set of directions from a guard that turned out to be wrong, then, finally, a third set of directions that was correct. With that I finally met an air strip escort. I was brought in to an area on the tarmac next to the plane. This beast is a Russian built Antonivich 124 and was copied from our C5 Galaxy. This plane and its crew are as close to privateers as it gets.

This plane regularly carries 2 to 4 million dollars for fuel, fees and expenses all paid in cash. There were even customers who wanted to reload the plane dealing directly with the crew on the tarmac. One thing I must note is that everyone involved was in good humor and relaxed to an unusual level. I guess all that cash does that.

Now that the plane has done the customs thing and the air in the cargo hold is checked, it morphs to another form for self unloading. The rear has gantry cranes to load trucks and the front opens to facilitate “roll on roll off” cargo with ramps.

The rest is kinda routine except that no one was in charge and trucks were all over the place. It was kinda like watching 6 chimps hump a beach ball. All the while we were kept amused with stories of the incompetence of the satellite launch facility in Kazakhstan. I did learn one thing. If I’m ever going to launch a satellite I’m going to do it in French Guiana verses Kazakhstan.

After loading and securing we embarked on our 8 mile journey through rush hour traffic. We arrived safely and than it happened, the highpoint of the day, all I can say is that there is nothing like watching two rocket scientists with combined 12 years of college and another 10 years of graduate school try to figure out how to operate a cargo strap and roll it up. It seemed the rolling up part was the most difficult.

It was a good day and I must say those rocket scientists sure know how to have lunch catered. I asked them if they could use me on their next Kazakhstan launch, they said NO. I also asked them numerous times if they would be interested in abandoning their Northern Virginia 125,000 foot facility and moving to Havre de Grace at the intersection of Rt 155 and I-95, they said NO.

Christmas Aftershock: Post-Holiday Earthquake Shakes Up/Wakes Up North Harford

The day after Christmas is traditionally a day of relaxation. It’s a time to unwind, decompress and pick up the pieces after surviving another hectic holiday season.

That was generally the case this Friday, which was no different than any other ‘day-after-Christmas’ in the past - that is, until an earthquake of moderate magnitude moderately shook up and woke up residents of Harford County living along the Pennsylvania state line. Continue reading Christmas Aftershock: Post-Holiday Earthquake Shakes Up/Wakes Up North Harford

Ever Have Nightmares Someone Could Be Charging Phone Calls In Your Name And Number?

This morning, my mother was in the process of paying her bills when she noticed an extra $50 tacked on to her home-line phone bill. The phone company told her to contact Johns Hopkins Hospital, where the billed calls had been charged to her number. When she contacted the hospital, she was told that someone claiming to be a family member had charged calls to her number while staying there recently.

A family member? Who in the family had been in the hospital? No one we knew of, and we have a pretty tight knit family. Something happens and everyone knows about it within an hour. Even so, how was someone other than her or my father allowed to use that number for billing purposes?

If it really was a family member, it was someone with my mother’s maiden name, under which she is listed in the phone book. We have a suspect in mind, but no other evidence at this time because the hospital refused to give the name of the person falsely using my mom’s phone number.

I was shocked. One, how is this legal — letting people charge calls against any number they choose? Two, how are we supposed to stop fraud like this if we don’t have a name to press charges against?

Even though they agreed to remove the bill, I frown upon Johns Hopkins Hospital for their initial failure to protect my mother’s credit. There should be a better method of charging someone’s calls — not using a phone number that could belong to anyone. How about insisting on a charge card with proper ID?

How many other people have had this happen? How many of them actually caught on to the problem? How many other crooks will continue to use this to avoid paying out of their own pocket?!

Harford Dems Kindly Remind GOP That McCain/Palin and Harris Signs Should Be Removed

I’ve been noticing many of those big, 4-ft by 8-ft McCain/Palin and Harris political signs are still standing two months after the elections - in which each of those candidates lost.

I was told by the Democratic Central Committee that these “blights on the Harford County landscape” should have been taken down over weeks ago.

The following letter was drafted by the Democratic Central Committee and sent to the Republican Central Committee a few weeks ago. Have you noticed any reduction in remaining campaign signs since then?

Mr. Michael Geppi, Chair
Harford Co. Republican Central Committee
P. O. Box 289
Bel Air, MD 21014

Dear Mike:

Even as we enter the December holiday season, large Republican signs for McCain and Harris continue to dot the Harford County landscape.

I noticed your letter in The Aegis a few issues ago, thanking the people who helped you put up Republican campaign signs. Apparently they only did half the job, since the signs have not been taken down as required by law. And they were so quick to get some signs up, even overnight when it suited them.

Surely you remember the Harford County Sign Code requirement that political signs be removed within 15 days after the November 4th election. Are you planning to remove the signs, or are you leaving them in hopes that beavers will come along and chew them down?

The Democratic campaigns for Barack Obama and Frank Kratovil removed their signs promptly after the election. Now Thanksgiving has passed and the holiday season is upon us, and your Republican signs continue to interfere with enjoyment of Harford County’s view.

I’m trying to think of some way to decorate your signs to make them more appropriate for the season, but I would rather you just obey the law and take them down.

Very truly yours,

Wendy Sawyer, Chair
Harford County Democratic Central Committee

The Grist Mill In Perryville: Over The River And Through The Woods For Fine Dining

FROM THOSE HUNGRY GOURMETS….JIMMY AND GUY STILLWELL

The big mirror behind the bar declares…” Eat Well….Drink Well” and well, that’s what we came here for…well, that and the Wallis Boys…who make music and entertain the folks. Our foray to the Grist Mill on a Friday evening was a pleasant experience and we recommend it for all.

Back when it was the Island Inn we ventured forth and nearly got the hell beat out of us. Since then, Mike Andrews and Erik Lidums, took on the old gal and renovated the entire joint, save the beer box directly under the big mirror.

Rustic early American décor lends the visitor a chance to feel comfy, not crowded with a fine dining room, elegant bar and good service. Best of all is the chef, Mike, who puts forth some mighty fancy and delicious entrees.

Tonight I had the seared medallions of pork tenderloin, drizzled with whole grain mustard sauce, served with sautéed baby bok choy and champagne cheddar whipped potatoes….yep…never thought I’d chow down on this kind of fare…especially at the Island Inn…but I digress…it’s the Grist Mill and times have changed.

For an appetizer we both enjoyed the soups…Guy had the oyster stew which he lapped up like a spaniel in heat…me, well I savored the baked potato soup with green onion, bacon and cheddar…and it blew me away. The soups alone are enough to merit a visit to the Mill….and best of all; they are all home-made by Mike’s mom, Wanda Andrews. Take a moment and think about that…no disrespect to other eateries, but for a class establishment like this having Mom in the kitchen is a plus.

Guy had a taste for the seafood tonight and settled in for the Oysters carpaccio on the half shell topped with tangy onion relish, shredded parmesan, and balsamic reduction. Dinner was savored, conversation pleasant, and we were living well.

Wafting through the dining area the tunes of the Wallis Boys eased the crowd into a gentle kind of atmosphere suited for a genteel Friday evening out to dine. The Grist Mill and the Wallis Boys complement each other and I see nothing but good in that. Young children would venture over to where the boys were playing to get a look and there were smiles all around. Families in the dining room with well-behaved children means a lot to adults dining out once in a while, with the times being hard and all.

Younger folk at the spacious bar, closer to the music and a handy barkeep name of Bob…Bob sold cars for 15 years, and got his pink slip recently so he went back to days of tending bar. He actually helped open the Grist Mill after extensive renovations and was on hand to serve the libations.

The Wallis Boys welcome anyone who would like to step up to the mike and sing…and sure enough this lady comes up and sings a rather good version of “Angel From Montgomery” to the delight of everyone, especially her husband sitting 8 stools down. The Boys are definitely ‘user friendly’.

Follows a ‘special request’ for the band for a gray bearded gent sitting by himself in the dining room…”Pancho and Lefty”…the whole place is enveloped with fine vittles and melodies.

Enthusiastic applause keeps the sound level happy and vibrant.

We came for the food, and got a bargain in quality and price. Dwight James, the maitre de of the place tended our every need and of those guests coming in throughout the evening. After all, this was a ‘First Friday’ in Havre de Grace and yet the crowd here was better than we had expected.

Alert waitresses without attitude or diversions other than the clientele are rare in some eateries today, but here, they can’t do enough for us. Our waitress, Brooke, supplies extra napkins and kept our every need foremost in her mind.

My soup, baked potato soup…$4 per cup…$6 bowl

Seared Medallions of Pork, $16

Guy’s soup, Oyster stew…not sure of the price, but he wore a smile on the last sup.

Oysters carpaccio…$10

Being the gourmets we are, bottled water with the meal, no dessert, and a chilly vodka and cranberry at the bar afterwards.

Oh, in the Men’s Room, behind the ‘throne’ was a copy of the Warren Commission Report” on the J.F.K. Assassination….Dwight later was advised and duly removed the book from the privy. I wondered who would have the time to read or even browse that tome of lies.

Mike, co-owner and chef, graduated from the Culinary School in Baltimore, and worked at Linwood’s and later at Woody’s in North East.

The Stillwell’s rate The Grist Mill as follows:

Price $$$ Food, Parking and Atmosphere 4 stars out of 5

We highly recommend a visit there…it’s just a half hour ride from Bel Air…and puts some of the places there to shame.

WTF?: Jim Harkins

Where To Find? (WTF)

Name:  Jim Harkins

Notoriety:  Two-term Harford County Executive

Career Highlights:

- Calling the Emergency Operations Center and trying to explain why a 911 hangup call had just been placed from his house and why police didn’t have to, and indeed shouldn’t, respond. Continue reading WTF?: Jim Harkins

Do I have to eat that? A fan’s guide to Top Chef Season Five Elimination Challenge dishes - Episode Two

After watching last week’s season premiere episode of Top Chef, I think there was probably a consensus among fans that this was going to be a fun season full of talented contestants.

But then last night happened…

What the hell was that? My train of thought while watching that gastro-disaster unfold on the television was not on the different techniques and ingredients being used, but how can I possibly pick a top 3.

Last night was a three course meal: an appitizer, entree, and dessert. I’ll play along, and pick one one from each to comprise my top and bottom three for the week. Remember, the criteria is simply what this blogger would choose to eat.

The Top 3:

Chilled Sweet Corn Soup with Mint and Chili Oil - Not big on cold soup, but I dig the ingredients.

Southern Chicken and Sides - Call be boring, whatever. I would order this off of any menu. Jeff is 2 for 2 in my top 3.

Rustic Apple Pie tart - To be honest, it was the only desert that looked edible to me, so it wins by default.

The Bottom 3:

Grilled Avocado and Stone Fruit Salad - Grilled avocado. I repeat, grilled avocado. Baltimore chef disappointment #1 for the week.

Ostrich Egg Quiche - You know what would be cool? Lets use this big-ass egg in a quiche for no good reason, and not play on the fact that its a big-ass egg. Baltimore chef disappointment #2, and she’s gone.

Avacado Mousse with Chocolate Wontons - Enough with the avocado! Don’t grill it, and please, please, please don’t make it into a dessert. You are not an Iron Chef.

What blogs and news sites do you check out regularly?

Just wanted to share a list of blogs that I check everyday for the latest news, whether local or national. What sites, besides The Dagger of course, are you checking out regularly?

I’ll first start off by saying I use Google Reader as my rss feed reader of choice. Here are a few interesting feeds I have subscribed to: (yeah, this is for my geeky side)

• BuzzMachine - Jeff Jarvis’s look at the media industry
• PaidContent.org - All about the economics of digital content.
• Wired - a daily technology news website

Onto the news:

Local
HarfordNow.com - want a place to find all the local news feeds from Harford County on one page? Harford Now is it. Of course, I designed it.

National
KausFiles on Slate.com - One of the first political blogs on the net written by a Mickey Kaus, who claims he is a liberal but is called a conservative by many other journalists. I enjoy his writing styles and even look at most things.

The Huffington Post - yeah, i can’t stand the content, but they are the perfect model for a news/blog startup right now (although I am digging the new Daily Beast)

TechCrunch - No, I’m not just fishing for links by listing the two most popular blogs in the world. Want to know what’s going on in the tech world? Look no further.

Drudge Report - Simple and effective. No matter what side of the political specturm you are own, you should be checking Drudge for the latest news. So influential, news websites would tailor their headlines in order to be picked up by his website.

OK, your turn…

What should the government do about the Big 3?

Will giving the Big 3 automakers in Detroit (Ford, GM and Chrysler) $25 billion dollars help turn around the downward spiral they have been in for the past 25 years? Should the government be in the business of bailing them out at all?

To tell you the truth, I haven’t made up my mind about this issue. I was, and remain, against the $700 billion bailout of our financial industry, but the auto industry is so rooted in a specific area of the country. Markets can correct themselves, towns and families cannot.

On the other hand, it is clear that their current business model is inefficient and just doesn’t work. Why is that? Is it because of poor management at the executive level of the companies? Is it because of the UAW (United Auto Workers) union and their policies, including the pensions and health benefits for retirees? Or is it as simple as saying the products coming out of Detroit are inferior?

The answer is it’s all of the above. To make matters worse, it’s a snowball that has been rolling for way too long.

Maybe bankruptcy is the answer? The airline industry has seen many of it’s companies come out better after filing. But bankruptcy could terminate all of the union contracts, specifically the pension and health benefits for retirees. This is mostly the fault of the executive at the Big 3. They gave in to union demands. The union was only doing their job.

So what do you think the government should dol?  Should they give them the money or make them go into bankruptcy?  Any other solutions?

photo credit: mandj98

Aberdeen Agenda 11/17: Water Project, Hotel Tax, Revenue Protection

During its Monday night work session, the Aberdeen City Council discussed what its legislative priorities would be for the Harford County delegation to seek in Annapolis this upcoming General Assembly session.

Those legislative priorities (the proverbial ‘bacon’ the Aberdeen mayor and city council would like to see the delegation bring home) included: “Municipal Revenue Source Protection,” “Support for Water Project” and “Hotel Tax/Tourism.”

There’s no denying Aberdeen has some water problems and could use a room fee to help offset the continually Ripken Stadium losses, but are there other issues the city should have prioritized?

We all remember the curious fate of the Hotel Tax last year, so out of Aberdeen’s three priorities this year, which do you think has the greatest chance of success in Annapolis?

Aberdeen Mayor and Council Work Session
November 17, 2008
4:30 PM

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Matters of Urgent Business

3. Work Session

a. Annexation Plans

b. Delegation Meeting Discussion Topics

1. Municipal Revenue Source Protection

2. Support for Water Project

3. Hotel Tax/Tourism

4. Other

c. WRE and Water Investigation Bids

4. Liaison Reports

5. Other

6. Adjourn

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