Salisbury News: 08/29/11

Monday, August 29, 2011

President Obama's Uncle Arrested On Drunken Driving Charge

(CBS/AP) FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - President Barack Obama's uncle, Onyango Obama, has been charged with drunk driving in Massachusetts and is being held by immigration officials.

Onyango Obama was arrested last week in Framingham, which is 20 miles outside of Boston, after police said he made a rolling stop and nearly caused a cruiser to strike his SUV.

When police asked if Onyango Obama wanted to make a phone call, he said, " I think I will call the White House."

Salisbury Police Department Press Releases

On August 27, 2011 at approximately 2:39 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police met with an adult female victim in reference to the report of a rape. The victim advised that she had been asleep in her residence when she was awakened by the below listed suspect, who was known to her. The suspect had made entry into the residence without the consent of the victim and refused to let the victim leave the residence. The suspect sexually assaulted the victim, then left the area on foot. Detectives of the Salisbury Police responded and were able to locate the suspect, who was taken into custody. The victim sustained minor injuries during the assault and was treated and released from the Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

ARRESTED: Daryl Lamont Hudgins, 50 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: First degree rape
Second degree rape
First degree sex offense
Second degree sex offense
Third degree sex offense
Fourth degree sex offense
Second degree assault
First degree burglary
Third degree burglary
Fourth degree burglary
Kidnapping
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100033505

On August 27, 2011 at approximately 9:01 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police responded to an unoccupied residence on the one hundred (100) block of Delaware Avenue for the report of a burglary. Upon arrival the officers met with the property owner who advised that he believed that someone had broken into the residence and was possibly still inside. The officers checked the dwelling and located the below listed suspect, who was taken into custody without incident.

ARRESTED: Samuel David Schoolfield, Jr., 42 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Fourth degree burglary
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100033516

On August 27, 2011 at approximately 12:26 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Walmart Department Store on North Salisbury Boulevard for the report of two (2) shoplifters. Upon arrival the officers met with store security who advised the officers that store employees had observed the below listed suspects take clothing from the store without making any attempts at payment. Store security stopped the suspects, who became disorderly and assaulted the store security officers. The suspects were taken into custody and the property was recovered and returned to the store. Following transport from the store, suspect # 1 had to be transported to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center for a medical condition. While at the hospital, suspect # 1 became combative and assaulted the transporting police officers and two (2) personnel of the hospital. As a result, an additional warrant was obtained for suspect # 1 charging her with the assaults.

ARRESTED #1: Lisa Marie Jones, 45 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Theft (under $ 100)
Conspiracy to commit theft
Second degree assault
Disorderly conduct
Arrest warrant-
Second degree assault (4 counts)
ARRESTED # 2: Lisa Gail Parsons, 49 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Theft (under $100)
Conspiracy to commit theft
Second degree assault
Disorderly conduct
DISPOSITION: Both released to Central Booking
CC # 201100033536

National Intelligence Director Researches "Significant Social Events"

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence wants to know ... what happens next? It has launched a research program to help forecast what it calls "significant societal events." Events might include political or humanitarian crises, mass violence, economic instability or severe shortages. One theory is that big events often follow big changes in communications, consumption or population movement. The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency is seeking research proposals from industry and academia.

Federal Unions Freak Out

A major federal union is urging the Congressional "super committee" to stop cuts to federal pay, benefits and workforce sizes. The American Federation of Government Employees sent a letter to Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) who co-chairs the 12-member committee. AFGE wants all proposals that hit feds in the pocketbook to be taken off the bargaining table.

Part-Time Workers: More Fine With No Full-Time Job

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Unemployment remains a huge concern, but the underemployment problem isn't as bad as it used to be. Fewer part-time workers are looking for full-time work -- because they don't mind working part-time after all.

Since hitting a peak of 9.5 million last September, the number of part-time workers who tell the Labor Department they are doing so for economic reasons rather than personal reasons has dropped to 8.4 million in July.

Many Death Sentences In US Overturned

Washington - In December 2008, former Army Pvt. Ronald Gray was on the brink of becoming the first military execution in almost 50 years.

The rapist and murderer of four women had sat on death row for two decades by the time President George W. Bush approved his death warrant.

But the week before Gray was to receive a lethal injection, a federal judge halted the execution because of a new appeal.

Now, federal defenders who took over his case say they've found new evidence that his original military lawyers should have discovered. If they're successful, Gray could join a growing number of soldiers, airman and marines who have been spared execution.

Of the 16 men sentenced to death since the military overhauled its system in 1984, 10 have been taken off death row. The military's appeals courts have overturned most of the sentences, not because of a change in heart about the death penalty or questions about the men's guilt, but because of mistakes made at every level of the military's judicial system.

The problems included defense attorneys who bungled representation, judges who didn't know how to properly instruct a jury and prosecutors who mishandled evidence.

In all of the cases, the men have been resentenced to life in prison. Eventually, they could be eligible for parole.

Education Department Backs Away From Fix To Help Disabled Student Borrowers

The Education Department had promised to fundamentally overhaul its broken system for forgiving the loans of former students who've become disabled. Now the department says it can't and won't do it, leaving many disabled applicants stuck in debt.

Shelters With Animals - Baltimore Area

While watching Channel 11 out of Baltimore, a reporter at the main center of operation (Dave ? ) was reporting about shelters available in the city and those that accept animals----he made the comment “Any animal at the shelter that becomes aggressive will be euthanized...I asked my husband “did you hear that remark----we were stunned”, when they switched back to the station anchors, you could see they were as stunned as we were, so they asked the reporter to repeat what he said, and he verified that was the information he was given, they would be taken out-back.....what a stunner!!!! My husband then stated, anyone with any sense knows that when you have a group of dogs together that are unfamiliar with one another, you have the potential for a few outbursts, that can be controlled, but this reporters remark would certainly make one wonder who made such a call as euthanization.

Pipkin: Proposed Septic Limits Mark War On Rural Maryland

WYE MILLS The Symposium of Septic Systems and Future Growth in Maryland confirmed concerns farmers and local government officials have with Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposal to limit septic systems in Maryland.

Many panelists and participants in the symposium at Chesapeake College on Tuesday said the governor's proposal is not about improving the Chesapeake Bay's health, but about giving the state more control over local land use practices. They also said the consequences of the proposed bill would devalue land in rural communities.

In a passionate, well-received speech, Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-36-Upper Shore, said many of the state's recent actions represent a war on rural Maryland. He pleaded with attendees to work with state legislators to reject the septic bill in any form.

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HOORAY!!! – CONSUMERS BUY CARS, BUY GAS & STOP SAVING AS THEIR INCOME DECLINES

Who says the delusional American consumer is dead. They are just as delusional as ever. Their real disposable income fell in July, even using the fake government inflation figures. What do you do if your income declines? If you are a delusional American, you go buy a new car. Not only do you buy a new car, you finance it for seven years at 0%. Everyone knows that GMAC and Ford Credit won’t have any losses on those loans.

The Americans who didn’t buy cars just spent a lot more for gas and oil as prices surged in July.

So, a country that will need savings and investment to turn our economy around reduced savings dramatically. We have record government transfers and declining income, so consumers reduced their savings rate from 5.5% to 5.0%. This bodes well for our future. I’m sure the Wall Street shysters will somehow spin this as positive. Party on dude. Delusions die slowly.

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Generator Exhaust Sends Conn. Family To Hospital

Authorities worry about an increase in carbon monoxide poisonings after widespread power outages due to Irene

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Firefighters say six members of a Connecticut family were rushed to a hospital after they were overcome by high levels of carbon monoxide from a portable generator. A hospital spokeswoman says all the victims are in satisfactory condition.

Federal Court: Massachusetts Law Against Recording Of On-The-Job Cops Is Unconstitutional

A federal appeals court ruled that the people have the right to record police officers when they're on the job in public. A U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals judge found that a Massachusetts law used to ban such actions is unconstitutional.

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Staten Island Couple Tried To Evacuate Homes In Order To Rob Them

When you evacuate your home in advance of a hurricane, it's bad enough you have to worry about coming home to find a new indoor swimming pool in your basement. You certainly shouldn't have to be concerned that your stuff has floated away in the back of some thief's truck — or that this thief is also the same person who knocked on your door to order you to evacuate.

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Stiglitz's Attempt To Co-Opt Ron Paul's Anti-Fed Message

How strong an impact is Ron Paul's anti-Fed message having? Complete globalist, and bankster apologist, Joseph Stiglitz is going anti-Fed.

Stiglitz, a former chief economist at the World Bank, during a speech last week said that the very structure of the Federal Reserve system is so fraught with conflicts that it's "corrupt," according to HuffPo.

Stiglitz said that if a country had applied for World Bank aid during his tenure, with a financial regulatory system similar to the Federal Reserve's -- in which regional Feds are partly governed by the very banks they're supposed to police -- it would have raised alarms.

"If we had seen a governance structure that corresponds to our Federal Reserve system, we would have been yelling and screaming and saying that country does not deserve any assistance, this is a corrupt governing structure," Stiglitz said during a conference on financial reform in New York held by the Roosevelt Institute. "It's time for us to reflect on our own structure today, and to say there are parts that can be improved."

To get a sense for the globalists and interventionists that attended this conference , keep in mind that other speakers, included Elizabeth Warren and George Soros.
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Obama to Nominate Extremist To Head Council Of Economic Advisers

Reports are circulating that President Obama will nominate Alan Krueger to head the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

What do you need to know about Krueger? First he thinks that higher minimum wages do not cause unemployment. In fact, he wrote a book saying such. Since wages are set by the dynamics of supply and demand, it is pretty easy to understand that if you raise the minimum wage, fewer people will be hired. For example, if a person is hired at $6.00 an hour, because he only adds just above $6.00 in marginal revenue to a firm, he is going to become unemployed if the minimum wage is raised to $7.00. But not in Krueger's world, in Krueger's world people don't lose jobs under these circumstances, they get pay increases. Got that? Produce marginal revenue of $6.00 per hour and, if you live in Kreuger's world, if the government raises the minimum wage to $7.00, you will get a raise to that level.

Krueger reaches these mad conclusions by using the empirical methods of the natural sciences as his form of scientific inquiriy. This means Kreuger doesn't understand the lesson taught by Friedrich Hayek in his book The Counter Revolution of Science, where Hayek explains in detail why the methodology of the natural sciences is an inappropriate methodology for the social sciences.

So in Kreuger we will have an economist, who denies the basic logic of the cause and effect of minimum wage laws and who uses faulty methodology, as one of the top economic advisers to the President.
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Statement Of Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., OnTthe Hurricane Irene Emergency Management Operation

The Wicomico County Department of Emergency Services’ mission is to be prepared to protect our citizens in the event of any type of disaster or emergency. As Hurricane Irene approached the county, it became abundantly clear to me that the department takes its mission very seriously. The overall response to the threat posed by Irene by Emergency Services and the departments and agencies with which it coordinates was magnificent. We were faced with a big challenge and we were more than ready for it.

I declared a State of Emergency for the county early on Friday morning. This included the issuance of an evacuation order for low-lying areas near the Wicomico and Nanticoke Rivers. 24 hours later, I ordered an evacuation order for the 13 mobile home parks in the county. We were in a full-blown emergency situation. This wasn’t “a test.” It was time for our team to go into action and, by all accounts, they performed brilliantly.

I could never list all the people that worked so hard to keep our people safe. I would, however, like to mention some of the individuals and groups that performed at the highest level before and during the emergency.

David Shipley has been the Director of Emergency Services since July 1^st but he performed as if he had been leading emergency efforts for years. Dave spent almost every hour in his office with his staff from last Thursday until Sunday. He was the “go-to guy” for all of the activities involved during the period. He gave the order for the shelter to open at the Civic Center. He established the “Hurricane Hotline” phone number to keep Irene-related calls away from our 911 Center. He managed, organized and communicated tirelessly and skillfully.

In an event of this size, hundreds of responders are involved. Sheriff Mike Lewis and his deputies as well as the Maryland State Police were “on duty” throughout, not only keeping the peace but informing the citizenry of the evacuation order. Matt Maize of Social Services had the massive task of running the shelter at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. He oversaw the feeding, housing and protecting of over 600 people and their pets who sought refuge. The disciplined efforts of John Culp of the Red Cross and Gary Mackes and the Civic Center staff were absolutely essential to the shelter’s smooth operation. I salute the Southern Baptist Church District Relief Organization for providing our guests with meals. I also thank the work-release from the Wicomico County Detention Center for setting up cots and furnishings at the shelter. And we can’t forget the Wicomico Humane Society who managed the animal wing of the shelter, allowing concerned refugees to bring their beloved pets with them.

Acting Public Works Director John Redden and the dedicated staff at Roads and Solid Waste should be recognized as well. They were critically involved in getting ready by opening dams and prepping equipment. Once the storm passed, they were out on our 720 miles of roads clearing away trees and debris. Mr. Redden wisely opened the Landfill at noon on Sunday to meet the needs of our citizens who were doing their own clean-up.

Frank McKenzie of Planning & Zoning played a key role in our communications effort by generating an easy-to-read interactive map for I.T. Director Ray Micciche to add to his already-bold county website announcement of the emergency situation.

County Fire Companies opened their fire houses to any citizen in need and also were “out in the storm” looking for ways to help.

As always, Governor Martin O’Malley and his staff were in constant contact with me and my staff offering assistance, as was Mr. Richard Muth, director of the Maryland Emergency Management Administration (MEMA).

I also want to extend my appreciation to WMDT-TV, WBOC-TV, WICO-AM and Delmarva Broadcasting, Clear Channel Broadcasting and The Daily Times for getting our communications bulletins to the public rapidly and accurately.

Finally, our excellent communications effort would have never succeeded without the training and dedication of Public Information Officer Jim Fineran who was involved from the beginning and managed the flow of vital information between agencies with skill and professionalism.

The list of “heroes and helpers” in the Irene operation is almost endless. I wish I could name everyone. I ask the citizens of Wicomico County to join me in saluting all of their fellow citizens who made a success out of a possible disaster. Thank you!

School Superintendent Gives Up $800K In Pay

(CBS/AP)

Some people give back to their community. Then there's Fresno County School Superintendent Larry Powell, who's really giving back. As in $800,000 -- what would have been his compensation for the next three years.

Until his term expires in 2015, Powell will run 325 schools and 35 school districts with 195,000 students, all for less than a starting California teacher earns.

"How much do we need to keep accumulating?" asks Powell, 63. "There's no reason for me to keep stockpiling money."

Irene Cost $7 Billion

Hurricane Irene’s estimated cost to insurers fell to about $2.6 billion in the U.S. as the storm lost strength en route to New York, according to Kinetic Analysis Corp., a firm that predicts the effects of disasters. That compares with a projection last week from the Silver Spring, Maryland-based company of as much as $14 billion when Irene was forecast to make landfall in New York as a Category 2 hurricane. Total economic losses, including those that aren’t insured, may be about $7 billion.

SBYNews Now Loads Quicker

I'm sure many of you have been noticing that Salisbury News has been taken quite some time to load. We have experienced extremely high traffic over the past week so we made some changes to help the home page load much faster.

Again, we thank all of you for visiting every day and I hope these changes will make your experience a whole lot better.

Pentagon Contract Provisions

The Pentagon is imposing a new contract provision which calls for withholding as much as 10 percent of payments to defense companies when it finds “significant” shortcomings in any of six business systems used to track performance and cost of weapons programs or services. The measure is intended to protect taxpayers from overbilling.

Tomorrow The World

There is a line from a marching anthem in an old Hitler Youth songbook that goes as follows: Denn heute gëhort uns Deutschland; Und morgen die ganze Welt. A rough translation: For today Germany belongs to us; And tomorrow the whole world.

Now I hasten to add that I am not comparing agents of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with the Nazis, but their policies, tactics and attitude too often provide grim reminders of a superior cult that believes they are unstoppable – even by the clear words of the U.S. Constitution or the laws of other sovereign nations.

A few years ago in one of my books I wondered if the day would come when armed IRS agents would be wading ashore on the beaches of Caribbean tax havens, ready to enforce demands for bank records and other information about American with offshore business and bank accounts.

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WICOMICO ESTIMATES COST OF IRENE AT $90,000.00

In a preliminary survey of the Sheriff’s Department, Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, Wicomico County Public Works and Wicomico County Emergency Services; the initial cost estimate to deal with the Hurricane Irene emergency is $90,000. This is a preliminary number and is subject to recalculation.

In order to qualify for public assistance reimbursement consideration by MEMA/FEMA, Wicomico County must document $322,000 in hurricane-related expenses. The total will come from all government entities in the county not just the Wicomico County government itself. Included would be the City of Salisbury and other government entities.

Obama's Race-Based Spoils System

A crucial cog in the political machine of the Empire State's Sen. Roscoe Conkling, he was named by President Grant to the powerful and lucrative post of collector of customs for the Port of New York.

Arthur was removed in 1878 by President Rutherford B. Hayes, who wanted to clean up the federal patronage system. But when James Garfield of Ohio was nominated to succeed Hayes, he sought to unite his party by picking the Stalwart Arthur as running mate.

Six months into the new administration, a deranged office-seeker shot Garfield. Arthur was president. And in a dramatic turnabout, he became the president forever associated with civil service reform, converting the U.S. government into a meritocracy where individuals were hired based upon examinations and advanced based upon merit.

In our time, however, Arthur's achievement has been undone, as a racial spoils system in federal hiring and promotions has been imposed by Democratic presidents, unresisted by Republicans who rarely exhibit the courage to stand up for their principles when the subject is race.

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Governor O'Malley Irene Update

I just got off the phone with Governor O'Malley. Out of the 800,000 customers without power when the storm hit, 443,000 still remain without power. Some of his concerns were the slim possibility that the waters from up north, N.J. & PA. could settle back here in Maryland but they have not had to open any flood gates anywhere. His other concern was the sediment going into the Chesapeake Bay. The MDE will be watching that very closely. Mcready Hospital also re-opened at 4 PM today.

Dave Wallace To Kick Off Congressional Campaign

(Finksburg, MD) The Dave Wallace Congressional campaign will be kicking off with a tour of Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District this weekend September 2nd – September 4th. Wallace is a conservative activist and business owner for over 30 years.

“I’m running because people are suffering and I care about people. The unemployment rate is sky rocketing as is the cost of living. We need people in Washington who know how to create jobs and that’s exactly what I can do”, said Wallace.”

See the tour schedule

Friday September 2nd
9am – 12pm Frostburg Farmers Market Frostburg, MD
5-7pm Friday After Five Open Air Concert Cumberland, MD
8-10pm Near the Wal-Mart in Hagerstown 17850 Garland Groh Blvd Hagerstown, MD

Saturday September 3rd
7am-8:30am Lions Club Breakfast 301 Main St. Meyersville, MD

DelDOT Delays US 301 Meeting

State transportation planners have postponed a public update on U.S. 301 toll road plans, scheduled for Wednesday, citing an ongoing state of emergency and uncertain demands for agency services after the weekend passage of Hurricane Irene.

Officials still hope to prepare a semifinal financing and toll plan for Gov. Jack Markell's review in December that will make the $747 million highway self-supporting between west of Middletown and the Roth and Summit bridges on Del. 1 and Del. 896. Work could begin by mid-2012.

State lawmakers directed the agency to move ahead with the project in phases last year, starting with the 14-mile, four-lane mainline from the state line west of Middletown to Del. 1 south of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. Construction of a two-lane, 3.5-mile "spur" toll road linking the mainline to Summit Bridge could follow, based on traffic needs.

Out-of-state vehicles, many moving between the state line and I-95, are expected to pay 70 percent of the tolls collected along the road, with trucks accounting for 40 percent.

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Tax Supporters Turn To The Ballot Box

As Colorado contemplated large cuts to public education earlier this year, Rollie Heath wished that the state would raise taxes instead. Although Heath is a member of the Democratic majority in the state Senate and sits on the powerful appropriations committee, he didn’t try to use his legislative influence to persuade lawmakers to pass a tax increase. Instead, his approach was to do something any Coloradan could have done: He offered a citizens’ initiative.

Heath’s measure would raise both sales and income taxes over the next five years and use the roughly $3 billion generated to restore money to education, from preschool to higher ed. The measure officially qualified for November’s ballot last week. So a momentous decision about taxing and spending will be made by Colorado’s voters, not the state’s legislators.
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Prepare Your Home Before The Next Big Storm Hits

Whether your home has been hit before or has always escaped damage from storms, it's a good idea to protect it either way, in case natural disaster should strike.

There are two ways to make a good start, says SmartMoney. First is to make sure your insurance policy covers windstorm damage and flooding, or any other effects from natural disasters common in your area.

Another smart idea is to make home improvements that will not only give your home a better chance of weathering the storm, but might also give you discounts on your insurance. In many states, installing things like wind-resistant windows and doors or special roofing to protect against hail will get your policy lowered.

Check with your agent to see if any such discounts exist.

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BREAKING NEWS: Judge Blocks Alabama Immigration Law

Federal judge temporarily blocks enforcement of Alabama law cracking down on illegal immigration

Source Fox News

Your Car Is Submerged In Water... Now What?

While the East Coast might be done with Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene now, many areas are still in the throes of storm season, which lasts from June until October. You've seen it on the news, but what would you do if you were stuck in a submerged car during flooding?

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Get Fluffy & Fido Ready To Ride Out A Natural Disaster

No one wants to leave behind precious pets during a natural disaster, or find themselves unprepared when forced to stay inside during a storm. It's not like you can just tell your pet not to freak out, as you can a person, but you can help them feel safe and prepare in case you need to evacuate with them.

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Prepare To Be Forgiven, Ye Mortgage Sinners

Although we waxed skeptical here the other day about Warren Buffett’s just-announced $5 billion stake in Bank of America, we allowed for the possibility that the deal will provide a handsome payoff to him no matter what happens to the bank. B of A could implode, after all, a victim of sinking collateral values for its mortgage loans, and of litigation over its securitized-lending business. There is also the wild card of homeowners challenging lenders in court to show clear title to properties that are in line for foreclosure. In fact, this issue alone has the ability to capsize the global financial system, since “clear title” is exactly what ceased to exist when the feather merchants of the banking world leveraged out real estate to-the-max earlier in the decade to create an $800 trillion derivatives edifice – the Mother Lode of Digital Money, as it were. All of that sum must be viewed at the moment as deflationary overhang, by the way – not to mention, a key stumbling point for those who argue that The Great Economic Crisis must eventually precipitate out as hyperinflation.

So, how do you produce even mild inflation, let alone hyperinflation, with the housing market in a full-blown Depression? Most surely not by expanding the capacity of banks to make mortgage loans. That’s been tried to death – first moderately, then aggressively, and finally desperately — with zero success. Despite trillions of dollars worth of mortgage stimulus and supports both implied and real, the residential market looks even grimmer than it did a few years ago. Existing-home sales fell 3.5 percent in July despite the fact that prices were 4.4 percent lower than in July 2010. Now that’s deflation. There’s also the $6.6 trillion loss of home equity that has occurred since the onset of the housing bust five years ago. Will it ever return? We can’t imagine how, although it’s possible that Buffett and our President think they see a way. The two have been pretty tight lately, raising suspicions that they had hatched a rescue plan for housing before the Sage of Omaha sank a pile of dough into B of A preferred stock, a fat six-percent dividend, and warrants exercisable for $7.14 a share. (The stock ended the week at 7.75 after trading as high as $8.80).

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Local Salisbury Footage Of Hurricane Irene

FEMA Suspends Payments Elsewhere

FEMA is suspending payments to projects from previous disasters, to pay for its response to Hurricane Irene, the Associated Press reports. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has less than $1 billion available for federal disaster assistance. So, FEMA is temporarily halting payments to rebuild structures in Joplin, Mo., and other long term projects. It's a process called "immediate needs funding." The agency says its placing priority on the current disaster and the people who need immediate aid. The move is expected the keep the federal disaster relief fund solvent. FEMA will still pay people eligible for individual storm assistance. Ten states, the District and Puerto Rico have applied for federal emergency assistance since last week.

Federal Agencies Are Open Today

Federal agencies are open today, with unscheduled leave and telework policies in place, the Office of Personnel Management announced. Several government buildings remain closed, though, because of power outages caused by Hurricane Irene. The General Services Administration reports two buildings in Maryland, two in Massachusetts, and one in North Carolina are without power. Locally, the H. Wiley Federal Building in College Park and the FRC Building in Silver Spring, Md., were closed as of last evening.

Chincoteague Ponies Are Safe After Hurricane Irene

CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. (AP) -- The Chincoteague ponies are safe after Hurricane Irene tore past their island.

Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company spokeswoman Denise Bowden said Sunday that the herd of wild horses owned by the fire company since the 1920s made it through the storm without any nicks or scratches.

The company owns more than 100 of the wild ponies that graze on nearby Assateague Island. The ponies made famous by the novel "Misty of Chincoteague" and a subsequent movie are now visited by hundreds of thousands of people a year.

Vacancies are rampant, people are homeless living on the streets and the destruction is very evident.

OH, WAIT A MINUTE, that's every day life in Downtown Salisbury. The Mayor believes people are just tired and taking naps. The Constitution enables them to do so and there's no crime. "Help is on the way"?

O'Brien To Lead Order Of Knights In Rome

Pope Benedict XVI today named Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, 72, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He succeeds Cardinal John Foley, who retired in February for reasons of health. Archbishop O’Brien had served as 15th Archbishop of Baltimore since October 1, 2007 and will serve as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese until his successor is named.

You Know Harry

For my money, the greatest movie ever made is The Third Man, first released 50 years ago and now re-released with restored footage (11 minutes had been cut from the U.S. version). Usually praised as a "classic thriller," it's much more than that: it's a study of evil that bears repeated viewings.

Rarely has a film been blessed by such a perfect combination of direction (Carol Reed), script (Graham Greene), cinematography (Robert Krasker), music (Anton Karas), and excellent casting, right down to the creepy minor characters.

An American pulp-fiction writer named Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten) comes to occupied Vienna just after World War II to take a job writing for an old pal's "medical charity." But upon arrival, he learns that his pal, Harry Lime, has just been run over by his own chauffeur. Holly attends Harry's funeral and talks to witnesses, whose conflicting accounts of a "third man" at the death scene lead him to believe that Harry was murdered. When a cynical British military policeman, a Major Calloway (Trevor Howard), tells him that Harry was "about the worst racketeer who ever made a dirty living in this city," Holly angrily resolves to find "the third man," solve the murder, and shame Calloway by clearing Harry's name.

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The Real Obama: Hope For Change!

Much has been written and said about Obama, most of it less than courteous. People have accused him of much, some right, some wrong. The problem is that most citizens now consider him to be stupid because he keeps instituting repeat mistakes that failed on every level and in every way over and over again. Don't underestimate him!

I don't think he is stupid at all. Obama is a political ideologue with a dogmatic adhesion to communism that he plans to shove down our throats whether we like it or not. He is what Eric Hoffer called a "true believer." Take this man seriously as the student of Frank Marshall Davis, the black CPUSA member who was his mentor during his formative years in Hawaii. Consider his communist "class warfare" references, his Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) membership, his repeated inferences to colonialism, class struggle and other communist "hit words." Yesterday I listened to Van Jones, one of Obama's closest communist friends, who explained very clearly what the plan was and how it would be implemented.

The story at this time is that the Obama administration is failing and that his chances for reelection are diminishing. There are about 80 DSA members in the US Congress; he has a hardcore cadre of uber-leftists champing at the bit. Another 80 members of Congress and their wives (or significant others) took a junket to Israel during the 2011 summer recess, all expenses paid by the American Israeli Educational Fund, an adjunct to AIPAC, the ultra-leftist Israeli lobby. Well, they have to do something with all those billions of American foreign aid dollars, don't they?

The entire American lamestream media is tilted so far to the left that they won't even report on Ron Paul's candidacy or the fact that he won the straw polls at C-Pac, Young Republicans, Republican caucus, and on August 24, a national Clear Channel poll by 48.7%. This election will be a repeat of 1999 where in that year Pat Buchanan won the nomination in sequence in New Hampshire, Iowa and then Nevada only to have the media report otherwise. It is the media that elects American presidents, not the people.

The fact that every action taken by this administration on finance, economics, energy, domestic policy and foreign policy has been wrong is accepted by over 75% of the population, but these facts are completely ignored by the media. While his approval rating is in the mid-30s, Congress is in the low teens. But that will have little effect by the time the election comes upon us. Obama, who has spent the last 30 months campaigning for his second term, has a war chest of over a billion dollars. The media is delighted, for it will all come to them. It is a match made in Heaven.

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Extreme Weather Adds Drama To Coolspring Makeover

Earthquake, hurricane, tornado likely to be part of ABC show

An earthquake, hurricane and reported tornado all in the same week? Even the best Hollywood writers couldn’t come up with the events that have hit during the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” build in Coolspring. It makes for good television.

As work started on the Jusst Sooup Ministry Ranch Aug. 22, hundreds of volunteers and subcontractors began transformation of a 6-acre field along Route 9 into a 7,000-square-foot complex, an earthquake hit the East Coast Aug. 23 followed by Hurricane Irene and a reported tornado Aug. 27.

Dale Dunning, who has operated a volunteer soup kitchen in various locations in the county for the past 12 years, will return home for the traditional reveal of the project at noon, Wednesday, Aug. 31. That’s when show host Ty Pennington will shout out, “Move that bus!” to reveal the complex for the first time to the Dunning family who has been out of the area on vacation in an undisclosed location.

The public is invited to the reveal that is filmed for television. Shuttle service will begin at 8 a.m. from Cape Henlopen High School. There is no parking available at the site.

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DICK CHENEY BOOK SIGNING

Delmarva Power

Joe, I wish you would report the poor service delmarva power has for the Pittsville area. power off since Saturday on Morris Road. they say it may be until Wednesday to restore.

i asked her how many in Wicomico County are still without power and she said around 425. I then asked where are all the 1000 repair people delmarva stated they had working on the outages. this just doesn't seem to compute. she said they had 1000 working as of yesterday. I then asked if that's the case where are they today and why it would then take until Wednesday to "fix" the outage? the problem was located by my nephew yesterday and there are cones around the pole. this was reported to delmarva power at that time.

I know I'm rambling but this is the story and i wish delmarva power wasn't the only game in town so to speak. thank God we have a generator but others don't and it's still inconvenient. what in the world would happen if we had gotten the "full force" of the hurricane as they predicted? just sayin'.

"I Am Jim Rogers And I Support Ron Paul"

Ron Paul has another illustrious supporter - Jim Rogers. The Quantum fund co-founder, who has been spot on about pretty much everything for the past 3 years (see Roubini Versus Rogers Is Right Debate for 2010 [8]: Investor Jim Rogers thinks gold will double to at least $2,000 an ounce. Economist Nouriel Roubini says that’s “utter nonsense.” As these well-known market personalities duke it out, they’re doing us a favor by highlighting a critical debate: Which is the bigger threat -- inflation or deflation?), not to mention gold (to the amusement of such Keynesian soundbites recorded for posterity [9]as the following: "Maybe it will reach $1,100 or so but $1,500 or $2,000 is nonsense"), and especially inflation (perhaps the only thing that will prompt a chuckle out of Gadaffi and Mubarak these days is someone telling them that their multi-decade reigns are over due to hyperdeflation and plunging food prices), was caught on tape voicing his endorsement of the only sane person who can possibly do something for this country. "In this election if Ron Paul gets anywhere near the nomination I would certainly support him. He is the only one that I've seen in American politics that seems to have a clue about what's going on." Zero Hedge agrees on all counts.

Source

GE

General Electric is planning to move its 115-year-old X-ray division from
Waukesha, Wis. , to Beijing . In addition to moving the headquarters, the
company will invest $2 billion in China and train more than 65 engineers and create six research centers.

This is the same GE that made $5.1 billion in the United States last year, but paid no taxes---the same company that employs more people overseas than it does in the United States .

So let me get this straight, President Obama appointed GE Chairman of the Board Jeff Immelt to head his commission on job creation (Job Czar).

Immelt is supposed to create jobs.

I guess the President forgot to tell him in which country he was supposed to be creating those jobs.

If this doesn't show you the total lack of leadership of this President, I don't know what does.

Bay Bridge Accident

Accident on Bay Bridge going east. Traffic down to one lane at this time.

Drug Testing The Poor: Bad Policy, Even Worse Law

Under a new Florida law, people applying for welfare have to take a drug test at their own expense. If they pass, they are eligible for benefits and the state reimburses them for the test. If they fail, they are denied welfare for a year, until they take another test.

Mandatory drug testing for welfare applicants is becoming a popular idea across the U.S. Many states — including Alabama, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Louisiana — are considering adopting laws like Florida's. At the federal level, Senator David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican, has introduced the Drug Free Families Act of 2011, which would require all 50 states to drug-test welfare applicants.

Fill In The Blank 8-29-11

You know things are bad when_____!

Infiltration Into The Obama Administration By Radical Islam Worse Than First Thought

Infiltration of the federal government by members of the radical Muslim Brotherhood is worse than some have warned recently, says a former FBI special agent in Washington.

The agent confirmed that at least three operatives of the Egypt-based Brotherhood – whose credo is "Jihad is our way and death in the cause of Allah is our dream" – have penetrated the Obama administration.

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Tornado

Mr Albero, you seem to be the best local media source so I wanted to share a picture taken in dewey beach of a tornado almost hitting pier.

Storm Damage In Salisbury

Bachmann Says She'd Consider Everglades Drilling

SARASOTA, Fla. — Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann said Sunday that she would consider oil and natural gas drilling in the Everglades if it can be done without harming the environment.

Bachman said the United States needs to tap into all of its energy resources no matter where they exist if it can be done responsibly.

Explicit pictures reportedly appear on iPhone app for gays and bisexuals

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Puerto Rico lawmaker has resigned following reports that explicit photos of him surfaced on an iPhone application for gays and bisexuals, the head of the U.S. territory's Senate announced Sunday.

Sen. Roberto Arango, a Republican who represents the capital of San Juan, presented his letter of resignation after a weekend meeting, Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz said.

Schatz did not release the lawmaker's letter, but said the circumstances that led to the resignation "are very lamentable."

A local local Ambulance and a Postal Truck collided just moments ago. Damage, they smacked mirrors. I think the Irene news was better. LOL

Obama To Nominate Alan Krueger To Chair Economic Council

President Obama today will nominate Princeton University economist Alan Krueger to be chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, a White House official tells CBS News.

Krueger left the Obama administration last fall after serving as an economic policy official under Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. If confirmed, he would succeed Austan Goolsbee, who left the post earlier this month to return to the University of Chicago.

This Is A Must See

It's a dirty job - and no one should have to do it.

Tucker Barnes of the Fox affiliate in Washington, D.C. made what is destined to be one of the most famous live shots in history Saturday standing in Ocean, Md. as Hurricane Irene covered him what he thought was "plankton or something."

It wasn't. It was raw sewage.

Today's Survey Question 8-29-11

Did you experience any physical or property damage during hurricane Irene?

TODAYGOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO GIVE UPDATE ON POWER OUTAGES

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 29, 2011) – TODAY at 12:00 noon., Governor O’Malley will hold a press conference to give an update on power outages across the State following Hurricane Irene.

WHAT: Governor O’Malley to hold press conference on power outages across the State

WHEN: TODAY, Monday, August 29, 2011 at 12:00 noon

WHERE: Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

5401 Rue St. Lo Drive

Reisterstown, MD

Perry Not Ready To Praise Obama's Handling Of Hurricane Irene

Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) – As Hurricane Irene strikes and spooks large parts of the U.S., Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry is not yet ready to praise President Barack Obama's handling of the storm.

The Texas governor appeared at a county GOP picnic in Des Moines on Saturday. During an exchange with reporters, Perry was asked if the president has been an effective leader during a week that saw two menacing natural disasters: an earthquake and currently the hurricane.

Though Perry would not cast judgment, he did cast his answer in overtly political terms.

"He has been an absolute disaster as a president from the standpoint of our economy. That's what people are really focused on," Perry said. "Taking a snapshot of whether or not he's appropriately dealt with the hurricane - I don't know yet. I'll tell you when the hurricane's over."

Federal Reserve Policy Mixed With Extreme Weather Has Put The World On A Fast Track To Revolution And War

There are many factors that clearly demonstrate why it would be disastrous for the Federal Reserve to repeat their vicious Quantitative Easing (QE) policy. If you want to know a significant reason why they cannot get away with another round of QE, here is an equation for you:

(Quantitative Easing + Extreme Weather = Revolution + World War III)

From the very beginning [17] we knew that the Federal Reserve’s QE program was going to cause the cost of food to rise and the dollar to decline in value, and that these intended results would lead to an increase in poverty and civil unrest. Now there is a new study that gives us some more proof of this obvious fact:

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California Wildfire Scorches 3,000 Acres

(CNN) -- A wildfire triggered by an exploding propane tank has scorched 3,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and caused the evacuation of a resort, fire officials said Friday.Nearly 1,000 firefighters were trying to quell the blaze that started Thursday near Yosemite National Park, said Jim Tucker, a spokesman for the fire departments working in the area.

The blaze grew Friday, and at one point jumped the Merced River and caused the evacuation of Cedar Lodge, a resort in the area, Tucker said.

China's Biggest Banks Post Record First-Half Profits As BofA, RBS Stumble

China's five biggest banks posted first-half profits that surpassed the total of their 14 largest U.S. and European rivals, highlighting the Asian nation's financial power as other economies falter. ... China's banking regulator has also asked lenders to increase capital buffers and accelerate loan collection schedules for local government debt as it seeks to avert a banking crisis following the record $2.7 trillion credit boom that began in 2009. ... Globally, banking stocks have fallen too much, Wan said. Chinese banks may begin to recover once policy makers contain inflation and relax lending constraints, he said. – Bloomberg

Paintball Shot Ruptures Woman's Breast Implant

A woman’s breast implant ruptured after she was shot in the chest last week with a paintball pellet, The Sun reports.

The 26-year-old’s soft-gel implant ruptured when the paintball hit her breast at 190 mph.

The injury is believed to be the first of its kind, according to the paper.

A spokesman for UKPaintball — which runs the Paintzone Paintball Park near Croydon, South London, where the accident happened — said: "Part of the fun of paintball is that it hurts a bit when you get shot, but in all the years we've been going we've never seen an incident like this.

BREAKING NEWS: Pending Home Sales Fall In July

The National Association of Realtors reported July pending home sales dropped 1.3% to 89.7 from 90.9 in June.

From Fox News

BofA's $8.5 Billion Settlement Could Fall Apart After Request Made To Move Mortgage Case From State To Federal Court

As most know by now, the ridiculously low $8.5 billion putback settlement, which was supposed to have been closed by now, and which was the key driver in preventing Bank of America from trading far, far lower (and requiring much more capital), is the wildcard that would allow the bank to package tens if not hundreds of billions of claims against the bank in a "tidy (and very small) little package." The key factor allowing this settlement to be structured in its existing form, was that the lawsuit was filed in New York State Court, which allows for a little something known as Article 77, or a provision permitting "special proceeding related to express trust." The details are provided below, but in essence boil down to the following: the settlement in its current form can only be enacted if the lawsuit is conducted under New York State law. Well, minutes ago, David Grais, attorney for Walnut Place, which as we have repeatedly observed represents those interests who claim the $8.5 billion settlement is massively insufficient and are engaged in litigation seeking far greater recoveries, filed a request to transfer the lawsuit from State Court to Federal Court where everything basically begins a new. More than anything, this latest development may explain why Bank of America has been scrambling to raise tens of billions in the open market as an adverse court decision, one granting Grais' request, means the bank is suddenly open to unlimited downside capital risk. In the meantime, add major litigation headline risk to everything else that BAC has going for it...

Manal Mehta explains why this could be a gamechanger:

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Monday, August 29, 2011

Authorities worry about an increase in carbon monoxide poisonings after widespread power outages due to Irene

Explicit pictures reportedly appear on iPhone app for gays and bisexuals