Calling All Structural Engineers

A little history first.

A business next door to me is going through a renovation process, a large one at that. They have applied for permits and are investing quite a bit of money to help revitalize their part of Downtown Salisbury.

In the mean time, contractors have been somewhat a pain in my butt, destroying the gutter on the back of my building using their ladders to access the roof. Using my roof, (without my permission) to access the back of their building and since then we've experienced small leaks in that particular roof.
They installed a six inch gutter to the back of their building, very nice quality. HOWEVER, look closely at the angle of the gutter. At least 50% of it goes DOWNHILL to the left when it actually drains at the right end, (photo below).
Now, the day after it was installed we had some very heavy rain and all of a sudden my roof, (which had recently been sealed) started leaking. I called my contractor and they came right out. As soon as he got up there he called me from his cell phone and said, you better get up here immediately.

I went outside, up the ladder and he started saying, do you see a problem here? I said, what are you talking about. He said, look closely at the new gutter, I did. I didn't see anything at first and then he said, Joe, this is brand new, why is the water leaking out of the BOTTOM of a bran new gutter system! (photo below)
Their contractor realized they had screwed up on the pitch of the gutter and rather than FIXING it, they actually drilled several holes in the bottom of the brand new gutter to release ALL the water onto my roof from their roof. UNBELIEVABLE, right? IF we hadn't gone up there to find the cause of our leak, we probably would have NEVER found the water coming out of their gutters. It gets even better. While it was raining there was NO water coming out of their brand new gutter system. Instead, it was all coming out of mine. (photo below)
As if ALL of this isn't bad enough, we confronted the contractor and the property owner and told them what had been done. The contractor actually came into my building and said, do you know who drilled the holes into our gutter? I replied, excuse me, are you implying WE had something to do with it! YOUR gutter is clearly hung wrong, the pitch goes backwards and the ONLY way to relieve YOUR problem is to drill holes into the gutter and release the water onto MY roof! And YOU want to suggest WE had something to do with it. Why in the hell would we want MORE water, (if not ALL) onto my roof! His reply, well, our guys didn't do it.

Now get this. A day or so later the owner of the company came to me asking if they could drill into my brick and install fasteners for some flashing between the two buildings. He stated they would be using some kind of bolt to make it permanent. I immediately stated that WE had just done the same kind of flashing on the BACK of our buildings BEFORE the new gutters were installed to stop the water from getting in between our buildings, we used silicone, not fasteners. So I said, no, there's no way I would agree to allow holes being drilled into 120 year old brick. I suggested they do what we did. The owner of the company continued to try to push the matter so I told him I would contact an engineer but until then the answer is NO.






TODAY, I did much of my work from home and didn't get in until around 10:00 AM. I pulled into the parking lot, got out of my truck and came into my building, no noise.

As soon as I sat down I could feel the building shaking and a LOT of noise. I walked outside to see what was going on and it hit me, THEY'RE DRILLING INTO MY BRICK!

I was told they started at 7 AM, (how convenient) and as you can see from the above photos their flashing had already been completely installed.

Now, I have shown some pictures below that of similar, yet old holes showing what it can do to brick. Once they used a compact hammer drill to drill the holes, then they had to use a large hammer to drive the nails and expand the thingamabopper.

My question now is, since the brick is 120 years old, since I can see from other open areas how the brick cracked and expanded and since what they have done is covered by flashing, what can I expect to happen to the brick they drilled into?

Being that we are in a Historic District, being that MY building is NOT their building, how in the hell could this ever happen. In a phone conversation I told the owner of the company, are you crazy. You want to tell me you ASSUMED that from our original conversation you thought it was OK, yet you didn't get anything in writing and YOU think its just OK to start drilling into someones building! They are telling me they've done this HUNDREDS of times on Historic Buildings and its NOT a problem.

Well, the way I see it, it doesn't look like these expansion things are ANY different from ones in the past and I can see what has happened to the brick that is exposed.

Nothing has been done in good faith. I have had to call the City in numerous times since day one because they were using my roof to tear off the old roof next door and there was NO WAY they were going to put all that foot traffic and weight onto my roof. It's been quite the nightmare but if someone can help me understand what I can expect to happen to the brick over the next 20, 30, 40, or 50 years that would be great.

If you think I need a lawyer, let me know.

Maryland Department Of Environment Gets Scathing Audit Report

Today, the Maryland Department of the Environment’s audit report came out. It identifies major concerns with this agency.

They include paying a former employee $225,000 for “consulting” in violation of state ethics laws and also falsely telling the General Assembly that it had implemented a new computer system costing more than $7.8 million when in fact they were still using the old computer system.

http://www.ola.state.md.us/Reports/Fiscal%20Compliance/MDE11.pdf

The Federal Pay Freeze Could Get Colder And Longer

Senate Republicans are proposing an extension of the pay freeze to offset continuation of a payroll tax cut favored by Democrats and the White House. President Obama enacted the current two-year federal pay freeze in January. It was recommended by the Bowles-Simpson debt-reduction commission. The extension of the freeze was proposed by Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.). It would add three years to the no-raise policy. And it would reduce the federal workforce by 200,000 through attrition.

A Cauliflower A Day Keeps The Cold Away

Once the weather turns colder, it feels like everyone is sneezing, sniffling, coughing, shivering, and potentially getting you sick.

While it might seem inevitable that you will fall prey to that most common of colds, there are some very natural, effective ways to keep illness at bay.

First, try discerning whether you have a simple (yet, still irritating) cold, or the much more serious influenza virus.

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The Man Tracking Federal Stimulus Dollars Will Resign Today

The man in charge of tracking federal stimulus dollars is handing in his resignation to the White House today. The Washington Post is reporting Earl Devaney plans to retire at the end of December after 41 years of service at four federal agencies. Devaney has said he plans to retire to Florida with his wife and plans to look for part-time work as a consultant. Devaney heads the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board. He leads a team of 50 auditors and investigators that track every single recipient of federal stimulus dollars, looking out for waste, fraud and abuse.

To Find Mr. Right, Look At YOU First

The 5 Keys to Finding HIM are:

M - Me and Me first.
A - Assess your list.
S - Shed your stuff.
T - Time to get out and Trail blaze.
R - Real women find their man.

Today, we're exploring the final piece of the puzzle, how REAL WOMEN find their man. The truth is that as we get older, the ratio of single men to women begins to favor men. That means there's a lot of competition, especially for the confident, healthy, relationship-minded man you want to meet. That good man has a lot of options – and I want You to be the one he chooses!

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10 Signs He's Not Into You This Holiday Season

Should you be asking Santa for a new relationship?


The holidays are a time to share with the people you love most. Your boyfriend, of course, should be included in that bunch. But the holidays can also make or break a relationship – and if you find yourself spending too much time decking your own halls without any of his help, it might be a sign you’re not exactly the partridge to his … ahem, pear tree. So if you can answer "yes" to more than a couple of these truths below, you’re probably not feeling the fa-la-la-la-love this holiday season, and it might be time to add someone new to your Christmas list.

He doesn’t ask you to go home to visit his family.
It's one thing if you haven't been dating that long. But if you have been together for more than say, six months, and he's still hiding you from mom and dad during the holidays (an easy excuse to make introductions), it might never happen.

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Less Care For Fewer And Fewer

EVIDENCE of how bad the U.S. health care crisis has gotten continues to pile up. And with the federal government preparing to impose automatic cuts in the Medicare health program for the elderly and Medicaid health program for the poor, it will only grow worse–unless something is done to change the direction.

A new study by the Commonwealth Fund found that the U.S. ranks last among high-income nations in preventable deaths. Up to 84,000 people die every year because they lack access to health care.

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Kentucky Church Bans Interracial Couples From Joining Congregation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A tiny Appalachian church in Pike County has voted to ban interracial couples from joining its flock, pitting members against each other in an argument over race.

Members at the Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church voted Sunday on the resolution, which says the church "does not condone interracial marriage."

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Greta Van Susteren Draws Scrutiny Over Husband's Herman Cain Ties

Fox News' Greta Van Susteren is facing scrutiny for failing to disclose her husband's ties to Herman Cain on the air -- despite covering the presidential candidate and interviewing his wife.

Van Susteren got a major scoop when Gloria Cain broke her silence to discuss the growing sexual harassment allegations surrounding her husband. She has also covered the claim by Atlanta businesswoman Ginger White that she had a long affair with Cain -- the latter segment being notably on the critical side.

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20 Arrested In Alleged Mob-Linked Sex-Trafficking Ring In New York

NEW YORK – Federal authorities on Wednesday busted a mob-sponsored sex trafficking operation that allegedly smuggled women from Russia and Eastern Europe to work at New York strip clubs.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announced the arrests of 20 people, including reputed Gambino crime family leader Alphonse Trucchio, on a host of charges that include visa fraud, marriage fraud and transporting illegal aliens.

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Cops: Three Dead After Man Shoots Woman And 4 Kids, Kills Self

(CBS/AP) BAY CITY, Texas - Police say that a man shot and killed two children and wounded a woman and two other children before turning the gun on himself in a home southeast of Houston Wednesday, reports CBS affiliate KHOU.
The man was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, said Bay City police Lt. Andrew Lewis. The woman is in surgery and the conditions of the two surviving children, who are in Houston hospitals, are unknown.

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The Best- And Worst-Run States In The US

How well run are America’s 50 states? The answer depends a lot on where you live.

For the second year, 24/7 Wall St. has reviewed data on financial health, standard of living and government services by state to determine how well each is managed. Based on this data, 24/7 Wall St. ranked the 50 from best to worst. The best-run is Wyoming. The worst-run is California.

Comparing the 50 states can be a challenge because they are so different. Some states have abundant natural resources while others rely on service or innovation. State populations also can be more rural or more urban. Some had booming industries that are waning or that have disappeared altogether. Border states with large immigrant communities have populations that are growing rapidly. Many states in the Northeast are not growing at all. All of these factors affect the finances and the living conditions in in each.

Despite these differences, states can do a great deal to control their fate. Well-run states have a great deal in common with well-run corporations. Books are kept balanced. Investment is prudent. Debt is sustainable. Innovation is prized. Workers are well-chosen and well-trained. Executives, including elected and appointed officials, are retained based on merit and not politics.

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Happy Meal Toys No Longer Free In San Francisco

(CNN) -- Goodbye, free plastic toys inside Happy Meals -- at least in one major California city.

A new San Francisco law goes into effect on Thursday that prevents fast-food restaurants from giving away trinkets, action figures and other toys in their kid's meals unless their food meets nutritional requirements.

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Obama: 'Massive Blow' If GOP Blocks Payroll Tax

One trip, two money pitches. President Barack Obama wants more money in the pockets of U.S. workers — and in his campaign treasury.

SCRANTON, Pa. -- On the attack, President Barack Obama warned Wednesday of a "massive blow to the economy" if Republicans oppose him over extending a payroll tax cut, as he campaigned for more money in the pockets of U.S. workers — and in his campaign treasury.

Obama pressed his case at a campaign-style rally in working-class Scranton, Pa., where he said Republicans had to choose between lower taxes for the wealthy, or a payroll tax cut that would help working Americans.

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BREAKING NEWS: Senate Approves Defense Spending Bill

Senate votes 93-7 to pass defense spending bill that White House has threatened to veto over terror detainee provisions.

From Fox News

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY IN RECOGNITION OF WORLD AIDS DAY

ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 1, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley today issued the following statement in recognition of World AIDS Day:

“World AIDS Day is an opportunity for all of us to remember the millions of lives lost to and affected by HIV/AIDS. It is also an opportunity to strengthen our commitment to fight this disease, erase the stigma and educate one another about its effects, and honor all those working to find a cure.

“Here in Maryland, the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic is something that has hit us hard. And there’s no way to sugarcoat it: even though we’re ranked number 1 for the percentage of PhD’s, we are number 4 in terms of the rate of AIDS cases reported per year among our population. Since the beginning of this epidemic, we have lost 18,000 of our neighbors to this disease.

"While many of our neighbors are dealing with this tragic disease, Maryland is at the forefront in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We have the potential to be that force that unlocks in the words of Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, ‘the weapons of mass salvation.’ Some of the key breakthroughs in the fight are happening right here in Maryland. We’re a long way from winning this fight, but we’re moving forward by harnessing the healing potential of our State’s greatest asset – and that is the talents, the creativity, and the imagination of one of the most diverse group of people that have ever come together around this challenge.”

What Happens When Wall Street Breaks The Law? Not Much

(CNN) -- A few days before he graduated, one of my students asked me how does one keep up with public affairs (as I was advocating) when you have a demanding full-time job, a cute but fussy baby, an elderly parent who needs attending and something of a social life? I suggested that he listen to NPR, watch CNN -- and once in a while choose a particular story to follow. For example, the report of what happens when major American corporations break the law.

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Montel Pleads Case For Pot Factory In DC

Former TV talk show host Montel Williams wants to open medical marijuana facilities in the District. Wednesday, he pleaded his case before a crowd of 150 residents in the basement of Israel Baptist Church in Northeast.

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The GOP's War On Voting Comes To Washington

Republicans in state legislatures across the country have spent the past year mounting an all-out assault on voting rights, pushing a slew of voter ID and redistricting measures that are widely expected to dilute the power of minority and low-income voters in next November's elections.

Now that effort has come to Capitol Hill, where a congressional committee will vote Thursday on a GOP-backed bill to eviscerate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC)—the last line of defense against fraud and tampering in electronic voting systems around the country.

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How Does The Fed Explain This $88 Billion Shift?

As the title of this article suggests, the Federal Reserve did something last week that appears to have avoided scrutiny by major media outlets.

But it didn’t avoid detection by everyone.

According to the sharp-eyed writers at Zero Hedge, it looks as if the Fed shifted $88 billion to undisclosed recipients.

“How did that happen and how did we not hear about it?” you’re probably asking yourself. Here’s your answer: because the details are buried deep in the Fed’s accounting books.

To make sense of Zero Hedge’s findings, let’s go over the basics.

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Top GOP Strategist Admits He’s ‘Scared’ Of Occupy Wall Street Because It’s ‘Having An Impact’

The Republican Governor’s Association met in Florida this week and featured pollster Frank Luntz, who offered a coaching session for attendees about how they should communicate to the public. Yahoo! News’ Chris Moody was there, and captured some of Luntz’s comments on Occupy Wall Street.
Luntz told attendees that he’s “scared of this anti-Wall Street effort. I’m frightened to death.” The pollster warned that the movement is “having an impact on what the American people think of capitalism.” So the pollster offered some advice for them about how to fight back. Here’s a few snippets of what he said, according to Moody:

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South Africa Is Next Stop On Road To Global Gov't

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, opening on Nov. 28, called COP-17, is one of a series of U.N. meetings working toward a specific goal. Advertising for this meeting features a long list of celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, U2's Bono, Ted Turner, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Al Gore...

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, opening on Nov. 28, called COP-17, is one of a series of U.N. meetings working toward a specific goal. Advertising for this meeting features a long list of celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, U2's Bono, Ted Turner, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Al Gore and Michael Bloomberg.

The U.N. goal is to move the United States into a global government by environmental regulations and a vast network of taxes. These newly imposed taxes will give the U.N. a tremendous stream of money in addition to U.S. dues and congressional appropriations.

The plan for taxes was launched at the 1992 U.N. meeting in Rio de Janeiro, known as the Earth Summit, where Conference Secretary-General Maurice Strong produced a 300-page document with 40 proposals called Agenda 21.

The tax-seeking route then proceeded through U.N. meetings in Cancun in 2010, in Durban this November and will be finalized next year at what is called Rio+20 (i.e., Rio de Janeiro after 20 years).

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Medical Marijuana Laws May Lead To Fewer Traffic Deaths

Research over the years has highlighted a number of public policies that have proven effective at reducing traffic fatalities. Increasing the drinking age to 21 reduced deaths by about 9 percent. And mandatory seat belt laws have had a similar impact in saving the lives of 14-to-18-year-olds.

Policy-makers may now want to add to this list an unexpected intervention: Legalize medical marijuana.

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Cain To Supporters: 'This Is A Trying Time'

Besieged presidential hopeful Herman Cain is appealing to his base for “friendship” and donations in the wake of the latest accusation of sexual impropriety against him.

In an email to supporters late Tuesday, Cain described his latest accuser — Ginger White — as a troubled Atlanta businesswoman and called her allegations of a 13-year affair “completely false.” The email was sent by Friends of Herman Cain.


Here is the complete text of Cain’s email to supporters

Tens of Millions of Smartphones Come With Spyware Preinstalled, Security Analyst Says

Over 100 million smartphones are tracking their owners’ every step, Android developer Trevor Eckhart claimed, thanks to software that comes preinstalled on phones from most major carriers.
During a security demonstration revealed on Monday, Eckhart showed how software developed by Carrier IQ tracks virtually everything a user does -- going as far as logging individual keystrokes and button presses. The company claims it helps its customers improve quality and performance “by counting and measuring operational information in mobile devices.” Security experts call it spyware.


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Bozell: Let's Kill Cain's Campaign

From the breaking news, one might think that with a woman who claims she had a 13-year affair with presidential candidate Herman Cain, someone is being seriously exposed as a hypocrite. That would be the press. The media can't deny they continue to display a lousy double standard. For Republican candidates, scandalous news is instant. For Democrats, it's eventual, if at all!

Ginger White's charges sound a lot like Gennifer Flowers in 1992, when she said she had a 12-year affair with Bill Clinton. So many in the press pounce on Flowers as unequivocal evidence of the media's sense of balance. After all, they will remind us, just look how we covered that scandal!

Yes, look. It's a wonderful exercise in media disinformation. Political junkies will recall that Flowers held a press conference carried live on CNN on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 23, 1992. It had all the elements for snappy news. She played audiotapes of phone conversations with Clinton. Despite all this, the first network mention was a short story by NBCs Lisa Myers, more than 24 hours later. Other than that, the three broadcast network morning and evening newscasts waited to breathe the name "Flowers" for four days.

And then they dismissed the scandal as a non-scandal. On ABC, anchorman Peter Jennings (who was married four times) set the tone: "At several stops today, talking about Gennifer Flowers, Gov. Clinton denounced what he called 'trash for cash'. And there appear to be quite a few people who agree." Jennings declared a quick ABC poll found only 26 percent wouldn't vote for an adulterous candidate. "But our polling unit points out that at least half of those people who said no are Republicans and unlikely to vote for Gov. Clinton anyway."

The networks rewarded Clinton with all this tolerance because, as liberal journalist Hendrik Hertzberg explained, at the time, reporters loved Clinton's potential: "(T)hey think he would make a very good, perhaps a great, president. Several told me they were convinced that Clinton is the most talented presidential candidate they have ever encountered, JFK included."

Herman Cain is the polar opposite of Bill Clinton to these people. Political reporters consider him an under-educated buffoon and, as a black conservative, possibly self-loathing to boot. So there are no reasons to delay adultery charges. In fact, they should be rushed on the air, followed by sneering political death notices.

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6 Shocking Revelations About Wall Street's "Secret Government"

We now have concrete evidence that Wall Street and Washington are running a secret government far removed from the democratic process. Through a freedom of information request by Bloomberg News, the public now has access to over 29,000 pages of Fed documents and 21,000 additional Fed transactions that were deliberately hidden, and for good reason.

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Look Who's Getting Audited Now

A tea party organization that demanded a refund of event fees it paid the city of Richmond, Va., after officials granted "Occupy" protesters the same services at no cost now is the target of an audit by the city.

Colleen Owens, spokeswoman for the Richmond Tea Party told WND that it's a question of fairness.

The group has paid in excess of $8,500 to the city over the last year or two for special event permit fees, the cost of policemen for security, portable restrooms and the like for its tax protest day events.

When the "Occupy Richmond" protesters were given essentially the same services by the city without cost, the Richmond Tea Party submitted an invoice to the mayor's office for reimbursement of the fees paid.

Owens confirmed to WND that the organization has not received a response to its request but instead received notification of a "comprehensive audit."


She said the suspicion that the city is responding with antagonism is supported by the fact that the letter from Cynthia Carr, a field auditor for the city, alleges that the Richmond Tea Party is "delinquent in the filing and/or payment of Admissions, Lodging and/or Meals Taxes that you are required to collect on behalf of the city."

"As such," the letter says, "your business has been selected for a comprehensive tax audit. In addition to the taxes previously mentioned, this audit may include the review of your business, professional and occupational licenses (business license), Virginia sales tax, and business personal property tax liabilities."

Carr threatens in the letter that "failure to respond and/or provide the information requested may result in the city making a statutory assessment based on the best available information for your business."

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Study: 40% of Kids Who Attempt Suicide First Try In Elementary Or Middle School

Almost 40% of kids attempting suicide make their first try in middle or even elementary school, according to research that suggests that kids who think they want to kill themselves are considering it long before previously assumed.

About 1 in 9 children have attempted suicide before their high school graduation, but learning that they're making plans as early as elementary school is especially chilling.


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New HIV Treatment Shows 100% Protection In Mice: Humans Next?

(CBS/AP) An HIV vaccine might be years away, but scientists are hopeful that promising results from a new mice study might lead to a different approach for tackling the disease.

"This is a very important paper (about) a very creative idea," says the government's AIDS chief, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who didn't participate in the research.

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Concentration Camps Being Built For U.S Citizens

Dentist Threatens To Sue Patient For Negative Yelp Review

Robert Lee went into Dr. Stacy Makhnevich’s New York dentist office for a sore tooth, but the year that followed turned into what one Public Citizen senior lawyer called an “unconscionable practice.”

The controversy began in 2010, when Lee went into Makhnevich’s office for a scheduled dentist’s appointment. Bleary from pain, Lee claimed he was told he had to sign several papers, including a “Mutual Agreement to Maintain Privacy,” before being treated. The form required Lee to agree not to publish any commentary or write anything disparaging about his experience with Makhnevich.

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I Love Christmas Lights

They remind me of the people who voted for Obama.

They all hang together; half of them don't work, and the ones that do, aren't that bright.

PACKERS Monday Night 11/14/2011 At Lambeau

Mother Confesses She Stole $2,500 From Burn Victim Son’s Medical Bills

A Minnesota woman, Jodi Ann Stewart, reportedly admits stealing and spending $2,500 meant for her badly-burned son’s medical bills on gambling and drugs.
Stewart, 40, cried in court as she pleaded guilty to felony theft by swindle on Monday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

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‘Indefinite Detention’ Bill Set For Final Vote Thursday

The Senate has cleared the way for a final vote tomorrow on the National Defense Authorization Act, a provision of which would empower the U.S. military to operate on American soil, arrest American citizens and cart them off to detention centers anywhere in the world.

After the failure yesterday of an amendment that would have weakened Section 1031 of the NDAA bill, which would turn the entire “homeland” into a battlefield and allow the military to arrest individuals accused of being terrorists and detain them indefinitely without trial, the Senate voted 88-12 today to limit debate on the legislation, clearing it for passage tomorrow.

“A final vote on the bill could come as early as Thursday,” reports the Associated Press.

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Sandusky Lawyer: Alleged Shower Victim Said There Was No Sexual Contact

(CNN) -- Jerry Sandusky's attorney said Wednesday that a young man at the heart of cover-up allegations against Penn State University officials told him he was not a victim and had no sexual contact with the former assistant football coach.
Defense lawyer Joseph Amendola told CNN contributor Sara Ganim that the young man, who was described in a grand jury report as being about 10 years old in March 2002, was in Amendola's office several weeks ago and said he believed he was the boy called "Victim 2."

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American Dream Deferred: We Now Embrace More Modest, Personal Goals

As conceptual ideals go, the American Dream is pretty iconic. And for a long time, it was pretty easy to define: People worked to earn a college degree, get a good job, buy a house and have a spouse and kids. But then the Great Recession came along and upended everything. Now, our goals are more modest — like having a financial safety net — but are still out of reach for many Americans, especially those approaching retirement age. Nearly half — 44% — of Americans say they’re working harder than their parents did at their age.

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Dog Steps On Gun, Shoots Utah Hunter In Buttocks

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A Utah bird hunter was shot in the buttocks after his dog stepped on a shotgun laid across the bow of a boat.

Box Elder County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Potter says the 46-year-old Brigham City man was duck hunting with a friend when he climbed out of the boat to move decoys.

Potter says the man left his 12-gauge shotgun in the boat and the dog stepped on it, causing it to fire. It wasn't clear whether the safety on the gun was on at the time.

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Van der Sloot Sues Chile Over His Extradition To Peru For Murder Trial

(CNN) -- The Dutch man suspected in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway has sued the Chilean government for more than $13 million, alleging his human rights were violated when Chile extradited him last year to Peru to face charges in the death of a Peruvian woman.
"The lawsuit is against the Chilean government, for having violated Joran van der Sloot's basic human rights," his Peruvian lawyer Aldo Cotrina told In Session. The suit was filed September 4 with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington.

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IRS has $153M in undelivered tax refunds

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Internal Revenue Service has $153 million in undelivered tax refund checks looking for the right homes.

The agency says there are 99,123 taxpayers to whom the checks weren't delivered because it had the wrong mailing address. The returned checks average $1,547 apiece.

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Australia Bans Distinctive Cigarette Packaging — Should Others Follow?

A year from now, Australian smokers will have to look a whole lot harder to find their favorite brand of smokes. Thanks to a first-of-its-kind law to be implemented by December 2012, when they glance across the counter they'll be staring at rows of nearly identical, olive green cartons. In place of symbols or slogans, there will be graphic health warnings covering much of each pack.

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Least Studious Schools- Salisbury University #2

The 10 Schools Where Students Study The Least: Princeton Review List

Hate studying? Who likes it?

Our pals at the Princeton Review recently named some of the least studious schools in the country. The University of North Dakota topped the list, with Maryland's Salisbury University coming in second.

Check out our slide show of the list below. Then tell us, do you think these schools are the least studious in the nation? Weigh in below!

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New Campaign Finance Website Increases Transparency

Campaign finance reports in Maryland are getting more transparent and easier to search with the new campaign finance website launched this week by the Maryland State Board of Elections. The new website, located at www.campaignfinance.maryland.gov, upgrades and further automates reporting and disclosure of the money behind campaigns. Continue Reading...

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Europe's Race To The Bottom: How Austerity Is Killing The Euro

Stock markets may have soared after central banks around the world, led by the Fed, got together in a rare coordinated action to provide more dollars to Europe's strained financial sector. But we also got an indication of just how bad things have become. There have been concerns for months that Europe's banks were having difficulty getting dollar financing, which is very important to the operation of banks in France and elsewhere, as financial institutions around the world became nervous about lending money to a sector saddled with large euro zone sovereign debt holdings of dubious quality. The scary thing about that problem is that it could have caused a financial crisis in Europe even without a major new event in the debt crisis (like an Italian default). For central banks to act as they did, the situation must have become extremely severe, or was at least deteriorating badly.

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PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ENDORSES SENATOR BEN CARDIN

Senator Ben Cardin is pleased to announce that he has received the endorsement of President Barack Obama in his 2012 campaign for the United States Senate.

In one of his earliest endorsements of the 2012 campaign season, President Obama states,
Ben is one of the good guys.

He has the courage to stand up for what he believes and he works for solutions to the most important issues facing our nation. That's why I need your help keeping Ben Cardin in the U.S. Senate.

Maryland and our country need Ben's principled leadership to help restore economic security for the middle class. Ben has been my friend since we served together in the Senate. Together we work so that our children will have the opportunity for a quality education, our seniors will have security and dignity, and we fight for a balanced approach to our nation's fiscal problems that protects our priorities and invests in job growth.

In the months to come, please help make the calls and knock on the doors in order to spread the message to return Ben to the U.S. Senate.

“I am thrilled to have the early support of President Obama, and this speaks to the importance of Democrats being united in the 2012 campaign," Senator Cardin responded to the President's endorsement.

Health Officials Pledge To Make Up For Budget Blunder On Disabilities Aid

Health Department officials told a Senate committee Wednesday the department would immediately begin to provide emergency assistance to those in the top tier of the Developmental Disabilities Administration waiting list. The step is the first of four major steps outlined by the department to make up for a $38 million budget blunder that left thousands on the DDA waiting list without services for a period of at least two years.

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With Debate Looming, Baltimore Constituents Show Sen. Catherine Pugh Their Support For Offshore Wind Power

BALTIMORE, – As state lawmakers gear up for another debate about offshore wind power in 2012, Maryland Senator Catherine Pugh of Baltimore City heard vocal support for the issue from dozens of her constituents and an array of local Baltimore organizations and businesses at this evening’s town hall forum at Saint Mark’s Church.

“Offshore wind offers Baltimoreans and Marylanders local, clean energy for years to come, improved public health, and jobs both in constructing and maintaining the wind turbines,” said Ewa Krason, Field Organizer for Environment Maryland, one of the groups who organized the event.

This town hall comes just a few weeks before the start of the 2012 General Assembly session in which Gov. Martin O’Malley will promote a bill to tap the power of wind blowing off Maryland’s Atlantic coast. Senator Pugh (D) sits on the Senate Finance Committee which will review this legislation.

Senator Pugh was joined by her colleague in the House of Delegates, Del. Barbara Robinson, and a variety of panelists who spoke about job creation, health benefits and climate change reduction that offshore wind power can provide.

“All of Maryland must benefit from offshore wind development,” said Joe Gaskins, CEO of the Economic Development and Training Institute. “In the Baltimore area alone, there are over 200 businesses, many minority-owned that could potentially participate in the supply chain process.”

Gaskins was joined by Ross Tyler of the Business Coalition for Maryland Offshore Wind and Rod Easter, President of the Baltimore Building and Construction Trades Council, who also highlighted the economic benefits of offshore wind power.

With the Persian Gulf of wind power just off our coast, this new American industry will take off whether Maryland is on board or not. After losing 85,000 manufacturing jobs since 1990, Maryland workers cannot afford to see this serious jobs plan disappear according the coalition Marylanders for Offshore Wind that Environment Maryland is a part of. One moderate sized offshore wind park would create 2400 jobs, and there are over 1000 Maryland businesses, employing over 30,000 workers, that could participate in offshore wind development.

Christine D. Keels, a 30-year Baltimore resident with severe asthma, spoke emotionally about her yearly hospitalizations and complications from asthma over the last decade and highlighted the importance of Maryland moving toward a clean energy future.

“I remember pictures of windmills as a child and always felt that it meant clean air and healthy living” Keels said. “As an adult Baltimore resident with asthma, I want the same clean air I dreamed of as child” she added.

Katie Huffling from Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and the University Of Maryland School Of Nursing also spoke about the health benefits of offshore wind energy stating that “changing to offshore wind power can reduce the public health impacts of air pollution and help make it easier for kids with asthma to stay out of the ER.”

With offshore wind, Maryland families will save over $4 billion over 25 years by preventing premature deaths. Marylanders cannot afford to continue paying higher medical bills for asthma attacks, emergency room visits, and lung disease.

Maryland cannot meet its statutory clean energy standards without offshore wind power. The state’s renewable electricity standard and the carbon reduction standard are required by historic acts of the General Assembly. Offshore wind energy will help to meet these responsibilities.

“Offshore wind works for Marylanders. Offshore wind works for ratepayers, workers, our health, our climate, and our national security. We cannot afford to miss the many, many benefits that offshore wind development will bring to Maryland,” said Tommy Landers, Campaign Director for Environment Maryland.

Siri Can't Direct You To An Abortion Clinic

(CNN) -- Siri can help you find drugstores and bars, but the iPhone 4S digital assistant is clueless when it comes to the locations of abortion clinics, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The advocacy group this week launched an online petition asking people to send e-mails to Apple saying that "if Siri can tell us about Viagra, it should not provide bad or no information about contraceptives or abortion care. Send a message to Apple: Fix Siri."

"Although it isn't clear that Apple is intentionally trying to promote an anti-choice agenda, it is distressing that Siri can point you to Viagra, but not the Pill, or help you find an escort, but not an abortion clinic," the group wrote in a blog post Wednesday. "We're confident that the developers at Apple want to provide iPhone users with accurate information."

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Aaron Thomas, East Coast Rapist Suspect, Transported To Va.; Arraignment In Prince William County

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (WUSA) -- Aaron Thomas was transported to Virginia Tuesday and was arraigned in District Court in Manassas this morning at 8:30.

Thomas faces eight charges in two rapes that happened in Woodbridge on Halloween night. 2009. Three teenage girls were walking home from trick or treating when Thomas, the accused "East Coast Rapist", raped two of them in a wooded area. He is also chraged with use of a firearm during those rapes.

Judge Scott Bailey asked Thomas if he understood the eight charges against him and Thomas, who stared down at his feet the entire time, said, "No." The judge asked what was it that he didn't understand and Thomas finally indicated that he wanted a court-appointed attorney. The judge appointed attorney Ron Fahy to represent Thomas.

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I-95 Newark Toll Plaza Experienced No Delays Throughout Thanksgiving Holiday

Newark -- Despite an increase in traffic volumes through both the manual and E-ZPass lanes from previous years, there were no reported delays at the I-95 Toll Plaza in Newark for the entire Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.

On the nation's most traveled weekend, where toll plaza traffic backups had in the past reached for miles, the newly reconstructed design of the I-95 toll plaza virtually eliminated all delays. The toll plaza now incorporates highway speed E-ZPass lanes where users are able to pass seamlessly under sensor devices with the capability of registering tolls at highway speed.

"Our plaza managers do a terrific job of providing full scheduling for all peak holiday traffic events each year," said Vic Buono, Chief of Toll Operations. "In the past we experienced severe back-ups on weekends and holidays at Newark due to the lack of highway speed lanes. This was especially visible during the construction project which caused unavoidable additional daily delays. The difference this year was a result of the redesigned lane configuration implemented in late June, coupled with the full staffing of all of the manual/cash lanes, allowing for smoother traffic flow with no delays at all. As always, our staff at all three Delaware toll plazas continue to do outstanding work 24-hours a day, throughout the year under all types of conditions."

A total of 611,332 vehicles passed through the I-95 Newark toll plaza during the Thanksgiving weekend. An average of 4,412 transactions processed per hour.

2011 Daily Traffic Count - November 23 to 29
Tuesday - 81,907
Wednesday - 115,966
Thursday - 96,110
Friday - 47,905
Saturday - 66,077
Sunday - 51,342

Md. Man Wins Aruba Appeal In Missing Woman Case

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) — A U.S. businessman who spent nearly four months in an Aruban jail before a judge ordered his release scored another legal victory Wednesday when an appeals court rejected a prosecution appeal to put him back in pretrial detention.

Gary Giordano had already left Aruba when the three-judge appeals court panel ruled that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to continue holding him as a suspect in the disappearance and presumed death of his traveling companion, Robyn Gardner

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Fill In The Blank 12-01-11

The biggest/most expensive gift I will buy this Christmas is going to be ____.

Buffett Buys Hometown Newspaper

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The Oracle of Omaha is making an old-media buy.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA, Fortune 500) announced plans on Wednesday to purchase the Omaha World-Herald Company, which owns the Omaha World-Herald and several other newspapers in Nebraska and Iowa.

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Ron Paul's Reaction To The Central Bank Moves

Ron Paul tells it the way it is: In this CNBC interview, he correctly points out that we are bailing out the Greeks and it is a worldwide quantitative easing. The price inflation will come. He also explains why it is very unlikely he will run as a third party candidate.

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Ron Paul Statement On The Fed's Bailout Of Europe

The Fed's latest actions in cooperating with foreign central banks to undertake liquidity swaps of dollars for foreign currencies is another reason why Congress needs enhanced power to oversee and audit the Fed. Under current law Congress cannot examine these types of agreements. Those who would argue that auditing the Fed or these agreements with central banks harms the Fed's independence should reevaluate the Fed's supposed independence when the Fed bails out Europe so soon after President Obama promised US assistance in resolving the Euro crisis.

Rather than calming markets, these arrangements should indicate just how frightened governments around the world are about the European financial crisis. Central banks are grasping at straws, hoping that flooding the world with money created out of thin air will somehow resolve a crisis caused by uncontrolled government spending and irresponsible debt issuance. Congress should not permit this type of open-ended commitment on the part of the Fed, a commitment which could easily run into the trillions of dollars. These dollar swaps are purely inflationary and will harm American consumers as much as any form of quantitative easing.

The Fed is behaving much as it did during the 2008 financial crisis, only this time instead of bailing out politically well-connected too-big-to-fail firms it is bailing out profligate government spending. Citizens the world over deserve better than this. They deserve sound money that cannot be manipulated and created out of thin air by central planners who promise printed prosperity. Fiat money caused this European crisis and the financial crisis before it. More fiat money is not the cure. The global fiat currency system has proven itself a failure, we need real monetary reform. We need sound money.

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Local Apartments

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Government Settles Case Brought By First Anthrax Victim For $2.5 Million

WASHINGTON – While denying negligence by one of its premier bio-weapons labs, the government has agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle a wrongful death suit filed by survivors of the first fatality victim of the deadly 2001 anthrax mail attacks, court papers revealed Tuesday.

The money will go to the widow and children of Robert Stevens, a Florida-based photo editor for the National Enquirer and other tabloids who was the first of five people to die after inhaling the tiny spores.

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Wicomico Recreation’s Youth Basketball Takes The Court This Winter

Salisbury, MD – Wicomico Recreation is stepping onto the court this winter with the introduction of Youth Basketball. The eight week season will tip-off on January 14th and conclude with single elimination play-offs in March. The program is recruiting players and volunteer coaches.

Play is open to boys and girls of all skill levels from 5th through 8th grade. Players can register as part of a team of ten or individually to play on house created teams. Practice sessions will be held at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in early January prior to the first game. Once the season begins, all games will be held on Saturdays at Salisbury Middle School (607 Morris Street). Scheduled games will begin at 9am and run through the early afternoon.

Potential players and/or coaches are invited to the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Monday, December 12th from 6pm to 8pm for a free skills clinic. The clinic will provide a review, drills and an overview of the new program. The clinic will also kick-off registration, and all those that on-site will receive a $5 discount.

The cost to play is regularly $50. The registration fee includes regular season, play-offs and t-shirt. The registration window will run from Monday, December 12th through Friday, January 6th 2012 at 5pm. Register online at www.WicomicoRecandParks.org or in person at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (500 Glen Ave. Salisbury, MD 21804). For more information on playing or coaching please contact Program Coordinator Louie Richardson at 410.548.4900 ext. 105.

Banks May Have Illegally Foreclosed On 5,000 Members Of The Military

For months, major banks have been dealing with the fallout of the “robo-signing” scandal, following reports that the banks were improperly foreclosing on homeowners and, in many instances, falsifying paperwork that they were submitting to courts. Banks have been forced to go back and re-examine foreclosures to ensure that homeowners did not lose their homes unlawfully.

In the latest episode of this mess, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has found that banks — including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup — may have improperly foreclosed on up to 5,000 active members of the military:

Ten leading US lenders may have unlawfully foreclosed on the mortgages of nearly 5,000 active-duty members of the US military in recent years, according to data released by a federal regulator. [...]

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Alex Mooney Announces Congressional Exploratory Committee

Shortly before 5:00pm on Wednesday November 30, 2011, former Republican State Senator and current Maryland Republican Party Chairman Alex Mooney officially filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to form a campaign fundraising committee called “Mooney for Congress.”

“With the recent news about Congressman Roscoe Bartlett’s long time chief-of-staff preparing to run for Congress and the Democratic Party's cynical and corrupt redistricting plan to oust Congressman Bartlett, I felt it was time for me also to start an exploratory committee for Congress. We cannot let Congressman Bartlett's seat be taken by a tax-and-spend liberal like Rob Garagiola. Our economy is suffering and we need more jobs -- not more government, more debt and more taxes,” said Mooney.

Donations can be made to “Mooney for Congress” and Mr. Mooney plans to officially file as a candidate for Congress in January, at which time he would step down from his position as Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party and take a leave of absence from his job running a non-profit organization which trains journalists.

Herman Cain's Problem Is Herman Cain

As GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain battles charges of sexual harassment from four different women, he has used a number of ploys to defend himself. At the end of the day, whether the issue is sexual harassment, who developed his 9-9-9 plan or his limited understanding of foreign policy, the source of Herman Cain's problems is his inability to command the facts.

His problems don't stem from the Perry campaign, "unstable women" or the liberal media; Herman Cain's problem is Herman Cain.

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My Ride Home From Work Yesterday

Today's Survey Question 12-1-11

Do you trust the stock market?

Get Your Cheap Eat On: Subway To Offer $2 Sandwiches In December

Not in the mood for an entire $5 foot-long sub? The holiday season has brought yet another gift, in the form of a deal: Starting today and going through December, you can grab a $2 six-inch sandwich from Subway.

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Peter Schiff Explains What Today's Global Fed-Funded Bailout Means For The Future

If anyone is still confused by what has transpired today, here is Peter Schiff explaining in simple words, why what happened "may be one of the most important economic events of the year" and what to do next: "Today’s unprecedented announcement by the world’s most powerful central banks was a loud and clear bell ringing to buy precious metals. The move, disguised as an attempt to help the fragile state of the global economy, is in reality a move to prop up failing banks in Europe and the US. By reducing interest rates paid for dollar swaps, central bankers are in effect increasing the quantity of global dollars in circulation. The result? The dollar will weaken, inflation will rise, and gold will soar. Gold was up more than $30 today, and the dollar got crushed. I urge you to take 7 minutes to watch the video I recorded exclusively for my subscribers a few hours ago. It explains, in plain language, what happened today – and what is the likely outcome for your portfolio. This may be one of the most important economic events of the year." And pardon Schiff's self-promotional piece at the end, but the truth is that he is essentially correct about what the actions means from a big picture perspective. Furthermore, as Goldman made all too clear, this is merely the beginning as more and more inflationary actions have to be undertaken by central banks to save banks from being crushed by untenable debt loads. Whether they succeed in overturning the deflationary tsunami is unknown. What is certain is that they will bring fiat currencies to the verge of viability (and beyond) in trying.



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Reporter Investigating Foreclosure Fraud Finds Out He's A Victim Of Foreclosure Fraud

As much as we Consumerists hate when our work crosses over into our personal lives and we end up on hold with our cable TV provider for hours or feel the sting of the grocery shrink ray, that's nothing compared to what happened to a reporter in Las Vegas who, while investigating the rampant foreclosure fraud in his region, discovered he too had fallen victim to the very problem he was reporting on.

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Employer Health Costs Rise Faster Than Medicare

The upward spiral in U.S. health insurance costs is especially acute for employers that offer the benefit and employees shouldering more of their own costs.

Much of the attention on the rising cost of health care has focused on unsustainable public outlay for programs like Medicare. The federal government — using tax dollars — pays for millions of peoples’ coverage (and, eventually, will chip in for all of our care if we live long enough). The spiraling costs of doctor visits, medicine and surgery for so many people have contributed considerably to the country’s glum economic outlook.

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What's Wrong With The Main Stream Media?

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 12-1-11

On 11/30/2011, at about 1957 hrs., a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on Ocean Highway and Linden Avenue, Pocomoke City, Maryland. The driver was identified as Shelby Leon Coates, age 65, from Suffolk Virginia. A wanted check showed that Mr. Coates was wanted through Somerset County, Maryland for Failure to Appear on a Sale of Untaxed Cigarettes charge on 08/17/2006. Mr. Coates was held at the Worcester County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond.

Obama Admin Seals Records Of Murdered Border Patrol Agent Implicated In Fast And Furious

And to think that Attorney General Eric Holder is getting testy about congressional calls for his resignation. After all, the Justice Department has nothing to hide, right?:

The Obama Administration has abruptly sealed court records containing alarming details of how Mexican drug smugglers murdered a U.S. Border patrol agent with a gun connected to a failed federal experiment that allowed firearms to be smuggled into Mexico.

This means information will now be kept from the public as well as the media. Could this be a cover-up on the part of the “most transparent” administration in history? After all, the rifle used to kill the federal agent (Brian Terry) last December in Arizona’s Peck Canyon was part of the now infamous Operation Fast and Furious. Conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the disastrous scheme allowed guns to be smuggled into Mexico so they could eventually be traced to drug cartels.

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Obama Issues Executive Order

Federal managers, management associations and unions will have two more years to make kumbaya. President Obama issued an executive order extending the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations through 2013. It was set to expire in a month. The White House calls the extension routine. But not much on the committee's agenda has been done. A few weeks ago, it recommended ways to improve employee evaluation systems. But it's still working on other objectives. One is to gage the value of union participation in non-bargaining decisions, such as how many workers to assign to a project

Democrat Poem From 1949

Click on image to enlarge.

"China Will Not Hesitate To Protect Iran Even With A Third World War"

Fast forward to 2:08: "It is puzzling to some that Major General Zhang Zhaozhong, a professor from the Chinese National Defense University, said China will not hesitate to protect Iran even with a third World War... Professor Xia Ming: "Zhang Zhaozhong said that not hesitating to fight a third world war would be entirely for domestic political needs...." And don't forget Russia, which recently said it is preparing to retaliate against NATO and has put radar stations on combat alert: "Russia is another ally of Iran, with similar policy to that of China. Toward Iran." Watch, and please forward the entire video, for an explanation of how China is approaching the situation not only in Iran, but a perspective of how they view the western "threat", as well as what tensions they face domestically.

2 Governors Asking U.S. To Ease Rules On Marijuana To Allow For Its Medical Use

The governors of Washington and Rhode Island petitioned the federal government on Wednesday to reclassify marijuana as a drug with accepted medical uses, saying the change is needed so states like theirs, which have decriminalized marijuana for medical purposes, can regulate the safe distribution of the drug without risking federal prosecution.

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WANTED MAN SHOT AFTER ATTACKING WARRANT TEAM

(UPPER MARLBORO, MD) – A Maryland state trooper assigned to a federal warrant task force shot and wounded a Prince George’s County man this morning after the man charged the trooper and team members with a knife.

The man is identified as Michael W. King, 31, of the 9200-block of Goldenrod Lane, Upper Marlboro, Md. He is undergoing treatment for gunshot wounds at the Prince George’s Hospital Center. He is under police guard at the hospital and criminal charges against him are pending.

The trooper involved is identified as Trooper First Class Wesley Jefferson, a four-year-veteran of the Maryland State Police. TFC Jefferson is assigned to the Maryland State Police Criminal Investigation Division State Apprehension Team. He is currently serving as a member of the United States Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force.

At about 8:30 a.m. today, eight members of the task force went to King’s residence to serve a Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office warrant for drug distribution. Members of the team were from the Maryland State Police, U.S. Marshals Service, Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Team members knocked repeatedly on the door of King’s mobile home and announced themselves as police officers. They repeatedly called King by name as they continued to knock on the door and announce their presence. There was no answer.

Police verified King’s vehicle was in the driveway and developed probable cause
that King was inside his home. About 45 minutes after their arrival, team members
entered the residence through a front window. As they went through the window, task
force members continued to announce themselves as police and called King by name.
Task force members were wearing jackets and badges that clearly identified them as
law enforcement officers.

The preliminary investigation indicates that once inside the residence, the team
members were preparing to conduct a tactical search for King. Without warning, King
came around the corner from behind a wall with an upraised knife and ran straight at
team members who were about five feet from him. King was yelling as he ran toward
police.

In fear for his life and the safety of his fellow team members, TFC Jefferson fired
his department-issued .40 caliber Beretta PX4 Storm pistol. King was wounded in the
head and torso. No other members of the team fired their weapons. No law enforcement
officers were injured.

Task force members immediately called for emergency medical services and
administered first aid to King. King was transported by ambulance to the Prince
George’s Hospital Center.

The knife King was holding was recovered at the scene. It is described as a
folding tactical style knife with a curved blade about four inches long.

Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and Internal Affairs Unit investigators are conducting an investigation into the police involved shooting. After consultation with the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, State Police investigators are applying for a search warrant for King’s residence. Investigators and crime scene technicians remain at the scene and will be searching the home and processing the scene pursuant to the warrant.

TFC Jefferson has been placed on routine administrative leave, which is procedure in police involved shootings. The investigation is continuing.

The United States Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force was formed to combine law enforcement resources in a cooperative effort to locate and arrest fugitives and wanted criminals, with the ultimate goal of reducing violent crime. Members of the task force include the: US Marshals Service, Maryland State Police, Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office, Prince George’s County Police Department, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Police Department, Charles County Sheriff’s Office, US Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Baltimore Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Big News Day Today

We've already covered up until midnight tonight, so you'll see a lot of Posts up inbetween the regular every 15 minute Posts throughout the day.

Folks, I'm very excited about the Christmas Free TV Giveaway we started yesterday. We've enjoyed quite a few letters already and each one of them qualifies for a TV.

If you know of a Family in need you should let us know as they are disappearing fast.

Movers And Sheriff’s Deputies Refuse Bank’s Order To Evict 103-Year-Old Atlanta Woman

Yesterday, a Deutsche Bank branch in Atlanta had requested the eviction of Vita Lee, a 103-year-old Atlanta woman, and her 83-year-old daughter. Both were terrified of being removed from their home of 53 years and had no idea where they’d go next.

But when the movers hired by the bank and police were dispatched to evict the two women, they had a change of heart. In a huge victory for the 99 Percent, the movers “took one look at” Lee and decided not to go through with it. Watch WSB TV’s Channel 2′s video report about the incident:

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SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA

DECEMBER 5, 2011
CONFERENCE ROOM 306
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING

4:30 p.m. Review of audit/financial statements – Gerri Moore/Pam Baker

5:15 p.m. Transition for Charter Amendment on access to legal – Paul Wilber

6:00 p.m. Resolution to place a non-binding referendum question on the ballot at the next
General Election on the first Tuesday of April, 2013, to vote for or against Charter Amendment Resolution No. 2109, placing appointment, oversight and discharge authority of the City Solicitor under the City Council – Councilwoman Laura Mitchell

6:15 p.m. Break

6:30 p.m. Follow-up discussion on Board of Zoning procedures – Paul Wilber/Bill Holland//Tom
Stevenson Consideration of moratorium extension

7:00 p.m. Towing Ordinance – Council

7:30 p.m. 2012 City Council meeting dates/times – Brenda Colegrove

7:45 p.m. General discussion/upcoming agendas
Election redistricting
Rental inspections
Other

8:00 p.m. Adjournment

Would You Watch An Ad To Avoid An ATM Fee?

From e-mail to broadcast TV programming, search engines to roadside billboards, consumers are accustomed to being inundated with advertisements at every turn. Typically, the tradeoff for being subjected to ads is that consumers get some sort of free or subsidized service. Could this business model also work for ATM transactions, thereby eliminating annoying $3 fees for consumers?

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Questions

Can you cry under water?

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

Why do you have to 'put your two cents in'... but it's only a 'penny for your thoughts'? Where's that extra penny going to?

Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours?

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why do doctors leave the room while you change?
They're going to see you naked anyway...

Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural?

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?

If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours?
They're both dogs!

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?

Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

Why, do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?

If people evolved from apes,
why are there still apes?

-Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses
are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

And my FAVORITE.........
The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons are suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

Case Of The Drowned Million-Dollar Car To Go To Trial

Remember the guy who drove that million-dollar car into a Texas swamp a couple of years ago? A jury will have to decide whether he was trying to scam an insurance company to double his money on it.

This video of the incident on YouTube has drawn more than 2.6 million people eager to watch Andy House, an auto dealer in Lufkin, Texas, drive the $1 million French-built Bugatti Veyron — one of only 300 ever made — into a lagoon in LaMarque, near Galveston, in November 2009:

See Video Here