http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/ Recent blog posts from Strange Bedfellows on ExploreBaltimoreCounty.com en-us 2009 The Baltimore Sun Media Group, All Rights Reserved. technical@baltimoresun.com (Technical Help) http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/351/imaginary-friends/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/351/imaginary-friends/ You don't have to be 5 years old to have an imaginary friend. County Executive Jim Smith has one and wants you to meet her. Meet Merrie Holiday, Baltimore County's resident holiday shopping maven. Fronda Cohen, a spokeswoman for the county Department of Economic Development, was coy about exactly who... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:15:06 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/350/browser-trouble/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/350/browser-trouble/ I'm getting reports from readers saying there's trouble listening to the audio of the Personnel and Salary Advisory Board that I posted yesterday. The common link seems to be the use of Internet Explorer. I hear Firefox works pretty good. There is a load time though so be patient. Here's... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:58:57 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/348/board-discusses-salaries/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/348/board-discusses-salaries/ Here's the audio of Wednesday's meeting of the Baltimore County Personnel and Salary Advisory Board. During the meeting, the board unanimously approved recommending salary increases for the county executive and the County Council of 8 percent and 2 percent, respectively. If approved by the council, the increases would take effect... Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:10:16 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/346/of-pay-raises-and-spokesmen/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/346/of-pay-raises-and-spokesmen/ Here's the link to my weekly political chat with WBAL 1090 AM Maryland Morning News anchor Bill Vanko. On today's docket: Pay raises for the county executive and county council and early "retirement" of long-time county police spokesman Bill Toohey.... Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:10:02 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/345/the-7th-senate-race-from-the-dark-side/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/345/the-7th-senate-race-from-the-dark-side/ Joseph "Prince of Darkness" Steffen offers his take on Al Redmer's entry last week (officially, anyway) into the 7th District Senate race, where he'll square off in the GOP primary against two-term Republican Del. J.B. Jennings. Two's company and three's a crowd as Steffen, the former staffer for Gov. Robert... Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:20:35 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/343/weekly-political-chat/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/343/weekly-political-chat/ If you missed it, here's my weekly chat with Bill Vanko on local politcs and Al Redmer's return to the campaign trail.... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:40:14 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/340/the-quote-wall-the-wake-up-call/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/340/the-quote-wall-the-wake-up-call/ "I have my clock radio set to WBAL. If there's anything I don't want to wake up to in the morning, it's your voice. How would you like to wake up to your voice?" ~ Les Pittler, Baltimore County Revenue Authority board member, referring to yours truly speaking on the... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:40:05 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/342/kratovils-problems-from-the-left/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/342/kratovils-problems-from-the-left/ The folks over at Maryland Politics Watch had an interesting post Monday about Rep. Frank Kratovil and his vote Saturday against the House version of health care reform. One Montgomery County union official sent out an e-mail blasting Kratovil's vote. "The way I see it, if not for President Obama... Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:09:45 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/341/never-say-never-to-pension-reform/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/341/never-say-never-to-pension-reform/ One by one the county's seven councilmen are speaking about the possibility of reforming the pension plan that has been in place for the last 50 years. The issue attracted attention after it was revealed that Democratic Councilman Vince Gardina would retire after completing an unprecedented fifth term and be... Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:29:49 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/339/the-quote-wall-don-mohler/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/339/the-quote-wall-don-mohler/ "You hope property owners start to comply immediately. We're just recognizing the fiscal impact. I don't think they want to dilly-dally." ~ County spokesman Don Mohler, expressing his belief that area rental property owners won't need more than a year to install carbon monoxide detectors.... Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:55:26 EST