Tuesday’s News, Today

Tune in tomorrow at SbyNEWS:

8:30 AM	Daily Times Rides to the Defense of the Wicomico Board of Ed - II
9:00 AM	Another Meltdown at the GOB

VIEWING AND FUNERAL DETAILS FOR TFC SHAFT HUNTER ANNOUNCED

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – The Maryland State Police and the family of Trooper First Class Shaft S. Hunter announce details concerning the viewing and funeral for the state trooper who gave his life in the line of duty on May 21st when he died while on patrol on I-95 in Howard County. They are as follows:

VIEWING:
Thursday, May 26, 2011 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Home
8728 Liberty Road
Randallstown, MD
410-655-0015
»Take I-695 to Exit 18B, Rt. 26 west (Liberty Road) Go about 2.5 miles – Funeral home is on the right

FUNERAL:
Friday, May 27, 2011 11:00 a.m.
New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown
5609 Old Court Road
Randallstown, MD
410-521-7866

»Take I-695 to Exit 18B, Rt. 26 west (Liberty Road) Go about two miles
Left on Old Court Road – Church is less than one mile on left

INTERMENT:
Burial will be at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens immediately following the funeral service.

CONTACT: Greg Shipley
Office of Media Communications & Marketing 410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)

Garage Fire

If you were wondering about the big black smoke cloud hovering over the bypass and Rt. 13 area, it's a garage fire at 305 E. Gordy Rd.

Supreme Court Rules California Must Free Tens Of Thousands Of Inmates

A sharply divided Supreme Court Monday affirmed a controversial prisoner reduction plan forced on California prison administrators that requires the state to reduce its inmate population by tens-of-thousands to ease overcrowding.

The 5-4 decision authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, a California native, is a wholesale acceptance of a ruling by a special three-judge panel tasked with resolving chronic overcrowding in the state's penal system. The February 2009 decision orders California to reduce its prison population that has at times run nearly double its capacity. Approximately 37,000 to 46,000 inmates will have to be released in order for the state to comply with the ruling.

"After years of litigation, it became apparent that a remedy for the constitutional violations would not be effective absent a reduction in the prison system population," Kennedy wrote in an opinion joined by the court's more liberal members. In an unusual occurrence, the opinion included an appendix showing three pictures of the overcrowded facilities.

Critics of California's prison system contend the cells are so overrun with inmates that proper care has been obliterated. Kennedy cites examples of prisoners with mental or physical health needs having to wait months for inadequate care. He cites one example of an inmate who was held for nearly 24 hours in a cage and standing in a pool of his own urine. Others died while seeking medical attention that was seemingly delayed because of the backlog of cases.

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Death Toll From Missouri Tornado Rises To 116, Authorities Say

Residents of Joplin, Mo., had only 20 minutes to take cover before a monster tornado swept through the heart of the city Sunday night, killing at least 90 people while wiping out entire neighborhoods.

Now, rescue workers are going door-to-door, searching for survivors of the deadly twister that cut a path nearly 6 miles long and more than a half-mile wide as it tore through the center of town.

Authorities warned Monday that the death toll could climb as search-and-rescue workers continued their efforts. Their task was made more miserable Monday morning as a thunderstorm with strong, gusty winds and heavy rain pelted part of the city with hail.

"While the weather is bad right now, we still believe there are lives to be saved," Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said in an interview with Fox News. 

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OCEAN CITY POLICE STRICTLY ENFORCE LITTERING AND HANDBILL DISTRIBUTION

As the summer season approaches, the Ocean City Police Department is reminding

businesses that distribution of flyers or stickers as a form of advertisement is unlawful.

Businesses who distribute advertisements, such as flyers or handbills, are in violation of

Town Codes.

The Ocean City Police Department will be strictly enforcing mass flyer distribution

violations. Ocean City residents or visitors who receive advertisements in their doorways, on their vehicles or on their porches or yard, should contact the Ocean City Police Department at 410-723-6600.

The War On Ron Paul

Whether the media establishments want to admit it or not, and believe me they don't, Ron Paul IS the 'front runner' for the republican primary. Despite voracious denials and vitriolic arguments from almost every quarter to the contrary, he is the only one with a chance of shutting out Obama for the presidency in 2012. He appeals to all sides of the aisle, and is attracting the much sought after independent swing vote almost as fast as he has the youth of the nation. The Internet is indisputably Ron Paul country as countless polls and google trends have repeatedly shown. The gradual change in political rhetoric flowing out of Washington, D.C. over the last 3 years reflects an explosion of interest in the freedom message he spreads so tirelessly. The continuous growth in popularity of talk and news shows focusing on freedom and the Constitution broadcasts loud and clear the rising prominence of issues he has brought to the debate. For anyone with any powers of discernment, it's a no-brainer.

So why do media pundits, dime a dozen politicians, and innumerable experts of self-aggrandized consequence spend great swathes of time, effort, and someone's money working so hard to convince the people otherwise? You can't turn on a TV, pick up a paper or surf the Internet without encountering the words "He can't win," or some other lame variation repeated ad nauseam with great gusto. According to all the most acclaimed talking heads, that mythical beast "The Front Runner" has yet to be seen on the horizon and is still to arise from some unknown lair, "blazing a new trail" of GOP fame and success across political skies sometime in the not too distant future. Their blind adherence to this tired refrain boggles the mind. Personally, I can find only one reason for the constant repudiation...fear. Fear of the known...Ron Paul, and fear of the unknown...future largess. The status-quo is cornered and its biggest backers are flailing in desperation through media and political mouthpieces.

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Obama's Armored Limo BOTTOMS OUT In Ireland

President Obama's Secret Service probably needs a whole new set of underwear -- after the Prez's armored limo CRASHED into a nasty speed bump in Dublin today ... and was instantly immobilized.

http://www.tmz.com/2011/05/23/president-barack-obama-dublin-ireland-armored-limousine-crash-speed-bump-video/

Spring Concerts Tonight

Monday, May 23
The Fruitland Intermediate School 4th & 5th Grade Strings and 5th Grade Band will present a spring concert at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 23, in the school gym. Admission is free. For information please call teacher Buck Burton at 410-677-5805.

The Westside Intermediate School 4th Grade Strings & 5th Grade Band presents "Music Lasts a Lifetime" with selections including “Song of the Wind,” “Sailor's Holiday,” and “Ode to Joy” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 23, in the school auditorium. Students are under the direction of Sharon Ehrisman, strings, and Mary Lee Winters, band. Admission is free. 410-677-5811.

GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY LAUNCHES NEW SPACE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

Governor unveils policy proposals to advance knowledge economy, create jobs and build businesses

GREENBELT, MD (May 23, 2011) - Governor Martin O’Malley today unveiled a bold new initiative to increase the business development and commercialization opportunities of the state’s space industry at the Maryland Space Business Roundtable in Greenbelt. Speaking before over 500 members of the Roundtable, the Governor reinforced the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s commitment to this vibrant sector and outlined new policy initiatives and investments in Maryland: The Business of Space Science.

“Working side-by-side with our congressional delegation and our 'Space Senator,' Barbara Mikulski, we will pursue program policies to leverage our federal facilities and institutions of science and discovery to unlock the enormous economic and employment potential of Maryland’s space sector,” Governor O'Malley said.  “The breakthroughs and innovations occurring in Maryland at NASA, NOAA, Johns Hopkins, APL and other institutions represent new frontiers for commercialization and business development in areas like carbon monitoring, manufacturing and life sciences."

Joining Governor O’Malley were the state’s top public, private and academic leaders including NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Director Rob Strain and Associate Administrator Ed Weiler, MSBR President and Raytheon Scientist Dr. Philip Ardanuy, NOAA’s Office of Systems Development Director Gary Davis, Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels, Space Telescope Institute Director Dr. Matt Mountain, Applied Physics Lab Chief Technology Officer John Sommerer, and University of Maryland System Chancellor Dr. Brit Kirwan.

During his remarks, the Governor pledged to create a Space Development office within the Department of Business & Economic Development, establish a space-related business incubator, advocate for a proposed National Center of Climate & Environmental Information and expand manufacturing of satellite instruments and their components.

Governor O’Malley also recognized the importance of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility to Maryland’s space science industry and economy. Located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, just five miles from the Maryland border, Wallops has an economic impact of more than $188 million and generates 2,341 jobs for the Lower Eastern Shore region.

"Fifty years after President Kennedy called for our country to send a man to the moon, America is no longer in a space race - we’re in a race for our economic future. To win that race we must again work together to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build,” said Senator Barbara A. Mikulski. “That’s why I fight so hard to invest in Maryland’s federal assets like NASA Goddard, NOAA and NIST. I will continue to work with Governor O’Malley in support of Maryland Space Tech, so we can keep leveraging our federal investment to create jobs in space science, space flight and satellite servicing.”

Governor O’Malley called for the Space Business Roundtable to work with him to brand the area around NASA Goddard, NOAA’s Silver Spring and Suitland campuses, and University of Maryland as the “Climate Corridor” and outlined a four-point plan to:

·         Exploit and enhance Maryland’s leadership in R&D in space and earth science

·         Commercialize space technologies to create new products, new wealth and new employment

·         Promote launch activity at Wallops and create jobs on the Eastern Shore

·         Educate and train Marylanders for the space and earth science sectors

"We applaud Governor O’Malley and the State of Maryland for taking a bold stance to support new exploration and discovery in space and earth science,” said Dr. Matt Mountain, Director of Hubble's Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. “Their support can bring together Maryland’s world-class scientific assets and entrepreneurial industries to exploit the technological and commercial opportunities which will be the foundation of job growth and Maryland national leadership in the space enterprise."

The Business of Space Science is one in a series of competitive research reports from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The Department’s research and business development teams interviewed 85 individuals at almost 40 organizations and companies to inventory the state’s space assets, identify opportunities for business growth and develop policies to support this burgeoning sector.

The space science sector is a powerful engine in Maryland’s economy and has the potential to become increasingly so due to the state’s federal facilities, universities, research institutions and military installations. The research found that Maryland has the highest concentration of astronomers in the country – 11 times the national average – easily the top state in the nation. According to the Space Foundation’s definition, there are nearly 18,000 “space jobs” in Maryland including atmospheric and space scientists, avionics technicians and astronomers. The average annual space science salary is $110,000 – more than double the private sector average salary.

“The first step toward fast-forwarding an emerging technology economy in the region is to articulate and launch this very strategy,” said Maurice B. Tosé, chairman and CEO of Annapolis-based TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS). “Maryland is home to the best and the brightest science and engineering professionals and universities on the planet. This initiative demonstrates how business and government can collaborate to innovate and, in the process, create a robust economic asset for the state.” 
The Maryland Space Business Roundtable is a professional and networking organization that encourages the growth and development of aerospace-related business in Maryland. The organization contributes to the ongoing effort to retain major projects at Goddard Space Flight Center. MSBR holds monthly events for members to network with invited guests and speakers including prominent political and government leaders and colleagues from more than 70 local companies.

Governor O’Malley first addressed the Space Roundtable two years ago. At that time he pledged to “form a federal facilities advisory board to identify and implemented an economic development strategy to exploit and enhance Maryland’s leadership in space science and R&D.”  That board was launched in January 2010 and has been a key contributor to the Business of Space Science report.

Last May, DBED Secretary Christian Johansson, attended a meeting of the Roundtable and announced that the Department would immediately launch an assessment of Maryland’s space industry. He solicited participation and assistance from members; many of whom were interviewed during the research and attended today’s announcement. 

“Our journey toward making Maryland the Space Science State begins with the appointment of a Space Advisor – the first step in the creation of the Space Development Authority at DBED,” said Secretary Johansson. “Maryland’s space science industry offers tremendous opportunity for our state, not only in space exploration and in discovery of the unknown, but also in growing Maryland businesses, creating jobs and expanding the industry. With our partners in the public and private sectors and in academia, the Space Advisor and the Space Development Authority will spearhead this space science initiative."

DNC Attacks Pawlenty Before He Even Declares Candidacy

Tim Pawlenty will formally announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president Monday afternoon in Iowa, and in preparation, the Democratic National Committee has prepared an ad attacking Pawlenty as a candidate who is trying to be everything to everyone, and failing to be all of those things.

The ad — entitled “Why?” — plays on a recent statement Pawlenty made in an interview with Time magazine. He was asked “when he first imagined himself worthy of the history books, ready to send soldiers to their deaths and endure the national stage’s harsh toll.”

“I don’t know,” replied Pawlenty. “I wish I had a good answer for you on that.”

“Why is Tim Pawlenty running for President?” says the script on the screen, as the type of music that generally accompanies a clown plays.

The ad attacks Pawlenty for cutting healthcare for low income residents of Minnesota while serving as governor and for the fact that the state currently has a $6 billion deficit. It also notes that Pawlenty’s approval ratings had slipped by his second term.

READ MORE …

A Comment Worthy Of A Post

O'Guvnah has left a new comment on your post "Evergreen Solar Moving Plant To China":

Dear Wicomico Dems,

My butler has been reading the newespaper to me this morning. I notice that like BP Solar another green jobs/Enviromentally friendly company that was started, grown and subsidized by out tax dollars is moving overseas.

As a state and a country we have to put this in perspective. These companies, like GE and so many others that are keeping Democrats like me in power must be able to make a profit. It's just business. As a matter of fact, none of you should be worried about these jobs leaving. I am going to sign a bill this week that will give you even more money. Don't worry about the future, it's just important to keep electing democrats in this state! OK? Especially Democrats like Rick Pollitt. He is a key to keeping me in power. How? It's simple, I funnel orders to him that reward my contractor friends, then they give me even more money that I in turn give back to him. He then rewards his cronies at the BOE and we then make sure that all of you hardcore Democratic activists and government flunkies get even more raises and benefits.

So please remember that Republicans are responsible for this offshoring, not us, the Democrats. The rich can afford giving us even more of their private sector cash and after all the rich are all greedy and don't care about the planet, or the bay. Remember, Democrats are trying to create jobs in the US. This really is all Bush's fault and, what was that losers name? Ehrlich? Yeah, it was his fault too. You private sector people have to get smart and get a job working IN the government? What, you say you are white? Oh well, too bad, apply for some stimulus money then. Anyway, sure, we are still losing jobs and suffering from inflation, but it's all at the hands of the Republicans, who are racists.

So thank you for all your hard work, and remember, we MUST keep anything Christian OUT of the Government!

Remember to reelect Jim Ireton, and all of the rest of the liberal Democrats like Terry Cohen, and Laura Mitchell, and Rich Pollitt. And be especially thankful to the folks at the Daily Times, who are my most ardent apologists.

BTW- Third friday is going to save your downtown too! Great job!

Five Years Ago Today

Westboro Baptist Church came to Seaford to protest to Soldier funerals. The citizens drove them away after a massive fight broke out. God Bless Seaford, Delaware.

Ravens’ Ray Lewis Predicts Crime Wave If 2011 NFL Season Locked Out

While there is no question that professional football is an enormous part of American culture, what kind of role does it play in society as a whole? According to Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis, probably a much larger one than people realize.

On ESPN’s “Sportscenter” on Sunday night in an interview with Sal Paolantonio, Lewis — who was referred to as one of the three most influential players in the NFL, along with the Indianapolis Colts’ Peyton Manning and the New England Patriots’ Tom Brady — addressed the possibility of a canceled 2011 NFL season. The main threat according to Lewis? Pride.

READ MORE …

Michael Steele Joins MSNBC

Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland and head of the Republican National Committee, will join MSNBC as a regular political commentator, according to a report Monday in Politico.

The new position comes after months of speculation about Steele’s next move. A regular guest on the cable news circuit, Steele had previously been in talks with Fox News and CNN.

“It’s an honor to contribute and engage in the dialogue on MSNBC,” Steele said in a statement to Politico. Multiple phone calls and e-mails to MSNBC were not returned Monday morning.

As a Republican, Steele will stand out on the network -- which is known more for its liberal commentary -- just as the 2012 GOP presidential nomination fight takes shape.
Steele, the party’s first black leader, had a rocky tenure at the RNC and ultimately pulled out of his bid for a second term in January. Steele, 52, also served as Maryland’s lieutenant governor from 2003 until 2007 under Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

from John Fritze @ the Baltimore Sun’s Maryland Politics blog

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO HIGHLIGHT CYBER SECURITY AND THE NEW ECONOMY IN MARYLAND

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 23, 2011) –TODAY, Governor Martin O’Malley will participate in two events to unveil a plan and vision for how Maryland can successfully compete and win in the new economy.

The Governor will join U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, Congressman C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger and University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Dr. William E. “Brit” Kirwan to release the USM Cyber Security Task Force report.

In November 2010, USM Chancellor Kirwan convened a task force of representatives from USM institutions, state and federal government agencies, and private-sector businesses to examine the assets of the USM in the area of cyber security and evaluate the workforce needs of government agencies and private industry. The Task Force will present its finished report, highlighting five actionable and achievable recommendations.

In the afternoon, the Governor will join over 500 Maryland space industry leaders as the keynote speaker at the Maryland Space Business Roundtable Luncheon, where he will unveil a plan to advance knowledge and create jobs in the new economy.

WHAT:           Governor O’Malley to participate in USM Cyber Security Task Force report release

WHEN:           TODAY, Monday, May 23, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:         USM Headquarters Office, Lower Level

                        3300 Metzerott Road

                        Adelphi, MD

                        http://www.blogger.com/

WHAT:           Governor O’Malley to deliver keynote address at the Maryland Space Business Roundtable

Luncheon

WHEN:           TODAY, Monday, May 23, 2011 at 12:00 noon

WHERE:         Martin’s Crosswinds

                        7400 Greenway Center Drive

Greenbelt, MD

Ocean City Bus, Tram Summer Service Begins Friday

OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) — Ocean City is kicking its municipal buses and boardwalk trams into gear for the summer season.

Beginning Friday, the city’s buses will run every 10 minutes from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. Between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., they will run every 20 minutes. The fares are $3 per day or $1 per boarding.

The boardwalk trams also begin operating Friday. They will run from 11 a.m. to midnight each day. The tram fare is $3 or $6 for a day pass during holiday weekends and special events.

Bus service also begins Friday to and from the West Ocean City Park and Ride station. The cost is $1 per day.

Source

Mikulski Hits The Trail For Women

Maryland's senior senator will travel the country to help women up for re-election in 2012

WASHINGTON—

— Like other Democrats in Congress, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski is battling Republican budget cuts and working to bring home federal money for her state. But as the 2012 election nears, Maryland's senior senator is also playing a role in national politics: helping to elect more women to Congress.

As the longest-serving woman in the chamber's history, the self-styled Dean of the Senate Women is poised to become a powerful messenger and fundraiser for female Democratic senators running for re-election across the country next year. Eighteen months before voters head to the polls, Mikulski is already in high demand.

Her efforts come at a challenging time for the Democratic Party, which will be forced to defend twice as many Senate seats as the GOP next year, just two years after losing control of the House of Representatives.

The number of women in Congress, meanwhile, fell this year for the first time in more than three decades — leaving advocates for women in politics anxious to recapture lost ground.

Mikulski's reaction: No problem.

"I'm going to organize the women into a SWAT team," said Mikulski, who won her own re-election last year to a fifth term representing Maryland in the Senate with 62 percent of the vote. "We're going to be like NATO: An attack on one will be an attack on all."

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Baltimore Firefighters In Truck 1 Lauded For Rescue

Saved life of baby suffering heart attack

Baltimore firefighters who staff Truck Co. 1 have received a commendation from the department for saving the life of a 2-week old baby who was suffering a heart attack in February. Because of a delayed response from an ambulance, officials said the firefighters transported the infant to the hospital in their fire truck.

"The patient survived due to the quick action, and medical attention provided by members of Truck Company 1," city fire commanders said in a statement.

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O'Malley Ousts David Geier From Autism Commission

Appointee, who works at father's practice that offers controversial autism treatment, charged with practicing without a license

Gov. Martin O'Malley removed David A. Geier from Maryland's Commission on Autism on Friday, telling his one-time appointee in a letter that "you do not at the present time qualify to serve."

O'Malley told Geier, who has only a bachelor's degree, that he does not qualify under Maryland law to serve as a "diagnostician," the title he held on the advisory commission. The governor also cited charges brought against him this week by the Maryland Board of Physicians.

"I  regret that you were not willing to withdraw from the Commission and that this action is therefore necessary," the governor said.

The Maryland Board of Physicians charged Geier this week with practicing medicine without a license while working with his father, Dr. Mark Geier. The men operate a network of clinics, two of them in Maryland, where they treat children for autism using controversial Lupron therapy.

David Geier, through his attorneys, has said he works only in an "administrative" capacity in the clinics.

Attorney J. Steven Wise, said Friday he was unaware of the governor's action until contacted by a reporter. "David Geier denies the charges of the Board of Physicians, and we look forward to a full hearing on those charges," he said.

The board set a July 6 hearing date in the case.
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Virginia Legislators’ Salaries Below National Average

In today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch, Tyler Whitney examines the salaries of Virginia legislators in contrast to their colleagues around the country.  We decided to look at the three (3) DelMarVa states.  Here is what we found:

Delaware	$41,680 / year
Maryland	$43,500 / year
Virginia (Senate)	$18,000 / year
Virginia (House)	$17,640 / year

Looks like voters in the Commonwealth are getting a pretty good deal.

Today's Survey Questions

Do you think there may be life on planets other than Earth?

Also, Do you think we're wasting money on our space program?

Obama Receives a Few Lessons in History and Geography

Barack Obama was sold to Americans as soooo intelligent.  If that is the case, why does he have a problem with a little basic history and geography.  In the American Thinker, Rick Moran writes about Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to provide some basic education to the “Annointed One”:

Netanyahu said that "while Israel is prepared to make generous compromises for peace, it cannot go back to the 1967 lines, because these lines are indefensible, because they don't take into account certain changes that have taken place on the ground, demographic changes that have taken place over the last 44 years."

In 1967, Netanyahu said, "Israel was all of 9 miles wide -- half the width of the Washington Beltway... So we can't go back to those indefensible lines, and we're going to have to have a long-term military presence along the Jordan."

I wonder how Obama would feel if Washington, D.C. was surrounded by hostile territory and was forced to give up half the area inside the DC Beltway?

H/T – Denise Lovelady @ Talbot GOP

Boomers Fuel Rise in Joint Replacement Surgeries

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- We're becoming a nation of bum knees, worn-out hips and sore shoulders, and it's not just the Medicare set. Baby boomer bones and joints also are taking a pounding, spawning a boom in operations to fix them.

Knee replacement surgeries have doubled over the last decade and more than tripled in the 45-to-64 age group, new research shows. Hips are trending that way, too.

And here's a surprise: It's not all due to obesity. Ironically, trying to stay fit and avoid extra pounds is taking a toll on a generation that expects bad joints can be swapped out like old tires on a car.

"Boomeritis" or "fix-me-itis" is what Dr. Nicholas DiNubile, a suburban Philadelphia surgeon, calls it.

"It's this mindset of `fix me at any cost, turn back the clock,'" said DiNubile, an adviser to several pro athletic groups and a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. "The boomers are the first generation trying to stay active in droves on an aging frame" and are less willing to use a cane or put up with pain or stiffness as their grandparents did, he said.

READ MORE …

GE, Other Obama Advisors Expand Overseas Investments

Seven publicly traded U.S. corporations represented on President Barack Obama’s advisory council for jobs and competitiveness -- including General Electric Co. (GE) and Intel Corp. (INTC) -- have devoted a growing pool of their non-U.S. earnings to investments in other countries.

As a group, multinational companies with current or former chief executive officers on Obama’s jobs council have, over the past four years, almost doubled the cumulative amounts they’ve reinvested overseas, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

By doing so, companies may be able to take advantage of faster-growing markets or lower production costs, and they can defer U.S. income taxes on profits from overseas sales. Underscoring the difference between corporate interests and the national interest, they’re also investing money elsewhere that could be helping the U.S. economy, said former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich.

“That’s a signal that they are betting less on America,” Reich said. “We’ve got to understand there’s a fundamental difference between the competitiveness of these companies and the competitiveness of America and American workers.”

GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt is chairman of the 26- member President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Members from U.S. multinational corporations include Intel CEO and President Paul Otellini, Citigroup Inc. (C) Chairman Richard Parsons, American Express Co. (AXP) Chairman and CEO Kenneth Chenault, DuPont Co. Chairman and CEO Ellen Kullman, Eastman Kodak Co. (EK) Chairman and CEO Antonio Perez, and former Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) Chairman A.G. Lafley.

READ MORE …

Let's Make It Clear....

"Let's be clear on this: OBAMA did NOT kill Bin Laden. An American sailor, who Obama just a few weeks ago was debating on whether or not to PAY, did. In fact, if you remember a little less than two years ago, his administration actually charged and attempted to court marshal 3 Navy Seals from Seal Team Six, when a terrorist suspect they captured, complained they had punched him during the take down and bloodied his nose. His administration further commented how brutal they were. The left were calling them Nazis and Baby Killers. Now all of a sudden the very brave men they vilified, are now heros when they make his administration look good in the eyes of the public. Obama just happened to be the one in office when the CIA finally found the b...... and our sailors took him out. Essentially, Obama only gave an answer. Yes or No, to him being taken out. This is NOT an Obama victory, but an AMERICAN victory!!

Evergreen Solar Moving Plant To China

Today I got an email from an acquaintance of mine seeking employment.  He informed me that he had just recently been laid off after the solar plant he had worked for decided to move its entire operation to China.

What is happening to our Country!  First it was BP Solar located in Frederick, Maryland deciding to move their factory to Spain, and now another, Evergreen Solar - a corner post industry in Massachusetts - has now decided to move their entire operation to China.

Evergreen is sited as saying;

'There is  much higher government support available in China.'

Read On

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/business/energy-environment/15solar.html

If I'm not mistaken - I believe that the recently completed solar park at UMES is constructed with Evergreen modules.  Their benchmark and sales pitch had always been that they were 'Made in America'

This is very alarming news.

Disabled Man Injured During Arrest

WASHINGTON - Disturbing video has surfaced of an arrest outside a DC Metro station.
Two Metro Transit Police officers spotted a man in a wheelchair drinking a beer outside the U Street station Thursday.

Officers say he was injured when he fell out of his wheelchair after resisting arrest for refusing to put the drink away.

Witnesses are telling a much different story.
In a video that surfaced on YOUTUBE, who can hear several people questioning the amount of force used.

"They split him wide open, "one man says.
A distraught woman screams, "He’s in a wheelchair. He's always in a wheelchair. He lives in this block. What is going on?"
The injured man was taken to a hospital with what Metro calls a minor injury. He's now been charged with assault on a police officer and drinking in public.

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Queen Latifah Addresses Graduates At Delaware State

DOVER, Del. (AP) -- Actress Queen Latifah is commending graduates at Delaware State for staying focused, clear-minded and determined.

The 41-year-old spoke Sunday to nearly 225 graduates in the college of arts, humanities and social sciences. The ceremony was one of four over the weekend on the Dover campus, where 600 students earned degrees.

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Protect And Enforce Our Federal Animal Laws!

Dear Animal Advocates,

In early April, we asked for your help reaching out to members of the U.S. House of Representatives to make sure that Congress doesn't shortchange the enforcement of animal-protection laws as it negotiates the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2012. Your efforts paid off—well over 100 representatives from 32 states (as well as non-voting delegates from the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories) pledged to stand up for animals! Now it's the Senate's turn to do the right thing, and we need your help once again.

Two U.S. senators, Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and David Vitter (R-LA), are asking their Senate colleagues to co-sign a letter of support to protect important humane laws like the Animal Welfare Act. The letter will soon be submitted to the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

As you know, with every budget item under intense scrutiny, this is an uphill battle—and we don't have much time. Senators must sign the Boxer-Vitter letter by no later than May 27.

What You Can Do
Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center right now to email your two U.S. senators in Washington, D.C., and request that they sign the Boxer-Vitter letter. Sending our pre-written e-mail to your senators will take just minutes of your time, but it could have enormous impact for our nation's animals.

The Animal Welfare Act, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and the Horse Protection Act are among the most important pillars of animal protection that our nation has, and we must make sure their enforcement is properly funded.

Thank you for taking immediate action, advocates!

DuPont Doubling Down on Biotech

Wilmington's DuPont Co. doubled down on biotechnology last week, completing its $6.4 billion bid for Danish enzymes firm Danisco and beginning the process of combining the two companies.
With the Danisco purchase, DuPont moves yet further away from its storied history in explosives and commodity chemicals and further into what may be considered a third era for the 209-year-old Delaware company -- this one defined by biotechnology.
DuPont is already a force in agricultural biotech through its ownership of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a $5.3 billion Iowa firm that sells genetically altered soybean seeds. DuPont purchased Pioneer for $7.7 billion in 1999, in its last major acquisition.
Architects of the Danisco deal say the addition of the Copenhagen-based company makes DuPont a major player in industrial biotechnology and will bolster efforts to produce materials from renewable sources like corn starch and soy. Danisco, which makes food ingredients and additives, also markedly strengthens DuPont's food business. Its addition will create a standalone $3 billion nutrition and health segment.
READ MORE …

Generous Pensions For Judges Survive Cuts To Other State Workers

While the governor and legislature this year raised what state workers and teachers pay into their pension plans and cut benefits for future employees, the state’s most generous retirement plan survived completely unscathed – the pensions for judges. The 351 retired judges (or their spouses) get an average pension of $68,000 a year, and 113 of the judges, who must retire at 70, can also earn up to a third of the annual salary by continuing to process cases around the state.

Continue Reading...

Local Museums Offer Military Families Free Tickets

WASHINGTON - More than 1,300 museums across the country are offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families all summer in a program with the National Endowment for the Arts.

In our area, that includes the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, National Air and Space Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Archives, National Museum of the American Indian and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Va.

The expanded Blue Star Museums program is being announced Monday with military families in San Diego where 17 museums are participating. The offer runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

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FBI Lab Reports On Anthrax Suggest Another Miscue

Washington - Buried in FBI laboratory reports about the anthrax mail attacks that killed five people in 2001 is data suggesting that a chemical may have been added to try to heighten the powder's potency, a move that some experts say exceeded the expertise of the presumed killer.

The lab data, contained in more than 9,000 pages of files that emerged a year after the Justice Department closed its inquiry and condemned the late Army microbiologist Bruce Ivins as the perpetrator, shows unusual levels of silicon and tin in anthrax powder from two of the five letters.

Those elements are found in compounds that could be used to weaponize the anthrax, enabling the lethal spores to float easily so they could be readily inhaled by the intended victims, scientists say.

The existence of the silicon-tin chemical signature offered investigators the possibility of tracing purchases of the more than 100 such chemical products available before the attacks, which might have produced hard evidence against Ivins or led the agency to the real culprit.

But the FBI lab reports released in late February give no hint that bureau agents tried to find the buyers of additives such as tin-catalyzed silicone polymers.

The apparent failure of the FBI to pursue this avenue of investigation raises the ominous possibility that the killer is still on the loose.

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Daily Times Rides to Defense of Wicomico Board of Ed - I

I’m a huge fan of Daily Times editorial page editor Susan Parker.  I don’t agree with her that often, but I do admire her ability as both a writer and an editor.  I would also be surprised if Parker wrote Sunday’s unwarranted screed against the Wicomico County Council.  Her arguments are typically too well reasoned (even when I disagree with her).

Whoever did write yesterday’s rant, one thing is certain; they weren’t in attendance at last Tuesday’s meeting between the Wicomico County Council and the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE).  This piece reads like Pravda come down from the bureaucrats on Long Avenue (the WCBOE).

Any objective individual who had bothered attending a few school board meetings as well as meetings between the WCBOE and the council would immediately see the disjunction between reality and what they read in Sunday’s paper.

Riddled with so many falsehoods and misstatements, this op-ed forces you to question if the piece was written by Supt. John Fredericksen himself:

In the past, locations alternated between the school board and council facilities, but the council has recently refused to meet on school property, instead demanding the school board come to them, which it has done. And rather than the conversations that were intended to take place at these meetings, the council has taken to presenting the school board with lists of questions, an act that creates an atmosphere of suspicion and places school board members on the defensive.

I can’t speak to ALL of the past Wicomico councils.  However, at least since 2006 the council has not “alternated” locations for meetings between the council and the WCBOE.  Yes, the council has, on occasion, met with the WCBOE over at Long Avenue.  I have not found ANY evidence that the council has refused to meet on school property unless there was a scheduling conflict.

To the best of my knowledge, the WCBOE has asked for meetings at a “neutral” location.  This borders on childishness and begs the question – Who is making a power play?

As for “presenting the school board with lists of questions”, this is true.  The council has done this WITH GOOD REASON.

If the author bothered to attend as many of these meetings as I have, they would have noticed a pattern:

• The council or an individual council member asks a question.
  
• The WCBOE gives them an answer (I guess this is the “constructive” give and take the author pines for).
  
• Later on, the council or council member is made aware that the answer provided was either untrue or somehow obfuscated.
  
• At the next meeting between council and school board, this is brought up and the explanation is given that they obviously misunderstood the question but here is a NEW answer.
  
• It is then discovered that this answer wasn’t really addressing the council’s question.  And on… and on… and on.

So … The council has come up with a better alternative.  Certain questions are asked IN WRITING.  It’s a little harder to say that the question was “misunderstood”.  The WCBOE still obfuscates or delays whenever possible.  A great case in point is the request for information on salaries.

Information has been requested by council regarding salaries for years.  They receive one report.  They find instances where the information is (to be charitable) “incomplete”.  They request more complete information.  DITTO.  Finally, they request the information which appears on each employee’s W-2.  NOW, after multiple attempts, the council finally receives the information that they originally requested – after requesting, re-requesting, clarifying, and re-stating their request for MONTHS!

The travel information which has been referred to so often is another great example.  The WCBOE claims that this information has been provided AND that it cost THOUSANDS of dollars to put together the information.  This isn’t exactly true.

Last year, councilman Joe Holloway (R-5) requested a reporting of the WCBOE’s travel expenses.  This was after repeated statements from Fredericksen that travel had been cut back to bare essentials.

After FOUR MONTHS of waiting, and re-requesting the information, the council FINALLY received a report of travel expenses for the previous fiscal year.  When this was mentioned to WCBOE controller Bruce Ford he was at a loss.  It only took a few minutes to generate the report.

After Holloway received the report, he poured through it and requested supporting documentation for a relatively small number of transactions.  This was how the public learned that WCBOE employees were going to Hooters, eating out at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and getting coffee – in town – all on the taxpayers’ dime.  SHAME ON YOU Joe Holloway!

No doubt, there was a cost in digging up and duplicating this supporting documentation.  Sorry guys!  The WCBOE is spending taxpayer dollars.  The elected representatives of those taxpayers not only have a right, but a DUTY to examine how those tax dollars are spent.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Tomorrow we will continue to examine the vain attempt of the “Daily Times” to criticize (ATTACK?) the Wicomico County Council for the unpardonable crime of trying to see that our tax dollars are efficiently spent.

Why March-April's Job Gains Will Collapse This Summer

Every spring for the last three years, the business press and government policy makers declare with great fanfare that the job market in the US has finally turned the corner; sustained recovery in job creation has begun. But every summer following their pronouncements, the opposite occurs: employment and job creation retrenches from the spring and declines.

In recent months, the US Labor Department has reported that jobs for March and April 2011 grew by more than 200,000 each month. Apart from the fact that 130,000 new workers enter the labor force each month, and, therefore, the "net" gain is really only 70,000 (and a third to half of gains represent part time and temp workers), the 200,000 jobs represent an apparent relative improvement over the dismal job creation picture since last June 2010. But appearances are deceptive, and sometimes even false.

How real is the job growth in recent months? And will it continue for the remainder of 2011? Our answer to the first query is "not very" and to the second, "not likely." Here's why.

If the past three years, 2008-2010, are any indicator, employment gains that occur in the spring are not a true, reliable indicator of actual job creation. And the gains of this spring will once again likely disappear in the coming summer-fall of 2011.

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DART Schedule For Memorial Day, May 30, 2011

Wilmington -- On Memorial Day DART First State services, both fixed route and paratransit, will not operate on Monday, May 30, 2011, with the exception of the Resort Transit Routes 201-208, its related paratransit service, and the Route 305 Beach Connection.

Resort Transit Routes 201 to 208 operate 7 days a week from May 26 through September 18, 2011, serving Lewes, Rehoboth, Georgetown, Dewey, Bethany, Fenwick and Ocean City, MD. The Route 305 Beach Connection, serving Wilmington, Dover, and Milford to Rehoboth operates on Friday evenings, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from May 27 through September 5. Bus stops include Rodney Square, Wilmington Amtrak Station, Christiana Mall, Smyrna Rest Stop, Scarborough Park & Ride in Dover, Super Wal-Mart in Milford, and the Rehoboth Park & Ride.

The SEPTA Wilmington Newark Line will operate on a Saturday and Sunday schedule.

McDonnell to Make Major Economic Development Announcement

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is scheduled to release a major economic development announcement in Staunton today.  This comes days after the announcement that Virginia unemployment numbers continue to fall.

Delaware River Dredging Fight Goes Back to Court

New Jersey has opened a new round in a running battle over plans to deepen the Delaware River's main shipping channel, asking a federal appeals court to overturn a lower court's rejection of its environmental challenges.

Although federal funding for the full 103-mile project remains in doubt, the Army Corps of Engineers hopes to begin deepening a second five-mile leg of the channel this summer between the Delaware Memorial Bridge and Fox Point.

Workers already have deepened a 12-mile section of the 400- to 1,000-foot-wide channel to 45 feet from its previous minimum of 40 feet between the bridge and the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal.

Although the state of Pennsylvania and business groups strongly support deepening the channel between Philadelphia and the Atlantic Ocean, New Jersey, Delaware and environmental organizations have opposed the project as not fully reviewed or as economically and environmentally unsound.

READ MORE …

Virginia Senate Questions AG’s Opinions on Charitable Giving by Commonwealth

State Sen. R. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania, accused Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli today of initiating "a political fishing expedition" over a constitutional question that has sowed uncertainty in the state bureaucracy.

Houck was joined by other senators, Republicans as well as Democrats, on the Senate Finance Committee in questioning an Attorney General's opinion that found charitable contributions by the state to be in violation of the Virginia Constitution.

Although the opinion was sought by Del. John M. O'Bannnon III, R-Henrico, Houck said it furthered Cuccinelli's anti-earmark political agenda.

This was the second General Assembly committee this week to look into the opinion. The House Appropriations Committee questioned it Monday.

At a time of fiscal restraint, such an opinion was not needed, when the legislature is scrambling to find money to help needy groups, Houck said.

READ MORE …

Molotov Cocktails Found in UMBC Dorm

University of Maryland, Baltimore County campus police reported Sunday finding two Molotov cocktails a day earlier in a dormitory stairwell.

The two homemade incendiary devices, filled with a flammable liquid with a wick inserted into the mouth of the container, were discovered about 10:20 a.m. Saturday by a UMBC employee in an exterior stairwell of Gunpowder-Terrace Apartments, a student dormitory on the Catonsville campus of the university, said Paul Dillon, deputy chief of the UMBC Police Department.

"They were not ignited, and we're trying to determine how long they were there," Dillon said Sunday. "They were picked up by the state fire marshal's office and removed from our campus."

Dillon added, "We're still investigating the case and we have no suspects at this time."

No one was hurt in the incident, he said.

The university alerted its students and employees to the situation in an email about six hours after the devices were found.

from Frederick Rasmussen @ the Baltimore Sun

BREAKING NEWS: 89 Dead In Missouri Tornado

Authorities confirm at least 89 people killed in massive Missouri tornado.

Wicomico Elections Director to Speak at WCRC

May 23 , 2011

Refreshments 6:30 pm

Meeting Starts 7:00 pm

Location: Salisbury Chamber of Commerce
144 East Main Street, Salisbury, MD

Speaker: Anthony Gutierrez, Wicomico County Elections Director

Topic: Voter Registrations

Please attend this important meeting!!

Hostile Climate Over Anne Arundel Budget Cuts

Wicomico County citizens aren’t the only folks arguing over raising taxes and cutting spending.  Erin Cox of the Annapolis Capital reports that the Anne Arundel County Council is getting pretty contentious.

READ MORE …

Bi-Partisan Interest in Immigrant Tuition Petition

With about 10 days to go until a critical first deadline on an effort to repeal in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, organizers say they've seen bipartisan support for the effort, reporting that Democrats account for about one-quarter of the people who have downloaded the petition online.

Del. Neil Parrott, a Washington County Republican who is leading the signature drive, has not said how close petitioners are to the 18,500 signatures required by May 31. Today he said the effort is "on track," while acknowledging it "needs a surge" to meet his goal of 35,000 signatures to hand over to the State Board of Elections.

Parrott is seeking the higher number of signatures because strict petition requirements mean the board ends up tossing as much as one-third of them for technical reasons, including a signer's name not matching his or her voter registration information.

Aside from assurances from Parrott and other organizers that the petition drive is going well, there's no real way of knowing how close they are. Parrott said petitioners will be collecting names at Preakness tomorrow, and they've hit numerous local festivals and community meetings across the state.

Casa de Maryland this week held its own event, featuring Lt. Giv. Anthony Brown, to discuss the merits of the tuition measure.

If the board determines petitioners have met the 18,000-signature benchmark, they can continue collecting. The full petition -- containing more than 55,000 signatures -- would then be due by the end of June.

READ MORE …

What To Keep In Mind When Merging Accounts with Your Significant Other

Intimate relationships have a way of disarming even for those who are fiercely independent with their finances, and that intimacy can lead to the logistical horror that is merging bank accounts and credit cards.

A Kiplinger story provides a how-to guide on how to pull off the merger with minimal annoyance, helping you choose the best eggs to break in order to form your financial omelet.

The story recommends first getting the ugly, dirty secrets out of the way, such as sharing credit scores and debt. Clearing the air upfront can be key in deciding whether or not to merge accounts before you buy a house or vehicle together. If one person has great credit and the other is a financial mess, it usually makes more sense to keep things separate until after the better-qualified person secures the loan.

If you've merged accounts with someone, how did you make sure things went smoothly?

from Phil Villarreal @ The Consumerist

Virginia Re-Districting Could Cost $5 Million

Donald Palmer, secretary of the State Board of Elections, said Thursday that a split precinct requires a new voting machine, new signage and informational guides about the new precinct.

The legislative redistricting plan adopted by the General Assembly could cost state and local governments $5 million because of the large number of split precincts, the Senate Finance Committee has been told.

Donald Palmer, secretary of the State Board of Elections, said Thursday that a split precinct requires a new voting machine, new signage and informational guides about the new precinct. This costs about$25,000 for each precinct, he said.

The House of Delegates plan has 109 split precincts and the Senate plan 115, Palmer said.

Federal funding through the Help America Vote Act could defray a small portion of the cost, Palmer said.

The rest likely will be absorbed by localities, said Lawrence C. Haake III, the Chesterfield County registrar who is president of the Voter Registrars Association of Virginia.

"It's another unfunded mandate from the General Assembly to the localities," he said during a telephone conversation.

Members of the Finance Committee did not comment on Palmer's presentation.

READ MORE …

Texas Limits Tax-Breaks for Abortion Coverage

AUSTIN — Acting at the request of Comptroller Susan Combs, Rep. Jim Landtroop, R-Plainview, added to a crucial budgetary bill an amendment prohibiting employers from claiming health coverage for elective abortions as an exemption from the state's franchise tax.

The amendment was attached after 1 a.m. on Saturday to a "fiscal matters" bill crucial to the state's budget, prompting grumbling that Combs was using an essential piece of legislation to shore up her political profile. Combs has faced intense negative publicity since her office announced last month that it had inadvertently exposed the personal information of 3 million Texans on an Internet server accessible to the public.

But Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, defended Combs' use of the bill to get policy enacted, noting that over 200 amendments had been offered. Because the bill has a broad "caption" — or title — a variety of issues are eligible to be added to it, he noted.

"There were 200 amendments. You could ask questions about the appropriateness of all of them," he said. The fiscal matters bill "becomes a vehicle (for other proposals) because everything is germane."

Under current law, employers can deduct the cost of hiring employees, including their health care costs, from the state's franchise tax.

READ MORE …

The graphic is illustrative of the post, not a statement of editorial policy or opinion. – Ed.

Majority Supports Gay Marriage for First Time

DO YOU?

A  recent Gallup poll shows 53 percent of Americans support making gay marriage legal, Reuters reports.

The poll shows a significant change in mood on the issue from a year ago, when an equal majority opposed same-sex matrimony.

The latest Gallup findings, Reuters reports, are in line with two earlier national polls this spring that show support for legally recognized gay marriage has gained a newfound majority among Americans.

According to Gallup, Democrats and political independents accounted for the entire shift in its survey compared to last year, when only 44 percent of all respondents favored gay marriage, while 53 percent were opposed.

The percentage of Republicans favoring same-sex matrimony held steady at 28 percent.

While same-sex marriage remains a highly controversial issue, homosexual couples have won the right to legally wed in five states – Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa. The District of Columbia has also approved same-sex marriage.

READ MORE …

Let’s keep comments civil if you want them approved. – Ed.

Ryan Challenges Democrats to Propose Budget Alternative

The architect of the House Republican plan for overhauling Medicare says it's time to move beyond petty politics and focus on dealing with the nation's fiscal problems, and he's challenging Democrats to show leadership on budget cuts.

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., chairman of the House Budget Committee, on Sunday played down a recent flap with presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, who two weeks earlier called Ryan's Medicare proposal "right-wing social engineering." Gingrich took his words back a few days later after he was criticized by conservatives. Gingrich also called Ryan to apologize.

Ryan said Gingrich's critique was "deeply inaccurate and a gross mischaracterization," but he's not surprised since the plan has been distorted by people who wish to take political advantage by creating confusion about it.

"We're offering details. We have no partners on the other side of the aisle offering anything but misleading scare tactics," Ryan said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "Of course people are scared of entitlement reform because every time you put entitlement reform out there, the other party uses it as a political weapon against you."

READ MORE …

Kucinich Demands Obama Seek Congressional Approval for Libyan Action

President Obama could be impeached for violating U.S. Constitution and law by going into Libya without congressional consent, but Rep. Dennis Kucinich says he doesn't want to cause that kind of havoc on the Republic, he just wants the United States to get out of Libya's civil war.

While many lawmakers in general support the U.S. role in Libya, even if they want the final say on approving military action, Kucinich, D-Ohio, will introduce a joint resolution when Congress returns this week that he says "hopefully will lead us out of this mess that we've waded into in Libya."

The eight-term congressman and former presidential candidate said Obama "moved to attack Libya without constitutional authority" and violated U.S. law by not complying with the War Powers Act, which requires a president to get authorization from Congress within 60 days of launching a military action.

READ MORE …

Gene Simmons for President

At least the KISS bassist has better foreign policy chops than the guy sitting in the White House now.

Gold and Silver to Become Legal Currency in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah legislators want to see the dollar regain its former glory, back to the days when one could literally bank on it being "as good as gold."

To make that point, they've turned it around, and made gold as good as cash. Utah became the first state in the country this month to legalize gold and silver coins as currency. The law also will exempt the sale of the coins from state capital gains taxes.

Craig Franco hopes to cash in on it with his Utah Gold and Silver Depository, and he thinks others will soon follow.

The idea is simple: Store your gold and silver coins in a vault, and Franco issues a debit-like card to make purchases backed by your holdings.

He plans to open for business June 1, likely the first of its kind in the country.

"Because we're dealing with something so forward thinking, I expect a wait-and-see attitude," Franco said. "Once the depository is executed and transactions can occur, then I think people will move into the marketplace."

The idea was spawned by Republican state Rep. Brad Galvez, who sponsored the bill largely to serve as a protest against Federal Reserve monetary policy. Galvez says Americans are losing faith in the dollar. If you're mad about government debt, ditch the cash. Spend your gold and silver, he says.

His idea isn't to return to the gold standard, when the dollar was backed by gold instead of government goodwill. Instead, he just wanted to create options for consumers.

READ MORE …

First American Win at Cannes Since 2004

CANNES, France – American director Terrence Malick's expansive drama "The Tree of Life" won the top honor at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, while Kirsten Dunst took the best-actress prize for the apocalyptic saga "Melancholia."

The Palme d'Or prize was accepted Sunday by two "Tree of Life" producers, Dede Gardner and Bill Pohlad, for the notoriously press-shy Malick, who has skipped all public events at the glamorous Cannes festival.

"I know he would be thrilled with this," Pohlad said.

"Why isn't he here? I'm not saying it's an easy question to answer, but he personally is a very humble guy and a very shy guy," Pohlad said after the awards ceremony. "He just very sincerely wants the work to speak for itself."

Gardner said when it came to the prospect of Cannes prizes, Malick had been "very sweet. He said, `If we were that lucky, I'd like to thank my wife Becky and my parents.'"

READ MORE …

Two Troops Killed in Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) -- The U.S. military says two American soldiers have been killed while conducting operations in central Iraq. They were the first to die this month.

The military statement released Sunday gave no further details about the deaths. The soldiers were killed on a day marked by a wave of deadly explosions around Baghdad that killed at least 16 people most of them Iraqi security forces.

The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The military said the incident is being investigated.

The deaths raise to at least 4,454 the number of U.S. military personnel who have died in Iraq since the war began in March 2003. That's according to an Associated Press count. Eleven were killed in April, a 15-month high.

from the Associated Press

Putin Decides to Retake Russian Presidency

RUSSIAN Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has decided to run for the presidency next year, raising the possibility of a power struggle with his protege Dmitry Medvedev, the incumbent Kremlin leader, say highly placed sources.

The once-close relationship between Mr Putin, the tough-talking former KGB officer who has inspired a personality cult, and Mr Medvedev, a softly spoken Twitter enthusiast, has become increasingly fractious amid speculation in Moscow that the younger man wishes to stand again.

Insiders familiar with both leaders said Mr Putin, who served eight years as president before becoming Prime Minister three years ago, had begun to lose confidence in Mr Medvedev's loyalty.

Under the constitution, Mr Putin's move to reclaim the presidency could see him rule for two consecutive six-year terms until 2024, when he will be 72. If so, he would have served as prime minister or president for 24 years in all.

READ MORE …

The return of the mercurial Mr. Putin to Russia’s top office should be of concern to those outside the former Soviet empire as well as to those in Russia. – Ed.

Trick Yourself Into Saving Money

Earlier this month we posted a couple of tricks to save money:

• Rounding up each transaction in your checkbook.
  
• Only buy what you can carry out of the store.

Here’s another, courtesy of Phil Villarreal @ The Consumerist:

It's one thing to realize you should be saving money in order to strive for a particular financial goal or solidify your long-term future, but it's another to generate the discipline to actually leave yourself with enough funds left over to put away.

Budgets Are Sexy asked Twitter followers to chime in with the ways they manage to trick themselves into saving money, and drew several effective responses.

Here was my contribution to the post:

I'd say the best way is to use personal finance software to make yourself arduously catalog and break down every purchase. For instance, an $80 trip to Target would mean a mandatory 10-minute endeavor in which you have to break down every item into its specific category, making you think twice before tossing random products into your basket on the next trip.

Other tips included starting an online savings account to restrict direct access to the funds and setting up automatic transfers that save small amounts so small you won't realize they're missing.

How do you fool yourself into saving more?