Desperate people do desperate things.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Friday, January 14, 2011
Woman Arrested At Fruitland WalMart For An Interesting Scam
Desperate people do desperate things.
Louise Smith Makes A Faith Based Decision To Step Down From The City Of Salisbury Council
40 people attended today's Press Conference, (no WBOC or WMDT) yet she had multiple copies of her speech for the Press. Nevertheless, Louise expressed her experience stating she never intended to get into politics. She went on for a good 30 minutes telling everyone what she did for the taxpayers, (more details later) and finally expressed the first year she donated $1,200.00 to charity and the community. The second year she donated $2,500.00 and last year $4,000.00 of her income. I personally thanked her for paying it forward and I believe this is an excellent example of what is right in our community.
Louise Smith stepping down could be great news to Mayor Ireton as he has had numerous issues with Louise not placing any of his campaign promises on the agenda. It's a bummer for SAPOA as they will have to work very hard to get candidates to step up to the plate to represent them.
The big question now is, will Gary Comegys run. I had the opportunity to ask him but to be perfectly frank I did not feel this was the time to ask him of such. He looked tired and weak so I simply asked him how he was feeling.
It takes a BIG person to run for Office these days. The Blogs and the Press can take a roll on those not ready to deal with today's media. Salisbury News, (me personally) will not be attacking candidates or individuals any longer. We will simply provide opinions and facts but no more attacks, that's over.
A lot of jaws dropped just as soon as Louise stated she would not seek re-election. I'm sure many felt she pulled this Press Conference together to announce she was running again. However, when asked numerous times in the past few days what I thought she would do I replied, she's not going to run again. I mentioned that Mike Dunn and Lynn Cathcart pulled the same Press Conference when they chose to step down as well.
So what does this mean for the taxpayers. It means you better take a good hard look at your candidates! In closing I'd like to mention this final note. Before the Press Conference started, MOST of the people attending the meeting had to ask where it was being held. MOST of them had never been in the GOB, or at least to a meeting or the third floor.
Michael Steele Drops Out Of Race For Republican Party Chairman
Incumbent Michael Steele, who saw his support steadily drop, dropped out of the race for Republican National Committee chairman after the fourth round of voting.
He endorsed former George W. Bush administration official Maria Cino. She gained eleven votes in the next round of voting but Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus remained the frontrunner.
Former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis moved into third and former Missouri Republican Party chairwoman is in last.
"At this time I will step aside for others to lead," Steele told members. "I think the party is ready for something different."
Steele also asked members to remember his tenure in a positive light. "Despite the difficulties, we won," he said, to a standing ovation.
"Barack Obama's agenda is not good for America. We fired Pelosi. Let's take the Senate, let's take the White House. Let's heal America," he said. "Thank you for the opportunity to serve and to lead, and now I exit stage-right." Members stood again to deliver an ovation as he exited.
Steele sank into third place in the fourth rounding of voting. He was never higher than second to Priebus.
Former RNC Chairman Mike Duncan told The Hill the race has entered "uncharted territory" for the committee, predicting it could take as many as eight votes to determine the next chairman.
He said it's far from a guarantee that Steele supporters will line up behind Cino despite his endorsement from the podium.
More
He endorsed former George W. Bush administration official Maria Cino. She gained eleven votes in the next round of voting but Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus remained the frontrunner.
Former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis moved into third and former Missouri Republican Party chairwoman is in last.
"At this time I will step aside for others to lead," Steele told members. "I think the party is ready for something different."
Steele also asked members to remember his tenure in a positive light. "Despite the difficulties, we won," he said, to a standing ovation.
"Barack Obama's agenda is not good for America. We fired Pelosi. Let's take the Senate, let's take the White House. Let's heal America," he said. "Thank you for the opportunity to serve and to lead, and now I exit stage-right." Members stood again to deliver an ovation as he exited.
Steele sank into third place in the fourth rounding of voting. He was never higher than second to Priebus.
Former RNC Chairman Mike Duncan told The Hill the race has entered "uncharted territory" for the committee, predicting it could take as many as eight votes to determine the next chairman.
He said it's far from a guarantee that Steele supporters will line up behind Cino despite his endorsement from the podium.
More
Illinois Jobs Coming To Michigan?
Earlier this week, on its last day of session, a lame-duck Illinois Legislature passed a 67-percent income tax increase, along with large business and corporate tax hikes. The measure was approved by just a single vote, and was shrouded in backroom deals and payoffs to constituency groups across the board. The Chicago Tribune’s lead editorial the following day had a short headline: “Goodbye, Jobs.”
Governors and other politicians from Missouri, Wisconsin and Indiana are all looking to capitalize on the self-inflicted wound of a competing state, erecting welcome signs at their borders inviting Illinois residents and businesses to relocate. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels likened his neighbor state to “the dysfunctional family down the block,” while newly-elected Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told taxpayers to “Escape to Wisconsin!”
Michigan has plenty of its own problems, but Gov. Rick Snyder might also consider rolling out the welcome mat to fed-up Illinois business owners voting with their feet.
Illinois is fast becoming the economic abyss of the Midwest. According to a 60 Minutes report on the subject of state budgets, the “Land of Lincoln” now never pays its bills on time, with $5 billion outstanding; it’s more than six months behind on paying for things like Medicaid, state colleges, small business pharmacists and government workers.
GO HERE to read more.
Governors and other politicians from Missouri, Wisconsin and Indiana are all looking to capitalize on the self-inflicted wound of a competing state, erecting welcome signs at their borders inviting Illinois residents and businesses to relocate. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels likened his neighbor state to “the dysfunctional family down the block,” while newly-elected Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told taxpayers to “Escape to Wisconsin!”
Michigan has plenty of its own problems, but Gov. Rick Snyder might also consider rolling out the welcome mat to fed-up Illinois business owners voting with their feet.
Illinois is fast becoming the economic abyss of the Midwest. According to a 60 Minutes report on the subject of state budgets, the “Land of Lincoln” now never pays its bills on time, with $5 billion outstanding; it’s more than six months behind on paying for things like Medicaid, state colleges, small business pharmacists and government workers.
GO HERE to read more.
Noah’s Ark And The Sanctity Of Private Property
The subject of a proposed religious theme park in Kentucky brings up an issue near and dear to the heart of libertarians: the sanctity of private property.
There is some controversy over the proposed construction of a $150 million Noah’s Ark theme park on 800 acres near Interstate 75 in Kentucky. The theme park – to be called Ark Encounter – is a joint venture between Answers in Genesis and Ark Encounter LLC. The former group already opened a $27 million Creation museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, in 2007.
The proposed park, to be completed by 2014, will feature live animals, event venues, a children’s play area, a replica of the biblical Tower of Babel, a 500-seat special effects theater, a reproduction of a first-century Middle Eastern village, an aviary, and a 500 by 75 foot wooden ark to replicate the biblical Noah’s Ark. The project is expected to create more than 900 jobs, attract 1.6 million visitors in the park’s first year, and have an economic impact of $214 million in the first year alone.
As expected, religious groups generally hailed the project even as other groups that focus on church-state issues had a problem with the project. Contrary to critics of the theme park who think the educational message of the park is “unscientific” and “embarrassing for the state” or that any jobs created would be “low-paying” and “transient,” Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, seemed to raise two main arguments against the proposed park: First, Lynn pointed out that when Noah launched the Ark the first time, he was not looking for government funding. Second, he said that while the Constitution doesn’t prevent someone from putting up a water park, it does prevent people from putting up a religious one, such as Noah’s water park.
But both of Lynn’s points are misguided.
GO HERE to read more.
There is some controversy over the proposed construction of a $150 million Noah’s Ark theme park on 800 acres near Interstate 75 in Kentucky. The theme park – to be called Ark Encounter – is a joint venture between Answers in Genesis and Ark Encounter LLC. The former group already opened a $27 million Creation museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, in 2007.
The proposed park, to be completed by 2014, will feature live animals, event venues, a children’s play area, a replica of the biblical Tower of Babel, a 500-seat special effects theater, a reproduction of a first-century Middle Eastern village, an aviary, and a 500 by 75 foot wooden ark to replicate the biblical Noah’s Ark. The project is expected to create more than 900 jobs, attract 1.6 million visitors in the park’s first year, and have an economic impact of $214 million in the first year alone.
As expected, religious groups generally hailed the project even as other groups that focus on church-state issues had a problem with the project. Contrary to critics of the theme park who think the educational message of the park is “unscientific” and “embarrassing for the state” or that any jobs created would be “low-paying” and “transient,” Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, seemed to raise two main arguments against the proposed park: First, Lynn pointed out that when Noah launched the Ark the first time, he was not looking for government funding. Second, he said that while the Constitution doesn’t prevent someone from putting up a water park, it does prevent people from putting up a religious one, such as Noah’s water park.
But both of Lynn’s points are misguided.
GO HERE to read more.
Baby Lives An Hour; Family Charged Death Tax
UNDATED - A Washington State family is incensed after being charged a "death tax." The Clarks were charged after for their baby daughter who was alive for just one hour.
Doctors didn't even expect Olivia Clark to survive birth because her lungs never fully developed, so her grandparents tell a Seattle TV station that even her living for an hour was a miracle.
When they received the hospital bill, they saw a 50-dollar charge on a line labeled "county death tax."
King County in Washington now has a medical examiner review every death.
The Clarks say they understand some deaths need to be investigated, but didn't think Olivia's did.
"Every time I turn around the county appears to be nickel and diming us, putting a tax on this and a tax on that. Where does it end?" Larry Clark tells King 5.
Source
Doctors didn't even expect Olivia Clark to survive birth because her lungs never fully developed, so her grandparents tell a Seattle TV station that even her living for an hour was a miracle.
When they received the hospital bill, they saw a 50-dollar charge on a line labeled "county death tax."
King County in Washington now has a medical examiner review every death.
The Clarks say they understand some deaths need to be investigated, but didn't think Olivia's did.
"Every time I turn around the county appears to be nickel and diming us, putting a tax on this and a tax on that. Where does it end?" Larry Clark tells King 5.
Source
Is The Country Closer To Racial Equality?
Despite having their first black president, Americans are no more certain than before that the country is closer to the racial equality preached by Martin Luther King Jr., a poll shows.
GO HERE to read more.
GO HERE to read more.
Pani Pizza Gets Another Great Review
"I finally visited the Panni Pit Pizza restaurant that you have talked about on your site. I have to say the two men working there were the nicest people to deal with. They took our order, rang it up, fixed the food and brought it to us. I did not expect the service to be as quick or as nice as it was. We got a lot (and I do mean a lot) of food for a very low price. That wasn't even the best part--the food was excellent!!! I have never seen a meatball sub that was as loaded as this one! I just can't express how impressed I was with the entire experience. I hope the citizens around here visit this restaurant often, I know I will. Thanks for introducing us to this restaurant." A New Panni Pit Pizza Fan |
United States Falling Fast In New Index Of Economic Freedom
Last year, I reported that the United States fell from sixth to eighth place -- behind Canada -- in the Heritage Foundation/Wall Street Journal's 2010 Index of Economic Freedom. Now, we've fallen further. In the just-released 2011 Index, the United States is in ninth place. That's behind Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada, Ireland and Denmark.
The biggest reason for the continued slide? Spending as a percentage of gross domestic product. (State and local spending is not counted.)
The debt picture is dismal, too. We are heading into Greece's territory.
Are we doomed? Not necessarily. Economist David R. Henderson points out that our neighbors to the north faced a similar crisis. In 1994, the debt that Canada owed to investors was 67 percent of GDP. Today, it's less than 30 percent.
What did Canada do? It cut spending from 17.5 percent of GDP to 11.3 percent.
GO HERE to read more.
RNC's Steele Urged To Exit Gracefully
Some supporters of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele are privately urging him to consider a graceful exit strategy, sources told The Washington Times, as RNC members prepare for Friday's showdown vote on who will lead the party for the next two years.
Steele, who has vowed to fight to the bitter end in the fierce five-way contest, has some 28 votes publicly committed to him among the 168-member RNC — compared with the 41 votes claimed by Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus, the presumed front-runner.
The two men are locked in a battle with three other Republicans for the right to head the GOP's top fundraising and candidate-assistance body through the next year's presidential election. The RNC will play a key role in the campaign as the party organ legally permitted to raise money for get-out-the-vote drives at the state level.
It is widely believed among RNC members that Steele actually has as many as 20 more supporters on the committee who will at least give him their first-ballot votes — bringing his total to about 50, still some 35 votes short of the 85 needed to win.
But incumbents tend to fare poorly if they don't win right out of the chute.
GO HERE to read more.
Christie May Shut Schools, Expand Charter Program
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said he’ll seek to shut failing schools and intends to release a plan as soon as next week to create more charter institutions.
The state should let charter operators take over the buildings of schools that have been shuttered, Christie, a first-term Republican, said at a town-hall meeting in Paramus. There are 104,000 students in the state who attend public schools deemed chronically failing, Christie said.
“We need to close them and start over,” Christie told a capacity crowd of 500 today at the gathering in an Elks lodge. “This is the fight. There’s no staying neutral. You have to choose sides.”
Christie, in his first State of the State speech on Jan. 11, said it would be a top priority this year to expand the charter-school program beyond the six his administration approved and the 73 operating in the state.
The governor has said New Jersey’s public-education system is too costly and failing many children. He proposed changes in September that include linking teachers’ pay and tenure to their students’ performance, and making it easier for districts to fire their worst educators.
Christie told The Wall Street Journal editorial board yesterday that he is seeking to end tenure and would support switching to a system that gives teachers five-year contracts that could be renewed based on merit.
The town-hall meeting was the 18th that Christie has held to discuss his proposals for overhauling government. The gatherings, which are videotaped by his office and broadcast on the Internet, have helped make Christie a YouTube sensation, in part because of his quarrels with teachers.
Christie said elementary students at Robert Treat Academy, a charter school in Newark, outperform those in city schools. Robert Treat spends about $14,000 per pupil compared with a statewide average of $17,600, the highest in the U.S., he said.
Charter schools are nonsectarian, public institutions that operate independently of local boards of education in the U.S. under special charters.
Read more
The state should let charter operators take over the buildings of schools that have been shuttered, Christie, a first-term Republican, said at a town-hall meeting in Paramus. There are 104,000 students in the state who attend public schools deemed chronically failing, Christie said.
“We need to close them and start over,” Christie told a capacity crowd of 500 today at the gathering in an Elks lodge. “This is the fight. There’s no staying neutral. You have to choose sides.”
Christie, in his first State of the State speech on Jan. 11, said it would be a top priority this year to expand the charter-school program beyond the six his administration approved and the 73 operating in the state.
The governor has said New Jersey’s public-education system is too costly and failing many children. He proposed changes in September that include linking teachers’ pay and tenure to their students’ performance, and making it easier for districts to fire their worst educators.
Christie told The Wall Street Journal editorial board yesterday that he is seeking to end tenure and would support switching to a system that gives teachers five-year contracts that could be renewed based on merit.
The town-hall meeting was the 18th that Christie has held to discuss his proposals for overhauling government. The gatherings, which are videotaped by his office and broadcast on the Internet, have helped make Christie a YouTube sensation, in part because of his quarrels with teachers.
Christie said elementary students at Robert Treat Academy, a charter school in Newark, outperform those in city schools. Robert Treat spends about $14,000 per pupil compared with a statewide average of $17,600, the highest in the U.S., he said.
Charter schools are nonsectarian, public institutions that operate independently of local boards of education in the U.S. under special charters.
Read more
What's Your (New) Sign?: Shift In Zodiac Adds 13th Sign
KANSAS CITY, MO. —
If you've been going through life thinking you are a Virgo, think again. An astronomer says that a shift in the Earth's alignment has changed zodiac dates and added a 13th sign. So Virgos, how do you feel about being Leos?
Minnesota astronomer Parke Kunkle told a Minnesota TV station that the expected shift added a 13th Zodiac sign: Ophiuchus.
The news has caused an interplanetary uproar among people who read their daily horoscopes, as people who have been one sign or another their entire lives saying that they don't know what to make of the shift, or if they like the idea of changing astrological signs.
GO HERE to read more.
Orville G. Dryden Jr. Announces His Candidacy for Salisbury City Council
Orville G. Dryden Jr. is proud to announce his candidacy for the Salisbury City Council. A native of the Eastern Shore, Orville Dryden grew up in the farming community, working on his parents’ farm at an early age. He quickly adopted the philosophy and values of hard work and perseverance. As a young man, Mr. Dryden transitioned from the farm to begin a career with the United States Postal Service while also serving as a proud member of the National Guard. In his spare time, he assisted his father with a small grocery store. It was during these formative years, he witnessed first-hand the challenges of owning and operating a small business on the Eastern Shore. Dryden notes, "I understand the difficulties people go through to keep the doors to their businesses open and I feel it is critical that local governments do all they can to promote a healthy environment for the local business community." Dryden feels the City of Salisbury, and the Salisbury City Council in particular, needs to look to businesses for the city’s economic growth and the engine to local prosperity. "If we’re pro-business, we’re pro-growth, and if we’re pro-growth, we’re on our way to more jobs, less crime and a higher revenue stream without the obtrusive barrage of new taxes, fees and fines.", Orville states.
Mr. Dryden also has experienced the responsibilities of managing large budgets and working with peers to make payroll and keep the work force motivated. As a former Supervisor with the United States Postal Service and 13 years as Postmaster, Mr. Dryden was responsible for multiple budgets, as well as a large and diverse staff. He strived to continuously maintain a high level of excellent customer service throughout his career. This is the work ethic and respect for teamwork he hopes to continue with, if given the privilege to represent the City of Salisbury as a new council member. Dryden feels it is imperative that our City Council exemplify strong leadership, teamwork and consensus building among its members and our community as a whole.
Above all else, Dryden wants to put the City first. He states, "Whether it’s the members of our business community, the brave men and women of law enforcement or our fire departments; I feel it is important to, first and foremost, listen to the citizens of Salisbury and work hard every day to assure them of a safe and prosperous future. I have been a resident of Salisbury for the last 25 years, raising my two children right here, in the City of Salisbury. Both attended and graduated from Parkside High school. Additionally, my daughter then pursued a degree from Salisbury University and graduated with distinction in 1999. I am invested in this community and I want to see it thrive for future generations."
Dryden feels that his "common sense approach" and his past experiences will enable him to work together to find the solutions to the many serious issues now facing our city. Whether its crime, the economy, budgets or business, he is looking forward for the opportunity to create unity within our community so our citizens can continue to enjoy all of the benefits that Salisbury has been known for in the past. "I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead and am proud to have the opportunity to run for the City Council of Salisbury."
Age: 63
Civic Organizations: Dryden has been a member of the Lions Club for 40 years and has served in many capacities including president, is also a 40 year member of the American Legion, and a member of the Salisbury Moose Lodge, and various other organizations.
Mr. Dryden also has experienced the responsibilities of managing large budgets and working with peers to make payroll and keep the work force motivated. As a former Supervisor with the United States Postal Service and 13 years as Postmaster, Mr. Dryden was responsible for multiple budgets, as well as a large and diverse staff. He strived to continuously maintain a high level of excellent customer service throughout his career. This is the work ethic and respect for teamwork he hopes to continue with, if given the privilege to represent the City of Salisbury as a new council member. Dryden feels it is imperative that our City Council exemplify strong leadership, teamwork and consensus building among its members and our community as a whole.
Above all else, Dryden wants to put the City first. He states, "Whether it’s the members of our business community, the brave men and women of law enforcement or our fire departments; I feel it is important to, first and foremost, listen to the citizens of Salisbury and work hard every day to assure them of a safe and prosperous future. I have been a resident of Salisbury for the last 25 years, raising my two children right here, in the City of Salisbury. Both attended and graduated from Parkside High school. Additionally, my daughter then pursued a degree from Salisbury University and graduated with distinction in 1999. I am invested in this community and I want to see it thrive for future generations."
Dryden feels that his "common sense approach" and his past experiences will enable him to work together to find the solutions to the many serious issues now facing our city. Whether its crime, the economy, budgets or business, he is looking forward for the opportunity to create unity within our community so our citizens can continue to enjoy all of the benefits that Salisbury has been known for in the past. "I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead and am proud to have the opportunity to run for the City Council of Salisbury."
Age: 63
Civic Organizations: Dryden has been a member of the Lions Club for 40 years and has served in many capacities including president, is also a 40 year member of the American Legion, and a member of the Salisbury Moose Lodge, and various other organizations.
Dr. Blaylock: Big Pharma Demonized Researcher For Threatening Vaccine Program
I find it ironic that the media, the British government, and leaders in medical academia jumped on board attacking and destroying Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s reputation based on “fraud” charges related to a study he conducted about the link between the measles vaccine and autism.
It is ironic for a number of reasons. How can the British government, itself drowning in deception at every level, dare accuse anyone of fraud?
The panel assembled by the government and academia to judge Wakefield, ironically, dares to speak of fraud, yet their main complaint is that his findings “might endanger the 'sacrosanct' vaccine program,” not that his principal findings were wrong. In fact, several independent researchers found the same measles vaccine-related colitis that he described.
A recently released charge by the British Medical Journal editors is that Wakefield was poised to get huge profits from a product stemming from his research results. I am not here to defend Wakefield, rather, I demonstrate the double standard regularly practiced by his vocal critics.
Virtually every paper published on drugs, such as statins, is authored by individuals having financial links to as many as three to four pharmaceutical companies each. The same is true of papers published by major journals extolling vaccine efficacy and safety. They know these papers violate every ethical principle known, yet they are published in some of the most prestigious journals.
Abundant evidence has shown that these very same people destroy the reputations of anyone producing evidence, no matter how well researched and of the highest ethical standards, if it in any way endangers this vaccine program. It is ironic that these accusers speak of “blatant fraud,” when virtually all of the vaccine safety evidence they use abundantly is fraudulent by careful design.
Ironically, even their outcry of the effect of Wakefield’s paper is deceitful. They scream that it caused vaccine rates to fall below the 80 percent level needed for “herd immunity,” when they know that no one has ever proven his paper was the cause.
A growing number of British have suffered from vaccine complications, and they are rightly concerned about vaccine safety. When there was a small outbreak of measles in this country, as few as 300 cases, they screamed it was an epidemic and millions were at risk of dying. In fact, in similar outbreaks studies found that 90 percent of the affected children had been fully or partially vaccinated, and most had mild infections.
When I grew up there was no measles vaccine and everyone in my class got the measles and no one died or suffered serious harm. To imply our society is at risk of millions of deaths should vaccine rates drop is a blatant lie used to scare parents into over-vaccinating their children. They use the same scare tactics based on manipulated data to terrify the elderly into getting a flu shot every year.
Read more from Russell Blaylock, M.D.
It is ironic for a number of reasons. How can the British government, itself drowning in deception at every level, dare accuse anyone of fraud?
The panel assembled by the government and academia to judge Wakefield, ironically, dares to speak of fraud, yet their main complaint is that his findings “might endanger the 'sacrosanct' vaccine program,” not that his principal findings were wrong. In fact, several independent researchers found the same measles vaccine-related colitis that he described.
A recently released charge by the British Medical Journal editors is that Wakefield was poised to get huge profits from a product stemming from his research results. I am not here to defend Wakefield, rather, I demonstrate the double standard regularly practiced by his vocal critics.
Virtually every paper published on drugs, such as statins, is authored by individuals having financial links to as many as three to four pharmaceutical companies each. The same is true of papers published by major journals extolling vaccine efficacy and safety. They know these papers violate every ethical principle known, yet they are published in some of the most prestigious journals.
Abundant evidence has shown that these very same people destroy the reputations of anyone producing evidence, no matter how well researched and of the highest ethical standards, if it in any way endangers this vaccine program. It is ironic that these accusers speak of “blatant fraud,” when virtually all of the vaccine safety evidence they use abundantly is fraudulent by careful design.
Ironically, even their outcry of the effect of Wakefield’s paper is deceitful. They scream that it caused vaccine rates to fall below the 80 percent level needed for “herd immunity,” when they know that no one has ever proven his paper was the cause.
A growing number of British have suffered from vaccine complications, and they are rightly concerned about vaccine safety. When there was a small outbreak of measles in this country, as few as 300 cases, they screamed it was an epidemic and millions were at risk of dying. In fact, in similar outbreaks studies found that 90 percent of the affected children had been fully or partially vaccinated, and most had mild infections.
When I grew up there was no measles vaccine and everyone in my class got the measles and no one died or suffered serious harm. To imply our society is at risk of millions of deaths should vaccine rates drop is a blatant lie used to scare parents into over-vaccinating their children. They use the same scare tactics based on manipulated data to terrify the elderly into getting a flu shot every year.
Read more from Russell Blaylock, M.D.
Massive Fire In Dover
Reports are coming in that there's a massive fire about 1/2 mile North of Dover, DE. We're told there's a huge jet black cloud of smoke seen from Rt. 1.
More to come.....
More to come.....
Mexican Gunman Fires Across Border Toward U.S. Highway Workers
At least one Mexican gunman fired a high-powered rifle across the border at four U.S. road workers Thursday in an isolated ghost town east of Fort Hancock, Hudspeth County sheriff's officials said.
The bullets did not injure the four men.
Mike Doyle, chief deputy of the Hudspeth County Sheriff's Office, said a rancher spotted a white pickup fleeing the area on the Mexican side at 10:30 a.m. -- the time the shots were fired.
The bullets stuck private land along the unpaved Indian Hot Springs Road, which is about half a mile from the border fence. Hudspeth County borrowed the land to store gravel and rocks used for road construction. The workers were filling a hole left last year by rainstorm damage.
The ghost town of Fort Quitman is 25 miles east of Fort Hancock and 80 miles southeast of El Paso. Fewer than a dozen ranchers raise cattle in the remote area.
Doyle said the gunman might have shot at the road workers to distract them or get them to flee.
"Maybe they were trying to get them outside this area," he said.
Doyle said the sheriff and the Texas Rangers at this point are assuming the bullets were fired from Mexico. He said one of the county workers said he heard eight shots that "sounded like high-powered rifles."
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The bullets did not injure the four men.
Mike Doyle, chief deputy of the Hudspeth County Sheriff's Office, said a rancher spotted a white pickup fleeing the area on the Mexican side at 10:30 a.m. -- the time the shots were fired.
The bullets stuck private land along the unpaved Indian Hot Springs Road, which is about half a mile from the border fence. Hudspeth County borrowed the land to store gravel and rocks used for road construction. The workers were filling a hole left last year by rainstorm damage.
The ghost town of Fort Quitman is 25 miles east of Fort Hancock and 80 miles southeast of El Paso. Fewer than a dozen ranchers raise cattle in the remote area.
Doyle said the gunman might have shot at the road workers to distract them or get them to flee.
"Maybe they were trying to get them outside this area," he said.
Doyle said the sheriff and the Texas Rangers at this point are assuming the bullets were fired from Mexico. He said one of the county workers said he heard eight shots that "sounded like high-powered rifles."
More
A Letter To The Editor
LOUISE SMITH – WILL SHE OR WON’T SHE (place bets now and stay tuned today).
Four years ago – it seems much longer now – Salisbury was in the depths of the Tilghman Terror,” orchestrated by Barrie and compounded by the “Dream Team” majority of the City Council that were elected in 2003 (Dunn, Comegys and Cathcart), who almost daily were doing their utmost to bring down Debbie Campbell and other citizens who dared to differ with them, and in the process to devastate the entire City of Salisbury. Ms. Campbell’s effort to restore fiscal and budget sanity and sound management and to end such nonsense as huge “developer reimbursements” and massive land annexation made her a target for both the development industry and landlords and SAPOA, who still revile her for supporting regulation to control the rental industry. Barrie regularly attacked her enemies (the “dirty dozen,” which is an underestimate to be sure), and Bubba Comegys blasted the ubiquitous “cave people.”
Consequently, in early 2007 the time was right for Louise Smith to enter Salisbury’s political arena without any “baggage” or record, but with behind the scenes handlers that included such notables as “RINO Ron” Alessi and Brad Bellaciccio, and her “campaign manager,” Eleanor Mulligan. Ms. Smith seemed the perfect source of the “civility” that she and the Daily Times declared to be of paramount importance – never mind that Barrie and the Dream Team (with the assistance of Shanie Shields) were running the City into the ground: “TIF” deals with developers, the Salisbury Mall mess, shenanigans at Sassafras Meadows, the firehouse fiasco, the wastewater plant/sludge pit debacle, and other episodes too numerous to mention.
Those circumstances allowed Smith to portray herself as an experienced career “auditor” (apparently in some school system in Florida) who would be a true fiscal conservative and public watchdog. According to a front page article in the Daily Times (March 9, 2007) shortly after the primary that reduced the field to 6 candidates – “Smith’s mantra is accountability. She said the city needs to be fiscally accountable and better prioritize where it spends its limited funds.” It also reported that “Smith emphasized the importance of working together on issues of affordable housing and parking” and that she was “adamantly against” the multi-million dollar TIF loan by the City to redevelop the Salisbury Mall site.
Her rhetoric made the right-wingers go ga-ga. This appeared on one such blog on the same day as the Daily Times article: “Now I know Louise a little bit because she’s one of my predecessors on the [Wicomico County Republican] Central Committee. Obviously she feels accountability is paramount, and with her background and experience I’ve no doubt she’d be quite an asset to City Council.” Shortly before the general election, Smith changed her position on the TIF deal, telling the Daily Times that she would not vote to stop it.
In early April, Smith was the top vote-getter in the general election, in which Bubba Comegys and Terry Cohen also were elected.
Boy were we fooled by Smith’s charade as a candidate and what was a brilliant campaign in which she concealed her support from developers and landlords and managed to appear closely aligned with Debbie Campbell and in support of the same positions that she held on many matters. Many voters thought that there was a ticket of sorts with Smith, Cohen and Tim Spies – and some who supported the other two worked and voted for Smith. That won’t happen again this year.
Almost immediately upon taking office we learned the hard way just how badly Louweasel had duped us when she spearheaded the huge property tax and budget increase requested by
Tilghman (and the Charter amendment that was necessary to pass those increases) and fell out with both Ms. Campbell and Ms. Cohen to form a clique with Comegys and Shields, commonly called the “3 stooges”, who danced to Barrie’s tune until the 2009 election. Since then she has been at odds with Ireton as well as Campbell and Cohen, and the 3 stooges have been a thorn in their sides.
During her tenure on the Council and as its president for almost 4 years now, things have been just as acrimonious as during the era of Barrie and the Dream Team, if not more so when she and Ireton have squared off during City Council meetings. And the City has descended deeper into the abyss, with such stellar moves as the new fireboat, rehabilitation of “the Bricks” and accepting the “gift” of the polluted site that once was the home of “Linens of the Week” and the “Sunshine Laundry” to name just a few.
So, this afternoon Louweasel is going to announce her decision whether to run for reelection this year. Street talk is that SAPOA is backing her and that the Chamber of Commerce director, Brad Bellaciccio, is once again touting her candidacy to its members. The boys in Vegas are giving good odds (4 to 1) that she will run, but much worse odds (3 to 2) that she would be reelected now that her true colors have been revealed. That may explain why the smart money people (SAPOA, etc.) are also backing Boda.
And, if Smith runs, what falsehoods will she fabricate to pull the wool over our eyes this time?
More Salisbury Tax Dollars Going Down the Drain?
Now city officials are attempting to borrow the money (as if Salisbury didn’t have a large enough debt already). However, they are attempting to sell taxpayers the notion that they won’t have to pay the money back.
This past week the city decided to take possession of the environmentally challenged (I’m in a charitable mood this morning) “Linens of the Week” property. We were promised that the city would secure “Brownfield Grants” to handle demolition and environmental remediation.
Yet, according to our own local paper, environmental grants are one of the first things on the chopping block as the Democrat dominated state government attempts to cover up its decades of profligacy. This leaves …? That’s right, Obama money! There’s just one problem; we had an election last November and the Obama / Pelosi / Reid troika doesn’t wield absolute power anymore.
So, what are Salisbury taxpayers left with? Two properties that have come off of the tax rolls with no sign of being re-developed in the foreseeable future. The city has taken on an open-ended environmental morass. Now Louise Smith appears slated to announce for re-election claiming that she’s fiscally responsible and has lived up to her campaign promises.
The disconnect from reality continues …
The Daily Times Started It, Salisbury News Will Finish It
In yesterday's Daily Times: "Legislative leaders warned Wednesday that Maryland's $1.6 billion budget shortfall could lead to larger K-12 classroom sizes and higher college tuition costs, as well as cuts to health care providers and environmental programs."
Look, I'm not going to pass blame on the Daily Times, their article yesterday was a great one. What I would like to say is, we can provide more of an opinion than they can and quite frankly while the City Council was out there passing the Linens of the Week property, do tell us who's going to now pay for the ENVIRONMENTAL work on that property. There's talk about soil issues and aspestos.
Of course this information has been out there about the State cutting back for a few weeks now, this article simply allowed the timing of the donation of such mentioned property to prove once again that your Council Members don't do their homework. OR, they knew it and simply don't care that it will cost the taxpayers of Salisbury instead.
Like I said, I can't wait until Louise Smith makes her announcement today.
Look, I'm not going to pass blame on the Daily Times, their article yesterday was a great one. What I would like to say is, we can provide more of an opinion than they can and quite frankly while the City Council was out there passing the Linens of the Week property, do tell us who's going to now pay for the ENVIRONMENTAL work on that property. There's talk about soil issues and aspestos.
Of course this information has been out there about the State cutting back for a few weeks now, this article simply allowed the timing of the donation of such mentioned property to prove once again that your Council Members don't do their homework. OR, they knew it and simply don't care that it will cost the taxpayers of Salisbury instead.
Like I said, I can't wait until Louise Smith makes her announcement today.
Celebrate Reagan's 100th Birthday Party With The RRC!
100TH BIRTHDAY
Come join us in the centennial celebration of everything Reagan!
Sit down dinner, cash bar, live band, silent auction
Dance to the horns of the renowned Gene Vincentt & the Cadillac Cruisers!
Meet and hear personal Reagan stories from Chef Raimund Hofmeister,
who developed many of Reagan’s signature dishes during his presidency.
Friday, February 4 from 7-11pm
Valley Mansion
594 Cranbrook Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
Reservations:
Must be purchased in advance. No door sales.
(please open this pdf flyer to access links)
or mail to: RRC, POB 63, Phoenix, MD 21131
Program Book ads:
More info:
http://www.reaganrepublicanclub.com/ or 410-771-1480 or email info@reaganrepublicanclub.com
Dress is business to cocktail attire.
This is one for The Gipper you won’t want to miss!!
Former NFL Star Lawrence Taylor Pleads Guilty To Sex Charges
New York (CNN) -- Hall of Fame NFL linebacker Lawrence Taylor pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors Thursday and is expected to be sentenced to six years' probation with sex-offender status, according to the Rockland County, New York, district attorney's Office.
Taylor was arrested in May on charges of "improper sexual conduct involving an underage girl in a Rockland County hotel," the district attorney's office said. Prosecutors said Taylor paid the teen $300 after "sexual acts."
The girl was 16, according to a statement from prosecutors.
Taylor entered a guilty plea to one count of sexual misconduct and one count of patronizing a prostitute in the third degree, both misdemeanor charges, the prosecutor said.
GO HERE to read more.
Taylor was arrested in May on charges of "improper sexual conduct involving an underage girl in a Rockland County hotel," the district attorney's office said. Prosecutors said Taylor paid the teen $300 after "sexual acts."
The girl was 16, according to a statement from prosecutors.
Taylor entered a guilty plea to one count of sexual misconduct and one count of patronizing a prostitute in the third degree, both misdemeanor charges, the prosecutor said.
GO HERE to read more.
The 10 Things That Would Be Different If The Federal Reserve Had Never Been Created
The vast majority of Americans, including many of those who believe that they are "educated" about the Federal Reserve, do not really understand how the Federal Reserve really makes money for the international banking elite. Many of those opposed to the Federal Reserve will point to the record $80.9 billion in profits that the Federal Reserve made last year as evidence that they are robbing the American people blind. But then those defending the Federal Reserve will point out that the Fed returned $78.4 billion to the U.S. Treasury. As a result, the Fed only made a couple billion dollars last year. Pretty harmless, eh? Well, actually no. You see, the money that the Federal Reserve directly makes is not the issue. Rather, the "magic" of the Federal Reserve system is that it took the power of money creation away from the U.S. government and gave it to the bankers. Now, the only way that the U.S. government can inject more money into the economy is by going into more debt. But when new government debt is created, the amount of money to pay the interest on that debt is not also created. In this way, it was intended by the international bankers that U.S. government debt would expand indefinitely and the U.S. money supply would also expand indefinitely. In the process, the international bankers would become insanely wealthy by lending money to the U.S. government.
Every single year, hundreds of billions of dollars in profits are made lending money to the U.S. government.
But why in the world should the U.S. government be going into debt to anyone?
Why can't the U.S. government just print more money whenever it wants?
Well, that is not the way our system works. The U.S. government has given the power of money creation over to a consortium of international private bankers.
Not only is this unconstitutional, but it is also one of the greatest ripoffs in human history.
In 1922 [2], Henry Ford wrote the following....
Every single year, hundreds of billions of dollars in profits are made lending money to the U.S. government.
But why in the world should the U.S. government be going into debt to anyone?
Why can't the U.S. government just print more money whenever it wants?
Well, that is not the way our system works. The U.S. government has given the power of money creation over to a consortium of international private bankers.
Not only is this unconstitutional, but it is also one of the greatest ripoffs in human history.
In 1922 [2], Henry Ford wrote the following....
GO HERE to read more."The people must be helped to think naturally about money. They must be told what it is, and what makes it money, and what are the possible tricks of the present system which put nations and peoples under control of the few."
DNREC Imposes Huge Cost On Citizens In "Middle Of Night"
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - DNREC has imposed California emission standards for cars and light trucks (also medium trucks) and tried to keep citizens and elected officials from finding out while it was happening. They succeeded!
They held the public hearing on FRIDAY NIGHT, October 22, 2010. Virtually every elected official would have been at some kind of campaign function that evening.
In fact, a few days ago we asked a number of Delaware elected officials if they had heard of this. None of them had!
The entire process began on October 1, 2010, and ended on November 9, 2010. This is a time when responsible citizens were focused on elections. Election Day was on November 2nd!
According to a conversation we had with one DNREC official, the extra cost per car, starting in 2014, will be about $1000. Other sources tell us it could be as much as $3000.
Currently, the middle class is being devastated economically by the Great Recession. For 2011, a Hyndai Elantra costs as little as $10,000. This regulation would impose a 10 to 30% increase on this vehicle.These kinds of cost increases will also likely depress sales of new vehicles and keep older, more polluting cars on the road longer.
According to DNREC, a major reason for these regulations is reduction of greenhouse gases. How much poverty do we have to have in Delaware? When will our rulers realize that with less than 1/10,000 of 1% of world population,
They held the public hearing on FRIDAY NIGHT, October 22, 2010. Virtually every elected official would have been at some kind of campaign function that evening.
In fact, a few days ago we asked a number of Delaware elected officials if they had heard of this. None of them had!
The entire process began on October 1, 2010, and ended on November 9, 2010. This is a time when responsible citizens were focused on elections. Election Day was on November 2nd!
According to a conversation we had with one DNREC official, the extra cost per car, starting in 2014, will be about $1000. Other sources tell us it could be as much as $3000.
Currently, the middle class is being devastated economically by the Great Recession. For 2011, a Hyndai Elantra costs as little as $10,000. This regulation would impose a 10 to 30% increase on this vehicle.These kinds of cost increases will also likely depress sales of new vehicles and keep older, more polluting cars on the road longer.
According to DNREC, a major reason for these regulations is reduction of greenhouse gases. How much poverty do we have to have in Delaware? When will our rulers realize that with less than 1/10,000 of 1% of world population,
we can't do anything about it no matter how big a problem it might be? If anything has to be done, it has to be at a national level.
- Rich Collins
Division of Air and Waste Management
Statutory Authority: 7 Delaware Code, Chapter 60 (7 Del.C., Ch. 60)
7 DE Admin. Code 1140
FINAL
Secretary's Order No.: 2010-A-0039
Date of Issuance: November 9, 2010
Effective Date of the Amendment: December 11, 2010
1140 Delaware's National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Regulation
Under the authority vested in the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (Department or DNREC) the following findings, reasons and conclusions are entered as an Order of the Secretary in the above-referenced rule making proceeding.
Statutory Authority: 7 Delaware Code, Chapter 60 (7 Del.C., Ch. 60)
7 DE Admin. Code 1140
FINAL
Secretary's Order No.: 2010-A-0039
Date of Issuance: November 9, 2010
Effective Date of the Amendment: December 11, 2010
1140 Delaware's National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Regulation
Under the authority vested in the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (Department or DNREC) the following findings, reasons and conclusions are entered as an Order of the Secretary in the above-referenced rule making proceeding.
Background and Procedural History
This Order considers the proposed regulatory amendment to 7 DE Admin. Code 1140, Delaware Low Emission Vehicle Program. The primary purpose of this promulgation is to reduce vehicle emissions from new vehicles in Delaware, beginning with model year 2014. Considerable benefits to human health and the environment will be realized under this program in the long term by the adoption of California's emissions standards, which are more stringent than the current federal standards. The Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) Program reduces emissions of ozone precursors, particulates, toxic air pollutants, and greenhouse gases.
The Department's Division of Air Quality (DAQ) commenced the regulatory development process with Start Action Notice 2009-33. The Department published the proposed regulatory amendment in the October 1, 2010 Delaware Register of Regulation and held a public hearing on October 22, 2010. The Department's presiding hearing officer, Lisa A. Vest, prepared a Hearing Officer's Report dated November 5, 2010 (Report). The Report recommends certain findings and the adoption of the proposed Amendment as attached to the Report as Appendix A.
Findings and Discussion
I find that the proposed Amendment is well-supported by the record developed by the Department, and adopt the Report to the extent it is consistent with this Order. The Department's experts developed the record and drafted the proposed Amendment. Throughout the entire regulatory development process regarding this promulgation, the Department received public comments from the regulated community, as noted in the Report, and considered and responded to all timely and relevant public comments in making its determination.
I find that the Department's DAQ expert fully developed the record to support adoption of this Amendment. The adoption of the regulation amendment to 7 DE Admin. Code 1140, Delaware Low Emission Vehicle Program, will formally establish the Delaware Low Emission Vehicle Program (DEL LEV). The inclusion of Delaware into California's Low Emission Vehicle Program (CAL LEV) will allow additional reductions of motor vehicle emissions from new vehicles (less than 7,500 miles) transferred (i.e., sold, delivered, purchased, leased, rented, acquired, received, and/or registered) into Delaware, beginning with model year 2014, as the proposed program is more stringent than the current federal rule.
The amendments to 7 DE Admin. Code 1140 will also provide increased protection for Delaware citizens against a variety of potential adverse health effects linked to long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and greenhouse gases (GHGs). This implementation proposes to adopt requirements that are at least as health protective as requirements of the existing Federal Tier 2 standards.
In conclusion, the following findings and conclusions are entered:
1.) The Department has jurisdiction under its statutory authority to issue an Order adopting this proposed Amendment as final;
2.) The Department provided adequate public notice of the proposed Amendment, and provided the public with an adequate opportunity to comment on the proposed Amendment, including at a public hearing;
3.) The Department held a public hearing on October 22, 2010 on the proposed Amendment in order to consider public comments before making any final decision, and fully considered and responded to all timely and relevant comments received from the regulated community concerning this matter;
4.) The Department's Hearing Officer's Report, including its recommended record and the recommended Amendment as set forth in Appendix A, are adopted to provide additional reasons and findings for this Order;
5.) The recommended Amendment does not reflect any substantive change to either the intent or content of the proposed regulation Amendment as published in the October 1, 2010, Delaware Register of Regulations;
6.) The recommended Amendment should be adopted as final regulation Amendment because Delaware will then be enabled to (1) provide for additional reductions of motor vehicle emissions from new vehicles (less than 7,500 miles) transferred (i.e., sold, delivered, purchased, leased, rented, acquired, received, and/or registered) into Delaware, beginning with model year 2014, as the proposed program is more stringent than the current federal rule; and (2) provide increased protection for Delaware citizens against potential adverse health effects linked to long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and greenhouse gases (GHGs). This implementation proposes to adopt requirements that are at least as health protective as requirements of the existing Federal Tier 2 standards. Moreover, the regulation amendment is well supported by documents in the record; and
7.) The Department shall submit this Order approving the final regulation to the Delaware Register of Regulations for publication in its next available issue, and provide such other notice as the law and regulation require and the Department determines is appropriate.
Collin P. O. Mara, Secretary
1140 Delaware's National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Regulation
Mike Krieger Deconstructs Commodity Inflation: "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"
Gold is the money of kings, silver is the money of gentlemen, barter is the money of peasants – but debt is the money of slaves.
- Norm Franz, Money and Wealth in the New Millennium
As soon as your born they make you feel small,
By giving you no time instead of it all,
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be...
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years,
Then they expect you to pick a career,
When you can't really function you're so full of fear,
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV,
And you think you're so clever and classless and free,
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see,
There's room at the top they are telling you still,
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill,
- John Lennon, Working Class Hero
Thanks Ben…You Have Destroyed the Social Fabric of the World
History is littered with the carcasses of men that in their exaggerated hubris attempted to stop the forces of nature and the markets only to fall flat on their faces. We tell the stories of these men in history books and myths from prehistory, but it never stops men of successive generations from trying it all over again. What the current political class the world over (at the behest of Wall Street financial terrorists and other big corporate interests) are doing falls into the same exact formula of prior historical failures. Some of the historical figures that attempted to beat back nature were great warriors or kings that just reached too far. Some of them were evil megalomaniacs whose desire was nothing short of absolute power in their hands over any of the unfortunate human beings that happened to be in the way. Ben Bernanke is neither of these. He is a just a little dweeb with an electronic printing press. Tragically, because of modern technology and the way the monetary system works today he has the ability to cause more damage than any other one person in the history of mankind and he is doing it. I shudder to contemplate the ultimate effects of the inflationary holocaust he has unleashed on the six billion mesmerized and helpless souls present on earth at this time. The signs are starting to show up again just like in early 2008. Food is becoming scare at a “reasonable” price in many parts of the globe and the symptoms of this are starting to bubble up to the surface. For example in recent days we have witnessed food riots in Algeria and Tunisia where at least 14 people are reported to have died in each country.
These types of events were easily predictable and have been predicted by people like me and many other whose views will never be seen in the mainstream media. Fortunately, the alternative media is taking over (which is why the Obama administration is certain to increase its crackdown on the internet) and people are becoming very informed and linked all over the world. The divide and conquer strategy that has worked so well for millennia will be much harder to pull off this time around.
Inflation: There is No Putting this Cat Back in the Bag
Probably the most misleading thing Bernanke said in his sixty minutes interview was that he could snuff out inflation in 15 seconds (this was the most misleading thing not the biggest lie, which goes to his “I’m not printing money” statement). This statement is so misleading because it is true he can do what he says but he never will because at this point the effect of raising rates or tightening credit would immediately bankrupt every single part of the gigantic TBTF banker run ponzi scheme also known as the global economy. The world’s Western governments are loaded with more debt that before the crisis and many of these including the U.S. and Japan could not handle even a moderate increase in interest rates let alone what Volcker had to do in order to end the inflation of the 1970’s. Think about it. Other nations own our debt and currency in the form of their FX reserves. China just came out with its latest FX figures and guess what? You go it, a new record! $2.85 trillion to be exact, which is up 19% year-over-year. I want to reiterate a point I made earlier in the year on this. With their FX reserves up 19% year-over-year they needed to boost gold reserves 19% just to keep their puny 1.6% of gold at a steady percentage. If they actually want to increase the share, which they do, they need to buy far more. This goes for every other nation as well since FX reserves have been exploding across the emerging world.
GO HERE to read more.
- Norm Franz, Money and Wealth in the New Millennium
As soon as your born they make you feel small,
By giving you no time instead of it all,
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be...
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years,
Then they expect you to pick a career,
When you can't really function you're so full of fear,
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV,
And you think you're so clever and classless and free,
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see,
There's room at the top they are telling you still,
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill,
- John Lennon, Working Class Hero
Thanks Ben…You Have Destroyed the Social Fabric of the World
History is littered with the carcasses of men that in their exaggerated hubris attempted to stop the forces of nature and the markets only to fall flat on their faces. We tell the stories of these men in history books and myths from prehistory, but it never stops men of successive generations from trying it all over again. What the current political class the world over (at the behest of Wall Street financial terrorists and other big corporate interests) are doing falls into the same exact formula of prior historical failures. Some of the historical figures that attempted to beat back nature were great warriors or kings that just reached too far. Some of them were evil megalomaniacs whose desire was nothing short of absolute power in their hands over any of the unfortunate human beings that happened to be in the way. Ben Bernanke is neither of these. He is a just a little dweeb with an electronic printing press. Tragically, because of modern technology and the way the monetary system works today he has the ability to cause more damage than any other one person in the history of mankind and he is doing it. I shudder to contemplate the ultimate effects of the inflationary holocaust he has unleashed on the six billion mesmerized and helpless souls present on earth at this time. The signs are starting to show up again just like in early 2008. Food is becoming scare at a “reasonable” price in many parts of the globe and the symptoms of this are starting to bubble up to the surface. For example in recent days we have witnessed food riots in Algeria and Tunisia where at least 14 people are reported to have died in each country.
These types of events were easily predictable and have been predicted by people like me and many other whose views will never be seen in the mainstream media. Fortunately, the alternative media is taking over (which is why the Obama administration is certain to increase its crackdown on the internet) and people are becoming very informed and linked all over the world. The divide and conquer strategy that has worked so well for millennia will be much harder to pull off this time around.
Inflation: There is No Putting this Cat Back in the Bag
Probably the most misleading thing Bernanke said in his sixty minutes interview was that he could snuff out inflation in 15 seconds (this was the most misleading thing not the biggest lie, which goes to his “I’m not printing money” statement). This statement is so misleading because it is true he can do what he says but he never will because at this point the effect of raising rates or tightening credit would immediately bankrupt every single part of the gigantic TBTF banker run ponzi scheme also known as the global economy. The world’s Western governments are loaded with more debt that before the crisis and many of these including the U.S. and Japan could not handle even a moderate increase in interest rates let alone what Volcker had to do in order to end the inflation of the 1970’s. Think about it. Other nations own our debt and currency in the form of their FX reserves. China just came out with its latest FX figures and guess what? You go it, a new record! $2.85 trillion to be exact, which is up 19% year-over-year. I want to reiterate a point I made earlier in the year on this. With their FX reserves up 19% year-over-year they needed to boost gold reserves 19% just to keep their puny 1.6% of gold at a steady percentage. If they actually want to increase the share, which they do, they need to buy far more. This goes for every other nation as well since FX reserves have been exploding across the emerging world.
You see this is the great game. The West and Japan and major debtors that know they can never pay it off and have no intentions of trying. The West keeps stuffing the emerging economies with their toilet paper currencies in exchange for real goods, which then fuels massive inflation and makes it virtually impossible for them to ever get their gold reserves up as a percentage of FX reserves. We just keep diluting the hell out of them! The Asians-ex Japan (they are a U.S. colony) and the BRICs certainly know this which is why they are buying resources around the world, strengthening their military and forming economic alliances with each other. A great example of this is when the Chinese and Russians decided to transact in their own currencies rather than the dollar http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-11/24/content_11599087.htm [1]. Also, there was this story about how India may pay for the oil it gets from Iran with gold as they try to hammer out another currency system http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/oil--gas/india-iran-mull-over-gold-for-oil-for-now/articleshow/7238760.cms [2].
GO HERE to read more.
Kovach Wins NCCo Special Election
Republican Tom Kovach overcame heavy opposition last night to be elected New Castle County’s new County Council President. Ironically, Kovach’s winning margin was roughly equivalent to former NCCo Executive Chris Coons win over Christine O’Donnell – the race that ultimately caused a need to elect a new council president.
Despite attempts by Democrat opponent Tim Sheldon at running to the right – promising to oppose any property tax increases and calling for a reduction in the size of the county’s 1,421 strong county workforce – New Castle voters decided to opt for the real thing. Probably the biggest issue in the campaign was who would be a better watchdog over new county executive Paul Clark and potential conflicts due to Clark’s wife representing many county land developers.
2010 wasn’t a great year for First State Republicans. Recent fights within the DEGOP didn’t bode well for 2011. Perhaps Kovach’s win, in heavily Democratic New Castle County, will serve as a jumping off point for a reinvigorated DEGOP.
Freedom In Decline Worldwide: US Report
Global freedom declined for a fifth straight year in 2010 as authoritarian regimes dug in worldwide and crime and unrest plagued democracies like Mexico, a US watchdog said Thursday.
In "Freedom in the World 2011" the Washington-based Freedom House said it had documented the longest continuous period of decline since it began compiling the annual index nearly 40 years ago.
"A total of 25 countries showed significant declines in 2010, more than double the 11 countries exhibiting noteworthy gains," the group said.
"Authoritarian regimes like those in China, Egypt, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela continued to step up repressive measures with little significant resistance from the democratic world," it said.
The recent decline "threatens gains dating to the post-Cold War era in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the former Soviet bloc."
The report classifies countries as free, partly free or not free based on individuals' ability to exercise political and civil rights, taking into account political systems and other factors like war and crime.
Mexico, which along with Ukraine, Djibouti and Ethiopia saw its status decline, moved from free to partly free "as a result of the government's inability to stem the tide of violence by drug-trafficking groups," it said.
More than 30,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since 2006, when the newly-elected President Felipe Calderon launched a massive crackdown on cartels.
Ukraine's demotion, also from free to partly free, owed to "deteriorating levels of press freedom, instances of election fraud and growing politicization of the judiciary," the Freedom House report said.
The Middle East and North Africa continued to lead the world in lack of freedom following a "multi-year decline from an already-low democratic baseline," the group said.
"This should be a wake-up call for all of the world's democracies," said Freedom House director David Kramer, who served as assistant secretary of state for democracy and human rights under former president George W. Bush.
"Our adversaries are not just engaging in widespread repression, they are doing so with unprecedented aggressiveness and self-confidence, and the democratic community is not rising to the challenge."
Elliot Abrams, who served as the point man for Bush's high-profile efforts to promote democracy beginning in 2005, faulted the current administration for not linking human rights to bilateral relations.
"What penalty is imposed on the dictator when he closes newspapers or arrests opposition leaders? That's really the question. Otherwise it's just speeches and they will ultimately be ignored," he said at a public event for the release of the report.
But Michael Posner, the current assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, said such issues were a central part of the administration's foreign policy, though not always in a public way.
"We are very much engaged in a very serious set of discussions" with several major countries criticized in the report, he said at the same event.
"Human rights issues are very much part of that agenda. We are making it explicitly clear."
More here
In "Freedom in the World 2011" the Washington-based Freedom House said it had documented the longest continuous period of decline since it began compiling the annual index nearly 40 years ago.
"A total of 25 countries showed significant declines in 2010, more than double the 11 countries exhibiting noteworthy gains," the group said.
"Authoritarian regimes like those in China, Egypt, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela continued to step up repressive measures with little significant resistance from the democratic world," it said.
The recent decline "threatens gains dating to the post-Cold War era in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the former Soviet bloc."
The report classifies countries as free, partly free or not free based on individuals' ability to exercise political and civil rights, taking into account political systems and other factors like war and crime.
Mexico, which along with Ukraine, Djibouti and Ethiopia saw its status decline, moved from free to partly free "as a result of the government's inability to stem the tide of violence by drug-trafficking groups," it said.
More than 30,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since 2006, when the newly-elected President Felipe Calderon launched a massive crackdown on cartels.
Ukraine's demotion, also from free to partly free, owed to "deteriorating levels of press freedom, instances of election fraud and growing politicization of the judiciary," the Freedom House report said.
The Middle East and North Africa continued to lead the world in lack of freedom following a "multi-year decline from an already-low democratic baseline," the group said.
"This should be a wake-up call for all of the world's democracies," said Freedom House director David Kramer, who served as assistant secretary of state for democracy and human rights under former president George W. Bush.
"Our adversaries are not just engaging in widespread repression, they are doing so with unprecedented aggressiveness and self-confidence, and the democratic community is not rising to the challenge."
Elliot Abrams, who served as the point man for Bush's high-profile efforts to promote democracy beginning in 2005, faulted the current administration for not linking human rights to bilateral relations.
"What penalty is imposed on the dictator when he closes newspapers or arrests opposition leaders? That's really the question. Otherwise it's just speeches and they will ultimately be ignored," he said at a public event for the release of the report.
But Michael Posner, the current assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, said such issues were a central part of the administration's foreign policy, though not always in a public way.
"We are very much engaged in a very serious set of discussions" with several major countries criticized in the report, he said at the same event.
"Human rights issues are very much part of that agenda. We are making it explicitly clear."
More here
NY Judge To Sentence Geriatric Gangster, 93
NEW YORK – Convicted mob boss John "Sonny" Franzese is so old, he knew Frank Sinatra in his heyday. He's so old, his recent extortion trial became nap time — even when his turncoat son took the witness stand against him.
Franzese also is so old that, if federal prosecutors have their way, he's almost certain to die behind bars.
To the dismay of supporters who insist the frail 93-year-old is a decrepit shadow of his former self, the government has asked a judge in federal court in Brooklyn to sentence him Friday to 12 years or more in prison.
The reputed underboss of the Colombo organized crime family remains a remorseless mobster who deserves no mercy, "having denied so many of his victims the opportunity to live out their lives safely and securely with their families," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo.
The defense says Franzese, who suffers from an array of ailments, should be allowed to "live out the remaining few years or months with his family."
GO HERE to read more.
Minnesota Wrestling Coach Put On Leave For Reportedly Insulting Obama, Challenging Him To A Fight
An Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter has been placed on administrative leave from his job at a Minnesota high school after he insulted President Obama’s intelligence and challenged the commander in chief to a fight.
Jacob Volkmann told Fox News Radio that he is under investigation by White Bear Lake High School, where he has worked as a part-time assistant wrestling coach for three years.
“They didn’t like how I was representing the school,” he said. “They said I was representing them bad because of what I said about the president and his policies.”
Marisa Vette, the school district’s director of communications, confirmed to Fox News Radio that Volkmann is on paid leave. She refused to say if his comments about President Obama sparked the investigation.
GO HERE to read more.
Sainthood Next? Pope John Paul To Be Beatified
May 1 ceremony is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims
VATICAN CITY — The late Pope John Paul II was moved a major step closer to sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church on Friday when his successor approved a decree attributing a miracle to him.
The move by Pope Benedict means that John Paul, who died in 2005 after a papacy of nearly 27 years, will be beatified. Beatification is the last step before sainthood. The ceremony will take place on May 1 in Rome.
Church officials have said the miracle attributed to the intercession of Pope John Paul with God concerned Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, a 48-year-old French nun diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, from which Pope John Paul himself suffered.
She said her illness inexplicably disappeared two months after his death after she and her fellow nuns prayed to him.
GO HERE to read more.
Vegas ATM Dispenses Gold Instead Of Cash
If you're sick of just getting plain-old cash out of the ATM, head over to the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, where you can withdraw funds from your account in the form of gold.
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Real Estate Listing Leads To Rental Scam
Just after Thanksgiving, reader Adam's new renter showed up on his doorstep to look at the house and pick up her keys. The trouble is, while Adam's house is for sale, it's not for rent. The woman on his doorstep was the victim of an Internet rental scam.
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GMAC Buys Your Mortgage, Tosses It In A Drawer
How are things in the mortgage industry today, in what is supposed to be the post-robosigner era? According to source on the ground, reader Chris, it's not so great. Chris writes that when he and his wife refinanced their house, they knew that GMAC would most likely buy their loan from the mortgage originator. What they couldn't have predicted was that GMAC would wait around for more than a month before they got around to actually acquiring the mortgage, then call Chris and tell him that he was delinquent on the mortgage that he had already paid.
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Few Solutions Emerge After Loughner Shootings
As speculation continues over what motivated Jared Loughner's shooting spree in Tucson Saturday, his actions have had a sobering effect on an increasingly hostile political atmosphere.
Debates between elected officials and members of the news media are often heated. But recent months have seen an increase in a type of hateful rhetoric among politicians, public servants and pundits alike that is intended to simply demonize opponents rather than argue with them.
Loughner's rampage ended with six dead and 14 critically wounded. Following his arrest, Loughner was charged with the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona), two counts of first degree murder of federal employees and two counts of attempted murder of federal employees.
GO HERE to read more.
New Program In Our Community
Mr. Albero,
I was given your name by an introduction to Laurali from Metropolitan Magazine. She suggested I contact you about our new program. The Community Closet began in 2009 from an idea that has turned into a community resource used by civic, social, and faith-based organizations. We take donated used medical devices and put them in the hands of those in the community who can’t afford them because either Medicare won’t cover or replace them after they’ve worn out or there in an unfortunate situation where the funds are not available to purchase the items they need to remain independent. We depend solely upon the communities donations to keep our program going with both donations of devices or through monetary donations. Recently we were awarded a grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore which we are using to promote our program. Each week our website (http://www.blogger.com/) is updated to reflect what was taken in and loaned out so anyone with internet access can view an accurate inventory twenty four hours a day. Through in-kind donations from Go-Getters we are able to pick up donations free of charge and deliver them as well at no cost to those who need them. All donations are tax deductable and there are no costs involved to those who use our program. There are no limits to the age or boundaries to our program as we work to cover the entire Lower Eastern Shore. We’ve reached into Lower Delaware and have ventured down on to Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Our program doesn’t purchase medical devices because of the abundance of used devices. As we start the New Year you’ll hear more about our program through different outlets encouraging the community to donate used medical devices that are just collecting dust in someone’s garage, basement or closet. We want the community to help those in our community to allow them the dignity, independence, and opportunities that we sometimes take for granted. It is our goal to become the resource for used medical devices such as walkers, wheel chairs, shower benches, hospital beds, etc. All we ask is they fill out a service agreement stating they’ll use the device according to their doctor’s advice and sign off on holding us liable from using one our devices which we take pride in loaning out for six months and if they still need it we will allow them to continue using it upon signing a new service agreement. As our inventory stands right now generally what we get in is quickly loaned out and I was hoping that you might that you would encourage your readers to donate unused medical devices. I would love the opportunity to meet with you and further discuss our program if you have any questions but until then I would hope that you would simply keep our program in mind and pass this information along to your readers.
Program Manager Gordon Howatt
Phone 410-546-3619
Fax 410-546-5387
Email gordonhowatt@thecommunitycloset.net
Website www.thecommunitycloset.net
I was given your name by an introduction to Laurali from Metropolitan Magazine. She suggested I contact you about our new program. The Community Closet began in 2009 from an idea that has turned into a community resource used by civic, social, and faith-based organizations. We take donated used medical devices and put them in the hands of those in the community who can’t afford them because either Medicare won’t cover or replace them after they’ve worn out or there in an unfortunate situation where the funds are not available to purchase the items they need to remain independent. We depend solely upon the communities donations to keep our program going with both donations of devices or through monetary donations. Recently we were awarded a grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore which we are using to promote our program. Each week our website (http://www.blogger.com/) is updated to reflect what was taken in and loaned out so anyone with internet access can view an accurate inventory twenty four hours a day. Through in-kind donations from Go-Getters we are able to pick up donations free of charge and deliver them as well at no cost to those who need them. All donations are tax deductable and there are no costs involved to those who use our program. There are no limits to the age or boundaries to our program as we work to cover the entire Lower Eastern Shore. We’ve reached into Lower Delaware and have ventured down on to Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Our program doesn’t purchase medical devices because of the abundance of used devices. As we start the New Year you’ll hear more about our program through different outlets encouraging the community to donate used medical devices that are just collecting dust in someone’s garage, basement or closet. We want the community to help those in our community to allow them the dignity, independence, and opportunities that we sometimes take for granted. It is our goal to become the resource for used medical devices such as walkers, wheel chairs, shower benches, hospital beds, etc. All we ask is they fill out a service agreement stating they’ll use the device according to their doctor’s advice and sign off on holding us liable from using one our devices which we take pride in loaning out for six months and if they still need it we will allow them to continue using it upon signing a new service agreement. As our inventory stands right now generally what we get in is quickly loaned out and I was hoping that you might that you would encourage your readers to donate unused medical devices. I would love the opportunity to meet with you and further discuss our program if you have any questions but until then I would hope that you would simply keep our program in mind and pass this information along to your readers.
Program Manager Gordon Howatt
Phone 410-546-3619
Fax 410-546-5387
Email gordonhowatt@thecommunitycloset.net
Website www.thecommunitycloset.net
Accident
There's been a serious accident near Nanticoke Rd. & Rt. 50. Rescue workers are on the way.
Council Majority Questioned Over Lengthy Phone Talks
OCEAN CITY – Questions were raised and accusations hurled this week at the City Council majority after cell phone records revealed hundreds of minutes of communications between them outside City Hall.
Councilman Doug Cymek, a private investigator by trade, recently underwent an extensive review of the cell phone records of the council majority – Brent Ashley, Jim Hall, Joe Hall and Margaret Pillas. Cymek obtained the records from a resident, who obtained the usage breakdowns from the city under the Freedom of Information Act.
What Cymek discovered was 17 hours of direct communication between the council majority from Nov. 20-Dec. 19, according to city cell phone records. Although Ashley rejected a city cell phone, numerous phone calls were made to and from his home phone.
In this billing cycle, cell phone usage shows Joe Hall used 974 minutes of his plan communicating between himself and Ashley, Jim Hall and Pillas. Pillas used 927 minutes talking among the new majority, while Jim Hall used 709 minutes between Joe Hall, Ashley and Pillas.
Records point to a number of phone conversations on Nov. 29, 2010, the day before a work session when a host of ordinances were introduced calling for major changes to new employee pay and compensations as well as reductions in current employee vacation time as well as an overhaul of the town’s retirement system.
GO HERE to read more.
Councilman Doug Cymek, a private investigator by trade, recently underwent an extensive review of the cell phone records of the council majority – Brent Ashley, Jim Hall, Joe Hall and Margaret Pillas. Cymek obtained the records from a resident, who obtained the usage breakdowns from the city under the Freedom of Information Act.
What Cymek discovered was 17 hours of direct communication between the council majority from Nov. 20-Dec. 19, according to city cell phone records. Although Ashley rejected a city cell phone, numerous phone calls were made to and from his home phone.
In this billing cycle, cell phone usage shows Joe Hall used 974 minutes of his plan communicating between himself and Ashley, Jim Hall and Pillas. Pillas used 927 minutes talking among the new majority, while Jim Hall used 709 minutes between Joe Hall, Ashley and Pillas.
Records point to a number of phone conversations on Nov. 29, 2010, the day before a work session when a host of ordinances were introduced calling for major changes to new employee pay and compensations as well as reductions in current employee vacation time as well as an overhaul of the town’s retirement system.
GO HERE to read more.
Tale Of A Coyote
California: The Governor of California is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out, bites the Governor and attacks his dog, killing it.
1. The Governor starts to intervene, but reflects upon the movie "Bambi" ¨and then realizes he should stop; the coyote is only doing what is ¨natural.
2. He calls animal control. Animal Control captures coyote and bills the State $200 testing it for diseases and $500 for relocating it.
3. He calls a veterinarian. The vet collects the dead dog and bills the State $200 testing it for diseases.
4. The Governor goes to hospital and spends $3,500 getting checked for ¨diseases from the coyote and on getting his bite wound bandaged.
5. The running trail gets shut down for 6 months while Fish & Game ¨conducts a $100,000 survey to make sure the area is free of dangerous ¨animals.
6. The Governor spends $50,000 in state funds implementing a "coyote ¨awareness" program for residents of the area.
7. The State Legislature spends $2 million to study how to better treat ¨rabies and how to permanently eradicate the disease throughout the world.
8. The Governor's security agent is fired for not stopping the attack¨somehow and for letting the Governor attempt to intervene.
9. Additional cost to State of California : $75,000 to hire and train a new ¨security agent with additional special training re: the nature of coyotes.
10. PETA protests the coyote's relocation and files suit against the ¨State.
¨
Texas: The Governor of Texas is jogging with his dog along a nature¨trail. A Coyote jumps out and attacks his dog
1. The Governor shoots the coyote with his State-issued pistol and keeps jogging. The Governor has spent $0.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge.
2. The Buzzards eat the dead coyote.
And that, boys and girls, is why California is broke . . . And ¨more importantly, why too much government doesn't work.
And if you understand this, you understand the Tea Party.
ANNAPOLIS AREA TRAFFIC DELAYS POSSIBLE ON INAUGURATION DAY
(ANNAPOLIS, MD) – Although a coordinated effort among state, county, and city agencies is underway to ensure Inauguration Day goes smoothly, Maryland State Police and State Highway Administration officials are warning motorists traveling to and through the Annapolis area to be aware of the potential for road closures, detours, and possible delays.
Maryland State Police are working with personnel from the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Maryland Capital Police, Anne Arundel County Police, and the Annapolis Police Department to coordinate traffic into and out of Annapolis for the inauguration of Governor Martin O’Malley on January 19, 2011. The goal of all those working this combined effort is to enable individuals attending the event to arrive and depart as quickly and efficiently as possible. State troopers will be working traffic posts along Rowe Blvd., as well as conducting roving patrols throughout the area to assist with disabled vehicles and to quickly address any traffic crashes that may occur.
Despite the coordinated efforts, experience indicates traffic delays may occur. Those delays may be evident on I-97 and Rt. 50 during the morning and late afternoon hours on January 19th. Delays will occur on Rowe Blvd. and roads around the State House complex throughout the day. The State Highway Administration and Annapolis officials will have signs, message boards, and personnel on-location to direct motorists, in addition to the law enforcement officers working posts throughout the area.
Paid public parking is available at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium which can be reached by taking Taylor Avenue off Rowe Blvd. Police officers and signs will be posted to assist motorists with directions into the lot. Shuttle buses will run from the stadium to the site of the outdoor inaugural ceremony site on the west side of the State House.
Maryland State Police are working with personnel from the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Maryland Capital Police, Anne Arundel County Police, and the Annapolis Police Department to coordinate traffic into and out of Annapolis for the inauguration of Governor Martin O’Malley on January 19, 2011. The goal of all those working this combined effort is to enable individuals attending the event to arrive and depart as quickly and efficiently as possible. State troopers will be working traffic posts along Rowe Blvd., as well as conducting roving patrols throughout the area to assist with disabled vehicles and to quickly address any traffic crashes that may occur.
Despite the coordinated efforts, experience indicates traffic delays may occur. Those delays may be evident on I-97 and Rt. 50 during the morning and late afternoon hours on January 19th. Delays will occur on Rowe Blvd. and roads around the State House complex throughout the day. The State Highway Administration and Annapolis officials will have signs, message boards, and personnel on-location to direct motorists, in addition to the law enforcement officers working posts throughout the area.
Paid public parking is available at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium which can be reached by taking Taylor Avenue off Rowe Blvd. Police officers and signs will be posted to assist motorists with directions into the lot. Shuttle buses will run from the stadium to the site of the outdoor inaugural ceremony site on the west side of the State House.