Northumberland Co. Republicans Break Number One Commandment

"Thou shall not bash a fellow GOPer."

In two local newpapers, 108th District Candidate Chuck Erdman discoverd someone was around digging information on him. It was someone who called himself Patrick Daly. Erdman had letters of disclosure delivered to two other candidates in the Republican primary race.

Speeding Ticket????

Digging for dirt????

Mr. Erdman has had a over a decade of public service and has worked admirably with administrations in the majority and minority including one of the other candidates in the primary. Is there any more to this story? I doubt it.

Single in Shamokin????

10th Congressional District candidate Dave Madiera was in Shamokin on Sunday to begin:

Ride for Freedom! Get your Harleys out to "remember the ride of Paul Revere!"

Unfortunately, Madiera was the only rider. There wasn't a William Dawes or Dr. Samuel Prescott.

My main interest in the event was to see support of a "tea party" candidate close to home. For the record I passed by at 11:50 leaving church and arrived back around 12:25 to check out the support. Also, I did not check out the support received in four scheduled stops.

I had one simple question for Mr. Madiera before the start of the ride. Why start in Shamokin?? After a long pause, Mr. Madiera said that 10th District is made up of 14 counties with Shamokin being in one of the most southern point's in the 10th CD. His goal was to get to all of them is the ride was part of his campaign.

We briefly touched on his campaign financing report as far as lagging behind. He said there has been improvement since the report was filed.

Mr. Madiera was personable enough and was very enthusiastic about the ride and event. I wished him well and thanked him for not taking money from PAC's.

Shamokin was part of the 11th CD up until the 2000 census.

35 Years Ago, My Start in Baseball

It kind of went by really quick without realizing it, but it was 35 years ago in April of 1975 that I started being involved with some type of organized ball. It was with St. Stan's team of the Twin Valley Little League.

Growing up just five houses away from a softball/baseball complex had much to do with it. In 1975, there weren't any electronic gadgets we could afford, but a ball, a bat and beat up glove and we played for hours.

Like with any sport, the equipment has dramatically changed since 1975. Like 1975, I still can't afford the top of the line. When I started your first generation aluminum bats were taking the place of wood. Now high multi-alloy bats are all the rage for economic reasons in reverse.

Looking back at those days since 1975, I played some sort of organized ball from '75 to 2000 with the exception of 1988 and part of 1989. I thought I was totally done with the game other than a spectator, but in 2007 decided to become an umpire.

With my return to the game as an umpire, I have umpired high school, ASA, PONY, and USSSA softball. I am slowly easing back into baseball with American Legion, Little League and teener recreation.

It is hard to say how long this will last. I know there will come a spring once again where I don't have to worry about the pitch, the batter or the runner. For now I will enjoy my time out on the field, the smell of the grass, the sound of the bats and with the other players even though I am not part of any team.

Net Neutrality Dies, Say Hello to Censorship

Net Neutrality Dies, Say Hello to Censorship

McNabb's Wings on the way to DC

The Donovan McNabb era in Philadelphia came to an end on Easter Sunday with a trade to the Washington Redskins. The Eagles now own 11 picks in the 2010 draft. With an 11-5 record in 2009, the Birds were the second youngest team in NFL. Now with the unloading of McNabb and Brian Westbrook the Eagles have become a lot younger.

Inside the stats, from 1999 to 2004, McNabb was 54-19 as a starter and missed 7 game to injury. From 2005 until last season, McNabb is 36-26-1 and missed 17 games due to injury.

Kevin Kolb will come in loaded with some weapons, but first year starters usually suffer a two or three game drop in wins due to performance in fourth quarter. Don't tell that to Matt Sanchez.

It will be hard to say how history will judge McNabb. Obviously, the Eagles made a great pick in 1999 with the number two pick overall in the draft. The fans were screaming for Rickey Williams. Other QB's in that draft were Duante Culpepper, Akili Smith and Tim Couch. Maybe the Hall of Famer from the draft is Champ Bailey.

The only one now left from the Eagle's roster from the 2005 Super Bowl is kicker David Akers.

While the Eagles may give up being a contender in 2010, they will be ok in the long run.