DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, July 20, 2009
Obama Deception Movie
If you've got two hours to spare, watch this movie. I saved it for this evening so you have the time, perhaps.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO DEDICATE NEW WETIPQUIN BRIDGE
Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr. announced today that there will be a dedication ceremony marking the recent opening of the new Wetipquin Bridge on Wicomico County’s west side. The event is scheduled for July 28th at 1:30 P.M. at the bridge. The public is welcome. Mr. Pollitt commented, “I am very pleased that we have restored bridge service to this area. It is particularly meaningful in light of the severe cuts that are now in place for funding of our Roads operations.”
The new two-lane span opened to traffic on June 19th. The previous bridge, which was over 50 years old, was closed on June 15, 2008. The replacement cost was $2.1 Million with 80% funded by the federal government.
The new bridge has the same 6-foot navigational clearance at mean high water as did its predecessor. It is 238 feet long and 24 feet wide.
According to Acting Public Works Deputy Director Edwin L. Heatwole, P.E., the new construction was “not without its challenges. We were delayed by about 5 months because of the need for longer piles at selected locations. We are glad that the motorists in that part of the county once again have a bridge.”
Iraqis Restrict US Operations In Baghdad
BAGHDAD – The Iraqi military has turned down requests from American forces to move unescorted through Baghdad and conduct a raid since the transition of responsibility for urban security at the end of last month, an Iraqi military commander said Monday.
U.S. combat troops withdrew from urban areas on June 30 under a security agreement with Iraq that requires all U.S. troops to be out of the country by the end of 2011.
Col. Ali Fadhil, a brigade commander in Baghdad, said the transfer had occurred with minor friction in the capital where violence has dropped dramatically since the sectarian bloodletting and insurgent attacks that swept much of the country in past years.
Fadhil told The Associated Press about two occasions in which Iraqi troops turned down U.S. requests to move around the capital until they had Iraqi escorts, and one instance to conduct a raid, which the Iraqis carried out themselves.
GO HERE to read more.
U.S. combat troops withdrew from urban areas on June 30 under a security agreement with Iraq that requires all U.S. troops to be out of the country by the end of 2011.
Col. Ali Fadhil, a brigade commander in Baghdad, said the transfer had occurred with minor friction in the capital where violence has dropped dramatically since the sectarian bloodletting and insurgent attacks that swept much of the country in past years.
Fadhil told The Associated Press about two occasions in which Iraqi troops turned down U.S. requests to move around the capital until they had Iraqi escorts, and one instance to conduct a raid, which the Iraqis carried out themselves.
GO HERE to read more.
July Becomes Deadliest Month For US In Afghanistan
KABUL – Four Americans were killed Monday when a roadside bomb exploded in eastern Afghanistan, NATO said, making July the deadliest month for U.S. troops in this war.
A NATO statement did not give nationalities, but U.S. spokesman Lt. Robert Carr confirmed that all four were Americans. The deaths bring to 55 the number of international service members killed in July, also the deadliest month for NATO forces.
At least 30 U.S. troops have died this month — two more than the toll for June 2008, which had been the deadliest month for the American force in Afghanistan.
GO HERE to read more.
A NATO statement did not give nationalities, but U.S. spokesman Lt. Robert Carr confirmed that all four were Americans. The deaths bring to 55 the number of international service members killed in July, also the deadliest month for NATO forces.
At least 30 U.S. troops have died this month — two more than the toll for June 2008, which had been the deadliest month for the American force in Afghanistan.
GO HERE to read more.
Sony Bids $50 Million For Jackson Rehearsal Film
LOS ANGELES – Sony Corp.'s movie studio has bid $50 million to acquire the worldwide distribution rights to a film based on rehearsal footage for Michael Jackson's "This Is It" comeback concert series, according to a person familiar with the bid.
The person said Monday that the bid came after several studios, including Paramount, Universal, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., were shown footage starting early last week. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the bidding had not been completed.
The winning studio would produce the film with Jackson's concert promoter, AEG Live, and his estate.
It would go a long way to helping AEG Live recoup some of the $30 million to $32 million it spent producing the concert before Jackson died June 25.
GO HERE to read more.
Yeah, We Just Happened To Slip This 4x4 Vehicle In A Capsule, NOT!
You believers are kidding me, right????????
Michael Steele Calls Obama's Health Care "Socialism"
The chairman of the Republican Party on Monday called President Barack Obama's plan to overhaul health care "socialism," accusing the president of conducting a risky experiment that will hurt the economy and force millions to drop their current coverage.
GO HERE to read more from WBOC.
TEEN PEDESTRIAN KILLED IN DUI RELATED CRASH
(Keymar, MD) – A Frederick County man is in custody this morning charged with multiple criminal and traffic charges after he was involved in a crash last night that took the life of a Carroll County teenager.
The victim is identified as Katlynn E.Bossler, 15, of the 1100-block of Francis Scott Key Highway, Keymar, Md. Bossler was pronounced dead at the Carroll Hospital Center.
The accused is identified as Kevin P. Smith, 42, of the 11000-block of Whiskey Springs Road, Woodsboro, Md. After consultation with the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, troopers charged Smith with negligent manslaughter by automobile, negligent automobile homicide while under the influence, negligent homicide by automobile while impaired, driving a vehicle while under the influence, driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol per se, driving while impaired by alcohol, negligent driving, reckless driving, failure to obey a traffic control device, failure to exercise due care to avoid a pedestrian collision, and consuming an alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a highway.
At about 10:30 p.m. yesterday, Maryland state troopers from the Westminster Barracks and EMS units from the Taneytown Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash in the 1100-block of Francis Scott Key Highway, Keymar. Arriving troopers found that a 1992 Ford F-150 pickup driven by Smith had struck the victim and a vehicle parked along the shoulder of the roadway. The victim was provided emergency care and transported by ambulance to the Carroll Hospital Center where she was pronounced dead.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police CRASH Team responded and conducted the investigation. The preliminary investigation indicates Bossler was standing outside the driver’s side door of a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the roadway. That vehicle was a 1998 Chevrolet Prizm, driven by Jason R.Wadas, 16, of the 600-block of Whispering Meadows Court, Westminster. Also in the vehicle were three other teenagers aged 15 to 18 years. Wadas had stopped his vehicle on the far side of the northbound shoulder near Bossler’s residence. Bossler was talking with Wadas and the teens in the car.
The investigation indicates Smith was northbound on Francis Scott Key Highway (Rt. 194) when his truck left the roadway and traveled onto the shoulder. His truck struck the driver’s side door of the Chevrolet Prizm, where the victim was standing.
When troopers contacted Smith at the scene, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was detected. After further investigation, troopers arrested Smith at the scene for driving under the influence. Information regarding results of any tests that may have been administered is considered evidentiary and will not be released.
Smith was transported to the Westminster Barracks for processing. He was then taken to the Carroll County Central Booking Center for a bond hearing.
All four individuals in the Chevrolet Prizm were transported to the Carroll Hospital Center by the Taneytown Volunteer Fire Department. Their conditions are not known.
The investigation is continuing.
Nevada High Court To Weigh O.J. Simpson Appeal
He seeks release on bail while his team challenges robbery conviction
LAS VEGAS - Few in Nevada legal circles believe O.J. Simpson has any real chance at freedom when the state's Supreme Court justices consider letting him trade a prison cell in rural northern Nevada for a golf course in Miami while he appeals his conviction in a gunpoint hotel room heist.
What really has them abuzz is that Nevada's only appellate court agreed to schedule oral arguments Aug. 3 to hear Simpson's plea to be allowed to post bond.
"It's unusual. This is a situation where the Nevada Supreme Court might be accused of politics or being star-struck," said Michael Green, a state history author and professor at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. "But this is also a case where they'd want to make sure all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed."
GO HERE to read more.
Obama Approval Ratings Dip In New Poll
(July 20) -- Is the honeymoon over? Six months into his presidency, a new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows approval ratings for President Barack Obama's handling of health care, the economy and the budget deficit sliding.
As he starts a major push for health-care reform legislation, approval for Obama's handling of the issue dropped to 49 percent, down four points from a month ago.
Approval for his handling of the economy fell four points as well, to 52 percent, and his handling of the federal budget deficit was down five points to 43 percent.
GO HERE to read more.
Interesting Letter In The Australian Shooter Magazine This Week.
Quote: "If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops In the Iraq theater of operations during the past 22 months, and a total of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.
The firearm death rate in Washington , DC is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period. That means you are about 25 per cent more likely to be shot and killed in the US
capital, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the US , than you are in Iraq .
The firearm death rate in Washington , DC is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period. That means you are about 25 per cent more likely to be shot and killed in the US
capital, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the US , than you are in Iraq .
Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases
Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 10 July 2009
Location: 1500 block of S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Jeffery NMN Hudson, 36, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 17 July 2009 at 12:46 PM, a deputy from the Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into an assault that had occurred the previous week. During the investigation, the deputy met with a victim at Peninsula Regional Medical Center who was there recovering from injuries sustained in that assault. It was not until 17 July that the assailant was identified by the victim as a cohabitant which initiated the investigation by the Sheriff’s Office. The investigating deputy obtained a warrant for the cohabitant, Jeffery Hudson, that charged Hudson with First Degree Assault.
Hudson was located later that day and placed under arrest on the warrant. The deputy transported Hudson to the Central booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Hudson was detained in the Detention Center by the Commissioner without bond.
Charges:
Assault 1st Degree
Assault 2nd Degree
Reckless Endangerment
Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 18 July 2009
Location: 1800 block of Jersey Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Martha M. Fooks, 54, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 18 July 2009 at 7:49 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the 1800 block of Jersey Road for a reported altercation. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a male subject who advised he became involved in a verbal altercation with another resident, when that resident began scratching at the male subject’s face. It was also stated that this same subject then took a beer bottle and began striking the male subject’s truck with it, causing dents. While speaking with the male subject, the deputy observed signs of injury consistent with his account.
The deputy located the assailant, identified as Martha Fooks, and placed her under arrest. Fooks was transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Fooks was detained by the Commissioner in lieu of $10,000.00 bond.
Charges:
Assault
Malicious Destruction of Property
Incident: Violation of a Protective Order
Date of Incident: 18 July 2009
Location: 4000 block of Joseph Drive, Fruitland, MD
Suspect: Bradley M. Alexander, 22, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 18 July 2009 at 11:21 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to investigate the violation of a protective order that allegedly occurred at a residence in the 4000 block of Joseph Drive in Fruitland. Upon arrival, the deputy met with the resident who informed the deputy that Bradley Alexander had come to the residence and knocked on the front door between 08:30 AM and 9:00 AM in an attempt to get the resident to open the door. There is an order in place issued by the District Court that bars Alexander from the property where he was at. During the investigation of this incident, the deputy located Alexander across the street from where this incident took place.
The deputy arrested Alexander for the Violation of the Protective Order and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Alexander was detained by the Commissioner in the Detention Center in lieu of $5,000.00 bond.
Charges: Violation of a Protective Order
Incident: Possession of Marijuana
Date of Incident: 17 July 2009
Location: Forest Grove Road at Longridge Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: James F. Taylor, 33, Parsonsburg, MD
Narrative: On 17 July 2009 at 5:19 PM, Sheriff Mike Lewis stopped a vehicle on Longridge Road in the area of Forest Grove Road. Upon making contact with the operator, James Taylor, Sheriff Lewis discovered that Taylor’s privilege to drive a vehicle in Maryland had been revoked. The Sheriff also discovered that Taylor had concealed an ounce of marijuana underneath the passenger seat of Taylor’s vehicle. Also found in Taylor’s vehicle was a metal smoking device that still contained the residue of burnt marijuana.
Taylor was placed under arrest and transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Taylor on Personal Recognizance.
Charges:
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Office Space Still Available At 300 W. Main Street
If you're looking for a place to get away from a home office or looking to downsize, 300 W. Main Street is at the end of the Downtown Plaza. Share the first floor with other business professionals already renting offices. If you're looking for exposure we still have two window offices as well as interior offices. There's a small kitchen and additional space on the 2nd & 3rd floor.
Contact me at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or call me at 410-430-5349 for rates.
State Police Clear Pharmacy Robberies
Dates, times and locations:
May 19, 2009, 6:20 P.M., Walgreens 1323 McKennens Church Road, Wilmington, Delaware
June 18, 2009, 5:04 P.M., Walgreens 4575 New Linden Hill Road, Wilmington, Delaware
July 5, 2009, 5:17 P.M., Rite Aid 17 Polly Drummond Hill Road, Newark, Delaware
July 8, 2009, 2:05 P.M. Rite Aid 1602 Capitol Trail Kirkwood Hwy, Newark, Delaware
July 18, 2009, 4:44 P.M. Parking Lot of Shoppes of Linden Hill in front of Bank Shots, 4573 New Linden Hill Road, Wilmington, Delaware
Def:
Thomas Bacon-29
2600 block of Stephenson Drive
Wilmington, Delaware
Charge Summary:
5 counts of Robbery 1st degree
Robbery Incident Summary:
May 19, 2009 Thomas Bacon entered the Happy Harry’s on McKennens Church Road and contacted store employees. Bacon told the employees he was armed with a knife and gun. Bacon demanded Oxycontin and fled the scene upon obtaining an undisclosed quantity of prescription medication.
June 18, 2009 Bacon entered the Happy Harry’s on New Linden Hill Road and contacted store employees. Bacon told the employees he was armed with a knife and gun. Bacon demanded Oxycontin and fled the scene upon obtaining an undisclosed quantity of prescription medication.
July 5, 2009 Bacon entered the Rite Aid on Polly Drummond Hill Road and handed a note to a Rite Aid employee. The note demanded prescription medication Oxycontin. The note also implied Bacon was armed with a knife and gun. Bacon fled from the establishment after obtaining the Oxycontin.
July 8, 2009 Bacon entered the Rite Aid on Capitol Trail Kirkwood Hwy, Newark handed an employee a demand note for Oxycontin implying he was armed with a gun. Bacon in this incident was displaying a knife. Bacon for an unknown reason fled the establishment without obtaining any prescription medication.
July 18, 2009 On this date Bacon approached two 24 year old males sitting in a car in the parking lot of Bank Shots located at 4573 New Linden Hill Road Wilmington, Delaware. Bacon displayed a knife than held it to the neck of the victim seated in the front passenger seat. Bacon demanded valuables from the both the victims. Bacon obtained prescription medication and an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the area.
Witnesses to the robbery helped identify Thomas Bacon as the suspect involved in the robbery. Delaware State Police responded to Bacon’s residence in the 2600 block of Stephenson Drive Wilmington and took him into custody without further incident.
State Police through surveillance footage and additional leads were able to link Bacon to the four previously mentioned robberies involving the theft of prescription medication.
Bacon was charged with the above listed offense and remanded to Gander Hill Prison in lieu of being able to post $150,000 bond.
On Shearing Sheep
Obama’s economic plans are relentlessly hostile to small business.
by Victor Davis Hanson
National Review Online
You don’t produce wool by skinning the sheep. But that seems to be the present strategy to get small businesses to begin hiring, buying, and expanding.
There is apparent surprise among Obamians that unemployment has soared the last six months. The much-anticipated stimulus sputtered, and there is a sense of bewilderment in the administration about why joblessness and economic growth are stagnant after the government injected trillions of dollars into the system.
Perhaps the Obama administration needs to remember the psychology of business. After the shock of the September meltdowns, the natural reaction of anyone whose livelihood relied directly on markets was to conserve, pull in one’s horns, and ride out the mess. To restart the paralyzed economy called not just for printing money, but also for words of encouragement to businesses that their assets would be safe, interest rates would be stable, and their work would lead to greater profits.
Instead, exactly the opposite message was sent in a time of crisis. Take first the “spread the wealth” rhetoric. The impression created in the last half-year is that business is culpable for the new mess, while unions and the general public are victims who need relief from the greedy.
Everyone is angry at the Masters of the Universe on Wall Street, but under Obama ironies abound: Banks and investment houses, whose recklessness largely caused this problem, have been lumped in with the small-business person as the kindred “wealthy” who make over $200,000 a year. The family dentist, neighborhood contractor, and owner of the local insurance firm feel neither wealthy nor culpable in the fashion of AIG or Lehman Brothers. If one wishes to stimulate the economy, it makes no sense to conflate productive small businesses with financial-sector zillionaires as enemies of the people.
Team Obama also talks of taxation as if it was slicing salami — a little slice here for new FICA taxes on income above $250,000 (or is it $200,000 or is it $150,000?), another little piece cut off for new income-tax rates of about 40 percent, an additional chop for a surcharge for health care, and then let the poor states have a go with more whacks for increased sales and income taxes. The result is that though each slice may seem tiny in itself, in the aggregate there is not much salami left. Paying out 50 percent of one’s income in taxes may not be socialism, but paying out 70 percent surely is.
For the wheat farmer, electrical contractor, and 20-person law firm, the strategic calculus now goes something like this: “I think I just lost about 20 percent of next year’s income to pay for more income, health-care, state, sales, and payroll taxes, so I won’t be buying that tractor, doing any more Saturday jobs, or hiring that new litigator.” Worse still, many may add, “I will begin reducing or hiding income, avoiding taxes, and dealing in barter to save my business — rather than paying for vast new dubious entitlements for someone else.” These reactions may be unfounded, even wrong, but they are based on logical conclusions nonetheless, considering the promiscuous rhetoric of taxation that emanates daily from the Democratic Congress and the White House.
Worse still, businesses see long trends ahead that in their reckoning are disturbing. They realize that even though they will soon be paying whopping new taxes, these contributions will neither balance the budget (given the new spending) nor win them any psychosocial satisfaction from “paying their fair share.”
More likely, the president will continue to demonize businesspeople, as if their compliance in paying new taxes is proof that such new taxes were long overdue — and evidence of their ability to pay even more. Remember, impressions, not just reality, are important right now in giving businesses the confidence to once again take risks.
Nor is there any certainty about investment and interest rates. How does one borrow or lend when there is no indication how a $2 trillion deficit, and another $9 trillion in proposed debt, are to be serviced? Will it be by inflation, more taxes still, higher interest rates — or all three? Why would a bank this year lend at 4.8 percent for 30 years when it suspects it may be forced to pay 10 percent on passbook accounts in the near future?
And when small businesses turn to vent their grievances to government, they see almost no one who has ever met a payroll, hired new employees, or purchased equipment. Instead there are plenty of Ivy League technocrats, whose past worlds involve economic theorizing, tenure, lifetime job security, and much experience in regulating productive others.
Had Barack Obama run a Chicago law firm, or had Timothy Geithner created a software company, perhaps they would have some understanding of all the psychological impulses that determine whether businesses gamble or freeze up. It does not help to suggest that those who make above $250,000 are somehow self-indulgent — while our populist first couple flies in cooks, serves $100-a-pound beef, wears $400 tennis shoes, and seems to enjoy the life of the rich and famous as much as they deplore it in others — especially given the past tax hypocrisy of Geithner, Daschle, Solis, and others. We are a long way from the lives of Harry and Bess Truman.
Nor does government accept any blame. One could argue that our Barney Franks and Chris Dodds were as culpable for the Fannie/Freddie meltdown as any Wall Streeter, and, in matters of probity and ethics, as lax — given their compromised positions as simultaneous regulators and donation recipients. Instead, they almost seem to think that if they blame others for the crises, we will forget their culpability. The message is again clear to business: “You made the mistakes; we, the morally superior beings, are here to put you back on the right path — and if you don’t like it, we are the only game in town.”
Then there are all the other random business-bashing efforts. Americans were shocked by the AIG bonuses, but to deny them would have involved potentially violating the workers’ contracts. In the bailout, GM’s creditors soon discovered that traditional rules of risk and exposure did not matter, because the government deemed some creditors more morally worthy than others.
Add in new regulations about charitable donations, and again the message is clear: “You need to be taxed more, regulated more, and preached to.” At no point did the Obama administration warn the American people that they must not spend more on their credit cards than they can pay back, take out mortgages for more house than they can afford, or spend on extraneous things rather than save for essentials like catastrophic health insurance.
The imagery was instead that 280 million Americans had been cheated by banks, gouged by credit-card companies, neglected by government, and held at the mercy of business — innocent children unable to think or act on their own behalf. That demagoguery may win elections, but it turns off businesses and persuades them to sit out the next few years in puzzlement over what the new landscape and rules will be.
So the proper question is not why is unemployment rising, growth stagnant, and the future uncertain — but rather why shouldn’t all this be true, with worse still to come?
by Victor Davis Hanson
National Review Online
You don’t produce wool by skinning the sheep. But that seems to be the present strategy to get small businesses to begin hiring, buying, and expanding.
There is apparent surprise among Obamians that unemployment has soared the last six months. The much-anticipated stimulus sputtered, and there is a sense of bewilderment in the administration about why joblessness and economic growth are stagnant after the government injected trillions of dollars into the system.
Perhaps the Obama administration needs to remember the psychology of business. After the shock of the September meltdowns, the natural reaction of anyone whose livelihood relied directly on markets was to conserve, pull in one’s horns, and ride out the mess. To restart the paralyzed economy called not just for printing money, but also for words of encouragement to businesses that their assets would be safe, interest rates would be stable, and their work would lead to greater profits.
Instead, exactly the opposite message was sent in a time of crisis. Take first the “spread the wealth” rhetoric. The impression created in the last half-year is that business is culpable for the new mess, while unions and the general public are victims who need relief from the greedy.
Everyone is angry at the Masters of the Universe on Wall Street, but under Obama ironies abound: Banks and investment houses, whose recklessness largely caused this problem, have been lumped in with the small-business person as the kindred “wealthy” who make over $200,000 a year. The family dentist, neighborhood contractor, and owner of the local insurance firm feel neither wealthy nor culpable in the fashion of AIG or Lehman Brothers. If one wishes to stimulate the economy, it makes no sense to conflate productive small businesses with financial-sector zillionaires as enemies of the people.
Team Obama also talks of taxation as if it was slicing salami — a little slice here for new FICA taxes on income above $250,000 (or is it $200,000 or is it $150,000?), another little piece cut off for new income-tax rates of about 40 percent, an additional chop for a surcharge for health care, and then let the poor states have a go with more whacks for increased sales and income taxes. The result is that though each slice may seem tiny in itself, in the aggregate there is not much salami left. Paying out 50 percent of one’s income in taxes may not be socialism, but paying out 70 percent surely is.
For the wheat farmer, electrical contractor, and 20-person law firm, the strategic calculus now goes something like this: “I think I just lost about 20 percent of next year’s income to pay for more income, health-care, state, sales, and payroll taxes, so I won’t be buying that tractor, doing any more Saturday jobs, or hiring that new litigator.” Worse still, many may add, “I will begin reducing or hiding income, avoiding taxes, and dealing in barter to save my business — rather than paying for vast new dubious entitlements for someone else.” These reactions may be unfounded, even wrong, but they are based on logical conclusions nonetheless, considering the promiscuous rhetoric of taxation that emanates daily from the Democratic Congress and the White House.
Worse still, businesses see long trends ahead that in their reckoning are disturbing. They realize that even though they will soon be paying whopping new taxes, these contributions will neither balance the budget (given the new spending) nor win them any psychosocial satisfaction from “paying their fair share.”
More likely, the president will continue to demonize businesspeople, as if their compliance in paying new taxes is proof that such new taxes were long overdue — and evidence of their ability to pay even more. Remember, impressions, not just reality, are important right now in giving businesses the confidence to once again take risks.
Nor is there any certainty about investment and interest rates. How does one borrow or lend when there is no indication how a $2 trillion deficit, and another $9 trillion in proposed debt, are to be serviced? Will it be by inflation, more taxes still, higher interest rates — or all three? Why would a bank this year lend at 4.8 percent for 30 years when it suspects it may be forced to pay 10 percent on passbook accounts in the near future?
And when small businesses turn to vent their grievances to government, they see almost no one who has ever met a payroll, hired new employees, or purchased equipment. Instead there are plenty of Ivy League technocrats, whose past worlds involve economic theorizing, tenure, lifetime job security, and much experience in regulating productive others.
Had Barack Obama run a Chicago law firm, or had Timothy Geithner created a software company, perhaps they would have some understanding of all the psychological impulses that determine whether businesses gamble or freeze up. It does not help to suggest that those who make above $250,000 are somehow self-indulgent — while our populist first couple flies in cooks, serves $100-a-pound beef, wears $400 tennis shoes, and seems to enjoy the life of the rich and famous as much as they deplore it in others — especially given the past tax hypocrisy of Geithner, Daschle, Solis, and others. We are a long way from the lives of Harry and Bess Truman.
Nor does government accept any blame. One could argue that our Barney Franks and Chris Dodds were as culpable for the Fannie/Freddie meltdown as any Wall Streeter, and, in matters of probity and ethics, as lax — given their compromised positions as simultaneous regulators and donation recipients. Instead, they almost seem to think that if they blame others for the crises, we will forget their culpability. The message is again clear to business: “You made the mistakes; we, the morally superior beings, are here to put you back on the right path — and if you don’t like it, we are the only game in town.”
Then there are all the other random business-bashing efforts. Americans were shocked by the AIG bonuses, but to deny them would have involved potentially violating the workers’ contracts. In the bailout, GM’s creditors soon discovered that traditional rules of risk and exposure did not matter, because the government deemed some creditors more morally worthy than others.
Add in new regulations about charitable donations, and again the message is clear: “You need to be taxed more, regulated more, and preached to.” At no point did the Obama administration warn the American people that they must not spend more on their credit cards than they can pay back, take out mortgages for more house than they can afford, or spend on extraneous things rather than save for essentials like catastrophic health insurance.
The imagery was instead that 280 million Americans had been cheated by banks, gouged by credit-card companies, neglected by government, and held at the mercy of business — innocent children unable to think or act on their own behalf. That demagoguery may win elections, but it turns off businesses and persuades them to sit out the next few years in puzzlement over what the new landscape and rules will be.
So the proper question is not why is unemployment rising, growth stagnant, and the future uncertain — but rather why shouldn’t all this be true, with worse still to come?
CHANGE IN MEETING LOCATION
The Salisbury City Council work session scheduled for today (July 20, 2009) at 4:30 p.m. has been moved from Conference Room 306.
The work session will be held in Council Chambers (Room 301) of the Government Office Building (125 N. Division Street).
Salisbury Police Department Press Releases
On July 15, 2009 at approximately 12:05 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to a commercial parking lot at Rt. 50 and Tilghman Road for the report of CDS activity in a vehicle. Upon arrival the officers located the suspect vehicle, which was occupied by below listed suspects # 1 (passenger) and # 2 (driver). Upon approaching the vehicle, the officers observed CDS paraphernalia in possession of the suspects. A witness reported observing the suspects consume CDS while in the vehicle. The officers checked the vehicle and located syringes and related paraphernalia containing suspected oxicodine, a number of oxicodine tablets, suspected methadone, suspected Zanex and suspected Roxicodone. During this investigation, the Salisbury Officers were assisted by Deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office.
ARRESTED #1: Lane Cameron Brittingham, 18 years of age Willards, Maryland
ARRESTED #2: Juvenile, 17 years of age Pittsville, Maryland
CHARGES (both):
Possession of oxicodine for distribution
Possession of oxicodine
Possession of Roxicodone
Possession of morphine
Possession of Zanax
Possession of CDS/paraphernalia (7 counts)
DISPOSITION:
Suspect # 1 released to Central Booking
Suspect # 2 released to parent
CC # 200900024818
On July 16, 2009 at approximately 5:02 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Walmart Department Store for the report of a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officers met with store security who advised that employees of the store had observed the below listed suspect take property from the store without making payment. The property was recovered and returned to the store.
ARRESTED: Clarissa Necole Custis, 37 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Theft (under $ 500)
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 200900024975
On July 16, 2009 at approximately 11:35, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding warrant for an assault that occurred on July 13. On that date the suspect became involved in an altercation with a victim in the parking lot of an apartment complex and entered a vehicle. The suspect threatened the victim then drove the vehicle and struck the victim in the area of the leg. The victim was not seriously injured.
ARRESTED: Hang On Cheng, 45 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES:
Second degree assault
Trespassing
Failure to remain at the scene of an accident
Assorted motor vehicle charges related to leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with an injury
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 200900025015
Paula Abdul To Leave American Idol, Do You Care?
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40 Years Of Marriage
A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant.
Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table. She said, 'For being such an exemplary married couple and for being loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.' The wife answered, 'Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband.' The fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - two tickets for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands.
The husband thought for a moment: 'Well, this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this will never come again.
I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me..' The wife, and the fairy, were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish.
So the fairy waved her magic wand and poof!....the husband became 92 years old.
The moral of this story: Men who are ungrateful bastards should remember fairies are female :)))
Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table. She said, 'For being such an exemplary married couple and for being loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.' The wife answered, 'Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband.' The fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - two tickets for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands.
The husband thought for a moment: 'Well, this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this will never come again.
I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me..' The wife, and the fairy, were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish.
So the fairy waved her magic wand and poof!....the husband became 92 years old.
The moral of this story: Men who are ungrateful bastards should remember fairies are female :)))
A Brooke Mulford Update
The Mulford’s are back and Brooke is HOME! Brooke arrived home to Salisbury Tuesday night July 14th around 8PM after being at CHOP for 26 days. Of course we were only home for around an hour and 20 minutes before we were back in the ER at PRMC. Brooke was sitting at the kitchen table eating a snack before bed and slipped out of the chair and landed directly on her head. Since she had low platelet counts we had to go right to the ER. She had a very big bump and had to have a CT scan and blood work done. This was to make sure of no internal bleeding or a fracture. We arrived back at home around 3:30AM. Everything came out negative and after being already drained we would try to get some sleep and Thank God that she was ok and that she could come home.
I must apologize to everyone for no updates for such a long time, but with Mulford good fortunes there was a mishap right before Brooke’s Transplant. I came home Wednesday night before I was to leave early Thursday morning June 25th the day before Brooke’s Transplant to find our living room ceiling laying on the floor. Our HVAC unit’s drip pan in the attic had overflowed, the same unit that was installed the end of January of this year. Mind you that Brooke was due to come home in a couple of weeks to a sterile house, let alone now one that had to have a lot of work done to it and totally cleaned. After leaving late Thursday night and making it on time to Transplant and spending a couple of days I came come and spent the next 16 days working on the house most nights till 2 or 3AM. There was no time to sit down in front of a computer. All the while not telling Amy what had happened so she would not worry and take care of the most important job of all, taking care of Brooke. I think this about sums up the past few weeks. There are many people to thank on this matter, but I will do another entry for that. The most important thing is that Brooke was not at home on the couch when this occurred and it happened at a time when there was still time to fix things.
The most thankful of all Brooke is again home with us. During this stay Brooke received her 7th Round of Chemo for 6 days and her Stem Cell Transplant. She then had another 14 days of recovery which were very rough. She basically had zero counts across the board, was on an IV protein diet and developed Mucositis. Mucositis is very painful and causes severe mouth sores and sores inside the digestive track and causes a lot of mucus and blood to be thrown up. Brooke also developed a severe rash to one of the medications she was taking and wanted to scratch herself raw. It took awhile to narrow down what she was allergic to. For the most part Brooke did well and the doctors are happy. We have to take many precautions between now and the next Transplant which Brooke will have to be back at CHOP on August 13th to basically do the same thing again. The only thing different will be the Chemo drugs she receives for the 8th round, they will be even stronger than the Chemo drugs she received this time. Then there will be strict precautions all the way to next April. It will take Brooke’s immune system a very long time to recover. Along the way she will also receive Radiation Treatment and Antibody treatments. We will be very scared every time we have to leave the house, especially for our once a week trips to CHOP. This will especially be nerve racking during the Winter months with cold and flu season. For those of you who do not know by killing off her bone marrow and having it re-grow itself with the new Stem Cells all the vaccinations she had are now nil and void. That is why outside contact is so strict and almost prohibited with other children and absolutely no contact with any children under 3 years of age.
There is so much to still go over, but it is again late and I need to be up early to return to Salisbury from Amy’s Moms house in New Jersey. I will thru the course of the week enter entries to give results of tests and things that transpired during her 26 days. There is a big Fund Raiser at Market Street tomorrow for Chuck Campbell to help with a Double Lung Transplant. So many people have been there for Brooke and our family and life still goes on and if Market Street Inn can help people; then that is what I now feel why God has blessed us with the success of Market Street. I always said, “I wanted a restaurant that was deeply rooted in the community that I was a part of.” Before I wanted a restaurant now I want that restaurant to help! We all truly believe that the prayers and support from everyone in the world has been just as important as any procedures or medicines Brooke has received in her course of treatment. You have to have hope, believe in miracles and trust your faith in order to concur the most obscure things thrown at you in the path we call life. With all of that combined and the power of prayer anything is truly possible. Brooke has come a long way and there still is a long way to go, so take nothing for granted and continue to pray for her as hard as you ever have.
PS. Brooke would like to say Congratulations to her Aunt Alisyn and her new Uncle Anthony “Nino” on their Wedding Day and is so happy Mommy could be there to be a part of it!
Can Downtown Salisbury Come Alive Again?
Last Friday night many gathered with Mayor Ireton in a group to walks the entire Downtown Main Street strip to visit each and every business owner to support their businesses.
I had asked the Mayor if he had ever visited one of the small restaurants inside the building in the first picture and he had no idea there was a restaurant in there. Once he glanced at the menu the first thing out of his mouth was, we're coming back here next week for lunch.
When we visited Kuhn's they were so excited to see so many in the store at one time. I had parked behind Parker Place and when we reached the east end of Downtown I excused myself to get back to Parker Place to make sure I visited Dot Truitt and see what the kids had done craft wise. The young lady pictured above had hand crafted those figures out of clay and the detail was just unbelievable.
While I was walking back to my car I had run into two people who had said they had never seen so many people Downtown. Our group was certainly not the only group of people visiting and shopping. Flavors was absolutely packed both in the restaurant and the bar areas.
The Mayor talked about possibly having a band outside the Chamber of Commerce, (should they be willing) the next time they do this. Our group hung out there for three hours visiting and getting to know the shop owners and staff and I truly look forward to the next time they hold this event.
Wicomico School System Hosts 2nd Annual School Readiness Fair Friday, July 31
Families with children ages 0-5 can learn more about early childhood education and expectations July 31 at the 2nd Annual School Readiness Fair, put on by the Wicomico County Public Schools.
The School Readiness Fair, a cooperative effort by the Wicomico County Board of Education and the Judy Center Partnership, will take place from 4-7 p.m. Friday, July 31, at Pemberton Elementary. This free event for young children and their families will showcase the many aspects of early childhood education and services available in the community, and will help parents and guardians ensure that their child is ready to get a good start on school.
"You can't wait anymore for children to enter prekindergarten or kindergarten to begin the schooling process. Preparation for school and life must begin early, and parents and other caregivers have to help children to have all the information they need to ensure a successful beginning," said Sandra Drummond, supervisor of early childhood programs.
Children will have the opportunity to meet Buster the School Bus, who will guide them through the basics of school bus safety. They'll also get to board a school bus and talk with the driver. Inside the School Readiness Fair, they'll be able to meet principals and assistant principals from Wicomico elementary schools, and pick up free learning materials to take home.
Parents will be able to visit tables with information on child care centers, child care providers, the Lower Shore Child Care Resource Center, Head Start, the Judy Center (serving children in the Beaver Run and Pemberton school districts), Wicomico County Library and the Wicomico County Health Department, which will have information on programs and immunizations.
Families who have not registered for prekindergarten or kindergarten will have the chance to do so. Door prizes, dinner, crafts will also be provided. Participants in this year's fair will be treated to a performance by the school system's band, the Edge-ucators, featuring Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen and other school system employees.
Community agencies that would like to participate in the event should contact Sandra Drummond to register at 410-677-4580. To ensure that materials are in adequate supply, families wishing to attend the event should also contact Drummond at this number to sign up.
The School Readiness Fair, a cooperative effort by the Wicomico County Board of Education and the Judy Center Partnership, will take place from 4-7 p.m. Friday, July 31, at Pemberton Elementary. This free event for young children and their families will showcase the many aspects of early childhood education and services available in the community, and will help parents and guardians ensure that their child is ready to get a good start on school.
"You can't wait anymore for children to enter prekindergarten or kindergarten to begin the schooling process. Preparation for school and life must begin early, and parents and other caregivers have to help children to have all the information they need to ensure a successful beginning," said Sandra Drummond, supervisor of early childhood programs.
Children will have the opportunity to meet Buster the School Bus, who will guide them through the basics of school bus safety. They'll also get to board a school bus and talk with the driver. Inside the School Readiness Fair, they'll be able to meet principals and assistant principals from Wicomico elementary schools, and pick up free learning materials to take home.
Parents will be able to visit tables with information on child care centers, child care providers, the Lower Shore Child Care Resource Center, Head Start, the Judy Center (serving children in the Beaver Run and Pemberton school districts), Wicomico County Library and the Wicomico County Health Department, which will have information on programs and immunizations.
Families who have not registered for prekindergarten or kindergarten will have the chance to do so. Door prizes, dinner, crafts will also be provided. Participants in this year's fair will be treated to a performance by the school system's band, the Edge-ucators, featuring Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen and other school system employees.
Community agencies that would like to participate in the event should contact Sandra Drummond to register at 410-677-4580. To ensure that materials are in adequate supply, families wishing to attend the event should also contact Drummond at this number to sign up.
Who Is Guilty Of Treason?
A quote from this article:
"There is no higher authority for a U.S. Naval Commander than the superior office of Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces, the President of the Unites States. Yet, LCDR Fitzpatrick has publicly and formally charged President Barack Hussein Obama with the high crime of treason in a federal complaint filed with James R. Dedrick U.S.
Attorney, Eastern District Tennessee, and Edgar Schmutzer, Dedrick's Assistant U.S. Attorney on March 17, 2009.
In doing so, LCDR Fitzpatrick opened himself up to the very serious charge of mutiny, a crime which requires Court Martial and carries the penalty of death."
http://www.michnews.com/JB_Williams/jbw61709.shtml
A quote from this article:
"In my last column I point out the simple fact that one of two things is definitely true... Either Mr. Obama is indeed guilty of "treason" as the Commander has charged; (or) the good Commander in guilty of mutiny solely on the basis of accusing a sitting Commander-in-Chief with the high crime of "treason."
However, in order to be guilty of mutiny, Commander Fitzpatrick's charges would have to be proven false. In order to be proven false, Obama's secret files would have to be opened up for discovery, which explains why Obama has not charged the Commander with mutiny. Any
defensive legal action on Obama's part will result in "discovery" of the events and facts involved, and that is the last thing Obama wants at this point...
So instead of a legal defense, every effort will be made to defeat Commander Fitzpatrick in the court of public opinion, by attacking his character, a standard operating procedure of the left. Unlike a court of law, in the court of public opinion, judgments are made on the basis of the most "popular" propaganda, without any regard for truth or facts.
http://www.michnews.com/JB_Williams/jbw61709b.shtml
"There is no higher authority for a U.S. Naval Commander than the superior office of Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces, the President of the Unites States. Yet, LCDR Fitzpatrick has publicly and formally charged President Barack Hussein Obama with the high crime of treason in a federal complaint filed with James R. Dedrick U.S.
Attorney, Eastern District Tennessee, and Edgar Schmutzer, Dedrick's Assistant U.S. Attorney on March 17, 2009.
In doing so, LCDR Fitzpatrick opened himself up to the very serious charge of mutiny, a crime which requires Court Martial and carries the penalty of death."
http://www.michnews.com/JB_Williams/jbw61709.shtml
A quote from this article:
"In my last column I point out the simple fact that one of two things is definitely true... Either Mr. Obama is indeed guilty of "treason" as the Commander has charged; (or) the good Commander in guilty of mutiny solely on the basis of accusing a sitting Commander-in-Chief with the high crime of "treason."
However, in order to be guilty of mutiny, Commander Fitzpatrick's charges would have to be proven false. In order to be proven false, Obama's secret files would have to be opened up for discovery, which explains why Obama has not charged the Commander with mutiny. Any
defensive legal action on Obama's part will result in "discovery" of the events and facts involved, and that is the last thing Obama wants at this point...
So instead of a legal defense, every effort will be made to defeat Commander Fitzpatrick in the court of public opinion, by attacking his character, a standard operating procedure of the left. Unlike a court of law, in the court of public opinion, judgments are made on the basis of the most "popular" propaganda, without any regard for truth or facts.
http://www.michnews.com/JB_Williams/jbw61709b.shtml
Today's Wildlife Photos
Joe,
I am visiting North Carolina and this is just about a block away from my sister's in a densely populated area. There is no deer fear here.
The second one is in the park behind her house. You may post them for the wildlife photo if you would like.
Photos taken by Jane Jordan
More Tagging In Salisbury
A new trailer arrived at Lowe's and once again it didn't take any time at all for it to get tagged. It seems to be a popular thing and perhaps the next time Lowe's should contact the SPD to let them know a new trailer is coming in and they can set up and wait for someone to come along and tag it. Oh, what do I know, right? I mean, this happens every single time a newer trailer shows up for appliances and I see a patters but I'm no detective, so I should keep it to myself, right? It's only been going on every single time they get one for the past two or three years.
Interior Halts Uranium Mining At Grand Canyon
WASHINGTON - Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will announce Monday that his department is temporarily barring the filing of new uranium mining claims on about 1 million acres near the Grand Canyon, an Obama administration official said.
The land is being "segregated" for two years so that the department can study whether it should be permanently withdrawn from mining activity, said the official, who requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The announcement comes ahead of Tuesday's congressional hearing on a bill to set aside more than 1 million acres of federal lands north and south of the canyon. The bill's sponsor, Democratic U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, and environmental groups had been looking to Salazar for temporary protections at the Grand Canyon while the legislation is pending.
GO HERE to read more.
Lungs For Chuck & Market Street Inn
On Sunday the Market Street Inn donated 50% of their business to the Lungs for Chuck Campaign. They had all kinds of raffle items, including the Mercedes above and a Townhouse in Florida. We'd like to thank so many of you for showing up and giving your support for this very worthy cause.
A Business Worth Mentioning
This service shop on Northwood Drive is offering Oil Changes for $19.99, something you don't see very often any more. Stop in and give them some business. My guess is, it's hardly worth doing it yourself if someone is willing to change your oil for less than $20.00.
Pocomoke River Canoe Company
Hi Joe,
Just wanted to pass along a tip about a great place to go in the area. The Pocomoke River Canoe Company is located right near the drawbridge on the river in Snow Hill. They rent kayaks and canoes and also have several places they can drop you off. My favorite trip is to put in at Porters Crossing and paddle 5.5 miles down river back to Snow Hill. Beautiful scenery, great fishing and wonderful people make this an exceptional day trip. The employees at the Canoe Company will load your boats for you, make sure you know exactly where to go and are super nice. If you have your own canoe or kayak its $10.00 for the drop off, if you need to rent it's $40.00 for the rental and the ride. Considering you can fit two adults and several children in a canoe, this is a pretty reasonable family outing. You can see turtles, birds and assorted other wildlife, get some sun and see some of the best scenery DelMarVa has to offer. Just wanted to let you know!
Wiener Mobile Crashes Into House
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Checkers Still Packing Them In
I passed Checkers this weekend and the line was six cars deep to get food. It looks like they'll do well in Salisbury.
New Health Care
FINALLY...THE $50,000 QUESTION WAS ASKED !!!!!.....
YESTERDAY ON THE "ABC, BETTER KNOWN AS THE ALL BARRACK CHANNEL, THE OBAMA SPECIAL ON HEALTH CARE"......OBAMA WAS ASKED
"MR. PRESIDENT WILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GIVE UP YOUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROGRAM AND JOIN THE NEW "UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM" THAT THE REST OF US WILL BE ON ????.....
OBAMA IGNORED THE QUESTION AND DIDN'T ANSWER IT !!!...A NUMBER OF SENATORS WERE ASKED T HE SAME QUESTION AND THERE RESPONSE WAS...WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT !!!! AND THEY DID.
IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY ON THE NEWS THAT THE "KENNEDY HEALTH CARE BILL"... HAS WRITTEN INTO IT THAT CONGRESS WILL BE EXEMPT (FROM THIS GREAT HEALTH CARE PLAN)..
HOW ABOUT THOSE APPLES...NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR OBAMA OR CONGRESS.. BUT "OK" FOR THE REST OF US ????????
YESTERDAY ON THE "ABC, BETTER KNOWN AS THE ALL BARRACK CHANNEL, THE OBAMA SPECIAL ON HEALTH CARE"......OBAMA WAS ASKED
"MR. PRESIDENT WILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GIVE UP YOUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE PROGRAM AND JOIN THE NEW "UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM" THAT THE REST OF US WILL BE ON ????.....
OBAMA IGNORED THE QUESTION AND DIDN'T ANSWER IT !!!...A NUMBER OF SENATORS WERE ASKED T HE SAME QUESTION AND THERE RESPONSE WAS...WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT !!!! AND THEY DID.
IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY ON THE NEWS THAT THE "KENNEDY HEALTH CARE BILL"... HAS WRITTEN INTO IT THAT CONGRESS WILL BE EXEMPT (FROM THIS GREAT HEALTH CARE PLAN)..
HOW ABOUT THOSE APPLES...NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR OBAMA OR CONGRESS.. BUT "OK" FOR THE REST OF US ????????
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