To give a $16 haircut in Maryland, one must take a year or more of classes and pass a rigorous test on the theory and practice of barbering. To originate a $500,000 mortgage, you take a class for a week or two.

Now that toxic mortgages have helped push nearly 16,000 Maryland homes into foreclosure proceedings over the past 12 months, the Maryland legislature has to know that things must radically change. Even mortgage lenders are embarrassed by what has happened and mortgage brokers - middlemen for third-party lenders - talk about reform.

But some are fighting proposed standards ensuring mortgage agents exhibit the highest level of care. Given the abuses of the past three years and the way housing finance has changed, let's make sure the General Assembly insists on the jumbo, non-adjustable, strictest mortgage reform plan.

January 2008

I just never considered the thousand little ways my being white may have made my experience that much easier. Now I can see that my whole known world depended on that one thing.

Elections set in Arnett, Mooreland

Roundtree explained that the nitrate content of any water system will fluctuate due to many natural causes including excess rain or extreme heat. Roundtree also said the same water tested next month could only have 9 ppm nitrate content.However, in order to be in compliance with federal law the city of Mooreland must keep its nitrate levels below 10 ppm which will be accomplished by the purchase of the ionic exchange system.In order to purchase the system Mooreland must obtain a loan. According to Mooreland Town Administrator Eileen Hensley a vote must be cast if the town wishes to borrow more than $200,000.Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 13.*****Woodward County voters who wish to vote via absentee ballot in either of the elections should apply for their ballots immediately.According to Woodward County Election Board Secretary Carol Carrell two mail transactions must be made in the process of absentee voting."The County Election Board must mail the ballots to the voter and the voter must return the voted ballots by mail," said Carrell.Ballots will not be counted if they are not in the possession of the election board by 7 p.m.

Letter to the editor: America needs Edwards' leadership

Throughout the 2008 Presidential election I have often found myself thinking about the now-mythical events of the summer of 1776. That July, 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. People often forget this because it is a bit gruesome, but it is important to remember that when they signed that document, all 56 knew that they were also signing their death warrant from the British Crown. Just as we idolize Jefferson, Franklin, Adams and the rest for their intellects and forethought, we also must admire them for their sheer bravery. On July 4, 1776 they didn't just publish a particularly provocative piece of literature; they laid their bodies on the line in the name of a worthy cause.

All of America's truly great leaders share aspects of this trait, from Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt to FDR and Martin Luther King Jr.