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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Meet Candidate Joe Schanno

Lost Pug In Parsonsburg


Area: Parsonsburg, MD. - Fred Adkins Rd and Walston Switch

Dog: Mollie. Fawn and Black pug. 8 years old. heavy set build. very friendly

Owner: Jamie Lawson 443-373-1069

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF HISTORIC REFORMS IN FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION SYSTEM

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 17, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley will join Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, foster families, advocates, community leaders and others to announce the results of the Governor’s Place Matters initiative, a reform program for Maryland’s child welfare system that focuses on finding permanent families for children in foster care.

Governor O’Malley will outline increases in Maryland’s adoption rate, reductions in the amount of children in foster care, and the results of a new focus on placing children in family settings rather than group homes.

JACOB R. DAY PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENT CONFIRMED


By a 4-to-3 vote the Wicomico County Council approved County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr.’s nomination of Jacob R. Day to serve on the County Planning Commission.

Following the vote, Mr. Pollitt said, “Jake Day is without doubt one of the most highly qualified individuals ever appointed to the Planning Commission. No one need take my word for it…one only need examine his resume and his record of service to our country and our community. I am pleased that a majority of the County Council recognized that and I look forward to many great contributions from Jake.”

TWO New Puppies Up For Adoption

GO HERE to see the new puppies.

Cannon Supports “Green” Pick for Planning Commission

Wicomico councilman John Cannon is back with the Democrats and helping to carry water for County Executive Rick Pollitt.  Today he voted to confirm the appointment of Jacob Day of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy to the Wicomico / Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission.  It’s a shame that Mike Pretl and his pals can’t vote for John in the upcoming 38-A GOP primary.

While Cannon did everything but answer the questions put before Day in his quest to portray the nominee as an unbiased expert it is doubtful that voters who care about nagging little issues like property rights will be fooled.  The ESLC supports ag down zoning.  So does Cannon.  No doubt that Mr. Day does too.

READ MORE …

N.Y. Governor To Discuss Relocating Muslim Center

Paterson working with developers, plans to meet with Muslim officials this week

NEW YORK — New York Gov. David Paterson plans to discuss relocating a proposed Muslim cultural center and mosque to a less emotional location farther from New York City's "Ground Zero" site of the September 11 attacks.

"We are working with the developers," Paterson's spokeswoman Maggie McKeon said. "There have not been any formal discussions between the governor, the Imam or the developer.

However, we expect to have a meeting scheduled in the near future."

An aide to a U.S. congressman said that Paterson spoke by telephone with Rep. Peter King of New York and told him he would meet this week with Muslim officials to discuss the possibility of providing state funds to help the center find another location, the congressman's aide said.

King backs the idea but leaders of the Muslim center have previously insisted they were not interested in moving away from the site near "Ground Zero."

GO HERE to read more.

Don't Miss Our 6 PM News Broadcast Tonight With Candidate Joe Schanno

O'Malley's Momentum Builds

Dear Joe,

As we head into the final months of the campaign, the O'Malley-Brown campaign has clearly seized the momentum. As Governor O'Malley and Lt. Governor Brown travel across Maryland, knocking on doors... attending house parties... touring businesses... meeting with voters, the energy behind our campaign is becoming evident to everyone.


Today, we'll officially report to the Board of Elections that our campaign has $6.7 Million cash on hand and a better than 3-1 cash advantage over the Ehrlich/Kane campaign.

This past weekend, Governor O'Malley attended events in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Montgomery County; and he "skyped" into house parties throughout Maryland. On Sunday, he spent the day in Cambridge on Maryland's Eastern Shore participating in a Habitat for Humanity project and opening a new environmental center at Horn Point that is helping to restore our Bay's native oyster population.

The momentum of our campaign continues this week, as Governor O'Malley will address the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. He'll meet with business owners there to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing our state. And later this week, he'll meet with farmers on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

These have not been easy times for Maryland's farmers, but through drought, rain, and snow, they recognize that Governor O'Malley cares "deeply about Maryland's farm community" and is working to improve the economic conditions of the industry and keep Maryland farms viable for our future.

All across our state, Maryland families and small businesses are responding to Governor O'Malley's vision and his efforts to move Maryland Forward.

While we are in the middle of a strong Summer full of campaign events, Bob Ehrlich is still sluggish and woozy from a couple of very bad weeks.

What happened to all that Money?

With campaign fundraising reports due today, the big question will be how is Bob Ehrlich spending all of his money without airing a single ad? With only $2 million in the bank for the final months of the campaign, the Washington Post is already asking what did Bob Ehrlich do with all that money?

Candidate For Sheriff Bobby Brittingham Wants To Protect Our Kids

BULLYING: exposing a student to intentional negative actions on the part of one or more other students, which adversely affect the victim’s ability to participate in or benefit from the school’s educational programs or activities.

While growing up as a kid, I remember “Bullying” was considered a minor occurrence, because in most cases it was minor verbal innuendoes to make one look cooler or tougher. Unfortunately our kids today do not just worry about insecure joking bullies but at times violent, out of control or harassing bullies. Incidents of bulling have caused increasing concerns among our school system personnel, students and parents.

In July of 2005, the “Safe Reporting Act” became effective. This act was passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed by the Governor. This law requires the development of a Form to be used by students and parents to report incidents of bullying. The law also requires all local school systems to record specific information and to report it to the Department of Education. During the 2007 – 2008 Maryland school years there were 1,257 students expelled or suspended for bullying in the state of Maryland and these are only the victims that reported such incidents.

On July 1 2008, the Maryland General Assembly directed the Maryland Board of Education to advise local school systems to develop and adopt “Model Policy” prohibiting bulling. My investigation reveals that only two Worcester County Schools have adopted their own policy. First being the Pocomoke Elementary School which implemented the program “Second Chance.” The Second being the Pocomoke Middle School which implemented their program “Project Wisdom, Night Out and others.”

Our kids need protected in our schools.

If elected, intend to educate and train the sheriff’s office School Resource Officers (SRO’s) and the Dare officer in “Identifying, Prevention, Intervention, Remediation, and Consequences and then educate” students of bulling. The Officers will also work with the school’s staff and students to ensure the most positive outcome. I will also have an area on the sheriff’s office web page to allow parent and students to report anonymously of any acts of bullying. I personally want to thank and give my appreciation to all those who work with and for our children. I realize your jobs can be very tough and challenging, if elected I will do everything I can to support you and listen to your concerns. The numbers of bullies are increasing every school year especially with the new use of technology and I say now is time to act and move forward for a safer tomorrow.

Sheriff Joe Has 11 Cop Killers In Jail

Click on image to enlarge.

Promising Alzheimer's Med Shown To Worsen Symptoms

Development halted after trials show semagacestat impairs cognition

NEW YORK — Eli Lilly and Co is halting development of one of its experimental late-stage Alzheimer's disease treatments after preliminary results from large studies showed the drug was linked to worsening of cognition and the ability to perform daily tasks.

The halting of the development of semagacestat, announced by Lilly on Tuesday, is a serious blow to the drugmaker as well as to efforts to combat the degenerative aging disease, for which the development of effective treatments has proved elusive. Lilly shares fell more than 2 percent in premarket trading after the announcement.

The preliminary results stemmed from two ongoing long-term Phase III studies, in which semagacestat was compared with placebo in more than 2,600 patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

GO HERE to read more.

Potential Salmonella Contamination Triggers Egg Recall

Some eggs produced at Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, may be contaminated with salmonella, a food-borne bacteria.

A nationwide egg recall is now under way after confirmed illnesses -- but no D.C.-area stores are affected, says Safeway.

Eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Lucerne (sold by Safeway), Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps.

Safeway says the eggs that were contaminated were only distributed in Northern California. No other Safeway locations received any of the eggs from this particular farm.

Consumers should return the eggs to the store where they were purchased for a full refund.

GO HERE to read more.

Mother Confesses


Sheriff: Mom confessed to suffocating sons

S.C. woman initially said boys were trapped when her car went into river

GO HERE to read more.

Found Dogs In Nithsdale UPDATE




UPDATE: The owner was located and the animals are returning home. Thanks everyone!

We had two small dogs show up on our porch in Nithsdale this afternoon. One small, black and tan female min-pin, and one small buff colored female of unknown breed.

The min-pin has been on the lam since Friday at least - I spotted her at the 90 degree stop sign on Pemberton and tried to grab her, but she ran away. The two are safe, fed and watered (the min-pin was VERY hungry). Don't know about long term care for the two, but they are no trouble for now.

My number is 443-880-7036, and my cell service at home is poor, but I check my voicemail often.

Jaime Duhe

Andy Harris Statement On The Ground Zero Mosque


Andy Harris released a statement today regarding President Obama’s Support of the Ground Zero Mosque:

“The proposal to build an Islamic mosque and community center near Ground Zero is blatantly disrespectful to the sacred ground that is a memorial to the 3,000 Americans who died on September 11th. The president is once again trying to have it both ways; publicly supporting the project while saying he won’t get involved in local politics. He is thinking like a lawyer and not like an American, making declarations without America’s best interest in mind. I lost a very close friend in the terrorist attack on the Towers and consider Ground Zero a place to remember my friend and how she lost her life trying to save others on that day. The area around Ground Zero is a special place where Americans should feel comfortable to visit, mourn, and remember what happened on 9/11. That will be impossible if this project is allowed to continue. One of America’s founding principles is freedom of religion, but that does not mean you should practice your religion without a sense of respect for others.”

Pohanka Pays It Forward


Salisbury News has learned that Pohanka of Salisbury have donated more than $200,000.00 to local non profit organizations since they started the program.

$100.00 is donated from the sale of every vehicle sold. Customers are given a list of who they would like to donate to and donations are made to these organizations at the beginning of every month.

GO HERE to see the list of funds, (it has not been updated) but it will show you the large volume of money being donated to different organizations.

After recently purchasing another vehicle from Pohanka, we participated by making a donation to the Wicomico Humane Society.

One Year Ago Today




CASH FOR CLUNKERS was in full swing, dealers were selling out of cars faster than they came in and the auto industry was rebounding better than it had ever experienced.

I Want Your Money

Salisbury News Reaches Out To ALL Candidates


As we're getting closer to the primary elections, fundraisers, forums, speeches and guest appearances are something we at Salisbury News are interested in.


Please take the time to add us to your list at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com so we can make sure that event is covered and or promoted.


Also, if any candidate would like to send us information as to where citizens can make contact with you for a yard sign or information, send that information as well.


With the candidate interviews wrapping up this week, we will provide each interview for all to see in the final week before the primary.

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

Incident: Driving Under the Influence
Date of Incident: 16 August 2010
Location: Friendship Road at Ocean Gateway, Pittsville, MD
Suspect: Peter A. Binkowski, 29, Salisbury, MD


Narrative: On 16 August 2010 at 1730hrs, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a male subject sleeping in a vehicle on Friendship Road just off Ocean Gateway in Pittsville, MD. Upon arrival, the deputy observed a Ford Explorer with a male later identified as Peter Binkowski asleep behind the wheel. The deputy observed the engine was running and in drive and Binkowski had his right foot on the brake with the left one out the driver’s side window.

The deputy woke Binkowski who exited the vehicle upon request. The deputy detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from him and also watched him stumble as he tried to walk to the rear of his vehicle. After roadside field sobriety testing, the deputy placed Binkowski under arrest. The deputy transported Binkowski to the Sheriff’s Office where he was processed and released on signature after refusing a breath test.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Driving While Impaired by Alcohol


Incident: Theft
Date of Incident: 16 August 2010
Location: Cove Road Beach / Roaring Point Park
Suspect: Pending


Narrative: On 16 August 2010 between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM an unknown suspect(s) entered vehicles parked in the parking lots of Cove Road Beach and Roaring Point Park. Both vehicles were left unsecured while their owners were swimming. Anyone who may have been in the area and witnessed anything is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 410-548-4891 or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

Charges: Theft

Teachers Union Threatens LA Times Over Teacher Performance Article

On Saturday, the Los Angeles Times began publishing a hard-hitting analysis on teacher performance. On Monday, the Los Angeles Times reported that union leaders are threatening the paper as a result:

The Los Angeles teachers union president said Sunday he was organizing a “massive boycott” of The Times after the newspaper began publishing a series of articles that uses student test scores to estimate the effectiveness of district teachers.

“You’re leading people in a dangerous direction, making it seem like you can judge the quality of a teacher by … a test,” said A.J. Duffy, president of United Teachers Los Angeles, which has more than 40,000 members.

Duffy said he would urge other labor groups to ask their members to cancel their subscriptions.

Based on test score data covering seven years, The Times analyzed the effects of more than 6,000 elementary school teachers on their students’ learning. Among other things, it found huge disparities among teachers, some of whom work just down the hall from one another.

The unions defensiveness here is especially galling when you consider that the Los Angeles Unified School District is one of the worst in the country when it comes to firing bad teachers. See this report from L.A. Weekly:

In the past decade, LAUSD officials spent $3.5 million trying to fire just seven of the district’s 33,000 teachers for poor classroom performance — and only four were fired, during legal struggles that wore on, on average, for five years each. Two of the three others were paid large settlements, and one was reinstated. The average cost of each battle is $500,000.

Read the rest of the story here

Canseco Homers For Minor-League Team

LAREDO, Texas - Jose Canseco hit a long home run to left-center field on the third pitch of the first at-bat of his United League Baseball debut.

Canseco's home run capped Laredo's six-run sixth inning and the Broncos beat the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings 16-8 on Monday night.

The 46-year-old Canseco did not start, but he pinch-hit with a runner at second and two outs in the bottom of the sixth. The home run gave the Broncos a 15-6 lead.

GO HERE to read more.

Wal-Mart's Profit Rises On Cost-Cutting

U.S. retail giant also raises its earnings guidance

NEW YORK — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported a 3.6 percent increase in second-quarter net income and raised its earnings guidance for the full year as it benefits from cost-cutting and robust global growth in China, Brazil and Mexico.

But a closely watched measure of revenue at its namesake U.S. stores fell more than expected as its main customers have felt the biggest impact of the economy's woes.

The discounter said Tuesday it had net income of $3.59 billion, or 97 cents per share, for the period ended July 31. That compares with $3.47 billion, or 89 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenue rose almost 3 percent to $103.7 billion. Revenue at stores open at least a year fell 1.4 percent, worse than the 0.26 percent expected by Thomson Reuters. At Wal-Mart's namesake stores, that measure fell 1.8 percent while at Sam's Clubs, the measure was up 1 percent. The 1.4 percent decline in revenue at stores open at least a year marked the fifth straight quarterly drop.

Analysts had expected earnings per share of 96 cents on revenue of $105.3 billion.

GO HERE to read more.

Today's Survey Question

Do You Still Wear A Wristwatch?

False Alarm


The PNC Bank on Kay Ave. in Salisbury experienced a False Alarm this morning. While we have received several concerned e-mail messages, everyone can relax.

Democratic Sen. Reid: Build Mosque Elsewhere

The Senate's top Democrat on Monday came out against plans to build a mosque near the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, moving away from President Barack Obama on the controversial election-year issue.

GO HERE to read more.

Cops: Mom's Account Of Sons' Car Deaths 'Not Believable'


Shaquan Duley arrested after toddlers found dead in submerged car in S.C.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — A woman who watched divers pull the limp bodies of two toddlers out of a car that had floated downriver near her home says she can't understand why the boys' mother, who was arrested, didn't bang on her door for help.

Ramona Milhouse, whose side porch door is steps from South Carolina's North Edisto River, said at first Monday she thought the boys were unconscious, until she realized their bodies were being taken to the ambulance with no attempt to revive them.

Two-year-old Devean C. Duley and 18-month-old Ja'van T. Duley were dead by the time divers got to the car near a rural boat landing, Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams said. County Coroner Samuetta Marshall would not speculate on a cause of death until autopsies were completed Tuesday, and police were trying to determine whether their deaths were accidental.

The boys' mother, 29-year-old Shaquan Duley, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and it was unclear if she had a lawyer. Williams planned a news conference for 10 a.m. Tuesday to discuss more details of the case. Sheriff's spokeswoman Keisa Peterson said early Tuesday she was unaware of additional charges.

"It sounds fishy to me," the 81-year-old Milhouse said. "If that was an accident, that woman would've been over here screamin' and hollerin' and really raising the devil."

Milhouse's observations echoed investigators' concerns as they tried to piece the events together.

"She showed some emotion, but I can't say she was overly distraught," Williams said of Shaquan Duley. "Through her statements, there are some things we think are not believable."

GO HERE to read more.

Zsa Zsa Gabor To Spend Final Days At Home

Doctors wanted to perform surgery on her liver that would give her a 50-50 chance survival rate, but Gabor and her husband decided "she wanted to spend her final days at home," publicist John Blanchette said.

GO HERE to read more.

Mother Gave Drugs To Child For Five Years: Update

A Manassas woman and her boyfriend were arrested for allegedly giving illegal drugs to the womans young daughter over several years.

Kristina Leigh Moore and Franklin Lewis were taken into custody Thursday after authorities executed a search warrant at their home for child abuse and neglect. Officers seized marijuana, smoking devices and crack pipes from the home.

Moore, 51, and Johnson, 50, had been giving Moores 15-year-old daughter marijuana since the girl was 10, according to police.

The couple is charged with distribution of drugs to a person under 18, possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.

Source

'Pee-Wee' Star Insists He Was Innocent Of Porn Charges


Plus: Justin Bieber bonds with idol Kanye West on Twitter


A scandal that temporarily put the brakes Paul Reubens’ career was based on unfounded allegations, according to the man behind late-80s kids’ comedy icon Pee-wee Herman. In an interview with Playboy magazine, Reubens recalled his 1991 arrest for indecent exposure in an adult theater and insisted the authorities had it all wrong.


Although Reubens elected to avoid a drawn out trial — not to mention the steady stream of late-night TV jokes that would have likely come with it — by pleading “no contest,” he believed he had all the evidence required to prove his innocence at the time.


“Had we gone to trial, we had ready an expert from the Masters and Johnson Institute who was going to testify that in 30 years of research on masturbation, the institute had never found one person who masturbated with his or her nondominant hand,” Reubens revealed. “I’m right-handed, and the police report said I was (masturbating) with my left hand. That would have been the end of the case right there, proof it couldn’t have been me.”


GO HERE to read more.

Air Force, Pilot Reach Agreement In 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Case

Military can't discharge Lt. Col. Vincent Fehrenbach without a court hearing

BOISE, Idaho — A military pilot reached an agreement Monday with the U.S. Air Force to prevent his discharge under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) said Lt. Col. Fehrenbach, a 19-year military member who has been decorated for his combat valor in Iraq, cannot be discharged until the Air Force brings the request to oust him from the military to a court hearing.

"The agreement recognizes the immediate harm to Lt. Col. Fehrenbach and insures that he will eventually get to make his case at a full blown hearing without losing his job," SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis said in a statement.

GO HERE to read more.

Woman Says Donald Duck Groped Her

Did Disney's eternally overreacting duck mascot put the moves on a woman visiting Epcot Center a couple of years ago? That's what the woman claims happened; in her lawsuit, she says a park employee dressed as Donald Duck grabbed her breast and molested her, "then made gestures making a joke indicating he had done something wrong." She's asking for $50,000.

More »

30,000 Storm Atlanta Parking Lot To Get Public Housing Apps


The last time public housing rosters were opened up, the city got 2,400 apps. This time, they thought maybe 10,000 would show up. Instead, an estimated 30,000 people descended on an Atlanta parking lot last week so they could pick up an application for public housing. 60 had to be taken to the hospital after fights or just from heat exhaustion. It was 90-100 degrees. And this is just to get on a waiting list. To get an actual voucher can take 8-10 more years. More »

Defense Appropriations Raided To Fund Teacher Bailout

Along with taking money from the food stamp program, the Democrats in Congress also quietly gutted billions that was previously appropriated to the Defense Department for such things as weapons and ammunition, armored vehicles, aircraft, missiles, new construction and more, in order to 'pay' for the $26 billion teachers union/medicaid bailout that was recently passed.

You'll find it documented here (toward the bottom in Title III).

Funding for SOCIAL SECURITY and The Dept. of Education help for students was also raided:

Sec. 317. The unobligated balance of funds appropriated in the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1995 (Public Law 103-333; 108 Stat. 2574) under the heading ‘Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund’ is rescinded.

Sec. 318. Of the funds appropriated for the Commissioner of Social Security under section 2201(e)(2)(B) in title II of division B of Public Law 111-5, $47,000,000 are rescinded.

Sec. 319. Of the funds appropriated in part VI of subtitle I of title II of division B of Public Law 111-5, $110,000,000 are rescinded, to be derived only from the amount provided under section 1899K(b) of such title.

Sec. 320. Of the funds appropriated for ‘Department of Education--Education for the Disadvantaged’ in division D of Public Law 111-117, $50,000,000 are rescinded, to be derived only from the amount provided for a comprehensive literacy development and education program under section 1502 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Sec. 321. Of the funds appropriated for ‘Department of Education--Student Aid Administration’ in division D of Public Law 111-117, $82,000,000 are rescinded.Sec.

322. Of the funds appropriated for ‘Department of Education--Innovation and Improvement’ in division D of Public Law 111-117, $10,700,000 are rescinded, to be derived only from the amount provided to carry out subpart 8 of part D of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

(The final bill is also documented at Thomas.loc.gov)

These cuts speak for themselves.

(Hat tip to Nancy at Rightbias.com)

Schools Asking Kids To Bring Basic Cleaning Supplies

New items on the back-to-school lists this year include cleaning spray, baby wipes, and cotton balls. It's not for making a diorama or some kind of cheap puppet. Rather, with budgets slashed all over, schools have had to resort to asking the kids to pick up basic cleaning supplies for the school along with their usual TrapperKeepers and notebooks.

More »

Don't Fall For The Facebook 'Dislike' Button Scam


Ever since Facebook introduced the "like" button for comments, photos, status updates, etc., many users have expressed the need for a "dislike" button to level things out. Now unscrupulous marketers are using peoples' desire for a dislike button to their own advantage.


MSP Press Release

DATE & TIME: 8/16/10, 2023 hrs.
LOCATION: W/B Rte 50 @ Booth St., Salisbury, MD
CASE NUMBER: 10-54-007350
CRIME: 1. Possession of Heroin
2. Possession of Paraphernalia
3. DUI
ACCUSED: 1.) Dawn Bowman, W/F, Pittsville, MD, 32 YOA
2.) Jennifer Morse, W/F, Ocean City, MD, 36 YOA (Driver)

BRIEF RESUME:
On the above date and time, Tfc. Kulig stopped a vehicle for travelling the wrong way on U. S. Route 50. Upon contact with the driver, Jennifer Morse, trooper Kulig detected an odor of alcoholic beverage on her breath. Morse was arrested for driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.

Subsequent search revealed trace amounts of Heroin and paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Both accused were arrested and transported to Wicomico County Detention Center where they are awaiting disposition before a district commissioner.

Paul Craig Roberts: The Ecstasy Of Empire

The United States is running out of time to get its budget and trade deficits under control.

Despite the urgency of the situation, 2010 has been wasted in hype about a non-existent recovery. As recently as August 2 Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner penned a New York Times column, “Welcome to the Recovery.”

As John Williams (shadowstats.com) has made clear on many occasions, an appearance of recovery was created by over-counting employment and undercounting inflation. Warnings by Williams, Gerald Celente, and myself have gone unheeded, but our warnings recently had echoes from Boston University professor Laurence Kotlikoff and from David Stockman, who excoriated the Republican Party for becoming big-spending Democrats.

It is encouraging to see some realization that, this time, Washington cannot spend the economy out of recession. The deficits are already too large for the dollar to survive as reserve currency, and deficit spending cannot put Americans back to work in jobs that have been moved offshore.

However, the solutions offered by those who are beginning to recognize that there is a problem are discouraging. Kotlikoff thinks the solution is savage Social Security and Medicare cuts or equally savage tax increases or hyperinflation to destroy the vast debts.

Perhaps economists lack imagination, or perhaps they don’t want to be cut off from Wall Street and corporate subsidies, but Social Security and Medicare are insufficient at their present levels, especially considering the erosion of private pensions by the dot com, derivative and real estate bubbles. Cuts in Social Security and Medicare, for which people have paid 15 per cent of their earnings all their lives, would result in starvation and deaths from curable diseases.

Tax increases make even less sense. It is widely acknowledged that the majority of households cannot survive on one job. Both husband and wife work and often one of the partners has two jobs in order to make ends meet. Raising taxes makes it harder to make ends meet–thus more foreclosures, more food stamps, more homelessness. What kind of economist or humane person thinks this is a solution?

Ah, but we will tax the rich.

The rich have enough money. They will simply stop earning. Let’s get real. Here is what the government is likely to do.

Interesting

I found this gem from the Delmarva times on failblog.org and thought you would get a laugh :)

Coming Up Soon On The Wicomico School Calendar: The 2010-11 School Year

Student assignment letters for the 2010-11 school year, with teacher or homeroom assignment and other school information, will be mailed to all Wicomico students on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

The 2010-11 school year will begin Monday, Aug. 30, for most students. Students in grades 1-6 and grade 9 will attend school on Aug. 30. (Exceptions: All grades will attend at Pittsville Elementary and Middle, and only grade 6 will attend at Mardela Middle and High.) All students in grades 1-12 will be in school Tuesday, Aug. 31. Kindergarten and prekindergarten students will report those days as scheduled by the assigned school.

Wicomico County Schools will hold open houses Aug. 24-27 in preparation for the opening of the 2010-11 school year. A complete schedule of open houses for Wicomico schools is below. For additional details, please contact the school.

Additional information to assist students and families with back-to-school planning is posted on the school system’s web site at www.wcboe.org/boe/backtoschool.php.

GO HERE to read more.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel


Algae blooms color Chesapeake Bay
Cranberry-colored algae seeps into deeper waters

NORFOLK, Va.
- Huge ribbons of algae blooms have appeared in lower Chesapeake Bay, the result of a scorching summer and recent rains.

The dark veins of algae have been reported from Mathews County south to Norfolk, as well as other areas of the bay. The cranberry-colored algae have lined the beaches of Newport News and seeped into deeper waters, where crabbers work.

Environmentalists view algae blooms as a sign of a Chesapeake Bay in peril.

"It's an indication that the bay's water quality is out of balance," said Christy Everett, Hampton Roads director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

The foundation provided to The Associated Press aerial photographs of the blooms taken July 31.

An excessive amount of nutrients washed into the bay by heavy rains help create dense patches of the cranberry-colored algae. Heat hastens the process. As the water cools, the algae decomposes and consumes oxygen while sinking to the sea floor.

If sufficiently dense, algae will remove all the oxygen and leave the water a dead zone.

While not harmful to people, dead zones can kill baby oysters, crabs, underwater grasses and schools of fish.

Margaret Mulholland, an oceanography professor at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, studies how algae blooms are formed and their environmental effects. She said it is not known if algae blooms have grown more common in the bay.

Species that can avoid the oxygen-depleting algae do, she said.

MATER MANIA 2010

MATER MANIA 2010
a celebration of the tomato
Sunday, August 22nd
3-7 p.m. at the Cedar Hill Park in Bivalve
Support Local Farms
& Farmers
Family Event -- Silent Auction – Music & MORE!
GREAT FOOD!
Celebrate locally grown food: woodland grazed pork, pasture raised chicken,
grass-fed beef & heirloom tomatoes galore!
Homemade Farm-Fresh Cherokee Purple Ice Cream
Charity Event -- Tickets are limited!
Get Yours at SoBo’s or Rise-Up Coffee!

Go to www.SHOREFOOD.ORG to get tickets online
OR for more information – including the menu!
MATER MANIA 2010 – See you there!

University Of Maryland Picks Iowa Provost To Be New President

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - The University of Maryland has picked a new president.


Officials announced that Wallace D. Loh, provost at the University of Iowa, has been appointed president in an e-mail sent Monday to the university community.


Loh will take over from C.D. Mote, who is retiring after 12 years at the state's public university system's flagship campus in College Park on Aug. 31. Loh is expected to start Nov. 1.


Sixty-five-year-old Loh has been second in command at the University of Iowa since 2008, overseeing personnel and budgets for the state university. He was born in Shanghai and moved to Peru, then after high school headed to the United States, where he earned degrees from Grinnell College in Iowa, Cornell, the University of Michigan and Yale.

Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com

8/28 RESTORING AMERICA'S HONOR

Will you be attending the Restoring Honor rally on 8/28/2010?

If so, how are you getting there? Bus? Car? Car pool with others?

Will your whole family be going? Friends? Co-workers? Neighbors?

If you are unfamiliar with the Restoring Honor Rally, please visit www.glennbeck.com/828

MACo Summer Conference

WICOMICO COUNTY OFFICIALS TO ATTEND MACo CONFERENCE IN OCEAN CITY AUGUST 18-21

Representatives of Wicomico County will join their Maryland local government counterparts at the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Annual Summer Conference, August 18-21, 2010 in Ocean City at the Roland Powell Convention Center.

The conference theme is “Pride of Maryland.” Included among the many topics for discussion are: BRAC and Cyber Security; the Chesapeake Bay TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load of Nitrogen); School Accountability and Measuring Success; Maryland’s Treasure: How the Chesapeake Bay Defines Us and How We define It; Marketing Maryland: Selling Our Strengths; Issues and Resources for Older Workers; Keeping Children Safe at School; Utilizing Maryland’s Blue Infrastructure for Economic, Recreational and Environmental Benefits; The Changing Role of Local Management Boards; the Future of Land Preservation and Open Space Funding; the Importance of Prison Intel and Inmate Surveillance; Dealing With Sexual Predators; Stormwater Management: Where Do We Flow From Here?; Maryland’s Public Information Act in the Digital Age; Prevention of the Spread of Rabies Through Casual Contact; the Role of Preventive Health Care in Health Care Reform, the Creation of a Leaner, Greener Local Government; Lessons Learned From the 2010 Snow Storms; and PlanMaryland: The Trials and Tribulations of a State Land Use Plan.

Various meetings include those of the County Human Resources Directors, Public Information Officers, Administrators, Attorneys, Parks & Rec Directors, the Maryland Department of Planning and a County Elected Officials Breakfast.

Governor Martin O’Malley will deliver his traditional closing address on Saturday.

Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., who is also a member of the MACo Board of Directors, will moderate The Future of Land Preservation and Open Space Funding panel.

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The goal of the MACo Summer Conference is to provide county elected and appointed officials and other participants with continuing education toward gaining a clearer perspective on the challenges facing counties and to provide strategies and resources for addressing them.

MACo and its predecessor organizations have been in existence since the early 1950s. The association represents the interests of county government before the State and Federal governments. MACo’s members are the elected officials of the 23 counties and Baltimore City. A 15-member Board of Directors governs the Association with legislative priorities and positions determined by a Committee composed of representatives of all member subdivisions.

The full schedule and more details about the MACo Summer Conference can be found at: http://www.mdcounties.org//events/sum/sc_schedule.cfm

Public Welfare Free-For-All In Atlanta

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Ehrlich To Discuss Economic Crisis In Hard-Hit Washington County

Northrop Grumman to lay off 53 in Hagerstown; Unemployment Has Doubled Since 2006


Bob Ehrlich will visit Hagerstown tomorrow to discuss the recent round of layoffs and plant closings that have more than doubled unemployment in the Western Maryland region.

Northrop Grumman’s announcement that it would close its plant was only the latest move that has pushed unemployment over 10% in Washington County, up from just 4.4% in 2006.

Ehrlich’s visit comes one week after a University of Baltimore study shows that business confidence in Maryland has dropped 58% in the past four years.

Ehrlich will meet with business and civic leaders and review efforts to bring the local economy back to health. Job creation has been a prime focus of the Ehrlich campaign, and Ehrlich has already held more than three dozen roundtable discussions around the state, encouraging hiring and economic growth.

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO HOLD MEDIA AVAILABILITY ON PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION INQUIRY INTO PEPCO POWER OUTAGES

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley will hold a media availability today as the Public Service Commission prepares to begin investigative hearings of Pepco, the Washington area's largest electricity provider, following the third major storm-related power outage in as many weeks. Nearly a half million homes have been without power at one point, spanning three storms since late July, primarily in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.

The outages prompted Governor O’Malley to call for a PSC investigation. The Governor’s August 6 and August 12 letters can be seen here.

Pediatric Oral Surgery PROGRAM TO OPEN

Salisbury, MD— The Village Dental Center in collaboration with Drs. Mark and Jerry Krause of Krause Pediatric & Orthodontic Dental Care and the Delmarva Surgery Center will open the first pediatric oral surgery program for low-income children this summer. This program is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Mental Health and Hygiene Office of Oral Health. A rehearsal is planned on August 20th at 9 AM at the surgery center to assure all equipment, supplies and staff is ready to see the first patient. The center will house specialized dental equipment purchased by the grant. “I am happy to be able to offer a service to the community that has not been available in over 20 years” states Dr. Mark Krause. Both Drs. Krause have been members of the Village Dental Center Advisory Board since its inception and have worked to see this safety net program to fruition. Dr. Mark Krause will be the lead dentist in this effort. Dr Gary Womer, Clinical Director at the Village Dental Center notes that “with this new program, many children with multiple dental caries will no longer have to travel to the western shore to receive treatment. I look forward to working with the Dr. Krause and other dental providers in the community to reduce the amount of untreated decay in our area.”

Dental decay is the most prevalent chronic childhood disease in the United States and Maryland – 5 times more common that asthma. In 2005-2006, the Survey of Oral Health Status of Maryland Public School Children found children in K and Grade 3 who reside in the Eastern Shore were more likely to have untreated dental caries as compared to children who reside in Southern or Western Maryland. The Village Dental Center is operated by the Wicomico County Health Department and provides preventive, diagnostic, and restorative services to both low-income children and pregnant women. For more information about this program or to schedule a dental appointment, call 410-334-3401.

BUNDY HURLS COMPLETE GAME IN SHOREBIRDS 4-2 WIN

First Shorebirds Complete Game Since 2008

Lakewood, NJ
– Right-handed starter Bobby Bundy tossed the first nine-inning complete game since 2008 to lift the Shorebirds past the Lakewood BlueClaws 4-2 in the series finale at FirstEnergy Park. The last Shorebirds pitcher to toss a nine-inning complete game was Sean Gleason on July 23, 2008 against the Hickory Crawdads.

The Shorebirds claimed an early lead in the first inning. T.J. Baxter led off the game with a hard single into right field. Baxter stole second and reached third on the high throw into center field by catcher Sebastian Valle. Two batters later, Ty Kelly hit a sacrifice fly RBI to left-center field to give the ‘Birds a 1-0 lead.

Lakewood stole the lead away from Delmarva in the fifth inning. Michael Dabbs hit a one out single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Then, Stephen Batts hit a single to plate Dabbs. The next batter, Keoni Ruth, singled to score Batts to give Lakewood the lead at 2-1.

The Shorebirds were able to regain the lead in the sixth inning. Helmick starting the frame with a single. He stole second and score on a line drive double towards the right field corner by Kieron Pope to tie the game at 2-2. Then, Mike Flacco hit a grounder through the right side of the infield to score Pope and give the ‘Birds a 3-2 edge.

The Shorebirds tacked on one more in the eighth on a triple by Mikey Planeta.

Bobby Bundy earned his first win since June 15th by tossing a nine-inning gem. The Sperry, Oklahoma native allowed just five hits and two runs. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

The Shorebirds return to Perdue Stadium on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Brent Allar makes the start for Delmarva.

For tickets and information, call the Shorebirds Box Office at 410-219-3112.

SHOREBIRDS GAME NOTES: 8/16 @ Lakewood

PREVIEW: The Shorebirds managed just two hits as the BlueClaws secured the series win last night with a 5-2 win. The ‘Birds are now 11.5 games out of first place with 21 games remaining in 2010. The Shorebirds are 3-11 in August and 4-16 in their last 20 games. The Shorebirds have scored 6 runs on 18 hits through four games of the series.

3 STRAIGHT: Mike Flacco has recorded a double in three straight games.

PARKER EXCELLING: Relief pitcher Brian Parker tossed another scoreless shutout last night (2.2 IP). He has allowed just one earned run in his last 15.1 innings pitched (five outings). His ERA has dipped from 2.95 to 1.96 during the stretch.

TOP OF THE ORDER WOES: Through the first four games of the series, one through four in the order are a combined 5-for-58 (.086).

STRUGGLING IN HOMETOWN: T.J. Baxter (Point Pleasant, NJ) has struggled in his eight games at FirstEnergy Park this season. He is 2-for-33 at FirstEnergy Park with 15 strikeouts.

HITLESS: Steve Bumbry is hitless in his last 22 at-bats dating back to August 5th. Kieron Pope is hitless in his last 12 at-bats and 1-for-22 in his last six games.