Stephen and Leyla Hill filed suit Monday in federal district court in New York. The suit accuses JPMorgan (JPM, Fortune 500), which was Madoff's banker for more than 20 years, of knowing about the ponzi scheme.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Madoff Investors Sue JPMorgan For $19 Billion
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Two investors who lost their money to Bernard Madoff are suing JPMorgan Chase for $19 billion, accusing the firm of aiding and abetting the Ponzi schemer.
Missing Boy, 2, Had Been Left Alone In Car Before
'Absolutely, we suspect foul play,' officer says; mom's apartment searched
BREAKING NEWS: Mississippi Voters Reject 'Personhood' Measure
Mississippi voters have rejected an anti-abortion ballot initiative that would have given 'personhood' status to fertilized eggs.From Fox News
Babies on Path To Obesity? A New Sign May Offer An Answer
Researchers say there's a new way to tell if infants are likely to become obese later on: Check to see if they've passed two key milestones on doctors' growth charts by age 2.
Babies who grew that quickly face double the risk of being obese at age 5, compared with peers who grew more slowly, their study found. Rapid growers were also more likely to be obese at age 10, and infants whose chart numbers climbed that much during their first 6 months faced the greatest risks.
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Holder 'Regrets' Death Of Border Patrol Agent, Stands By Response In Aftermath
Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that he has not spoken with the family of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, who was killed in December by a group of assailants using at least two weapons tied to "Operation Fast and Furious," but he "certainly regrets" what happened.
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How The War On Terror Has Militarized The Police
At around 9:00 a.m. on May 5, 2011, officers with the Pima County, Arizona, Sheriff's Department's Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) team surrounded the home of 26-year-old José Guerena, a former U.S. Marine and veteran of two tours of duty in Iraq, to serve a search warrant for narcotics. As the officers approached, Guerena lay sleeping in his bedroom after working the graveyard shift at a local mine. When his wife Vanessa woke him up, screaming that she had seen a man outside the window pointing a gun at her, Guerena grabbed his AR-15 rifle, instructed Vanessa to hide in the closet with their four-year old son, and left the bedroom to investigate.
Over Half Of Owners Will Buy Pet Holiday Gifts
Poll shows they plan to spend average of $46 with toys, treats topping list
LOS ANGELES — Just over half of American pet owners will buy gifts for their pets this holiday season, and they'll spend an average of $46 on their animals, with toys and treats topping the list, according to a new AP-Petside.com poll.
Sixty-eight percent of pets getting gifts can look forward to a toy, 45 percent to food or another treat, 8 percent new bedding, 6 percent clothing, 3 percent a leash, collar or harness and 3 percent new grooming products, the poll showed. (Some pets will get more than one gift.)
K-9 Sniffs Out 58 Pounds Of Pot In MD
On November 2, police in Hyattsville uncovered a cache of marijuana that weighed in at 58 pounds, about the same as an adult golden retriever.
Hyattsville City police said that much pot fetches about $527,000 on the street.
A K9 unit smelled out the stash, during an investigation into a reported assault. Officers arrived at the scene on the 4800 block of Rhode Island Avenue looking for Dean Roy Thomas, suspected in the assault.
The search for Thomas led officers to a business that he owned on Rhode Island Avenue. Police sealed off a perimeter around the business and were able to take Thomas into custody.
PUT THEM TO DEATH
End Bonuses for Bankers
More than three years since the global financial crisis started, financial institutions are still blowing themselves up. The latest, MF Global, filed for bankruptcy protection last week after its chief executive, Jon S. Corzine, made risky investments in European bonds. So far, lenders and shareholders have been paying the price, not taxpayers. But it is only a matter of time before private risk-taking leads to another giant bailout like the ones the United States was forced to provide in 2008.The promise of “no more bailouts,” enshrined in last year’s Wall Street reform law, is just that — a promise.
The financiers (and their lawyers) will always stay one step ahead of the regulators. No one really knows what will happen the next time a giant bank goes bust because of its misunderstanding of risk.
Instead, it’s time for a fundamental reform: Any person who works for a company that, regardless of its current financial health, would require a taxpayer-financed bailout if it failed, should not get a bonus, ever. In fact, all pay at systemically important financial institutions — big banks, but also some insurance companies and even huge hedge funds — should be strictly regulated.
Critics like the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators decry the bonus system for its lack of fairness and its contribution to widening inequality. But the greater problem is that it provides an incentive to take risks. The asymmetric nature of the bonus (an incentive for success without a corresponding disincentive for failure) causes hidden risks to accumulate in the financial system and become a catalyst for disaster. This violates the fundamental rules of capitalism; Adam Smith himself was wary of the effect of limiting liability, a bedrock principle of the modern corporation.
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Next In Line For Implosion: Pension Plans
Pension plans are based on 8% annual growth forever. What happens to these plans in a zero-interest rate world as the global economy and stock markets contract?
I'm afraid it's time for an intervention. I don't enjoy being the bearer of difficult news, but now that Europe has stumbled drunkenly into the pool and been "rescued," it's once again tearfully blubbering that this time it's all going to change, and a new prime minister in each dysfunctional, insolvent EU nation is going to make the pain and the addiction all go away.
It's time we face the reality that Europe and the U.S. are full-blown financial alcoholics, addicted to illusion and debt. And what do they turn to as "solutions"? The very sources of their pain: illusory "fixes" and more debt. Have you ever seen a global market as dependent on rumors of "magical fixes" for its "resilience" as this one?
What's truly remarkable is the psychotic distance between the facts--Europe's debts are impossible to service, its economy is free-falling into recession, the U.S. is already in recession, China's real estate bubble has popped and cannot be reinflated-- and the heady leap of global markets on every trivial rumor of a magic fix.
Since it runs in our family, I do not use the word "alcoholic" lightly. Those of you who have to deal with alcoholics know the drill: the liquor stashed behind the fridge, as if everyone doesn't know it's there; the stumbling into the pool, the humiliating rescue, the tearful promise of change which goes nowhere, and all the rest.
I seriously suspect the entire global economy is alcoholic--not about liquor, but about debt and the impossibility of paying entitlements which expand by 8% a year in an economy which grows by 2% a year at best. In all the millions of words printed about the subprime meltdown, the gutting of the U.S. financial and housing markets and now about Europe's impossible burden of debt, how often have we seen anyone in the MSM or mainstream financial press confess that "borrowing our way of out of trouble" is not just financially bankrupt but morally bankrupt as well?
Like a full-blown alcoholic, the people and governments of the U.S. and Europe stagger from debt source to debt source, weaving drunkenly between "stashes" of new debt in the Fed, Treasury and private sector markets. Despite the abject failure of the magical-thinking "fix" of becoming solvent by exponentially expanding debt, we see the same pathetic pattern repeating in Europe, where the apologists for the alcoholic debt-binge continue to claim the risk of systemic failure and collapse of asset values is low.
While everyone is focused on the drunk being pulled from the pool--Europe's sovereign debt--another drunk is teetering on the edge: public and private pension plans. Here's the reality in a nutshell: pension plans only work if they earn average returns of around 8% per year, basically forever.
Gripped by the mono-maniacal desperation of an addict who sees no other path but another hit, central banks have lowered interest rates to near-zero to "spark growth." Unfortunately the only thing being goosed is the future cost of servicing the additional debt.
How do you earn 8% on money which yields at best 3%? You can't. How do you reap a gain on bonds when interest rates have already hit bottom and can't fall any lower? You can't.
More
I'm afraid it's time for an intervention. I don't enjoy being the bearer of difficult news, but now that Europe has stumbled drunkenly into the pool and been "rescued," it's once again tearfully blubbering that this time it's all going to change, and a new prime minister in each dysfunctional, insolvent EU nation is going to make the pain and the addiction all go away.
It's time we face the reality that Europe and the U.S. are full-blown financial alcoholics, addicted to illusion and debt. And what do they turn to as "solutions"? The very sources of their pain: illusory "fixes" and more debt. Have you ever seen a global market as dependent on rumors of "magical fixes" for its "resilience" as this one?
What's truly remarkable is the psychotic distance between the facts--Europe's debts are impossible to service, its economy is free-falling into recession, the U.S. is already in recession, China's real estate bubble has popped and cannot be reinflated-- and the heady leap of global markets on every trivial rumor of a magic fix.
Since it runs in our family, I do not use the word "alcoholic" lightly. Those of you who have to deal with alcoholics know the drill: the liquor stashed behind the fridge, as if everyone doesn't know it's there; the stumbling into the pool, the humiliating rescue, the tearful promise of change which goes nowhere, and all the rest.
I seriously suspect the entire global economy is alcoholic--not about liquor, but about debt and the impossibility of paying entitlements which expand by 8% a year in an economy which grows by 2% a year at best. In all the millions of words printed about the subprime meltdown, the gutting of the U.S. financial and housing markets and now about Europe's impossible burden of debt, how often have we seen anyone in the MSM or mainstream financial press confess that "borrowing our way of out of trouble" is not just financially bankrupt but morally bankrupt as well?
Like a full-blown alcoholic, the people and governments of the U.S. and Europe stagger from debt source to debt source, weaving drunkenly between "stashes" of new debt in the Fed, Treasury and private sector markets. Despite the abject failure of the magical-thinking "fix" of becoming solvent by exponentially expanding debt, we see the same pathetic pattern repeating in Europe, where the apologists for the alcoholic debt-binge continue to claim the risk of systemic failure and collapse of asset values is low.
While everyone is focused on the drunk being pulled from the pool--Europe's sovereign debt--another drunk is teetering on the edge: public and private pension plans. Here's the reality in a nutshell: pension plans only work if they earn average returns of around 8% per year, basically forever.
Gripped by the mono-maniacal desperation of an addict who sees no other path but another hit, central banks have lowered interest rates to near-zero to "spark growth." Unfortunately the only thing being goosed is the future cost of servicing the additional debt.
How do you earn 8% on money which yields at best 3%? You can't. How do you reap a gain on bonds when interest rates have already hit bottom and can't fall any lower? You can't.
More
BREAKING NEWS: Ohio Voters Oppose Health Care Mandate
Ohio voters have approved a measure aimed at blocking mandate in Obama's health care law from applying to state residents
From Fox News
BREAKING NEWS: Ohio Voters Defeat Ballot Initiative on Unions
Ohio voters have rejected a state measure limiting unions' collective bargaining powers
From Fox News
Judge Approves BofA's $410M Overdraft Settlement
To settle a class-action suit over reordering transactions to maximize overdraft fees, Bank of America agreed to pay out $410 million months ago. A judge has now approved the settlement, and the bank has coughed up the money into an escrow account from which it will be distributed to customers who were part of the suit. Those who had a Bank of America debit card between January 2001 and May 24, 2011 will automatically receive a payment of at least 9 percent of the fees they paid.
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UPDATE:BREAKING NEWS: Pocomoke Councilman Robert Hawkins In Very Serious Accident
UPDATE: We are saddened to say that Mr. Hawkins has passed away from his injuries related to the accident. We would like to add that the driver of the other vehicle involved lost his daughter only last week due to another fatal car accident in the Pocomoke Area. Our prayers go out to both families .
We will do our best to keep you updated and our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Hawkins and his immediate Family.
FIRST LADY KATIE O’MALLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN SECOND ANNUAL PATRICIA AND ARTHUR MODELL SYMPOSIUM ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 8, 2011) –TOMORROW, First Lady Judge Katie O’Malley will deliver remarks at the second annual Patricia and Arthur Modell Symposium on Domestic Violence.
This year’s theme, ‘Giving Voice to Domestic Violence: New Partners, New Strategies, and Game-Changing Innovations,’ will examine impacts of domestic abuse and how to prevent it.
The second annual program on domestic violence will include a tribute to the late Patricia Modell, a supporter of society’s most vulnerable citizens and the founding chair of the symposium.
Judge O’Malley recently received the Forerunner Award from the Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation for her work with victims of domestic violence. She has been a steadfast advocate for the rights of victims of domestic violence. For years, she has served in the fight to end domestic violence, participating in several House of Ruth functions and giving lectures both in Maryland and overseas.
For more information, go to: www.ssw.umaryland.edu/modell.
WHAT: First Lady Katie O’Malley to participate in second annual Patricia and Arthur
Modell Symposium on Domestic Violence
WHEN: TOMORROW, Wednesday, November 9th at 12:45 p.m.
WHERE: Southern Management Corporation Campus Center
621 W. Lombard Street
Baltimore, MD
Today's Top Stories 11-8-11
BLOOMBERG
Herman Cain denied detailed claims of inappropriate sexual behavior made by a fourth woman yesterday, as the Republican presidential candidate seeks to control the scandal threatening to derail his campaign.
The U.S. Supreme Court debated whether an American boy’s passport should list his birthplace as Jerusalem or Israel in a case that may redefine the foreign- policy roles of the president and Congress.
BNP Paribas SA and Commerzbank AG are unloading sovereign bonds at a loss, leading European lenders in a government-debt flight that threatens to exacerbate the region’s crisis.
Toll Brothers Inc., the largest U.S. luxury-home builder, said fourth-quarter revenue increased 6 percent amid strong sales at its East Coast communities.
Most of the biggest solar-equipment makers may disappear in the next few years as plunging prices erode margins and drive the weakest out of business, according to Trina Solar Ltd., the fifth-largest supplier of solar panels.
AP Top Stories
Attorney General Eric Holder says an investigation of arms traffickers called Operation Fast and Furious was flawed in concept as well as in execution, never should have happened and "it must never happen again."
Silvio Berlusconi's closest coalition ally, Umberto Bossi, told him to resign on Tuesday in what could be a mortal blow to the Italian prime minister before a crunch vote in parliament.
Greece will get a new prime minister later Tuesday, a senior government official said, as the country's European partners ratcheted up the pressure for a swift resolution to the political crisis.
Business is booming at credit unions as consumers flee the high fees and low yields at traditional banks, but experts say comparison shopping is vital before switching and there may not necessarily be a credit union for everyone.
A strike by Portuguese public transport workers shut down national train services in the latest major protest against austerity measures designed to reduce the country's crippling debt burden.
A transsexual woman and an openly gay man took seats in Poland's newly elected parliament, historic firsts that reflect profound social change in this traditionally Roman Catholic country.
A Cornell University sociologist surveyed 2,000 adults from a national database and found that from 1985 to 2010, the number of truly close friends people cited has dropped -- even though we're socializing as much as ever.
An asteroid the size of a city block zoomed by Earth inside the orbit of the moon, made its closest approach to Earth at 6:28 p.m. EST, but it posed no danger of smashing into our planet.
The average Wall Street bonus will decline by 20 percent to 30 percent this year, according to a closely watched compensation report, as banks cut costs and lay off workers in a weak environment for trading and deal-making.
Sales of Airbus' revamped A320neo topped 1,000 as the European plane maker extended its lead over Boeing in the annual tug-of-war for jetliner sales.
Credit Suisse will hand over details of wealthy Americans with hidden Swiss accounts to the Swiss government, bringing U.S. authorities closer to obtaining names of alleged tax cheats.
Salisbury Police Department Press Releases 11-8-11
On November 7, 2011 at approximately 9:16 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant for an assault that occurred on November 6. On that date officers met with an adult female who advised that she had been assaulted by the suspect who was known to her. The suspect approached her while in a residence on East William Street and became involved in a verbal argument. The argument escalated into a physical altercation and resulted in the suspect striking the victim in the jaw with his fist. The suspect then choked the victim and threatened her with a kitchen knife. The suspect fled from the scene when he was told that the police were responding. The victim refused medical assistance for her injuries.
ARRESTED: Frankel Joseph Dort, 42 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: First degree assault
Second degree assault
Reckless endangerment
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100043822
On November 7, 2011 at approximately 2:44 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police were on routine patrol in the area of North Salisbury Boulevard and Naylor Street and observed the below listed suspect trespassing on the business property of Pure Gas. The officers knew from prior contact that the suspect was prohibited from the property. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
ARRESTED: Glenn Phillip Richards, 60 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Trespassing
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100043938
On November 7, 2011 at approximately 7:43 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Giant Food Store on South Salisbury Boulevard for the report of a possible theft. Upon arrival the officers located the below listed suspect behind the business. During contact the management of the store requested that the suspect leave the property however the suspect refused. The officers attempted a number of times to have the suspect leave with negative results. Investigation revealed that there had not been a theft.
ARRESTED: Cody Jeffrey Jolley, 21 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Failure to obey a lawful order
Trespassing
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100044002
ARRESTED: Frankel Joseph Dort, 42 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: First degree assault
Second degree assault
Reckless endangerment
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100043822
On November 7, 2011 at approximately 2:44 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police were on routine patrol in the area of North Salisbury Boulevard and Naylor Street and observed the below listed suspect trespassing on the business property of Pure Gas. The officers knew from prior contact that the suspect was prohibited from the property. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
ARRESTED: Glenn Phillip Richards, 60 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Trespassing
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100043938
On November 7, 2011 at approximately 7:43 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Giant Food Store on South Salisbury Boulevard for the report of a possible theft. Upon arrival the officers located the below listed suspect behind the business. During contact the management of the store requested that the suspect leave the property however the suspect refused. The officers attempted a number of times to have the suspect leave with negative results. Investigation revealed that there had not been a theft.
ARRESTED: Cody Jeffrey Jolley, 21 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Failure to obey a lawful order
Trespassing
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100044002
Wall Street Bonuses Take A Nosedive
Belt-tightening is happening everywhere, even on Wall Street, where excess has always seemed to have reigned supreme. A compensation survey says bonuses for financial workers in the district are expected to fall between 20 and 30 percent this year. While those who don't receive any work bonuses won't shed tears for Wall Street types, at least this is a sign that the financial world is connected to reality.
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Occupy Protesters Plan March From NYC To DC
NEW YORK - Occupy Wall Street is going on the road -- a two-week walk to Washington.
A small group of activists plans to leave Manhattan's Zuccotti Park at noon Wednesday and arrive by the Nov. 23 deadline for a congressional committee to decide whether to keep President Barack Obama's extension of Bush-era tax cuts. Protesters say the cuts benefit only rich Americans.
The announcement came the same day that David Crosby and Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, planned an acoustic performance in the park for supports and passers-by.
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A small group of activists plans to leave Manhattan's Zuccotti Park at noon Wednesday and arrive by the Nov. 23 deadline for a congressional committee to decide whether to keep President Barack Obama's extension of Bush-era tax cuts. Protesters say the cuts benefit only rich Americans.
The announcement came the same day that David Crosby and Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, planned an acoustic performance in the park for supports and passers-by.
More
'Consensus Is Growing' For ECB and IMF Takeover Of Euro-Crisis
'Run For Your Lives' ... Euro Zone Considers Solution of Last Resort: The ink on the most recent European Union summit agreement was hardly dry before it became clear that it was insufficient. With investors now increasingly wary of Italy, the consensus is growing that the European Central Bank – and the IMF – will have to play an even greater role. But will it be enough? – Der Spiegel Online
Dominant Social Theme: We didn't want it. We didn't mean to suggest it. We don't think it's a good idea. But it looks like the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund will simply have to take a bigger role in solving this terrible crisis.
Free-Market Analysis: It is all too predictable. We've been writing for months on the possibility that the entire EU crisis is a kind of contrived one and this article post at Der Spiegel Online does nothing to discourage this supposition.
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Dominant Social Theme: We didn't want it. We didn't mean to suggest it. We don't think it's a good idea. But it looks like the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund will simply have to take a bigger role in solving this terrible crisis.
Free-Market Analysis: It is all too predictable. We've been writing for months on the possibility that the entire EU crisis is a kind of contrived one and this article post at Der Spiegel Online does nothing to discourage this supposition.
More
Sarkozy To Obama: Netanyahu Is A 'Liar'
French President Sarkozy called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu a liar in a conversation with President Obama caught on an open mic at last week's G-20 summit.
"I can't look at him [Netanyahu] anymore, he's a liar," Sarkozy told Obama, the French media website Arret Sur Images reported.
"You've had enough of him, but I have to deal with him every day," Obama is said to have responded.
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"I can't look at him [Netanyahu] anymore, he's a liar," Sarkozy told Obama, the French media website Arret Sur Images reported.
"You've had enough of him, but I have to deal with him every day," Obama is said to have responded.
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Air Force Morgue Lost Body Parts, Officials Say
WASHINGTON - The Air Force mortuary that receives America's war dead and prepares them for burial lost portions of human remains twice in 2009, prompting the Air Force to discipline three officials for "gross mismanagement," officials said Tuesday.
This Post Represents Our 17,000th Post So Far This Year
Last year we had a total of 13,543 Posts the entire year, which was a lot of Posts. Each year we do our best to provide more real time news and information. Salisbury News has become one of the top Google search results when entering a topic we've touched on throughout time. While many companies PAY to be in such a position, Salisbury News does no such thing.
We have exceeded 20,000,000 visitors so far and we continue to grow at a very rapid pace. While the local Main Stream Media continues to downsize, Salisbury News continues to grow. Many have desperately tried to shut us down over the years but we fought those battles and won each time.
One thing is for sure, we're not going anywhere and we continue our pledge to deliver you what we feel is the most important local news, national news, world news and opinion at NO CHARGE. Thanks for visiting so often Folks.
Kitten In Need Of A Home: UPDATE
We have a kitten that is in need of a good home. She was found in the Cherry walk Rd. area. We figure she is around 4 months old and very loving and affectionate, however we already have four cats and three dogs that are not welcoming her into their home with open paws. We are keeping her in the house for now because it is getting to cold for to be out at night. If anyone would be willing to give her a warm loving home or if you recognize this cute little girl please contact me at 410-603-6589.
Former Federal Reserve Economist Likely Next Prime Minister Of Greece
"Lucas Papademos will be as of tomorrow the new prime minister of the country after the agreement that the outgoing Prime Minister George Papandreou and the opposition head Antonis Samaras reached last night," reports the Greek daily Ta Nea.
Papademos is a 100% bankster tool. There will never ever be even the suggestion of a referendum on any program the banksters want passed. It will simply be passed.
Papademos is currently a visiting professor of public policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was previously a vice president of the European Central Bank and also served as a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
He is a Trilateral Commission member.
Source
Papademos is a 100% bankster tool. There will never ever be even the suggestion of a referendum on any program the banksters want passed. It will simply be passed.
Papademos is currently a visiting professor of public policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was previously a vice president of the European Central Bank and also served as a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
He is a Trilateral Commission member.
Source
Busted! Two New Fed GPS Trackers Found On SUV
As the Supreme Court gets ready to hear oral arguments in a case Tuesday that could determine if authorities can track U.S. citizens with GPS vehicle trackers without a warrant, a young man in California has come forward to Wired to reveal that he found not one but two different devices on his vehicle recently.
The Desperate Federal Reserve
More Ron Paul impact?
I'm not sure how many other branches this is going on at, but the Boston Federal Reserve branch fired big chunks of their communications department on Friday.
Top officials at the Boston Fed then called the remainder of the employees in the communications department into a meeting and said things have to change.
I'm told one of those fired immediately went outside and joined the Occupy Boston protesters that were outside the Boston Fed building.
Source
I'm not sure how many other branches this is going on at, but the Boston Federal Reserve branch fired big chunks of their communications department on Friday.
Top officials at the Boston Fed then called the remainder of the employees in the communications department into a meeting and said things have to change.
I'm told one of those fired immediately went outside and joined the Occupy Boston protesters that were outside the Boston Fed building.
Source
Banning Sugared Drinks In Schools Doesn't Lower Student Consumption
Banning sugared beverages from schools will limit children's access to calorie-laden sodas and sports drinks but will do little to lower their overall intake of the drinks, according to new research.
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The Coming Very Dangerous 3 Minute Takeover By Government Of All Radio And Television Broadcasts On Nov. 9
Big Brother is going to be taking a very big step this coming Wednesday.
Scott Lazarowitz explains what will go down:
If you think the power elite are having fun blocking out Ron Paul, now. Imagine what they will be blocking out when they decide to use this new takeover of all frequencies capability to block out all other communications. In other words, this isn't a test of a legitimate emergency system, this is a test of whether the ENTIRE BROADCAST SYSTEM can be taken over, radio and television, by the central government.
More
Scott Lazarowitz explains what will go down:
On Wednesday, November 9th at 2 PM Eastern, the Obama Administration will seize control over all radio and TV broadcast communications, to conduct a "test" of the Emergency Broadcast System. For the first time, however, there will be nothing any individual station can do to prevent it, and, unlike past tests which lasted for only roughly 30 seconds, this unusual test will last approximately 3½ minutes.The curious Glenn Beck raises some interesting points about this test, including the fact that it is being conducted in the middle of a week day, rather than, say, midnight on a Sunday and that the government in this test, as Lazarowitz also points out, is going to actually seize all frequencies and take over control of all television and radio frequencies for a full 3 minutes and 30 seconds, something they have never done before.
If you think the power elite are having fun blocking out Ron Paul, now. Imagine what they will be blocking out when they decide to use this new takeover of all frequencies capability to block out all other communications. In other words, this isn't a test of a legitimate emergency system, this is a test of whether the ENTIRE BROADCAST SYSTEM can be taken over, radio and television, by the central government.
More
Bill Clinton: Presidents Should Be Able To Serve Three Terms
President Bill Clinton says he thinks that in the future, presidents should be able to serve a third, non-consecutive term as president - though he emphasizes that he doesn't think that such a rule should apply to himself.
In an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," the former president, who was promoting his new book "Back to Work," said he thought he'd "always thought" a former two-term president should be able to run again after having taken some time off.
In an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," the former president, who was promoting his new book "Back to Work," said he thought he'd "always thought" a former two-term president should be able to run again after having taken some time off.
Dagsboro Woman Dies From Injuries Sustained In October 27th Crash
Location:
Vines Creek Road (SR26) at Holts Landing Road, Millville, DE
Date of Occurrence:
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 9:09 p.m.
Operators/Vehicles:
Operator 1: Joann L. Mcanallen-77 of Dagsboro, DE (Properly restrained/Deceased)
Vehicle 1: 2008 Saturn SC
Operator 2: Susan K. White-47 of Dagsboro, DE (Properly restrained/minor injuries/Treatment disposition and status unknown)
Vehicle 2: 2003 Chevrolet Impala
Resume
Millville-The Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating an October 27 crash that claimed the life of Joann L. Mcanallen-77 of Dagsboro.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the crash occurred on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at approximately 9:09 p.m. as Joann L. Mcanallen was operating a 2008 Saturn SC southbound on Holts Landing Road approaching a stop sign at the intersection of Vines Creek Road. Mcanallen failed to stop for the stop sign, traveling into the path of a 2003 Chevrolet Impala operated by Susan K. White, which was traveling westbound on Vines Creek Road. The vehicles collided within the intersection with Impala’s front striking the driver’s side of the Saturn.
Joann Mcanallen was transported to Beebe Hospital and then later transferred to Christiana Hospital Trauma Center and admitted. The Delaware State Police were notified that Mcanallen died at CCHS on Monday, November 7, 2011 at approximately 8:00 p.m. from injuries sustained in the crash.
Vines Creek Road (SR26) at Holts Landing Road, Millville, DE
Date of Occurrence:
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 9:09 p.m.
Operators/Vehicles:
Operator 1: Joann L. Mcanallen-77 of Dagsboro, DE (Properly restrained/Deceased)
Vehicle 1: 2008 Saturn SC
Operator 2: Susan K. White-47 of Dagsboro, DE (Properly restrained/minor injuries/Treatment disposition and status unknown)
Vehicle 2: 2003 Chevrolet Impala
Resume
Millville-The Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating an October 27 crash that claimed the life of Joann L. Mcanallen-77 of Dagsboro.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the crash occurred on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at approximately 9:09 p.m. as Joann L. Mcanallen was operating a 2008 Saturn SC southbound on Holts Landing Road approaching a stop sign at the intersection of Vines Creek Road. Mcanallen failed to stop for the stop sign, traveling into the path of a 2003 Chevrolet Impala operated by Susan K. White, which was traveling westbound on Vines Creek Road. The vehicles collided within the intersection with Impala’s front striking the driver’s side of the Saturn.
Joann Mcanallen was transported to Beebe Hospital and then later transferred to Christiana Hospital Trauma Center and admitted. The Delaware State Police were notified that Mcanallen died at CCHS on Monday, November 7, 2011 at approximately 8:00 p.m. from injuries sustained in the crash.
Asteroid 2005 YU55 Makes Closest Pass To Earth Today
Don't look now -- if you did you wouldn't see anything -- but the asteroid 2005 YU55 is expected to make its closest approach to Earth today at 6:28 p.m. ET.
It will still be far away -- about 201,700 miles from our little blue planet, which is a little less than 8,000 miles in diameter. That's closer than the moon's orbit (239,000 miles on average), but NASA says emphatically that the asteroid will miss us. It has been tracking it, like thousands of other so-called Near-Earth Objects, since it was first spotted six years ago, and its path is well known.
It will still be far away -- about 201,700 miles from our little blue planet, which is a little less than 8,000 miles in diameter. That's closer than the moon's orbit (239,000 miles on average), but NASA says emphatically that the asteroid will miss us. It has been tracking it, like thousands of other so-called Near-Earth Objects, since it was first spotted six years ago, and its path is well known.
Observations On Growing Older
~Your Kids are becoming you...and you don't like them...but your grandchildren are Perfect! ~Going Out is good.. Coming Home is better!
~You Forget names ... But it’s OK because other people forgot they Even knew you!!!
~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything .... Especially Golf. ~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore. ~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's Called "pre-sleep". ~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" Switch..
~You tend to use more 4 letter words ..... "what?"..."when?"... ??? ~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere. ~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~Everybody Whispers. ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet .... 2 of which you will never wear. ~~~But Old is good in some things: Old songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!
~You Forget names ... But it’s OK because other people forgot they Even knew you!!!
~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything .... Especially Golf. ~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore. ~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's Called "pre-sleep". ~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" Switch..
~You tend to use more 4 letter words ..... "what?"..."when?"... ??? ~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere. ~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
~What used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~Everybody Whispers. ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet .... 2 of which you will never wear. ~~~But Old is good in some things: Old songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!
Alaska Faces One Of Its Worst Storms Ever, Forecasters Say
Alaska is facing a life threatening winter storm with near hurricane force winds, more than a foot of snow and severe coastal flooding, the National Weather Service says.
"This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening storm which will be one of the worst on record over the Bering Sea and the west coast," NWS forecasters said in a bulletin Monday afternoon.
Salisbury Police Arrest 3 Men On Sexual Assault
On November 8, 2011 at approximately 6:15 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department received a call to respond to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center Emergency Room for the report of an assault.
Upon arrival the officer met with an adult female victim who advised that she had been sexually assaulted by three (3) males at a residence on E. Church Street. The victim advised that she and three (3) friends had entered an unoccupied dwelling on East Church Street the previous night and were inside of the residence when the suspects made entry. The suspects assaulted one of the victim’s male friends then forced the victim to relocate to an empty bedroom where she was sexually assaulted. The other two friends of the victim were able to escape from the residence prior to the assault. Salisbury detectives responded and were able to positively identify the suspects. The Maryland State Police Apprehension Team located two (2) of the suspects who were taken into custody, and Salisbury detectives located the third. The two (2) victims were treated and released from PRMC.
ARRESTED #1: Carl (nmn) Anderson, 26 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
ARRESTED #2: Mychal Edward Seeney, 28 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
ARRESTED #3: David Leonardus Braboy, 25 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES (All):
First degree assault
Second degree assault
First degree sexual assault
Perverted practice
Reckless endangerment
DISPOSITION: All released to Central Booking CC # 201100044043
Upon arrival the officer met with an adult female victim who advised that she had been sexually assaulted by three (3) males at a residence on E. Church Street. The victim advised that she and three (3) friends had entered an unoccupied dwelling on East Church Street the previous night and were inside of the residence when the suspects made entry. The suspects assaulted one of the victim’s male friends then forced the victim to relocate to an empty bedroom where she was sexually assaulted. The other two friends of the victim were able to escape from the residence prior to the assault. Salisbury detectives responded and were able to positively identify the suspects. The Maryland State Police Apprehension Team located two (2) of the suspects who were taken into custody, and Salisbury detectives located the third. The two (2) victims were treated and released from PRMC.
ARRESTED #1: Carl (nmn) Anderson, 26 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
ARRESTED #2: Mychal Edward Seeney, 28 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
ARRESTED #3: David Leonardus Braboy, 25 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES (All):
First degree assault
Second degree assault
First degree sexual assault
Perverted practice
Reckless endangerment
DISPOSITION: All released to Central Booking CC # 201100044043
White House Putting Vets Back To Work
The White House is launching a number of initiatives this week to get veterans back to work. It debuts the Veterans Job Bank, a list of job postings from companies looking to hire veterans. Vets can also download a Veteran Gold Card, which entitles them to enhanced services, including six months of personalized case management at more than 3,000 One-Stop Career Centers across the country. And the Labor Department has launched "'My Next Move for Veterans," a new online resource that matches military occupation codes and with civilian jobs needing the same qualifications. The site also include information about salaries, apprenticeships and other education and training programs.
Study: Millions Of Kids' Antibiotic Prescriptions Unneeded
Pediatricians write more than 10 million unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions—for conditions like the flu and asthma—every year, suggests a new study.
Those ailments, and others not caused by bacteria, don't respond to the drugs. But misuse of antibiotics contributes to drug resistance—so those same medications might not work in the future when they're really needed.
Those ailments, and others not caused by bacteria, don't respond to the drugs. But misuse of antibiotics contributes to drug resistance—so those same medications might not work in the future when they're really needed.
Donald Trump Wants Pennsylvania Avenue Post Office For Major Hotel
Donald Trump and Hilton hotels are duking it out over Washington, D.C.'s Old Post Office, according to the Associated Press. One of the most prominent buildings on Pennsylvania Avenue could become a luxury Waldorf Astoria hotel under a proposal from Hilton Worldwide. They want to transform the Old Post Office and its 315-foot clock tower into a luxury property with 245 rooms, four restaurants and high-end shops. More than six companies have made proposals, including Donald Trump's hotel business. The building dates back to 1899. It's located between the White House and the Capitol and is on the National Register of Historic Places. For years, it has housed a handful of government offices and a food court for tourists. The government deemed the building under-used and expects to select a redevelopment option by Nov. 17.
Tough Love: Toronto Zoo To Separate ‘Gay’ Penguin Couple
It’s a romance suited for the pages of a children’s book. (Oh wait, this sounds familiar.)
Buddy and Pedro are two male African penguins at the Toronto Zoo who seem to have a connection — a very special, loving connection — that has zookeepers wondering if their relationship is more than just a bromance.
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Buddy and Pedro are two male African penguins at the Toronto Zoo who seem to have a connection — a very special, loving connection — that has zookeepers wondering if their relationship is more than just a bromance.
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China In Denial
China is rejecting claims it failed to prevent a flood of counterfeit parts from being installed on U.S. weapons systems. The Senate Armed Services Committee says it found 1,800 cases involving more than 1 million counterfeit parts since 2009, and it claims that's just the tip of the iceberg. Committee investigators say China was identified five times more frequently than any other other country as a source of counterfeits. China says that it is committed to fighting fake products and followed all procedures correctly.
Mom Rescues Tot From Washing Machine
OKANOGAN, Wash. — A Washington state woman used a wrench to break the window of a running washing machine and rescue her 5-year-old daughter at a laundromat in Okanogan.
The girl either climbed in or was put in the washing machine Saturday night and it started running even though it had been marked "out of order," the Okanogan County sheriff's office said.
Mississippi Amendment On 'Personhood' Divides Christians
Columbus, Mississippi (CNN) -- In the Carpenter home, every meal begins with a prayer. Robin and his wife, Emily, are devout Christians. But they part ways with many other Christians over a measure that would expand the legal definition of human life.
Their son, Luke, now 4 years old, was born through in vitro fertilization.
The anti-abortion amendment being voted on this week in the state could restrict in vitro procedures, and the Carpenters are worried that if they wait too long to add to their family, they may end up breaking the law.
Their son, Luke, now 4 years old, was born through in vitro fertilization.
The anti-abortion amendment being voted on this week in the state could restrict in vitro procedures, and the Carpenters are worried that if they wait too long to add to their family, they may end up breaking the law.
Nearly 29% Of Mortgaged Homes Underwater, report finds
A whopping 28.6 percent of homeowners with mortgages owe more on their loans than their homes could sell for, according to quarterly data released Tuesday by Zillow, a real estate website. That's up from 26.8 percent in the second quarter. Home values declined only 0.2 percent from the second quarter but were down 4.4 percent year over year.
The rising percentage of homes with "negative equity" or "underwater" status is due largely to how long the foreclosure sale process takes rather than home value fluctuations, said Zillow chief economist Stan Humphries. Prior to the "robo-signing" scandal around foreclosures that came to light in 2010, the negative equity rate hovered in the 21 to 23 percent range, but has been in the 26 to 28 range since due to added delays in foreclosure sales. While the rate of foreclosures is dropping, the time required for foreclosures to sell has lengthened.
"We're in uncharted waters," Humphries said in an interview. "More than one in four homes underwater and about 9 percent unemployment is a recipe for more foreclosures."
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The rising percentage of homes with "negative equity" or "underwater" status is due largely to how long the foreclosure sale process takes rather than home value fluctuations, said Zillow chief economist Stan Humphries. Prior to the "robo-signing" scandal around foreclosures that came to light in 2010, the negative equity rate hovered in the 21 to 23 percent range, but has been in the 26 to 28 range since due to added delays in foreclosure sales. While the rate of foreclosures is dropping, the time required for foreclosures to sell has lengthened.
"We're in uncharted waters," Humphries said in an interview. "More than one in four homes underwater and about 9 percent unemployment is a recipe for more foreclosures."
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BREAKING NEWS
Italy's Berlusconi reportedly says he will resign after parliament OKs economic reforms
Crash Closes Eastbound Span Of Bay Bridge
A crash involving two vehicles temporarily closed the eastbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tuesday morning.
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Reefer Madness: The Feds Seem Intent on Destroying Medical Pot
This year, federal authorities have done almost everything in their power to undermine state regulation of medical marijuana. It is time Obama implement his original policy.
Marijuana is now legal under state law for medical purposes in 16 states and the District of Columbia, encompassing nearly one-third of the American population. More than 1,000 dispensaries provide medical marijuana; many are well regulated by state and local law and pay substantial taxes. But though more than 70 percent of Americans support legalizing medical marijuana, any use of marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
White House: No Evidence Of Extraterrestrials
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sorry, E.T. lovers — the White House says it has no evidence that extraterrestrials exist.
The White House made the unusual declaration in response to a feature on its website that allows people to submit petitions that administration officials must respond to if enough people sign on.
In this case, more than 5,000 people signed a petition demanding that the White House disclose the government's knowledge of extraterrestrial beings, and more than 12,000 signed another petition seeking formal acknowledgement of an extraterrestrial presence engaging the human race.
In response, Phil Larson of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wrote that the U.S. government has no evidence that life exists outside Earth, or that an extraterrestrial presence has contacted any member of the human race.
"In addition, there is no credible information to suggest that any evidence is being hidden from the public's eye," Larson wrote.
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The White House made the unusual declaration in response to a feature on its website that allows people to submit petitions that administration officials must respond to if enough people sign on.
In this case, more than 5,000 people signed a petition demanding that the White House disclose the government's knowledge of extraterrestrial beings, and more than 12,000 signed another petition seeking formal acknowledgement of an extraterrestrial presence engaging the human race.
In response, Phil Larson of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wrote that the U.S. government has no evidence that life exists outside Earth, or that an extraterrestrial presence has contacted any member of the human race.
"In addition, there is no credible information to suggest that any evidence is being hidden from the public's eye," Larson wrote.
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Public Strip Search Costs Ex-Oakland Cop $40K
A former Oakland police officer must pay $40,000 out of his own pocket to two men who were illegally strip-searched in public and have already been awarded at least $100,000 apiece in damages.
Spencer Troy Lucas and Kirby Bradshaw had their pants pulled down on a busy West Oakland street in 2005 by police after then-Officer Ingo Mayer stopped them for no lawful reason, U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel wrote in an August ruling after a bench trial.
MoreBREAKING NEWS: Iran Conducting Experiments 'Specific To Nuclear Weapons'
U.N.'s nuclear watchdog reports Iran is conducting secret experiments whose sole purpose can only be the development of nuclear weapons.
From Fox News
From Fox News
Senators Call For Probe Into Veteran-Owned Contracting
Three senators are calling for a Government Accountability Office investigation to ensure federal contracts are actually going to businesses owned by veterans and service-disabled vets. In fiscal year 2010, the Veterans Affairs inspector general's office found as many as 1,400 contracts awarded to ineligible businesses.
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White House: No, Jimmy, There's No Such Thing As UFOs
WASHINGTON -- Sorry, E.T. lovers -- the White House says it has no evidence that extraterrestrials exist.
The White House made the unusual declaration in response to a feature on its website that allows people to submit petitions that administration officials must respond to if enough people sign on.
In this case, more than 5,000 people signed a petition demanding that the White House disclose the government's knowledge of extraterrestrial beings, and more than 12,000 signed another petition seeking formal acknowledgement of an extraterrestrial presence engaging the human race.
More
In this case, more than 5,000 people signed a petition demanding that the White House disclose the government's knowledge of extraterrestrial beings, and more than 12,000 signed another petition seeking formal acknowledgement of an extraterrestrial presence engaging the human race.
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Jack Abramoff Explains How He "Owned" Members Of Congress And Their Staff
Yesterday, CBS News’ 60 Minutes aired a segment with infamous lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff, released from prison and promoting a new book, expressed remorse for his role in buying and selling public policy. During his interview with Lesley Stahl, Abramoff talked about how he used gifts, campaign contributions, and other legal and illegal bribes to influence members of Congress.
In a simple explanation of how the revolving door works, Abramoff said he would use promises of jobs on K Street to lure Capitol Hill staffers into his pocket. He would let a chief of staff know that he was interested in hiring him or her. The promise of a high paying job — Abramoff made $20 million a year at one point — would entice the staffer to give Abramoff control over the congressional office. In Abramoff’s words, at that point he “owned them”:
GO HERE to watch video and more.ABRAMOFF: When we would become friendly with an office and they were important to us, and the chief of staff was a competent person, I would say or my staff would say to him or her at some point, “You know, when you’re done working on the Hill, we’d very much like you to consider coming to work for us.” Now the moment I said that to them or any of our staff said that to ‘em, that was it. We owned them. And what does that mean? Every request from our office, every request of our clients, everything that we want, they’re gonna do. And not only that, they’re gonna think of things we can’t think of to do.
20 Kids And Counting! Michelle Duggar Announces She's Pregnant Again
Michelle Duggar and her husband Jim Bob are expecting their 20th child, the couple revealed exclusively to TODAY.
"We are so excited," Michelle Duggar told TODAY Moms before the broadcast. Now three and a half months pregnant, the mom of 19 says she was actually surprised to discover that she's expecting again at 45. "I was not thinking that God would give us another one, and we are just so grateful."
Make Your Own Soy Milk At Home
Habitual drinkers of soy milk can save money and have fun getting to know what they're ingesting on a more granular level by learning to make their soy milk themselves. It's pretty easy, and besides soaking the beans, only takes a few minutes.
More »
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Nearly 29% Of Mortgaged Homes Underwater, Report Finds
A whopping 28.6 percent of homeowners with mortgages owe more on their loans than their homes could sell for, according to quarterly data released Tuesday by Zillow, a real estate website. That's up from 26.8 percent in the second quarter. Home values declined only 0.2 percent from the second quarter but were down 4.4 percent year over year.
Downtown Revitalizing Without The City's Help
I too have been spending a ton of money on my own building, all of which I am very excited about. So every one knows, I have NOT received a reply from the City stating whether or not they will support me in an attempt to revitalize Downtown Salisbury. If you'll recall, I asked the Mayor and Council, (since Urban Salisbury is no longer) if they would be supportive and there's not been any reply.
Don't you worry. Anyone who is invested in the Downtown Plaza will be the recipients of a major boom down the road. Buy now before the prices start to skyrocket.
BREAKING NEWS: Court Upholds Obama Health Care Law
Federal appeals court upholds lower court ruling that dismissed a challenge to minimum coverage provisions in President Obama’s health care law.
From Fox News
From Fox News
Businesses In Salisbury Dropping Like Dead Flies, Despite What WBOC Claims
After we published yesterday's story about two other businesses that have closed their doors, commenters started complaining we weren't publishing all of the new businesses that have opened in their place. Again, we ask, (especially those commenters from yesterday) to step up to the plate and educate us on those new businesses we aren't aware of.
I personally can't believe the majority of people out there do not believe the economy is playing a huge role in the downfall of the American Dream. 30% of all mortgages are in debunk, unemployment is through the roof, jobs are almost impossible to find, especially want ads in the local paper. I just cannot see where the alleged responsible main stream media who have to live to "higher standards" can make such claims.
Oh well, we'll just deliver the evidence that it isn't true and let you decide.
Taking Executive Orders Too Far
These are frustrating times for the President. Having been swept into office with a seemingly strong mandate, he enjoyed a Congress controlled by members of his own party for the first two years of his term. However, midterm elections brought gridlock and a close division of power between the two parties. With a crucial re-election campaign coming up, there is desperation in the president's desire to "do something" in spite of his severely weakened mandate.
Getting something done is proving to be a monumental task. This may be news to the supposed constitutional scholar who is now our president, but if the political process seems inconvenient to the implementation of his agenda, that is not a flaw in the system. It was designed that way. The drafters of the Constitution intended the default action of government to be inaction. Hopefully, this means actions taken by the government are necessary and proper. If federal laws or executive actions can't be agreed upon constitutionally- which is to say legally- such laws or actions should be rejected.
The vision of the founders was to set up a government that would remain small and unobtrusive via a system of checks and balances. That it has taken our government so long to get this big speaks well of the original design. The founders also knew the overwhelming nature of governments was to amass power and grow. The Constitution was to serve as the brakes on the freight train of government.
But the Obama administration, like so many administrations in the 20th century, chooses to ignore the Constitution entirely. The increasingly broad use and scope of the Executive Orders is a prime example. Executive Orders are meant to be a way for the president to direct executive agencies on the implementation of congressionally approved legislation. It has become increasingly common for them to be misused in ways that are contradictory to congressional intent, or to bypass Congress altogether in enacting political agendas.
The current administration has unabashedly stated that Congress's unwillingness to pass the president's jobs bill means that the president will act unilaterally to enact provisions of it piecemeal through Executive Order. Obama explicitly threatens to bypass Congress, thus aggregating the power to make and enforce laws in the executive. This clearly erodes the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances. It brings the modern presidency dangerously close to an elective dictatorship.
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Getting something done is proving to be a monumental task. This may be news to the supposed constitutional scholar who is now our president, but if the political process seems inconvenient to the implementation of his agenda, that is not a flaw in the system. It was designed that way. The drafters of the Constitution intended the default action of government to be inaction. Hopefully, this means actions taken by the government are necessary and proper. If federal laws or executive actions can't be agreed upon constitutionally- which is to say legally- such laws or actions should be rejected.
The vision of the founders was to set up a government that would remain small and unobtrusive via a system of checks and balances. That it has taken our government so long to get this big speaks well of the original design. The founders also knew the overwhelming nature of governments was to amass power and grow. The Constitution was to serve as the brakes on the freight train of government.
But the Obama administration, like so many administrations in the 20th century, chooses to ignore the Constitution entirely. The increasingly broad use and scope of the Executive Orders is a prime example. Executive Orders are meant to be a way for the president to direct executive agencies on the implementation of congressionally approved legislation. It has become increasingly common for them to be misused in ways that are contradictory to congressional intent, or to bypass Congress altogether in enacting political agendas.
The current administration has unabashedly stated that Congress's unwillingness to pass the president's jobs bill means that the president will act unilaterally to enact provisions of it piecemeal through Executive Order. Obama explicitly threatens to bypass Congress, thus aggregating the power to make and enforce laws in the executive. This clearly erodes the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances. It brings the modern presidency dangerously close to an elective dictatorship.
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RITHOLTZ WITH THE BIG TRUTH
What caused the financial crisis? The Big Lie goes viral.
By Barry Ritholtz, Published: November 5
I have a fairly simple approach to investing: Start with data and objective evidence to determine the dominant elements driving the market action right now. Figure out what objective reality is beneath all of the noise. Use that information to try to make intelligent investing decisions.But then, I’m an investor focused on preserving capital and managing risk. I’m not out to win the next election or drive the debate. For those who are, facts and data matter much less than a narrative that supports their interests.
One group has been especially vocal about shaping a new narrative of the credit crisis and economic collapse: those whose bad judgment and failed philosophy helped cause the crisis.
Rather than admit the error of their ways — Repent! — these people are engaged in an active campaign to rewrite history. They are not, of course, exonerated in doing so. And beyond that, they damage the process of repairing what was broken. They muddy the waters when it comes to holding guilty parties responsible. They prevent measures from being put into place to prevent another crisis.
Here is the surprising takeaway: They are winning. Thanks to the endless repetition of the Big Lie.
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Have The New A/C Units Arrived At The GOB?
My Ride Into Work This Morning 11-8-11
Conrad Murray Placed On Suicide Watch Hours After Michael Jackson Conviction
(CBS/KCAL) LOS ANGELES - Hours after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, Dr. Conrad Murray was placed on suicide watch as he sat in his jail cell Monday night, CBS station KCAL reports.
Occupy Wall Street's William Black: Building A Bigger Regulatory State ... Again
Systematically Ignoring Fraud as a Systemic Risk ... One of the most revealing things about this crisis is the unwillingness to investigate whether "accounting control fraud" was a major contributor to the crisis. The refusal to even consider a major role for fraud is facially bizarre ... Two of the nation's top economists' study of the S&L debacle led them to conclude that the S&L regulators were correct – financial deregulation could be dangerously criminogenic. That understanding would allow us to avoid similar future crises. Neither the public nor economists foresaw that [S&L deregulation was] bound to produce looting. – William K. Black, OWSnews.org
Dominant Social Theme: Fraud is endemic and I, William Black, with the help of Occupy Wall Street will root it out in order to perfect the greater American state. Once lawyers, prosecutors and the police are fully in charge, we will finally have prosperity and peace.
Free-Market Analysis: Attorney William Black, about whom we have written previously, is back with an article posted at OWSnews.org, the new website for the Occupy Wall Street movement, which has not-so-mysteriously sprung up as a billboard for various OWS news and views (see above excerpt).
In the article, Black basically repeats his call for massive investigations into Wall Street fraud. In doing so, he AGAIN cites America's very own STASI, (the FBI) approvingly. He is also, apparently, a big fan of the US penitentiary-industrial complex, with its expanding gulag of virtual slave laborers.
Ironically Black's dislike of "deregulation" does not extend to the regulatory state's "privatization" of its ever-expanding gulag of slave-laborers; here, he remains silent.
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Dominant Social Theme: Fraud is endemic and I, William Black, with the help of Occupy Wall Street will root it out in order to perfect the greater American state. Once lawyers, prosecutors and the police are fully in charge, we will finally have prosperity and peace.
Free-Market Analysis: Attorney William Black, about whom we have written previously, is back with an article posted at OWSnews.org, the new website for the Occupy Wall Street movement, which has not-so-mysteriously sprung up as a billboard for various OWS news and views (see above excerpt).
In the article, Black basically repeats his call for massive investigations into Wall Street fraud. In doing so, he AGAIN cites America's very own STASI, (the FBI) approvingly. He is also, apparently, a big fan of the US penitentiary-industrial complex, with its expanding gulag of virtual slave laborers.
Ironically Black's dislike of "deregulation" does not extend to the regulatory state's "privatization" of its ever-expanding gulag of slave-laborers; here, he remains silent.
More
Nation's Newest National Historic Park In NJ
PATERSON, N.J. (AP) - A majestic 77-foot waterfall in the heart of a working-class New Jersey city that inspired generations of newcomers to America, fueled the Industrial Revolution and was featured in everything from a William Carlos Williams poem to an episode of "The Sopranos," became the nation's newest national park Monday.
The Great Falls in downtown Paterson was given the national park designation in a ceremony attended by New Jersey officials, local schoolchildren, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the head of the National Park Service.
Paterson, the third-largest city in New Jersey, was once a booming beacon of industry and later fell on hard times. The waterfall, framed Monday by a ring of blazing foliage, is second only to Niagara Falls in water volume east of the Mississippi River. More than 2 billion gallons of water a day pass over its summit to the swirling Passaic River below.
Considered the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, the Great Falls once generated power that ran mills producing silk _ Paterson is still known as `Silk City' _ locomotives, aircraft engines and guns.
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The Great Falls in downtown Paterson was given the national park designation in a ceremony attended by New Jersey officials, local schoolchildren, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the head of the National Park Service.
Paterson, the third-largest city in New Jersey, was once a booming beacon of industry and later fell on hard times. The waterfall, framed Monday by a ring of blazing foliage, is second only to Niagara Falls in water volume east of the Mississippi River. More than 2 billion gallons of water a day pass over its summit to the swirling Passaic River below.
Considered the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, the Great Falls once generated power that ran mills producing silk _ Paterson is still known as `Silk City' _ locomotives, aircraft engines and guns.
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One Year Ago Today
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Feds To Test Nationwide Alert Wednesday
The federal government will take over your TV and radio on Wednesday for a 30-second test of a system designed to inform the nation of major emergencies.
The test, initially scheduled to last for three-and-a-half minutes, will interrupt television, radio and satellite radio shows at 2 p.m. EST. State and local tests have taken place for years, but this will be the first nationwide, comprehensive test of the National Emergency Alert System. The system was designed to be activated on the President's orders in the event of a national emergency.
"The test is being conducted (by the federal agencies) as part of their ongoing efforts to keep the nation safe during emergencies and strengthen our resilience against all hazards," said a press release from FEMA, which is conducting the test jointly with the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
