Ocean City - Family Friendly?

And here is another reason why I have decided to not take my family vacation to Ocean City any more. 

A bikini-clad female has decided to use her right of free expression to perform a sexually suggestive pole dancing act on the boardwalk.  Ocean City pretends to portray itself as a family friendly destination, but with all the cussing, drugs, inappropriate tattoos, profanity, cussing, drunken and disorderly behavior, smoking on the beach, cussing, stabbings, shootings, smoking, and cussing, and now sexually suggestive pole dancing, I think I've made the correct decision.

What are your thoughts on the changing culture of Ocean City, Maryland?

Here's is proof that Ocean City is cracking down on the Boardwalk.  At least they said, "Please".

National Night Out - A Week Ago

Last Tuesday was National Night Out.  All across the country, local law enforcement offices and fire departments gathered to show off their equipment and discuss crime and fire prevention with residents.  Local politicians like to get in the act as often times it is near an election and they want to keep their names fresh in people's minds.  That is, unless your local politician covers mostly Howard County and just a smidgen of Carroll County.

Carroll County Delegate Susan Krebs was on hand for the event, as always, as was future Maryland State Senator Gail Bates - she's running unopposed.  However, State Delegate Warren Miller was MIA.  I don't think Warren Miller cares about Carroll County.  Neither was Trent Kittleman there, presumably the next new delegate for the area.  Chris Van Hollen?  I know he's been to Carroll County once, but that was years ago.  I'm pretty sure he doesn't care about this part of his district.

There was free food - hot dogs, fries, burgers, and Italian ice from Victor's in Eldersburg, and after the event was nearly over, the unreliable and inconsistent Oscar's Ale House showed up with wings and something, but we were ready to leave.  There were other organizations there peddling their wares.

Eldersburg Sykesville National Night Out

The Carroll County Sheriff's Department was showing off its Crime Response Team armored truck.



The venerable 2012 Sykesville Freedom Pierce Pumper.

Nearby Gamber Volunteer Fire Department was showing off their International Dive Unit truck.

Getting a little artistic here.  Pretty cool, eh?

Walgreens or Washington Nationals?

Guess which W belongs to the retailer that's moving its headquarters to Switzerland in an effort to avoid paying U.S. taxes versus the W for the Montreal Expos.  Oh, wait, Washington Nationals.  Somebody has some 'splainin' to do.

Eldersburg National Night Out on Tuesday August 5th!

This year's National Night Out will be Tuesday August 5th at the Sykesville Freedom Fire Department from 6pm until 9pm. 

If the event if like others, there will be firetrucks on display, perhaps a helicopter, police cars, booths from local business with lots of handouts, and free food samples from many local restaurants.  Local politicians also congregate there, such as Maryland House of Delegates member Susan Krebs and County Commissioner Doug Howard.  I wonder if new delegates Warren Miller and Trent Kittleman and State Senator Gail Bates will be there.  I have yet to meet Delegate Miller and Delegate-elect (hopefully) Kittleman.

According to the Sykesville Freedom Volunteer Fire Department website, you'll also receive a smoke alarm for attending.

Eldersburg Gold's Gym Owner Dies

Eldersburg and the fitness community are mourning the loss of Shawn Madden, owner of the Eldersburg Gold's Gym.  Saddly he was only 45 years old and leaves behind a wife and two young children.  Mr. Madden also owned a Gold's Gym in Shrewsberry, Pennsylvania.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, but Madden collapsed at the gym in his Shrewsberry location

I'm not sure what is going to happen to the two businesses.  Hopefully someone can continue them.  The Eldersburg location seems to be a thriving fitness center.  You may also recall him as a sportscaster on WJZ for a while.

4th of July Recap

No time like August to show off my pictures from Independence Day, or 4th of July as most of you call it.

As I say every year, the parade is where politicians get to pretend that they are in touch with the people, old folks get to show off their restored cars, the military makes a presentation, some high school bands perform and perform really well, some high school bands embarass themselves, and most importantly, fire trucks!!!

The Army presents the colors.  God Bless America, and no one else.

If you ever get a chance to hear the Westminster Municipal Band, you should do it.  They are really good.  They should be.  They've been practicing since 1893.

I love that the Orioles are popular again!  Great to see the person dressed up in the bird costume gliding through the bucolic streets of Northeastern Baltimore County.  Nice custom golf cart, too!

Here is the Republican nominee for District 8, Chrisitian Miele sporting his Ryan Gosling beard.  It looks like he may shave his legs.

WBAL reporter David Collins and his unnamed cameraman in toe interviewing candidates. He's a lot taller than I thought he would be.

Here is Baltimore County Councilman David Marks who represents District 5.  He easily won, as he was unopposed.  He hopes to win the general election, too, as he will be unopposed again.  No Democrat seems to be brave enough to run against a Republican in this part of Baltimore County.

Next up is the youthful looking Kathy Szeliga, the Republican of House District 7.  Check out her official picture on the Maryland General Assembly website.  Looks like a Glamour Shot.

Last, but certainly not least, is Maryland Republican gubernatorial candidate, and hopefully future governor of Maryland Larry Hogan.

And now my favorite part, the fire trucks!

Bel Air VFD Engine 312 2006 Seagrave Marauder II.

Fallston VFD 2013 Pierce Velocity 105' Aerial ladder Truck 1331.

 I love black fire trucks.  Joppa-Magnolia VFD 2012 Ford F-450 Lifeline Unit 894

Not sure of the year, but Joppa-Magnolia VFD  Dodge Ram Unit 842 brush truck.

 Know what's cooler than black fire trucks?  Green fire trucks!  Whiteford VFD 2005 Seagrave Unit 611.

I don't think I've ever seen a Dodge ambulance.  This is a new 2014 Dodge 4x4 Lifeline Medic 692.

 How about this gem?  A 1980's era Baltimore County Police Dodge Diplomat.  Remember dozens of these swarming your neighborhood after a rash of robberies and break-ins?  I have fond memories of this car when we reported my bike getting stolen, my motorcycle getting stolen, our house getting broken into, my neighbor's brother getting drunk and locking himself in their house...  Oh, good times.

Fun With Google Maps

Are you like me and can spend hours scrolling through the map on Google Maps rather than doing anything productive in life?  Okay, maybe not hours, but certainly several minutes at a time.

I love posting Throwback-Thursday pictures on Facebook.  Yesterday I posted a picture of my first plane ride, which was a trip on an American Airlines 727 from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Dallas (DFW) in 1979.  I then went to Google Maps to look at the Philadelphia airport and scroll around the area, because that seemed like the logical next step.  I then found this wonderful gem that can be appreciated by Google Map voyeurs and plane watchers alike.

Commercial planes do not land in such a tight formation. Within a half mile or so, there are three planes landing.  Obviously this is an overlay of several aerial shots from the Google spy satellite.

Do you have any favorite impossibilities seen from Google Maps?