Boonies: It's Not The End Of The World But You Sure Can See It

Mexican Mayors Blame Rise In Country's Violence On U.S.

At the same time U.S. border states are warning of violence spilling over from Mexico, a coalition of Mexican mayors says deportation of illegal immigrants who have been convicted of serious crimes in U.S. is contributing to border violence in Mexico.

GO HERE to read more.

Record Number Of Children Die In Hot Cars In 2010

Advocacy group counts 48 such deaths in a year of record temperatures

This year of record temperatures has also led a record number of children dying in hot vehicles, according to a group that tracks such deaths.

According to the Kansas-based organization Kids and Cars, 48 children have died of hyperthermia after being left or becoming trapped in a hot car or truck. The previous record of 47 was set in 2005, says Janette Fennell, the group's founder and president.

"I'm devastated," Fennell said Wednesday.

GO HERE to read more.

Europe Plots Show Al-Qaida 'Escalation' To Assault-Style Attacks

Intelligence experts warned Wednesday that the massive terror plot involving simultaneous assault-style attacks in London, Paris, and Germany represents a serious escalation in al-Qaida's war with the West, and poses a clear and present danger to the United States.

European counter-terrorism officials are describing the plan of attack as being modeled on the November 2008 assault in Mumbai, India. In that attack, several teams fanned out across the city and used explosives and automatic weapons to kill over 170 people.

Der Spiegel is reporting a 36-year-old Hamburg man was arrested in Kabul in July provided authorities with intelligence about a series of attacks planned for Germany and neighboring European countries. He stated several teams of attackers bearing European passports had received training in remote Waziristan and Pakistan.

The plot is believed related to heightened security around the Eiffel Tower, which has been closed to tourists twice in the past week.

"It's completely certain that at some point, something like that will happen here," Michael Scheuer, former CIA counter terrorism expert who headed the unit assigned to capture or kill Osama bin Laden. "It's not only because you have increasing numbers of young Muslim males who are U.S. citizens who want to act violently, but we have completely neutered our police forces because they have 12 million undocumented aliens that they have to worry about, and they don't know a thing about them.

"So it's a huge problem," Scheuer says, "and not an easy one by any means."
ForeignPolicy.com reported the plot disrupted Tuesday involved "simultaneous Mumbai-style attacks -- with coordinated attackers taking hostages, using guns and grenades -- on cities in the U.K., France, and Germany."

Author Steve Emerson, one of the nation's leading experts on terror, and the executive director of The Investigative Project on Terrorism, tells Newsmax that if al-Qaida is shown to be behind the series of attacks that were planned in Europe, "It would represent an escalation, as well as of course an expansion and diversification of their tactics, considering the success achieved in Mumbai."

More details

Ehrlich Accepts Endorsement from Mayor Rudy Giuliani

ANNAPOLIS – Bob Ehrlich today accepted former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s endorsement for Governor of Maryland. Statements from Mayor Giuliani and Governor Ehrlich are below.

“There is only one candidate running for Governor of Maryland who is capable of restoring Maryland’s economy and that is Bob Ehrlich. During Bob’s first term, he helped create 100,000 private sector jobs and defeated or vetoed $7.5 billion in new taxes. His plan for the next four years – creating jobs, lowering the tax burden of families and entrepreneurs, and reining in government spending – is exactly what Maryland needs,” said Mayor Giuliani.

“It is a great honor to have Mayor Giuliani’s trust and endorsement,” said Ehrlich.  “He is a living testament to how a competent and committed Mayor can lead a city to new heights.  He and I share an unwavering belief in the entrepreneur as the catalyst for creating jobs and economic security for families. Most of all, I am proud to call Mayor Giuliani a friend.” 

Do NOT Miss Our 6 PM News Broadcast TONIGHT

59 days since Salisbury Safe Streets Legislation Introduced Still No Council Work Session

Mayor James Ireton, Jr. reminds the public, today, that 59 days have passed since he introduced the Salisbury Safe Streets Legislative Package. The package was introduced to the public and given to City Council on Monday, August 2nd, 2010. This means City Council has had 59 days to place this on a Work session agenda and Council President, Louise Smith, has yet to do so. Mayor Ireton urges the public, in the wake of the current wave of violence, to contact Mrs. Smith and demand that the legislative package get a hearing. The mayor has asked that the package have an up or down vote by Thanksgiving of this year.

http://www.ci.salisbury.md.us/CityGovernment/CityCouncilofSalisburyMD/tabid/80/Default.aspx - For links to Salisbury City Council Members
http://www.ci.salisbury.md.us/Default.aspx?tabid=643 – Neighborhood Legislative Package Link

Second Anti-Crime Legislation Public Dialogue Set for October 12

A second public dialogue meeting on the Salisbury Safe Streets anti-crime legislation package is set for Tuesday, October 12, 6:30 p.m., in the training room of Fire Station 16 Headquarters on Cypress Street, Salisbury City Council Members Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen announced today.

After a packed-house public meeting on the proposals was held September 15 in council chambers downtown, the two officials chose a site with more seating capacity and accessibility to the Westside, with a different week night to accommodate additional members of the public.

“In the wake of this week’s shooting spree, it is vital that we keep public engagement moving forward on these and related issues,” Cohen said.  “Some of this legislation disappeared four years ago, and our police officers are furloughed while lesser priorities are funded.  The public has a key role in overcoming these impasses.”

“Our previous meeting showed that Salisbury can have a productive dialogue about tough issues,” Campbell stated.  “We received input and questions from a variety of stakeholders, so this meeting on October 12 will give us an opportunity to address those matters and allow others to weigh in when they couldn’t due to the size of the crowd.”

As reported in the Daily Times, local landlords dominated the first meeting.  A show of hands among the landlords, tenants, homeowners and students in attendance indicated that landlords as a whole opposed the package in its entirety, while most city residents either supported the entire package or supported it in part.

Campbell and Cohen said they would soon release details of the format for this meeting to ensure that the process takes a forward direction and the public benefits from accurate information.  In the meantime, they again encouraged the public to read the actual text of the anti-crime proposals, which address one segment of crime reduction through better housing practices and property management.

The legislation can be found under the link “Neighborhood Legislation Pkg” on the city website homepage at left, http://www.ci.salisbury.md.us/, and on the website the two council members share, http://www.onyoursidesby.blogspot.com/.  Hard copies can be obtained by calling the city clerk’s office at 410-548-3140.

A three-hour audio recording of the first public dialogue meeting is available for free download or online listening from Campbell and Cohen’s website, or on CD from the city clerk’s office for $5, which covers the office’s cost of production.  For additional questions or comments, contact Debbie Cambpell, 410-860-0893 and debbiescampbell@comcast.net, or Terry Cohen, 410-845-0296 and Terry@TerryCohen.com.

City Readies For Tropical Storm

Asks Residents to Monitor Local Media for Updates

Mayor James Ireton Jr. announced this Wednesday that the City of Salisbury began preparing for heavy rains targeting the Mid-Atlantic. The expectation is 3 to 5 inches of rain and the possibility of pockets of up to 7 inches in passing storm cells, with rain beginning tonight and all day Thursday. Sand bags have been taken to Canal Woods to allow their maintenance crew to place them. Area dams have been lowered in anticipation of flooding. Electric generators have been serviced and placed city-wide. Sewer inlets are being monitored city wide. With heavy rains the city storm drains fill quickly. If you see debris in the drains and water is pooling on the streets, please call City Public Works at 410-548-3177 or Salisbury Police at 410-548-3165.

Motorists are encouraged, for their 9/30/10 morning commute and throughout the day, to monitor conditions and seek alternate routes from impacted areas.

Representatives of Salisbury Public Works, Salisbury Fire Department, Salisbury Police, and City Emergency Preparedness Manager Loré Chambers are attending a Wicomico County Department of Emergency Services Meeting at 3:30 PM today.

Comments

Well, its noon time and we've already seen 135 comments come in so far today. That doesn't include the numerous comments that came in on yesterday's posts, nor the numerous comments we've rejected from the usual crowd.

Your opinions and input is very important so please keep those comments coming in. It's a busy news day (56 articles so far already) and you can expect a lot more posts throughout the day/evening.

UPDATE: 250+ comments by 4 PM.

Big Labor, Not Tea Party, Is Workers’ Worst Enemy

by Michelle Malkin
My column today sheds light on SEIU Local 1199, which is spearheading this weekend’s disgruntled lefty protest in Washington. As Big Labor’s Tea Party-bashing rhetoric ramps up, it’s time for workers to put the blame for their troubles where it really belongs — on the heads of their own corrupt, profligate bosses.

The Service Employees International Union plans to send 25,000 rank-and-file workers on 500 buses to Washington this weekend to protest the tea party movement, Republicans and Fox News. If SEIU members had any sense, they’d be demonstrating at their own bosses’ D.C. headquarters. It’s the Big Labor Left, not the Tea Party Right, that is flushing rank-and-file union workers’ hard-earned dues down the collective toilet in these hard times.

The co-organizer of the so-called “One Nation” protest by a coalition of progressive groups is George Gresham, president of the behemoth SEIU Local 1199 based in New York. (This is the same SEIU affiliate that employed current Obama domestic policy adviser Patrick Gaspard as chief lobbyist for nine years.) Peeved by all the attention that grassroots conservatives and limited government activists have received over the past year, Gresham spearheaded the rally plans earlier this summer to “counter the Tea Party narrative” and reclaim the voice for “working people.” Perhaps Gresham should pay more attention to his workers’ pensions than to tea party leaders’ media appearances.

SEIU Local 1199′s Upstate Pension Fund has plunged from 115 percent funded in 1999 to 75 percent funded, and its Greater New York Pension Fund was funded at only 58 percent of its future obligations as of 2007, according to Hudson Institute analyst Diana Furchtgott-Roth. The union fat cats blame Wall Street. But while the pensions of SEIU workers nationwide are in “endangered status,” the pensions of SEIU top brass have been protected and remain fully funded.

GO HERE to read more.

What Change Do Voters Want?

New NBC/WSJ poll identifies the change that voters want -- and don’t want… GOP’s generic-ballot lead narrows from nine points (49%-40%) to three (46%-43%)… Still, overall political dynamics point to substantial GOP gains in November… For the first time, a majority (53%) thinks free-trade agreements hurt the U.S… Is the Tea Party just re-branded conservative GOP primary voters?... Bill Clinton’s comeback and Sarah Palin’s and Nancy Pelosi’s fall… VCI update: -39… First on First Read: new Dem TV ad hitting Kasich in Ohio… Wrapping up the Brown-Whitman debate… Previewing PA-15… And new WaPo poll has O’Malley up 11 points
.
From NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg

*** What change do voters want? With our new NBC/WSJ poll showing that 59% think the country is on the wrong track, that 65% believe the economy will either get worse or stay the same in the next 12 months, and that a whopping 73% disapprove of Congress, it’s clear that voters still want change. But what kind of change? Well, the poll asked registered voters to indicate whether 13 different outcomes on Election Day were acceptable or unacceptable. The most acceptable outcomes: reducing influence of special interests (70% acceptable), electing political outsiders (69%), Republicans taking over the majority in Congress (52%), Democrats continuing to hold the majority (51%), and repealing the health-care law (51%).

*** What change do voters NOT want? And here are the most unacceptable outcomes: Palin becoming the GOP’s leading spokesperson (55% unacceptable), Pelosi continuing as speaker (51%), the Democrats continuing to hold the majority in Congress (42%), and the Tea Party becoming a major force in Congress (41%). If some of these results seem somewhat contradictory, well, they are. But these two lists do give you a gauge -- however imperfect -- what voters want and what they don’t. Here’s a final set of numbers: 41% said it’s an acceptable outcome if President Obama is dealt a setback in the midterms, while an identical 41% said it would be unacceptable, which is just more evidence that November will be more of a referendum on the economy and Washington than on the president.

GO HERE to read more.

JOHN STOSSEL: The Government Steals, Then Calls It 'Taxes'

Progressives want to raise taxes on individuals who make more than $200,000 a year because they say it's wrong for the rich to be "given" more money. Sunday's New York Times carries a cartoon showing Uncle Sam handing money to a fat cat. They just don't get it.

As I've said before, a tax cut is not a handout. It simply means government steals less. What progressives want to do is take money from some -- by force -- and spend it on others. It sounds less noble when plainly stated.

That's the moral side of the matter. There's a practical side, too. Taxes discourage wealth creation. That hurts everyone, the lower end of the income scale most of all. An economy that, through freedom, encourages the production of wealth raises the living standards of lower-income people as well as everyone else.

A free society is not a zero-sum game in which every gain is offset by someone's loss. As long as government keeps its thumb off the scales, the "makers" who get rich do so by making others better off. (When the government allocates capital or creates barriers to competition, all bets are off.)

Of course, this is not the prevailing view among the intelligentsia. Columbia University Professor Marc Lamont Hill tells me, "Those who have more should pay more."

GO HERE to read more.

THE COMEGYS--MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TAXING SCHEME REVEALED

The new president of the Maryland Municipal League, Gary Comegys, appears to be directing (with the aid of a political consultant) its effort to obtain state “enabling legislation” to allow towns and cities to impose many new taxes and fees. We recently reported that the Salisbury City Council has endorsed this goal by passing a resolution requesting action by the General Assembly to provide much greater taxing power. This post provides further information about the scheme being foist on an unsuspecting public by the “MML”.

The game plan is quite sophisticated – to use the recent reduction in State funding of municipal funding of roads and police as a foil for getting the authority to impose new city taxes and fees. The playbook is smooth also.

This summer, at its annual meeting, the MML’s members – cities and towns – adopted a resolution that asks the General Assembly to both restore the funding for streets and police, which is impossible for the next few years because of the State’s fiscal crisis and structural deficit, and also to pass “enabling legislation to significantly broaden the authority of incorporated municipalities to raise own-source revenues.” Phase II of the scheme is to get every town and city to quietly pass a “me, too” resolution, as Salisbury has just done, without any meaningful public input or awareness until afterwards. If all of the munis do so, the MML can present many separate resolutions to the General Assembly, thereby making it seem that everyone wants to pay more City taxes and fees. That would lend support to a compromise in which the State does not provide any funding but does confer the power to impose more city taxes and fees.

And consider the verbiage in the resolutions – “raise own-source revenue” – with no mention of “taxes” or “fees” and no suggestion of what the source or sources of the revenue would be. But a blurb that Comegys recently distributed to the MML’s members fills in the blanks by specifying “Local Option Tax, Municipal Recordation Fee, Municipal Transfer Tax, Building Excise Tax, Hotel/Motel Tax, Admissions and Amusement Tax Cap Increase, Energy Consumption Tax, and Local Restaurant Tax.” In case you wonder about a “local option tax”, that term is normally used to refer to a local “piggyback” add-on to an existing state tax, such the income tax or sales tax. In short, the Comegys–MML scheme is to obtain (and, of course, to exercise at the city level) very extensive new taxes to extract “own-source revenue” from the residents, businesses and property owners in the city.

The city officials and MML will no doubt claim that they just want to have the tax authority available to use only in the event of a “rainy day” emergency. But the language of the resolutions and other statements makes clear that it would be used immediately – and that’s surely the case in Salisbury, where a new fee or charge of some kind seems to surface every week or so.

However, Comegys may have gone public too soon with the carefully concocted scheme by doing so before the election this fall. Candidates for the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates will be asked point blank whether they will vote to allow new or higher taxes of any kind anywhere. It also seems that Comegys has acted deliberately – the MML has recently distributed to city officials a special communication package with “outreach tips” and “sample candidate questions.” The questions are very slick – again designed to avoid any discussion of “taxes” and “fees” – so that a candidate might give an affirmative response to please the person who asks the question. The document suggests that he/she first recite a “preamble” whining about the reduced state funding for roads and police, followed by several scripted questions, including these:

“Will you support legislation to provide additional revenue raising authority to municipalities?”

“Would you support legislation to provide municipalities with enabling taxing authority that is comparable to current county revenue raising authority?”

Given the current economic morass and anti-tax sentiment, the MML and Comegys may have zigged when they should have zagged; perhaps they can blame that consultant. In any event it seems inevitable that the proposed taxes will fall squarely on the backs of residents of Salisbury and other cities that impose some or all of these taxes, with the exception of a hotel/motel tax.

Send this information to the each General Assembly candidate that you support. Any candidate who accepts or agrees with the Comegys-MML tax scheme in disguise should and deserves to lose for obvious reasons.

Andy Harris Receives “A” Rating From NRA

SEVERNA PARK, Md. – The National Rifle Association gave Andy Harris an “A” rating, calling Harris a “solidly pro-gun candidate.”

“I have been endorsed by the NRA in every race I’ve run and I’m honored to once again receive an “A” rating,” said Andy Harris. “Protecting the Second Amendment is paramount in keeping the traditional values of America alive. Maryland needs someone in Washington who will fight for Second Amendment rights and defend the integrity of the Constitution.”

“An ‘A’ rating denotes 'solidly pro-gun candidate,'” said the NRA in its letter. “A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.”

Wings And Wheels

How's That Gavel Working For You Now Louise Smith

How's It Working For You Now Mayor Ireton

New Poll: Harris Up By 4 Over Kratovil

“Now we know why Frank Kratovil is running ‘misleading attack ad[s]’ – he’s down in the polls. But given how frustrated voters here clearly are with Obama & Pelosi, it shouldn’t be surprising that Kratovil – who supported their job-killing energy tax and their failed stimulus that sent jobs overseas – is in serious trouble.” – Andy Seré, NRCC spokesman

“Democratic incumbents in battleground districts in Florida, Maryland and Virginia are in serious trouble with just over a month to go before Election Day, according to polling done for the National Republican Congressional Committee's independent expenditure arm…In the Eastern Shore-based 1st district, Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-Md.) trailed state Sen. Andy Harris (R) 39 percent to 43 percent, with 3 percent going to third party candidates. The survey of 400 likely voters was conducted by the Republican firm OnMessage Inc. and was in the field Sept. 20 and 21. It had a 4.9 point margin of error. Pelosi had a 28 percent to 61 percent favorable/unfavorable rating in the 1st district, while Obama's favorable/unfavorable rating was 42 percent to 55 percent.” (John McArdle, “NRCC Polls Show Kosmas, Nye and Kratovil in Serious Peril,” CQ-Roll Call, 9/28/10)

WMDT & Mark McIver Talk About Crime Back In July 2009

D.C. Workers Have America's Highest Salaries

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Washington, D.C.'s workers enjoy the highest salaries of any major U.S. city., with a median household income of $85,198.

The nation's capital fared better than most of the rest of the country in 2009, according to the Census Bureau's annual survey of income and poverty in the United States, which was released on Tuesday.

While D.C.'s income was essentially flat from 2008 to 2009, nearly every other major metro area suffered a drop in income. Of the 52 largest metro areas with more than 1 million residents, only San Antonio did not record a loss. The city's median income grew 0.5% to $47,698.

"This goes to how broad-based the downturn was," said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics. "During other recessions, a region or two avoided the recession. This time, none did."

He attributed Washington's relative success to the fact that the federal government is a stable source of income and jobs. Plus, the city has largest percentage of college degrees -- both undergraduate and graduate.

But, it's not just well-educated government workers swelling D.C.'s income statistics; many private businesses are opening operations in the city.

GO HERE to read more.

Want Rain? It's On The Way

The Washington region still has a rain deficit for September, but that could change quickly by noon tomorrow.

The region could receive a month's worth of rain -- or more -- in a 24-hour period starting Wednesday afternoon, according to NBC4 meteorologist Tom Kierein.

Light rain could start Wednesday afternoon, but could become heavy at times later in the evening, especially after midnight. Heavy downpours are possible after midnight and through noon Thursday.

And there could be flooding.

GO HERE to read more.

Pioneer Iran Blogger Sentenced To 19 Years Prison

TEHRAN, Iran-- An Iranian court sentenced the founder of one of the first Farsi-language blogs, credited with sparking the boom in Iranian reform bloggers, to more than 19 years in prison for his writings, a news web site reported Tuesday.

Iranian-Canadian Hossein Derakhshan, 35, was a controversial figure among Iran's blogging community. Writing his blog from Canada, he was initially a critic of Iran's clerical leadership, and in 2006 he visited Israel -- Iran's archenemy -- saying he wanted to act as a bridge between the two countries' peoples.

But he later became a vocal supporter of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, praising him for standing up to the West and criticizing regime opponents. Derakhshan then visited Iran in 2008 and was arrested. Over the next two years, he was often held without communication with family or lawyers, according to rights groups.

Mashreghnews.ir, which is close to Iran's presidential office, reported on Tuesday that Derakhshan was convicted on charges of cooperation with hostile countries -- a reference to the Israel visit -- spreading propaganda against the ruling establishment, promotion of counterrevolutionary groups and insulting Islamic thought and religious figures.

The court sentenced him to 19 1/2 years in prison, the report said, adding that Derakhshan can appeal. It was unclear if he would benefit from time served.

GO HERE to read more.

Amtrak Envisions High-Speed Rail For East Coast

PHILADELPHIA –  Washington to Boston in 3 hours? Amtrak wants to make it happen.

On Tuesday, Amtrak unveiled a $117 billion, 30-year vision for a high-speed rail line on the East Coast that would drastically reduce travel times along the congested corridor using trains traveling up to 220 miles (354 kilometers) per hour.

“Amtrak is putting forward a bold vision of a realistic and attainable future that can revolutionize transportation, travel patterns and economic development in the Northeast for generations,” said Amtrak President Joseph Boardman during a news conference at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

The proposal, which would require building a new set of tracks from Boston to Washington, D.C., is at the concept stage and there's no funding plan in place, Boardman said.

The project would likely use some combination of public and private investment and hopefully be phased in starting in 2015, he said.

GO HERE to read more.

Pedophiles Find A Home for Social Networking -- On Facebook

The world’s largest pro-pedophilia advocacy group uses Facebook to connect with its members throughout the world; to find and exchange photos of children; to hone its members' predatory behavior; and to identify, target and reel in child victims, an investigation by FoxNews.com reveals.

   

Facebook says it has a strict policy against the posting of content that supports groups engaged in child exploitation, yet a simple, five-second search on Facebook, conducted on Sept. 23, yielded dozens of pages devoted to the infamous North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA). Many of those pages featured numerous photos of unnamed boys, some of whom appeared to be too young for kindergarten.

GO HERE to read more.

Today's Survey Question

How Many People Do You Personally Know Unemployed Right Now?

The 'Quiet' Force

The headline reads:

'Credible But Not Specific' Threat-- Officials in Europe, US on High Alert for Commando-Style Raids

US and European officials said Tuesday they have detected a plot to carry out a major, coordinated series of new terror attacks in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and possibly the United States.

US law enforcement officials say they have been told the terrorists were planning a series of "Mumbai-style" commando raids on what were termed "economic or soft" targets in the countries.

In testimony before Congress last week, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said, "We are all seeing increased activity by a more diverse set of groups and a more diverse set of threats."

So here is the question.

Would the US be a safer place if Congress passed a 'must-issue' law stipulating that any current or former member of the US Armed Forces who qualified with a GI-issue weapon while on active duty, and has not been convicted of a violent crime, shall be permitted to carry a concealed weapon? 

Wouldn't that quickly and effectively (and cheaply) increase our level of security against rogue attacks?

TYRRELL: Fair And Foul In The First State

The race for the United States Senate in Delaware is a splendid example of what is called kultursmog, and the smog spreads untreated. One candidate, the conservative, has been slandered repeatedly,, and no one objects, not even most conservatives. The liberal opposing her has been given the proverbial free ride, even by most conservatives. Yet he is a fruitcake. She "dabbled" in witchcraft in high school, she tells us. He may have studied it in grad school along with other pseudo-studies. Yet he is stonewalling, while the press pillories her. No one objects save talk radio.

The Democrat is Chris Coons, the county executive of New Castle County, and his record gets more bizarre as the weeks pass. As a college student he converted from some kind of conservatism to some kind of far-left enthusiasm. He described himself as a "bearded Marxist" upon returning from Africa and reporting his enlightened transformation in the student newspaper. Now the mainstream liberals are covering up for him. The Washington Post reports that he "spent time in South Africa and Kenya doing relief work," but is mum on his Marxism.

Howard Kurtz on his CNN television show, in taking a swipe at Sean Hannity last weekend, called Mr. Coons' "Bearded Marxist" article a joke. One can understand why the agelastic Mr. Kurtz would find it a joke. Nothing in the piece was funny, except that Mr. Coons was becoming a Marxist about the time that communism was evaporating across the world and leaving, according to "The Black Book of Communism," 100 million graves.

But now, Jeffrey Lord, who unearthed the aforementioned information about Mr. Coons' Marxism, has filed a second installment in the American Spectator. He brings our story a bit more up to date. Mr. Lord tells us that this month Mr. Coons assured the Yale Divinity School's Notes from the Quad that serving in the Senate would be a "great way for me to apply the principles and values that were honed at YDS." Mr. Coons got a Master of Arts in Religion in 1994, specializing in ethics. He learned a lot.

Now everyone who has followed the Delaware race knows that the conservative, Christine O'Donnell, has been exposed by Bill Maher, the comic genius, for appearing on his show sometime in the 1990s and claiming to have "dabbled" in witchcraft.

But do you know what was being taught at the Yale Divinity School when Mr. Coons was there as a graduate student?

Witchcraft.

Had Christine been a bit older and presumably sophisticated she could have attended classes with Mr. Coons and been taught witchcraft by scholars. Perhaps she could have earned a Ph.D. in the mysteries of reading chicken entrails.

Along with classes in witchcraft, there were classes in Queer Worship, Feminist/Womanist/Gendered Theologies, and in the Introduction to Christian Ethics II, there was Black Liberation Theology, a study Mr. Coons first picked up in Africa.

Were the "values" taught in these classes among those absorbed by Mr. Coons at the YDS? We do not know, because Mr. Coons is not answering Mr. Lord's calls for him to release his transcripts. I have instructed Mr. Lord the next time he calls to adopt a deep baritone voice and announce that He is "the Lord," and He is becoming impatient. Test Mr. Coons' faith, I say.The rest is here

Hang Up And Drive - October 1st - New Laws For Cell Phone Users: Hands Free Devices Only

Joe,

 

I get so mad hearing about how Maryland passed this law. This is rediculous to think that the State of Maryland, aka: the State of over taxations, State of Mass Confussion etc.... Has any interest in your safety, health or well being. This law is about getting more revenue and that is all. You can not make laws up for STUPID people. With or with out cell phones, people will drive stupid and have accidents.

 

The law should have been "Distracted Driver law" What about eating and driving, shaving and driving, putting on make up and driving, reading newspapers, books and maps and driving. There are a ton of things people do and drive they shouldnt, some can they are trained and some should not even be on the roads. Those rich moms with the large SUV's that cant navigate stroller more or less a car that drive like thay own the road.

 

If the cops TICKET people for the other thousand violations out there more often maybe the would not need to make crap up for revenue.

 

If The State of Maryland or confussion were sincere about there efforts, funds from this violation would go in a special account just for victims of Stupid Drivers.

 

Never happen, our government is run by people that are gready and only care about their jobs and how good they look.

 

CA

Fruitland Police Department Press Release

DATE & TIME OF INCIDENT: 9-24-10
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Shooting
LOCATION OF INCIDENT: 200 Block Poplar Street, Fruitland
VICTIM: Jazmen Dale
CASE NO.: 2010-915
ADDRESS: FRUITLAND


PLEASE CONTACT DETECTIVE BEAVER between 8:30am to 4:30pm
(If additional information is requested)

Details: (include who, what, where, when, why and how):

The Fruitland Police Department is investigating the following shooting:

On 9-24-10 approx 2212 hrs a Patrol Officer of the Fruitland Police Dept. heard what appeared to be numerous gun shots in the area of Poplar Street, Fruitland , Within moments, several 911 calls were placed related to a shooting. Police and EMS contacted the victim who was identified as Jazmen Dale. Victim had suffered a single gunshot wound to her leg. Dale was transported to PRMC where she was treated and released.

Suspect vehicle was described as a full size pick up truck, older model, ash gray or white in color. Shooter described as a black male, close cut hair in his twenties.

"Secret" To A Long Life

A doctor on his morning walk, noticed the old lady pictured above, sitting on her front step smoking a cigar, so he walked up to her and said,"I couldn't help but notice how happy you look! What is your secret?"
"I smoke ten cigars a day," she said "Before I go to bed, I smoke a nice big joint.
Apart from that, I drink a whole bottle of Jack Daniels every week, and eat only junk food.
On weekends, I pop pills, get laid, and don't exercise at all."
"That is absolutely amazing! How old are you?"
·
"Forty," she replied

$1,000 Reward For Owner Of Dog Left To Die

Washington Humane Society officers found an undernourished dog at 3331 22nd Street SE. The dog was locked inside a cage behind a Dumpster at the Douglas Knoll apartment complex.

A maintenance man discovered the dog and notified the Society. Now the dog has been named “Thomas.” He’s a 6-year-old poodle mix. Thomas was found severely matted and his coat was soaked in urine. The cage was also filled with feces, indicating the dog was housed in the cage for weeks.

GO HERE to read more.

Critics: Obama Call for Extended School Year 'Impossible'

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

President Obama's call to extend the school year has critics saying budget realities will make the proposal impossible.

Inner Peace

 If you can start the day without caffeine,
  If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, 
  If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, 
  If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it, 
  If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time, 
    
 If you can take criticism and  blame without resentment  ,
  If you can conquer tension without medical help,
  If you can relax without liquor,  
  If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,  

....Then You Are Probably......
 
 
  The Family Dog! 

Maryland Judge Says It's OK To Record Traffic Stops

A Maryland motorcycle rider who recorded his confrontation with a traffic cop had the right to do so, a county judge ruled.

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4,100 Students Prove ‘Small Is Better’ Rule Wrong

BROCKTON, Mass. — A decade ago, Brockton High School was a case study in failure. Teachers and administrators often voiced the unofficial school motto in hallway chitchat: students have a right to fail if they want. And many of them did — only a quarter of the students passed statewide exams. One in three dropped out.

Then Susan Szachowicz and a handful of fellow teachers decided to take action. They persuaded administrators to let them organize a schoolwide campaign that involved reading and writing lessons into every class in all subjects, including gym.

Their efforts paid off quickly. In 2001 testing, more students passed the state tests after failing the year before than at any other school in Massachusetts. The gains continued. This year and last, Brockton outperformed 90 percent of Massachusetts high schools. And its turnaround is getting new attention in a report, “How High Schools Become Exemplary,” published last month by Ronald F. Ferguson, an economist at Harvard who researches the minority achievement gap.

What makes Brockton High’s story surprising is that, with 4,100 students, it is an exception to what has become received wisdom in many educational circles — that small is almost always better.

GO HERE to read more.

BLOOMBERG TO FORMALLY ENDORSE O'MALLEY IN BETHESDA

Baltimore, MD (September 29, 2010) -- Tomorrow, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will formally endorse Governor Martin O'Malley at Honest Tea, Inc. in Bethesda.

Bloomberg, an independent who has endorsed candidates from both political parties this year, is endorsing O'Malley because of his commitment to effective government, job creation, and public education. 

Bloomberg's endorsement follows the release last week of a list of more than 200 Maryland business leaders who are publicly supporting Governor Martin O'Malley's re-election bid.

Americans for Prosperity’s ‘November Is Coming’ Bus Tour To Stop In Salisbury and Put Pressure On Rep. Frank Kratovil

Bus Tour Stop will equip citizens to educate others about Congressman Kratovil’s big government spending record September 25^th

ANNAPOLIS – Americans for Prosperity will bring its November Is Coming Bus Tour to Salisbury on Thursday, September 30th to urge citizens to hold Rep. Frank Kratovil accountable if he continues to support big government policies that are bankrupting America.

“Congressman Kratovil has helped usher in a new era of bigger government with the failed Stimulus package and government control over our decisions,” said Dave Schwartz, State Director of Americans for Prosperity Maryland. “Folks need to send a clear message to Kratovil that struggling taxpayers can’t afford any more bad decisions from Congress.”

Concerned Maryland citizens will be asked to sign a petition to Rep. Kratovil, urging him to oppose big government programs or any other freedom-killing policies.

Activists will be encouraged to go door-to-door and do at-home phone banking as part of a citizen education effort to let people know where Rep. Kratovil stands on the issues and to encourage them to contact Kratovil to tell her to stop the out-of-control spending and big government policies.

More than 371,000 Americans have signed AFP’s November Is Coming petition at www.NovemberIsComing.com telling their policymakers, elected officials, and candidates that if they support big government policies, petition-signers will remember in November.

Dear Policymakers, Elected Officials, and Candidates: You know that November is coming and voters care about the issues. Left-wing policies continue to drive Obama’s agenda for even bigger government. We want you to oppose big government programs or any other freedom-killing policies or we will remember in November.

“The public needs to know about Congressman Kratovil’s past support for failed big government stimulus plans,  and his vote for a cap-and-trade energy tax, a piece of legislation designed to regulate our lives and limit our freedoms.  His constituents can make a difference by letting Kratovil know they have had enough of these reckless policies,” said Schwartz.  

The event is free and open to the public.

What: November Is Coming bus tour stop – Salisbury

Who: Americans for Prosperity

When:  Thursday, September 30^th – 1:00pm
Where: Adam’s Ribs

              219 S Fruitland Blvd

              Fruitland, MD  21826

For more information, please visit www.NovemberIsComing.com

DLLR Secretary Sanchez Must Go

ANNAPOLIS – Maryland Republican Party Chairman Audrey Scott today asked Governor Martin O’Malley to call on Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation Secretary Alexander Sanchez to resign.  In a letter to the Governor, Chairman Scott highlighted the recent scandal surrounding the censored July Jobs Report and gross mismanagement of unemployment funds as primary reason she is calling for his resignation.  Chairman Scott issued the following statement regarding her call for Secretary Sanchez to resign:

“For entirely too long the DLLR has served as a hindrance to job creators and a burden to Maryland Taxpayers.  Last week we learned the department wasted $46 million in improperly distributed unemployment benefits and now through Public Information Act requests we have learned the culture of the DLLR encourages employees to deceive the taxpayers for political gain.  We cannot continue down this path, our taxpayer funded agencies are supposed to work for us, not Governor O’Malley’s reelection bid.  With nearly 7,000 jobs lost last month and a record number of Marylanders still unemployed, we need principled leadership focused on job creation.  All of these recent developments show Secretary Sanchez is no longer up to that task and I call on Governor O’Malley to seek his resignation immediately.”

Cost of Obesity? Over $4,000 If You're a Woman

Obesity puts a drag on the wallet as well as health, especially for women.
Doctors have long known that medical bills are higher for the obese, but that is only a portion of the real-life costs.
George Washington University researchers added in things like employee sick days, lost productivity, even the need for extra gasoline — and found the annual cost of being obese is $4,879 for a woman and $2,646 for a man.
That is far more than the cost of being merely overweight — $524 for women and $432 for men, concluded the report being released Tuesday, which analyzed previously published studies to come up with a total.
Why the difference between the sexes? Studies suggest larger women earn less than skinnier women, while wages don't differ when men pack on the pounds. That was a big surprise, said study co-author and health policy professor Christine Ferguson.

Researchers had expected everybody's wages to suffer with obesity, but "this indicates you're not that disadvantaged as a guy, from a wage perspective," said Ferguson, who plans to study why.
Then consider that obesity is linked to earlier death. While that is not something people usually consider a pocketbook issue, the report did average in the economic value of lost life. That brought women's annual obesity costs up to $8,365, and men's to $6,518.
The report was financed by one of the manufacturers of gastric banding, a type of obesity surgery.

A major study published last year found medical spending averages $1,400 more a year for the obese than normal-weight people. Tuesday's report added mostly work-related costs — things like sick days and disability claims — related to those health problems.
It also included a quirky finding, a study that calculated nearly 1 billion additional gallons of gasoline (3.8 billion liters) are used every year because of increases in car passengers' weight since 1960.

More.

Months After Winning $1M In Lottery, Man Wins $2M

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The odds against winning $1 million in the Lottery: Astronomical. How about doing it twice?

It happened to a man from Bonne Terre, Mo., Missouri Lottery officials said Tuesday. Ernest Pullen, 57, won $1 million with a "100 Million Dollar Blockbuster" Scratchers ticket in June. And this month, he won $2 million with a "Mega MONOPOLY" Scratchers ticket.

Pullen, a retired military man who was working at the help desk for a telecommunications company before retiring after the first lottery win, said he considers himself to be a "lucky guy."

You think?

John Wells of the Missouri Lottery said the chances of winning $1 million in the "$100 Million Dollar Blockbuster" game are 1 in 2.28 million. The odds of winning $2 million in "Mega MONOPOLY" are about the same.

The chances of winning both?

Because they're independent games, it is impossible to calculate the odds, Wells said.

"But it's a pretty amazing coincidence," he said. "We've had players win big multiple prizes before, but this is the first person to ever win a second million-dollar prize in the history of the Missouri Lottery."

GO HERE to read more.

Do We Need A Little Inflation To Get The Economy Moving?

Inflation is good, at the right time, and in moderate amounts. Like adding just a smidge during a recession when there's a lot of people in debt. Knowing that prices will rise, some consumers and businesses are prodded to crack open their pocketbooks. The value of debts drop, easing the burden on strapped borrowers. Having used up a lot of options already, the Fed could slightly raise its inflation target and let prices slowly rise over the next few years, but they're unlikely to announce anything remotely close to that in their meeting this week. Namely because people really really really hate inflation. Why is that?

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Brew River Specials

Do Texting Bans Contribute To Crashes?

WASHINGTON - As Maryland gets ready to ban talking on a hand-held cell phone, new research finds that banning texting while driving may actually prompt more crashes.

The Highway Loss Data Institute, part of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, compared collision insurance claims in four states before and after texting bans. It found more crashes after the bans took effect.
 
Researchers think drivers are lowering their phones so police can't see them texting. By doing so, they are taking their eyes off the road for longer stretches of time.

GO HERE to read more.

Teachers/Freedom Of Information Request

September 28, 2010

Dear Shelley Fisher,

I am writing to you today concerning the performance of our teachers in Wicomico County. I would like to know how many teachers in the last 12 months have been dismissed for failing their evaluations (or for just being bad teachers). I would also like to know the same thing for the last 5 years and 10 years. In addition, I would like to know how many teachers in total Wicomico County employed in the last ten years. I am trying to achieve an accurate percentage of good/bad teachers employed in this county and your immediate response is greatly appreciated.

 Regards,

John S. Harris Sr.

Salisbury, MD

Ehrlich Accepts Governor Romney’s Endorsement

ANNAPOLIS – Bob Ehrlich released the following statement today accepting the endorsement of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

“I am honored to have Governor Romney’s endorsement.  As an accomplished executive in both the private and public sectors, he understands that the path to economic recovery in Maryland and America begins with empowering entrepreneurs, lowering the tax burden on hardworking families, and reining in government spending. I look forward to applying these principles to state government after November’s election.” 

Without Receipts, Some Are Losing Money When They Return Recalled Similac

Jeff says since his local grocery stores put Similac on sale, his daughter hasn't been able to get the full price back for the recalled Similac she returned because she doesn't have her receipts. Without proof that she bought it before it went on sale, they will only refund her the sale price. "Who saves grocery receipts?" he writes. "My daughter was out $40 with everything she returned and repurchased a different product."

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Caption This Photo

Small Business Owners Are Disappointed With New Federal Jobs Act

The federal Small Business Jobs Act that the president signed Monday is being hailed as a boon for small businesses, but some of the people for whom it is intended don’t see it that way.

“The law falls short of addressing the most significant problems all business owners face, which are lack of sales and uncertainty in the economy over taxes,” said Ellen Valentino, Maryland state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

President Obama invited Gov. Martin O’Malley to yesterday’s signing ceremony in recognition of his administration’s establishing small business credit programs in Maryland and because of O’Malley’s efforts to round up support for the bill among the nation’s governors.

GO HERE to read more.

Solar Death Ray Broils Las Vegas Hotel Guests

Guests at the Vdara hotel in Las Vegas are complaining about getting cooked to a crisp. The hotel is a glass skyscraper, and the way it reflects the sun magnifies the rays, raising temps on areas it hits by as much as 20 to 30 degrees. The result can cause plastic cups and plastic newspaper bags to melt, and it's definitely not comfortable to have it on you sizzling you up. The hotel is aware of the problem and is trying to deal with it, namely by putting out more umbrellas. Definitely a good reason to check out the online reviews before booking a hotel.

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A Letter To The Editor

I recently learned that Mardela Middle/High School is having their first middle school dance on Friday from 3-5 PM. What kind of school has a dance at this time. Middle school is a big deal for kids and they deserve to have the opportunity to have events like this later in the evening. From what I have been told, all other middle schools have evening dances.

Just another reason that this school needs a new principal!

SBYNEWS Coffee Survey - What's Your Pick?

Give us your opinion:

1) what coffee brand you prefer to make at home

2) what coffee you prefer when buying by the cup

DOES BOB EHRLICH AGREE WITH MD GOP'S SHRILL CALLS FOR DLLR SECRETARY RESIGNATION?

Ehrlich Was the Ultimate Look-The-Other-Way Governor, Refused To Ask PSC Commissioner Caught Using State Computer for Sex Chats and Prostitution to Resign

Annapolis, MD (September, 28, 2010) - In response to the Maryland Republican Party's shrill call for the resignation of Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation Secretary Alexander Sanchez, Maryland Democratic Party Communications Director Isaac Salazar released the following statement:

"It would be shockingly hypocritical if Bob Ehrlich joined the Maryland Republican Party's shrill, politically-motivated call for a dedicated public servant to resign. When he was in office, Ehrlich was the ultimate look-the-other-way governor when it suited his political agenda; doing nothing as his Public Service Commission Chair was caught colluding with lobbyists to jack up electricity rates on consumers, turning the other cheek as his Secretary of the Environment conspired with energy lobbyists to scuttle the Healthy Air Act, retaining a chief of staff who was subpoenaed to testify about his role in the Jack Abramoff scandal, and tasking a man he nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness" with executing the partisan firings of the state workers and spreading FALSE rumors about the personal lives of political opponents. Ehrlich even refused to fire a member of his Public Service Commission who used his state-owned computer to have sex chats and arrange meetings with prostitutes. Now it's election season and Ehrlich wants to score political points by calling for the resignation of dedicated public servants in the O'Malley administration. Voters aren't going to be fooled by Bob Ehrlich's political shenanigans and shrill political attacks--they want a governor who's on their side, not someone like Bob Ehrlich who has always put the lobbyists and the corporate special interests first."

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO JOIN GM OFFICIALS FOR MAJOR INVESTMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT AT BALTIMORE TRANSMISSION PLANT

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley will join elected officials and workers at the GM Transmission Operations plant in White Marsh today for an important investment announcement.    

Earlier this year, Governor O’Malley visited the plant to announce that GM would produce next-generation, two mode, rear wheel drive motors and related electric drive components at GM Powertrain Baltimore in White Marsh, creating approximately 200 jobs and retaining hundreds more already at the plant.