Why To Keep Funding EPA Laws

We all know that Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) has proposed drastic budget legislation that would eliminate all spending to enforce the EPA laws, among its various monetary cutbacks. The idea behind this particular part of the budget bill is the Tea Party belief that there is no such thing as global warming, so who needs any environmental protection laws, anyway?



The EPA laws are not part of US law just to prevent global warming. Have any Tea Party members gotten a look at the air quality above China's cities and the numerous citizens of those cities wearing face masks when they are exposed to that air? Is that what you want for our American cities? I realize that the federal government is operating under a huge deficit (and who do you think is responsible for THAT, GW?), but just trying to keep some clean air over our cities seems to be a given. Add in clean water supply - we in Baltimore know that accidental sewage dumps can make water undrinkable - and you have more than ample reason to keep money for environmental protection well-funded within the federal budget.

The American Lung Association has just released its report on air quality over major American cities. Even with our EPA laws fully funded, our major cities struggle to maintain breathable air, without high levels of smog or particulates. Yes, citizens of major cities, as we head into the summer, remember the relevance of those air quality reports when we receive the red warning days on which those with lung diseases are encouraged to remain indoors because of poor air quality. Remember that this is the way it is when the EPA has proper funding. Do you REALLY want the numbers of red warning days to increase? Do you really want more people with asthma, more people with heart disease, more people suffering from strokes, more people dying younger, because Representative Ryan and the like-minded Tea Partyers believe that the EPA laws are just about global warming, which doesn't exist, in their religious belief system, so they don't want to pay for environmental protection, so all of the rest of us can choke when we breathe the over-polluted air left to us? Is that what you are saying Representative Ryan and Tea Party followers? And...can I quote you on that?

When Is A Viral Video A Bad Idea?

Did anyone see the video or note the controversy surrounding the viral video posted online, showing the brutal violence of two young women (one was a juvenile) towards a transgendered individual, who had stopped to use the restroom at a McDonald's in Baltimore County? Apparently, You Tube removed the video due to its graphic violence and McDonald's went so far as to publish a press release decrying the brutality as unacceptable behavior for any McDonald's customer or employee (the involved employee was fired).



Now, I don't know exactly how badly hurt the victim was, and I did not want to add any sense of approval by viewing the video myself. I just wonder by what depravity anyone would deign to post such a video and then what would possess someone to view it for entertainment (Huh?!). Suffice it to say, it is my belief that no human being, no matter what their shortcomings, characteristics, or issues, deserves to be brutalized and then - adding insult to injury - have a video of the incident readily available for viewing. Come on, people - aren't we all more humane than sinking to such a crass level? (Amen!)

Tribute To William Donald Schaefer

As most of us who live around Baltimore know, William Donald Schaefer died on Monday night, at the age of 89. This was a man who was larger than life and embodied the spirit of Baltimore. Considered an old-time politician, he left an indelible mark on the city he so loved. Back in the 1980's, he was a colorful mayor of Baltimore and, perhaps, the driving force behind the development of the Inner Harbor. I remember when the Baltimore Aquarium was not completed at its deadline, Mayor Schaefer took a famous swim in the seal pool, complete with rubber ducky and 1890's swimsuit. And so, the Inner Harbor and the Baltimore Aquarium stand near the statue of the younger man, located at McKeldin Fountain. But the mayorship was not all.



Next, William Donald Schafer became Governor of Maryland at a time that was much less fiscally stressful. Then, his administration was noted for fiscal responsibility. And, also, a middle-aged nurse from Sheppard-Pratt Health System (that is I), attended a recognition ceremony honoring the top 55 nurses in Maryland, as determined by their workplaces, in 1994. None of us saw any of the irascible nature that was part of his reputation. He was genial and respectable, focusing the spotlight on all of the honorees. It is a memory that I have cherished since.

Once his two terms were completed, Mr. Schaefer went on to serve two terms as Maryland's Comptroller of the Treasury. He was not one to hold back when he had an opinion and so he sounded off on many different issues, some of which were controversial. But, no one could say that he was not honorable in carrying out his duties. By the time he left public service, he was in his 80's. He became a well-known citizen of Charlestown Retirement Community, living a quieter life with his cat.

Now that he has passed on, there is just one more task that remains - a final tour of the city he so loved. Bon voyage, William Donald Schaefer!

Have Coins? Will Collect!

Vintage coins, that is. You could try looking under that old bureau, or inside the crawl space where grandma or grandpa’s old stuff may be stashed away, just waiting around for you to find them. Who knows, you might find a coin there, an older coin that - at present-day rates - might be priced at a few dollars; most likely three-, four-, or five-, even ten-times the coin's value back in those days.

A penny a day, has good worth
Fortunately or sad to say, there was a lack of copper during the entire year of 1943, and all of pennies at that time were minted employing steel. There were, nevertheless, some Lincoln pennies that were erroneously minted with bronze that turned out to be blanks. A few years - or decades afterwards -these bronze pennies are recognized as rarities and have become valuable. The steel ones, though, because of their commonality, are priced between one to three dollars each.

Be aware and take care, as there are scams in which naive coin collectors are sold coins, which are copper-plated, in order to make these pennies appear to be bronze. Additionally, keep your guard up any time somebody gives you a circa 1943 penny made from a metallic white alloy.


Old coins are wonderful coins
Coins, specifically silver dollars created and distributed between 1878 and 1935, are valued between twelve dollars and twenty five dollars for the circulated coins. The coins that were not in circulation are valued considerably higher.

Meanwhile, those quarters, dimes, or half dollar coins created and distributed prior to 1965, tend to be made from ninety percent silver and are, therefore, worth around today’s silver prices (with an additional premium, although modest, applied to the coin’s face value).

Wrong pennies are right
There is in existence a Lincoln penny issued in 1972, on which the date and also the characters upon it appear to have been double. This particular rare coin is currently worth about sixty dollars, if the pennies are in standard condition. The Philadelphia Mint, during that time period, accidentally misaligned the die utilized in minting the coins, resulting in the picture of Lincoln appearing like it was double. Happily or unfortunately, eighty thousand of these were produced before the mistake was identified.

To sum up, coin collecting is similar to collecting pieces of history and trivia from the past. In addition to the face value, its value as treasures - pennies, dimes, and coins - generally are worth a lot more over time.

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