Urgent Urgent Urgent! If You Want to Salvage Any of Your Privacy You Must Call Your Congressmen Tomorrow!

Have you heard of FISA?

It is the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act which is essentially the fight over surveillance of American Citizens that continues in Washington.

Rumors have it that House leadership may be working hand in hand with Senator Jay Rockefeller who is leading the cause of granting immunity to telecommunications companies to essentially eviscerate the constitution and allow spying on American Citizens...

Fear Mongering is the bait that Congress is throwing in front of Americans to convince us to throw away every single civil liberty we have, and we as Americans CANNOT allow this to happen!

This bill that is being rushed and almost secretly pushed through Congress in order to vacuum up all of our telecommunications privacy.

It is imperative that you call your representative tomorrow, and let them know that they cannot allow this to happen. Don't neglect your civil duty and ignore this very very important issue!

When you call, say something like this:

I am a constituent calling about H.R. 6304, the Hoyer/Bush FISA Deal. I urge you to vote "NO" because:

1. The Hoyer/Bush FISA deal allows for mass and untargeted surveillance of Americans’ communications.

2. The Hoyer/Bush FISA deal contains blanket immunity, virtually guaranteeing lawsuits against telecom companies will be dismissed. Ongoing lawsuits may be our last best hope of exposing the extent of illegal spying.

3. If leadership will not lead, it is the responsibility of every lawmaker to lead on this issue. You need to do what your constituents and the American people demand. Bowing to pressure from Republicans and Democrats alike , the White House, and the telecommunications companies is unacceptable.

4. If you want my vote in the future you will uphold the constitution and not allow this completely unconstitutional bill to be passed!

Senator (D-Maryland) Barbara A. Mikulski's Office
	Phone: (202) 224-4654
	District Phone: (410) 962-4510

Senator (D-Maryland) Benjamin 'Ben' L. Cardin's Office
	Phone: (202) 224-4524
	District Phone: (410) 962-4436

Representative (R-Maryland District 1) Wayne T. Gilchrest's Office
	Phone: (202) 225-5311
	District Phone: (410) 778-9407

Take 10 minutes of your day and save you and your children's privacy for tomorrow!

Accountability

Just how much BS are you going to take from this Mayor any more? How many times will she say, "I take full responsibility" yet nothing is done?

There is talk within the waterfront communities of a Class Action Lawsuit against the City of Salisbury. These are people who pay additional money/taxes to live and enjoy the water and their recreational activities have been eliminated. Granted, the River may not be closed for several miles but let me ask you, would you let your kids into that water, anywhere?

It's time we get some quality and qualified people to step up to the plate and run for Mayor. Enough Is Enough of this crap. If they can't get that damn Waste Water Treatment Plant run right, FIRE THE SON OF A BITCHES WHO KEEP FAILING YOU!

I have spoken with several business owners who have firmly agreed, they too would have fired people long ago, sending out the message we're not going to take this crap any longer.

Again, when Barrie starts telling everyone that the Plant is like going down the Highway at 65 MPH and changing the motor while the car is still moving, PLEASE! Are we supposed to be that stupid? If it's IMPOSSIBLE, then why the hell are you doing it?

Anyhow, it's time people stood up and fought back. Barrie Tilghman is no longer any good for the City of Salisbury, not that she ever was but she's been in Office 10 years so some of you Idiots must have thought so.

I recently spoke with a friend of mine who had to go past Mill Street to get into Town and he said the stench is unbearable. Barrie knows how to get rid of all of the good people in the City, why can't she get rid of the Idiots that are about to cost you taxpayers thousands of dollars in fines?

National Publication Suggests Realtors Take Anti-Depressant Drugs for "Market Anxiety"

I see a lot of wacky news about the real estate market but this article from Realty Times suggests realtors start taking anti-depressant drugs to deal with the "anxiety" created by the market.

Finally there's some good news for the housing market. The market's still terrible, but you can feel better about it if you take Lexapro. Click here to read the entire article



This is truly a sign of the times when a national real estate publication suggests the anti-anxiety drug LEXAPRO for realt0rs to relieve anxiety.

Gannett Stock Drops Below All Time Low

You won't believe this. . . not only did Gannett break its all time record low yesterday, it set yet another record low today.

Stock now trading down to $23.79 piercing yesterday's record low of $23.81.

You won't be reading about this in The Daily Times!

New Salisbury News Motivational Posters

Harris Announces A "Prescription for the Pain at the Pump"

Salisbury - While speaking at a Chamber of Commerce lunch in Salisbury today, Andy Harris M.D. announced his "Prescription for the Pain at the Pump." Andy's plan offers both short-term and long-term solutions to the out of control fuel costs. Andy announced his plan at a Chamber of Commerce meeting because "The greatest threat to our economic wellbeing is the rising fuel costs."

"I will take the lead in fighting against these out of control gas prices," said Dr. Harris. Rising fuel costs impact the most basic necessities of life, like groceries at the supermarket. "Working families should not be forced to decide whether to fill up the gas tank or put food on their table," Harris added.

"Because the liberal Washington Democrats refuse to alleviate the pain at the pump, it is time to elect people who will represent the values of working families. I will do just that," Harris said.

Below is Dr. Andy's "Prescription for the Pain at the Pump"

1. Temporarily suspend the federal and state gasoline taxes of $.42 from Memorial Day through Labor Day

2. Increase efficiency and simplify the refining process by temporarily reducing the over 40 different gasoline blends nationwide to four blends.

3. Open domestic natural gas and oil production in areas such as off the Aleutian Islands, in ANWR, and on the continental shelf to decrease our dependence on oil from foreign countries.

4. Increase long-term oil-refining capacity by establishing fast-track approval for construction of new refineries and expansion of existing refineries.

5. Provide incentives for technological innovations in alternative forms of energy like nuclear, cellulosic ethanol, solar, geothermal, and hydrogen cell.

Paid for by Andy Harris for Congress

MAJOR BREAKING NEWS! 83,000 GALLON WWTP SPILL AGAIN!

June 19, 2008

For Immediate Release

For more information, contact
John Pick, City Administrator
(410) 548-3100
or
Greg Stevens
Utilities Division Chief
(410) 548-3185

*Wastewater Spill at the Wastewater Treatment Plant*

(Salisbury, Maryland) On Thursday June 19, 2008 between 1:00 AM and 4:26
AM there was an overflow at the Wastewater Treatment Plant final
effluent manhole. An estimated 48,140 gallons overflowed onto an
adjacent street within the plant.

Approximately 35,000 gallons of additional wastewater present in the
area of the overflow was pumped to an adjacent treatment tank and did
not reach the street. Plant personnel promptly responded to minimize the
impact of the spill.

The overflow has been reported to the Wicomico County Environmental
Health Department and Maryland Department of the Environment.

Health Advisory signs are posted on the Wicomico River from the City to
Upper Ferry. Sampling of the river will occur this morning.

“We regret very much that this latest incident occurred,” said Mayor
Barrie Tilghman. “The incident occurred during the start-up of one of
the new filters at the waste water treatment plant. John Pick and I have
scheduled a meeting with the Public Works staff and the construction
team on this project to have an in-depth discussion of this incident and
to do everything possible to ensure that our transition to the new plant
moves forward and that this type of incident is not repeated.”

For additional information contact, John Pick at (410) 548-3100 or Greg
Stevens at (410) 548-3185.

Wicomico Equestrian Horse Show Returns To Salisbury For Its 12th Year

(Salisbury, MD) Over 300 horses and ponies will be in attendance at the 12th Annual Wicomico Equestrian Horse Show. The Wicomico Equestrian Center at Winterplace Park will host the show on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 beginning at 8:00am. Admission is free and open to the public.

The Wicomico Equestrian Horse Show will feature an English and Western Classes competition as well as a Breed Classes competition. There will also be exhibitors from the mid-Atlantic region, food and retail vendors. For more information please contact Stanley Morris at 443-783-0019 or Ginny Morris at 443-783-5883.

Located just minutes from downtown Salisbury on Blue Ribbon Road, the Wicomico Equestrian Center is Delmarva’s Premier Equestrian Facility. It has opened its doors to horse people from all over since 1993. Visit www.wecevents.org to learn more about the Center and its other upcoming events.

If you would like to learn about other upcoming programs offered by the Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism Department sign up for Recreation email alerts at www.wicomicorecandparks.org

A Reply From The Waterkeeper Alliance

A reply from the waterkeeper Alliance------------

I want to thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Waterkeeper Alliance is built on the belief that our waterways belong to the people who use them for drinking and recreation and not the industrial polluters who want to destroy them for the sake of profit. We embrace strong citizen enforcement of our nation’s environmental laws and we rely on concerned citizens like you to bring matters to our attention.

We typically don’t have all the resources we’d like to tackle all the issues we hear about, but your concern about the Wicomico wastewater treatment plant is very important and certainly something we will be taking the time to look into. Wastewater treatment plants require strict Clean Water Act permits. It’s these permits which enable you and us to collect discharge information and monitoring data and see if there are or have been illicit and harmful discharges. In short, permits are the strongest tool to allow citizens to protect their waterways from polluters. Thanks to the information you’ve provided, we will be requesting from the state of Maryland all records pertaining to the operation of this plant and reviewing them for possible legal action. In the meantime, any other information about the facility you could provide – newspaper clippings on recent spills, photographs of discharges, etc. – might prove useful.

I want to thank you again for standing up for clean water. With the many negative (and false) allegations being made against us in the local media, its inspiring to know that there are those on the Eastern Shore who share our concerns.

Sincerely,

Scott Edwards

Legal Director

Waterkeeper Alliance

Two Years Ago Today At The Salisbury Zoo

Another mauled duck is found inside the Zoo while Zoo Director Jim Rapp waited weeks to set a trap and stop the killings.

Wicomico Liquor Control Board - What's a Legitimate Expense?

Wicomico County Liquor Control Board members Ron Alessi and Stewart Haemel claim that the LCB, after paying for legitimate expenses, contribute over $400,000 per year to the Wicomico County government coffers. We're going to tackle the veracity of that claim in a later post. However, their claim raises an interesting question. WHAT is a legitimate expense?

Now that we have the LCB's disbursements journal from March, 2004 - March, 2008 (we'll be putting it online as soon as I've finished scanning it) we are forced to ask why the LCB is spending money in certain places AND whether they are legitimate expenses.

We all know that Alessi has been a recipient of the LCB's largess during his tenure on the board. Did you also know that Haemel's firm, PAPCO Printing, is also doing business with the LCB?

Why is the LCB spending money at Kitty's Flowers? They're a great florist. I'm an occasional customer myself. However, is this a legitimate expense for the county dispensary?

Kuhn's Jewelers? Ditto.

Probably the greatest transgression appears in the form of "charitable donations". Remember, all monies after legitimate expenses are public funds. While the Wicomico County Council has finally wised up and stripped similar funds from County Executive Rick Pollitt's budget, this unelected body has seen fit to hand out public funds to groups ranging from the Boy Scouts (a pet Alessi charity) to the Crisfield Pride Elks Lodge (in Somerset County).

I certainly don't have an issue with the Boy Scouts. I can't have an issue with the Crisfield Pride Elks Lodge, because I didn't even know they were an Elks Lodge until I searched for them online. What I do have an issue with is public funds being donated by an unelected body to groups who are not vital to the mission of the LCB.

If Mr. Alessi, or I, want to donate to the scouts - we should cut PERSONAL checks. If Mr. Haemel wants to give money to a fraternal organization in another county, fine. The funds should come from his coffers, not the public's.

When I've completed my analysis, I'll post the complete disbursements journal and a list of the questionable checks. Let it suffice that there appear to be numerous expenditures of a suspicious nature as well as evidence of poor internal controls on the part of the LCB.

cross posted at Delmarva Dealings

Powered by ScribeFire.

Technorati Tags: Maryland, Wicomico, politics, Wicomico politics, WCLCB, Liquor Control Board

Question of the Day, Thur 6/19

Habits are horrible!

If there was a habit of your own that you would love to break, what would it be?

Stella Awards

"Stella Awards"
For those unfamiliar with these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued McDonald's in New Mexico where she purchased the coffee. You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving. Here are the Stella's for the past year:

7TH PLACE: Kathleen Robertson of Austin, TX was awarded $80,000.00 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The store owners were understandably surprised by the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son.

6TH PLACE: Carl Truman, 19, of Los Angeles, CA won $74,000.00 plus medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hub caps.

5TH PLACE: Terrence Dickson, of Bristol, PA was leaving a house he had just burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Dickson, the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled it shut. Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT, days on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food, he sued the homeowner's insurance company claiming undue mental anguish. Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Dickson $500,000.00 for his anguish.

4TH PLACE: Jerry Williams, of Little Rock, AR garnered 4th Place in the Stella's when he was awarded $14,500.00 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. Williams did not get as much as he asked for because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite because Williams had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.

3RD PLACE: Third place goes to Amber Carson of Lancaster, PA. A jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500.00 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone. The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions?

2ND PLACE: Kara Walton, of Claymont, DE sued the owner of a night club in a nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth. Even though Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000.00.... oh, yeah, plus dental expenses.

1ST PLACE: Mrs. Merv Grazinski, of Oklahoma City, OK. Merv purchased a new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home from an OU football game, having driven onto the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, (are you sitting down?) $1,750,000.00 PLUS a new motor home! Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.

Are we, as a society, getting more stupid?!?!?!?!

Bubbanomics

99.5% of the time the Bridge will NOT be up. That's what Mr. Comegys continued to preach, yet I drive into the City all the time and I can assure you, 30% of the time I drive in their, this Bridge has been up.

So here's what I'm going to ask Folks to do. Whenever YOU are traveling through the Downtown area and you see the Bridge up, send us a photo of it and we'll Post it. Perhaps then Bubba will come to understand that his impression of the Bridge pretty much never rising again was a complete boat load of crap!

Assateague Is A Beautiful Place

Yesterday I took the liberty of getting out on the Assawoman Bay and enjoyed a very nice boat ride with a friend. While traveling past Assateague Island I captured these pictures and thought I'd share them with you.

SPD Police Reports

On June 13, 2008, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department received a call to meet with the victim of an assault at a residence on the three hundred block of Naylor Street. Upon arrival, the officers met with the victim who advised that she had been assaulted and threatened by a subject, listed below, that is known to her. The victim advised that the suspect entered her residence, without permission, and threatened her with a handgun. The suspect struck the victim with his hand then fired a shot from the handgun into the wall next to the victim. As a result, Salisbury Detectives have obtained warrants charging the suspect with attempted first degree murder and burglary.

On June 17, 2008, at approximately 11:34 pm, Officers responded to a residence on Franklin Street to attempt to locate the suspect. The officers were advised by the residents that the suspect had appeared at the residence and had made threats to burn the residence. The suspect then fled from the area. As a result of this threat, Salisbury Detectives obtained a warrant charging the suspect with threat of arson.

The suspect is described as:
Brinton Wellington Cox, 25 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
Black male, 5’-07”, 160 lbs., black hair, brown eyes
Last seen wearing a grey shirt and blue pants

If anyone has any information concerning these incidents, or the location of the suspect, they are asked to contact the Salisbury Police Department at 410-548-3165.

On June 17, 2008 at approximately 9:00 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect for an outstanding Parole Retake warrant issued by the Maryland Parole Commission.

ARRESTED: Harry James Johnson, 51 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Parole Retake warrant

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200800021212

On June 17, 2008 at approximately 7:15 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department received a call to respond to a residence on Alabama Avenue for the report of a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival the officers were advised that during a domestic type argument the below listed suspect destroyed a cable television box.

ARRESTED: John Donald Kline, 48 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Malicious destruction of property

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200800021278

Who Lied This Time Barrie or Pammie?

Apparently, someone provided Terry Cohen with the figure of $1500 being left in the Other Attorney account that could be transferred and used to pay Wilber to show up at the last Council meeting. Turns out, that was false information. So what else is new in Salisbury?

New Figure on Attorney Funding Obtained

At the June 9 council meeting adopting the FY09 budget, in response to an inquiry by Councilwoman Terry Cohen, a list of "other attorney" payments was provided at the table showing a balance of approximately $1,500 in that account that would be eligible for transfer by the mayor to pay for the city attorney's services.

However, in an email from City Administrator John Pick, dated June 12, the council was given a corrected balance figure of $6,000 from Director of Internal Services Pam Oland. The reason for the revised balance came as the result of Ms. Oland's review of the bond counsel's May bill. Ms. Oland stated, "...fees related to the reallocation of the 1999 bond should actually go to the water and sewer fund...."

This indicates that funds are available to pay for responsibly managed city attorney services through the end of this fiscal year. We hope this information answers questions received from constitutents.

http://www.onyoursidesby.blogspot.com/

OBAMA IS A POST TURTLE!

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old Texas rancher whose hand was caught in a gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Obama and his bid to be our President.

The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Obama is a 'post turtle'.'

Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a 'post turtle' was.

The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a 'post turtle'.

The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain. 'You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he is up there, and you just wonder what kind of a dumb ass put him up there.'

John Wade Is AWOL

Mr. John Wade was a no-show at last nights (Wednesday, June 18) Somerset County Board of Alcohol License Commissioners meeting in Princess Anne.

Police have been searching for this man since the Town Commissioner Election and questionable absentee ballots seemed to be signed by the same person.

Have you see this man? I was also informed there was a moving van at his alleged residence in Princess Anne two weekends ago.

No one on the Board of Alcohol License Commissioners was told he was not going to be present for their meeting last night.