110 Years Later....United States vs. Wong Kim Ark

A historic decision was handed down by the Supreme Court on March 28,1898, a decision that decreed any child born inside the United States to foreign parents who were NOT American citizens was indeed a U.S. citizen by virtue of birth.While it might have seemed like a good idea at the time,over a century later it is an economic,societal and diplomatic disaster.School systems,social services and other community resources are overburdened by the very large families of illegal immigrants who are taking advantage of Americas benevolence.They know that any children born inside American borders is an "instant citizen" and therefore qualifies them for food stamps,cash assistance,Medicaid and a host of other programs.Their children are also entitled to a public education and since many of them do not speak English,all of these taxpayer funded agencies have to hire extra people who can translate.A friend of mine who lives in a distant state reported that in her school district,public Pre-K is strictly limited to a)children in a home under the poverty level or b) children who do NOT speak English!Her tax dollars are good enough to support Pre-K instruction but her child is not welcome!The only alternative is expensive private school Pre-K or pre-school.Similar tales come in from those who have worked in a welfare office or hospital or clinic.Since Medicaid picks up the tab for prenatal care and childbirth,there is no incentive NOT to keep breeding more "citizens".As a country,when do we stand up and say we have had enough?Considering the horrific treatment that Chinese and other Asian immigrants received in the 1800's I can understand why it happened.(the decision)Although they worked long hours building railroads and working in mines among other things,they were severely discriminated against.Like the immigrants of 2008,they did jobs that were deemed too dangerous or difficult for anyone else.Unlike 2008 immigrants,these were proud immigrants who wanted to adapt to their new country,rather than force it to adapt to them.They were anxious and grateful for the opportunity they perceived to be here and they struggled to learn the language and understand the American culture.They did not demand to have Chinese or Cantonese translators-or run through the streets waving Peoples Republic of China flags and flaunting their illegal status.They paid their own way because there was no welfare back then.Older,more established immigrants networked to help new arrivals from their homeland to assimilate and survive.So the Supreme court could not possibly foresee the impact the decision would have decades later.As a Mother,the reality of this decision hits my heart-The Baltimore Sun did a story not too long ago about the American-born children of illegal immigrants who have had one or both parents deported.What happens to these young Americans when their father is picked up by INS?Unfortunately this issue never came into play when the historic decision was made in 1898.What do we do about it now?Do we give immunity to the parents,even though they are illegal,in an attempt to preserve families?Do we deport the minor children with the parents,although they are Americans just like you or I?

Dog Park Soils

The photo map has the Kiwanis Pavilion at the upper left of the colored box; N. Park drive goes thru diagonally from the lower left.

The soil classifications are:

KgB Klej-Galloway complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes, Partially
Hydric
LO Longmarsh and Indiantown soils, frequently flooded, All
Hydric
W Water, Unknown, Hydric

Hydric soils are defined by the National Technical Committee for Hydric
Soils (NTCHS) as soils that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding,
or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in
the upper part (Federal Register, 1994). Under natural conditions, these
soils are either saturated or inundated long enough during the growing season to support the growth and reproduction of hydrophytic vegetation.

The dog park would be in the KgB soil area for the most part

Fire Engine For Sale

The Volunteers at 40 are sad to announce the selling of Engine 402, a 1987 Hahn HCP-15 1500GPM/500GAL Pumper, Selling Price of $52,000, Contact any Chief Officer at Station 40

Like I said, the Salisbury Fire Department WOULD NEVER consider such a fine piece of equipment.

Pocomoke News: City Council Election Debate See How They Do It Boss Hogg Style

As you may be aware, a few weeks ago the Tattler called both District 3 Candidates to ask what their platform was yet received no response from either candidate.

We were willing to do a written platform questionaire for them that we would post so that they would have the opportunity to get their messages out to their constituents. There was no answer at either of the candidates residences.

Mr. Morrison's answering machine answered and I personally asked that he call me back. Ms. Hayes apparently doesn't have a machine and I gave her the courtesy of three calls but the phone was never answered.

So today's Daily Times has an article stating that District 3 Candidates will have the rare opportunity to square off in a debate.

The article states that the debate will be held tonight at New Macedonia Baptist Church at 7pm and is being sponsored by the Democratic State Central Committee.

What is so amusing is that Pocomoke City Council members has historically been non-partisan. But the mission of the State Central Committees for both parties is to see their members elected to political offices anywhere.

Morrison is a Republican and Hayes is a Democrat.

Hayes is also a member of the Democratic State Central Committee District 1.

Additionally, polictical activist and possibly the most annoying person anyone would ever want to meet; President of the Worcester County NAACP Edward Lee, and Democratic State Central Committee District 2 representative is seemingly making it his job to see that Ms. Hayes get elected. Even though another person from the DSCC was quoted in the times article, I highly doubt it was anyone else's idea.

Apparently, Mr. Morrison, must have pissed off Eddie Lee, as Mr. Lee was actively involved in 'getting out the vote' for Mr. Morrison when he originally won his seat three years ago. If you piss off Eddie Lee he makes it his job to see that you either don't get in office or don't get re-elected. I know this from personal experience. Catching Eddie Lee in at least a dozen lies within a matter of minutes in a 'Mayoral Council Meeting' was enough to secure our place on his personal shit list.

Typical to Pocomoke form, the debate is not being held on neutral ground in any sense of the word. But instead, at the New Macedonia Baptist Church. The organizers are undoubtedly well aware of the racial divide in Pocomoke, and by arranging this Candidate Forum at this venue will certainly be very helpful in shoring up Ms. Haye's base.

Why oh why are these games still be played?

When are we going to move past this?

Miss Hayes, if you are the decent peacemaking woman that you have always portrayed yourself to be, why then would you allow the debate to be held at a predominantly if not completely black church. I would think that you would want to move past this.

If we are ever going to move forward as the town that everyone wants us to be this nonsense has got to stop.

Mr. Morrison, Good Luck!

Why couldn't this forum be held at the Marva, or the Log Cabin, or the Library, or the High School?

This is ridiculous!

Stephanie K. Burke (Mrs Boss Hogg)

The Urban Assault Command Post Vehicle

On January 30, 2008 the Command Post Vehicle was used for an emergency situation just off Mt. Hermon Road.

On February 29, 2008 it was used again in the homicide case in Parsonsburg.

There have been a couple of comments talking about how this unit has no real use but they're wrong. The unit was in being retrofitted for quite some time and no sooner has it come out with its new face lift it has gone right into service.

I'd say this was good money after good money. A perfect example of good money after bad money would be a new Fire Station on the west side of Salisbury, leaving no reserves for a new Fire Station on the north side of town where it was without any question needed far more than the west side. Of course that's just my opinion and as many Firefighters would disagree with me, I believe many others would agree with my view.

The Sheriff's Department is actually getting a return on the money being spent on that Department while the Salisbury Fire Department continues to be a money pit. That being said, lay off the WCSO because they're staying afloat while the Fire Department sinks.

Oh, I'll close with, let's see where things stand 6 months to a year from now with Volunteers. My guess is that Gordy and See will be hitting up the City for more money to pay Firefighters because they can't retain, can't encourage Volunteers to come to the new Station. All the money and toys in the world aren't going to get them to race all the way across the City just to catch a Fire Truck back to their neighborhoods.

My hat is tipped to Sheriff Lewis for being open and willing to accept this piece of equipment and put it back into good use. It won't be used that often, (hopefully) and there was no reason to buy new. Something See & Gordy cannot and will not understand or accept.

Guilty Verdict For Man Who Microwaved Baby

GO HERE to see this Blog that writes a story about a man who microwaved a baby.

On 3-13-07 The Wicomico Neighborhood Congress Was Established

Just over a year ago the Wicomico Neighborhood Congress was established.

One Year Ago Today

It was one year ago today Kenny Beck and WMDT 47 News held a City Council Debate. A commenter on the last Post also recognized that is was in fact one year ago today as well that the Wicomico County Library donated the Bookmobile to the Sheriff's Department on this very same day.

WICOMICO SHERIFF TO USE RETIRED BOOKMOBILE AS COMMAND POST

At a 10:00 A.M. ceremony on Tuesday, March 27th, Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt and Library Director Tom Hehman will turn over the keys to the retired Wicomico County Library Bookmobile to Sheriff Mike Lewis. The transfer will take place at the Sheriff’s Department.

The retired Bookmobile, which logged 120,000 miles in its 15 years of service, will be used as a mobile command post according to a spokesperson from the Sheriff’s Department. The vehicle will be used in a wide variety of on-the-scene law enforcement situations.

Dog/Cat Park?

Let me get this straight. At a time when there are a huge number of families losing their homes to foreclosures, gas prices are projected to hit the $4.00 a gallon mark, people are having a hard time finding enough grocery money to feed their families, and we are going to spend $10,000.00 in Open Space money on a Dog Park? Do people feel that money also grows on trees? Do they not understand that it is tax dollars? Are bureaucrats so removed from the real world that 10k is a pittance that can be tossed at any pie in the sky project like it's chump change.

Wouldn't the homeless shelters in the area love to get their hands on that money? Or how about the Humane Society? I keep hearing that one of the back lashes of the foreclosure problem is the number of pets that are getting dumped at shelters and literally on the streets. I bet that money would certainly help with that problem. I know about it all to well because someone keeps dropping off their cats on our road. They even show up with collars on but will scavenge any free food they can find. Its pretty sad.

So why not a Dog Park in the City Park. As I already pointed out, the show dog crowd won't use it and it's an awful big chunk of money for a one week show and a weekend show. Local pet owners already use Picnic Island and the rest of the City Park to walk their dogs on leash. Just ask the folks that use the horse shoe grounds how mad they are at dog owners that keep allowing pooping pooches into their fenced area to relieve themselves. From a health stand point you are walking your family member through one of the most heavily infested raccoon areas in the city, with the exception of the dump. They're there because of the river and the abundance of free food at the Zoo. Ask the Zoo Staff about the number of rabid/distemper carrying raccoons that are trapped and euthanized in that area. And that's right where your walking your beloved family member.

Logistics are also a problem. Not much room there and lets squeeze in a skateboard park and the existing pavilion and where the heck is a dog supposed to run other than in circles. Are they going to clear out the woods right there next to the river?

Then there's the question, who's going to keep it clean? You can't police everyone visiting the site and believe me, plenty will not clean up after their animals. So now the Public Works Department will be in the cleaning up dog sh!t business as well? I'd bet most of the people working there won't appreciate that very much. That being said, there goes the taxpayers money once again.

I have been to almost every single City Council Meeting for the past 3 years or so and let me assure you, they do NOT want to be GIFTED these kind of projects because they know, (for example) if a Developer gifts the City with a Playground, someone is going to be responsible for maintaining it. So open your eyes Ladies & Gentlemen, this project will flop and it will become an exact example of the Salisbury Zoo and fall in the pockets of the taxpayers in the very near future.

Once earlier comment mentioned another perfect location off of Beaglin Park Rd. I believe it used to be a part of the Boy scouts at one point and time. It's far more open space and IMO if you were to truly think of anything for the location proposed, it would make far better overflow parking for the Zoo.

OMG, that's right, someone might have to cross a street! Let me tell you people a little something about that fear. I grew up in NYC. We played stick ball in the streets as there was no Open Space to speak of in the immediate neighborhoods. I can't think of one person who was killed by a car. Teach your kids to LOOK BOTH WAYS before they cross the street and quit pampering the crap out of them.

So what about a Cat Park next? There are as many Cat lovers as there are Dog lovers. We would like to see a Horse Park. You know, a space we can take our horses and ride for the day. Oh, that's right, we'd probably have to pick up after our horses as well and that wouldn't be cool either.

I was also thinking about the Families that go to that pavilion for reunions and special events. After all, that's what that area was designed for and currently used for. I wonder just how comfortable these people are going to be visiting that area now with a ton of barking dogs?

Once again, (IMO) the Mayor has brought forth another stupid idea not well thought out. What's your thoughts?

Lower Shore Young Republicans Meeting Tonight

The Lower Shore Young Republicans Club will be meeting tonight at 7pm in the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce building. Anyone from the ages of 18-40 are invited to attend and enocouraged to participate. A social activity will follow the meeting.

Any questions please send an e-mail to lowershoreyoungrepublicans@gmail.com

How To Translate Italian Body & Sign Language

Oh, so yuz dink yuz can speak a to me a dat way, eh?

Ga head, ga head, take da first shot yu somabich.

I'm ana be a, whacha call a, how dey say dis in a english, fair, ifn ya know what I mean?

My a meatballs starta outta bout dis a bigga. Denna we squish dat somabich down lika basea balla size and a momma mea, she cook it lika yuz neva senna before.

Hey, so I a lied, whatchagonna do a bout it, eh?

Michael Has Only 1 Comment In The Last 8 Posts

While I continue to tell Michael his Posts are too lengthy, wordy, verbose, he refuses to listen and cut back. The idea of a Blog is to be interactive and get your readers to share their opinion.

However, when you write articles that are thousands of words long, people get into the second paragraph and decide, this just isn't for me and I don't have time. Oh, Michael might argue that he was #2 this week and I'm #3. Just more proof the system doesn't work at Blognetnews because we have a pretty good idea how many people visit his Site daily and it isn't one percent of what Salisbury News sees daily. If you want to call that influential, then the system is right and I'm wrong. After all, it's supposed to be about the most influential Political Blogger and getting no one to visit your site and or even comment clearly proves it's not influential at all.

This should get interesting.........

Granddad Teaches Olympic Style Ski Jumping

While Granddad got up in front of a large crowd Tuesday night to discuss the Crooked Oak Park project, he obviously was showing the "techniques" of ski jumping and how to do it right.

Just how much drag is on that old gut there old man? LOL They better deliver my Daily Slime soon before I go ticking everyone off.

"Snake Oil" Salesman charged in Texas

"Bayou Bob",AKA Bob Popplewell of Santo,Texas,turned himself in to authorities on Monday to face charges brought against him by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for sticking rattlesnakes into bottles of cheap vodka to preserve them and billing it as an "ancient Asian cure" and selling it for about $23 a bottle to visitors to his Brazos River Rattlesnake Ranch.He claims that alot of Asian people buy it from him and it is no different from the Taiwanese practice of spiking liquor drinks with the gallbladder of a freshly killed snake,considered an aphrodisiac elixir.Bayou Bob adds that he simply finds the cheapest vodka he can and uses it for his "miracle cure" and does not feel he is breaking the law.The State of Texas emphatically disagrees,stating that 429 bottles of snake vodka and one bottle of snake tequila was confiscated,about $10,000 worth,and since Popplewell was not licensed to sell liquor he is a criminal.He faces a year in jail and/or 1k in fines.Hopefully since he is 63 yrs old and all they will go light on him and demand in the future he refrain from selling booze.Now I honestly have never heard of embalming a snake in a bottle of liquor.Popplewell says that his concoction tastes sweet and syrupy.Yuck!I am familiar with the whole worm in the tequila bottle thing.Most of your premium Mezcals(Monte Alban,for example) have an agave worm in the bottle and it is reputed that whoever consumes the worm in the bottle will see visions-and of that I have no doubt!I am also familiar with the practice of buying cheap corn liquor and steeping fruit in it to make a quart of brandy(alot of older people do that),but snakes?When you consider that on average,a half gallon bottle of cheap vodka runs ten bucks,a fifth bottle even less,there was "low overhead"Popplewell got the snakes for free,because he had a snake ranch-and then he gets $23 bucks a bottle?He was making a killing and obviously not paying any taxes on it.Not to mention since he is not a licensed distiller there are no sanitation practices in place to assure the stuff is even safe to consume!Mr.Popplewell would be wise to stick to rattlesnake ranching and preferably not handle the snakes while sipping on the vodka....

Don't Forget This Fundraiser On Sunday

Click on image to enlarge.

The Daily Slime Pulls It AGAIN!

"We're sorry but we're having a production problem. You will get your paper later today, if that's what you're calling for."

If I didn't have this Blog and I didn't need that paper daily, honest to God I would have cancelled that paper long ago. Their service SUCKS, their printing SUCKS, the new layout SUCKS and Salisbury News Rules. There, now I feel better. Good Morning Everyone!

Who Let The Dogs Out?

Guess what's back on the City Agenda again? The Dog Park! They have raised $10,000.00 from the State for an Open Space Grant. One of the representatives there stated that it will help the Poodle Show. OMG, are you one of Jerry's Kids, or what?

No professional Dog Owner or Handler would ever consider bringing one of their Show Dogs all the way down to that Park to piss and crap, believe me! Most of those dogs never touch grass or dirt, that's how picky these people are. So please, before you make a statement like that again, at least find one that people might believe.

Do you also think they would allow their $50,000.00 Show Dogs go into an area with other agressive Dogs and play?

My Wife has been breeding Show Dogs for many years and we're surrounded by a multitude of Show Dog people that would never consider risking our animals to the diseases spread in an environment as proposed. Nor should other Dog Owners!

Now, that being said, who's going to clean and maintain this Dog Park? I'm told tonight that someone stated they're going to hold fundraisers to help maintain and clean it. PLLLLLEASE! Isn't that exactly how the Salisbury Zoo got started?

You Taxpayers in Salisbury will fall for some of the dumbest sh!t I have ever seen. Once they open it, YOU will be taxed to maintain it. The Zoo went from a small gem to a $1,000,000.00 a year tax burden! Now you're going to tack on yet another one, simply because a few geeks dog owners think the majority of people want this. I'll tell you what. Let the Daily Times create a Poll asking how many people truly want a Dog Park and watch what the end result is. This won't be a large Park where you throw Frisbees and so forth. This will more than likely be a small area in which dogs can piss and poop, yet they're calling it a park.

OK, now let's discuss this Idiot of a Mayor who made the statement while she was a Guest Speaker at the Democratic Club a few weeks ago that the River is polluted as bad as it is because of the Dog pee & poop and Pigeon poop. Dee, Dee, Deeee! HELLO Barrie, where will this Dog Park be? RIGHT ON THE RIVER! I know, let's add to your BS excuse of a problem already, right?

This is yet another feel good BS project that will once again screw the taxpayer down the road and until you people stop this crap from happening, we in Delmar will once again visit your FREE Zoo and perhaps take our non Show Dogs to Salisbury for a leak. Oh, don't forget your Daily Times paper to clean up the mess.

Hillary Clinton Has Her Own Trading Card!

Upper Deck has a tradition with their "Predictor" insert series. If the player or team on the card achieves a specific goal which the card dictates, then the collector can send the card in for a premium prize. The 2008 baseball set has taken the Predictor Series to the next level with the "Presidential Predictor" Depicted on the cards are the likes of McCain, Obama, and Hillary. By entering a code on the card the owner has the chance to win a trip to throw out the first pitch at a Major League game if that candidate wins the election.

Here's the catch, the Hillary card has been pulled because it is "inappropriate". Some cards have made it to the market and the prices are soaring. Beckett magazine, the leader in sports card pricing, has the value over $1,000. An E-Bay bidder has his card up for $1,500. Rediculous! Well here's the pic and judge for yourself if its inappropriate. Personally I think it's gross.

The rest of the set can be found here: http://sports.upperdeck.com/baseball/presidentialpredictor/default.aspx

Crooked Oak Update

As I commented on the earlier post, I picked up those appraisals and took them to my appraiser this morning. This evening I again spoke to the appraiser to get a feel of what this would cost me and to see if they had a feel of what they were looking at as far as a final valuation of the target property.

The answer to both questions shocked me.

First.... the appraisers advised that they found so many discrepancies and points with which they took exception that the narrative necessary to point them all out would exceed 12 pages for each appraisal. They conferred and cut the price down for me as much as they possibly could and it is still going to cost me $800.00. Wow. I expected between $300 - $500.

Second....They explained that the problems with the appraisals were greater than they imagined. They said that a more accurate estimate of the property value will be between $800,000 and $1,000,000. No More. An exact valuation could be made as soon as I agree to the price and give them the green light. Business is business.


I spoke to John Cannon and advised him of the aforementioned results. I explained that I was prepared, if necessary, to pay the fee and provide the information from my appraiser. He stated that the council was to meet on Tuesday to discuss the matter further and that he would call me to let me know the results.

I was not expecting to pay so much for the appraisal but I will do so if necessary. The discrepancies appear to be so large that we cannot let this purchase go through. This whole thing is just wrong!

Also....someone brought something to my attention this evening. Some of the people who spoke last night listed "the children" as their primary concern. If they were REALLY concerned about the convenience of having things within 3 miles, why aren't these same people complaining of the fact that their schools are much farther away than that? Interesting question.

Courageous Christopher 5k

I'm back from vacation and into the swing of things again finally. I hope all of you had a great Easter Break with your families. My trip to OBX was much needed and 100% relaxing and spending time with my parents was great.

Since I was out of the loop my mother showed me an article about Christopher Mull in the Daily Times. If you missed the article in Saturday's Times, Christopher suffers from Dravet Syndrome which causes seizures and is currently incurable and very difficult to treat. On Saturday, May 17th there is a charity 5k starting at Asbury Church in Salisbury to help raise $11,000 for a trained dog from 4 Paws for Ability which will sense when Christopher will go into a seizure. All proceeds will go to pay towards all expenses in getting the dog. A pig roast and picinic will follow.
The cost is $25 for pre-registration and $30 on the day of the race. Registration begins at 8:30 am and the race goes off rain or shine at 10am.

This is a great cause and I will be out running the race if I can. If not, I'm still donating!

The official website is http://www.courageouschristopher.com/


If anyone has information or is in charge of any charitable fundraisers please e-mail me and I will put the information and reminders up. Again, I appreciate any feedback on how to make the site better on sports. I will try to post as much as I can, albeit work and other committments take up time.

Thanks,

Nick