http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/index/ Blogging from the subterranean conduits of Charles County, Maryland en Sam1mail@aol.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-23T14:52:51+00:00 http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/graduation_ceremony_information_start_and_end_times/ http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/graduation_ceremony_information_start_and_end_times/#When:14:52:51Z ...for some schools change next year Nearly 2,252 students are expected to graduate from Charles County Public Schools in June, and Charles County’s six high schools are already planning graduation ceremonies. Ceremonies for Henry E. Lackey, La Plata, Maurice J. McDonough, Thomas Stone and Westlake high schools will be held at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro on June 4 and 5. North Point High School will host graduation ceremonies in the school’s gymnasium on June 5. The following is the graduation schedule for Monday, June 4: Maryland, Charles County 2012-05-23T14:52:51+00:00 http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/us_army_more_selective_on_recruits_re-enlistments/ http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/us_army_more_selective_on_recruits_re-enlistments/#When:14:47:17Z Uncle Sam may not want you after all. In sharp contrast to the peak years of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the Army last year took in no recruits with misconduct convictions or drug or alcohol issues, according to internal documents obtained by The Associated Press. And soldiers already serving on active duty now must meet tougher standards to stay on for further tours in uniform. The Army is also spending hundreds of thousands of dollars less in bonuses to attract recruits or entice soldiers to remain. Military/Veterans, National 2012-05-23T14:47:17+00:00 http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/color_and_light_society_art_show_opens_june_1/ http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/color_and_light_society_art_show_opens_june_1/#When:14:42:26Z [...] The Color and Light Society began as an informal group of artists taking advanced oil painting classes with Elizabeth Bygler of Leonardtown, Maryland. Everyone believed that exhibiting one’s art encouraged learning, development and pride of original work.  Incorporated and granted non-profit status in 2004, the group first began exhibiting their work in the Annmarie Garden Community Gallery and currently has 24 active artist members. As a group these artists have volunteered in many local activities for children such as Sharkfest at the Calvert Marine Museum and the kids’ craft tables at Artsfest.  Color & Light has also exhibited at Annmarie Garden Artsfest, Calvert Marine Museum, Sotterley Plantation Winefest as well as the Solomons Island Gazebo shows. Outstanding examples of Color & Light Society art can be seen in galleries in the tri-county area of Calvert, St. Mary’s and Charles counties. Maryland, Calvert County, Charles County, St. Mary's County 2012-05-23T14:42:26+00:00 http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/comptroller_bpw_members_approve_nearly_350_million/ http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/comptroller_bpw_members_approve_nearly_350_million/#When:14:39:27Z ... in School Construction Funding Comptroller Peter Franchot together with Governor Martin O’Malley and Treasurer Nancy Kopp, the other members of the Board of Public Works, approved an additional $161.5 million in unallocated funding for the Maryland public school system for Fiscal Year 2013. The total funding for FY13 is $349.2 million based on recommendations by the Interagency Committee for School Construction (IAC). “For the fourth year in a row, education experts ranked the Maryland public school system number one in the country,” said Comptroller Franchot, “We can’t afford to have our students fall behind in their education because of substandard learning conditions. As a state we owe it to our children to provide safe and healthy learning environments where they can learn, thrive and reach their full academic potential. If that means providing money to renovate a school, replace a school or simply invest in ongoing maintenance projects, we need to do it. I applaud the partnership the board members and I have formed with the IAC and the overall commitment to invest in our students, teachers and schools.” 2012-05-23T14:39:27+00:00 http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/redistricting_public_hearing_in_commissioner_district_2/ http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/redistricting_public_hearing_in_commissioner_district_2/#When:14:30:03Z ... to be Held on June 7 The Charles County Redistricting Board is holding public hearings in each of the four proposed County Commissioner Resident Districts to consider a proposed redistricting plan for the Commissioner Districts as a result of the 2010 Decennial Census. The public hearing in Commissioner District 2 will be held on Thursday, June 7 at 7 p.m.  It will be held at the Indian Head Village Green Pavilion, Indian Head. Events, Maryland, Charles County, Politics 2012-05-23T14:30:03+00:00 http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/charles_county_commissioners_meeting_video68/ http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/charles_county_commissioners_meeting_video68/#When:13:06:19Z Date:  05/22/2012 Agenda Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Parts 4 and 5 Maryland, Charles County 2012-05-23T13:06:19+00:00 http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/law_puts_social_studies_back_in_the_limelight/ http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/law_puts_social_studies_back_in_the_limelight/#When:13:02:03Z Bill requires social studies to be taught, tested in Maryland schools Social studies, a subject that had been demoted in Maryland schools in recent years, will regain some of its past educational stature under a bill signed Tuesday by Gov. Martin O’Malley. Under the legislation — one of hundreds of bills O’Malley signed into law — high school seniors will have to pass an assessment in government to be able to graduate starting with the Class of 2017. The Maryland State Department of Education dropped the test last year. Maryland 2012-05-23T13:02:03+00:00 http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/checks_from_drilling_may_dry_up_amid_low_gas_prices/ http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/checks_from_drilling_may_dry_up_amid_low_gas_prices/#When:12:58:37Z Royalty checks that start to arrive when a gas company drills on your property can make for some very profitable envelopes in the mailbox. But the low natural gas prices that have disrupted industry balance sheets in recent months could start to cut into those checks. Put it this way: “You could be having filet mignon when they’re high, and Kraft macaroni & cheese when they’re low,” said Craig Tillotson, executive vice president of sales at the Downtown-based Hefren-Tillotson wealth management firm. Pennsylvania 2012-05-23T12:58:37+00:00 http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/wireless_carriers_seek_to_offload_customers/ http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/wireless_carriers_seek_to_offload_customers/#When:12:54:31Z [...] Major carriers are investing in ways to unload customers’ data traffic from their airwaves into cheaper and more localized networks, such as Wi-Fi hot spots and small cellular base stations, which are designed for compact, heavy traffic areas such as stadiums and city centers. Wireless companies say the new approach (“offloading” in industry parlance) will help meet customers’ surging demand for more data bandwidth. Even as they build the next generation of faster wireless networks, called 4G LTE, carriers are discouraging heavy data users by eliminating unlimited data plans and enforcing monthly caps. National 2012-05-23T12:54:31+00:00 http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/volunteer_growers_discover_a_failed_crop_of_oysters/ http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/volunteer_growers_discover_a_failed_crop_of_oysters/#When:12:47:08Z As oyster growers prepare to harvest their maturing spat in the coming weeks, things are not looking good. An unusually rainy fall lowered salinity levels in Pasadena creeks and rivers, apparently causing massive die-offs among young oysters planted as part of the state’s efforts to reinvigorate the oyster population of the Chesapeake Bay. In some areas all the spat planted were wiped out. “It’s a very serious situation,” said Chris Judy, manager of the Marylanders Grow Oysters program. “We don’t want to see our oysters die. In in the four-year history of the program, this is the first time we’ve had such an event, so it was very unusual.” Environment, Maryland 2012-05-23T12:47:08+00:00