Earlier this week, a traveling mom who had just boarded a Delta flight from Indianapolis to Raleigh, NC, decided it was a good time to nurse her 8-month-old. A flight attendant didn't agree. You can imagine how this one goes from here.
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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
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Target Fires Employee Who Attempted To Unionize NY Store
Earlier this summer, employees at a Target store in the Long Island community of Valley Stream voted against forming a union, but the fallout from the push to unionize still lingers, as the employee behind the movement has recently been let go from her job at the store.
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23 More Newspapers Hoist Up Paywalls
In a paradigm shift that will either help make newspapers more profitable or prove their dwindling relevance, 23 newspapers owned by MediaNews Group followed the lead of The Wall Street Journal and New York Times by shaking down would-be online freeloaders for a monthly fee. The program includes MediaNews's smaller papers, including the Daily Democrat (Woodland, Calif.), Sentinel & Enterprise (Fitchburg, Mass.) and Daily Times (Farmington, NM).
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Waitress Gets Revenge On Tough Customers By Skimming Their Credit Cards
A waitress at a Port Richey, FL, restaurant was recently arrested for allegedly using a credit card skimmer to steal customers' information for the purposes of creating bogus cards. But, she tells the police, the customers she cheated were not nice to her anyway.
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Judge Tells Madoff Investors They Won't Get All Their Fake Money Back
A federal judge shot down an appeal from Madoff investors who didn't just want the money they'd invested back, they wanted the amount of money Madoff said they were worth on paper. The judge said that Madoff's financial statements were "fictitious" and thus can't be used as a basis for claims by investors.
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THIS IS WHY WE LOVE SENIORS
A farmer stopped by the local mechanics shop to have his truck fixed. They couldn't do it while he waited, so he said he didn't live far and would just walk home. On the way home he stopped at the hardware Store and bought a bucket and a gallon of paint. He then stopped by the feed store and picked up a couple of chickens and a goose. However, struggling outside the store he now had a problem - how to carry his entire purchases home.
While he was scratching his head he was approached by a little old lady who told him she was lost. She asked, 'Can you tell me how to get to 1603 Mockingbird Lane ?' The farmer said, 'Well, as a matter of fact, my farm is very close to that house I would walk you there but I can't carry this lot.'
The old lady suggested, 'Why don't you put the can of paint in the bucket.
Carry the bucket in one hand, put a chicken under each arm and carry the goose in your other hand?' 'Why thank you very much,' he said and proceeded to walk the old girl home.
On the way he says 'Let's take my short cut and go down this alley. We'll be there in no time. The little old lady looked him over cautiously then said, 'I am a lonely widow without a husband to defend me.. How do I know that when we get in the alley you won't hold me up against the wall, pull up my skirt, and have your way with me?' The farmer said, 'Holy smokes lady!
I'm carrying a bucket, a gallon of paint, two chickens, and a goose. How in the world could I possibly hold you up against the wall and do that?' The old lady replied, 'Set the goose down, cover him with the bucket, put the paint on top of the bucket, and I'll hold the chickens.
A Comment Worthy Of A Post
Elizabeth Pernal MD has left a new comment on your post "A PRMC Letter To The Editor":
On 8/5/2011 I received official notice that as of 10/15/2011 I would no longer have obstetric call coverage at Peninsula Regional Medical Center. According to the medical staff by-laws I must have obstetric call coverage to practice obstetrics at PRMC. On 8/15/2011 I provided written notice to the president of the medical staff at PRMC that I will have no obstetric call coverage after 10/15/2011, and thus will be unable to practice obstetrics at PRMC after 10/15/2011. PRMC has been working with me to find alternative call coverage until 12/31/2011. My office is beginning the process of notifying my patients that unless things change, I will be unable to practice obstetrics at PRMC after 10/15/2011. I will continue to practice gynecology at PRMC with appropriate gynecologic only call coverage.
Elizabeth Pernal MD.
On 8/5/2011 I received official notice that as of 10/15/2011 I would no longer have obstetric call coverage at Peninsula Regional Medical Center. According to the medical staff by-laws I must have obstetric call coverage to practice obstetrics at PRMC. On 8/15/2011 I provided written notice to the president of the medical staff at PRMC that I will have no obstetric call coverage after 10/15/2011, and thus will be unable to practice obstetrics at PRMC after 10/15/2011. PRMC has been working with me to find alternative call coverage until 12/31/2011. My office is beginning the process of notifying my patients that unless things change, I will be unable to practice obstetrics at PRMC after 10/15/2011. I will continue to practice gynecology at PRMC with appropriate gynecologic only call coverage.
Elizabeth Pernal MD.
The Fix Is In
This week's wild actions on Wall Street should serve as a stark reminder that few investors have any clue as to what is really going on beneath the surface of America's troubled economy. But this week did bring startling clarity on at least one front. In its August policy statement the Federal Reserve took the highly unusual step of putting a specific time frame for the continuation of its near zero interest rate policy.
Moving past the previously uncertain pronouncements that they would "keep interest rates low for an extended period," the Fed now tells us that rates will not budge from rock bottom for at least two years. Although the markets rallied on the news (at least for a few minutes), in reality the policy will inflict untold harm on the U.S. economy. The move was so dangerous and misguided that three members of the Fed's Open Market Committee actually voted against it. This level of dissent within the Fed hasn't been seen for years.
Many economists have shortsightedly concluded that ultra-low interest rates are a sure fire way to spur economic growth. The easier and cheaper it is to borrow, they argue, the more likely business and consumers are to spend. And because spending spurs growth, in their calculation, low rates are always good. But, as is typical, they have it backwards.
I believe that ultra-low interest rates are among the biggest impediments currently preventing genuine economic growth in the US economy. By committing to keep them near zero for the next two years, the Fed has actually lengthened the time Americans will now have to wait before a real recovery begins. Low rates are the root cause of the misallocation of resources that define the modern American economy. As a direct result, Americans borrow, consume, and speculate too much, while we save, produce, and invest too little.
It may come as a shock to some but just like everything else in a free market, interest rate levels are best determined by the freely interacting forces of supply and demand. In the case of interest rates, the determinative factors should be the supply of savings available to lend and the demand for money by people and businesses who want to borrow. Many of the beneficial elements of market determined rates are explained in my book How an Economy Grows and Why it Crashes. Allowing the government to determine interest rates as a matter of policy creates a number of distortions.
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Moving past the previously uncertain pronouncements that they would "keep interest rates low for an extended period," the Fed now tells us that rates will not budge from rock bottom for at least two years. Although the markets rallied on the news (at least for a few minutes), in reality the policy will inflict untold harm on the U.S. economy. The move was so dangerous and misguided that three members of the Fed's Open Market Committee actually voted against it. This level of dissent within the Fed hasn't been seen for years.
Many economists have shortsightedly concluded that ultra-low interest rates are a sure fire way to spur economic growth. The easier and cheaper it is to borrow, they argue, the more likely business and consumers are to spend. And because spending spurs growth, in their calculation, low rates are always good. But, as is typical, they have it backwards.
I believe that ultra-low interest rates are among the biggest impediments currently preventing genuine economic growth in the US economy. By committing to keep them near zero for the next two years, the Fed has actually lengthened the time Americans will now have to wait before a real recovery begins. Low rates are the root cause of the misallocation of resources that define the modern American economy. As a direct result, Americans borrow, consume, and speculate too much, while we save, produce, and invest too little.
It may come as a shock to some but just like everything else in a free market, interest rate levels are best determined by the freely interacting forces of supply and demand. In the case of interest rates, the determinative factors should be the supply of savings available to lend and the demand for money by people and businesses who want to borrow. Many of the beneficial elements of market determined rates are explained in my book How an Economy Grows and Why it Crashes. Allowing the government to determine interest rates as a matter of policy creates a number of distortions.
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Jon Stewart On The Ron "13th Floor In A Hotel" Paul Media Blackout
Over the weekend, following the Iowa straw poll result, we posed a simple question: why does the media continue to ignore Ron Paul (on both the left and right)? We followed up with none other than Paul's own response to this curious status quo. A few days later, it appears that the media itself has finally caught on to this ironic 'house of mirrors' effect, and while Paul is still not a household name, the self-effacing sarcasm this topic has garnered, has been captured best by none other than Jon Stewart in this entertaining clip that mocks the established mindset of the legacy media to not dare disturb the status quo, confirming that everyone, left and right, are really all just the same. For those who have not seen it yet, this is a hilarious must watch.
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US Resumes Importing Inflation, Exporting Deflation, As Annual Import Prices Increase Highest Since August 2008
So much for the end of inflation importing. After dropping by the most in 2011, or 0.6% in June, import prices once again increased firmly, rising by 0.3% in July, on expectations of a -0.1% decline. So much for that commodity drop "cooling" with fuel imports increasing 0.4%, and non-fuel imports up 0.2%. The take home: "Import prices rose 14.0 percent for the year ended in July, the largest 12-month advance since the index increased 18.1 percent for the year ended in August 2008." The picture is far uglier on the export side, where prices posted the first drop since July 2010. "The downturn was led by a decline in the price index for agricultural commodities, which was partially offset by an advance in nonagricultural prices. Export prices rose 9.8 percent over the past 12 months, down from the 10.1 percent change for the year ended in June, which was the largest year-over-year increase in export prices since a 10.2 percent advance between July 2007 and July 2008." In other words: the US is now importing inflation and exporting deflation. What does that mean if you are a chairman of the Fed reserve? Why, that you want to return the favor of course, and as soon as possible at that, as this implies ongoing GDP contraction due to terms of trade.
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Hooked On Debt
My parents, who lived through the 1930’s Depression, taught me two rules: don’t buy anything until you can pay for it with your savings; and always save a sizable portion of your income.
The United States, once powerhouse to the world, is hooked on debt. America has become so addicted that regular hits are necessary to keep the economy sputtering along.
Last week’s vow by the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates at close to zero for two more years was a trumpet call to Americans to borrow yet more money. Bankers must have been cock-a-hoop.
A man I once knew was extolling the wonders of cocaine.
"You wake up in the morning with a horrible hangover and feel like death. Then, you do a big line and, presto, you feel like a new man."
He went on. "Problem is, after about 20 minutes, the new man needs another big line." In drug parlance, it’s called chasing the dragon.
The US has been chasing the dragon for a decade.
The crash of 2008 was caused by runaway debt. Washington’s remedy: more debt poison.
To me, as a journalist, author, veteran investor and businessman, debt is poison. A poison that has made our entire economic system gravely ill. Americans and many Europeans have become totally addicted to debt and can’t seem to do without it.
Consider: when Alan Greenspan took over as chairman of the US Federal Reserve central bank in 1987, according to the book "Bad Money" by the brilliant Republican political analyst Kevin Phillips, US public and private debt totaled $10.5 trillion.
Phillips, by the way, was the political thinker who planned and executed Ronald Reagan’s strategy to win the presidency by getting blue collar Democrats to move over to the Republican Party.
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The United States, once powerhouse to the world, is hooked on debt. America has become so addicted that regular hits are necessary to keep the economy sputtering along.
Last week’s vow by the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates at close to zero for two more years was a trumpet call to Americans to borrow yet more money. Bankers must have been cock-a-hoop.
A man I once knew was extolling the wonders of cocaine.
"You wake up in the morning with a horrible hangover and feel like death. Then, you do a big line and, presto, you feel like a new man."
He went on. "Problem is, after about 20 minutes, the new man needs another big line." In drug parlance, it’s called chasing the dragon.
The US has been chasing the dragon for a decade.
The crash of 2008 was caused by runaway debt. Washington’s remedy: more debt poison.
To me, as a journalist, author, veteran investor and businessman, debt is poison. A poison that has made our entire economic system gravely ill. Americans and many Europeans have become totally addicted to debt and can’t seem to do without it.
Consider: when Alan Greenspan took over as chairman of the US Federal Reserve central bank in 1987, according to the book "Bad Money" by the brilliant Republican political analyst Kevin Phillips, US public and private debt totaled $10.5 trillion.
Phillips, by the way, was the political thinker who planned and executed Ronald Reagan’s strategy to win the presidency by getting blue collar Democrats to move over to the Republican Party.
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Ron Paul And Liberty
If Ron Paul had won the Ames Iowa poll, the mainstream media would have dismissed the entire exercise as unimportant. If he had come in at, oh, 6th place, they would have used this as evidence that he is incompetent, not in the first rank of Republican candidates, can’t get out the vote, the American people had rejected his candidacy, etc. So, when Congressman Paul took a magnificent second place, only 1% behind the winner, I said to myself, Hot diggity dog; the MSM can’t ignore him now. They cannot dismiss this entire result since if they did so, they would have to also deprecate Michele Bachmann’s win, and that they will not do. They now MUST give Dr. Paul his due credit, since he finished in close second place to her. They will be forced to discuss his ideas: bring the troops home, get rid of the Fed, drastically reduce taxes, eliminate a slew of illicit Federal departments, legalize drugs and other victimless crimes, stop foreign "aid," save the American dollar via 100% gold backing, etc.
Silly me. That shows how much I know. Instead, the talking heads are now tooting this line: "The three front runners are Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann." In their view, these are the major candidates, and all the others are also-rans. Why Mitt Romney? Well, he looks presidential, and he has a good chance with the tea partiers despite his Romney-car health policy in Massachusetts, oh so similar to Obama-care. Why Rick Perry? Well, he’s the governor of Texas, the second biggest state, isn’t he? And this despite the fact that he has not yet won anything in the presidential sweepstakes. Why Michele Bachmann? This is because, of course, she just won the Ames Iowa poll. Notice any name missing from all of this? I’ll give you a hint: this is the guy who came in SECOND, 1% behind "major candidate" Bachmann in this recent election. There used to be among the beltway "Austro-libertarians" a campaign to promote and study Austrian economics without "You Know Who" (Ludwig von Mises, of course). There is now a campaign amongst the major media to analyze the Republican presidential process without uttering the name of "You Know Who" (Ron Paul, of course).
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Silly me. That shows how much I know. Instead, the talking heads are now tooting this line: "The three front runners are Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann." In their view, these are the major candidates, and all the others are also-rans. Why Mitt Romney? Well, he looks presidential, and he has a good chance with the tea partiers despite his Romney-car health policy in Massachusetts, oh so similar to Obama-care. Why Rick Perry? Well, he’s the governor of Texas, the second biggest state, isn’t he? And this despite the fact that he has not yet won anything in the presidential sweepstakes. Why Michele Bachmann? This is because, of course, she just won the Ames Iowa poll. Notice any name missing from all of this? I’ll give you a hint: this is the guy who came in SECOND, 1% behind "major candidate" Bachmann in this recent election. There used to be among the beltway "Austro-libertarians" a campaign to promote and study Austrian economics without "You Know Who" (Ludwig von Mises, of course). There is now a campaign amongst the major media to analyze the Republican presidential process without uttering the name of "You Know Who" (Ron Paul, of course).
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S&P States The Obvious
Politicians did not get much time to pat themselves on the back for supposedly rescuing the economy with the debt limit deal last week. The ink was barely dry when Standard & Poor's downgraded the US debt ratings anyway, roiling world financial markets. Anyone who has taken an honest look at the government's fiscal situation, taken into account how Washington works and the direction it is going would have a very difficult time arguing with S&P's decision, although a strong case can be made that this was too incremental a downgrade and that it took far too long for S&P to admit the obvious.
Nonetheless, the administration nitpicked over a $2 trillion "mistake." S&P rejoined with the fact that $2 trillion here or there hardly makes a difference in the time frame under discussion. That, if nothing else, should tell you the magnitude of the problem. $2 trillion has become a drop in the bucket.
S&P cited Congress's inability to act like grownups and make necessary, meaningful cuts, which is true. I must take issue, however, with their suggestion that tax increases are part of the answer. Taking capital out of the private sector, where it can create real value in the form of new jobs and products, and instead giving it to Washington to waste and squander is not the solution. Tax increases may seem penny-wise to some, but in reality they would be very pound-foolish. The government currently takes in $2.2 trillion in taxes per year, which is far too much already. It spends $3.7 trillion, which is ridiculous and criminal. The problem is runaway government spending, not the American people having too much money.
And yet we can't even have a serious discussion about bringing our troops home and ending our expensive occupations around the world – things the president used to claim to favor!
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Nonetheless, the administration nitpicked over a $2 trillion "mistake." S&P rejoined with the fact that $2 trillion here or there hardly makes a difference in the time frame under discussion. That, if nothing else, should tell you the magnitude of the problem. $2 trillion has become a drop in the bucket.
S&P cited Congress's inability to act like grownups and make necessary, meaningful cuts, which is true. I must take issue, however, with their suggestion that tax increases are part of the answer. Taking capital out of the private sector, where it can create real value in the form of new jobs and products, and instead giving it to Washington to waste and squander is not the solution. Tax increases may seem penny-wise to some, but in reality they would be very pound-foolish. The government currently takes in $2.2 trillion in taxes per year, which is far too much already. It spends $3.7 trillion, which is ridiculous and criminal. The problem is runaway government spending, not the American people having too much money.
And yet we can't even have a serious discussion about bringing our troops home and ending our expensive occupations around the world – things the president used to claim to favor!
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WICOMICO COUNTY LIFTS BURN BAN
At the request of Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., today, the County Council lifted the Burn Ban that has been in effect since June 9, 2011.
Pollitt asked for the ban to be lifted following a recommendation by his Burn Ban Committee which includes representatives of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Wicomico Departments of Health, Emergency Services, Planning and Zoning, volunteer fire services and a local meteorologist.
Pollitt said that recent rains have lessened the threat of uncontrolled fires, although portions of the western areas of the county have not seen significant rainfall. “Even though the Burn Ban has been lifted, I intend to order continuous and thorough monitoring of conditions on the county’s west side,” said Pollitt.
Pollitt emphasized that, “Citizens should carefully monitor all fires and never leave a fire unsupervised. Also, all fires should be completely extinguished after use.”
The Wicomico County Health Department (410-749-1244) will once again be accepting applications for burning permits.
Starbucks CEO to DC: You've Been Cut Off
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is fed up with Washington.
And he is doing something about it.Spurred by what he describes as a failure of leadership on the part of lawmakers, Schultz is mounting a one-man bull rush against apolitical culture that has "chosen to put partisan and ideological purity over the well being of the people."
What does that mean? No more political donations -- not for anybody.
Target Of Facebook Hit Fatally Shot
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia man was gunned down hours after a judge upheld felony charges against his ex-girlfriend, who was accused of offering $1,000 on Facebook for someone to kill him. But with the teenager who allegedly took the bait already in custody, investigators said Tuesday they aren't sure why the man was killed.
Corey White, 22, was shot once in the chest Monday night on a West Philadelphia street, authorities said.
Homicide investigators said White got into an argument with the occupants of a brown car and a man got out of the vehicle and shot him.
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Husband Of 'Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills' Star Found Dead Of Apparent Suicide, Report Says
Los Angeles – Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Taylor Armstrong, has committed suicide, Radar Online reported Tuesday.
"He hung himself with no suicide note found," Ed Winter of the Los Angeles Coroner's Office told Radar Online.
Are Police Officers And Firefighters Next?
You mark my words Folks, if they get even an inch with such tactics, Police Officers and Firefighters WILL be next. Even the THOUGHT of such unbelievable creativity.
The proposal being discussed is doing away with early retirement AFTER 20 years of service for our military personnel. Remember, these are the men and women who risk their lives to defend our country.
That being said, IF Congress wants to even consider such a proposal, well, I say, put your ba((s on the line as well and practice what you preach. Make the SAME proposal to politicians starting with Congress, Senators, Delegates and the whole nine yards because let me assure you, it will trickle down to local levels of law enforcement, then teachers, you name it.
I want you to think hard about what I'm about to say. It is our POLITICIANS who got us into this financial mess and I'll be damned if I'm going to sit idle while they take away from the very core of our being in these United States and reduce ANY benefits to cover their ASSES.
As Aretha Franklin put it best, "YOU BETTER THINK"!
Driver Caught Using Two Cell Phones Banned in U.K.
NORWICH, England -- Safety campaigners criticized a "woefully inadequate" 12-month driving ban given Monday to a man caught using two cell phones as he drove along a main road in the UK.
Police spotted David Secker, 34, holding one handset to his right ear as he appeared to use a second telephone in his left hand to send a text message while driving in Blofield in Norfolk, east England.
Rt. 90 Heading Into OC Closed From Bishopville
Earl & Leroy
Earl and Leroy saw an ad in the Starkville Daily News newspaper in Starkville, Mississippi, and bought a mule for $100.
The farmer agreed to deliver the mule the next day.
The next morning the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry, fellows, I have some bad news, the mule died last night."
Earl and Leroy replied, "Well, then just give us our money back."
The farmer said, "Cain't do that. I went and spent it already."
They said, "OK then, just bring us the dead mule."
The farmer asked, "What in the world ya'll gonna do with a dead mule?"
Leroy said, "We gonna raffle him off."
The farmer said, "You can't raffle off a dead mule!"
Earl said, "We shor can! Heck, we don't hafta tell nobody he's dead!"
A couple of weeks later, the farmer ran into Earl and Leroy at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store and asked "What'd you fellers ever do with that dead mule?"
They said,"We raffled him off like we said we wuz gonna do."
Leroy said,"Shucks, we sold 500 tickets fer two dollars apiece and made a profit of $898."
The farmer said,"Gol dern, didn't anyone complain?"
Earl said, "Well,the feller who won got upset. So we gave him his two dollars back."
Earl and Leroy now work for the gub'ment.
They're overseein' the Debt Ceiling Program.
Homeless High Risk Tier III Sex Offender Notification
David R. Distefano
Wilmington, DE
6’00” tall, 190 lbs
Brown hair, brown eyes
Resume:
Wilmington- David R. Distefano is not wanted. This is a Homeless Sex Offender Public Notification. Distefano is a High Risk Tier III sex offender who has registered as homeless in Wilmington, DE. If you have information that Distefano is occupying a residence please contact 302-739-5882.
Tips may also be submitted through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Tips may also be submitted through the use of your cellular phone by texting keyword “DSP” and then your message to 274637 (CRIMES) or through the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
A PRMC Letter To The Editor
Dr. Elizabeth Pernal has informed some patients that she will no longer be allowed to deliver babies at PRMC. She practices alone and her OB coverage was recently released from PRMC. PRMC will not provide her with another OB for coverage so she can't deliver babies now thus FORCING her patients to go to the only other OB office in the Salisbury/ OC area- TLC Obstetrics. From my experience there, you couldn't pay me to return to that awful place. Lots of my friends have had similar experiences at TLC. Other than them the next closest OB's are in Easton and Seaford. Myself and some other moms are upset that we are being essentially forced by PRMC to use TLC instead of having our regular doctor who has seen us through other pregnancies. A few of us have already called and filed a complaint at the hospital telling them how upset we are that they will not allow Dr. Pernal to deliver there.
Breaking News- Wicomico County Council Denies Rick Pollitt's New Jobs
Sharee Sample Hughes entered a motion for Rick Pollitt's introduction of several new staff members,including a promotion for Jim Finneran and the County Council did NOT second the motion . Therefore the motion dies and the new positions are history. We want to tip our hats to the Wicomico County Council for being fiscally responsible.
Christine O'Donnell: Witch Ad Was A Mistake
(CNN) – Former Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell is not a witch and hated the commercial that stated that fact.
Promoting her new book, Troublemaker, on "Good Morning America" Tuesday, the tea party poster-candidate admitted that the infamous spot which attempted to distance her from past comments that she'd "dabbled into witchcraft" wasn't the best choice.
"I did hate it," she said.
Widely addressed in the book, O'Donnell noted that she also acknowledged the ad was a mistake on the campaign trail.
Study: An Hour Of TV Can Shorten Your Life By 22 Minutes
Watching an hour of TV after the age of 25 can shorten the viewer's life by just under 22 minutes, according to researchers in Australia.
The AFP news agency said scientists at the School of Population Health at the University of Queensland studied 11,000 Australian adults who were aged at least 25 in the year 2000.
The academics checked their data against an estimate from 2008 that Australians aged 25 or above watched TV for 9.8 billion hours. This was associated with the loss of 286,000 years of life, the AFP said.
BREAKING NEWS: Dell Posts Mixed 2Q Results, Shares Pull Back
After the bell Tuesday, Dell posted adjusted earnings of 54 cents a share, versus Wall Street’s consensus view of 49 cents. The company reported revenue of $15.66 billion in the quarter, below the $15.76 billion analysts had projected, and said it sees flat 3Q revenue compared with the most recent quarter. The shares were pulling back in after-hours trading.
From Fox News
From Fox News
ACLU Lawsuit Moves to Keep Sex Offenders In House Near New Day Care Center
The Delaware American Civil Liberties Union has filed court papers to stop sex offenders from being evicted from a safe house that is located near a new day care center.
The ACLU, along with an attorney representing the safe house and three sex offenders, has asked a judge to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the city from evicting the residents.
200+ Felons Turn Themselves In
WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 200 people wanted for nonviolent felonies in the District of Columbia turned themselves in as part of a program aimed at resolving outstanding arrest warrants.
Saturday was the first day of the so-called "D.C. Safe Surrender" program. The program allows people wanted on a bench warrant, a probation or parole violation or a traffic offense to turn themselves in and avoid arrest.
Baltimore Raises Speed Limit To 180 mph Labor Day Weekend
WASHINGTON -- Ever wonder what it's like to cruise through downtown Baltimore at 180 mph? Anyone staying in the area over Labor Day weekend can find out.
Charm City will host the first "Baltimore Grand Prix" in 17 days, shutting off 2 miles worth of Inner Harbor streets to make way for a weekend festival of racing. Attendees will be able to see world-class Indy and Le Mans competitions that will be broadcast around the world.
Drink Up: It's 'Beer Week' In Washington
WASHINGTON - Washingtonians who leave the area in August are really missing out.
That's because along with restaurant week, the city is amidst its third beer week.
"Everything from learning how to brew beer to learning how to pair beer," says Teddy Folkman, co-founder and chairman of D.C. Beer Week, of the eclectic specials.
Last year's beer week included about 60 events. This year, Folkman says there are more than 170 offerings around town.
Breaking News: A Letter To The Editor
SHEREE SAMPLE-HUGHES SUGGESTS AN EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR WICOMICO COUNTY COUNCIL!
It’s unbelievable – during the Council’s discussion of the Charter review process today, Ms. Hughes proposed considering whether there should be a minimum educational requirement to be on the Council, such as completing high school. Such a requirement would discriminate against other members her race to a much greater degree than members of the Caucasian race, to say the least.
Besides that racial discrimination aspect, there is a real question whether such a requirement would be constitutional, any more so than an educational requirement to vote.
It’s unbelievable – during the Council’s discussion of the Charter review process today, Ms. Hughes proposed considering whether there should be a minimum educational requirement to be on the Council, such as completing high school. Such a requirement would discriminate against other members her race to a much greater degree than members of the Caucasian race, to say the least.
Besides that racial discrimination aspect, there is a real question whether such a requirement would be constitutional, any more so than an educational requirement to vote.
Aruba Judge Grants DNA Request, Orders Md. Man Held
WASHINGTON - A magistrate in Aruba has ordered a Gaithersburg, Md. man to remain behind bars at least 16 more days in what prosecutors say is "the suspicious death" of his traveling companion, who disappeared during the pair's trip to the Caribbean island.
Aruban Solicitor General Taco Stein tells WTOP prosecutors have not charged Gary V. Giordano in connection with the apparent death of 35-year-old Robyn Gardner of Frederick, Md. Giordano has said Gardner did not return to shore with him when the pair went snorkeling on Aug. 2.
Play-Fight Led To Man's Stabbing
BALTIMORE -- A Denton man was charged with stabbing his fishing mate during an outing at Crouse Park in Caroline County.Police said Michael Lawrence Jr., 30, and John Murray, 46, of Denton, were fishing with several other people on Friday when they began play-fighting.
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Perry Comments, Record Face New Scrutiny After Campaign Announcement
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is quickly learning what it means to be a presidential candidate, as the off-color comments for which he is renowned attract instant scrutiny on the campaign trail.
Exhibit A. On the same day he filed his candidacy papers, Perry was captured on camera suggesting Texans might want to rough up Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke if he tries to tackle the economic slump by printing more money.
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Milton Considers Tax Increase
New revenues needed for $320,000 deficit
MILTON — The Milton Town Council is considering a significant increase in property taxes and imposing a gross rental-receipts tax to cover a $320,000 deficit in the fiscal year 2012 budget.
Council discussed taxes at the Aug. 11 budget workshop session. Following a public hearing Aug. 16, council could vote on each tax individually at the Aug. 18 council meeting.
Obama Takes Heat From Tea Partiers At Iowa Town Hall
President Obama got a little dose of Tea Party town hall anger on Monday during his three-day tour of the Midwest.
At a town hall event in Decorah, Iowa, local Tea Party activist Ryan Rhodes stood up and shouted a question at the president regarding reports that Vice President Joe Biden had called the members of the Tea Party "terrorists," USA Today reports. Rhodes questioned how the president can talk about civility when Biden was accused of using that kind of rhetoric.
QUOTES OF THE DAY 8-16-11
“Ideas are very important to the shaping of society. In fact, they are more powerful than bombings or armies or guns. And this is because ideas are capable of spreading without limit. They are behind all the choices we make. They can transform the world in a way that governments and armies cannot. Fighting for liberty with ideas makes more sense to me than fighting with guns or politics or political power. With ideas, we can make real change that lasts.”
— Ron Paul (Liberty Defined: The 50 Urgent Issues That Affect Our Freedom)
“And yet even among the friends of liberty, many people are deceived into believing that government can make them safe from all harm, provide fairly distributed economic security, and improve individual moral behavior. If the government is granted a monopoly on the use of force to achieve these goals, history shows that power is always abused. Every single time.”
— Ron Paul (Liberty Defined: The 50 Urgent Issues That Affect Our Freedom)
“A citizen walking through the airport today is bombarded with 1984-style propaganda messages that are designed to make us fear some amorphous threat and also be suspicious of others. The government designs these messages to make us feel dependent and heavily lorded over in every aspect of our lives. These messages are becoming ever more pervasive, hitting us even in grocery stores when we are shopping.”
— Ron Paul (Liberty Defined: The 50 Urgent Issues That Affect Our Freedom)
— Ron Paul (Liberty Defined: The 50 Urgent Issues That Affect Our Freedom)
“And yet even among the friends of liberty, many people are deceived into believing that government can make them safe from all harm, provide fairly distributed economic security, and improve individual moral behavior. If the government is granted a monopoly on the use of force to achieve these goals, history shows that power is always abused. Every single time.”
— Ron Paul (Liberty Defined: The 50 Urgent Issues That Affect Our Freedom)
“A citizen walking through the airport today is bombarded with 1984-style propaganda messages that are designed to make us fear some amorphous threat and also be suspicious of others. The government designs these messages to make us feel dependent and heavily lorded over in every aspect of our lives. These messages are becoming ever more pervasive, hitting us even in grocery stores when we are shopping.”
— Ron Paul (Liberty Defined: The 50 Urgent Issues That Affect Our Freedom)
U.S. Secret Service Gets 2 New Buses Ahead Of Obama Tour
The U.S. Secret Service has two new buses in its fleet for President Obama to use on his three-day, three-state Midwestern bus trip that kicked off Monday.
CBS News has learned the buses were purchased in recent months at a cost of just under $1.1-million each and will serve as part of the fleet of vehicles the Service uses for all of its protectees.
In the past, the Secret Service would lease buses as needed and outfit them with the security and communications equipment.
"We have not been satisfied with the level of protection offered by leased buses," said a Secret Service official.
In A CNN Interview, Ron Paul Discusses The Media's Blackout Of His Presidential Candidacy, And Many Other Things
Yesterday ago presented the mass media' self disclosure [2]that it was ignoring Ron Paul for this reason or that. Today, Paul, whose support base has suddenly become the target of some aggressive lateral grab tactics by fellow GOP presidential candidates, was interviewed by CNN's Piers Morgan, in an Q&A seeking, among others, to find why it is that Paul, who to everyone's great dismay (not ours) may actually be the GOP's top candidate for the presidential position, is being slighted in his own view. Paul's take: "they're afraid of me, they don't want my views out there, they're too dangerous, we want freedom and we're challenging the status quo, we want to end the war, we want a gold standard, and their view is that people just can't handle all this freedom, they want dependency, they want socialism and welfarism, so I think they don't like to hear our views, but I think we'll make the best of it and we'll do very well." Paul proceeds to cover his relationship with Bachmann (disagrees with her views, as she is "not as far from the status quo as he would like her to be"), why Paul's anti-war program is a challenge not just to GOPers but to Obama as well, with his numerous war fronts, how Paul at 75 is finally resonating with the majority of the US population, but most important is Piers Morgan's question on how Paul plans on becoming one of the fold and "making himself more electable", confirming precisely the bias that the idiot media holds against what can easily be the most honorable candidate in not just the GOP's but all party ranks. Paul's response: "why should someone soften their viewpoint on defending the rule of law and defending the constitution: that would be foolish. Extremists have been in charge for the last 4 years since they've been allowed to print money at will, so that's why we have overextended ouselves overseas, that's why we have inflation, depressions, inflations."...etc. When the mainstream media, and when Rick Perry, understands what Paul is talking about, that i when America will be worthy of a good president. Until then, it will have to make do with whoever win the popularity context in any given day, regardless of the amount of lies uttered in process. After all, as Morgan makes it all too clear, it is all just about "being electable" ... the same reason America is currently on the verge of the end.
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Possible Flash Mob Hits Maryland 7-Eleven, Police Say Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/15/possible-flash-mob-hits-maryland-7-eleven-polic
A pack of 30 teens helped themselves to items in a Maryland 7-Eleven early Sunday morning in what authorities have labeled another instance of a possible flash mob.
The store, which is located in Germantown, Md., was empty at 2 a.m. Sunday morning when a group of teenagers calmly walked in and picked out items as though they were shopping.
Then, just as calmly as they entered the store, police say, they exited without paying for the items.
European Economy Hits A Wall
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Europe, already strained by a deep debt crisis and spiraling financial markets, has succumbed to the global economic malaise.
Gross domestic product for the 27 nations that are part of the European Union, including the 17 countries that use the euro as their currency, grew at a combined quarterly rate of 0.2%, according to preliminary estimates released Tuesday from Eurostat, the EU statistics office.
Credit Card Late Payments Hit 17-Year Low
(AP)
NEW YORK - Credit card users are so focused on keeping their accounts in good standing that they've driven the rate of late payments down to its lowest level in 17 years.
The national credit card delinquency rate, or rate of payments 90 days or more past due, fell to 0.60 percent in the second quarter, down from 0.92 percent a year ago. That's the lowest rate since 1994, according to credit reporting agency TransUnion.
Obama Wants Your Mortgage
The Obama Administration is exploring ways that the federal government can keep a hand in the mortgage industry. A small team of presidential advisers is developing a plan to do just that, The Washington Post reports. Options include restructuring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack as public utilities overseen by a government regulator. Or the two companies could be shut down and replaced with several successors. The White House said it has not decided on an approach for reforming the housing finance system.
Buying Is Cheaper Than Renting In Most U.S. Cities
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Home prices have taken such a beating and demand for rental units has increased so much that it's now cheaper to buy a two-bedroom home than to rent one in most major U.S. cities.
According to real estate web site Trulia, buying was cheaper than renting in 74% of the country's 50 largest cities in July. In just 12% of the cities, including New York, Seattle and San Francisco, renting was cheaper. In the remaining 14% of cities, renting was less expensive but close to the cost of buying.
Locating Grave Sites At Arlington
If you need to find a grave at Arlington National Cemetery — there's now an app for that. Segue Technologies has developed an app to help you locate grave sites at Arlington, The Washington Business Journal reports. The app pulls information directly from the Veterans Administration's grave site database. Segue Executive Vice President Ron Novak attended two military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery within a week last fall, and he said got the idea for the app when he returned to visit the gravesites and had a hard time finding them. The free app is available for iPhones and Droids
GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES RECORD COVER CROP ENROLLMENT
Governor lauds farmers’ environmental stewardship efforts
VIENNA, MD (August 16, 2011) – Surrounded by fields of soybeans, Governor Martin O’Malley today joined Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance, agricultural leaders, local farmers, and elected officials to announce record cover crop acreage by Maryland farmers.
“We are working with Maryland’s farmers to protect family farms and agriculture jobs, and to keep family farming profitable,” said Governor O’Malley. “Today’s announcement is great news for our farmers who continue to take strong conservation actions to diversify their farming operations and use new and innovative ways to protect the Chesapeake Bay. Together, we are creating jobs and supporting rural economies, improving our quality of life, and securing the future of Maryland agriculture and our environment for generations to come.”
Governor O’Malley announced that Maryland has approved a record 550,000 acres of winter grains to date in the Cover Crop Program, which were requested by a record 1,767 farmers – 206 of which were new to the program this year. This record acreage represents 155 percent of the Phase I Watershed Implementation Plan goals for cover crops. Cover crops are one of the most cost-effective means of helping to restore the Chesapeake Bay.
Cover crops are planted in the fall after the autumn harvest to help farmers control soil erosion and reduce the amount of nutrients washing into the bay over the winter. Once established, cover crops recycle unused plant nutrients remaining in the soil from the previous summer crop, protect fields against wind and water erosion, and help improve the soil for the next year’s crop. Maryland’s Cover Crop Program provides farmers with grants to plant cover crops on their fields immediately following the summer crop harvest
“Not only is Maryland’s cover crop program a very attractive and flexible program, it has the potential to do more for the Bay than ever before. Maryland farmers are on track to exceed the Phase I Watershed Implementation Plan milestone for cover crops with record number of approved acres,” said Agriculture Secretary Hance. “We commend and thank all farmers who, together, have enrolled more than half a million acres of small grain crops that protect our soil and water by taking up any left over nutrients and preventing soil erosion over the winter.”
Top counties ranked by the largest percentage of eligible farmland enrolled:
o Allegany 702/800 acres – 88 percent
o Calvert 5,616/6,600 acres – 85 percent
o Montgomery 21, 167/26,000 – 81 percent
o Somerset 25,144/31,500 – 80 percent
Top counties ranked by most acres enrolled:
o Queen Anne’s – 63, 838
o Kent – 57, 799
o Talbot – 55, 322
o Frederick – 43, 434
o Dorchester – 40,991
The announcement was made at Lazy Day Farms/Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery in Dorchester County. The Layton family manages more than 1,800 acres, including 1,250 acres of grain, 12 acres of grapes and owns/operates the winery. The Laytons are innovative, agricultural leaders and Governor’s Hall of Fame inductees. They are known for their use of technology and forward thinking, conservation and environmental stewardship and service to the county and the industry.
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