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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Missing Kids On Delmarva

Robinson Breaks The Law



John Robinson continues to violate the law by placing illegal signs throughout the City and County. The law states a for profit business may NOT place such signs at any location within the City. A profit business cannot advertise with off premise advertising. Permits have been allowed for non profit businesses, so I'm sure we'll hear, I DIDN'T DO IT, someone else took my signs and started putting them up everywhere.

These signs have been located at WiHi parking lot, Eastern Shore Drive and Carroll Street, Beglin Park Drive & Scheumaker, College Ave and Snow Hill Road, Glenn Ave. and Beaglin Park Drive, the list just goes on and on.

It is unfair on the rest of the Screen Printers who have been following the law for years to have John Robinson pulling such a stunt. So, considering it is illegal, you have every right to pull up these signs and attempt to bring them back to their rightful owner, just as the City and County plan on doing.

Come on John, do the right thing, get your signs and pay for an ad on Salisbury News or The Daily Times and stop violating the law. Pulling such a stunt simply costs the taxpayers of the City and County to PAY to have them ALL removed.

Remembering DeForest Kelley


DeForest Kelley – born on January 20, 1920 -- was that rarest of Hollywood rarities, a true gentleman, an old-school Southern fella who hailed from Georgia. He always insisted that anyone who met him call him “De.” He treated everyone – lifelong friends and newbie Star Trek fans excited just to be in his presence – with equal grace and warmth. And more than anything in the universe, he absolutely adored his beloved Carolyn, who’d been Mrs. DeForest Kelley for nearly 55 years when Kelley passed away on June 11, 1999. Oddly enough, before he landed his iconic Star Trek role as the cranky-but-goodhearted “country doctor,” Dr. Leonard “Bones" McCoy, Kelley had spent much of his career portraying nasty, humorless, tough-as-nails villains.
Ironic, right?

Wild Horse Shot During Deer Hunt On Famed Assateague Island

BERLIN, Md. (AP) — National Park Service officials say a wild horse on Assateague Island was shot and killed by a deer hunter.

The 28-year-old mare was found dead by a hunter on Saturday and reported to park rangers the following day.

Trish Kicklighter, superintendent of Assateague Island National Seashore, says she's saddened by the incident and hopes the shooting was accidental.
GO HERE to read more.

Former SU Football Player Murdered

http://www.stthomasblog.com/

Another Senseless and Tragic Murder In St. Thomas

We woke up this morning to news of a ridiculously mindless and scary tragedy that happened on St. Thomas during the night; an employee of the Big Kahuna in town was allegedly followed home or he interupted his house being robbed and was shot and killed. This is all the information we’ve heard and if you know of anything different please comment in.

RIP Tim, manager of Big Kahuna…

Yes, I realize there is violence all the time on this island, but this strikes a different chord. This is a scary day.
Our heart felt condolences go out to Tim’s family, he did not deserve this.

BREAKING NEWS-North Salisbury Outback Restaurant Evacuated

The Outback Restaurant in North Salisbury has been evacuated due to a gas leak. Emergency personnel are on the scene and there are 12 people complaining of illness do to possible gas exposure.


More To Come....


Update ... Joe is on the scene and Fire Department Personnel are stating the call was a prank. They had evacuated the entire building complex and found no gas leak or 12 people complaining of illness. However an employee that was standing in the parking lot was asked to extinguish their cigarette.
I guess that is one way to find a gas leak!

Eye Opener

Bill Gross: "Ultimately Creditors And Investors Are At The Behest Of A Central Bank And Policymakers That Will Rob Them Of Their Money"

Bill Gross: I don't know if the U.S. has reached a desperate point, but it is employing instruments and vehicles and policies that smack of desperation. We are not looking at a default here, but at years of accelerating inflation, which basically robs investors and labor of their real wages and earnings. We are looking at a currency that almost certainly will depreciate relative to other, stronger currencies in developing countries that have lower levels of debt and higher growth potential. And, on the short end of the yield curve, we are looking at creditors receiving negative real interest rates for a long, long time. That, in effect, is a default. Ultimately creditors and investors are at the behest of a central bank and policymakers that will rob them of their money.

Janet Yellen, vice chair of the Federal Reserve, said about a year ago that if it were possible to push interest rates into negative territory, she would vote for that. This is a very important statement because it implies that the Fed will keep real interest rates negative as far as the eye can see. Negative real rates amount to expropriation and destroy one function of money: to be a store of value and a unit of account. If you measure the stock market not in dollars but gold, it is down 80% since 1999. I no longer regard the U.S. dollar as a valid unit of account. People shouldn't value their wealth in dollars because one day, in dollars, everyone will be a billionaire.

Source

FOR SALE BY OWNER

The time has arrived in America where people are now starting to sell off anything and everything to survive. I have a friend who has been traveling all over the north east looking for a vehicle because they have chosen to downsize, planning ahead.

Their experience so far has been as follows. Most of the vehicles they have looked at, (there have been many) the owners must sell. Many of them are now OFF unemployment and are selling whatever they have of value just to make the mortgage payments.

Now if it was just one or two people making these statements it would be one thing. However, it's a whole lot more than just one or two. This means that while our government claims unemployment isn't as bad as we may have thought, it couldn't be farther from the truth. The difference is, MANY are no longer qualified to receive unemployment and the deals across America are about to begin.

Smart Americans are already selling off their burdens and replacing them with slightly used items at a much lower cost. Are you that smart? Are you planning ahead? Or are you one of those people who believes your job is so secure you have nothing to worry about.

Plan ahead Folks. Things are NOT going to get better any time soon. Be smarter than they are.

LOUISE SMITH MAY GET THE LAST LAUGH!

Like her or not, Louweasel may have stolen a march on Cohen and Campbell, as well as Ireton, by putting his “safe streets” legislation proposal on the agenda for a work session on January 27. How so, you ask – here’s why.

During the many months that it has been hanging fire, the package has become notorious for its flaws, and it has engendered significant opposition but remarkably little public support. Ms. Cohen and Ms. Campbell have come to be regarded as joined at the hip with Ireton in support of the package, of which the two women are regarded by many as the prime proponents of some of its provisions, including the phase-out of “nonconforming” apartment houses in the single-family districts. During the past summer and fall they pushed to get the package before the Council, and Smith refused to let that occur.

In recent months, as other City matters took precedence, it looked like the “safe streets” package was slipping below the surface. Apparently Louise does not want that to happen before this year’s City election, in which Ms. Cohen must prevail to retain he seat. It’s no secret that Smith despises Cohen and Ireton would love to stick it to them in the twilight of her tenure by retiring Ms. Cohen and derailing the Mayor’s personal political agenda.

By putting the “safe streets” legislation on the Council’s agenda, Smith has managed to shift the spotlight from such absurd Council actions as “the Bricks,” the fireboat and Linens the Week onto Ireton’s flawed and ridiculed “crime” legislation. And at the center will be Ms. Cohen and Ms. Campbell its most vocal and ardent proponents, who will be forced to remain on that course or, by altering it, looking like they are putting their personal agenda before the public interest.

This move could be decisive in the outcome of the upcoming election, as to all three seats not just that now held by Ms. Cohen, who could be forced to defend the legislative package as the other candidates pick it to pieces or remain noncommittal about it.

This appears to be a “win-win” for the Weasel and her SAPOA supporters – a truly brilliant move.

State Secession Or Washington Debt Depression

Everyone with any intelligence in the US and around the world knows that there is no way for Washington to manage the tens of trillions in debt and unfunded liabilities short of ultimate repudiation or hyperinflation. Thanks to Wall Street bankers and the Anglo-American financial elite, our ruinous debt-financing Ponzi scheme has also been exported to most Western nations. These politicians have made a compact with the devil in delivering vote-buying programs and postponing the interest and debt reduction to future generations. Watch the cuts and subsequent riots in Greece, Ireland, the United Kingdom and you'll see just a little of the future for the United States with its faltering world reserve currency status.

The question is, should the citizens and the formerly sovereign states of the United States wait for Washington's foreign creditors to seize the remaining government and private assets left after our politicians have finished with us?

Our politicians are in the process of totally bankrupting the country, individual states and municipalities and in less than a decade will have confiscated most private wealth and placed tens of trillions of more debt on future generations. Should we act now before Congress and our politicians loot our personal, retirement and real estate wealth, destroy our Treasury obligations and kill the dollar and democratically take matters into our own hands before the looming dollar and debt crisis?

One alternative is for Americans in the individual states to organize and work toward a "Washington National Debt Constitutional Amendment" and repudiate much of the Washington government debt before it bankrupts every private American citizen. Otherwise, the massive increase in the level of indebtedness due to the meltdown and depression may first bring down the Treasury market followed by the US dollar and this will destroy the American economy for decades to come.

The American people need to meet the problem on terms which will make the best of a difficult situation for the nation and our personal financial security instead of allowing foreign creditors, our financial establishment and Washington to buy more time for them through the confiscation of our private wealth, financial security and liberty.
I believe only a grassroots effort by the American people through state-nullification efforts or the constitutional amendment process have any hope of success. The alternative is to expect those who are destroying our economy and nation to solve the problem they created without sacrificing us in the process. This is just wishful and foolish thinking.

GO HERE to read more.

Today's Survey Question

Would You Sell Your Home Or Commercial Property In This Market?

Gas Prices Climb; $5 A Gallon On The Horizon?

The laws of physics dictate that what goes up must come down. If only they applied to the price of gasoline, where myriad factors of another science -- the dismal one -- have suggested otherwise. Prices at the pump across the U.S. are up an average of about 35 cents in the last year, with a worst-case scenario, some economists say, of five dollars a gallon of gasoline if the economic recovery gains enough steam worldwide.

A nexus of several factors beyond the hoped for economic recovery factor into the price rise: monetary policies, environmental regulations, refinery production, low inventories, increased industrialization in third world countries, especially in India and China, all play a part.When prices last spiked in 2007 and 2008, during the Bush Administration, Democrats were quick to find a scapegoat -- one who resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. In a press conference in May of 2007, then Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said, "Drivers are paying a heavy price for the Bush Administration's failure to enact comprehensive energy strategy."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) added his own view a year later when prices peaked around the four dollar mark, "The Bush Administration's oil-friendly policies have led us down the path of the most significant energy crisis we've had in decades, if not all time."



The press was quick to pounce, too. President Bush was queried more than 20 times by reporters about gasoline prices.By contrast, President Obama has been asked two questions by reporters about the newest spike in fuel costs. But the President's critics suggest that White House policies may play a larger role in the price rise this time than in the previous administration. The Heritage Foundation's, Rory Cooper says, "Obviously the policies of the White House for the past two years have been designed to raise energy prices.
Their desire for alternative fuels is led by the fact that they are so expensive, they need gas prices to go up, so that way they can convince consumers that dollar for dollar, to choose a different energy source."

Indeed, the President's choice for Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, told the Wall Street Journal in a 2008 interview, "Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe."

Today, gasoline prices in Europe range from $7.24 a gallon in France, to $7.98 a gallon in the Netherlands -- prices that some economists fear could halt the economic recovery taking hold across Europe.

GO HERE to read more.

Somerset County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

Devin Lee Waters of Princess Anne , criminal summons served 1-13-11 regarding second degree assault. Waters was later released pending trial.
Rodger Dean Pilkington of Crisfield, arrested 1-14-11 regarding a fail to appear bench warrant. Pilkinton was later held on a $50,000 bond.
Adrian Nicole Hart of Crisfield, arrested 1-14-11 on a fail to appear bench warrant. Hart was later released after posting bond.
Ronnie Sterling of Crisfield, arrested 1-14-11 on a fail to appear bench warrant. Sterling was later released after posting bond.
Sherron Oblee Williams Sr. of Salisbury, arrested 1-17-11 on a fail to appear child support warrant. Williams was later held on a $250.00 bond.
Russell Michael Ryan of Marion Station, arrested 1-17-11 on a violation of probation warrant. Russell was later held on a $25,000 bond.
Audrey Lee Banks of Crisfield, arrested 1-17-11 on a violation of probation warrant. Banks was later held on a $2,500 bond.
Christina Marie Nauman of princess Anne, arrested 1-19-11 on three fail to appear child support warrants. Nauman was later held on $750.00 bond.

Prep Now For More Snow, Cold Air

Hope you enjoyed a relatively warm and dry Wednesday. Winter returns Thursday.

Washington had a high temperature of 53 degrees Wednesday, but it will likely not reach 40 today.

The cold air coming into the area from the north will be followed by a storm system that could bring us some light snow, according to NBC Washington meteorologist Veronica Johnson.

The snow could develop around midnight for the bulk of the region. The heaviest snow will be north of our region in Pennsylvania.

Johnson said most of our area could be sweeping snow when we wake up Friday morning instead of shoveling it. The snow amounts will be light -- perhaps a light coating of 1 to 2 inches in our area, more to the north and west -- but it also will be a fluffy, powdery snow.

Like the other storms that have largely skipped D.C. this winter, the storm will be weak in the D.C. area before gaining strength off the coast and hitting the northeast harder.

After that storm, brace for more cold. The weekend could be the coldest of the season so far with possible wind chills in the teens.

GO HERE to read more.

American Red Cross Lower Shore

The American Red Cross Lower Shore Chapter Disaster Action Team responded to an early morning house fire on Division Street in Fruitland. Emergency assistance was provided to the resident of the home who was displaced.

Salisbury Police Department Press Releases

January 19, 2011 at approximately 12:57 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to a residence on the six hundred (600) block of Decatur Avenue for the report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival the officers met with an adult female victim who advised the officers that while sleeping, she was awakened by a loud noise. The victim advised that she then observed three (3) suspects standing in the doorway to her bedroom, one of which was armed with a handgun. The suspects demanded U.S. currency from the victim then fled from the residence. There were no injuries. The victim described the suspects as follows:

Black male, approximately 25 years of age, thin build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a black toboggan, a mask, and in possession of a revolver type handgun.

Black male, approximately 25 years of age, thin build, wearing dark clothing.

Black male, approximately 25 years of age, thin build, wearing dark clothing.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident, they are asked to contact the Salisbury Police at 410-548-3165 or Crime

Solvers at 410-548-1776. Information may be relayed to either agency anonymously. CC # 201100002211

On January 17, 2011 at approximately 5:03 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the area of South Boulevard for the report of a stolen bicycle. Upon arrival the officers met with a witness who advised that two (2) juveniles had taken a bicycle from the Crazy Louie’s Pawnshop and fled from the area. The officers located the juveniles, listed below, and recovered the bicycle.

ARRESTED #1: Juvenile, 13 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
ARRESTED #2: Juvenile, 14 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES (both): Theft (under $ 100)
Conspiracy to commit theft

DISPOSITION: Both released to parents CC # 201100002040

On January 18, 2011 at approximately 10:14 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant for the distribution of a controlled dangerous substance during an undercover investigation in May, 2010. At that time, the suspect was identified as responsible for selling a quantity of “crack”/cocaine to an undercover police officer.

ARRESTED: Kenneth Lamont Gattis, 33 years of age Sharptown, Maryland

CHARGES: Distribution of cocaine
Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
Possession of cocaine

Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
Conspiracy to possess cocaine for distribution
Conspiracy to possess cocaine

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201000017772

On January 18, 2011 at approximately 8:30 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police were on routine patrol in the area of South Schumaker Drive and stopped a vehicle operated by the below listed suspect for a traffic violation. During the stop, the suspect began acting suspiciously which prompted a request for a K-9 check. A K-9 responded from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and gave a positive indication on the vehicle. The vehicle was searched and revealed a quantity of suspected “crack”/cocaine on the floor.

ARRESTED: Donald Richard Toadvine, 58 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Possession of cocaine

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201100002157

On January 18, 2011 at approximately 11:13 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Country Inn and Suites hotel for the report of controlled dangerous substance violations. The officers responded to a room in the hotel and met with the below listed suspects. The suspects gave the officers consent to search the room, which resulted in the recovery of a quantity of suspected marijuana and a smoking device containing suspected marijuana.

ARRESTED #1: Jason Tyrone Moore, 39 years of age Alpharetta, Georgia
ARRESTED #2: Donald Shane Richards, 39 years of age Canton, Georgia

CHARGES (both): Possession of marijuana
Possession of CDS/Paraphernalia

DISPOSITION: Both released to Central Booking CC # 201100002194

On January 19, 2011 at approximately 12:23 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department were on routine patrol in the area of Washington Street and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by the below listed suspect for a traffic violation. During the stop, officers conducted a consensual search of the vehicle. The search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a loaded handgun.

ARRESTED: David Michael Wilkerson, 33 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Possession of a handgun on ones person
Possession of a handgun in a vehicle

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201100002245

Detectives Probe Robbery At Casino

Location:  Delaware Park Casino, 777 Delaware Park Boulevard, Wilmington, DE
 
Date of Occurrence:  Wednesday, January 19, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.
 
Victim:  38 year old Cockeysville, Maryland man
 
Suspects:
 
Suspect #1: Black male, 5’09”-6’00” tall, 170-200 lbs, with a dark complexion and average build. He was last seen wearing a dark blue coat, dark pants, and a dark colored ski cap. He was also armed with a silver handgun.
 
Suspect #2: Black male, 230-240 lbs, with a light complexion and clean shaven. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt.
 
Resume:  
Stanton- The Delaware State Police are currently investigating the robbery of a Delaware Park Casino patron that occurred yesterday evening.
 
The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 p.m. as a 38 year old Maryland man was approached by a male suspect in the parking lot of the casino. The suspect, who was armed with a silver handgun, ordered the victim to walk with him and then forced him into a pickup truck that was parked in the lot and which was being driven by a second male suspect. The suspects then demanded the victim’s money and other personal items while driving him to a parking lot located a short distance away on Twin C Lane, Newark. The victim was then released. He then responded back to the casino and contacted police. The victim was not injured. The suspects fled from the area in an unknown direction.
 
Detectives are asking anyone who may have any information in reference to this incident to contact Troop 2 at 302-834-2630 ext. 6 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Information may also be provided via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com. Callers may remain anonymous. 

Obama Uses Tough Language On Chinese Currency

President Obama pressed hard on Chinese president Hu and his country's unwillingness to revalue its currency at the White House Wednesday. While Obama openly told Hu the U.S. welcomes the increasing flexibility of China's currency, the Yuan or Remimbi (RMB), he also specifically addressed the fact that the currency remains undervalued and that it could be a tool for China to dampen down their inflationary pressures.

An undervalued Yuan creates cheap Chinese imports in the United States, but also creates a poor market in China for U.S. made goods.

"The RMB is undervalued. The Chinese government has intervened very forcefully in currency markets.
They've spent $200 billion just recently and that's an indication of the degree to which it's still undervalued," Obama said Wednesday at a joint press conference at the White House.

GO HERE to read more.

Woman Arrested In Maryland Acid Attack

It was a nasty attack, but now a suspect is in custody.

On March 29, 2010, around 7 p.m., a patrol officer working in the 1100 block of Kennebec Street was flagged down by a woman suffering from burns to her face. The victim told the officer that she had been walking through the parking lot, holding her 3-year-old child, when she was assaulted by a woman who splashed a chemical on her face, according to Prince George's County police. Both the woman and child were immediately transported to a hospital. The woman had chemical burns over her face, thigh, neck and both of her eyes, police said. The child suffered chemical burns to her head and cheek. Fast forward to this week. Detectives arrested 29-year-old Tikia Shauntice Anderson, of Greenbelt, Md., and charged her with two counts both of first- and second-degree assault and two counts of reckless endangerment.

Crime Solvers Website Updated With Two New Sex Offenders

GO HERE to see all of the new updates on Crime Solvers. Do you know or have you seen these sex offenders?

OC Mayor

By now I guess you have heard about OC Mayor Rick Meehan's veto of Ocean City's austerity program.
This is exactly why I have been warning people to stay clear of Ocean City.  The resort's property owners have now been taken out of the equation.
Not only do the secondary residents not have a voice as they can't vote  - but they are being held hostage to a corrupted poltical system in that the government workers are now holding them as ransom for their pristine working conditions.

For years, I have tried to tell people to stay clear of Ocean City.  You are now seeing my reasoning - first hand.
Meehan has lost touch with reality.  

See today's Daily Times article HERE.

Moving Forward A Dozen Times

Gov. Martin O’Malley used the word “forward” in his inaugural speech a dozen times. That number was of some interest to the State House press corps. WYPR reporter Joel McCord had created a pool in which reporters guessed the number of times the gov would use one of his most repeated words from the campaign. “We move Maryland forward, not backward,” the Democratic chief executive would proclaim on the campaign trail.

Continue Reading...

Daughter Snatched From Hospital Reunited With Mom 23 Years Later

(CNN) -- In 1987, an anguished, trembling Joy White pleaded for someone to help her find her infant daughter.

"I hope she's all right," the heartbroken mother told reporters at the time before collapsing in tears.

Now, 23 years later, White is crying tears of joy as the decades-long mystery of her missing daughter reached a happy ending.

The saga started on August 4, 1987, when White took her sick baby, Carlina, to a Harlem hospital because of an extremely high fever, a New York police official said.

Carlina was admitted in the hospital and White went home to rest. When the mother returned, Carlina was gone.

Years passed as White searched for her daughter, all the time holding onto a photograph of a baby girl she had only held for three weeks.

On January 4, White's phone rang.

The woman on the other end of the line said she was Carlina, and she sent White a picture taken in 1987.

GO HERE to read more.

Pay Backs

The O’Malley administration and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have agreed on a three-year contract that would turn furloughs into paid days off, give employees a $750 bonus, and schedule raises and cost-of-living adjustments. The roughly 24,000 members of AFSCME, which represents the vast majority of state employees, are now voting to ratify the contract. The contract proposal was finalized within the last week, state and union officials say, and was posted on AFSCME’s website this week.

Continue Reading...

Accident At Perdue

EMS has been dispatched to Perdue after a man fell off a grain truck line and is not breathing. CPR is reportedly in progress. This is at the feed plant on Zion Church Road.

Wicomico County Schools Closed Monday & Tuesday

1-24,25-2011 - Professional Days (Schools closed for all students) Central Office open.

Superstreets Save Lives And Fuel By Ditching Left Turns

When you think about it, left turns across two lanes of traffic going in opposite directions are kind of crazy. Only an admixture of luck, skill, and a collective social agreement to, as a general rule, avoid crashing into each other keeps you alive. In fact, left turns increase the potential for an accident and also waste fuel. So traffic engineers have come up with a new street design, called "superstreets" that get rid of left turns from side streets onto major roads. And a new study says they are both faster, and safer.

More »

Suspected ID Thief Helps Police By Posing For Sam's Club Photo

If you're going to use someone else's identity to go on a shopping spree, you might as well go hog-wild and hit some upscale stores. At the very least, don't go shopping at a discount warehouse store where you'll need to have your picture taken for your membership card.

More »

How To Combat An Arrogant China?

I
s there a new Cold War developing between China and the United States? That’s a question hovering over President Hu Jintao and his entourage as they come to Washington to discuss military, trade, and financial flash points with the Obama administration.

President Hu told the Wall Street Journal that “we should abandon the zero-sum Cold War mentality.” But is he to be believed?

Everyone agrees that this is a new, muscular, and more aggressive China. The more the Chinese strengthen economically, the more rambunctious they become with their foreign policy. Americans are increasingly irritated by this arrogance.

Just last week — and just as the Pentagon plans to cut back on the modernized F-22 stealth fighter — China insulted Defense Secretary Robert Gates by test-flying its own J-20 stealth bomber during his visit. Admiral Mike Mullen, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wondered out loud why China is boosting its high-tech weaponry. He said, “Many of these capabilities seem to be focused very specifically on the United States.”

Surely the J-20 flight was a snub to Washington. Surely China’s whole military buildup is aimed directly at us. And surely China is of no particular help when it comes to the nuclear operations of North Korea and Iran.

Then, of course, are the numerous trade violations being committed by China. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke wants a level playing field on trade. As a strong free-trader myself, I recognize the many benefits free and open trade offers both China and the United States. But like many others, my free-trade patience with China is wearing thin.

They’re stealing our technology, violating all sorts of patent-protection laws, hacking into Google, and infringing on intellectual-property rights. In fact, 80 percent of Chinese software is reportedly pirated from American companies.

There's lots more here

Exits Accelerate Senate’s Rapid Transformation

Tuesday’s announcement that Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., will not seek reelection—with Sen. Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., following suit today—accelerates an already rapid rate of turnover in the Senate that is altering the body’s composition and its leadership.

The last two elections cycles produced about one-third of the current members of the Senate: There have been 32 new senators sworn in since 2008, which represents the fastest turnover rate since the 1978 and 1980 elections, which together added 38 new members.

With the exits of Conrad and Lieberman in 2013, the Democratic leadership of the Agriculture; Appropriations; Budget; Banking; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Small Business; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees will have changed hands.

Senators and observers who bemoan a loss of comity and bipartisanship in the body will see Conrad’s exit as exacerbating that trend. Moderate Senate Republicans in particular have continued to dwindle both in number and influence. And the big and relatively liberal Democratic classes of 2006 and 2008 have increasingly asserted influence in recent months. Members of those classes successfully pressed party leaders to adopt a more aggressive communications approach and are pressing to alter Senate filibuster rules.

The moves by Conrad and Lieberman, who were likely to face stiffs challenges in 2012, follows an announcement last week by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, that she would not run again. And these early announcements only raise the question of which other incumbents will bow out ahead of 2012.

Sens. Jim Webb, D-Va., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., have left their 2012 reelection plans unclear. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., faces speculation because of presumed difficult elections.

Age and longevity is also a factor. Some veteran members such as California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 77, and Hawaii Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka, 86, as well as Indiana Republican Sen. Richard Lugar, 78, have been in the Senate long enough that retirement becomes a logical part of the calculation, whatever they decide. 

More here

Lowering Of Maryland State Flag To Half Staff

This is to advise you that Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the Maryland State Flag flown at half staff immediatelyThis is in memory of Mark Falkenhan, a firefighter with the Baltimore County Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company (Station 30), a part of the Baltimore County Fire Department, who died yesterday in the line of duty.  Flags should remain lowered until sunset on the day of his funeral.  A notice will follow with that information as soon as arrangements are made.

States ‘Dummied Down’ Standards-- ' Good For Politicians’ Seeking Re-election

When speaking before Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan charged politicians with “dummy-ing down” state education standards under the No Child Left Behind Act to increase their chances of being re-elected.

“Historically in our country, I think particularly under the current law, No Child Left Behind, lots of states dummied down standards,” said Duncan at the National Action Network’s Martin Luther King, Jr. day prayer breakfast on Monday.  “They reduced standards. Why? Wasn’t good for children; wasn’t good for education; wasn’t good for the country -- was good for politicians.”

“It made politicians look good,” he said. “You could dummy down your standards and tell the press and tell the public – if you could tell the public that more students in your state were quote/unquote meeting state standards, that helped you get re-elected. But it did a great disservice to young people.”

In the past, Duncan has criticized states for lowering standards.

More here

Alzheimer's Biomarker Tests Progressing

U.S. researchers are closing in on tests that can detect biological signs of Alzheimer's disease, an advance that would improve diagnosis and help in the search for treatments for the mind-robbing disease. R. Sargent Shriver, the founder of the Peace Corps who died on Tuesday, suffered with Alzheimer's since 2003. His famous family, including former first lady of California, Maria Shriver, worked diligently to create more awareness about Alzheimer's, often referred to as "a silent epidemic."

A team at Eli Lilly and Co.'s newly acquired Avid Radiopharmaceuticals said on Tuesday its imaging agent was highly accurate at detecting a protein linked with Alzheimer's disease in a late-stage clinical trial.

And a study led by Dr. Kristine Yaffe at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center suggests a blood test could predict if a patient is at risk for dementia years before symptoms occur.

Both studies, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, focus on biological signs of disease, or biomarkers. They are part of a broad effort by researchers to detect early Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia.

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Experts: Climate Change Study Had 'Significant Error'

A climate change study that projected a 2.4 degree Celsius increase in temperature and massive worldwide food shortages in the next decade was seriously flawed, scientists said Wednesday.

The study was posted on the website of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was written about by numerous international news agencies, including AFP.

But AAAS later retracted the study as experts cited numerous errors in its approach.

"A reporter with The Guardian alerted us yesterday to concerns about the news release submitted by Hoffman & Hoffman public relations," said AAAS spokeswoman Ginger Pinholster in an email to AFP.

"We immediately contacted a climate change expert, who confirmed that the information raised many questions in his mind, too. We swiftly removed the news release from our Web site and contacted the submitting organization."

Scientist Osvaldo Canziani, who was part of the 2007 Nobel Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was listed as the scientific advisor to the report.

The IPCC, whose figures were cited as the basis for the study's projections, and Al Gore jointly won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2007 "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change," the prize committee said at the time.

Canziani's spokesman said Tuesday he was ill and was unavailable for interviews.

The study cited the UN group's figures for its projections, combined with "the business-as-usual path the world is currently following," said lead author Liliana Hisas of the Universal Ecological Fund (UEF), a non-profit group headquartered in Argentina.

But climate scientist Rey Weymann told AFP that the "study contains a significant error in that it confuses 'equilibrium' temperature rise with 'transient temperature rise.'"

He also noted that study author Hisas was told of the problems in advance of the report's release.

"The author of the study was told by several of us about this error but she said it was too late to change it," said Weymann.

Read more here

Philly Abortion Doctor Facing 8 Counts Of Murder

A West Philadelphia abortion doctor, his wife and eight other suspects are now under arrest following a grand jury investigation.

Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 69, faces eight counts of murder in the deaths of a woman following a botched abortion at his office, along with the deaths of seven other babies who, prosecutors allege, were born alive following illegal late-term abortions and then were killed by severing their spinal cords with a pair of scissors.

“I am aware that abortion is a hot-button topic,” said District Attorney Seth Williams. “But as District Attorney, my job is to carry out the law. A doctor who knowingly and systematically mistreats female patients, to the point that one of them dies in his so-called care, commits murder under the law. A doctor who cuts into the necks severing the spinal cords of living, breathing babies, who would survive with proper medical attention, is committing murder under the law.”

Gosnell is facing Murder in the 3rd Degree for the death of 41-year-old Karnamaya Mongar. Mrs. Mongar died on November 20, 2009 when she was overdosed with anesthetics prescribed by Gosnell. He is also facing seven Murder charges for the deaths of infants who were killed after being born viable and alive during the 6th, 7th and 8th month of pregnancy. Gosnell is also facing numerous other charges.

More here

You Can Now Open A Chinese Bank Account, Invest Directly In Yuan

This week, for the first time ever, the Bank of China in the US is letting American customers open up accounts and invest directly in Chinese currency. Last year the "closed" currency yuan gained 3.3% against the dollar while the highest American "high interest" accounts were delivering around 1.7%. WSJ gives 5 reasons for getting in on the hot renminbi action:

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Bank Of America To Charge Fee To Some For Making Mortgage Payment Within Grace Period

Bank of America is making an 11th-hour push for inclusion in the upcoming Worst Company In America tournament. Starting in February, folks with BofA mortgages who don't have BofA bank accounts will see their current 15-day grace period for making payments cut by 40%.

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Starbucks Expanding Pay-By-Phone To All Stores

Just days after unleashing the bladder-busting, 31-ounce "trenta" size on America, Starbucks has announced that users of iPhones and Blackberries will be able to pay for their caffeine fix with their smartphones.

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Protected By Cops, Emergency Locksmith Rips Woman Off For $613

A woman blogs that she found herself locked out of her apartment because her keys were getting stuck and the lock wasn't working. So she called an emergency locksmith who arrived 15 minutes later, drilled off the cylinder, replaced it, and presented her with a bill for $613. When she refused to pay, the locksmith called (what were presumably) the cops. When they arrived the said, "Pay the man now or you're under arrest."

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Find Cheaper Textbooks Online

The New York Times Bucks Blog has a great feature on finding textbooks for less. There's a great list of comparison sites in there. Don't forget too the option of e-textbooks at sites like CafeScribe. Having all the text digitized not only makes it lighter and more portable, but you can easily CTRL-F if you're trying to find a key phrase or concept.

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British Military: Now You See Us, Now You Don't

By tweaking the technology used in eBook readers, a defense contractor for the British Army is developing a line of 'invisible' military machines.

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

Clinton-Era Policy Kept Tucson Gunman Out Of FBI’s Background-Check Database

As we noted in the wake of the deadly shooting in Tucson, the FBI’s background-check database—intended to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill—didn’t prevent Jared Loughner from obtaining a weapon [1] because he hasn’t been declared mentally unfit by a court or been committed to a mental institution.

Federal law, however, also prohibits gun sales to anyone who’s an “unlawful user of [2] or addicted to any controlled substance.” And although Loughner had failed the Army's drug screening process in 2008 when he admitted his drug use, this law didn’t keep him from obtaining a gun either, according to the Washington Post.

That's because a Clinton-era policy that instructed federal agencies not to report [3] certain drug users to the database, according to the Post. The policy was created by then-Attorney General Janet Reno out of concern that drug users would be deterred from seeking treatment if they knew a drug test could land them in the FBI’s database and prevent them from purchasing a gun. An FBI official told the Post that a drug test undergone to enter the military counts as a voluntary test and would not be reported.

Following the Virginia Tech shooting, Congress passed a law to strengthen both federal- and state-level reporting to the database. In many states, however, the law didn’t seem to make a difference—many still lag [1] in reporting to the database.

And here’s another thing that didn’t change with the 2007 law: Defense Department policy. From the Post:
The Reno policy remained in place despite a 2007 law designed to improve the NICS. That law ordered all federal agencies to forward to the FBI the names of those ineligible under federal law to buy a gun from a licensed dealer. The law states that the names are to be sent at least quarterly, "notwithstanding any other law."
Despite the NICS Improvement Amendments Act, the Defense Department apparently did not change its policy. Drug test information is still not forwarded to the FBI to protect the privacy of the applicants, said Col. Thomas Collins, an Army spokesman.
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Two Blue Dogs Explain Why They Oppose Repeal

Washington - U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, co-chairman of the Blue Dog coalition of conservative Democrats, voted "no" last year when President Barack Obama's health care reform proposal came before the House. So did U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell.

But when the Republicans vote today on repealing the health care law, both Shuler and Kissell, Democrats from North Carolina, will side with their fellow Democrats to keep the law.

Shuler earlier this year said that doing away with reform now would be "immoral." Kissell has told constituents that he would rather chip away at the law through changes and that, in any case, with Obama in the White House and the Democrats still controlling the Senate, the Republican House effort is a doomed effort.

"Simply put: we must live in a reality-based world," Kissell wrote in a column he disseminates in District 8. "Those who are saying they are able to repeal the law are ultimately misleading the people."

Of North Carolina's Democrats, only U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, a member of the Blue Dogs, is likely to vote with Republicans. He opposed the health care overhaul last year and promised during a tough re-election campaign last fall that he would vote to repeal it.

Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia, said he was surprised that Kissell and Shuler weren't being as consistent with their votes.

"You know the Republicans are going to go after Shuler hard on this, and Kissell too," Sabato said, predicting the GOP would knock them for voting with Democratic leadership.

GO HERE to read more.

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

Incident: Driving Under the influence of Alcohol
Date of Incident: 16 January 2011
Location: Salisbury Blvd at Carroll Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspects: Leandio Lano Campos, 25, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 16 January 2011 at 2:48 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle operated by Leandio Campos for speeding on Salisbury Boulevard. Upon contacting Campos, the deputy suspected that Campos was operating his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. These suspicions were reinforced after the deputy conducted roadside field sobriety testing, the results of which led to the arrest of Campos.

Upon being read his Advice of Rights, Campos decline to take the breath test.

The deputy transported Campos to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Campos on Personal Recognizance.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Incident: Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute
Date of Incident: 15 January 2011
Location: West Road at Dennis Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspects: Male Juvenile, 17, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 15 January 2010 at 9:19 PM, a deputy on patrol stopped a 17 year old juvenile operating a untagged motor scooter on West Road. While the deputy was speaking with the juvenile, an odor of marijuana was detected which led to a search of the juvenile. The deputy located twelve individually wrapped baggies containing what the deputy recognized as marijuana. The deputy placed the juvenile under arrest and transported him to the Sheriff’s Office.

Upon arrival at the Sheriff’s Office, the deputy contacted the Department of Juvenile Services due to the severity of the charges to request detention. The on duty representative from the department of Juvenile Services instructed the deputy to release the juvenile to a parent.

The deputy subsequently completed a juvenile referral which will be forwarded to the Department of Juvenile Services for adjudication.

Charges: Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute

Incident: Disorderly Conduct
Date of Incident: 16 January 2011
Location: Salisbury Blvd. at Carroll St., Salisbury, MD
Suspects: Taron L. Johnson, 26, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 16 January 2011 at 3:40 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office assisted a Maryland State Trooper on a traffic stop where the trooper arrested the driver. The passenger of the vehicle, Taron Johnson of Salisbury, became very upset when he learned of the arrest of the driver and that he needed to find another way home. Johnson refused to cooperate with requests by the deputy to calm down and continued yelling from the side of the road. At one point, Johnson began rolling around on the ground demanding to be arrested.

The antics of Johnson caused a disruption to traffic that drove by to see what was happening.

The deputy placed Johnson under arrest and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Johnson on Personal Recognizance.

Charges: Disorderly Conduct
Public Intoxication / Disturbance

Incident: Possession of Marijuana
Date of Incident: 16 January 2011
Location: 200 block of West Church Street, Hebron, MD
Suspects: Ryan M. Warwick, 18, Hebron, MD

Narrative: On 16 January 2011 at 7:43 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office checked on an occupied vehicle in the parking lot of the Hebron Park after the park was closed. Upon approaching the vehicle, the deputy detected the odor of marijuana emanating from within the passenger compartment of the vehicle that was driven by Ryan Warwick of Hebron. Along with Warwick was a 17 year old female in the front seat. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, the deputy recovered marijuana and a smoking device. Also located in the vehicle was a brownie that the deputy determined was made with marijuana inside.

Both Warwick and the 17 year old female were arrested and transported to the Sheriff’s Office. The deputy took Warwick to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Warwick was released on Personal Recognizance.

The 17 year old female was released to a parent at the Sheriff’s Office.

Charges: Possession of Marijuana

Incident: Theft
Date of Incident: 17 January 2011
Location: 1000 Block of Marine Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspects: Teresa A. Trader, 26, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 17 January 2011 at 4:27 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded and met with a cab driver in the 1000 block of Marine Road who advised that he had been stiffed on a fare. The driver stated that he picked up Teresa Trader on Camden Avenue and when he dropped her off at a residence on Marine Road, Trader stated she had no money but would get some from guy whose house she was at. When Trader never returned with the money, the driver contacted the Sheriff’s Office.

When the deputy arrived, he located Trader inside the residence she was dropped off at and Trader told the deputy she had no money to pay for the cab ride. The deputy placed her under arrest and transported her to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Trader was detained by the Commissioner in the Detention Center in lieu of $5,000.00 bond.

Charges: Theft

Junior Cotillion Winter Ball

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to share the pictures from our Winter Ball.  This included both Year One and Year Two classes.  The students had the opportunity to practice the skills they have learned up to this point in their classes.  The also participated in a Foxtrot Contest, a Beach Shag Contest, a Cha Cha Contest and a Snowball Elimination Contest.  The Snowball Elimination Contest was loads of fun to watch.  They were instructed that they had to dance a  Slow Foxtrot which went  into a Medium Foxtrot, then into a Fast Foxtrot.  They were also instructed that they had to hold a snowball (a Styrofoam ball) and not drop it. The kicker was that they had to hold it between their foreheads.  You’ll see the pictures of this. They were so intense!!

They had a 15-20 minute Refreshment time in which they had the opportunity to go to the Refreshment table, ladies escorted by the gentlemen, get their refreshments, then sit properly at a table set with linen napkins and served an ice cream pie with raspberry sauce.  It was the gentlemen’s responsibility to be sure the ladies were well-served and assisted in seating. 

They all did a wonderful job and looked terrific.  I hope you enjoy the pictures.  You can view them by clicking on the following link:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27753&id=110181769046158&saved#!/pages/Eastern-Shore-Chapter-NLJC/110181769046158

For A Taste At What Ocean Downs Casino Is Like


At Maryland's newest casino on the Shore, there are no coins flying around like you may be used to seeing at Las Vegas, Delaware, or even Atlantic City.

There are lots of video terminals though. For a lot less money ($20), you can install a casino on your computer. This video is about as realistic as you would see on a visit to Ocean Downs Casino and it includes more than just video Blackjack and Slots. If you win at the casino, you get an animated video display of coins flying around and an ATM looking receipt with a bar code on it that you can take to the cashier. Some people get excited when they get a coupon at the grocery store though. As for food, the casino venue comes closest to what I'd describe as cafeteria style airport food. There are servers who will take drink orders on the floor and deliver to your chair a small plastic cup containing the beverage of your choice.

In the end, you may decide that a trip to the Ocean City American Legion with your laptop in tow is just as entertaining and less costly.

Judge OKs 'Flag Of Islam On American Soil'

Decision approves government funding for Shariah indoctrination

Attorneys for a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraqi War say they have filed a petition to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal district judge ruled it is fine for the U.S. government to fund commercial enterprises that promote the indoctrination of Shariah religious law inside the United States.

The decision came from Judge Lawrence Zatkoff, who changed his perspective on the issue and said just last week that he would dismiss a constitutional challenge brought by Kevin Murray against the U.S. government's bailout of AIG, the insurance giant.

That company used more than "$100 million in federal tax money to support Islamic religious indoctrination through the funding and promotion of Shariah-compliant financing. … SCF is financing that follows the dictates of Islamic law," said officials at the Thomas More Law Center.

TMLC is representing Murray in his challenge to the use of federal tax money to promote Islam in the United States.

And its chief, Richard Thompson, warned of the precedent.

GO HERE to read more.

BRAKING NEWS: More Than 100 Alleged Mobsters Arrested In N.Y.-Area

Leading figures in several organized crime families said to be among those arrested

More than 100 suspected members and associates of six mafia families have been arrested in what the FBI described as the biggest organized crime round-up in New York history.

Significant leaders of the Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Bonanno and Colombo families and also the DeCavalcante of New Jersey were among those being arrested, NBC New York reported.

The charges ranged from murder to extortion and illegal gambling, officials told NBC.

Hundreds of FBI officials, NYPD officers, state police and U.S. marshals were involved in the operation, which took place across the tri-state area.

GO HERE to read more.

Useful Website

Joe,
Hope this finds you and your family well.  I just wanted to provide a link to a website that may provide a wonderful resource to all Maryland voters, it is an off shoot of OpenCongress.org (one of my favorites) and is http://md.opengovernment.org/.
On this beta site you can find tally's on the latest votes, full bills the moment they become available.  A the site states, it is;
...a free and non-partisan public resource for government transparency. We're a new version of OpenCongress.org for the Maryland legislature.  Track bills, votes, and members of the MD Senate and House of Delegates. Follow the money trail and the issues you care about. Contact all of your elected officials.

Clothing Ministery

We are Concerned Parents For Kids Corp., a 501C3 non-profit clothing ministery.  We are asking for clean, gently used COATS and clothing for needy children to replenish our supply.  We serve most of the lower shores child support groups as well as schools in Wicomico County thru the Cares Program.  Winter clothing is still in high demand at this time.  We also maintain food pantry.  Monitary donations are always welcome to purchase items we dont normally have (shoes, socks, underwear etc).
Items can be droped off at Cakes by David during normal business hours or call and we can pick up locally. (410 742-1571)
Your donations are tax deductable.
Thank you,
Barbara Wharton
David Wharton

AFP-Maryland Thanks Congressman Andy Harris For His Health Care Repeal Vote

Annapolis – Yesterday The House of Representatives voted to repeal and replace the healthcare reforms passed by the previous Congress last year. Grassroots support against a government takeover of health care over the last year was the catalyst for this vote.

Americans for Prosperity Maryland’s Political Director Nick Loffer issued the following statement:

Americans for Prosperity has been fighting nationalized health care over the last year by hosting town halls and local meetings to educate citizens on the problems of the legislation.”

We thank Congressman Harris for staying true to his word and helping to take the first legitimate step by Congress to repeal nationalized health care legislation. The First Congressional District overwhelming disapproved of any nationalized health care legislation and we are pleased that Congressman Harris is listening to the will of his constituents.”

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens to support restraining state and federal government growth and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP is more than 1.6 million activists strong, with activists in all 50 states.  AFP has 31 state chapters and affiliates. More than 70,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial contribution to AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org
Americans for Prosperity does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Sarbanes, Ruppersberger Double Down On Obamacare

Congressmen’s disregard for jobs a slap in the face to Marylanders
ANNAPOLIS Tonight the United States House of Representatives passed bipartisan repeal of President Obama’s government takeover of health care, yet Representatives John Sarbanes and Dutch Ruppersberger voted against repealing the business crippling bill.  According to Maryland Republican Party Chairman Alex X. Mooney, Representatives Sarbanes and Ruppersberger’s disregard for Maryland employers is a slap in the face to the record number of unemployed Marylanders and businesses struggling to make ends meet.
“Obamacare places unrealistic, burdensome mandates on Maryland businesses, making it harder for them to compete and create jobs,” said Mooney.  “In the midst of continued record unemployment, Sarbanes and Ruppersberger must stop viewing businesses as a piggy bank for their unpopular liberal agenda.”
The National Federation of Independent Businesses, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, State Legislators and countless economists have all pointed to Obamacare’s devastating long and short term effects on employment.  Even former Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin, has questioned the CBO’s cost estimates and the employment impact of Obamacare due to the bills budget gimmicks. 
“Sarbanes and Ruppersberger had a clear choice, continue to support the burdensome anti-job Obamacare bill, or repeal it and get started on legislation to address the real issues facing our health care system – cost of care,” Mooney said.  “Unfortunately, they again stood up for a liberal bill that didn’t address the growing cost of health care, while stifling job growth in a recession – Marylanders deserve better.”

Climate Change Study Had 'Significant Error'

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A climate change study that projected a 2.4 degree Celsius increase in temperature and massive worldwide food shortages in the next decade was seriously flawed, scientists said Wednesday.

The study was posted on the website of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was written about by numerous international news agencies, including AFP.

But AAAS later retracted the study as experts cited numerous errors in its approach.

"A reporter with The Guardian alerted us yesterday to concerns about the news release submitted by Hoffman & Hoffman public relations," said AAAS spokeswoman Ginger Pinholster in an email to AFP.

"We immediately contacted a climate change expert, who confirmed that the information raised many questions in his mind, too. We swiftly removed the news release from our Web site and contacted the submitting organization."

Scientist Osvaldo Canziani, who was part of the 2007 Nobel Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was listed as the scientific advisor to the report.

The IPCC, whose figures were cited as the basis for the study's projections, and Al Gore jointly won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2007 "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change," the prize committee said at the time.

Canziani's spokesman said Tuesday he was ill and was unavailable for interviews.

The study cited the UN group's figures for its projections, combined with "the business-as-usual path the world is currently following," said lead author Liliana Hisas of the Universal Ecological Fund (UEF), a non-profit group headquartered in Argentina.

But climate scientist Rey Weymann told AFP that the "study contains a significant error in that it confuses 'equilibrium' temperature rise with 'transient temperature rise.'"

GO HERE to read more.

Dodgeball Madness

Delaware Law Enforcement For Special Olympics Hosting “Dodgeball Madness” Tournament At Caesar Rodney High School, Camden DE
 
Location:
Caesar Rodney High School
239 Old North Road
Camden, DE 19934 
 
Date of Occurrence:  
Saturday, March 19, 2011, 8:00 a.m.
 
Resume:  
 
Delaware Law Enforcement for Special Olympics is hosting a Dodgeball Tournament to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Delaware on Saturday, March 19, 2011 beginning at 0800 hours.  The tournament will be held in the Caesar Rodney High School Gymnasium.
 
The tournament will consist of the first 24 teams to register.  Those 24 teams will be divided into 3 different brackets.
 
The minimum age to participate is 16 years old.  Teams must consist of six players and may have two alternate players.  Teams can consist of all male, female, or co-ed members.  Each team is guaranteed to play in at least five games.  Games will be played under the rules and regulations of the National Dodgeball League.  Food and refreshments will be available to purchase on site.
 
The entry fee for each team member is $50.00.  All team members will receive a Dodgeball Madness event t-shirt. Trophies will be given to the overall tournament winner and runner up.  To register for the event, please visit www.sode.org or call Special Olympics Delaware (302)-831-3482.

Wicomico County Schools

Wicomico County Schools are open on a regular schedule today.