Salisbury News: 11/09/11

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Scientists: Rain Cause Of Oyster Deaths

Irene, Lee not to blame for shellfish die-off

State biologists said a major oyster die-off in the Chesapeake Bay was likely caused by record fresh water during spring and summer storms - not by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, as some had believed.

In two areas of the Chesapeake north of the Bay Bridge, biologists found 79 percent and 74 percent of the oysters dead. On two bars, they found not a single live oyster.

The few oysters that were alive were "bloated, watery and translucent," according to the Department of Natural Resources. Those oysters may not live much longer.

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John Lennon's Tooth Sells For More Than $31,000 At Auction

(CNN) -- The tooth fairy's trash became another man's treasure Saturday when a discolored molar that once belonged to John Lennon was put up for auction.
The winning bid came in at 19,500 pounds (U.S. $31,200), according to auction results posted online.

"Booty Cam" Presents Firm Evidence That Your Butt Looks Big

Coming soon to your changing room is a device dubbed the "Booty Cam," a closed circuit electronic eye that's strategically set up to give you a live feed of your butt. Developed by the founder of American Rag jeans company, the device is already inside upscale Industrie Denim stores in San Francisco and Scottsdale, with more locations expected to open next year.

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Cutting Back Salt May Be Worse For Heart Health: Study

(CBS) Cutting back on salt might not be all it's cracked up to be for heart health. A new study suggests reducing dietary salt intake may actually raise several risk factors for heart disease.

"I can't really see, if you look at the total evidence, that there is any reason to believe there is a net benefit of decreasing sodium intake in the general population," study author Dr. Niels Graudal, a senior consultant at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, told Reuters.

New Wave Of Mortgage Defaults On Horizon

Some of the crappiest mortgages ever made were issued in 2006, and right now those 5-year introductory teaser periods are expiring. That's leading to a 300% increase in monthly payments for already strapped borrowers, and it's what's driving the first increase in delinquent mortgages since 2009, a banking expert tells Credit.com.

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2 SWFL Men Jailed In Mexico With $950K In Cash

LEE COUNTY, FL -Two Southwest Florida men are in jail in Mexico after attempting to leave Mexico by plane after selling a boat for $950,000 cash. Mexican authorities say there is more to the situation than the sale of a boat.

Investigators in Mexico say it all began with the sale of a boat. A boat officials say isn't worth the $950,000 the two American men sold it for.

How A Professional Financial Planner Lost His House

I've always been fascinated by the old expression, "The Cobbler's children have no shoes." It refers to a person who is so concentrated on using their specific skill set to take care of others' needs that they ignore their own. Carl Richards is a professional financial planner, a guy who people paid to manage their money. He shares how while in the middle of telling people what to do with their cash, he ended up buying way more house than he could afford and ended it up losing it all. It may be a long time before he and his wife can be homeowners again.

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Doctors Back Euthanasia In Severe Dementia Case

A 64-year-old woman suffering from severe senile dementia has become the first person in the Netherlands to be given euthanasia even though she could no longer express her wish to die, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday.

Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands under strict conditions. For example, the patient must be suffering unbearable pain and the doctor must be convinced the patient is making an informed choice.

Senators Introduce Bill To Compel Amazon & Others To Collect Sales Tax

As has been discussed here on numerous occasions, even though Amazon.com didn't charge you sales tax on that laptop you purchased, you still may owe it (though very few people ever pay). Thus, once again, a bipartisan group of Senators in D.C. have introduced legislation that would require online retailers to collect sales tax.

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City Could Face Legal Action Over Occupy Delaware

DOVER, Del. (AP) -- A Wilmington lawyer is threatening to take the city to court if it does not end what he believes are unconstitutional restrictions on Occupy Delaware participants.

Attorney Thomas Neuberger emailed a cease-and-desist letter to city officials Wednesday demanding that they allow Occupy Delaware participants to assemble and stay overnight at a downtown plaza without using permit requirements as an excuse to prohibit protected activities.

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NATION OF FOOD BATCH MAKERS

We’ve lost 5.5 million manufacturing jobs since 2000. These were high paying middle class jobs.

These jobs are still being done. They are being done in China, India, Vietnam, Mexico, and hundreds of other countries around the globe. Manufacturing has been in relative decline both in the United States and in many other developed nations for years. Its contribution to America’s gross domestic product has decreased from about 25 percent in 1947 to 11 percent in 2009.
American manufacturing employment peaked at 19.6 million in 1979 and has generally been falling ever since.

This has happened due to our trade policies, unions pricing their workers out of competitiveness, decline in vocational programs for training workers, foreigners using currency manipulation to steal our jobs, greedy mega corporations seeking short term profits over long-term sustainablity, and delusional Americans believing that buying cheap shit on credit was the path to wealth.

The end result is that the fastest growing job in America over the last ten years has been FOOD BATCH MAKERS, also known as the guys putting the pickles on Quarter Pounders with Cheese at McDonalds.

At least they can’t outsource that job to India. We’ve got that goin for us.

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Eddie Murphy Out As Oscars Host

Eddie Murphy has withdrawn as host of the Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said in a statement Wednesday.

The decision had been predicted by movie industry observers, as Murphy is friends and creative partners with Brett Ratner, who stepped aside less than a day ago as producer of the show. Ratner left the position after he was heavily criticized for using a gay slur during a question-and-answer session for his new film, "Tower Heist," in which Murphy stars. He was also criticized for sexual and other statements he made about women on "The Howard Stern Show."

"I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well," said Tom Sherak, president of the Academy.

EPJ has learned that '60 Minutes' will air a segment this Sunday reporting on conflicts of interest in Nancy Pelosi stock trades.

Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, purchased between $1 and $5 million in Visa stock while Pelosi was considering legislation that would have a major impact on Visa.

During a press conference Steve Kroft from '60 Minutes' questioned Pelosi as to why she didn't bring legislation affecting credit-card swipe fees to the floor of the House for a vote late in 2008.

Kroft also questioned some of the investments made by John Boehner, but it appears the main focus of the segment will be on Pelosi.

Source

Western Maryland Farmers: 'We're Out Of Turkeys'

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) - Some small farms in western Maryland say they have sold out of turkeys, weeks ahead of Thanksgiving.

Cathy Horst, co-owner of Jehovah-Jireh farm in Dickerson, tells The Frederick News-Post that the farm begins taking orders when it announces their turkeys on their website in March or April. Horst says the farm sold out two months ago and plans to slaughter more turkeys during the Thanksgiving week.
Organic farmer Carol Rollman, owner of Sycamore Spring Farm in Frederick, says she has one home-grown turkey left. Rollman says she gets more calls every year from people wanting local turkeys.

CHRISTMAS TREE PROMOTION BOARD

Jim DeMint with another example of why this country is doomed. Government will never willingly downsize itself. It is like a parasite that must keep growing to survive.

Crony Capitalism, Christmas Trees, and the Stupidest Tax of All Time

Mr. Grinch, Mr. Scrooge, meet Mr. Obama.No, it’s not a joke. President Obama really is imposing a special new tax on Christmas trees.

And while the policy seems a ludicrous political misstep – and possibly an unconstitutional one at that – in truth, the Obama Christmas Tree Tax is much worse than that.

The $2 million the Obama Administration expects the tax to raise will not reduce the deficit or cover needed government services. Instead, it will serve as a marketing slush fund for the Christmas tree industry.

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Solyndra Emails Claim Biden Team 'About Had An Orgasm' About Energy Loans To Firm

A series of emails provided to the House Energy and Commerce Committee from individuals tied to Solyndra offer striking characterizations about running strategy with the White House to secure assistance for the now-bankrupt solar energy firm.

Emails among George Kaiser, head of the George Kaiser Family Foundation; Ken Levit, the executive director of the Foundation; and Steve Mitchell, who manages Argonaut Private Equity and was a member of Solyndra's board; show that Vice President Joe Biden's office were very gung-ho.

The Problem's Not A Quadrillion Dollars In Sour Derivatives ... It's Italian Tax Evasion!

Tax evasion is a national pastime afflicting southern Europe ... "Wherever the olive tree grows, you won't find much tax being collected," the mayor of a small town in southern Spain told me a few years ago. He shrugged; such was life. He probably had no idea that some high-powered academics were about to come up with the same conclusion. When they analyzed Europe's "shadow economies" – defined as areas that fall beyond the reach of the taxman – those of Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal were much larger (relatively) than those in northern Europe. That is partly because of the higher number of self-employed and family businesses, which tend to deal in cash and pay little tax. But to many economic commentators, tax evasion is also a national pastime in much of southern Europe, and a significant factor in the region's burgeoning financial crisis. – CNN

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Fatherhood Helps Men Cut Back on Drinking, Smoking And Crime

It's not news that becoming a parent changes everything. But a new study suggests that fatherhood's transformative power is responsible for new dads' decreased rates of tobacco and alcohol use and crime.

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U. N. To Move HQ. Out Of New York In 2013

Last week the United Nations announced plans for an expansion of its New York headquarters that would double its presence within the city while costing American citizens billions of dollars. As our next President, I will put the U.S. Constitution and the American people first while supporting our participation within the United Nations second. Therefore, I will stop this diplomatic expansion within our borders and support Dubai’s offer to be the host country for the headquarters of the United Nations.

Thomas J. Miller

Declared Rep. Presidential Candidate 2012

http://www.millerforpresident.com/

BREAKING NEWS: Feds To Probe Penn State Over Sex Abuse Scandal

U.S. Education Department will investigate whether Penn State violated federal law in handling of sex abuse allegations against a former assistant football coach.From Fox News

Turning Brown Eyes Blue: Why The Idea Feels Off-Color

A California company is touting a new laser procedure that purports to turn brown eyes blue. Even though the technology won't be available in the U.S. for at least three years, the story is still causing a stir. For many, the idea of permanently re-draping the windows to the soul is awfully unsettling.

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GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES “MARYLAND: STRONGER TOGETHER” CAMPAIGN

Campaign encourages all Marylanders to volunteer in their communities and give back during the Holiday Season

BALTIMORE, MD (November 9, 2011) – Governor Martin O'Malley today, joined by children at The Ark Preschool in Baltimore and officials from CareFirst, officially launched the “Maryland: Stronger Together” campaign to encourage all Marylanders to give back and volunteer during the Holiday Season. The Ark is a preschool for homeless children in Baltimore City, and serves children between the ages of three and five years old to help them develop the skills they need for kindergarten.

“In Maryland, we are a compassionate, generous people, and we share the belief that one person can make a difference and all of us must try,” said Governor O’Malley. “It is our hope that as we gather with our loved ones during this Holiday Season, we will also share what we can – whether food, money, or time – with those who are less fortunate. That’s why we are launching the Maryland: Stronger Together campaign to help our neighbors in need.”

The campaign will connect Marylanders with various opportunities to serve in their communities.

As part of “Maryland: Stronger Together,” Governor O’Malley today also unveiled a new interactive map that allows citizens to enter their home or work address to find service opportunities in their communities. Through social media, Marylanders will be able to share their stories about volunteering using Twitter hashtag #MDTogether, display an official Maryland: Stronger Together Basno Digital Badge on their social media accounts, and post photos, videos and stories on the “Maryland: Stronger Together” Facebook page.

“The Maryland: Stronger Together campaign is an important new initiative to help Marylanders get involved in their communities,” said Barbara Reynolds, director of the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism. “We know that our citizens are generous and caring; with over 1.3 million Marylanders volunteering each year to drive veterans to medical appointments, plant trees along the Chesapeake Bay, tutor youth, deliver meals to seniors, and more. With this new campaign, the Governor is creating a unique centralized and accessible tool to help even more citizens make a difference in their communities.”

The Administration is also partnering with CareFirst to introduce the “Compassionate Marylander” award to choose Marylanders from across the state who exhibit dedication to service and have made outstanding contributions to their communities. From November 10^th to December 30^th, citizens are asked to nominate the state’s most “Compassionate Marylanders” by submitting an essay on their nominee’s service efforts. Marylanders will be able to help select the 10 finalists by voting for their favorite story online here . A review committee compiled of members from the Governor’s Office and CareFirst will choose five winners to be announced in January from the top 10 finalists. CareFirst will donate $5,000 in each winner’s name to the charity of their choice.

“Very often, stories of exceptional service, selflessness, and kindness go untold,” said CareFirst Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Community Affairs Maria Harris Tildon. “CareFirst is proud to partner with the Governor’s Office and support the Compassionate Marylander awards program. Through this initiative, we will spotlight Marylanders who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service to others and are examples we can all follow to forge lasting improvements in our communities.”

The Governor also encouraged all state employees to volunteer in their communities. Employees will have four hours of leave time to participate in a service event during November and December. Employees must complete an “Employee Community Service” leave form. After the service is performed, the volunteer coordinator at the organization must sign the form to confirm the service was completed.

Throughout November and December, the Governor, First Lady, Lt. Governor and staff will be participating in service events to help Marylanders in need.

Save Easton's Mail Processing Plant

Tomorrow - Thursday, November 10, 2011

7 pm at Chesapeake College (Todd Performing Arts Center Building)

The Postal Service has scheduled a public hearing tomorrow evening to discuss the proposed closing of the Eastern Shore Mail Processing Plant in Easton, MD. This will have an impact on Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset Counties. If you are interested in attending, please call 410-524-8059.

Calif. Marine Beaten To Death At Camp Pendleton

Authorities in California have determined that a Marine who was found dead in his Camp Pendleton barracks was beaten to death by another Marine.

The North County Times ( http://bit.ly/us5awj ) says investigators determined that 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Mario Arias Jr. was attacked at the San Diego County base over the weekend.

Criminal Press Release

DATE & TIME: 11/08/2010 at 1400 hours
C C. NUMBER: 11-54-007814
LOCATION: Dead end of Ed Taylor Drive, Salisbury, Md

BRIEF RESUME:
On the above date and time, a Trooper from the Salisbury Barrack was on patrol in the area of Ed Taylor Drive at the dead end, Salisbury Wicomico County a road known to be frequented by prostitutes and controlled dangerous substances abusers. At that location the Trooper observed a vehicle pulled into a wood line and it appeared to be un-occupied. The Trooper approached the vehicle on foot and observed a partially nude person wearing female under garments lying on his back on the back seat. The suspect was later identified as a male by his Maryland I.D. card. as Thomas E. Bowen III). The Trooper also observed suspected crack cocaine and crack cocaine paraphernalia in plain view within the vehicle. The vehicle was searched and a quantity of crack cocaine was recovered from the vehicle along with other paraphernalia.

Upon arrival at the barrack additional paraphernalia was located secreted inside of Bowen’s under garments. Bowen was arrested and transported to the Wicomico County Detention Center where he was held on $10,000.00 bond after a hearing before a District Court Commissioner.

Arrested:
1. Thomas E. Bowen III age 29 of Mardela Springs, Md.
Bowen was charged with possession of cds Crack Cocaine and possession of cds paraphernalia.

Lewis Fined For Hit On Ward

OWINGS MILLS -- Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis says he was fined by the NFL for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward in Sunday night's game.
Lewis hit Hines in the second quarter of Baltimore's 23-20 win. Ward was dazed by the collision and helped off the field. He did not return.
Lewis said Wednesday he was informed by the NFL that he would be fined for the hit. He would not disclose the amount of the fine.

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QUOTES OF THE DAY 11-9-11

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
― Mark Twain

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it–always.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
― Aldous Huxley, Complete Essays 2, 1926-29

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
― Socrates

“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― George Orwell

“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”
― Flannery O’Connor

“Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.”
― C.S. Lewis

Talking to Your Kids About Same-Sex Relationships

It’s become readily apparent that my children are growing up faster than I can grab a handbook and immediately tackle any given parenting situation. Recently my 7-year-old has been actively inquiring about same-sex marriage as she has heard snippets on the news about legislation and equality.

Using that as a jumping off point (as well as the casual usage, albeit out of context, of the word "gay" by my un-knowing son) I started to wonder how I could/should react if either one of my kids came home and wanted to have a sit-down about homosexuality.

Email From Andy Harris On 1% Tax On Bank Deposits

November 8, 2011

Thank you for contacting me in opposition of H.R. 1125, the Debt Free America Act. I share your opposition to government imposed financial fees which, in reality, are merely a form of increased taxation.

As you may know, H.R. 1125 was introduced on February 23, 2010 and referred to the Committees on Ways and Means, Budget, Rules, and Appropriations. The Debt Free America Act would impose a 1% fee on all transactions including check, cash, credit card, and transfer of stocks, bonds, or other financial instruments. During this time when American families and individuals are struggling to make ends meet, imposing this type of fee would be harmful to the economy and an undue burden on our citizens. Fortunately, this bill was not acted upon in the previous Congress (H.R. 4646, 11th Congress) and I do not expect it to garner much support in this term. I will continue to fight for lower taxes and less government intrusion in our free market economy.

Please know that I will keep your views in mind as I go forward and feel free to contact me on any issue of importance to you or your family in the future.

Sincerely,

Andy Harris, M.D.
Member of Congress

Obama to Issue Order Cutting Down On Promotional Goodies

President Barack Obama is coming out against swag.
That's swag, as in the coffee mugs, pens, T-shirts and other public relations articles that federal government agencies purchase with taxpayer money to promote their work.

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Democrats And Republicans Not Even Close To Settling Deficit Reduction Differences

Democrats and Republicans on the special deficit reduction committee appear no closer to resolving their differences, the Associate Press reported. This came after yesterday's Republican proposal to allow some tax increases. The proposal was quickly dismissed by Democratic members. The GOP plan would have cut tax rates but ended some deductions, including mortgage interest. Democrats say it would have raised middle class taxes but lowered rates for the wealthy. The committee has until just before Thanksgiving to agree on a plan to present to the rest of Congress.

Salisbury City Council President Cohen Responds To Press Release Regarding Wal-Mart Security Request

Earlier today, Mayor Jim Ireton issued a press release with several misleading statements regarding a request to the City to provide Salisbury police officers in uniform for Black Friday security at Wal-Mart.

The Salisbury City Council did not reject any deal to provide this service at Wal-Mart North, nor did I give a deadline for noon today for Wal-Mart to produce a signed memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Council was making every effort to accommodate this late-in-the-game request, right up until it was informed this morning that someone at Wal-Mart had decided to go with the Sheriff’s Department. Those efforts included adding the discussion as an emergency item to the Monday work session, even though the Council had no written or verbal confirmation at that point that Wal-Mart was willing to enter into a legal agreement with the City.

The goal was to have an MOU with Wal-Mart on a legal par with the City’s MOU with the Centre at Salisbury, which had been reviewed by the City’s legal counsel and which took into account a number of important requirements for the protection of the City.

The Council did not see the MOU referenced at the work session. Council was not provided a copy of the Wal-Mart agreement. Staff had not reviewed the document and could not confirm to Council if the MOU was the same as the Centre at Salisbury’s or if it had been changed in some way. Council was not given a name as to who signed the agreement, but was told it was signed by a "manager." Council asked if the City knew who Wal-Mart authorizes to sign these agreements, and staff did not know.

Council was ready to move forward pending advice from the City’s legal counsel that the MOU was consistent with the Centre at Salisbury agreement and pending confirmation from Wal-Mart as to who its legal designee would be.

Since there was no mention of the name of who signed the agreement, the accusations by the Mayor in his press release today that Council’s actions were politically motivated against a specific employee of Wal-Mart are baseless and offensive.

Mental Health Worker Who Reported Child Porn Fired

We're not allowed to go to police' unless actual child abuse is observed, supervisor says

MISSOULA, Mont. — An employee of a Missoula mental health center who reported a client's computer search for child pornography was fired after reporting him to police.

The client, John Gribble, is charged with sexually abusing a child after a DVD with photos of nude children was found at his house.

Dozens May Have Been Exposed To Radiation In Idaho

A serious radiation scare for more than a dozen workers at Idaho National Lab, the Associated Press reported. Seventeen people are undergoing full-body scans and other treatments after they were potentially exposed to low-level plutonium radiation. The employees were cleaning inside a reactor Tuesday afternoon when a container holding plutonium was opened. Exposure can damage organs and be deadly in certain amounts. Investigators are at the site trying to determine what went wrong.

BREAKING NEWS: Dow Closes Down 389

Stock markets end day down sharply, with Dow dropping 389 points
From Fox News

Map Of Every McDonald's In The USA

Mortgage Giant Fannie Mae Wants Another $7.8 Billion

Mortgage giant Fannie Mae wants another $7.8 billion to cover its losses in the July-September quarter, the Associated Press reported. Low mortgage rates reduced profits and declining home prices caused more defaults on loans it had guaranteed. Fannie has received more than $112 billion so far from the Treasury Department. That's the most expensive bailout of a single company. Last week, Freddie Mac requested $6 billion in extra aid. The Obama administration unveiled a plan earlier this year to slowly dissolve the two mortgage giants. The goal is to shrink the government's role in the mortgage system. It would also probably make home loans more expensive.

White House Sidelines Christmas Tree 'Tax'

The White House has decided to sideline a proposed fee on Christmas trees, after the fee was ridiculed by critics as a tax on Christmas.

The 15-cent tax on Christmas trees was announced Tuesday in the Federal Register and was meant to pay for a new board tasked with promoting the Christmas tree industry. It was supported by Christmas tree growers, who wanted a stable source of revenue to fund a new marketing campaign.

Children with autism appear to have too many cells in a key area of the brain needed for communication and emotional development, helping to explain why young children with autism often develop brains that are larger than normal, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

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FBI Wants A New Home

FBI's headquarters needs some work. The Government Accountability Office says the Hoover Building and the annexes are old. They just don't support the FBI's security, space and building condition requirements. But there's no money. The General Services Administration says, for now, they can only help cover the immediate health and safety issues. The FBI and GSA have considered three options — Modernize the Hoover Building, tear it down and start over, or move out and buy a new place somewhere else. The FBI and GSA plan to discuss the FBI's facility needs with the Office of Management and Budget. GAO says that GSA and the FBI need to present a business case, including current, comparable cost estimates, to support the choice of a preferred alternative and financing strategy.

BREAKING NEWS: Magnitude 5.7 Quake Hits Turkey

Earthquake with preliminary magnitude of 5.7 collapses buildings in eastern Turkey.

From Fox News

Texas Lawmaker Apologizes For Anti-Semitic Slur

(JTA) -- A Texas state representative apologized after using the slur "Jew them down" during a public hearing.

Larry Taylor at a legislative oversight hearing on Nov. 3 concerning a quasi-public wind insurance agency and its need to pay claims on time said "Don't nitpick, don't try to Jew them down." He reportedly quickly added, "That's probably a bad term."

4930 Bucktown Rd.

Cambridge, MD 21613

410-228-3090

www.dorchesterhumane.org

info@dorchesterhumane.org

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Hot Spot Cool Easts Partners With Dorchester Humane Society

Cambridge, MD - Hot Spot Cool Eats owner Eric Ploeg wanted to do something to help animals in Dorchester County, so his business donates a percentage of sales every week to the Dorchester Humane Society. The Dogs For Dogs program started in September and every Tuesday after 3pm, 10% of hot dog sales is donated to the society. Hot Spot Cool Eats is located at 3028 Ocean Gateway. “We’re animal lovers and wanted to help the less fortunate animals in our community,” said Mr. Ploeg. “We’re hoping people will make participating in our Dogs For Dogs program a weekly event so we can donate more to the homeless animals.” Animal lovers may also send donations to the Dorchester Humane Society at 4930 Bucktown Rd. Cambridge, MD

Will You Stand With Me And Wear The Badge Of The 99%?

From a reader.

Recently I flew across the United States. During my travels I wore a home-made “99%” patch on the front of my shirt. It was a simple patch created with paper, a marker and masking tape. Clean, shaved and dressed casually I looked like the middle-aged, middle class American man that I am. Without my patch harried travelers and airport workers for the most part would not notice me.

I wore my patch to humanize Occupy participants. I’ve been participating in Occupy activities in my hometown, and I’ve found that the others are people like me. People who want to make their country or the world a better place for all. I do not agree with all of the prescriptions for improvement suggested by everyone that I’ve met at Occupy. I do not agree with all of the ideas of everyone that I know. Different people believe different things. This is not a weakness; it is a strength. I do not speak for everyone. I speak for me. I wore my patch to present an Occupier to a population who see only what mass media chooses to show them.

I wore my patch because I object to my country being a police state, and airports illustrate the police state that America has become. At the airport I was expected to submit to a naked-body scan. I declined and was groped instead. I object to theater security. It is a fraud–not improving security but traumatizing and demeaning. It conditions people to submit to a police state. I wore my patch because I am tired of being told that I should be scared and docile. I wore my patch because I am not a sheep.

I wore my patch and expected to be laughed at and mocked. I expected a public that had been told that Occupiers are dirty and lazy would laugh at me to mask their own insecurities. I was wrong. Not one person made any negative remark that I heard. I was questioned. “What does your patch mean?” I tried to explain.
Sometimes my explanation was adequate. Sometimes I was applauded. One middle-aged man in an expensive suit said “nice sign” as he hurried past. I thanked him and suggested that he could wear a patch, too. I wore my patch hoping that others would follow my lead.

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BREAKING NEWS: Dow Drops Nearly 400 Points

Stocks plunge, with major markets down by more than 3 percent and Dow shedding nearly 400 points.
From Fox News

Poopsie Euthanized This Morning

After many years of enjoyment for the visitors of the Salisbury Zoo, 37 year old Poopsie who had been medicated for the past 10 years for arthritis was humanely put to rest at the Salisbury Zoo this morning.

Poopsie's condition continued to deteriorate rapidly in recent weeks, to the point she stopped eating her regular meals. Poopsie would have been 38 years old on December 27th. Spectacle Bears usually only live 25 to 28 years in captivity.

I may be out of line by speaking for my Wife but I can tell you this will cut deep into her heart knowing what her former co workers, (especially Ann and Gary) are feeling and experiencing.

GOP Rep. Joe Walsh Melts Down, Screams At Constituents: ‘Dont Blame Banks!…I Am Tired Of Hearing That Crap!’

Freshman Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) is known for his anti-Obama rhetoric on cable television and his inability to pay his child support payments. But during a recent meeting with constituents in his Chicago-area suburban district, Walsh lost his cool when several attendees asked about why banks have so much power in government. At one point, Walsh even threatened to eject a man who asked Walsh about the revolving door of bank lobbyists infiltrating Congress and financial regulatory agencies.

Took some fog pictures this morning, just wanted to share. This is traveling eastbound rt 50 between Nanticoke Rd and Perdue near the drawbridge over the Wicomico River.

Ahamdinejad: Iran Won't Retreat From Nuke Plans

(CBS/AP)

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran won't retreat "one iota" from its nuclear program but the world is being misled by claims that it seeks atomic weapons, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday in his first reaction since a U.N. watchdog report that Tehran is on the brink of developing a warhead.

Orioles Pitcher Acquitted In Dominican Shooting Death

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (CNN) -- A three-judge panel court on Tuesday acquitted Baltimore Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon of charges in the shooting death of a man in his hometown.

Simon was charged with involuntary murder in the death of Michell Esteban Castillo, 25, and with injuring the victim's cousin Starlin Castillo, 17, early on January 1 in the nearby town of Luperon.

WANTED SEX OFFENDERS ARRESTED BY OCPD

On November 7, 2011, at approximately 7:25 p.m., an off-duty Ocean City Police officer received information about a wanted sex offender identified as Andrew David Harris, 45, of Ocean City, who may be in Ocean City.

The off-duty officer contacted the on-duty OCPD shift supervisor and related the information. OCPD officers verified that Harris was wanted by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office for failing to register as a sex offender after his release from jail in April.

Harris was located by the OCPD at 507 Philadelphia Ave. and taken into custody without incident. Harris was seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner.

He was held without bond and transferred to the Worcester County Jail.

The following day, November 8, 2011, at approximately 6:50 p.m. OCPD officers received information about a second wanted sex offender who may be in Ocean City.

Evening shift officers investigated the whereabouts of the wanted person and were able to determine that Delmar James Cubbage, 21, of Ocean City, was wanted for failing to register as a sex offender. Police located Cubbage at 801 Philadelphia Ave. Cubbage was taken into custody without incident.

Cubbage was seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and was held
without bond. He was transferred to the Worcester County Jail.

Toyota Recalls 550,000 Cars For Steering Issue

Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it is recalling about 550,000 vehicles worldwide — mostly in the United States — for problems that could make it harder to steer.

The recall affects 447,000 vehicles in North America, as well as 38,000 in Japan and another 25,000 in Australia and New Zealand, said Toyota spokesman Dion Corbett. In Europe some 14,000 vehicles are being recalled along with 10,000 in the Middle East and 14,000 in Asia outside Japan.

What News Anchors Do During Commercial Breaks

GO HERE to view.

Big Banks Plead With Customers Not To Move Their Money

Yes, The Big Banks DO Care If We Move Our Money

650,000 customers moved $4.5 billion dollars out of the big banks and into smaller banks and credit unions in the last month.

But there is a myth making the rounds that the big banks don’t really care if we move our money. For example, one line of reasoning is that no matter how many people move their money, the Fed and Treasury will just bail out the giants again.

But many anecdotes show that the too big to fails do, in fact, care.

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Clinton: Debt-Hike Battle Made US Look ‘Weak And Confused’

Former President Bill Clinton takes President Barack Obama to task for mishandling the debt-limit crisis in his new book, “Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy.” He has harsh criticism of Republicans who seek to reduce the role of government, saying that American politics “have become dysfunctional," and calls for better cooperation between the public and private sectors to turn around the flailing economy.

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Fill In The Blank 11-09-11

My 1st (real) kiss was when I was ____ years old.

Penn State Students Gather Outside Joe Paterno's House In Show Of Support

In a show of support for Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, upward of 200 students have gathered outside his State College home, chanting "Joe Pa-ter-no!" prior to the 84-year-old's return home from afternoon practice.

Paterno's exit as football coach is being planned by university officials, the New York Times reported today, amid a sex-crimes scandal involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. This after Spanier called for the cancellation of Paterno's weekly news conference just over an hour before its usual 12:30 p.m. start time.

Paterno was cleared of any wrongdoing last week by Attorney General Linda Kelly. Athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz, have stepped down from their posts as they defend themselves against perjury charges.

Great Event This Sunday

TWO DOGS DINING

Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test Scheduled

Dover--The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System at 2 p.m. on Nov. 9.

What Does the GOP Really Want In 2012?

With the field of electable Republican presidents shrinking by the minute and the first primary elections only weeks away, conservatives may be wondering what the Republican Party establishment really wants to accomplish in 2012.

I won’t keep you waiting. The Republican leadership would like nothing better than to have another four years of Dictator BHO.

Of course, they will never admit it. And I don’t doubt that they’d like as many party loyals elected to 2012 state and federal offices, good suits who will do Boehner’s bidding, and stay bought. It’s just that, well, there’s nothing like the Obaminator to rally the party troopers and inspire order.

The Tea Parties have greatly annoyed the Republican establishment with their small government advocacy, their insistence on bringing up the Constitution at inconvenient times, and their pervasive lack of faith in federal solutions, federal justice and federal monetary policy. They are, at the heart of it, just not good Republicans. What’s worse, they revel in their independence.

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PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND THEIR SIDE EFFECTS

A woman asks her husband at breakfast time, "Would you like some bacon and eggs, a slice of toast, and maybe some grapefruit juice and coffee?"

He declines. "Thanks for asking, but I'm not hungry right now. It's this Viagra," he says. "It's really taken the edge off my appetite.

At lunchtime, she asks him if he'd like something.

"How about a bowl of soup, homemade muffins, or a cheese sandwich?"

He declines. "The Viagra," he says, "really trashes my desire for food.

Come dinner time, she asks if he wants anything to eat. "Would you like a juicy rib eye steak and some scrumptious apple pie? Or maybe a rotisserie chicken or tasty stir fry?"

He declines again. "No," he says, "it's got to be the Viagra. I'm still not hungry."

"Well," she says, "Would you mind letting me up? I'm starving."

Hard Evidence: Bailed-Out Banks Take More Risk

Politicians, Treasury Secretaries, etc. would have you believe that “moral hazard” is something we should only worry about in the abstract, in the future, when they’ve moved on to another job. But now a study [16] confirms with hard facts: moral hazard–it lives.

Researchers have asked for some time whether and how bailouts might affect banks’ risk-taking. Would they run wild, aware of the high likelihood of being bailed out again if they ran into trouble? Or would they ease off precisely because they’d now be assured of lower financing costs and long-term survival, and therefore would want to avoid doing anything that might cause regulators to take that valuable banking license away? More daring or more discipline?

Each of these camps had its underpinnings yet the question was a difficult one to study. Why? Because, generally speaking, the developed Western countries didn’t really do bank bail-outs. [Insert smirk here.]
But then came 2008 and its bailout-palooza. And so, thanks to hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars and an alphabet-soup of bank welfare programs, this question can now benefit from the availability of real-life, empirical data. (Cloud, silver lining and all that.)

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Cain Accuser Filed Complaint At Next Job

(CBS/AP)

WASHINGTON - A woman who settled a sexual harassment complaint against GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain in 1999 complained three years later at her next job about unfair treatment, saying she should be allowed to work from home after a serious car accident and accusing a manager of circulating a sexually charged email, The Associated Press has learned.

This Is How The Daily Times, (Susan Parker) Works

Over the past few months I've noticed this woman, Susan Parker on Facebook getting help for her articles taking all the credit when the article is in print in the paper. Last night as soon as Ms. Mann posted on her Facebook about Mr. Hawkins Ms. Parker started asking for details about him for her article which will appear later this week.
It got to the point that Ms Mann told her she'd send her her phone number since the questions weren't going to stop anytime soon. What I found odd was how Ms. Parker was asking anyone who posted something
about him questions for her article. Most of these people weren't personal friends of Mr. Hawkins, they saw him at the monthly Mayor's Assoc meetings where people from all over the Eastern Shore (MD) get together for a dinner/meeting. I have met Mr. Hawkins several times over the past 35 years due to my cousin marrying someone in his family. I almost posted something to Ms. Mann about how sad it will be not to see him at the family dinners but stopped myself due to not wanting to get hit with questions from Ms. Parker especially since I don't feel I know him well enough to answer some of the things she was asking. I can say that he was always friendly towards me and always gave me a hug with a huge smile. He certainly did love his family and openly showed it.

I was sitting in the car at the Fruitland McDonalds when the ambulance drove by. My mind was still going over everything that had just been said at the doctor's office when I heard the sirens. When my boyfriend got
back in the car I told him how someone's life must be in danger due to how the ambulance driver was using every siren plus blowing the horn all the way through Fruitland. When I had my heart attack I remember
being told how they did that with me. So when I hear that noise I know what it means. I couldn't of done anything if I had known Mr. Hawkins was inside it but I could of said a prayer for him which was made as
soon as I saw it on your blog. I know your told many times every day how wonderful your blog is due to how fast the news is posted plus many other reasons which would take me most of the morning to list.
For me there have been three times when you have listed a death that was important for me to know since I wouldn't of known otherwise until reading the obituary due to not being immediate family. You might
remember this. A few years ago you posted about a hit and run where the one hit had died and police were looking for the vehicle. At that time, for me it was just a post. The next morning the new post was how the driver had been found and how he had tried to hide his vehicle in his backyard by covering it up with a tarp. The last name was Mitchell. I have Mitchell's in my family but this man's name wasn't familiar I was just glad they had found him due to the accident he had caused which resulted in a death of an innocent person.

The next day the post was how the Mitchell man had hung himself in his jail cell. It still wasn't familiar...the only thing I felt was that was a sign of being guilty and not man enough to appear in court to get what was coming towards him. But I did notice lots of comments which I usually read each one if I have read the post. A comment caught my attention. It was his sister who was mad that you had posted the news of how he had died before all of the family could be called that he was her brother and she had to find out on your blog.

Something about the comment struck me as familiar so I went back and read every post and every comment again. The man was my cousin's son. I had never met the son. I felt bad for my cousin but chose not to attend the funeral due to how I felt about what he had done about running from the accident and then taking his life. After things calmed down a few weeks later I did visit my cousin to pay my respects. I wouldn't of known any of this if it hadn't been for you. Yes, there was an obituary in the DT's which I would of seen he was my cousin's son and would of attended the funeral due to not knowing any of what he had done. This is just one way you have touched my life. The most important way was while I was away two yrs ago for Christmas. I stayed glued to my laptop getting updates from your blog about Sarah's disappearance and eventually being found. Even miles away you were touching my life. I would look at the end of each day to see what was on the WBOC and DT's sites only to see they had finally updated their sites hours after you had done it. So after two days, I stopped looking at their sites since I had already read what they had posted.

Susan Hargreaves Parker Just saw that. Sad.

18 minutes ago ·

Valerie Melvin Mann He was one of the nicest people I have ever met.

17 minutes ago ·

Susan Hargreaves Parker I may call on you Friday. I will be writing a passing and I never had the pleasure of meeting him.

16 minutes ago ·

Valerie Melvin Mann Thanks, that will be fine. I will send you my number in a message.

15 minutes ago ·

Let A Thousand 'Rogue' Grand Juries Bloom!

Amanda Culbertson has a conscience, which is another way of saying that she wasn't well-suited to government "work." Until recently she was employed by the Houston Police Department as a crime lab supervisor. In 2009, she became aware of serious problems with the reliability of the department's roadside blood alcohol testing vehicles, more commonly known as BAT vans.

Over the past decade, hundreds of police departments nation-wide have purchased the vehicles with the help of federal grants. The testing device deployed in them, the Intoxilyzer, is considered infallible by law enforcement agencies and most trial judges. However, the Kentucky-based company that manufactures the the Intoxilyzer has refused to disclose its source code. Without access to the source code, the device's findings are unverifiable. As one defendant points out, the machine could simply be a gimmicky random number generator, rather than a finely calibrated scientific instrument.

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Obama Couldn’t Wait: His New Christmas Tree Tax

President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.

In the Federal Register of November 8, 2011, Acting Administrator of Agricultural Marketing David R. Shipman announced that the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)). And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10).

To pay for the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program, the Department of Agriculture imposed a 15-cent fee on all sales of fresh Christmas trees by sellers of more than 500 trees per year (7 CFR 1214.52). And, of course, the Christmas tree sellers are free to pass along the 15-cent Federal fee to consumers who buy their Christmas trees.

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Today's Survey Question

Do you believe human life begins at the moment of fertilization?

Md. Businesses Uneasy About Economic Growth

Comptroller Peter Franchot concluded “there is a sense of uneasiness about the economy” after three hours of testimony from Maryland business executives at a Board of Revenue Estimates meeting on Tuesday.

Continue Reading...

BREAKING NEWS: Joe Paterno Reportedly To Step Down

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno -- rocked by child abuse charges against an assistant coach -- will announce later today his decision to retire at the end of the season, according to his son Scott and a source close to the decision who spoke with the AP.
From Fox News

Complicating Twitter And Journalism

The Associated Press's decision to ban its writers from expressing opinions on Twitter asks for trouble—just when traditional media should be adapting to social media

The Associated Press caused a minor furor recently, when the news-wire service updated its social-media policy and forbade its writers from expressing opinions on Twitter, including implied opinions in the process of retweeting posts by others. In the wake of that controversy, Jeff Sonderman at the Poynter Institute has suggested that journalists could use their own Twitter shorthand to prevent anyone from getting the wrong impression when a reporter retweets something.

As I’ve argued before, all we really have to do is admit that journalists of all kinds might have opinions, instead of trying to pretend that they don’t—or trying to force them not to.

According to the Associated Press policy (PDF link), the risk in simply retweeting comments made by others—with no disclaimer or qualifying comment—is that readers might assume that a retweet endorses whatever views have been expressed by the original poster. Many journalists on Twitter have tried to deal with this by adding a line to their Twitter bio that says “retweets are not endorsements.” Apparently this isn’t enough for the wire service.

The AP’s policy states: “Retweets, like tweets, should not be written in a way that looks like you’re expressing a personal opinion on the issues of the day. A retweet with no comment of your own can easily be seen as a sign of approval of what you’re relaying [and] these cautions apply even if you say on your Twitter profile that retweets do not constitute endorsements.”

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Commentary: Currie Verdict Shows We Reporters Are Wasting Our Time

The not guilty verdict in the corruption trial of state Sen. Ulysses Currie clearly shows how we State House reporters have been wasting our time checking financial disclosure statements.

Dutifully – well, at least occasionally on a slow day — we would walk over to the 45 Calvert Street offices of the State Ethics Commission in Annapolis and ask to see the annual statements from elected and appointed officials.

To get the records, we’d hand over our driver’s license to be copied and pay 25 cents a page for documents that were often filed electronically, but not available over the Internet, the way they are in many states.

Officials filling out the forms can ask to be notified when someone requests their financial disclosure forms. Some are notified by phone, I found out one day.

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China Telecom Plans To Offer Wireless Service In U.S. In 2012

China Telecom Corp. plans to start selling a wireless service to U.S. consumers under its own brand early next year, seeking to sign up Chinese-Americans, students and tourists who travel often between the two countries.

China’s biggest fixed-line provider will offer users of the service handsets with two lines, one that will work in the U.S. and another in China, Donald Tan, president of China Telecom Americas, said in an interview. Tan declined to discuss pricing, though he said the cost would be “competitive.”

Date & Time: 11/04/2011 @ 1500 Case #:11-0258
Location Occurred: Pocomoke, Worcester County, Maryland
Crime or Violation: Sex Offense Second and Third Degree, Sex Abuse of Minor,
Assault Second Degree, Child Abuse: 2nd Degree
Victim: Juvenile 15 Years of Age
Accused: Daniel Crismond, 47 Years of Age of Pocomoke, Worcester County, Maryland
Narrative:
On 11/04/2011, investigators from the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation conducted a sexual assault investigation in Pocomoke, Maryland. Investigation revealed the accused was having sex with an under aged female. The accused was identified as Daniel Crismond, age 47 from Pocomoke, MD. When Daniel Crismond was confronted about the allegations, he confessed to his involvement. Crismond was arrested and charged with Second and Third Degree Sex Offense, Sex Abuse of a Minor, Second Degree Assault, and Child Abuse: 2nd Degree.
Crismond was taken to the Commissioner, where he was held on $25,000 bond.

Online Dating Scam: 'Military Guy' Steals Widow's Heart And Nearly $500,000

Esther Ortiz-Rodeghero was looking for love, but she found something much more ominous: a savvy online scammer posing as a military man who convinced her to fork over nearly $500,000 of her life savings.

The court could find the "individual mandate" unconstitutional but leave the rest of the law intact

For insurance companies nervously watching the legal fight over the constitutionality of the President’s health-care law, it would be the unthinkable: The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the law’s so-called individual mandate, which requires millions of young, healthy people to buy coverage—but leaves intact rules compelling insurers to cover sick people, who are likely to cost far more in benefits than they pay in premiums. Congress is then left to fix the problem.

The scenario is a real possibility. In a challenge to the health-care law brought by 26 states, a federal appeals court took exactly that approach, declaring in August that the mandate is unconstitutional while saying the rest of the law could stand. The Supreme Court is expected to take up the question of the statute’s constitutionality next year. If the justices agree with the lower court and strip out the mandate, “that would be the worst of all worlds for insurers,” says Paul Heldman, a health policy analyst with Potomac Research Group in Washington. “You’ve got to have some way to ensure that healthy people are going to sign up for coverage to offset the cost of sicker people.”

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Runaway Bay

Tell-Tale Signs You've Had Too Much Caffeine

WASHINGTON - Plenty of normal, healthy people wake up in the morning with the urge for a caffeine fix.

If people feel the need to satisfy that fix a few more times over the course of the day, it might do harm than good.

There have been all sorts of studies on the risks and side effects of caffeine, but how much is too much?

The American Dietetic Association says 300 milligrams is tops, which amounts to three eight-ounce cups a day.

Prevention Magazine has gathered up some tell tale signs that you're over-caffeinated.

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