Bright Bulb: Furlough frenzy
Gov. Martin O’Malley announced furloughs — mandatory days off with no pay — for state employees. Employees with salaries more than $60,000 (O’Malley makes around $150,000) are being required to take five furlough days. In a show of solidarity with state employees, O’Malley said he plans to cut a check to the state for a portion of his salary. No word yet on how much he’s giving back, but we appreciate the fact that he’s not exempting himself.
OUTRAGE: Recycling responsibility
WHO: Baltimore County residents
WHAT: If the statistics are anything to go by, Baltimore County residents are recycling less than ever. Despite a population increase, less trash is being recycled.
WHY it’s a bad idea: Why should the county increase pickups? And why should it start a recycling promotion campaign? Recycling should be something people do automatically at this point in time. Saving cans for two weeks may be slightly inconvenient. But it hardly can be described as a sacrifice. The county could make it easier on residents, however, by picking up all types of recyclables each week instead of alternating paper and plastics, aluminum and glass.
WHERE to learn more: earth911.com
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Quote of the day
“No one’s exempt from this. … We repo cars from both multimillion-dollar homes and the ghettos. It affects every part of society.” – John Lamar, co-founder of Final Notice Location and Recovery, a Baltimore-area automobile repossession business
Best Ideas
Stem cells the next big thing for our state
6| Baltimore might just become the next capital of the stem cell universe.
The details: In 2009, Baltimore will host the World Stem Cell Summit. An estimated 1,500 researchers and policymakers from around the world will gather to discuss both ethical and policy issues. Maybe those state grants to fund stem cell research are finally paying off. This could bring big money to our state as well as research grants and jobs.
Putting information in the hands of citizens
7| Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley introduced Greenprint, the state’s new online land preservation database.
The details: O’Malley on Wednesday announced a new mapping system, available for citizen use online, that will identify every parcel of land in the state, indicating which parcels are identified for preservation and which the state wants to acquire. To take the words right out of the governor’s mouth, the system “puts more information in the hands of more people” — and who can argue with that?
Shopping on Main Street
8| Baltimore City officials are encouraging residents to shop local for Christmas.
The details: The “Miracle on Main Streets” program will include more than 50 free holiday promotions in 10 different neighborhoods. All of the programs are aimed at getting people to shop locally instead of over the Internet. Not only will you help the local economy if you participate, you’ll find some pretty unique gifts for loved ones.
Graduation guides
9| Maryland business leaders are working to increase the state’s high school graduation rate.
The details: The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education signed a commitment Tuesday to double the number of Maryland students who graduate high school with the skills to succeed in college or the work force. Wouldn’t it be great if we could fill all 60,000 Base Realignment and Closure jobs coming to the state with our own graduates?
Labeling sunscreen better
10| Most sunscreen packaging lacks any real information about sun protection.
The details: Miss Maryland 2006 Brittany Lietz is campaigning for more stringent standards for sunscreen labeling, because with most brands, it’s not easy to tell if the sunscreen covers both UVA and UVB rays. Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among Americans, so making it easier to protect ourselves and save lives makes sense.
Worst Ideas
The bus to broke-ville
6| The Maryland Transit Administration stopped stationing officers at fare collection centers, choosing to replace them with security cameras.
The details: Since making this move, the MTA police opened an investigation into $475,000 missing from fare collections over four months because no one was manning the cameras. The MTA needs to either bring the officers back or find a new way to collect cash that keeps workers honest. Marylanders can’t afford to lose half a million dollars every few months.
Moving violation
7| A family hired Green Movers to move their belongings from state A to state B — and ended up with just half of them in state B.
The details: Green Movers of Glen Burnie, who allegedly stole the goods, received 14 complaints filed against them with the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland. They shouldn’t be in business. But the take-away should be to check references before you hire movers — and don’t let them handle your 200-year-old clock.
Moral ambiguity
8| Parents aren’t instilling basic moral values in their children.
The details: A recent study from the Josephson Institute, which surveyed almost 30,000 students, found that 30 percent of U.S. high school students stole from a store in the past year and 64 percent cheated on a test. Yet, the overwhelming majority of students call themselves “good.” Parents need to train their children in the basics of right and wrong so that we do not end up with a nation of morally bankrupt adults — or is it already too late?
Black Friday turns deadly
9| A New York Wal-Mart worker was trampled to death in a Black Friday stampede.
The details: The frenzied shoppers didn’t stop in their quest to hunt bargains after killing the employee. Has American society sunk so low that shoppers will step over a dead man for cheap merchandise?
Poisonous playtime
10| Toxic toys are finding their way into children’s hands.
The details: Most toy companies aren’t doing anything to stop toys with lead and other harmful chemicals into the hands -— and mouths — of children. Toy companies should start putting ingredient labels on toys so parents can make informed decisions about their child’s toys.
