Category: Misc

WMAR TV: Emergency communications between Harford & Cecil Counties

This evening WMAR posted a story about their investigation into interoperability issues in the radio communications between Harford and Cecil Counties, focusing on an incident on September 15 when an officer with the Susquehanna Hose Company (SHCO) from Havre de Grace (Harford County) was injured fighting a fire in Elkton.

Watch the story

While I’m not a first responder, I am the daughter, granddaughter, and niece of former members of SHCO so this story hits close to my heart. Now a resident of Perryville (Cecil County), I wrote in July about what I perceived to be a breakdown in emergency radio communications. Read it here

I’m hoping this isn’t the last we hear of this story.

Reliability of emergency communications in Cecil County

Emailed on 7/9/14 to Cecil County Executive Tari Moore, Director of Cecil County Department of Emergency Services Richard Brooks, and the Cecil County Council:

I am concerned about the reliability of the emergency communications system in Cecil County. In the recent past I’d heard rumblings about problems with radio communications but several weeks ago I witnessed a failure of the communications system and it seems that communications issues continue this week. Reliable and interoperable radio communications are imperative for public safety and for the safety of our emergency responders. I encourage you to evaluate the current system and address any issues that create opportunities for system failure. Read more

Cheat sheet: Republican Candidates for Cecil County Council

6/7/14: Updated contact information for Joyce Bowlsbey

The weather is too nice to stay inside to research the candidates for Cecil County Council so I created this online cheat sheet for you to use as a starting point.

If you’re like me, you may not have paid too much attention to local elections in the past. Sure, I always voted and I’d do a little reading about the candidates and look up endorsements by the local papers but it wasn’t until a few months ago that I fully understood the influence of the county council. Now I see that this group of officials makes critical decisions regarding the county budget and, more specifically, the funding of our public schools. For this primary, all the action is on the Republican side.

So, take a few minutes to check out each candidate’s online presence to see whose values best align with your own–and be sure to vote in the Cecil County Primary Election on June 24.

District 2
Bowlsbey–Website
Zeauskas–Website

District 3
Dunn–unable to locate candidate online
Schneckenburger–Personal Facebook page
Willick–Website

District 4
Broomell–Website
Dawson–Website
Patchell–Website

Vote: Perryville Town Elections & Cecil County Primary

The town of Perryville will be holding elections this Tuesday, May 12 at the Perryville Town Hall from 7 AM to 7 PM. Election notice

You’ll also have the opportunity to vote in the Cecil County Gubernatorial Primary on June 24 (early voting June 12-29). Positions at both the state and county level will be up for consideration. Here’s a sample ballot

The county council races are of particular interest to me as this group has considerable control over the funding of our schools.

Do your research to determine which candidates best represent your priorities.
Failing to vote is a vote for the status quo.

Thanks, Adobe, for wasting hours I didn’t have to spare!

I’ve spent more than four hours over the last two days trying to figure out why my menus in Photoshop Elements 12 *had no freaking words on them*!

I googled every word combination I could think of to describe my problems (“menu missing text”, “menu missing characters”, “buttons missing letters”?).

I even went so far as to uninstall and reinstall which I never do. And I was about to burst into tears and just install Picasa until I found this article http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/kb/menus-missing-elements-8-9.html which didn’t mention version 12 but it fixed the issue.

Adobe–your software is buggy junk and I despise you.

A case study in how to not sell a PC

Yay! I’m finally getting a new PC. My current one is over 5 years old. Boo! PC shopping is torture.

I waited until after Christmas to shop because there was too much going on for me to settle down and do the research for a gift for myself.
Yesterday morning my PC was so slow that I decided there was no better time to pick out a machine.
I’d never shopped at Micro Center and I have no desire to put my own machine together but a few people had recommended them and my schedule was open. After looking at their website, I decided on their G412 and saw that the local store had one in stock. Score! I planned on zipping down there, asking a few questions, and walking out with my new toy. I was damn near giddy at the thought. I had visions of re-organzing my zillions of photos and finally having a machine that would run the current version of Photoshop without upchucking or making my blood pressure rise. Yes, these are things that I find exciting. I embrace my inner nerd.
Anyway, I nearly skip into the store with a copy of the computer’s specs in my hand. I find a salesperson who said that machine was overkill for what I wanted. “It’s for high end gaming or 3D graphics. We may be able to build a machine that is a little cheaper and better suited for you.” Ok, whatever, let’s go.
Hah! You mean I have to pick out everything including the case (“This one looks really nice because it has a display window and lots of mesh.” It’s going to sit on the floor and end up covered in dust and dog fur, I’m pretty sure that window doesn’t help me.) and the power supply to which I said “I drive a minivan, I can assure you that I have absolutely no opinion on a power supply. Which one would you sell your mother?” I don’t understand why people find car engines appealing to look at, I don’t need a window to watch the dust collect inside my PC, and I just want a freaking computer! (Note: I will not by a Mac, never remotely considered it, and I don’t drink the Apple Kool Aid.)
After over an hour and a half, I’m wishing I had packed a lunch because I was feeling weak from either low blood sugar or a severe case of “broken give-a-damn.” We finally have a list of all the components totaling a hundred dollars or so more than the machine I came in for and a cart full of boxes and we proceed to customer service where I have to wait in line for 15 minutes with everyone who’s making Christmas returns because there’s only one person working in the department. By this point, I’m scanning the store looking for someone, anyone, who might be a manager who can help and seriously considering calling them on my cell phone while I’m still in line.
When it is finally my turn, I have to unload all of this crap onto a counter that’s too small. There’s no checkout-line efficiency like the clerk being able to come over and scan the items in my basket. And then the total doesn’t match the amount on my itemized sheet! The clerk just kind of looks at me like “And your point is?” I tell her that I’m about to walk out of the store empty handed so she begrudgingly starts to look for the discrepancy. It turns out that the cost for the operating system wasn’t included in the itemized list to the tune of another $130. Homey don’t play that so I tell her “I’m done. You can keep all of this,” and walk away. I wouldn’t trust these people to put together a set of Legos let alone an appliance I’ll live with for the next 4-5 years.
Before I left I located the manager to let him know just how miserable my experience was and that the inefficiencies of their operation cost him a sale. I tried not to be rude but the gist of it was “I walked in here ready to happily spend $1400 on a PC. Instead, I’ve wasted two hours of my life and this company has never and will never get a penny from me.” I don’t think any employee did something wrong but they did a lousy job of managing my expectations.In case you’re too young to know the origins of “Homey don’t play that”–

Celebrating a Good Ol’ Boy with Some Good Ol’ Rock n Roll

I discovered hair bands as their heyday was drawing to a close. The new music that replaced it on the radio featured mumbled lyrics and, when I could understand a phrase or two, the songs either made no sense or made me want to slit my wrists. Geesh, life can be cruel enough, I didn’t need a funereal soundtrack. It was then that I switched to talk radio.

Whether you like my taste in music or not, I’m a loyal fan–so much so that I have a “hair bands” playlist on my iPod and it’s my go to when mowing the grass. The neighbors should be grateful the mower drowns out my singing…or at least I hope it does. And when I listen to those songs at work I have to remind myself that my cube mates probably don’t want to hear me.

My high school friends introduced me to Child’s Play as we spent our Saturday nights waiting to see their “Rat Race” video on MTV’s Headbangers’ Ball and I tagged along to see them play at Network. Since we were all under 21, an all ages show was a rare treat.

I saw them a few more times at Hammerjacks and at the Bayou in DC but then I lost track.

Fast Forward–2011

I heard about a Child’s Play reunion at Rams Head Live and decided I had to be there. I brought along a girlfriend who had no idea who Child’s Play was but she was up for the adventure.

As show time approached and I pushed closer to the stage, she hung back on the edges of the crowd. Before we got separated, I turned around to warn her that I may burst into tears but not to worry.

Child's Play Reunion at Rams Head

The show was better than I imagined. They sounded like they’d never stopped playing together and I was so tickled to have been there. I held at hope that this wouldn’t be the last time I’d see them.

Unfortunately, Brian Jack, their lead singer, passed away that April.

 

Fast Forward–2013

John Allen posts an announcement on Facebook about an upcoming Charm City Devils’ show featuring a tribute to Brian Jack. But it was scheduled for the night before Thanksgiving and we always host family dinner.

Hmm–decisions, decisions–on the Thursday before the show I decide that I have to go. Sleep be damned. Luckily our family is pretty laid back about holiday meals and would understand if Thanksgiving was less than perfect.

I’m so glad I went. During the Charm City Devils set I sent my friend a text that said “Wish I could bottle this feeling!”

Charm City Devils at Baltimore Sound Stage

Honestly, my expectations for the Brian Jack set were out of whack because I didn’t do my homework before the show. Since my connection with Child’s Play happened with their Rat Race album, I suppose I was just expecting to hear those songs and Brian Jack’s Hard Goodbye. I wasn’t prepared for the the AC/DC covers and older Child’s Play songs but the band sounded great and everyone on stage and off enjoyed it.

We also had the opportunity to hear Mitch Allan make up his own lyrics on the fly for “Day After Night.” The crowd happily helped him out.

Rather than a tear filled evening, the event was a celebration of Brian Jack and Child’s Play. Truly Good Ol’ Boys playing Good Ol’ Rock n Roll.

Brian Jack Tribute - Child's Play

So glad I took the time to see @CharmCityDevils @baltimoresoundstage #killingit
— Frances Bowman (@fbowman) November 28, 2013

Bittersweet soccer mom bliss

Have you ever had a moment where you suddenly stop and realize you’re in a state of complete contentment? For me, it didn’t happen at some exotic locale, in fact, maybe it’s more meaningful because it happened in my daily life.

I had my most recent moment of bliss on a soccer field–our son wasn’t playing because he got hurt in the previous day’s game, the sky was cloudy and dreary as fall settled in, and our team was losing.

But late in the second half, as I watched one of our players continue to put everything he had in the game, I had a moment of clarity. I realized that there was no other place I would’ve rather been than right there. Surrounded by the parents who have become friends as we’ve watched our boys play together every week for years.

But it was also bittersweet. The season is winding down. Our boys are getting older. They’ll be graduating and moving on. The crazy schedules we’ve kept for so long will soon be less hectic or at least different. And I try to burn these moments into my memory.

State of Musical Confusion

Lilo & Stitch Breakfast at Polynesian Resort
DisneyWorld 2007

When J is in the mood to shoot rapid fire questions, there’s no telling what he’s going to ask.

He had that urge last night as I drove him to a sleepover.

When we got into the van, I turned off my book on CD and “When Smokey Sings” by ABC is playing on the ’80’s station..

“Is this Rush?” he asks. In a fluke of iTunes, my copy of a Rush greatest hits CD had ended up on his iPod too; I ended up with his Skrillex on mine.

“Huh?!?” He can’t possibly think this is Rush.

“Is Rush singing this song?”

“Um, no. This is ABC.”

“Is Michael Jackson the rock king?”

“Do you mean the King of Pop?”

“Yeah.”

“Sure he was.”

“Then who’s the queen of rock?”

Frantically searching my memory banks, wondering where the hell that question came from.

“I’m not really sure. Maybe someone like Lita Ford?”

At the same time I’m thinking Joan Jett, Pat Benatar…

Silence from the back seat.

“When I think of Elvis, I think of Hawaiian shirts.”

Why would he think of Elvis?

“You know the characters Stitch and, I don’t know…Lola?”

“Do you mean Lilo?” Did he forget about the Lilo and Stitch character breakfast we had at Walt Disney World?

“Yeah. There’s a picture of Stitch with giant round ears and Lilo has the side of her head shaved like Skrillex.”

What am I supposed to say to that?

I swear he gives me mental whiplash sometimes.