She's back!
Fox announced Sunday that former "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul is joining her former co-panelist Simon Cowell on his new singing competition "The X Factor." Abdul will be the fourth judge, alongside Cheryl Cole and L.A. Reid.
“This show would never have been the same without Paula and I can’t believe I am saying this -- I have missed her a lot, and I am thrilled she’s on the show,” said Cowell in a statement.
The two famously bickered on "American Idol" -- with Abdul as the overly sympathetic judge, and Cowell as the caustic one -- before she finally left after season eight. Cowell left "Idol" after season nine to launch "The X Factor," which he produced and judged in the U.K.
"I am excited beyond words to be a part of 'The X Factor,' " Abdul said in a statement. "I couldn't be happier to bring my love for cultivating talent and performance to such a wildly anticipated show. ... I'm also delighted and grateful to be sitting next to Simon again ... but you might want to check back with me in a week or two!"
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Black Lab Found In Parsonsburg: UPDATE
UPDATE: A family member noticed the dog and contacted the owner. The owner called about the dog and was able to confirm it was his. It's been a good day all together.
Lost Dog: UPDATE
Michael
UPDATE:
Trudi Grosch
Hi everyone thank you all for all your help and support thanks to one in particular whom i never got there names, but told me they had three mastiffs themselves, and who called me to tell me they saw my dog by the Salisbury mall which enabled me to regain my dog. So bottom line i found my dog mace and again thank you for everyone's help, prays, and support.
Michael
Lenin's Journalists
As Israel approaches the sixty-third anniversary of its independence, the Middle East is ablaze in a revolution whose outcome none can accurately predict, and Israel's detractors are increasing their efforts to delegitimize the Jewish State. Perhaps now more than ever, unity in the pro-Israel community is paramount. We will not always agree on policy, but organizations who associate themselves with Israel advocacy must shun the most unethical tactics in the public relations' arsenal -- lest we expend resources attacking each other, rather than defending the Jewish State.
In February 2007, activist journalist Bruce Wilson quoted Christians United for Israel (CUFI) founder and Chairman Pastor John Hagee as having advocated an attack on Iran in order to bring about Armageddon. There was one major problem: Hagee never made the statement; in fact it is a fundamental contradiction of his theology. The quote Wilson attributed to Hagee was written by another activist journalist, Sarah Posner, in her own voice, as part of her (albeit hopelessly inaccurate) characterization of Hagee's views.
In February 2007, activist journalist Bruce Wilson quoted Christians United for Israel (CUFI) founder and Chairman Pastor John Hagee as having advocated an attack on Iran in order to bring about Armageddon. There was one major problem: Hagee never made the statement; in fact it is a fundamental contradiction of his theology. The quote Wilson attributed to Hagee was written by another activist journalist, Sarah Posner, in her own voice, as part of her (albeit hopelessly inaccurate) characterization of Hagee's views.
Some may be inclined to believe that Wilson simply made an error. But just a few months before attributing the quote to Hagee, Wilson published a lengthy blog post citing Posner's article, including the paragraph containing her relevant assertion. Though he may not have been the first to do so, the sequence of events suggests that Wilson knowingly misattributed the quote to Hagee. Despite this, and the fact that Hagee does not advocate such an attack or seek to speed the "end of days," the quote is widely cited by Hagee's detractors.
Wilson and his ilk ought to be relegated to that dark corner of the internet generally ignored by the open-minded mainstream. Unfortunately Wilson's assertion was not ignored. In fact, the Jewish Daily Forward has cited the falsely attributed quote. Furthermore, J Street has extended "special thanks" to Wilson as well as activist journalists Max Blumenthal and Haim Beliak for their hateful attacks on Christians who support Israel.
The pro-Israel community is certainly not alone in its vulnerability to activist journalism. Across the board, political commentators and advocacy organizations seem increasingly comfortable with such devious tactics. But given how often we in the self-described pro-Israel community decry the unfair treatment of the Jewish State by activist journalists, we should be most wary of this phenomenon.
Most Westerners believe that the media's job is to inform; holding that truth, accuracy, and fairness are paramount. In stark contrast to this, there are those who have adopted Vladimir Lenin's view that the media "is not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, it is also a collective organizer."
Unlike most opinion columnists, activist journalists in the Leninist tradition are less concerned with offering thoughtful insight. Rather, as the Wilson example shows, they are focused on advancing their cause; journalism, or some distortion thereof, is simply a means to that end.
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Gas Prices Expected To Drop 50 Cents By Summer
Some relief from suffocating gas prices will likely arrive just in time for summer vacation. Expect a drop of nearly 50 cents as early as June, analysts say.
After rocketing up 91 cents since January, including 44 straight days of increases, the national average last week stopped just shy of $4 a gallon and has retreated to under $3.98. A steady decline is expected to follow.
It might not be enough to evoke cheers from people who recall gas stations charging less than $3 a gallon last year. But it would still ease the burden on drivers. And it might help lift consumer spending, which powers about 70 percent of the economy. A 50-cent drop in prices would save U.S. drivers about $189 million a day.
Typically, gas prices peak each spring, then fall into a summertime swoon that can last several weeks. This year's decline should be gradual but steady, said Fred Rozell, the retail pricing director at the Oil Price Information Service. .
Some drivers might not notice much of a price drop at first, Rozell cautioned. When average gas prices fluctuate nationally, some areas are affected more than others. In cities with many service stations, for instance, prices can be slower to fall. It's even possible prices will rise at some stations in coming days even if they decline nationally.
And after the galloping surge in prices this year, many gas station owners are reluctant to lower prices until they see their competition doing the same, Rozell said.
"It's just the nature of the business," he said. "They're going to try to get the most they can."
Read more
After rocketing up 91 cents since January, including 44 straight days of increases, the national average last week stopped just shy of $4 a gallon and has retreated to under $3.98. A steady decline is expected to follow.
It might not be enough to evoke cheers from people who recall gas stations charging less than $3 a gallon last year. But it would still ease the burden on drivers. And it might help lift consumer spending, which powers about 70 percent of the economy. A 50-cent drop in prices would save U.S. drivers about $189 million a day.
Typically, gas prices peak each spring, then fall into a summertime swoon that can last several weeks. This year's decline should be gradual but steady, said Fred Rozell, the retail pricing director at the Oil Price Information Service. .
Some drivers might not notice much of a price drop at first, Rozell cautioned. When average gas prices fluctuate nationally, some areas are affected more than others. In cities with many service stations, for instance, prices can be slower to fall. It's even possible prices will rise at some stations in coming days even if they decline nationally.
And after the galloping surge in prices this year, many gas station owners are reluctant to lower prices until they see their competition doing the same, Rozell said.
"It's just the nature of the business," he said. "They're going to try to get the most they can."
Read more
Spread The Stupidity
Only in America ...do
drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people
can buy cigarettes
at the front.
drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people
can buy cigarettes
at the front.
Only in America .....do people order
double cheeseburgers, large fries, and
a diet coke.
Only in America .....do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
Only in America ......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put
our useless junk in
the garage.
Only in America ......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
Only in America .....do they have drive-up
ATM machines with
Braille lettering.
EVER WONDER....
Why the sun lightens
our hair, but darkens
our skin?
Why can't women put
on mascara with their mouth closed?
Why don't you ever see the headline
'Psychic Wins Lottery'?
Why is 'abbreviated'
such a long word?
Why is it that doctors call what they do 'practice'?
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor,
and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Why isn't there
mouse-flavored cat food?
Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
Why do they sterilize
the needle for
lethal injections?
You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make
the whole plane out
of that stuff?!
Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
Why are they called apartments when they
are all stuck together?
I like this one!!!
If con is the opposite
of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
If flying is so safe,
why do they call the airport, the terminal?
1 Year Old Dog Needs A Good Home
15 Year Mortgage May Not Be Your Best Bet
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If your main goal is to kill off your mortgage quickly while paying as little interest as possible, a 15-year mortgage is tempting. Larger payments knock down your principal at a quicker rate than a traditional 30-year plan, but signing up for such a mortgage might not be the wisest course of action.
A WealthPilgrim post goes over drawbacks of the 15-year mortgages. The loan type limits your financial flexibility, locking up a higher percentage of your budget toward your payments. It may be a smarter move to sign up for a 30-year loan and make extra payments in order to keep plugging away at your principal. That way, if you suffer a financial crisis or would rather divert your funds elsewhere, you've got that option. If you take that route, it's wise to check your loan terms to make sure there's no pre-payment penalty.
If you're trying to pay your mortgage off quickly, what strategy are you using?
from the Consumerist
THE END … Osama Bin Laden
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Indian sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik gives finishing touches to a sand sculpture to mark the killing of Usama bin Laden at the golden sea beach at Puri, Orissa, India, Monday, May 2, 2011. Usama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that killed thousands of people, was slain in his luxury hideout in Pakistan early Monday in a firefight with U.S. forces, ending a manhunt that spanned a frustrating decade.
from FOXNews
Local Counties Feel Strain Operating New Schools
The AP ran a piece outlining the strain placed on local governments as they struggle to operate and maintain new public schools. Maryland comptroller Peter Franchot makes specific mention of Charles and Wicomico counties.
"It's not just Charles County and Wicomico which were on the agenda today," Franchot said. "Every jurisdiction is going to take it, have some version of this dilemma."
Franchot recommended that state officials revisit guidelines used to decide school construction needs, noting that St. Charles High School has some particularly snazzy features, such as a swimming pool and observatory.
"Given the tough times, shouldn't we reassess the guidelines so that we're not building expensive, shiny, new schools that people can't operate because they don't have the money?" Franchot said. "And, if that's the case, shouldn't we be looking towards value-engineering redesigns of some of these schools that are on the books, maybe less observatories and less swimming pools and less bells and whistles?"
These are similar to recommendations put forward by Wicomico County councilman Joe Holloway over the past few years. Each time Wicomico schools superintendent John Fredericksen has dismissed them out of hand.
In Wicomico County the current stock of school buildings is not being adequately maintained while the WCBOE requests new schools. Perhaps the county’s taxpayers and students would be best served by maintaining and (when necessary) renovating existing schools with an emphasis on basic education.
2011 Salisbury Safe Kids Day
The 2011 Salisbury Safe Kids Day was held Saturday at the Mid-Shore YMCA on Schumaker Drive in Salisbury. It was estimated that over 300 children (about 500 total) attended the event.
The event, sponsored by the Salisbury Jaycees and the Mid-Shore YMCA, featured groups from around Delmarva with an emphasis on providing a safe environment for our children.
PRMC’s trauma unit brought out the “Trauma-roo”, a huge favorite with the younger kids. Wicomico State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello was present as well. His office arranged to also have representatives from the US Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, as well as the US Secret Service present. Parents were provided information about the sex offender registry, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Ident-a-Kid.
Other groups present included the Wicomico County Sheriff’s office, the Maryland State Police, the Salisbury Kennel Club, and Home Depot.
Muslim–Christian Clash Kills 10 in Cairo
CAIRO -- Mobs set two churches on fire in western Cairo during clashes between Muslims and Christians triggered by rumors of an interfaith romance that left 10 dead in some of the worst sectarian violence since the ouster of the president in a popular uprising.
Egypt's prime minister canceled his visit to the Gulf on Sunday, and called for an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss the violence, according to the state news agency.
Saturday night's clashes were sparked by rumors in the low-income neighborhood of Imbaba that a Christian woman married to a Muslim had been abducted and was being held in one of the churches against her will.
The report, which was never confirmed, spurred a mob from the ultraconservative Salafi trend of Islam to march on the Saint Menas Church. Christians barricaded themselves inside and around the church and the demonstrations turned violent. Gunfire sounded across the neighborhood, and witnesses said people on rooftops fired into the crowd.
No Tweeting for Kent County Employees
The Wilmington News-Journal reports that employees of the Kent County County Levy Court (the official name of the county government) has enacted a policy which regulates county employee use of social media both on and off the job:
New provisions would bar workers from posting materials on or off the job that disparage co-workers, disclose confidential information or "reflect unfavorably" on county government, unless rated as a "legitimate matter of public concern." The same proposals also would create a "duty to report inappropriate use of social media by co-workers or supervisors."
Daily Times Endorses “Moment of Silence”
In a Sunday editorial the Daily Times has endorsed ending the Salisbury City Council’s recitation of the Lord’s Prayer at their legislative sessions. The DT’s editorial board calls for replacing the prayer with a “moment of silence”.
As usual, Susan Parker makes some excellent arguments, including certain impracticalities of using local clergy to offer non-sectarian prayers. That doesn’t mean that SbyNEWS agrees with her views. Tune in tomorrow morning for SbyNEWS’s position on this controversial issue.
Five Things to Do When A Company Leaks Your Data
What should yo do if you're a victim of Sony's recent security breaches — or of similar data leaks at other security-challenged-companies? Our clever cousins at Consumer Reports have come up with a set of tips to help you weather the post-hack storm. Top of the list: Accept free credit-monitoring services that the company offers to its customers, but don't count on them to catch everything.
Among the tips offered by Consumer Reports:
1. Accept offers of free credit monitoring services. Don't consider them foolproof, however. And put a note on your calendar to remind you when the free monitoring period ends, so that you aren't automatically charged for continuing such services, which can cost more than $200 a year.
2. Monitor credit and debit card accounts online at least once a week to spot and report any unauthorized credit or debit transactions as quickly as possible.
3. Put a security freeze on your files at the three credit reporting agencies if there is a chance that a data breach includes your Social Security number.
4. Heighten your guard against phishing scams, which are likely to increase in the wake of April's mega breach at Epsilon, an online marketing firm that sends about 40 billion emails annually to customers of major U.S. banks, hotels and other companies such as Krogers, L.L. Bean, Verizon and Walgreens.
5. Change user names and passwords on any accounts you know have been breached.
from the Consumerist