Astoundment incredulity and surprise

Judge rules Maryland early voting law unconstitutional

This was expected by both parties to go in the favor of early voting. 

Some highlights from the article

• The constitution allows voting only on a single day in November, not for several days
• It would be illegal to allow voters to cast ballots outside their home precincts
• The General Assembly exceeded its constitutional authority
• [The judge] chided lawmakers for “inartful drafting” of the bills
• With less than four weeks before the first early voting was to begin, the likelihood of voting early was uncertain.
• “Early voting in and of itself is a good thing. It’s the way it was done,” said Audra Miller, spokeswoman for the Maryland Republican Party.

From the Washington Post

Irish Festival Abandons Baltimore

This is an event that has been held in Baltimore city since 1974 – 32 years.

It is a great event and I encourage you to find time to attend.

Since that time the Irish Festival has had a number of homes in Baltimore.  They have most recently been holding the event at the 5th Regiment Armory.  However, they have spent a lot of time together over the years and decided it was time to part company.

The festival organizers struggled for the past 4 years looking for an adequate facility to host the event. 

They considered the Baltimore Convention Center, the Baltimore Arena, and approached the Timonium Fair grounds.