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Sunday, February 07, 2010

Another Wonderful Delmar Story, Actually, Two

"Hi Joe

I am writing to to telling you that there is a boy(sorry young MAN around 8 or 9 yrs old) that was plowing a driveway for a couple in delmar del on brittingham rd. I was heading to my father house to give a hand on shoveling the snow for him when I pulled up I notice that his driveway was cover in about two and half feet of snow drifts. I realized that my four wheel drive would probably not make it, so down the street I saw someone using a bocat plowing a driveway and drove down there to ask if he would mind plowing my father driveway. I realized it was this young man operating the bobcat. When I asked how much he said nothing. He came down to do his driveway. In mean while my wife ask how much he was charging I said nothing but lets give him something anyway. When he was done I walked up to him to give him money, he told me no thanks we dont charge on Sunday.I told him to come back on Monday then to get your money, he said no. I was so amazed that a young man at his age helping his neighbor out. Kudos to this kid and his parents for raising a fine young man."

Editors Note: Have we started something refreshing? Are we coming back as Americans? Folks, if your neighbors driveway and sidewalks aren't clear, lend a helping hand. As my old New York friends used to say, "It Can't Hurt."

Bruce Hunter and I spent our entire day today helping those in need. In fact, we'll be out all day tomorrow getting to the rest of the people who have requested help. To this young man and especially his Parents, God Bless you. The apple will not fall far from the tree and clearly this young man has been raised by some excellent parents.

So everyone knows as well. After a VERY long day today I came home to Delmar to find my own driveway plowed. I have no idea who this individual is but from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! My back also thanks you! Spread the love Folks.

Hoekstra: Obama Didn't Consult With GOP On Terror Intel


U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., issued the following statement on Sunday concerning statements by White House Deputy National Security Adviser John Brennan on "Meet the Press."

"Can anyone take seriously the White House's assertion that it consulted with Republicans when President Obama didn't even consult his own Director of National Intelligence, FBI Director or Homeland Security Secretary concerning Abdulmutallab? Anyone who knows my record and the leadership of Republicans on national security issues knows that we have not been shy about expressing our thoughts and strategies with the administration.

"The mishandling of this case is the Obama administration's failure, and they have no one to blame but themselves. President Obama failed to respond after the terrorist attack at Fort Hood, and failed to respond immediately after the terrorist attack in Detroit.

"Instead of lashing out politically and attempting to deflect blame, Obama and his advisers need to settle on a coherent and rational national security strategy to help secure our homeland.

Facts:

Hoekstra had a brief, non-secure conversation with Brennan. Brennan only informed him that Abdulmutallab had severe burns and was being treated.

Contrary to what he attempts to imply, Brennan at no time informed Hoekstra that Abdulmutallab had been Mirandized nor did he seek Hoekstra's consultation or provide any sort of meaningful briefing. The faulty decision to Mirandize Abdulmuttalab was the Obama administration’s, and its decision alone.

More.

Special Weather Related Closings Of State Buildings, Liberal Leave And Emergency Information

Note: This closing and/or liberal leave information applies to principal units and independent agencies in the Executive Branch, except educational units under the jurisdiction of the University of Maryland, Morgan State University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Maryland School for the Deaf and Baltimore City Community College.

A statewide liberal leave policy is in effect for all state employees beginning at 6 a.m. on Monday, February 8, 2010 to the end of the day shift on Monday, February 8, 2010. Emergency essential personnel should report as scheduled.

Delmar Is A Beautiful Place To Live


Joe,

I just wanted to tell you how wonderful it is to live in Delmar (I live on the Maryland side). I went out to start the big dig out & all the neighbors were out doing the same. It turns out that I live in such a great place that we all helped each other & got it done. I just feel so blessed to live in a community where we can all work together. Just thought you would like to hear how much I appreciate Delmar.

I additionally want to say thanks for your blog it has been a great way for me to always know what's going on. My parents live in Annapolis and they check the blog everyday (actaully several times a day). My dad says he is addicted to it. Your blog has been a great way for my dad to always know what is going on here. I am 31, but he still feels like he needs to check on his "little girl". You rock Joe!

Thanks, Christine in Delmar

The National Anthem Sung The Way It Ought To Be

"Operation Bombshell" A Big Hit With Service Spouses And Returning G.I.s


Author Lily Burana has founded a burlesque school especially for military spouses. Free to spouses of all branches, Burana hopes to help those dealing with deployment.

Burana is the author of the memoir Strip City [Miramax, 2003] and the Western novel Try [St. Martin's Griffin, 2007]. In 2009 she published her third book, the memoir I Love a Man in Uniform [Weinstein Books, 2009] which chronicles her transformation from a former punk rock stripper to wife of an Officer in the United States Army. Her latest book describes many of the challenges of a military wife, such as the complicated etiquette, the stress of deployment and the experience of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Toward the end of the book, Burana writes of her desire to help other wives of deployed soldiers. She writes, “I wanted them to feel confident that when they faced their husbands again, they’d be strong and sexy. But mostly I wanted them to be there for themselves.” To achieve this, Burana came up with the idea of “Operation Bombshell”, the world’s only burlesque school for military wives.
Open to military wives of all branches, Operation Burlesque is a 90-minute burlesque class taught by Burana. The routines are choreographed by Jo Weldon, headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque. Burana stresses that there is no nudity involved in the burlesque routines and that classes are open to all levels of physical ability; no previous dance training is required.
More HERE.
Operation Bombshell's website HERE.

To Those Of You Nagging Me About Road Conditions....


Look, we have produced photos of large trucks run off the road and these are professionals.

We are working to get out there ourselves to help others in need and let me assure you, I wouldn't be going anywhere if it weren't for that.

So my suggestion to you is, stay home, stay off the roads. Most of the side roads are single lanes and have not even been plowed yet. If you want to go somewhere, I suggest you walk, like we used to do in the old days.

Maybe when we return I can deliver some photos. That being said, if any of you who happen to have the proper vehicles to get out there can take some pictures and send them to us we'll be happy to post them later this evening.

Thanks for the photo Stephanie.

How To KILL A Super Bowl Party

In Defense Of The Constitution Of The United States Of America

In Defense Of The Constitution Of The United States Of America

By pointing out the errors of past and present administrations, I am defending the Constitution of the United States of America. Some would call us conservatives, right-wing extremists, racists, dissidents and even terrorists; all because we don’t aggress with their ideas and, or actions.

“Dissent is the greatest form of Patriotism”; you could pay a high price of it!

Is the price worth it to you? It is to me and to the future of our great nation. I really don’t have a choice, because I understand what is happening. I realize it is easier for some to personally be silent, but it would be just like being in a burning building and not pulling the fire alarm.

“Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentleman wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” – Patrick Henry – 1775

The oath that our soldiers, congressmen and president takes, also applies to ‘We the People’

The Oath of ‘We the People’

‘We the people’, do solemnly swear, (or affirm), that we will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic; that we will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that we take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that we will well and faithfully discharge our duties of citizenship, so help us god.

As average citizens we have taken the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ many, many times in our lives.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and justice for all”

· Are you committed to the Pledge that you have taken so many times in you life?

· Do you love this country like our founding fathers did?

· Do you pledge your all to preserving this great nation?

· Do you do everything you legally can to uphold the truths and principles of freedom founding in both The Declaration of Independence as well as the Constitution of the United States of America?

· Are you willing to take the Oath of ‘We the People’ and to live by it everyday?

As Thomas Paine said, “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.”—September 11, 1777

And as James Madison said, “The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty”.

So please pledge allegiance again to this great nation. Take the Oath of ‘We the People’ and spread the knowledge and words of liberty and freedom. Our nation’s future, our children’s future and freedom’s future depends on it.

Have A Safe Flight And Thank You For Flying US Air


Time To Get To Work


This morning we will get our things together and hit the streets. Our goal is to reach as many of you as we can to clear a path for you to access the road. Mind you, we will only be doing so for those most in need. Elderly, ill and handicap people.

If you fit the above category, call me at 410-430-5349. We will do our best to get to your home and clear a path for you.

I encourage ALL of you to do what you can to help your neighbor. You know who they are and you know they cannot do it on their own.

All that being said, (unless I get help) comments will not be moderated for quite some time. I'll check in here and there.

I should add: My friend Bruce Hunter from Bruce's Billiards will be picking me up and helping me throughout the day. Every time we do things like this, Bruce is always the very first to volunteer.

What Will Your Children Be Taught?

Mathew Staver on The Huckabee Show this Weekend to Discuss Changes to Textbooks

www.LC.org

This weekend Mathew D. Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, will appear on Mike Huckabee’s show to discuss potentially dramatic changes to the framework of textbooks that are being discussed by the Texas State Board of Education (TSBOE). Huckabee and Staver will be revealing suggested changes, some of which are still under discussion. The show will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, Eastern Time.

TSBOE will soon finalize the language that textbook publishers use to align their textbooks to current standards. As Texas is a leader in textbooks, most other states purchase the same educational materials. The textbook controversy in Texas affects every American because, to have a bright future, we must know our past. America has a rich past founded on Judeo-Christian values and to forget them, or worse, to distort them, will doom our future. Those who want to reshape America begin by rewriting our past. We repeat the mistakes of the past when we are ignorant of them.

Some of the suggestions that have come forward at various times include:

Removing references to Daniel Boone, General George Patton, Nathan Hale, Columbus Day, and Christmas.


Including the cultural impact of hip hop music, ACLU lawyer Clarence Darrow, and the Hindu holiday of Diwali.


Replacing the term "American" with "Global Citizen"– stating that students need to be shaped "for responsible citizenship in a global society" without any mention of citizenship in American society.


Replacing expansionism and free enterprise with imperialism and capitalism.

The Board's next meeting is in March and the final reading and adoption of the social studies guidelines will be in May.

STATE POLICE STORM RESPONSE UPDATE


(Pikesville, MD) – State troopers across Maryland report disabled vehicles have been their most frequent response call during the storm so far, as they continue to work with members of the National Guard and Natural Resources Police to respond to calls for service.

Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, has deployed more than 70 extra troopers, not normally assigned to road patrol duties, to supplement the regular patrol force during the storm. All four-wheel drive vehicles in the State Police fleet have been deployed to road patrol troopers. Members of the Maryland National Guard equipped with Humvees have been stationed at State Police barracks throughout the State. National Guard personnel are teamed up with state troopers and are providing transportation assistance in response to calls for service.

Commanders of all 22 State Police barracks are reporting disabled vehicles are their most frequent call for service. These calls are usually involving vehicles and drivers who are not equipped to travel in this type of extreme weather and are becoming stuck in the snow. Troopers are reporting that most drivers of the disabled vehicles have no important or emergency purpose for being on the highway. Disabled vehicles are causing significant problems for snow removal crews and are inhibiting the emergency response of police and fire personnel.

State Police barracks are reporting normal police calls for service are lighter than normal. Most calls are for disabled vehicles or minor collisions. The most serious crash handled by State Police as of Saturday morning remains the one that occurred on Rt. 462 at I-95 in Harford County late yesterday afternoon. A 15-year-old girl remains in critical condition following that crash that occurred when the van she was riding in ran into the back of a snow plow truck parked on the shoulder of the road.

State Police are joining Governor Martin O’Malley in urging citizens not to travel for the remainder of the storm. Regular updates are being provided by the Governor and state emergency officials through local media. Maryland State Police commanders are working as part of the team at the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and providing coordinated response assistance where needed.

The Wicomico Board Of Ed Says.....


"All Schools are operating on a regular schedule." Now you and I both know this isn't going to happen. One has to wonder if they'll wait until 5:00 AM to make that standard phone call to let everyone know School will be closed on Monday.

Come on Mr. Fredericksen, get on the ball for once and let everyone properly schedule their lives.

Church Collapses In Northeast D.C.


A church has collapsed in northeast Washington because of the heavy snow and a tree that fell on its roof.

D.C. Fire & EMS representative Pete Piringer said when the tree fell on the roof of the one-and-a-half story building, the weight of the tree and the snow made it collapse.

Joshua's Temple First Born Church, located at 4318 Sheriff Road NE, was a very small, quaint church with a dedicated following, according to NBC4's Tracee Wilkins, who is familiar with the neighborhood and often saw parishioners lining the street with their cars.

GO HERE to read more from NBC Washington.

With $400 Million Up In Smoke, Drug Czar Should Go


Voters are disgusted by the reckless spending of politicians in Washington. The backlash is coming, so policymakers are now scrambling to do something, or at least be seen as doing something, about the enormous federal debt. Now is a good time for Congress to abolish government agencies that are outdated, dysfunctional or just unnecessary.

A prime candidate for abolition is the office of the so-called "drug czar."

The position of the drug czar was created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act in 1988. It was a time of drug war hysteria. Former first lady Nancy Reagan called casual drug users "accomplices to murder." President George H.W. Bush vowed to make the war one of his top priorities. During his inaugural address, he said, "Take my word for it. This scourge will stop." The conservative firebrand William Bennett became the first czar and made headlines with brash talk of beheading drug dealers. The nation's capital was declared to be a "high intensity drug-trafficking" zone. There were raids and arrests - including the notorious trial of then-Mayor Marion Barry.

In theory, the drug czar's office was supposed to develop a long-term strategy to win the drug war and bring about a "drug-free society." Each year, the czar would call for more governmental efforts to "reduce demand" and to "disrupt the supply" of narcotics. Instead of millions, the government started to spend billions.

The bureaucracy flourished as more agents were hired and more high-tech equipment was purchased. The criminal justice system expanded to handle the influx of cases. More prosecutors. More judges. More prison guards.

And yet, millions and millions of Americans continued using drugs.We now know that Presidents Obama and Clinton were among them. Indeed, nowadays, police agencies like the FBI can only recruit young people if the agencies are willing to overlook past drug use.

The goal of "disrupting supply" has been proved farcical. Drugs are as widely available as ever. Indeed, Washington remains a city with thriving drug traffic. There are open-air drug markets in many neighborhoods. More than a decade after the drug czar went into business, a commission on federal law enforcement practices gave this blunt assessment: "Despite a record number of seizures and a flood of legislation, this Commission is not aware of any evidence that the flow of narcotics into the United States has been reduced."

More from this Washington Times commentary by Timothy Lynch HERE.

Today's Survey Question


Do You Tip Your Pizza Delivery Driver?
If So, How Much.

More Omissions By The Mainstream Media

Someone is not receiving credit when it is due to him, and someone else is finding a way to claim such credit for himself.

It is now accepted as fact that the Banks who were lent tax-payer money by the Bush TARP Plan have been paying it back plus interest. The American people are actually making a profit off of the Bush TARP Plan. The Banks have been eager to return the money because they desired to free themselves of the hooks of Big Government. Again, the Banks are EAGERLY paying back the money.

So much money from the Bush TARP plan has been coming in that Obama is hoping to use it for his new “Job’s Creation Bill.” Interestingly, Obama claims his administration recovered this money. This is simply horse sh-t. Again, the banks were eager to return the money. Attempting to be the great “populist,” Obama then says his administration will go after every last dime of that TARP money, implying the banks have been resistant to return it.

So here are the omissions:

The Bush TARP plan was successful! Not only did it prevent total collapse of the American economy, it is producing profit for the American taxpayer. Bush should be given credit for this.

2. Obama is claiming credit for “recovering” the money from the banks. He should be pitied.

The Usual Straw Men

by Victor Davis Hanson


Cap-and-trade, statist healthcare, and an end to “don’t ask, don’t tell” for thee.

And for thou, Obama the tax cutter, Obama the gas-and-oil driller, Obama the budget freezer, Obama the anti-lobbyist reformer, Obama the bipartisan healer?

This half-hearted pivoting was quite transparent: Obama made these about-faces without acknowledging that the Obama of 2010 is now and then rejecting the Obama of 2009, much less that the partisanship and bickering of the past year stemmed largely from the hubris of having both houses of Congress and an obsequious press. Instead, Obama seemed miffed that after Scott Brown’s victory he had to offer half-hearted sops.

After Obama spent 2009 ignoring jobs in order to focus on healthcare, he tells us that 2010 will be the year of jobs. So after a year of promiscuously talking about higher income, payroll, healthcare, and inheritance taxes on “them,” Obama suddenly believes that small business is the engine of growth, and will therefore get new tax cuts and credits.

Likewise, after ignoring or negating his campaign promises about coal, gas, and nuclear power in his first year, suddenly Obama announces that we’re going to develop them!

Same with federal spending freezes. Same with ethics reform — the first general-election presidential candidate to refuse public campaign financing now deplores the weakening of McCain-Feingold.

We also heard many of Obama’s familiar rhetorical devices:

1) He trotted out the usual straw men: “I was told by some,” “Washington has been telling us,” etc. And once these awful straw men are set up, our hero Obama answers defiantly, “I don’t settle for second place!” The straw-man ploy is now stale.

2) The “I didn’t ask for” trope: Obama acts as if he bravely endures persecution on our behalf, rejects the easy path, and presses ahead on the difficult path.

3) The “they did it” trope: So when Obama talks of “lobbying” and “horse trading” on healthcare, apparently some right-wing nut in the Senate started buying votes at $300 million a clip? The Washington insider who has the White House and Congress blames . . . Washington!

4) The “Bush did it” trope: So Obama’s deficits are the result of Bush’s spending and weak economy — but is a relatively quiet Iraq due to Bush’s successful surge? No. Obama himself will bring the war in Iraq to a close. He did not offer one word of praise for Bush in a speech calling for unity.

5) The meaningless token: So after piling up the two largest budget deficits in U.S. history, Obama promises fiscal sobriety and spending freezes — but only in 2011, after we pile up yet another year of trillion-dollar-plus red ink.

6) The above-it-all lecturing: After blaming Bush for 30 minutes and castigating the Republicans for “just saying no to everything,” Obama lectures on Washington’s partisan bickering. And after a year of hardball Chicago politicking, a politically weakened Obama calls for bipartisanship and a new tone. That will go over really well.

7) The meaningless deadlines and promises: No speechwriter should invoke Iran and a deadline to comply on nonproliferation; no one believes Obama after the past four failed deadlines. He should give it all a break.

8) The final hope-and-change flourishes: The emotional end of the speech, which used to set crowds afire in 2008, seemed more rote.

All in all, this was a nonchalant performance that ran for well over an hour. The president’s above-it-all cynicism, mocking, and dry humor didn’t work. The whole thing reminded me of a flat grad-school seminar with a snickering professor talking down to clueless students.

Life Summarized In 4 Bottles

…Crap, I am already on the 3rd one!!!

Support Local Restaurants In Bad Weather

"Please Folks get out and support your local restaurants! Another weekend snow storm is more then many of us can take. If you can get out, do so and show your love and support for your favorite local restaurant.

We will have all our restaurants open today(Sunday), including Sobos. We will be running specials all day trying to get our employees some hours/tips. We would love to see you out at Boonies, Specific Gravity , or Sobo's, Or one of our many friends lie Brew River, Market Street Inn, Vinny's La Roma and Adam's Ribs.

Thanks again for all your support"
Jeff Trivits
Southernboys Concepts

TERRIFIC BEER POSTER

They Come To Salisbury News From Around The World

"Joe,

I'm still here in Iraq, and we were looking at pictures from the blog, and we
saw the picture of the tree that crashed on the car. Our question is, what kind
of car is it? The consensus is a vette, but there is still some discrepancy.
Can you find out and let us know? Thanks!"

God Bless You All. Its a Vette.

Caption This Photo

You Won't Find A Wife Like This Again

Our Government

A little boy goes to his dad and asks, 'What isPolitics?'

Dad says, 'Well son, let me try to explain it this way:

I am the head of the family, so call me ThePresident.

Your mother is the adminis-trator of the money, so we call her the Government.

We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People.

The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class.

And your baby brother, we will call him theFuture.

Now think about that and see if it makes sense.'

So the little boy! Goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said.

Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him.

He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper.

So the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed.

The next morning, the little boy say's to his father, 'Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now.'

The father says, 'Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.'

The little boy replies, 'The President is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit.

The Elderly Italian Man

An elderly Italian man who lived on the outskirts of Rimini, Italy, went to the local church for confession. When the priest slid open the panel in the confessional, the man said:

"Father.. During World War II, a beautiful Jewish woman from our neighborhood knocked urgently on my door and asked me to hide her from the Nazis. So I hid her in my attic."

The priest replied: "That was a wonderful thing you did, and you have no need to confess that."

"There is more to tell, Father.. She started to repay me with sexual favors. This happened several times a week, and sometimes twice on Sundays."

The priest said, "That was a long time ago and by doing what you did, you placed the two of you in great danger, but two people under those circumstances can easily succumb to the weakness of the flesh. However, if you are truly sorry for your actions, you are indeed forgiven.."

"Thank you, Father. That's a great load off my mind. I do have one more question."

"And what is that?" asked the priest.

"Should I tell her the war is over?"

WISDOM FROM TRAINING MANUALS

'If the enemy is in range, so are you.'
- Infantry Journal-


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'It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.'
- US.Air Force Manual -


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'Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword, obviously never encountered automatic weapons.'
- General MacArthur -


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'You, you, and you ... Panic. The rest of you, come with me.'
- Infantry Sgt.-


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'Tracers work both ways.'
- Army Ordnance Manual-


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'Five second fuses last about three seconds.'
- Infantry Journal -



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The three most useless things in aviation are: Fuel in the bowser; Runway behind you; and Air above you.
-Basic Flight Training Manual-


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'Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once.'
- Naval Ops Manual -


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'Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.'
- Unknown Infantry Recruit-


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'If you see a bomb technician running, try to keep up to him.'
- Infantry Journal-


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'Yea, Though I Fly Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Shall Fear No Evil. For I am at 50,000 Feet and Climbing.'
- Sign over SR71 Wing Ops-


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'You've never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3.'
-Paul F. Crickmore (SR71 test pilot)-


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'The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.'
-Unknown Author-


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'If the wings are traveling faster than the fuselage it has to be a helicopter -- and therefore, unsafe.'
- Fixed Wing Pilot-


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'When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane, you always have enough power left to get you to the scene of the crash.'
-Multi-Engine Training Manual-


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'Without ammunition, the Air Force is just an expensive flying club.'
-Unknown Author-


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'If you hear me yell;"Eject, Eject, Eject!", the last two will be echos.'
If you stop to ask "Why?", you'll be talking to yourself, because by then you'll be the pilot.'
-Pre-flight Briefing from a Canadian F104 Pilot-


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'What is the similarity between air traffic controllers and pilots?
If a pilot screws up, the pilot dies; but If ATC screws up, .... the pilot dies.'
-Sign over Control Tower Door-


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'Never trade luck for skill.'
-Author Unknown-


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The three most common expressions (or famous last words) in military aviation are:'Did you feel that?' 'What's that noise?' and'Oh S...!'
-Authors Unknown-


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'Airspeed, altitude and brains. Two are always needed to successfully complete the flight.'
-Basic Flight Training Manual-


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'Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it.'
- Emergency Checklist-


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'The Piper Cub is the safest airplane in the world; it can just barely kill you.'
- Attributed to Max Stanley (Northrop test pilot) -


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'There is no reason to fly through a thunderstorm in peacetime.'
-Sign over Squadron Ops Desk at Davis-Montham AFB, AZ-


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'You know that your landing gear is up and locked when it takes full power to taxi to the terminal.' - Lead-in Fighter Training Manual -


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As the test pilot climbs out of the experimental aircraft, having torn off the wings and tail in the crash landing, the crash truck arrives.


The rescuer sees the bloodied pilot and asks,'What happened?'
The pilot's reply: 'I don't know, I just got here myself!'

Girly Man

BENEFIT BINGO FOR HAITI

ALL money and other donations go to: “EWO”
Evangelistic World Outreach
for Tom & Bev Brumbley, Missionaries to Haiti

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010

SALISBURY MOOSE LODGE
SNOW HILL ROAD, SALISBURY, MD

DOORS/KITCHEN OPENS 5:30PM
GAMES BEGIN 7PM

Featuring Longaberger Baskets, Wrought Iron
& Pottery filled with “Goodies”

Call (410) 742-5174 & put your name on the list, & bring badly needed items, such as medical supplies, food, water, blankets, clothing or a check made out to “EWO” and pay $20.

At the door, pay $25. Must be 18 years of age to play.

The Longaberger Company does not have any sponsorship affiliation with this event.

Fruitland City Council Meeting

FRUITLAND CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2010
AGENDA


STAFF MEETING

7:00 p.m. City Council and staff will meet to review the evening’s agenda in the
conference room.

REGULAR MEETING

7:30 p.m. *Call to Order, Opening Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance
*Adoption of the Minutes:

1. Regular Meeting: January 12, 2010, Special Meetings dated: May
11,2009, May 4, 2009, and September 29, 2008


*Treasurer’s Report, City Manager’s Report, Department Heads’
Reports

7:45 p.m. *Unfinished Business:

1. Approve paid bills. Action Item.
2. New Police Department Building – Chief Phillips
3. Camden East/Storm Water – Solicitor Mitchell
4. Other?


8:15 p.m. *New Business:

1. Swear in new Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer
2. Debt Management Policy – Update – Solicitor Mitchell
3. Other?

*Public Comment/General Discussion

*Adjournment


The Fruitland City Council will meet at City Hall, 401 East Main Street, on the
above date and times in accordance with the State Open Meetings Act. The public is
encouraged to attend. For further information call 410-548-2809.



John F. McDonnell
City Manager

The Cork

Two Arab terrorists are in a locker room taking a shower after their bomb making class, when one notices the other has a huge cork stuck in his butt.

If you do not mind me saying," said the second, "that cork looks very uncomfortable. Why do you not take it out?"

I regret I cannot", lamented the first Arab.

"It is permanently stuck in my butt."

"I do not understand," said the other.

The first Arab says, "I was walking along the beach and I tripped over an oil lamp. There was a puff of smoke, and then a huge old man in an American flag attire with a white beard and top hat came boiling out. He said,

"I am Uncle Sam, the Genie. I can grant you one wish."

I said, "No sh!t?"

God Bless America

Even Without Obamacare, Government "Takeover" Of Health Care Is Happening Anyway

As more and more Americans have become dependent on the federal government for health care, the costs have soared. There is no relationship to marketplace decision making on health care spending. Who bothers to ask what a procedure costs or to look for economies? Imagine the choices we would make if the federal government paid for our groceries.

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar ASSOCIATED PRESS

For all the hue and cry over a government "takeover" of health care, it's happening anyway.

Federal and state programs will pay slightly more than half the tab for health care purchased in the United States by 2012, according to a report by Medicare number crunchers being released Thursday.

That's even if President Obama's health care overhaul is not passed. Long in coming, the shift to a health care sector dominated by government is being speeded up by the deep economic recession and the aging of the baby boomers, millions of whom will soon start signing up for Medicare.

"This does mark a pretty stark jump in the data," said Christopher Truffer of Medicare's Office of the Actuary, which prepared the analysis published in the journal Health Affairs.

The tipping point is likely to come next year, Mr. Truffer said. For technical reasons, the report assumes that Congress is going to allow Medicare to cut doctor fees by 20 percent later this year, as required by a 1990s budget law. But lawmakers have routinely waived such cuts, and they're not likely to allow them in an election year. So the government - at the federal and state level - probably will end up picking up the majority of the nation's medical costs in 2011, instead of 2012.

The report could serve as a reality check in the debate over Mr. Obama's health care plan, which has been dominated by disagreements over how large a role government should play.

Congressional Democrats want to move forward with the sweeping legislation despite the loss of a Massachusetts Senate seat that cost them total control of the legislative agenda. Republicans have rejected Mr. Obama's approach as a top-down, big government solution.

The new report estimated that in 2009, the United States spent $2.5 trillion for health care, with government programs - mainly Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for the poor - paying $1.2 trillion. Employer health insurance and various private sources covered the other $1.3 trillion. But spending by government last year grew nearly three times faster than private spending, closing in to overtake it.

Driving much of the government surge was Medicaid, the federal-state program for low-income people, which grew by nearly 10 percent as workers lost jobs with health insurance, and Democrats expanded coverage for children of the working poor.

Previous estimates had put the crossover point to a health care system financed mainly by taxpayers at 2016. There seems to be little chance that the balance will tip back decisively in the direction of private financing, with the baby boom generation signing up for Medicare and the lack of health insurance at many new jobs.

Fruitland Recreation Council

A HUGE thank you is extended from Fruitland Recreation Commission member Frances Jean Tull for all of those that helped out at the fundraiser breakfast held at Uno Chicago Grill to benefit the Fruitland Recreational Park. Over 100 people were served. A special thank you goes out to Uno’s manager Joe Rosales and our “cook for the day”, Alberto Trejo, for letting us have our first breakfast with them. Thank you to all the people that came out and braved the snow. The next breakfast will be March 20th; same place and same time (7:00 am - 10:00 am). Please mark your calendar and join us.