Originally posted at 6:00 PM
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Friday, February 19, 2010
Maryland Assault Weapons Ban of 2010 is DEAD!
The rediculous anti gun ban bill proposed by Sen. Mike Lennett(D) has died in committee. A bill may be on the way to allow concealed carry in Maryland. Another proposed bill will restrict gun rights of an individual who has had two DUI convictions within five years. Read all the details in this article.
For full details of the bill click here:
For full details of the bill click here:
Special Announcement For SU Sea Gull Lacrosse Fans
SALISBURY, Md. - The recent snow storms that have hit the Middle-Atlantic region have not affected the men's and women's lacrosse games scheduled for Sea Gull Stadium this weekend. However, due to limited street parking available because of remaining snow on the ground, all fans are strongly encouraged to park in the Wayne Street Parking Garage free of charge. In addition, please be careful when walking on all roadways and sidewalks as they may still be icy or slippery.
Inside the stadium, only the main grandstand on the west side of the stadium will be open to fans. The stands on the east side of the stadium will be closed for safety precautions.
The No. 4 Salisbury University men's lacrosse team is set to square-off with No. 18 Lynchburg College this weekend at Sea Gull Stadium; game-time is set for 1 p.m. The Sea Gulls (1-0) are coming off of a 19-6 win over Greensboro College on Sunday afternoon.
The Sea Gulls are currently riding a five-game winning streak against the Hornets, who have yet to play a game this season. The last time the two teams met at Sea Gull Stadium was Feb. 23, 2008, with the Gulls prevailing in a nail-biter 10-9. Current SU senior and two-time All-American Mike Von Kamecke (Winter Park, Fla.) dished out three assists in the victory. Additionally, over the last five years the Gulls are 64-2 when playing within the friendly confines of Sea Gull Stadium.
The No. 2 SU women's lacrosse team is also set to open up their home campaign this weekend, as they play on Sunday at Sea Gull Stadium against Hood College at 1 p.m. Last year the Gulls shutout the Blazers 21-0, one of three performances in which the Gulls held teams under five goals last season. In that win, current senior and All-American Jessica Chmielewski (Woodbine, Md.) scored three goals to pace SU.
Source
Inside the stadium, only the main grandstand on the west side of the stadium will be open to fans. The stands on the east side of the stadium will be closed for safety precautions.
The No. 4 Salisbury University men's lacrosse team is set to square-off with No. 18 Lynchburg College this weekend at Sea Gull Stadium; game-time is set for 1 p.m. The Sea Gulls (1-0) are coming off of a 19-6 win over Greensboro College on Sunday afternoon.
The Sea Gulls are currently riding a five-game winning streak against the Hornets, who have yet to play a game this season. The last time the two teams met at Sea Gull Stadium was Feb. 23, 2008, with the Gulls prevailing in a nail-biter 10-9. Current SU senior and two-time All-American Mike Von Kamecke (Winter Park, Fla.) dished out three assists in the victory. Additionally, over the last five years the Gulls are 64-2 when playing within the friendly confines of Sea Gull Stadium.
The No. 2 SU women's lacrosse team is also set to open up their home campaign this weekend, as they play on Sunday at Sea Gull Stadium against Hood College at 1 p.m. Last year the Gulls shutout the Blazers 21-0, one of three performances in which the Gulls held teams under five goals last season. In that win, current senior and All-American Jessica Chmielewski (Woodbine, Md.) scored three goals to pace SU.
Source
Another Lab Found In Delmar
Joe,
My daughter picked a chocolate lab with a red collar near the end of Line Road/Columbia Road in Delmar, DE. I noticed there was a post on the 6th regarding a black lab on Line Road with a red collar. Could you please put the word out so maybe we can reach the owner. I believe the dog is pure bred and someone's lost pet. My number is 443-359-6887.
Sherry Beauchamp
My daughter picked a chocolate lab with a red collar near the end of Line Road/Columbia Road in Delmar, DE. I noticed there was a post on the 6th regarding a black lab on Line Road with a red collar. Could you please put the word out so maybe we can reach the owner. I believe the dog is pure bred and someone's lost pet. My number is 443-359-6887.
Sherry Beauchamp
Conway & Mathias Tomorrow At The Wicomico Public Library
Attention AFP Wicomico County - Come out Tomorrow For a 38B Delegate Town Hall
Come Armed with some good questions. We will be video taping!
As part of an ongoing effort to keep in touch with community needs, Delegate James Mathias & Delegate Norman Conway will hold town meetings through February with the goal to help them make informed decisions during the 2010 session of the Maryland
General Assembly.
“The 427th Session of the General Assembly is now underway and there are many measures up for consideration such as balancing the State Budget and bills that
target sexual predators,” Conway said.
“These town meetings will be an opportunity to share any concerns you may have with your Delegates.”
Conway & Mathias are looking forward to hearing about issues important to the citizens of Worcester & Wicomico Counties. The pair held similar town meetings at the beginning of 2009, and they both want to encourage all their constituents to attend again this year. They hope citizens will take the opportunity to share their opinions and concerns with the Delegates, as well as learn what the 2010 General Assembly will involve.
“Please come and let us know what’s on your mind as we continue to work hard for you on the Eastern Shore.”, Mathias said.
Those who are unable to attend the meetings can Contact Mathias and Conway directly. Their district office numbers are listed below.
The following town meetings have been scheduled:
Sat., Feb. 20, 11-12:30pm Salisbury – Wicomico Public Library
Sat., Feb. 20, 3-4:30pm Town Hall of Berlin
For more information call:
District Office, Delegate Conway – 410 543 9060
District Office, Delegate Mathias – 410 352 3096
Tiger: Sorry For Behavior, Unsure Of Return
In first public appearance, golf star says he was ‘foolish,’ admits to therapy
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Tiger Woods apologized Friday for cheating on his wife and says he is unsure when he will return to competitive golf.
“I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did was not acceptable,” said Woods, looking composed and speaking in a steady voice. His wife, Elin, was not with him.
As for coming back to the PGA Tour, the planet’s best golfer said: “I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don’t know when that day will be. I don’t rule out it will be this year.”
GO HERE to read more.
What's That On The Firehouse Roof?
Joe,
What's that on top of the firehouse in first picture in the post below? Is that a solar panel?
If it is, where did it come from? It wasn't on the plans, and the ex-Chief was asked why not, but didn't have a good answer.
For the $10,000,000+ that they spent on the building, it seemed like it should have been a slam-dunk to spend another $50-100,000 or so to install a rooftop system that would actually pay for itself in less than ten years and then become even better than paid off: it would yield credits from Delmarva Power. (Duh!)
Secondly, if it is, who paid for it? I don't recall any city council activity about it or announcement from the SFD.
Thirdly, if it is, why is it so small? It looks more like a passive heat exchange unit, that would only heat water for washing, etc. and heating. Which brings us back to questions 1 and 2.
Anybody have an inside track on this?
What's that on top of the firehouse in first picture in the post below? Is that a solar panel?
If it is, where did it come from? It wasn't on the plans, and the ex-Chief was asked why not, but didn't have a good answer.
For the $10,000,000+ that they spent on the building, it seemed like it should have been a slam-dunk to spend another $50-100,000 or so to install a rooftop system that would actually pay for itself in less than ten years and then become even better than paid off: it would yield credits from Delmarva Power. (Duh!)
Secondly, if it is, who paid for it? I don't recall any city council activity about it or announcement from the SFD.
Thirdly, if it is, why is it so small? It looks more like a passive heat exchange unit, that would only heat water for washing, etc. and heating. Which brings us back to questions 1 and 2.
Anybody have an inside track on this?
Don't Miss Our 6:00 News Broadcast Tonight
You better believe we're back and there's no doubt in my mind you're going to enjoy tonight's Show. We are back on our regular schedule for our weekly News Broadcast, Mon, Wed & Fridays at 6 PM.
Do As I Say, Not As I Do
While you and I don't have the ability to call in 140+ alleged volunteers to help us shovel out pathways because Code & Compliance says so. Because we don't have access to public works and or equipment to clear out pathways, one has to wonder just what the heck the City thinks they're doing demanding certain property owners remove the snow and ice from their sidewalks, yet today is Friday, February 19th 2010 and the Salisbury Fire Department hasn't done a thing to be compliant with the sames rules and regulations?
If I were you and YOU received a fine for not clearing your pathways, perhaps you should contact me and I'll provide these images taken less than 30 minutes ago. I mean, come on now guys. Firefighters used to set an example. Perhaps you don't deserve that Fire Palace after all.
DAILY TIMES WRONG ABOUT SALISBURY’S IMPACT FEES!
Today’s article about the City Council’s discussion of impact fees indicates that at the present time there are no such fees in Salisbury – and that’s flat wrong.
About five years ago, the City imposed a fee – called a capacity fee – on new development for expansion of the sewer and water systems. And residential development is also subject to Wicomico County’s school impact fee.
For a single-family home, those fees total about $15,000, I believe. And there are the traditional fees for building permit, water meter, etc. It would not surprise to see that the total of all City and County fees and charges to build a typical home in Salisbury now exceed $20,000. These fees and charges (except the school fee) also apply to the non-residential development that creates jobs. And it is clear that they have discouraged some growth – recall the brew pub that wanted to locate at the old train station.
Besides all of the fees and charges, the City also requires substantial funding by developers for upgraded public infrastructure in order to get permits and approvals to develop. Salisbury is a very expensive place to build and develop already.
Someone needs to tell Jim Ireton that the property and other taxes that result from growth furnish funds to obtain trash trucks and snow plows. And please tell him that he can’t pass an adequate public facility ordinance (“APFO”) – only the City Council can.
Kudos to the City Council for saying “no new fees” at this time.
PS – it’s not often that I agree with Gary Comegys folks!
About five years ago, the City imposed a fee – called a capacity fee – on new development for expansion of the sewer and water systems. And residential development is also subject to Wicomico County’s school impact fee.
For a single-family home, those fees total about $15,000, I believe. And there are the traditional fees for building permit, water meter, etc. It would not surprise to see that the total of all City and County fees and charges to build a typical home in Salisbury now exceed $20,000. These fees and charges (except the school fee) also apply to the non-residential development that creates jobs. And it is clear that they have discouraged some growth – recall the brew pub that wanted to locate at the old train station.
Besides all of the fees and charges, the City also requires substantial funding by developers for upgraded public infrastructure in order to get permits and approvals to develop. Salisbury is a very expensive place to build and develop already.
Someone needs to tell Jim Ireton that the property and other taxes that result from growth furnish funds to obtain trash trucks and snow plows. And please tell him that he can’t pass an adequate public facility ordinance (“APFO”) – only the City Council can.
Kudos to the City Council for saying “no new fees” at this time.
PS – it’s not often that I agree with Gary Comegys folks!
Joe Stack Not A Tea Party Participant
Joe,
The suicide bomber who "lost it" and flew his plane into the IRS building was NOT a Tea Party participant. This fact needs to be clarified for the general public as there are many who wish to tie this incident into an effort to destroy peaceful protest to big government and over taxation.
http://www.infowars.com/news-that-joe-stack-was-not-a-tea-party-member-disappoints-obamanoids/
Tin Man Customs Closing Their Doors
I was notified yesterday that my brothers place of business was closing (Tin Mans Customs on Nanticoke Road). The economy has had a toll on his company this past year.
I will miss the place because of the many things he carried , sporting goods for fishing and hunting, small grocery line, beer and wine and Custom motor cycle work.
He did well until this last election and then down hill, I won’t give my opinion about the political impact on his business. Of course Bush will get the blame for people going out of business. Anyway, just thought you would be interested to know that another business will be gone.
Respectfully,
Wayne Earp
I will miss the place because of the many things he carried , sporting goods for fishing and hunting, small grocery line, beer and wine and Custom motor cycle work.
He did well until this last election and then down hill, I won’t give my opinion about the political impact on his business. Of course Bush will get the blame for people going out of business. Anyway, just thought you would be interested to know that another business will be gone.
Respectfully,
Wayne Earp
New York Liberal Times
The New York Police Department says its “stop-and-frisk” program — under which officers investigating crimes, or working to prevent crimes, briefly detain or pat down people on the streets — has played a pivotal role in driving down crime levels to record lows.
Editorial: A Trial for City Police
But civil rights groups and some criminologists are understandably troubled by new statistics showing that police officers stopped a record 575,000 people last year — nearly 90 percent black or Hispanic — and that the number of stops is growing as crime falls. Instead of dismissing such complaints, the Police Department should re-evaluate the program.
Credible questions about the racial fairness of stop-and-frisk were raised in 1999 in a study released by the state attorney general, then Eliot Spitzer. Conducted by a Columbia University statistician and reviewed by the editor of a reputable journal, it found that the program had disproportionately higher stop rates for blacks and Hispanics. The rates remained elevated even when they were adjusted to take account of higher crime rates and arrest rates in minority neighborhoods.
The Center for Constitutional Rights, which has sued the city, charging it with racial profiling, recently raised similar complaints. In an analysis released last year, it said that police officers used physical force more often against blacks and Hispanics than whites during stops. The group described 2009 as the worst year for the program on record, saying that “heavy-handed policing” in minority neighborhoods was promoting fear of police officers, which makes law enforcement more difficult.
The Police Department says the stops are necessary and that they make up a small fraction of the 23 million contacts that members of the force had with citizens last year. Police officials say minority citizens are more often stopped because many live in high-crime neighborhoods, where officers are often intensively involved in efforts to thwart car thefts, muggings and, especially, shootings. The department points with pride to the fact that the murder rate has reached an all-time low.
But the department’s statistics suggest that the stop-and-frisk tactic may be reaching a point of diminishing returns. In 2009, only 1.3 percent of the nearly 600,000 people stopped were caught with weapons. Just 6 percent were arrested. If the number of stops keeps going up — and officers begin to be seen as acting recklessly and unfairly — the department will risk permanently alienating an entire generation of people in the very neighborhoods where trust in the law is most needed.
Winter Olympics
Good Morning Joe!
Thought I might shine a little winter Olympic opinion with you this morning. Every time I watch a medal ceremony I get chocked up. Our free county is leading with golds! I, like many other Americans watch with pride as our young athletes receive their medals as our National Anthem is played. I am also sure that our President was proud of Shani Davis receiving the gold in the men's speed skating 1000m. And like our President being the first black American to do so. I congratulate him, but am left with a question in my mind as to why Shani did not hold his hand over his heart as the way other Americans I have seen have done, as well as his team mate did during their medal ceremony? cj
Thought I might shine a little winter Olympic opinion with you this morning. Every time I watch a medal ceremony I get chocked up. Our free county is leading with golds! I, like many other Americans watch with pride as our young athletes receive their medals as our National Anthem is played. I am also sure that our President was proud of Shani Davis receiving the gold in the men's speed skating 1000m. And like our President being the first black American to do so. I congratulate him, but am left with a question in my mind as to why Shani did not hold his hand over his heart as the way other Americans I have seen have done, as well as his team mate did during their medal ceremony? cj
Core Inflation Drops For First Time Since 1982
Consumer prices including food and energy rise less than expected too
WASHINGTON - Consumer prices rose less than expected in January while prices excluding food and energy actually fell, something that hasn't happened in more than a quarter-century.
The Labor Department said Friday that consumer prices edged up 0.2 percent in January while prices excluding food and energy slipped 0.1 percent. That was the first monthly decline since December 1982.
The benign inflation news gives the Federal Reserve more time to keep interest rates at record-low levels to shore up the economy and should ease worries in financial markets that a Fed rate hike is more imminent.
GO HERE to read more.
A Brooke Mulford Update
Sorry for the delay but YES we are home. We were able to go home Tues late afternoon and we both climbed into bed not long after walking through the door. Brooke did fantastic this round - just a few low grade temperatures and some seriously exhausting mood swings but nothing like the last 3 rounds. Cancer soooo Fears my little girl! Just one more round left (March 10th) and hopefully soon Brooke will be able to do normal 5 year old stuff outside of the house!
Brooke had a wonderful Valentine's Day at CHOP and even had a surprise visit from Daddy (yes, you heard that right...Rob actually left the restaurant on Valentine's Day!). She got lots of valentines from the other kids on the floor and from the staff. Have I mentioned how great the staff is???
Monday, Brooke saw an audiologist again to make sure that her hearing has not changed and to get the process moving for getting her hearing aids. All week she kept telling me that she couldn't turn down the volume on the TV because she has hearing loss and needs hearing aids...seriously going to milk this one! She has selected pink hearing aids that fit behind the ears and pink and purple swirl color for the part that goes in the ear - so much for trying to get them to blend in! Aunt Cheryl and cousin Cassidy came with us for her testing and when we got back to the room Aunt Alisyn & Grammy were there waiting! Later that night Uncle Johnny came by to stay with with Brooke so that I could go out to dinner (at POD) with two of my cancer mom buddies. Thanks for a great night out Elise & Julie and John for allowing me the opportunity!
Well, hopefully you won't be hearing from me much in the next couple weeks. Thanks again for all the prayers!
God Bless,
Amy
PreConditioning Seeing Military On US streets!
A request came in for me to post this video. It is not our position to agree or disagree with this information.
Obama Writing Health Bill To Skirt GOP Filibuster
President Obama is working on health care legislation intended to reconcile differences between House and Senate Democrats that could be attached to a budget bill and avoid a Republican filibuster, according to a published report.
The president's proposal, which is still being written, will be posted on the Internet by Monday morning, senior administration officials and Congressional aides told the New York Times.
By piggybacking the legislation onto a budget bill, Democrats would be able to advance the bill with a simple majority of just 51 votes, averting a Republican filibuster in the Senate.
The White House signaled Thursday that an aggressive, all-Democratic strategy for overhauling the nation's health system remains a serious option, even as Obama invites Republicans to next week's televised summit to seek possible compromises.
"It will be a reconciliation bill," the Times quoted a Democratic aide as saying. "If Republicans don't come with any substantial offers, this is what we would do."
More: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/19/obama-keeps-democratic-health-option-open/
War Contractors Receive Defense of Freedom Medal For Injuries, But Attract Little Notice
Falls Church, Va. -- A former sheriff's deputy from South Dakota named Tate Mallory got a medal for service to his country on Wednesday, but it didn't get much attention.
There was no top military brass at the ceremony, no long line of politicians waiting to shake his hand. Instead, Mallory stood on a dais in an anonymous hotel room in suburban Washington, D.C., looking pleased and slightly embarrassed as he was handed a Defense of Freedom medal.
GO HERE to read more.
Credit Card Changes Go Into Effect Monday
The new rules -- like banning sudden interest rate hikes -- were designed to help protect consumers.
Consumers should have seen it coming a mile away. In May, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, which included lots of new rules designed to protect consumers from predatory practices by banks and credit card companies, such as hidden fees and sky-high interest rates. The new rules, which go into full effect on Feb. 22, threaten to take a big bite out of the $15 billion in penalties and fees that the industry collects each year.
So what have banks and card issuers done? They've come up with new fees.
With a full 44% of American households carrying a balance on their credit cards, the CARD Act was designed to protect consumers by forcing banks and credit card companies to eliminate confusing language in their agreements and statements, make the terms of their credit cards easier to understand and be more accountable to consumers and the government.
GO HERE to see more and read the new rules.
Consumers should have seen it coming a mile away. In May, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, which included lots of new rules designed to protect consumers from predatory practices by banks and credit card companies, such as hidden fees and sky-high interest rates. The new rules, which go into full effect on Feb. 22, threaten to take a big bite out of the $15 billion in penalties and fees that the industry collects each year.
So what have banks and card issuers done? They've come up with new fees.
With a full 44% of American households carrying a balance on their credit cards, the CARD Act was designed to protect consumers by forcing banks and credit card companies to eliminate confusing language in their agreements and statements, make the terms of their credit cards easier to understand and be more accountable to consumers and the government.
GO HERE to see more and read the new rules.
Follow The Money: ACORN, SEIU And Their Political Allies
Documents and testimony from ACORN whistleblowers reveal that ACORN activities – despite contentions they are intended to help the poor – fulfill a self-serving and political purpose
On Thursday, Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Darrell Issa released a new report, “Follow the Money: ACORN, SEIU and their Political Allies” as a follow-up to a report on ACORN released July 23, 2009. The report includes new information gathered by committee investigators including over 50,000 pages of documents from ACORN offices in California and Oklahoma, from ACORN insiders in Missouri, Colorado, New York and Louisiana, and from Secretary of State offices and other election officials in nearly every state in the continental United States.
“Perceptions that ACORN is a charitable organization are simply wrong and part of ACORN’s efforts to deceive the American people,” said Rep. Issa in releasing the report. “ACORN is a political machine that uses a complex corporate web, connections to the SEIU, and powerful political allies to break laws in pursuit of a partisan agenda. This report shines more disinfecting sunlight on ACORN’s secretive methods of abusing taxpayer funds and charitable donations.”
Highlights of the report include:
“Muscle for the Money” – Muscle for the Money involves using non-profit corporations for electioneering activities and an SEIU strategy to threaten corporations and banks into brokering deals for ACORN’s financial benefit. SEIU and Project Vote used litigation to force demands from government officials. ACORN, through Project Vote, threatened State Secretary of State offices with lawsuits, thus forcing political compromises at the expense of taxpayers.
SEIU and ACORN are substantially intertwined – SEIU and ACORN jointly manage SEIU Local 100; SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana; SEIU Local 21A; SEIU Local 32BJ; SEIU Local 52BJ; SEIU Local 880; and SEIU Local 1199. SEIU aided and encouraged ACORN to put pressure on banks, to use its federally-funded affiliates to target political candidates, and to threaten public officials with litigation. ACORN took the lead in these activities and SEIU was the willing accomplice.
ACORN profited from the misery of the financial collapse – ACORN Housing (AHC) financially profited from efforts to intimidate banks into lowering down payment and mortgage lending standards – a trend that contributed to the financial crisis. ACORN used provisions in the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of 1977 to challenge bank mergers and acquisitions. These challenges successfully forced banks to make lending agreements with ACORN Housing. ACORN is one of the few entities that actually profited from the misery created by the collapse of the housing bubble.
ACORN is not a charity – ACORN filed corporate income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and failed to file a Form 990, a requirement for non-profit status in several states where ACORN does business. In some states, ACORN fraudulently informed state Secretary of States that it was tax-exempt in order to avoid state corporate taxes.
Accounting irregularities involving ACORN affiliated charities – ACORN received large amounts of money from its nonprofit affiliates while giving significantly less back in return, suggesting wide-spread subversive accounting practices. Based upon ACORN affiliates’ tax-exempt disclosures, there are substantial discrepancies between ACORN’s own audits and what has been officially reported to the IRS. Nearly 40% of the disbursements from three of ACORN’s 501(c)(3) affiliates to ACORN’s national organization come in the form of gifts and grants for which no real reason is given for the transfer of funds.
Click here to read the February 18, 2010, report – “Follow the Money: ACORN, SEIU and their Political Allies”
Click here for the July, 23, 2009, report “Is ACORN Intentionally Structured as a Criminal Enterprise?”
Source
On Thursday, Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Darrell Issa released a new report, “Follow the Money: ACORN, SEIU and their Political Allies” as a follow-up to a report on ACORN released July 23, 2009. The report includes new information gathered by committee investigators including over 50,000 pages of documents from ACORN offices in California and Oklahoma, from ACORN insiders in Missouri, Colorado, New York and Louisiana, and from Secretary of State offices and other election officials in nearly every state in the continental United States.
“Perceptions that ACORN is a charitable organization are simply wrong and part of ACORN’s efforts to deceive the American people,” said Rep. Issa in releasing the report. “ACORN is a political machine that uses a complex corporate web, connections to the SEIU, and powerful political allies to break laws in pursuit of a partisan agenda. This report shines more disinfecting sunlight on ACORN’s secretive methods of abusing taxpayer funds and charitable donations.”
Highlights of the report include:
“Muscle for the Money” – Muscle for the Money involves using non-profit corporations for electioneering activities and an SEIU strategy to threaten corporations and banks into brokering deals for ACORN’s financial benefit. SEIU and Project Vote used litigation to force demands from government officials. ACORN, through Project Vote, threatened State Secretary of State offices with lawsuits, thus forcing political compromises at the expense of taxpayers.
SEIU and ACORN are substantially intertwined – SEIU and ACORN jointly manage SEIU Local 100; SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana; SEIU Local 21A; SEIU Local 32BJ; SEIU Local 52BJ; SEIU Local 880; and SEIU Local 1199. SEIU aided and encouraged ACORN to put pressure on banks, to use its federally-funded affiliates to target political candidates, and to threaten public officials with litigation. ACORN took the lead in these activities and SEIU was the willing accomplice.
ACORN profited from the misery of the financial collapse – ACORN Housing (AHC) financially profited from efforts to intimidate banks into lowering down payment and mortgage lending standards – a trend that contributed to the financial crisis. ACORN used provisions in the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of 1977 to challenge bank mergers and acquisitions. These challenges successfully forced banks to make lending agreements with ACORN Housing. ACORN is one of the few entities that actually profited from the misery created by the collapse of the housing bubble.
ACORN is not a charity – ACORN filed corporate income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and failed to file a Form 990, a requirement for non-profit status in several states where ACORN does business. In some states, ACORN fraudulently informed state Secretary of States that it was tax-exempt in order to avoid state corporate taxes.
Accounting irregularities involving ACORN affiliated charities – ACORN received large amounts of money from its nonprofit affiliates while giving significantly less back in return, suggesting wide-spread subversive accounting practices. Based upon ACORN affiliates’ tax-exempt disclosures, there are substantial discrepancies between ACORN’s own audits and what has been officially reported to the IRS. Nearly 40% of the disbursements from three of ACORN’s 501(c)(3) affiliates to ACORN’s national organization come in the form of gifts and grants for which no real reason is given for the transfer of funds.
Click here to read the February 18, 2010, report – “Follow the Money: ACORN, SEIU and their Political Allies”
Click here for the July, 23, 2009, report “Is ACORN Intentionally Structured as a Criminal Enterprise?”
Source
Investigator Accuses Hillary Of Chinagate, Part 2
On her current Middle East trip, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed worry that Iran is "moving toward" a military dictatorship, and an investigator who uncovered the "Chinagate" scandal when her husband was president now is wondering whether this careful wording is "ChinaGate, Part 2."
The original "Chinagate," documented on the Judicial Watch website, was uncovered by Judicial Watch founder Larry Klayman. Technology companies allegedly made donations of millions of dollars to various Democratic Party entities, including President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign, in return for permission to sell high-tech secrets to China.
Bernard Schwartz and his Loral Space & Communication Ltd. later allegedly "helped China to identify the cause of [a rocket failure], thereby advancing China's missile program and threatening U.S. national security," according to records.
Now Klayman, who went on to found Freedom Watch USA, is interested in some answers that Hillary Clinton could provide.
"Why is Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration refusing to challenge the radical Islamic regime in Iran over its systematic imprisonment, torture and extermination of its own people?" Klayman asked today.
"Freedom Watch intends to get to the bottom of this latest foreign policy outrage, as human rights for the Iranian people are not only involved, but U.S. national security. These fascists are intent to not only murder their own people, but taken at the word of Iranian President Ahmadinejad, will use atomic weapons to wipe Israel and other Western interests off the face of the earth," he said.
"The question then becomes why has Hillary Clinton followed a policy of appeasement and who is she working for? I intend to get to the bottom of this, since it is not disputed that the Clintons took huge amounts of Chinese cash for favors to the communist regime during their prior administration," Klayman said.
Much more here..
China - Reducing U.S. Influence Abroad
We better wake up.
China - Reducing U.S. influence abroad
By Ben Tyree
Serious challenges from China are reducing U.S. influence abroad, and America needs to shake up and focus its national security institutions on this problem, says a veteran Republican international relations expert and scholar. Beijing's robust economic and market growth under an authoritarian government is gaining ground as a model for developing nations in the Third World, with China as a sponsor. This, in the words of Stefan Halper, is a key part of a process that is "shrinking the West."
Mr. Halper, director of the Atlantic studies program at Cambridge University and a distinguished fellow of the Nixon Center, noted in an interview that China is using its huge currency reserves - about $2 trillion, earned from its burgeoning exports of recent years - as a strategic instrument. Beijing is effectively buying up support in Africa, Asia and Latin America for its international policy objectives. The reward for those who supply needed energy and other resources to Beijing are condition-free, low- or no-interest loans and even debt forgiveness. Moreover, China forgoes the transparency placed on financial aid by institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. China also subsidizes its companies working abroad in cooperative countries on projects ranging from school, hospital and road construction to major energy and infrastructure development.
In return for this carefully targeted assistance, recipients agree to support Beijing in international settings on the inviolability of state sovereignty, the "one China policy," human rights questions and in the World Trade Organization. Africa alone has supplied a large amount of the support needed by China to block resolutions it opposes in the United Nations General Assembly.
"Today China provides the largest billboard in the world, Mr. Halper said, advertising a way around the West for developing nations that want to be like China. Leading by example with rapid growth, stability and a better life for most people year over year, but without an open public square or the freedoms of speech, assembly or belief, China is setting aside the 'idea of the West.' "
Until recent years, the Washington consensus, advanced by the West, assumed that smaller government, reduced regulation and a strong private sector - a free market, in other words - would give rise to factions, pluralism and eventually democracy, Mr. Halper noted. The failure of this to materialize and the realization among many African and Latin American leaders that they were worse, not better off, after two decades of attempting to follow the IMF/World Bank game plan, enabled Beijing to walk through an open door with an alternative proposal.
This is only reinforced by the current economic difficulties in the West, with even the Moody's bond-rating organization (as well as our Chinese creditors) signaling that America must correct its profligate ways or the game may soon be up for the dollar's reserve status and for American lifestyles sustained by cheap Chinese imports and Treasury debt purchases. Last year, for the first time, more than half of China's growth was devoted to its internal markets rather than to exports, which provides China with increased leverage in dealing with Washington.
Mr. Halper warns that the United States has thus far failed to address adequately or even weigh the full range of challenges posed by China's great surge. "The economic and military challenges presented by China are very serious and must be addressed with great care - but we understand what they are and we can manage them.
"We have not, so far, recognized or defined the ideational challenge posed by China in the form of a market-authoritarian model of government that is more attractive to Third World regimes than America's product - market-democracy. ... A coordinated response is needed - from a single place. We can't just drift along."
Mr. Halper advocates a central policy unit focused on China and a revamping of the National Security Council "to deal with major threats, Class A and then Class B threats. China is a Class A threat."
As yet, he says, "we have no response to China's assault on the values that underpin our democracy and that have served Western progress for some 200 years. But [we must build on] America's freedom narrative, project that on the world stage, and lead by example." He noted that President Obama's June 4, 2009, speech in Cairo invoking the universal quality of the American ideals of freedom was regarded by China's official councils as a "dagger at the heart" aimed at stirring sentiments for change among China's large and diverse middle-class minority.
China finds these values frightening. And just as America remains the home of John F. Kennedy's "new frontiers" - whether in the fields of technology, medicine or political thought - China can neither steal nor emulate the creative impulse that remains at the core of the American experience. Indeed, what Mr. Halper cites as predatory Chinese practices against American cybersecurity and intellectual property rights are due in part to a desperate effort to keep pace with Western technological advances. The former Soviet Union couldn't keep pace with U.S. military expenditures. Will cash-rich China keep abreast on innovation?
Mr. Halper details the conflict of ideas and the economic and strategic challenges posed by China in specific regions and nations in his forthcoming "The Beijing Consensus."
Benjamin P. Tyree is a Washington writer and a media fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.
China - Reducing U.S. influence abroad
By Ben Tyree
Serious challenges from China are reducing U.S. influence abroad, and America needs to shake up and focus its national security institutions on this problem, says a veteran Republican international relations expert and scholar. Beijing's robust economic and market growth under an authoritarian government is gaining ground as a model for developing nations in the Third World, with China as a sponsor. This, in the words of Stefan Halper, is a key part of a process that is "shrinking the West."
Mr. Halper, director of the Atlantic studies program at Cambridge University and a distinguished fellow of the Nixon Center, noted in an interview that China is using its huge currency reserves - about $2 trillion, earned from its burgeoning exports of recent years - as a strategic instrument. Beijing is effectively buying up support in Africa, Asia and Latin America for its international policy objectives. The reward for those who supply needed energy and other resources to Beijing are condition-free, low- or no-interest loans and even debt forgiveness. Moreover, China forgoes the transparency placed on financial aid by institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. China also subsidizes its companies working abroad in cooperative countries on projects ranging from school, hospital and road construction to major energy and infrastructure development.
In return for this carefully targeted assistance, recipients agree to support Beijing in international settings on the inviolability of state sovereignty, the "one China policy," human rights questions and in the World Trade Organization. Africa alone has supplied a large amount of the support needed by China to block resolutions it opposes in the United Nations General Assembly.
"Today China provides the largest billboard in the world, Mr. Halper said, advertising a way around the West for developing nations that want to be like China. Leading by example with rapid growth, stability and a better life for most people year over year, but without an open public square or the freedoms of speech, assembly or belief, China is setting aside the 'idea of the West.' "
Until recent years, the Washington consensus, advanced by the West, assumed that smaller government, reduced regulation and a strong private sector - a free market, in other words - would give rise to factions, pluralism and eventually democracy, Mr. Halper noted. The failure of this to materialize and the realization among many African and Latin American leaders that they were worse, not better off, after two decades of attempting to follow the IMF/World Bank game plan, enabled Beijing to walk through an open door with an alternative proposal.
This is only reinforced by the current economic difficulties in the West, with even the Moody's bond-rating organization (as well as our Chinese creditors) signaling that America must correct its profligate ways or the game may soon be up for the dollar's reserve status and for American lifestyles sustained by cheap Chinese imports and Treasury debt purchases. Last year, for the first time, more than half of China's growth was devoted to its internal markets rather than to exports, which provides China with increased leverage in dealing with Washington.
Mr. Halper warns that the United States has thus far failed to address adequately or even weigh the full range of challenges posed by China's great surge. "The economic and military challenges presented by China are very serious and must be addressed with great care - but we understand what they are and we can manage them.
"We have not, so far, recognized or defined the ideational challenge posed by China in the form of a market-authoritarian model of government that is more attractive to Third World regimes than America's product - market-democracy. ... A coordinated response is needed - from a single place. We can't just drift along."
Mr. Halper advocates a central policy unit focused on China and a revamping of the National Security Council "to deal with major threats, Class A and then Class B threats. China is a Class A threat."
As yet, he says, "we have no response to China's assault on the values that underpin our democracy and that have served Western progress for some 200 years. But [we must build on] America's freedom narrative, project that on the world stage, and lead by example." He noted that President Obama's June 4, 2009, speech in Cairo invoking the universal quality of the American ideals of freedom was regarded by China's official councils as a "dagger at the heart" aimed at stirring sentiments for change among China's large and diverse middle-class minority.
China finds these values frightening. And just as America remains the home of John F. Kennedy's "new frontiers" - whether in the fields of technology, medicine or political thought - China can neither steal nor emulate the creative impulse that remains at the core of the American experience. Indeed, what Mr. Halper cites as predatory Chinese practices against American cybersecurity and intellectual property rights are due in part to a desperate effort to keep pace with Western technological advances. The former Soviet Union couldn't keep pace with U.S. military expenditures. Will cash-rich China keep abreast on innovation?
Mr. Halper details the conflict of ideas and the economic and strategic challenges posed by China in specific regions and nations in his forthcoming "The Beijing Consensus."
Benjamin P. Tyree is a Washington writer and a media fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.
Why Did Rome Fall—And Why Does It Matter Now?
This is a cogent comment by a brilliant classicist -
http://victorhanson.com/articles/hanson021410PF.html
Victor Davis Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, a professor of Classics Emeritus at California State University, Fresno, and a nationally syndicated columnist for Tribune Media Services. He is also the Wayne & Marcia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History, Hillsdale College, where he teaches each fall semester courses in military history and classical culture.
He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2007 and the Bradley Prize in 2008.
Hanson, who was the fifth successive generation to live in the same house on his family’s farm, was a full-time orchard and vineyard grower from 1980-1984, before joining the nearby CSU Fresno campus in 1984 to initiate a classical languages program. In 1991, he was awarded an American Philological Association Excellence in Teaching Award, which is given yearly to the country's top undergraduate teachers of Greek and Latin. Hanson has been a National Endowment for the Humanities fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, California (1992-93), a visiting professor of classics at Stanford University (1991-92), a recipient of the Eric Breindel Award for opinion journalism (2002), an Alexander Onassis Fellow (2001), and was named alumnus of the year of the University of California, Santa Cruz (2002). He was also the visiting Shifrin Professor of Military History at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland (2002-3). He received the Manhattan Institute's Wriston Lectureship in 2004, and the 2006 Nimitz Lectureship in Military History at UC Berkeley in 2006.
http://victorhanson.com/articles/hanson021410PF.html
Victor Davis Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, a professor of Classics Emeritus at California State University, Fresno, and a nationally syndicated columnist for Tribune Media Services. He is also the Wayne & Marcia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History, Hillsdale College, where he teaches each fall semester courses in military history and classical culture.
He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2007 and the Bradley Prize in 2008.
Hanson, who was the fifth successive generation to live in the same house on his family’s farm, was a full-time orchard and vineyard grower from 1980-1984, before joining the nearby CSU Fresno campus in 1984 to initiate a classical languages program. In 1991, he was awarded an American Philological Association Excellence in Teaching Award, which is given yearly to the country's top undergraduate teachers of Greek and Latin. Hanson has been a National Endowment for the Humanities fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, California (1992-93), a visiting professor of classics at Stanford University (1991-92), a recipient of the Eric Breindel Award for opinion journalism (2002), an Alexander Onassis Fellow (2001), and was named alumnus of the year of the University of California, Santa Cruz (2002). He was also the visiting Shifrin Professor of Military History at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland (2002-3). He received the Manhattan Institute's Wriston Lectureship in 2004, and the 2006 Nimitz Lectureship in Military History at UC Berkeley in 2006.
I Bought A Car!!!!!
I just bought a car, thanks to the most wonderful people I have EVER met at Pohanka!
They did everything but roll out a red carpet for me! After connecting with Sandy Fitzgerald, she started the ball rolling and said, " We will put you in a car."
Sandy was out sick so she called me to tell me who my new contact person would be.
There was excellent communication the entire time! It was Cathy Newell. Cathy also kept me informed as to what was happening. Then the prospective finance company called me with a few questions and within less than 10 minutes said,
" I am going to approve this for you. Were you confortable with your past car payment? I replied, yes, it was always in my budget. He said, Ok, we are going to keep it that way for you." Next call was from Cathy again and saying, we have what we think is the perfect car for you!" This was this past Wed. night. She said how about we pick you up Friday from work with the car and let you test drive it and see what you think and if you like it, it can be yours! Mind you, I had not even seen the car, just knew the make, model and year. I asked the dreaded question...What will my payment be? She floored me when the payment she quoted me was LESS than my previous payment was on my other car for the same time frame! She probably thought I was a nut case because I was astounded! She laughed and said, it's true.
I was called today, Thursday by Chris Hagel who said the car was ready early, did I want him to pick me up today and check it out. Of course I said yes. I drove it for a while and headed back to Pohanka. I was certain I wanted this car. I made the comment as we headed inside, this is the part I hate. Two or more hours of paperwork. He said, no way, I'll have you on your way in 45 minutes. I was like...no way. He said, honest, the paperwork is already done just for that reason. We explain and you sign. He said when his part was done, I would see his wife, Robin for the final paperwork. I admit, they were very efficient and fast.
When we were done, he showed me the time and YES! Less than an hour and I had my keys and driving out!
I want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to Sandy, Cathy, Chris and Robin!
You all are the BEST and made this nobody special person feel like I was the ONLY customer you ever had! I told them as I was leaving that as long as I had a mouth on my face, I would be one of their best verbal advertisers ever!
I also told them when asked, what prompted me to go to them, Sbynews! I said that I had written in complaining that no one that I had contacted me and Mr. Joe told Sandy and within 10 minutes, she responded!
All I can say is, If you are in the market for a new or used car, give yourself a treat by going there! They are awesome!
Cindy W.
Making A Baby
This is hilarious!
There is not one dirty word in it, and it is funny!--
The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family.. On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife goodbye and said, 'Well, I'm off now. The man should be here soon.'
Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale. 'Good morning, Ma'am', he said, 'I've come to...'
'Oh, no need to explain,' Mrs. Smith cut in, embarrassed, 'I've been expecting you.'
'Have you really?' said the photographer. 'Well, that's good. Did you know babies are my specialty?'
'Well that's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat !
After a moment she asked, blushing, 'Well, where do we start?'
'Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch, and perhaps a couple on the bed. And sometimes the living room floor is fun. You can really spread out there.'
'Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn't work out for Harry and me!'
'Well, Ma'am, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.'
'My, that's a lot!', gasped Mrs. Smith.
'Ma'am, in my line of work a man has to take his time. I'd love to be In and out in five minutes, but I'm sure you'd be disappointed with that.'
'Don't I know it,' said Mrs. Smith quietly.
The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures. 'This was done on the top of a bus,' he said.
'Oh, my God!' Mrs. Smith exclaimed, grasping at her throat.
'And these twins turned out exceptionally well - when you consider their mother was so difficult to work with.'
'She was difficult?' asked Mrs. Smith.
'Yes, I'm afraid so. I finally had to take her to the park to get the job done right. People were crowding around four and five deep to get a good look'
'Four and five deep?' said Mrs. Smith, her eyes wide with amazement.
'Yes', the photographer replied. 'And for more than three hours, too. The mother was constantly squealing and yelling - I could hardly concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to rush my shots. Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had to pack it all in.'
Mrs. Smith leaned forward. 'Do you mean they actually chewed on your, uh...equipment?'
'It's true, Ma'am, yes.. Well, if you're ready, I'll set-up my tripod and we can get to work right away.'
'Tripod?'
'Oh yes, Ma'am. I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It's much too big to be held in the hand very long.'
Mrs Smith fainted
There is not one dirty word in it, and it is funny!--
The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family.. On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife goodbye and said, 'Well, I'm off now. The man should be here soon.'
Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale. 'Good morning, Ma'am', he said, 'I've come to...'
'Oh, no need to explain,' Mrs. Smith cut in, embarrassed, 'I've been expecting you.'
'Have you really?' said the photographer. 'Well, that's good. Did you know babies are my specialty?'
'Well that's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat !
After a moment she asked, blushing, 'Well, where do we start?'
'Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch, and perhaps a couple on the bed. And sometimes the living room floor is fun. You can really spread out there.'
'Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn't work out for Harry and me!'
'Well, Ma'am, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.'
'My, that's a lot!', gasped Mrs. Smith.
'Ma'am, in my line of work a man has to take his time. I'd love to be In and out in five minutes, but I'm sure you'd be disappointed with that.'
'Don't I know it,' said Mrs. Smith quietly.
The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures. 'This was done on the top of a bus,' he said.
'Oh, my God!' Mrs. Smith exclaimed, grasping at her throat.
'And these twins turned out exceptionally well - when you consider their mother was so difficult to work with.'
'She was difficult?' asked Mrs. Smith.
'Yes, I'm afraid so. I finally had to take her to the park to get the job done right. People were crowding around four and five deep to get a good look'
'Four and five deep?' said Mrs. Smith, her eyes wide with amazement.
'Yes', the photographer replied. 'And for more than three hours, too. The mother was constantly squealing and yelling - I could hardly concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to rush my shots. Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had to pack it all in.'
Mrs. Smith leaned forward. 'Do you mean they actually chewed on your, uh...equipment?'
'It's true, Ma'am, yes.. Well, if you're ready, I'll set-up my tripod and we can get to work right away.'
'Tripod?'
'Oh yes, Ma'am. I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It's much too big to be held in the hand very long.'
Mrs Smith fainted
GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN WIND ENERGY SUMMIT WITH INTERIOR SECRETARY SALAZAR, ATLANTIC GOVERNORS
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley will attend a summit today hosted by U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and attended by other Atlantic Governors to discuss a regional approach to wind energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Following the summit, Secretary Salazar and the Governors will hold a media availability.
Wicomico County Rankings
County Health Rankings for Wicomico County MD
Of particular interest was the Chlamydia rate, violent crime rate and access to healthy food.
Obama's New Distinction
Wow!
President Barack Hussein Obama has yet another new distinction:
Under his watch, we have both Jihadist Muslims and Americans attacking us in the homeland:
Nidal Malik Hasan (Fort Hood Massacre)
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (Underwear, Christmas-day bomber)
Joseph Stack (IRS Building Suicide Bomber)
Hey liberals, do you still believe the CHANGE you elected for us is good for America? If you do, then you are without a doubt delusional. See a shrink.
President Barack Hussein Obama has yet another new distinction:
Under his watch, we have both Jihadist Muslims and Americans attacking us in the homeland:
Nidal Malik Hasan (Fort Hood Massacre)
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (Underwear, Christmas-day bomber)
Joseph Stack (IRS Building Suicide Bomber)
Hey liberals, do you still believe the CHANGE you elected for us is good for America? If you do, then you are without a doubt delusional. See a shrink.
Army Investigates Alleged Attempt By Soldiers To Poison Food At Fort Jackson
The ongoing probe began two months ago, Chris Grey, a spokesman for the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division, told Fox News.
The Army is taking the allegations “extremely seriously,” Grey said, but so far, "there is no credible information to support the allegations."
Five suspects, detained in December, were part of an Arabic translation program called "09 Lima" and use Arabic as their first language, two sources told Fox News. Another military source said they were Muslim. It wasn't clear whether they were still being held.
Grey would not confirm or deny the sources’ information.
Serious Duck Blind
(Louisiana, of course)
3 stories--
1st level hides 4 boats underneath and has room for 2 hunters and 2 dog doors.
2nd level has a full kitchen with fridge, 2 stoves, electricity for lights,
living room with 2 couches and satellite, TV, theater seats around the
"porch of the blind" to shoot 14 guys comfortably side porch has a running
toilet stainless steel grill for cooking whole rib eyes for lunch.
all the mojos and mallard machines are hard wired to car batteries.
3rd level is the "crows nest" with room for 3 It's about 25' up in the trees
and most of the time you are cutting down on the ducks
3 stories--
1st level hides 4 boats underneath and has room for 2 hunters and 2 dog doors.
2nd level has a full kitchen with fridge, 2 stoves, electricity for lights,
living room with 2 couches and satellite, TV, theater seats around the
"porch of the blind" to shoot 14 guys comfortably side porch has a running
toilet stainless steel grill for cooking whole rib eyes for lunch.
all the mojos and mallard machines are hard wired to car batteries.
3rd level is the "crows nest" with room for 3 It's about 25' up in the trees
and most of the time you are cutting down on the ducks
APPARENT HOMICIDE VICTIM IDENTIFIED
(Cheltenham, MD) – The woman found dead outside a youthful offender facility in Prince George’s County has been positively identified as state and county police continue to investigate her apparent murder.
The victim has been identified as Hannah E. Wheeling, 65, of the 200-block of Courtland Place, Bel Air, Md. The victim worked as a teacher of general studies at the Murphy School, a facility located outside the perimeter fence at the Cheltenham Youth Facility in the 11000-block of Frank Tippet Road, Cheltenham, Md.
At about 7:45 a.m. today, a staff member at the school found the victim’s body lying outside a door of the school building on the lower level of the two story brick building. Police were called to the scene and the victim was pronounced deceased.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, assisted by detectives from the Prince George’s County Police Department Homicide Unit, responded to the scene and began an investigation. The preliminary investigation found the victim arrived at the school at about 8:00 a.m. yesterday. Police are working to determine what her activities were during the day. They have found no evidence that the victim left the school at anytime last evening.
The victim’s body was found lying partially clothed outside the door of the school building. Investigators believe the victim had been assaulted. The victim’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.
Police investigators continue to interview staff members and the students in the building. About 20 male students are in the building, which houses their dormitory, classrooms, and offices.
Maryland State Police crime scene technicians responded and processed the scene. A State Police helicopter was used to survey the scene from overhead and take aerial photographs.
The investigation is continuing.
The victim has been identified as Hannah E. Wheeling, 65, of the 200-block of Courtland Place, Bel Air, Md. The victim worked as a teacher of general studies at the Murphy School, a facility located outside the perimeter fence at the Cheltenham Youth Facility in the 11000-block of Frank Tippet Road, Cheltenham, Md.
At about 7:45 a.m. today, a staff member at the school found the victim’s body lying outside a door of the school building on the lower level of the two story brick building. Police were called to the scene and the victim was pronounced deceased.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, assisted by detectives from the Prince George’s County Police Department Homicide Unit, responded to the scene and began an investigation. The preliminary investigation found the victim arrived at the school at about 8:00 a.m. yesterday. Police are working to determine what her activities were during the day. They have found no evidence that the victim left the school at anytime last evening.
The victim’s body was found lying partially clothed outside the door of the school building. Investigators believe the victim had been assaulted. The victim’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.
Police investigators continue to interview staff members and the students in the building. About 20 male students are in the building, which houses their dormitory, classrooms, and offices.
Maryland State Police crime scene technicians responded and processed the scene. A State Police helicopter was used to survey the scene from overhead and take aerial photographs.
The investigation is continuing.
Five Muslim Soldiers Arrested At Fort Jackson In South Carolina
CBN News has learned exclusively that five Muslim soldiers at Fort Jackson in South Carolina were arrested just before Christmas. It is unclear whether the men are still in custody. The five were part of the Arabic Translation program at the base.
The men are suspected of trying to poison the food supply at Fort Jackson.
A source with intimate knowledge of the investigation, which is ongoing, told CBN News investigators suspect the "Fort Jackson Five" may have been in contact with the group of five Washington, DC area Muslims that traveled to Pakistan to wage jihad against U.S. troops in December. That group was arrested by Pakistani authorities, also just before Christmas.
Coming as it does on the heels of November's Fort Hood jihadist massacre, this news has major implications.
Source
The men are suspected of trying to poison the food supply at Fort Jackson.
A source with intimate knowledge of the investigation, which is ongoing, told CBN News investigators suspect the "Fort Jackson Five" may have been in contact with the group of five Washington, DC area Muslims that traveled to Pakistan to wage jihad against U.S. troops in December. That group was arrested by Pakistani authorities, also just before Christmas.
Coming as it does on the heels of November's Fort Hood jihadist massacre, this news has major implications.
Source
Ex-Warden And Somerset County Being Sued For $5 Million
U.S. District Court case cites assaults and civil rights abuses
Those named in the suit are former Warden James L. Henderson, County Commissioner President Mike Mc Cready and Maryland's Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services Gary D. Maynard. Gary Cullen, a former Somerset County Detention Center inmate is suing Somerset County for $5 million in U.S. District Court. It was during 2006 and 2007 that Cullen claims he was assaulted, battered and deprived of his civil rights while incarcerated at the jail.
This lawsuit could bring to open court innumerable problems at the SCDC that were uncovered in reports prepared by the Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation and the Maryland State Police. Cullen's attorney Christopher T. Nace of Washington is seeking a jury trial. On April 8, 2006 Henderson allegedly "pushed Cullen into a wall several times, punched him in the stomach with a closed fist" and later that evening pulled Cullen from his cell, shackled him to a bench and slapped him twice".
Thirty minutes after four other inmates were questioned about a jailhouse fight, the court filing alleges Cullen was told to do 50 push-ups and he would be released. "Wearing light clothing, slippers and not permitted to collect his belongings" or make a phone call, Cullen was released with $4 given by the warden from "his own pocket". After walking to the Dash-In on Rt. 413, Cullen called his mother and girlfriend, but before either arrived, Henderson and Officer Ward took him back into custody. The officer was allegedly directed to treat Cullen as an escapee "and gave him an additional 90 days".
In May 2006, Cullen states he was left in the facility gymnasium for 15 hours "without food, water, toilet or bed". This action is one that leads to the claim that Cullen was deprived of his federal civil rights, and that Henderson "acted with actual malice".
Other charges against Henderson by Cullen include "locking him in his cell regardless of the usual cell door policy that permitted doors to be open from 8am to 2pm. Furthermore, Cullen alleges that from Nov. 15 through Dec.30, 2006, "threats of violence" were made to him by Henderson and other officers, and that he "would be hanged during the night".
On Jan. 10, 2007, the day after a jail shakedown, Cullen was transferred to Wicomico County to begin drug rehabilitation. Because he was identified as the alleged snitch that caused the shakedown, Cullen felt he was being set-up to be accosted by other inmates. The statement of facts claims as much because it alleges that an Officer Ward told Cullen the warden "tried to get you messed up yesterday".
The following month Cullen was interviewed concerning the Henderson investigation and the next day he was unexpectantly dismissed from the drug rehabilitation program. Lacking any documentation of failing to obey program rules, he was transferred to a maximum security section.
"Immediately upon his arrival, he was assaulted by inmates. Cullen believes this is because he had been pegged as a snitch.
The investigation resulted in the WBI executing a search and seizure warrant at the SCDC March 8, 2007 and the County Commissioners suspended Henderson 13 days later with pay. On June 12, 2007, Henderson resigned after serving five years as warden as part of a deal to avoid prosecution. Henderson was rehired by Somerset County as director of Animal Control in Februaury 2008.
The State Police investigation corroborates what the court filing alleges in the Cullen case, but also reveals complaints made by other inmates of assaults on them by jail personnel including Warden Henderson. The case was filed last month in federal court and all parties have been served. The Local Government Insurance Trust will represent Somerset County and Henderson.
Complete article Crisfield-Somerset County Times, Feb 17, 2010
For actual court filings HERE