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Sunday, September 06, 2009

White House Shifts On Public Health Care Option


With officials’ latest comments, bottom line remains unclear

WASHINGTON
- The Obama administration's bottom line on a government health insurance option blurred Sunday as White House officials stressed support but stopped of short of calling it a must-have part of an overhaul.

As President Barack Obama prepares for a Wednesday night speech to Congress in a risky bid to salvage his top domestic priority, no other issue is so highly charged. Obama's liberal supporters consider the proposal for a public plan to compete with private insurers do-or-die. Republicans say it's unacceptable. It's doubtful the public plan can pass the Senate.

White House political adviser David Axelrod said Obama is "not walking away" from a public plan. But asked if the president would veto a bill that came to him without the option, Axelrod declined to answer.

GO HERE to read more.

Joe's Day

Today I will venture down to Crisfield to the Boat Docking Contest and enjoy a day away from the computer and Blogging all together. The Boat Docking Event has become one of my very favorite things to do here on the Eastern Shore.

That being said, things will get a little slow this afternoon as I can't guarantee comments will be moderated while I'm away, so please be patient and understand we don't do this often.

On a side note I will tell you that this past week has brought us the highest volume of visitors Salisbury News has ever enjoyed. No, we didn't have a record breaking day, we simply had a larger volume of daily visitors bringing us our biggest week ever. Friday, by the way, was the biggest Friday we have ever seen. Usually things drop off quite a bit after 3:00 on Friday but this Blog just kept rocking and rolling as many enjoyed hearing the recent court update and the outcome.

While I'm on a roll, the future of Salisbury News is going to bring you things never seen in the Blogosphere in the next few months. I'll give you some hints as to what's to come. How about a 6:00 LIVE News Show on the Blog 5 nights a week. How about an 8:00 AM Morning Radio Talk Show 5 days a week!

The goal is to provide YOU with everything, "All In One" as a sort of one stop shop. All you'll have to do is come to Salisbury News throughout the day and catch up on the latest and greatest news on the Eastern Shore. Our Studio will be at 300 W. Main Street along with a Team of Reporters. And guess what, we'll even bring in Radio Hosts from around the Shore to promote their Stations. How's that for a role reversal!

Our Broadcasts will be commercial free. No 30 minute shows with 20 minutes of it being sports and weather! Just down to earth local news and information. So stay tuned Folks because things are going to change and I believe you're really going to enjoy what we deliver.

Have a great day and perhaps I'll see you in Crisfield this afternoon.

Sam's Club Is Still Kicking Every One's Butt At The Pumps

It is what it is, so no comments are necessary on this Post.

More On The BOE

A recent audit disclosed that Wicomico BOE needed to establish better controls over its inventory. Also saying that they have not performed a physical inventory for at least 3 years.

I'm told the BOE board is aware of this report and have joined the staff and auditors multiple times to review the recommendations.

In the last two years, prior to the Legislative audit, the board established an audit committee to ensure added financial accountability and procedural review.

The sub committee of the board meets directly with the outside auditors, Faw & Casson, and now Trice Geary, to discuss concerns and areas of focus for the annual audit.

An inventory audit, albeit non-exhaustive, is done annually as part of this audit, and the auditors and board determine sample size based on costs of performing the audit. The auditors randomly select items off the inventory list, go to that location and ask to see the item and compare serial numbers with the report.

I also understand that over the years, the board has considered the addition of an internal auditor, but due to cost (estimated at $50,000 + benefits) and lack of success the county had had with the hiring an internal auditor (as required by their charter), the BOE board has declined to add the full time position to the central office staff.

Buying Ammo

Joe,

While out doing my shopping chores today, getting hunting licenses for me and my son was on the list. Being in Fruitland, we stopped in Wal-Mart and waited in line at the sporting goods counter. The young guys in front of me were buying .410 and .44 ammo for a new pistol they had bought that shoots either through the same chambering. We were talking about the gun as the cashier went through the transaction on the touch screen register. After ringing up the 6 or so boxes, he asked the strangest question pointing to each box, “Will this ammo be used for a handgun or long gun?” as they answered for each box, I asked the cashier if his touch screen had an “It’s none of your damned business” button on it.

I am 55 years old, hunted since I was 10, and have NEVER been asked this question! Not for any product. Imagine some products one would buy that would require that question!

Because the cashier had no bird stamps in stock and I wanted to dove hunt this afternoon, I did not buy my license there, but decided to buy it at the north end Wal-Mart close to my house. When I went there, I picked up some dove loads for the 20 gauge, and to test the Wal- Mart software, I added a 100-box of .22’s to the order. Upon being rung up, I got the same question, “handgun or long gun use?” My answer was “That’s an unconstitutional question, and I won’t answer it. I have a right to privacy”. The cashier didn’t know what to do. “But sir, I have to put an answer here or it won’t go through with the transaction.” I said that I might just throw it in the campfire to watch the pretty sparks. When that was not an option, I told the cashier to forget the ammo and just sell me the licenses. Trying to back the ammo out of the transaction was impossible, and in a fit of button pushing, the transaction went through and I got the ammo without answering the question.

Now my curiosity is piqued, so I headed over to Dick’s and asked the store manager about his ammo software. He said first, he had no such question in his transaction software, and if it did come with that, they could change just about anything on there. His employees ask for age identification only from people under 30 or so. Long gun ammo age is 18, handgun ammo is 21. (Maryland)

I found the same setup at Gander Mountain.

When I told the Wal-Mart cashier that I wasn’t trying to be obstinate towards her, that it seemed clearly like an Obama question to me, she said, ”Oh, I know, I’m so frightened at what that man might be doing to our Country.”

I put the question out there; Has anyone ever been asked this question in the past years? I’d like to know.

Gary M Bullard

Salisbury, MD

Guess Who Screened White House Appointments!

Think tank developed by prez links socialist party to presidential picks

JERUSALEM – Was a far-left think tank partnered with the community activist group ACORN and founded with input from President Obama instrumental in securing the appointment of controversial White House "environmental czar" Van Jones?

A key member of the think tank reportedly was also a founder of a socialist party that, evidence indicates, included Obama among its members.

In March, Jones was named the special adviser for green jobs, enterprise and innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

His appointment drew criticism after a WND report exposing that Jones was as an admitted radical communist and black nationalist leader. The Fox News Channel's Glenn Beck hammered away at Jones' communist ties.

GO HERE to read more.

Caption This Photo


One Year Ago Today

WELL, I guess he told me! Congratulations John, if you only got a year's probation, you're a free man.

Warning: Swine Flu Shot Linked To Killer Nerve Disease

A warning that the swine flu vaccine has been linked to a deadly nerve disease has been sent by the UK Government to senior neurologists in a confidential letter.

The letter from the Health Protection Agency, the official body that oversees public health, was leaked to The Daily Mail, leading to demands to know why the information has not been given to the public before the vaccination of millions of people, including children, begins.

It tells the neurologists that they must be alert for an increase in a brain disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which could be triggered by the vaccine. GBS attacks the lining of the nerves, causing paralysis and inability to breathe, and can be fatal.

The letter refers to the use of a similar swine flu vaccine in the United States in 1976 when:

More people died from the vaccination than from swine flu
The vaccine may have increased the risk of contracting GBS by eight times
The vaccine was withdrawn after just ten weeks when the link with GBS became clear
The U.S. Government was forced to pay out millions of dollars to those affected
Concerns have already been raised that the new vaccine has not been sufficiently tested and that the effects, especially on children, are unknown.

Source

Today's Nature Photo By Scott Phoebus

















Blueridge Parkway

New Football Game

Boat Docking Contest TODAY In Crisfield

Be there at 1:00 TODAY for the incredible Boat Docking Contest in Crisfield.
$30,000.00 in Prize Money
CNN will be taping the event for National Television
Salisbury News will be there
YOU should be too!

Could A New Micro Brewery Be Coming To Salisbury?

There's apparently an old pizza shop behind SOBOS on Eastern Shore Drive where they allegedly plan to open a 20 tap Micro Specialty Bar.

We'll just have to wait and see if it's for real.

N.Y. Pizzeria, No Longer The Best

I'll be the first to admit, it's been quite a while since I spoiled myself at N.Y. Pizzeria but to be frank, they're well out of my way and I just haven't had the chance to drop in.

That being said, we happened to be in Fruitland Friday night and when we were driving home my Wife said, let's get a Pizza from N.Y. Pizzeria.

We pulled in and I have to admit, I was excited to get one of those Bronx Bomber Pizza's with the works. We happen to enjoy the one with the Ricotta Cheese, N.Y. Sausage, Garlic, MMMMMMMM!

We walked in and the first thing we noticed was the filthy floors. The place just didn't look very clean but we ordered the Pizza anyway. I said, give me that monster sized Pizza with the sausage, ricotta cheese and garlic. It came to almost $26.00 but I always say, if it taste good, who gives a crap what you're paying.

After waiting and sitting around looking at the filth everywhere, the pizza came in a box with a strip of tape across the top to seal it. We left thinking, man, I can't wait to dig into this thing. We got home and without any hesitation I cut the tape and opened the box.

Wait a minute, NO GARLIC? NO SAUSAGE? Just a plain white pizza with Ricotta cheese? $26.00!!!!!!!!!!!! I should have known better. The BRONX isn't what it used to be and neither is N.Y. Pizzeria!

They can call me and tell me they'll make it up to me, NO THANKS PAUL. I spoke to several people since last night and they said they regularly get deliveries with no sauce, "we''ll get you next time," they claim you say. They had a great thing going but for $26.00 we'll order 2 extra large pizza's from Delmar Pizza and actually ENJOY what we get.

Stay off the sauce too Paul, if'n you know what I mean.

Gun Control