''Late Show'' Obama's Funny Top 10 List

Just wait for his Republican and Democratic opponents to get all over Sen. Barack Obama for making campaign promises he'll never keep. He says he's going to choose Oprah as his vice president! Just joking. The Democratic presidential wannabe was a guest on David Letterman's "Late Show" on Thursday, Jan. 24, and Obama delivered the top 10 list, showing the world he has a sense of humor.

The list was supposed to be 10 campaign promises, all delivered tongue-in-cheek, although Oprah as VP might not be a bad idea now that we think about it.

Top 10 Barack Obama Campaign Promises presented by Sen. Barack Obama:

10. "To keep the budget balanced, I'll rent the Situation Room for sweet 16s."
9. "I will double your tax money at the craps table."
8. "Appoint Mitt Romney Secretary of Lookin' Good."
7. "If you bring a gator to the White House, I'll wrassle it."
6. "I'll put Regis on the nickel."
5. "I'll rename the 10th month of the year 'Barack-tober.'"
4. "I won't let Apple release the new and improved iPod the day after you bought the previous model."
3. "I'll find money in the budget to buy Letterman a decent hairpiece."
2. "Pronounce the word nuclear, nuclear."
1. "Three words: Vice President Oprah."

Fire Eases At Vegas' Monte Carlo

A fire on the roof of the Monte Carlo Hotel/Casino forced Guests and Gamblers to flee and sent a ton of smoke above the Las Vegas Strip before easing about an hour later. No major injuries were reported.

Other Fire Fighters Agree, Salisbury Should NOT Have A New Fire Boat

"I am the one who posted that comment and I DO NOT think that salisbury FD needs an $800,000 fire boat. Take for example Sharptown FD they are located right on the Nanticoke river, now granted they don't have a lot of calls for the boat, they do get called to assist others like Seaford and Laurel with their boat. But they just have a nice little 20ft I think Carolina Skiff. That would be like Sharptown deciding they needed an $800,000 boat for the maybe 15 calls they have for a year. But there is a difference with Sharptown, they make their own money and if they want to spend it that way they can. But Salisbury has to justify their boat to the taxpayers and I don't think anyone really thinks they it, when was the last time they needed a boat to fight a fire anyway???
Just call me disgusted."

West Side Collector Road Under Way

As you can see, the first stage of the West Side Collector Road is under way just off Business Rt. 50 near the Westwood Commerce Park. The County expects the first phase to be completed by September or October of 2008.

The second phase will run from Levin Dashiell Road immediately after the first phase is complete and the construction money is already in place and that phase should be complete in 2009.

The third phase will then go to Crooked Oak Lane. The County has the money in place to pay for the two right of way's by two property owners and they expect to complete the entire roadway by 2010 or 2011.

One Year Ago Today

It was one year ago today the security fencing around the Old Mall was knocked down at both ends and many questioned just how much effort was being put into the security of the Old Mall. Today the building is completely gone and time will tell the fate of the land's future?

Gilchrest, the "Hero of the Taxpayer"?

Are you F/N kidding me? Let me ask Marylander's one question. HOW'S IT WORKIN FOR YA?

Happy Birthday Andy Harris

Today just happens to be Senator, (Congressional Candidate) Andy Harris' Birthday.

Salisbury News Exclusive

Alma Powell (Wife of General Colin Powell), Mayor Tilghman, Executive Pollitt and an official from “America’s Promise” at the official “100 Best” ceremony in Washington, DC on January 25th.

Maryland Lawmakers Want To Tax Mainly Young Women!

WMDT Reports,

"MD Lawmakers Look At Taxing Tanning Over Computers
By WMDT STAFF -- WMDT 1/24/2008

Some Maryland lawmakers say they have come up with a way to get rid of an unpopular tax on computer services. They say we should tax tanning beds instead.

The tax would apply to tanning beds or the application of spray-on tans. The revenue would be put in a health care fund. The computer tax doesn't take effect until this summer. But most legislators say it is unlikely to change."
DO HERE to see the WMDT Official Story.

That being said, what about African Americans? You DON'T see them in Tanning Beds, do you? Some people are just flat out STUPID, especially Lawmakers! Maryland gets the Dee, Dee, Deeee Award of the month! The majority of people using Tanning Booths and Spray On Tans are young women.

Wicomico County/City Of Salisbury Named One Of Nations 100 Best Communities

Wicomico County/City of Salisbury Named One of the Nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise Alliance

Competition Showcases Successful Efforts by U.S. Cities and Towns to Help Young People Succeed

Wicomico County/City of Salisbury, MD— America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance), the nation’s largest alliance dedicated to children and youth, in partnership with Capital One, today announced that Wicomico County has been named a winner of its 2008 100 Best Communities for Young People (100 Best) competition. The 100 Best competition recognizes the 100 outstanding communities across America—large and small, rural and urban—that are the best places for young people to live and grow up. More than 300 communities in all 50 states applied for the honor this year. The 100 winning communities span 37 states.

This is the third consecutive year that Wicomico County/City of Salisbury has been named a 100 Best community. Wicomico County/City of Salisbury, the only jurisdiction in Maryland to win, was named a 100 Best community in large part because of their commitment to youth initiatives, programs and actions that ensures all children have access to the Five Promises and families have access to positive community resources. Additionally, Salisbury has its own program, Salisbury’s Promise, which unites the AmeriCorps program at Salisbury University to provide youth with the opportunity to serve their community, including contributing hand-made gifts and cards for nursing home residents. Another program, CANstruction, unites schools and their faith-based partners to collect food for charities. Several elementary and middle schools are using Character Counts, where students work with Habitat for Humanity and support March of Dimes and American Cancer Society by participating in walk-a-thons, among other charitable activities. The City also actively works with Salisbury University to provide internships for local students.

“The prosperity of every community and this country depends on how well we care for our children and youth,” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, president and CEO, America’s Promise Alliance, “Although no place is perfect, when we have communities that make young people a priority and are working to make sure they stay in school and have all the resources necessary to lead healthy, productive lives, we must recognize them and by extension inspire other cities and towns to follow their lead.”

"At Capital One, we are committed to building stronger communities, one neighborhood at a time,” said Carolyn Berkowitz, Vice President of Community Affairs for Capital One. "That’s why we’re proud to partner with the Alliance on the 100 Best competition to recognize the tremendous work in communities across the country to create environments where children and families have boundless opportunities as well as the support systems necessary to champion their growth and encourage their success.”

The 100 Best competition was first held in 2005. This year’s winners were selected by a distinguished panel that included some of the nation’s most well-known civic, business and nonprofit leaders such as: Gayle Manchin, first lady of West Virginia, United Way President Brian Gallagher, former Mayor of Denver and President of Webb Group International, Wellington Webb, Thomas Donohue, president and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Carol Coletta, president and CEO, CEOs for Cities, Christine James-Brown, president and CEO, the Child Welfare League of America, and Dr. Suzanne Morse, executive director of the Pew Partnership for Civic Change.

Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., reacted to the good news with this statement, “To be honored for the third consecutive year as one of our nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People is testament to the high value Wicomico places on our children and to our commitment to raise them in a loving and nurturing environment. Every citizen in our county should be proud of this recognition as a solid example of what is right in our community.”

Mayor Barrie Tilghman said, “I am thrilled that America’s Promise has honored the great work of Salisbury’s Promise for a third year in a row. Many individuals spend many hours to ensure that the youth in this area have every opportunity to succeed and have a secure and nurturing environment in which to grow.”

All communities that completed entries in the 100 Best competition were required to submit detailed information to the Alliance on existing community programs and initiatives that help deliver the Five Promises—resources identified by America’s Promise as being critical to the development of healthy, successful children: caring adults; safe places; healthy start; effective education; and opportunities to help others; to their young people. Applicants were also asked to describe how different sectors of their community come together to deliver the Five Promises and specific efforts and programs developed to ensure that their young people graduate from high school prepared for college and/or the workforce. Each of these communities, regardless of whether they were selected as a winner, will be eligible to apply for $300,000 in grants from the Alliance next month.

For more details about the 100 Best competition and to see a complete list of the 2008 winners, please visit www.americaspromise.org.

Who Da Man?

Mayor Barrie Tilghman and Council President Louise Smith wanted to thank me for the "valuable and distinguished service" I provide to the City of Salisbury.

Boy, that had to hurt.

CITY OF SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA

CITY OF SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA

Meeting #2 -- JANUARY 28, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.

City/County Government Office Building Room 301

6:00 p.m. CONVENE – LORD’S PRAYER – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

6:04 p.m. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

6:06 p.m. PROCLAMATION– Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman

6:11 p.m. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 14, 2008 MINUTES 1

6:13 p.m. RESOLUTIONS – City Administrator John Pick

• Resolution No. 1624 - authorizing mayor to sign Memorandum of Understanding for Waverly Drive storm drain system

• Resolution No. 1625 - accepting Coastal Communities Initiatives Fund for grant match and authorizing expenditure of $30,000 from the Contingency Fund for grant match

6:45 p.m. AWARD OF BIDS – Internal Services Director Pam Oland

7:00 p.m. ORDINANCE – City Attorney Paul Wilber

• Ordinance No. 2046 - 1st reading – FY08 budget amendment for building maintenance and police overtime

7:20 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Was the "Tilghman Times" Complicit, or Simply Lied To?

Yesterday we ran a post describing the full extent of the subsidy being received by Salisbury Mall Associates (SMA), developers of the old mall project. Forget for a moment that this group has yet to fulfill a single major commitment on time. Forget for a moment that we have now learned that SMA will be collecting the lion's share of the city property tax revenue from this project to pay off the TIF (tax increment financing) bond was issued by the Barrie Tilghman administration.

Today, Delmarva Dealings ran a post from its too infrequent contributor Amicus reminding us of the role played in this fiasco by the house organ of the Tilghman administration, the Daily Times. Was the Tilghman Times duped, or were they complicit in the deliberate spread of misinformation by the Tilghman administration and her minions then serving on the Salisbury City Council - Mike Dunn, Gary Comegys, Lynn Cathcart and Shanie Shields?

As Amicus has ferreted out for us, the Tilghman Times both reported as news, and printed as op-ed, that institutional investors such as banks, insurance companies or money managers would be investing in these bonds and therefore they would be deciding on the financial viability of the project (through their decision to purchase, or not purchase, the TIF bonds). We now know that the city and developer never intended to market these bonds.

This (yet again) disgraceful episode in Salisbury history keeps bringing up questions. Since the city and developer never intended on marketing this bond to outside investors, why did the firm of Stone & Youngberg receive a hefty fee? And you may want to know who paid their fee? It is my understanding that the fee was built in to the issue, so this is an additional subsidy being paid (albeit indirectly) by the Salisbury taxpayer.

The coming days will tell us whether or not the Tilghman Times was complicit in this fiasco or not. Will they begin to ask real questions and demand truthful answers (a first), or will they respond by doing nothing? Another likely response is claim that this is "Much Ado About Nothing". After all, the old mall project is moving forward (or is it?). They may also choose to take the Clintonesque approach and fall on their use of the word "usually" in their reporting of the matter.

I've got a sneaking suspicion that this will somehow be blamed on Councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen, along with the usual suspects like Linda Kent.

cross posted at Delmarva Dealings

Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, politics, Salisbury politics, Barrie Tilghman, Mike Dunn, Gary Comegys, Lynn Cathcart, Shanie Shields, Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, Linda Kent, subsidy

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CITY OF SALISBURY PUBLIC NOTICE

The City Council has scheduled an additional work session for 4:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, February 6, 2008.

The work session will be held in Conference Room 305 of the Government Office
Building (125 N. Division Street).

Joe, You Hurteded My Feewings :-(

GO HERE to see the actual Post.

January 17, 2008
Mistaken technology and exaggeration

SALISBURY — I want to correct a false assumption made about me.

I was portrayed in a post Tuesday on Joe Albero’s Salisbury News blog under the headline, “The Daily Times Is Desperate To Compete.”

I just came across it, and I have to tell Joe that all of it is wrong. Yes, all of it. I shouldn’t be surprised.

Most of time, about 99 percent, I don’t correct the falsehoods I find written here. That’s not to say I don’t make mistakes either. I have. I correct them. But this deserves a retraction.

I don’t own a BlackBerry. That’s a Verizon Envy. Look closely, it’s a cell phone. I was texting.

He made a blatant miscalculation, and I was upset. Then I realized so many errors might occur because Joe can’t see.

This mistake on its own, while pretty big since Joe was within arms reach of me, isn’t what is frustrating. It’s that he took his own error, and exaggerated it to a story about how I was posting to our Web site. I did no such thing. Search our Web site, there are no web hits by me Tuesday. Joe never even asked me what I was doing. And I know he couldn’t see what I was doing. If he had, he would have realized I had my phone.

In fact, I had no time to post to our Web site because I wrote four stories Tuesday. I will admit there was one error, but it was derived from the source. I checked my notes Wednesday, and the source said $99,000 per month. It was really $99,000 per quarter, he said a day later.

Joe, you are a creative writer, but you might need to get your eyes checked. Then again, maybe you just see what you want to.

Next time, just ask me what I’m doing. I always do for you and everyone else I cover.

jgidjunis@dmg.gannett.com
410-845-4630

Posted at 6:00 PM

ROTFLMAO!

Joe, forgive me for hurting your feelings? By the way, notice how I put a link up to your Post. Show some respect and send your people to my Post and or a link to my Blog next time, OK. Enjoy the hits Joe.

New Scary Movie Is Making Viewers Sick

Beware "Cloverfield"! The new film directed by Matt Reeves is what CNN describes as the "first adrenaline-pumping monster hit of the year." (It made $40 million its first weekend in the theaters.) But the real monster is what it's doing to moviegoers: "Cloverfield" is making viewers nauseous.

CNN reports that the thriller, which is told from the point of view of five young New Yorkers using their handheld cameras, features very shaky camera work. And that is causing nausea and dizziness. Why? Watching the movie gives you a strong visual sensation of movement--but you aren't actually moving. One person told the IMDB.com movie database, "I had to get up and leave the theater for nearly 20 minutes just to keep from hurling." Doctors say it's a classic case of vertigo when things feel like they are moving but they aren't. Basically, the balance system gets confused. And this disconnect can cause nausea and dizziness. It's gotten so bad that AMC theaters nationwide are posting signs warning moviegoers of potential "side effects associated with motion sickness similar to riding a roller-coaster."

The good news: Not everyone is affected. If you're worried you will be and really want to see "Cloverfield," try one of these three things to combat the vertigo:
--Take a dose of Bonine or Dramamine II, both of which are sold over the counter, before the movie starts.
--Briefly close your eyes during the movie. That can help recalibrate your brain sensors and alleviate symptoms long enough so you can watch the rest of the movie.
--Wait to see the movie until you can rent it. Watching it on TV won't cause this effect since the perspective around the screen tells your brain that it's the film that is moving--and not the room.