House lawmakers have 48-hours to approve a Senate resolution raising judges’ salaries by $14,500 over three years, or larger pay hikes of up to $29,000 could take effect automatically under Maryland law.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, March 12, 2012
Big Banks at Center of Interest Rate Probe
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- It affects everything from mortgages to credit cards to student loans, and now some of the world's biggest banks are at the center of a criminal investigation into whether they manipulated it for their own benefit.
The London Interbank Offered Rate, or Libor, is a measure of the cost of borrowing between banks that serves as a benchmark for over $350 trillion worth of financial products worldwide.
Higher Libor rates translate into higher borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, while lower rates could make lenders reluctant to lend since they can't charge as much in interest. In addition to consumer loans, certain bonds and interest rate swaps also use it as a benchmark.
YOUR OFF-BALANCE SHEET DEBT
If you think the National Debt is really $15.5 trillion, think again. Obama and his monions guarantee another $9 trillion of debt with your tax dollars. They are actively pushing more debt on deadbeat home buyers and students with no hope of finding jobs. The chart below excludes the $6 trillion of mortagages guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We all know how well those two fine institutions are being run. They’ve only lost $200 billion of your tax dollars in the last three years.
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Taliban Vows Revenge for U.S. Soldier's Shooting Rampage
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The Afghan Taliban said Monday that its fighters would exact revenge for 16 people left dead after an American soldier went on a house-to-house shooting rampage in two villages a day earlier.
Describing U.S. forces as "sick minded American savages," the Taliban said in a statement on its website that it would mete out punishment for the "barbaric actions." The Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist movement, has battled the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan for a decade.
U.S. officials have expressed shock and sadness over the attack, while Afghan leaders have angrily condemned it. President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan called it an "unforgivable" crime, noting that nine of the dead were children.
The killings have fueled fears of intensified ire directed at international forces in the country following deadly riots over the burning of Qurans by U.S. troops late last month.
Welcome To The One Percent Recovery
As the 1% reap 93 percent of the income gains from the recovery, we’re rapidly returning to pre-New Deal levels of inequality.
There was a brief debate focused on the following question: would the gains of the economy continue to accrue to the top 1% once the recovery started, or would they have a weak post-recession showing in terms of raw income growth as well as income share of the economy? The top 1% had a rough Great Recession. They absorbed 50 percent of the income losses, and their share of income dropped from 23.5 percent to 18.1 percent. Was this a new state of affairs, or would the 1% bounce back in 2010?
We finally have the estimated data for 2010 by income percentile, and it turns out that the top 1% had a fantastic year. The data is in the World Top Income Database, as well as Emmanuel Saez’s updated “Striking it Richer: The Evolution of Top Incomes in the United States” (as well as the excel spreadsheet on his webpage). Timothy Noah has a first set of responses here. The takeaway quote from Saez is, “the top 1% captured 93% of the income gains in the first year of recovery.”
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There was a brief debate focused on the following question: would the gains of the economy continue to accrue to the top 1% once the recovery started, or would they have a weak post-recession showing in terms of raw income growth as well as income share of the economy? The top 1% had a rough Great Recession. They absorbed 50 percent of the income losses, and their share of income dropped from 23.5 percent to 18.1 percent. Was this a new state of affairs, or would the 1% bounce back in 2010?
We finally have the estimated data for 2010 by income percentile, and it turns out that the top 1% had a fantastic year. The data is in the World Top Income Database, as well as Emmanuel Saez’s updated “Striking it Richer: The Evolution of Top Incomes in the United States” (as well as the excel spreadsheet on his webpage). Timothy Noah has a first set of responses here. The takeaway quote from Saez is, “the top 1% captured 93% of the income gains in the first year of recovery.”
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China Getting Giant Roller Coaster Made in Baltimore
A Baltimore company says it’s building the world’s tallest indoor roller coaster for a shopping mall in China.
Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development touted the project Thursday as one of the state’s exporting achievements.
Premier Rides Inc. says the coaster is for the Great Mall of China, opening next year near Beijing.
Premier isn’t releasing the coaster’s specifications for competitive reasons. The 90-foot Canyon Blaster at Circus Circus in Las Vegas is currently billed as the tallest indoor roller coaster.
Premier Rides moved its headquarters from Millersville to Baltimore in 2010. Its other projects include two “Revenge of the Mummy” indoor roller coasters at the Universal Studios theme parks in Florida and California, and a Yamaha Racing Coaster at the Trans Studio indoor theme park in Bandung, Indonesia.
Source
Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development touted the project Thursday as one of the state’s exporting achievements.
Premier Rides Inc. says the coaster is for the Great Mall of China, opening next year near Beijing.
Premier isn’t releasing the coaster’s specifications for competitive reasons. The 90-foot Canyon Blaster at Circus Circus in Las Vegas is currently billed as the tallest indoor roller coaster.
Premier Rides moved its headquarters from Millersville to Baltimore in 2010. Its other projects include two “Revenge of the Mummy” indoor roller coasters at the Universal Studios theme parks in Florida and California, and a Yamaha Racing Coaster at the Trans Studio indoor theme park in Bandung, Indonesia.
Source
"I'm Getting Arrested" App Aims To Help Drivers
Phoenix - A group of pro-immigrant rights activists in Arizona aim to develop a smartphone application that would help immigrants notify friends, family and their attorney if they are detained and arrested during a traffic stop.
Arizona was the first state to pass a law to make it a crime to be an undocumented immigrant (SB 1070), leading to an increased crackdown and climate of fear among immigrants.
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Arizona was the first state to pass a law to make it a crime to be an undocumented immigrant (SB 1070), leading to an increased crackdown and climate of fear among immigrants.
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‘Oh My God That Hurt!’: Reporter Walks Into Pole During Ambush Interview
Canadian television reporter Kent Molgat is the latest to fall victim to the unyielding viral nature of the Internet: footage of him walking into a pole while trying to get an attorney on the record is spreading fast.
In the video, Molgat is seen walking briskly to keep up with the lawyer, microphone in hand, when he smacks full-force into the pole, even knocking his glasses askew. “Oh my God that hurt!” he says.
Molgat himself posted the video on his Facebook page, with the comment: “Ok. Go ahead and have a good laugh. This is me failing to navigate around a perfectly visible post.” Posted Wednesday, 17 of his friends had “liked” it by Friday afternoon.
Video Here
Weak Laws Pave Way For Child Sex Abuse
Though child-care centers in Florida must obtain a license, summer camps are unregulated. As a result, several sex offenders have snuck in as employees. Lawmakers have been warned about the lax laws since the mid-1980s, but they’ve “taken virtually no steps to protect kids.”
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Survey: Obama's Ratings Drop as Gas Price Soar
WASHINGTON – A majority of Americans disapprove of the way President Barack Obama is handling the economy -- with a record number who "disapprove strongly" -- amid soaring gas prices and an uncertain fiscal future, a new Washington Post-ABC News survey out Monday found.
The poll found that 50 percent of those surveyed strongly disapprove of Obama's economic performance -- the highest in the poll's history. A total of 59 percent gave the president negative marks on the economy.
With rising gas prices hitting Americans at the pump, 65 percent said they found Obama's handling of the issue unsatisfactory. Of that number, 52 percent were said to "disapprove strongly" and only 14 percent "approve strongly" of Obama's performance on gas prices.
Sealing Loose Lips: Charting Obama’s Crackdown On Leaks
While the Obama administration has promised to strengthen protections for whistleblowers, it has also launched an aggressive crackdown on government employees who have leaked national security information to the press.
The administration has brought a total of six cases under the Espionage Act, which dates from World War I and criminalizes disclosing information “relating to the national defense.” (The Department of Justice has five criminal cases and the Army has one against alleged Wikileaks source Bradley Manning.) Prior to the current administration, there had been only three known casesresulting in indictments in which the Espionage Act was used to prosecute government officials for leaks.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice told us the government “does not target whistleblowers.” (Read their full statement below the timeline.) As they point out, government whistleblower protections shield only those who raise their concerns through the proper channels within their agency—not through leaks to the media or other unauthorized persons.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper summed up the government’s approach in a 2010 memo: “people in the intelligence business should be like my grandchildren—seen but not heard.”
Here’s a timeline of leak prosecutions under the Espionage Act, showing how they’ve picked up steam under Obama.
Nation of Islam Newspaper Attacks ‘Minion of the Synagogue of Satan’ Glenn Beck for Farrakhan Comments: ‘We Will Not Allow Such Vicious Assaults’
- Beck discussed Farrakhan’s recent warning about a possible assassination of President Barack Obama.
- Farrakhan has called Obama a “murderer” and “assassin,“ and Beck said his words constitute ”a clear and present danger to the president.”
- The official newspaper of the Nation of Islam published a piece calling Beck a “minion of the synagogue of Satan” and said it will “not allow such vicious assaults” on Farrakhan.
- The Koran “teaches Muslims to never be the aggressor in word or deed, but if attacked, we fight with those who fight with us.”
The Nation of Islam’s official newspaper The Final Call on Saturday published an opinion piece attacking “minion of the synagogue of Satan” Glenn Beck for his recent comments about Louis Farrakhan, vowing it will “not allow such vicious assaults” on the movement’s leader.
During his radio show Feb. 27, Beck discussed Farrakhan’s warning that racial hatred could lead to an attempt on President Barack Obama’s life, even suggesting that a Muslim could be set up to kill him. Beck wondered whether the warning could be a kind of set up to draw attention from Farrakhan and his followers — Farrakhan in the past has called Obama a “murderer” and “assassin.”
The End Of Cheap China
THE end of cheap China is at hand. Blue-collar labour costs in Guangdong and other coastal hubs have been rising at double-digit rates for a decade. Workers in the hinterland, too, are demanding—and receiving—huge pay increases. China is no longer a place where manufacturers can go to find ultra-cheap hands (see article). Other countries, such as Vietnam, are much cheaper. What will this mean for China and the world?
Contrary to conventional wisdom, it will not mean that companies close their Chinese factories and stampede to somewhere poorer. China is still a terrific place to make things. Labour may be cheaper elsewhere, but it is only one cost among several. Unlike its lower-paying rivals, China has reasonable infrastructure, sophisticated supply chains and the advantage of scale. When demand surges for a particular product, the biggest firms in China can add thousands of extra workers to a production line in a matter of hours.
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Contrary to conventional wisdom, it will not mean that companies close their Chinese factories and stampede to somewhere poorer. China is still a terrific place to make things. Labour may be cheaper elsewhere, but it is only one cost among several. Unlike its lower-paying rivals, China has reasonable infrastructure, sophisticated supply chains and the advantage of scale. When demand surges for a particular product, the biggest firms in China can add thousands of extra workers to a production line in a matter of hours.
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See a Fox News Reporter Get Zapped by Military’s Wild New ‘Heat Ray’
The U.S. Military unveiled new technology this week, in the form of a futuristic heat-ray.
“You’re not gonna see it, you’re not gonna hear it, you’re not gonna smell it: you’re gonna feel it,” US Marine Colonel Tracy Taffola explained to members of the media.
He elaborated, saying that the “Active Denial System” is one of the military’s safest non-lethal capabilities, having been developed over 15 years but never utilized in the field.
It was briefly deployed in Afghanistan in 2010, but never used in an operation.
From some 1000 meters, or .6 miles, a truck can aim this beam at many attackers, making them all feel incredibly hot via an electromagnetic beam. There are no lasting effects, just an irresistible urge to run away from whatever was causing the sensation. “We can shoot first, and ask questions later. Normally you can’t do that,” one uniformed serviceman said.
In order to avoid accidents, the operation’s trigger automatically shuts off after just three seconds. “This provides the safest means and also provides the greatest range,” Taffola explained.
Videos and more Here
In The Future, Socialism Will Advance Through "Insurance"
I forget who said that. I think it's insightful and correct.
There are two functions of real insurance: hedging against a risk and risk-sharing for those risks we choose to share.
One in ten thousand people might suffer rectal cancer. It probably makes sense for most people, on a voluntary basis, to decide (voluntarily) to pay in a little money for insurance so that if they suffer such a catastrophic and expensive illness, they'll be covered.
If they're one of the lucky ones -- well, they're out a little bit of money, but they are one of the lucky ones.
Insurance makes sense in this situation, for most people, as most people would like to reduce the impact of serious risks that strike like lightning. They are unpredictable, and when they hit, they require major changes in lifestyle. Most people -- especially with children, who must be planned for whether their parents are sick or healthy, alive for dead -- are willing to pay a little into an insurance pool to manage this risk.
On the other hand there are things which are not risks: Cost of housing. Food costs. Voluntary contraception costs. These are not risks, as the "odds" such costs will be incurred is 100%, and hence cannot be "insured" against.
Do you want to eat? You're going to have to budget for food. No one can insure you against the possibility you might need food.
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There are two functions of real insurance: hedging against a risk and risk-sharing for those risks we choose to share.
One in ten thousand people might suffer rectal cancer. It probably makes sense for most people, on a voluntary basis, to decide (voluntarily) to pay in a little money for insurance so that if they suffer such a catastrophic and expensive illness, they'll be covered.
If they're one of the lucky ones -- well, they're out a little bit of money, but they are one of the lucky ones.
Insurance makes sense in this situation, for most people, as most people would like to reduce the impact of serious risks that strike like lightning. They are unpredictable, and when they hit, they require major changes in lifestyle. Most people -- especially with children, who must be planned for whether their parents are sick or healthy, alive for dead -- are willing to pay a little into an insurance pool to manage this risk.
On the other hand there are things which are not risks: Cost of housing. Food costs. Voluntary contraception costs. These are not risks, as the "odds" such costs will be incurred is 100%, and hence cannot be "insured" against.
Do you want to eat? You're going to have to budget for food. No one can insure you against the possibility you might need food.
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Kids Fight on For Recess Bible Study
An attorney for a then-4th-grader who was prohibited by school officials from holding a Bible study with his friends at recess time says an appeals court will be hearing the case to clear up misunderstandings – and even misrepresentations – about the situation.
Jonathan Scruggs, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, said school officials admitted multiple times that Bible studies were not permitted at recess, so the district’s statements that the controversy developed out of a misunderstanding are incorrect.
Jonathan Scruggs, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, said school officials admitted multiple times that Bible studies were not permitted at recess, so the district’s statements that the controversy developed out of a misunderstanding are incorrect.
And, he said, there are important constitutional issues involved.
It was in 2004 when Luke Whitson, then a 4th grader at Karns Elementary School in Knoxville, Tenn., would gather with other students under a tree at recess to discuss and study the Bible.
MoreGloria Allred Calls For Criminal Prosecution Of Rush Limbaugh
Noted lawyer Gloria Allred, writing on the letterhead of the Women’s Equal Rights Legal Defense and Education Fund has asked the West Palm Beach County Attorney to prosecute Rush Limbaugh for violating Fla. Stat. § 836.04:
Whoever speaks of and concerning any woman, married or unmarried, falsely and maliciously imputing to her a want of chastity, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree ….
Readers of the blog know of my disapproval of Rush Limbaugh’s “slut”/”prostitute”; but while I condemned those remarks, they can’t be criminally punished.
1. Knowingly false statements of fact about a person are indeed constitutionally unprotected, whether they injure the person’s reputation (and are thus libel or slander) or would simply be highly offensive to a reasonable person (and are thus actionable under the false light tort. But that is so only when a reasonable listener would perceive these as factual assertions, not as hyperbole or as statements of opinion.
Thus, for instance, say that A asserts that B is guilty of “blackmail.” Blackmail is a crime, and accusations of crime are generally actionable libel. But if in context it is clear that the word is “rhetorical hyperbole, a vigorous epithet used by those who considered [B]‘s negotiating position extremely unreasonable,” then the accusation is constitutionally protected opinion — it is basically an assertion that B’s accurately described conduct is morally similar to blackmail, a statement of opinion (and perhaps clearly understood hyperbole). So the Court held in Greebelt Coop. Pub. Ass’n, Inc. v. Bresler (1970).
Limbaugh’s saying that Fluke’s testimony “makes her a slut” and “makes her a prostitute” falls into the same category: Listeners would understand is as “rhetorical hyperbole, … vigorous epithet[s] used by [Limbaugh,] who considered [Fluke's advocacy] extremely unreasonable,” an assertion (however logically unsound, in my view) that Fluke’s demands are morally similar to a prostitute’s insistence on getting money for sex. That is a statement of opinion and constitutionally protected.
7 Forgotten Tasks for Your Spring Cleaning List
Spring is almost upon us and with it comes that joie de vivre to do our annual spring cleaning (NOT!). And, while we all make sure to clean the tried and true, high to low; betwixt and between, there are those overlooked areas, rooms, spots and items in our homes that also need our "TLC." Read on to make sure your home is spotless this spring!
1. The Fridge (Behind, Under and Top)
There's lots of food particles and crumbs underneath and behind the refrigerator, so:
- Slide it out, vacuum and wash (if you can’t slide it out, simply cover a fly swatter with an old/lightly dampened sock).
- Clean the drip pan: believe it or not, it's a roach's favorite happy hour spot and drinking fountain (yuck)! To clean it, use white vinegar and a toothbrush to scrub and wipe clean with dry a microfiber brush.
-Don't forget the coils: vacuum with upholstery attachment, (but be sure to turn fridge power off first). You'll want to clean these because if they’re clogged, the fridge won’t work as efficiently. It will use more energy and cost you more money!
-Rubber Gasket/Seals: You can clean them with white vinegar, but if you keep vodka in your freezer, use that because vodka is a natural sanitizer and terrific multi-tasker that kills 99.9 percent of germs, bacteria, mold. For the seals, apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the seals to keep them from drying out and prevent mold for forming.
2. The Sink (Applies to All Sinks)
- Remove any yuck you see with hands
- Pour a cup of baking soda, followed by cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Once it stops bubbling, pour a kettle of hot water down the drain. (Side note: if you’re not sure that your baking soda is still good, you can test it by adding some vinegar—if it doesn’t bubble chuck it!)
-You can clean your garbage disposal the same way. To sharpen the blades, use ice cubes, or those leftover eggshells from breakfast.
3. The Dishwasher
-Do the Tang-o: Fill the dispenser with TANG, Crystal Light or Country Time Lemonade and run full-cycle sans dishes to eliminate streaks, scum, mineral build … it’s the citric acid that does it!
1. The Fridge (Behind, Under and Top)
There's lots of food particles and crumbs underneath and behind the refrigerator, so:
- Slide it out, vacuum and wash (if you can’t slide it out, simply cover a fly swatter with an old/lightly dampened sock).
- Clean the drip pan: believe it or not, it's a roach's favorite happy hour spot and drinking fountain (yuck)! To clean it, use white vinegar and a toothbrush to scrub and wipe clean with dry a microfiber brush.
-Don't forget the coils: vacuum with upholstery attachment, (but be sure to turn fridge power off first). You'll want to clean these because if they’re clogged, the fridge won’t work as efficiently. It will use more energy and cost you more money!
-Rubber Gasket/Seals: You can clean them with white vinegar, but if you keep vodka in your freezer, use that because vodka is a natural sanitizer and terrific multi-tasker that kills 99.9 percent of germs, bacteria, mold. For the seals, apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the seals to keep them from drying out and prevent mold for forming.
2. The Sink (Applies to All Sinks)
- Remove any yuck you see with hands
- Pour a cup of baking soda, followed by cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Once it stops bubbling, pour a kettle of hot water down the drain. (Side note: if you’re not sure that your baking soda is still good, you can test it by adding some vinegar—if it doesn’t bubble chuck it!)
-You can clean your garbage disposal the same way. To sharpen the blades, use ice cubes, or those leftover eggshells from breakfast.
3. The Dishwasher
-Do the Tang-o: Fill the dispenser with TANG, Crystal Light or Country Time Lemonade and run full-cycle sans dishes to eliminate streaks, scum, mineral build … it’s the citric acid that does it!
Newspapers Are America's Fastest-Shrinking Industry
LinkedIn and the Council of Economic Advisors mapped the fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking industries since 2007, the year the Great Recession started. Renewables are at the top and newspapers are at the bottom. Here's the graph:
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Solar Power Firms in Mojave Desert Feel Glare of Tribes and Environmentalists
Of the many projects commissioned by the Obama administration to showcase its commitment to renewable energy, few are as grandly futuristic as the multibillion-dollar solar power projects under construction across broad swaths of desert on the California-Arizona border.
But at least two developments, including the $1bn, 250-megawatt Genesis Solar near Blythe in the lower Colorado river valley and the Solar Millennium project, are beset with lengthy construction delays, while others are facing legal challenges lodged by environmental groups and Native American groups who fear damage to the desert ecology as well as to ancient rock art and other sacred heritage sites.
Out on the stony desert floor, Native Americans say, are sites of special spiritual significance, specifically involving the flat-tailed horned toad and the desert tortoise.
Liberals Put An Aspirin Between Their Knees For A Week
Poor Foster Friess. He made a funny, little joke and liberals FLIPPED OUT.
This contraceptive thing, my gosh it’s such [sic] inexpensive. Back in my days, they used Bayer Aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly.
Of course, the whole idea reason libs went insane is supposed to be an impossible for anyone to voluntarily forego sex. I mean, abstinence? What is this, the Dark Ages? This is 2012 and it’s all about Slut Walks and fighting “slut shaming” except when you pretend to get all upset when some women gets called a slut for demanding that the Pope buy her thousands of dollars worth of birth control.
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This contraceptive thing, my gosh it’s such [sic] inexpensive. Back in my days, they used Bayer Aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly.
Of course, the whole idea reason libs went insane is supposed to be an impossible for anyone to voluntarily forego sex. I mean, abstinence? What is this, the Dark Ages? This is 2012 and it’s all about Slut Walks and fighting “slut shaming” except when you pretend to get all upset when some women gets called a slut for demanding that the Pope buy her thousands of dollars worth of birth control.
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Washington D.C. Gas Prices Jump Again
The streak of rising gas prices ended earlier this week, technically, but it doesn't feel much better going to the pump to fill your tank.
AAA Mid-Atlantic says that for the first time since Jan. 26, gas prices dropped nationwide on Tuesday. However, the drop was only by a scant one-third of one cent, hardly an impact on prices which are nearing a $4 per gallon average nationwide.
AAA Mid-Atlantic says that for the first time since Jan. 26, gas prices dropped nationwide on Tuesday. However, the drop was only by a scant one-third of one cent, hardly an impact on prices which are nearing a $4 per gallon average nationwide.
Overall for the week, the average price for a gallon of gas nationwide went up three cents to $3.76, 28 cents higher than it was a month ago. Officials say that a major drop shouldn't be expected anytime soon, either, considering the busy spring driving season that is fast approaching.
Those Pesky Things Called Laws
Two policies of the Obama administration illustrate an axiom: As government expands, its lawfulness contracts. Consider the administration’s desire to continue funding UNESCO and to develop a national curriculum for primary and secondary education.
In 1994, Congress stipulated that no U.S. funds shall go to “any affiliated organization” of the United Nations that “grants full membership as a state to any organization or group that does not have the internationally recognized attributes of statehood.” Last October, UNESCO (the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)voted to confer membership on Palestine. Although there are waiver provisions in most laws restricting executive discretion in foreign relations, the 107 national delegations that voted to extend membership to Palestine were told there is no such provision in the pertinent law. The United States immediately cut off funding, which is 22 percent of UNESCO’s budget.
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In 1994, Congress stipulated that no U.S. funds shall go to “any affiliated organization” of the United Nations that “grants full membership as a state to any organization or group that does not have the internationally recognized attributes of statehood.” Last October, UNESCO (the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)voted to confer membership on Palestine. Although there are waiver provisions in most laws restricting executive discretion in foreign relations, the 107 national delegations that voted to extend membership to Palestine were told there is no such provision in the pertinent law. The United States immediately cut off funding, which is 22 percent of UNESCO’s budget.
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Christians Who Signed Petitions Investigated
A prosecutor has decided to pursue and possibly charge members of El Paso area churches who promoted petitions opposing the city administration’s decision to implement benefits for same-sex partners even after voters decided not to allow that.
The result is an emergency appeal to the state Supreme Court by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund, which has been working on the freedom of speech dispute.The organization today warned that hundreds of Christians and other El Paso citizens “are facing jail time for exercising their constitutionally protected right to speak out against Mayor John Cook’s policies.”
The issue arose when voters in November 2010 placed on the ballot and passed an ordinance prohibiting unmarried domestic partner benefits in their city.
Bias In The News: Blame It On Their Zip Code
For years, journalists have bristled at allegations of liberal bias in the news. “If you think we have a bias,” some of them would say, “that only proves one thing: that you’re the one with the bias.” When my book Bias came out at the end of 2001 –despite a surprisingly good review in the New York Times – so-called mainstream reporters generally denounced the book. “Liberal bias?” they asked incredulously. “What liberal bias?” A few even called me a “traitor” for supposedly turning on my colleagues, which is kind of funny since these are people who won’t call a real traitor … a traitor.
Well, now we have Chuck Todd, political director and chief White House correspondent at NBC News, breaking ranks (sort of) with his fellow journalists. In an interview with Politico, Todd says, “To me, the ideological bias in the media really hasn’t been there in a long time. But what is there that people mistake for ideological bias is geographic bias. It’s seeing everything through the lens of New York and Washington.”
Not really, but it’s good that Chuck Todd at least seems to be acknowledging that there was, once upon a time an ideological bias in the mainstream media. To say it “hasn’t been there in a long time,” acknowledges that it was there, once. This is something a lot of journalists would never admit.
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Well, now we have Chuck Todd, political director and chief White House correspondent at NBC News, breaking ranks (sort of) with his fellow journalists. In an interview with Politico, Todd says, “To me, the ideological bias in the media really hasn’t been there in a long time. But what is there that people mistake for ideological bias is geographic bias. It’s seeing everything through the lens of New York and Washington.”
Not really, but it’s good that Chuck Todd at least seems to be acknowledging that there was, once upon a time an ideological bias in the mainstream media. To say it “hasn’t been there in a long time,” acknowledges that it was there, once. This is something a lot of journalists would never admit.
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Aerosmith: Livin' on the Edge
(CBS News) They are still rocking and still fighting 40 years later - the legendary American rock band Aerosmith. One reason Aerosmith is selling out stadiums is because its front man, Steven Tyler, has become an American Idol sensation. The other is because they still make great music, for which Tyler takes much credit. He tells Lara Logan: "I think my perfectionism and my busting everyone's chops is what got this band to where it is today." It's amazing the band is anywhere today. Decades of drug addiction, vicious arguments, and serious illness have destroyed many other bands of their generation, but Aerosmith rocks on.
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Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem Call for FCC to Ban Rush Limbaugh
The Left's hunt for conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh's head stepped up a notch Saturday when Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem called for the FCC to ban him.
Radical feminist activist Robin Morgan also participated in penning the anti-free speech piece published by CNN.com:
Limbaugh doesn't just call people names. He promotes language that deliberately dehumanizes his targets. Like the sophisticated propagandist Josef Goebbels, he creates rhetorical frames -- and the bigger the lie the more effective -- inciting listeners to view people they disagree with as sub-humans. His longtime favorite term for women, "femi-nazi," doesn't even raise eyebrows anymore, an example of how rhetoric spreads when unchallenged by coarsened cultural norms. [...]
United in Hate: The Left Dances On Breitbart’s Grave
When SEAL Team Six took out Osama bin Laden last year, there was widespread celebration across America. Many on the political left, however, affected a moral revulsion at the jubilation. Celebrating the death of any man is unseemly, immoral, even anti-American, they argued.
Any man except a political enemy, that is. As soon as the news spread of last week’s untimely death of conservative super-journalist Andrew Breitbart, many began dancing on their arch-enemy’s grave in gleeful, macabre celebration.
Breitbart, 43, was the relentless, charismatic warrior behind the conservative new media that was pounding the left with devastating exposés on ACORN, Pigford, and “Weinergate,” among others. Like other conservative political pugilists such as David Horowitz, Breitbart was a former leftist himself who understood well that politics is war, and that the left fights to win. He railed against the inability of conservatives to grasp this, and urged them to go on the offensive and destroy the left’s hateful false narrative. Also like Horowitz, Breitbart’s intimate understanding of the enemy earned him their most vicious hatred.
And so, immediately as the news of his death broke, the left began lobbing disgusting and ghoulish volleys online. Conservative websites like blogger Michelle Malkin began compiling a repugnant litany from the social network Twitter, such as this sensitive eulogy: “America truly lost an asshole. I’m sure Satan will treat him good.” This is precisely the kind of ugliness directed at the bulletproof Breitbart on Twitter on a daily basis, which he enjoyed retweeting to his many followers in order to expose the left’s true nature.
Wicomico County Sheriff's Department Press Releases 3-12-12
Incident: Fugitive Arrest
Date of Incident: 8 March 2012
Location: 8000 block of White Lowe Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Jason R. Buller, 37, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 8 March 2012 at 6:08 AM a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office located Jason R. Buller who was wanted on an outstanding Wicomico County Circuit Warrant for failing to appear at a Child Support Hearing. The deputy took Buller and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed.
Butler was detained in the Detention Center in lieu of $2,393.94 bond.
Charges: Failure to Appear
Incident: Fugitive Arrest
Date of Incident: 8 March 2012
Location: 400 block of E. Vine Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Joven Max Eber Durose, 22, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 8 March 2012 at 10:41 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the 400 block of E. Vine Street to locate Joven Durose. Durose was wanted on a District Court Bench Warrant that was issued when Durose failed to appear for a Driving Suspended case on 1 March 2012. The deputy located Durose and took him into custody.
Butler was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner on the District Court Warrant that had a pre-set bond of $5,000.00. Durose was subsequently released on Personal Recognizance.
Charges: Failure to Appear
Incident: Extradition
Date of Incident: 8 March 2012
Location: New Castle County, DE
Suspect: Crystal Victoria Gray, 23, Laurel, DE
Narrative: On 8 March 2012 at 3:25 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office travelled to New Castle County, DE for the purpose of extraditing Crystal Victoria Gray from the DE Department of Corrections back to Wicomico County. Gray was wanted on two Failure to Appear bench warrants, one for theft and the other for trespassing.
Gray was transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After her initial appearance, Gray was detained on $10,000.00 bond in the Detention Center.
Charges: Failure to Appear
Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 8 March 2012
Location: 1500 block of Jersey Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Brittany Marie Brown, 24, Snow Hill, MD
Narrative: On 8 March 2012 at 5:47 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office investigated an alleged assault that occurred in the roadway on Jersey Road. Upon meeting with a male victim, the deputy learned that Brittany Marie Brown, the ex-girlfriend of the victim had been driving on Jersey Road when she spotted the victim. The victim stated that Brown began blaring her car horn while yelling profanities at the victim. The victim stated that Brown then exited the vehicle and began striking him with a closed fist before she allegedly tried to push him into the path of oncoming traffic.
Brown was gone upon the arrival of the deputy, but after meeting with the victim and interviewing witnesses, the deputy obtained a warrant for the arrest of Brittany Brown and she was soon located in Worcester County and taken into custody.
Brown was detained initially on $5,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 1st Degree
Reckless Endangerment
Incident: Fugitive Arrest
Date of Incident: 8 March 2012
Location: 27000 block of Martin Luther Drive, Hebron, MD
Suspect: Dominic Rashad Russell, 27, Hebron, MD
Narrative: On 8 March 2012 at 11:45 PM, a deputy was sent to meet with Dominic Russell in reference to a domestic related complaint. While enroute, the deputy learned of an open warrant for Russell’s arrest that had been issued on 3 March 2012 based on the complaint of a private citizen. After handling the
situation that Russell contacted the Sheriff’s Office for, the deputy took Russell into custody.
Russell was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Russell in the Detention Center in lieu of $30,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree
Incident: Vandalism
Date of Incident: 9 March 2012
Location: 5000 block of Elliott’s Court, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Thomas Franklin Ashton, Jr., 39, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 21 February 2012 a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s office began an investigation into an intentional act of vandalism that occurred in the 5000 block of Elliott’s Court in Salisbury, MD. According to the property owner, she fired Thomas Ashton who was working as a maintenance man at the Elliott’s Court trailer park. The property owner discovered that after he was fired, Ashton broke the pipes that controlled the water system to the entire park which cut off the water service.
The manager also stated that park residents had seen Ashton filling the park dumpster with trash on a regular basis after it was emptied in the weeks after his termination.
After an investigation and speaking with witnesses, the deputy obtained a warrant for the arrest of Ashton and located him at his current residence on 9 March 2012 at 4:30 AM. Ashton was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner.
After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Ashton in the Detention Center in lieu of $15,000.00 bond.
Charges: Malicious Destruction of Property
Littering
Date of Incident: 8 March 2012
Location: 8000 block of White Lowe Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Jason R. Buller, 37, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 8 March 2012 at 6:08 AM a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office located Jason R. Buller who was wanted on an outstanding Wicomico County Circuit Warrant for failing to appear at a Child Support Hearing. The deputy took Buller and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed.
Butler was detained in the Detention Center in lieu of $2,393.94 bond.
Charges: Failure to Appear
Incident: Fugitive Arrest
Date of Incident: 8 March 2012
Location: 400 block of E. Vine Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Joven Max Eber Durose, 22, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 8 March 2012 at 10:41 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the 400 block of E. Vine Street to locate Joven Durose. Durose was wanted on a District Court Bench Warrant that was issued when Durose failed to appear for a Driving Suspended case on 1 March 2012. The deputy located Durose and took him into custody.
Butler was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner on the District Court Warrant that had a pre-set bond of $5,000.00. Durose was subsequently released on Personal Recognizance.
Charges: Failure to Appear
Incident: Extradition
Date of Incident: 8 March 2012
Location: New Castle County, DE
Suspect: Crystal Victoria Gray, 23, Laurel, DE
Narrative: On 8 March 2012 at 3:25 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office travelled to New Castle County, DE for the purpose of extraditing Crystal Victoria Gray from the DE Department of Corrections back to Wicomico County. Gray was wanted on two Failure to Appear bench warrants, one for theft and the other for trespassing.
Gray was transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After her initial appearance, Gray was detained on $10,000.00 bond in the Detention Center.
Charges: Failure to Appear
Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 8 March 2012
Location: 1500 block of Jersey Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Brittany Marie Brown, 24, Snow Hill, MD
Narrative: On 8 March 2012 at 5:47 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office investigated an alleged assault that occurred in the roadway on Jersey Road. Upon meeting with a male victim, the deputy learned that Brittany Marie Brown, the ex-girlfriend of the victim had been driving on Jersey Road when she spotted the victim. The victim stated that Brown began blaring her car horn while yelling profanities at the victim. The victim stated that Brown then exited the vehicle and began striking him with a closed fist before she allegedly tried to push him into the path of oncoming traffic.
Brown was gone upon the arrival of the deputy, but after meeting with the victim and interviewing witnesses, the deputy obtained a warrant for the arrest of Brittany Brown and she was soon located in Worcester County and taken into custody.
Brown was detained initially on $5,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 1st Degree
Reckless Endangerment
Incident: Fugitive Arrest
Date of Incident: 8 March 2012
Location: 27000 block of Martin Luther Drive, Hebron, MD
Suspect: Dominic Rashad Russell, 27, Hebron, MD
Narrative: On 8 March 2012 at 11:45 PM, a deputy was sent to meet with Dominic Russell in reference to a domestic related complaint. While enroute, the deputy learned of an open warrant for Russell’s arrest that had been issued on 3 March 2012 based on the complaint of a private citizen. After handling the
situation that Russell contacted the Sheriff’s Office for, the deputy took Russell into custody.
Russell was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Russell in the Detention Center in lieu of $30,000.00 bond.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree
Incident: Vandalism
Date of Incident: 9 March 2012
Location: 5000 block of Elliott’s Court, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Thomas Franklin Ashton, Jr., 39, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 21 February 2012 a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s office began an investigation into an intentional act of vandalism that occurred in the 5000 block of Elliott’s Court in Salisbury, MD. According to the property owner, she fired Thomas Ashton who was working as a maintenance man at the Elliott’s Court trailer park. The property owner discovered that after he was fired, Ashton broke the pipes that controlled the water system to the entire park which cut off the water service.
The manager also stated that park residents had seen Ashton filling the park dumpster with trash on a regular basis after it was emptied in the weeks after his termination.
After an investigation and speaking with witnesses, the deputy obtained a warrant for the arrest of Ashton and located him at his current residence on 9 March 2012 at 4:30 AM. Ashton was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner.
After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Ashton in the Detention Center in lieu of $15,000.00 bond.
Charges: Malicious Destruction of Property
Littering
Storied Carrier, 'The Big E,' Makes Final Voyage
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - When the makers of "Top Gun" were filming on board the USS Enterprise, they donated a set of black fuzzy dice to liven up the ship's otherwise drab interior.
A quarter-century later, the dice will still be dangling inside the tower of "the Big E" as the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier sets sail on its final voyage Sunday.
The trinket is a reminder of the ship's storied 50-year history that includes action in several wars, a prominent role in the Cuban missile crisis and serving as a spotter ship for John Glenn's historic orbit of the earth.
Martin O'Malley, Bob McDonnell Debate Jobs, GOP Campaigns
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell debated Sunday about how economic and social issues are playing out in the presidential race.
O'Malley, who is chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, and McDonnell, who heads the Republican Governors Association, were asked about the subjects during an appearance on "Meet the Press."
O'Malley, who is chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, and McDonnell, who heads the Republican Governors Association, were asked about the subjects during an appearance on "Meet the Press."
O'Malley, who has made frequent appearances on Sunday television talk shows to highlight Democratic initiatives and President Barack Obama's policies, said Republican candidates are more interested in GOP politics than the economy.
"If you look at the presidential campaign, I mean let's be honest, there has been a lot more time spent pandering to the extreme right-wing ideologues of the new Republican Party than has been spent talking about jobs and the economy," O'Malley said.
Red Roost Re-Opens This Week
The Red Roost re-opens this week and we have changed our hours at Boonies. Thanks!
Ready to get your CRAB BACK??
The Red Roost is Re-opening March 15
Open Thursday to Sunday through April
Open at 5:30 on Thursdays (with the Backfin Banjo Band playing every Thurs in March/April) and FridaysOpen at 3:00 on Saturday/Sundays
Boonies NEW HOURSNow open for lunch on Saturday and Sunday at 12 Noon
Check out our website for upcoming events and bands!
Open Wed to SundayOpen at 5:00 Wed to Friday
Open at 12 Noon Saturday and Sunday
Happy Hour in the Pub from Opening to 7pm All the time.
Clash With Iran Could See Use of Huge, New U.S. Bomb
(Reuters) - A 30,000-pound (13,600-kg) bunker buster bomb designed to smash through some 200 feet (65 metres) of concrete before exploding is a "great weapon" that could be used by U.S. forces in a clash with Iran over its nuclear program, an Air Force general said on Thursday.
Lieutenant General Herbert Carlisle, Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations, said the massive ordnance penetrator, which the military began receiving only last year, is part of the U.S. arsenal available for strikes against countries like Iran, which has some buried nuclear facilities.
"The massive ordnance penetrator is a great weapon. We are continuing to improve that. It has great capability now and we are continuing to make it better. It is part of our arsenal and it will be a potential if we need it in that kind of scenario," Carlisle told a conference on U.S. defence programs.
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Lieutenant General Herbert Carlisle, Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations, said the massive ordnance penetrator, which the military began receiving only last year, is part of the U.S. arsenal available for strikes against countries like Iran, which has some buried nuclear facilities.
"The massive ordnance penetrator is a great weapon. We are continuing to improve that. It has great capability now and we are continuing to make it better. It is part of our arsenal and it will be a potential if we need it in that kind of scenario," Carlisle told a conference on U.S. defence programs.
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Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: You're Using Them Wrong
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are great for energy savings, but their other stated benefit—lasting longer than incandescent bulbs—often doesn't live up to the half-decade advertised on the package. Sometimes that's the user's own fault, for using bulbs in a way that diminishes their lifespans.
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MD Business Roundtable For Education
Parent SurveyDear Parents and Caregivers,
Research indicates that "lack of time" is the primary reason that limits parent involvement in their child's education – but what do YOU say?
You are invited to participate in an important survey of Maryland parents. Your input – which will take approximately 3-5 minutes – is critical to inform our understanding of parent needs and guide the development of programs and tools that support your efforts.
Your help is needed, through the survey, in identifying and developing strategies related to:
• Information you would find helpful in supporting your child's education
• Parent recommended tools/resources
• Current/Preferred channels through which you prefer to receive education information
We hope you will take 3-5 minutes to complete the survey – linked below – by March 15, 2012.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MDParentsCount
Thank you for your help with this project!
Sincerely, June E. Streckfus
Executive Director
MD Business Roundtable for Education
Research indicates that "lack of time" is the primary reason that limits parent involvement in their child's education – but what do YOU say?
You are invited to participate in an important survey of Maryland parents. Your input – which will take approximately 3-5 minutes – is critical to inform our understanding of parent needs and guide the development of programs and tools that support your efforts.
Your help is needed, through the survey, in identifying and developing strategies related to:
• Information you would find helpful in supporting your child's education
• Parent recommended tools/resources
• Current/Preferred channels through which you prefer to receive education information
We hope you will take 3-5 minutes to complete the survey – linked below – by March 15, 2012.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MDParentsCount
Thank you for your help with this project!
Sincerely, June E. Streckfus
Executive Director
MD Business Roundtable for Education
National Parks Generate More Than $1B For Local Economy
WASHINGTON - You may think of the National Mall or the C&O Canal as a nice place to have lunch or spend a quiet Sunday afternoon, but those locations are also part of some big business for the National Capitol Region. National parks in D.C., Maryland and Virginia generated more than $1.8 billion in revenue in 2010 from 58 million visitors and supported more than 22,000 related jobs.
National Parks Service Spokesman Bill Line says that includes spending on all kinds of things.
"Hotels, restaurants, souvenirs, books, photography items, taxi cabs, pedi-cabs," he says.
How Does A 14-Year-Old Girl Buy A House?
You occasionally hear about teen pop stars and actors buying their own homes, but it's not every day that you run across a seemingly average 14-year-old girl who not only purchased a property but has already turned it into an income generator.
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Egypt Parliament to Consider Cutting off US aid
CAIRO (AP) - Egypt's parliament moved Sunday toward a vote to order an end to more than $1 billion in U.S. aid, a reflection of tensions with Washington over the case of Americans charged with illegal activity by their pro-democracy groups.
The U.S. was angry enough over the charges against the American workers that it threatened to cut off aid to Egypt. The measure in the Islamist-dominated Egyptian parliament, probably just symbolic, showed that there is considerable anger in Cairo over charges that U.S. pressure led to interference in the judicial process.
The 508-seat chamber also voted to start the process of a no-confidence vote in the military-backed government, a move that, if successful, could spark a political crisis with just under four months left before the military is scheduled to hand over power to a civilian administration.
Wicomico County States Attorneys Office The King Of Nolle Prosqui
Can you have two kings in one kingdom? Many have stated in the past that Joel Todd was the king of Nolle Prosqui in Worcester County and now Matt Maciarello has quickly become known as the king of nolle prosqui in Wicomico County.
While Tom McGuire sits in jail awaiting his next trial, today the arson charges were Nolle Prosqui, go figure.
In the mean time the Town of Delmar will be stuck footing the bill to tear down the burned/demolished vacant home.
Way to go Matt and Joel. Matt's office went up against his opponent in the race for States Attorney, Seth Mitchell.
I called the States Attorneys Office. No one was available to comment on this matter. I was told someone would get back to me. I'll hold my breath. You know, don't call us, we'll call you. Mr. Mitchell had no comment, respectfully.
There are cases in which a states attorney will nolle prosqui a case if an indictment has been returned. They do have the ability to re-charge Mr. McGuire at a later point.
Study Finds Worrisome Chemicals In Wide Range Of onsumer Products
A new study has found potentially harmful chemicals, such as asthma-related compounds and endocrine disruptors, in common consumer products including cosmetics, household cleaners, and personal care products, and many of the detected chemicals are not listed on product labels.
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Davis Ruark Sworn In As New District Attorney In New Mexico
Former Wicomico County States Attorney Davis Ruark was sworn in this morning as a new District Attorney in New Mexico this morning. Wasting no time, Mr. Ruark was already in Court today working on cases.
UMD Student Arrested For Threatening a Mass Shooting on Campus
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A University of Maryland student has been arrested for posting online that he would go on a campus "shooting rampage." University of Maryland Police say Alexander Song posted comments late Saturday evening that said, "I'm thinking about going on a shooting rampage all around campus until the police come and kill me," and "hopefully I kill enough people to make it to national news" and "stay away from the Mall tomorrow at 1:30."
Another poster tried to talk him out of it.
"Trust me, no matter how tough things seem now, there's good people in the world who are willing to help you and will make sure that you find the happiness you deserve. Don't turn your back on them."
Marc Limansky, a spokesman for the University of Maryland police department, says Song's comments were posted to Reddit, as well as to the anonymous chat site Omegle.
PUBLIC NOTICE
THE SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET AT 3:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY,
MARCH 15, 2012 TO ENTERTAIN A VOTE TO CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION TO
CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND STAFF ON PENDING OR POTENTIAL
LITIGATION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND
SECTIONS 10-508(a)(7)(8).
THE SESSION WILL BE HELD IN CONFERENCE ROOM 306 OF THE
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING (125 N. DIVISION STREET) AT WHICH TIME
THE PUBLIC CAN OBSERVE THE MOTION, ANY DISCUSSION AND THE VOTE TO
CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION AS NOTED ABOVE.
Daddy's Poem
Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home;
why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why, once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school,
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees, a dad
who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in
back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seat.
One by one the teacher called
on a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher, who
told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know
all about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories,
he taught me to ride my bike;
he surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.
'Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart;
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart"
With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere there in the crowd of dads,
her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was a right.
And when she dropped her hand back
down, staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.
You see he is an American Soldier
and he died just this past year,,
when a roadside bomb hit his convoy
and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement,
she witnessed with surprise,
a room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them;
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for
a moment, by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home;
why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why, once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school,
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees, a dad
who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in
back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seat.
One by one the teacher called
on a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher, who
told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know
all about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories,
he taught me to ride my bike;
he surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.
'Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart;
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart"
With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere there in the crowd of dads,
her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was a right.
And when she dropped her hand back
down, staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.
You see he is an American Soldier
and he died just this past year,,
when a roadside bomb hit his convoy
and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement,
she witnessed with surprise,
a room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them;
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for
a moment, by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.
Car Strikes House Near Lewes
Location: 23 Whitehaven Way, Sussex West, Lewes, DE
Date and Time of Occurrence: Monday March 12, 2012 at approximately 8:52 a.m.
Operator and Vehicle:
81 year old male from Lewes, DE
2010 Toyota Sienna
Resume:
Lewes, DE- The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a crash in which a car struck a house.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:52 a.m. this morning as an 81 year old male from Lewes was operating a 2010 Toyota Sienna westbound on Lewes-Georgetown Highway (Rt. 9) when for an unknown reason, he began swerving into oncoming traffic. The Toyota then left the south side of the roadway before crossing back over Rt. 9 and off the north side of the roadway. The vehicle went between two houses in the Sussex West development before striking a residence located at 23 Whitehaven Way, west of Lewes.
The 81 year old victim, who was properly restrained and alone in the vehicle, was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to Beebe hospital where he was pronounced dead. The victim’s name will be released upon notification of his next of kin.
The residence was occupied at the time of the crash, although no one was injured.
Date and Time of Occurrence: Monday March 12, 2012 at approximately 8:52 a.m.
Operator and Vehicle:
81 year old male from Lewes, DE
2010 Toyota Sienna
Resume:
Lewes, DE- The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a crash in which a car struck a house.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:52 a.m. this morning as an 81 year old male from Lewes was operating a 2010 Toyota Sienna westbound on Lewes-Georgetown Highway (Rt. 9) when for an unknown reason, he began swerving into oncoming traffic. The Toyota then left the south side of the roadway before crossing back over Rt. 9 and off the north side of the roadway. The vehicle went between two houses in the Sussex West development before striking a residence located at 23 Whitehaven Way, west of Lewes.
The 81 year old victim, who was properly restrained and alone in the vehicle, was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to Beebe hospital where he was pronounced dead. The victim’s name will be released upon notification of his next of kin.
The residence was occupied at the time of the crash, although no one was injured.
Louis Farrakhan Speaks at UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley on Saturday was once again the crucible of the free speech debate.
The birthplace of the Free Speech Movement in the 1960s hosted another iconoclast from the era, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, whose speeches and writings have been denounced by critics for decades as bigoted, homophobic and anti-Semitic.
Farrakhan was invited as a speaker for the ninth annual Afrikan Black Coalition Conference organized by the Black Student Union, and his appearance was denounced by other student groups and the subject of an online petition "opposing his hateful words and character" that garnered about 350 signatories.
Defining Deviancy Down Has Consequences
In 1993, then Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., published a paper in which he coined the phrase "defining deviancy down."
He was ringing an alarm about what he saw as a dangerous social unraveling as result of our redefining deviant behavior as normal, rather than doubling down on traditional standards of behavior.
It's through this lens that we should view the Obama administration mandate that employers provide free contraception and sterilization and its refusal to grant an exemption to morally opposed religious institutions.
Our audacious president, as part of his ongoing enterprise to transform America, has gone beyond defining deviancy down. Abortion, sterilization, and sexual promiscuity have not just been redefined as normal. They are considered "reproductive rights" for which we all should foot the bill.
Consider Rush Limbaugh's much ballyhooed verbal assault on a Georgetown law student for testifying before Congress in favor of forcing her Jesuit university to provide free contraception for students.
In a Gallup poll done in 1969, 68 percent said pre-marital sex is wrong and 21 percent said it is not wrong. Few young women in 1969 would have felt comfortable to declare publicly that they slept around and it's doubtful that any politician or media personality would have condoned her behavior.
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He was ringing an alarm about what he saw as a dangerous social unraveling as result of our redefining deviant behavior as normal, rather than doubling down on traditional standards of behavior.
It's through this lens that we should view the Obama administration mandate that employers provide free contraception and sterilization and its refusal to grant an exemption to morally opposed religious institutions.
Our audacious president, as part of his ongoing enterprise to transform America, has gone beyond defining deviancy down. Abortion, sterilization, and sexual promiscuity have not just been redefined as normal. They are considered "reproductive rights" for which we all should foot the bill.
Consider Rush Limbaugh's much ballyhooed verbal assault on a Georgetown law student for testifying before Congress in favor of forcing her Jesuit university to provide free contraception for students.
In a Gallup poll done in 1969, 68 percent said pre-marital sex is wrong and 21 percent said it is not wrong. Few young women in 1969 would have felt comfortable to declare publicly that they slept around and it's doubtful that any politician or media personality would have condoned her behavior.
More
A Conversation In Heaven
SYLVIA:
Hi! Wanda.
WANDA:
Hi! Sylvia. How'd you die?
SYLVIA:
I froze to death.
WANDA:
How horrible!
SYLVIA:
It wasn't so bad. After I quit shaking from the cold, I began to get warm & sleepy,
and finally died a peaceful death.
What about you?
WANDA:
I died of a massive heart attack.
I suspected that my husband was cheating, so I came home early to catch him in the act.
But instead, I found him all by himself in the den watching TV.
SYLVIA:
So, what happened?
WANDA:
I was so sure there was another woman there somewhere that I started running all over the house looking. I ran up into the attic and searched, and down into the basement. Then I went through every closet and checked under all the beds. I kept this up
until I had looked everywhere, and finally I became so exhausted that I just keeled over with a heart attack and died.
SYLVIA:
Too bad you didn't look in the freezer we'd both still be alive.
Hi! Wanda.
WANDA:
Hi! Sylvia. How'd you die?
SYLVIA:
I froze to death.
WANDA:
How horrible!
SYLVIA:
It wasn't so bad. After I quit shaking from the cold, I began to get warm & sleepy,
and finally died a peaceful death.
What about you?
WANDA:
I died of a massive heart attack.
I suspected that my husband was cheating, so I came home early to catch him in the act.
But instead, I found him all by himself in the den watching TV.
SYLVIA:
So, what happened?
WANDA:
I was so sure there was another woman there somewhere that I started running all over the house looking. I ran up into the attic and searched, and down into the basement. Then I went through every closet and checked under all the beds. I kept this up
until I had looked everywhere, and finally I became so exhausted that I just keeled over with a heart attack and died.
SYLVIA:
Too bad you didn't look in the freezer we'd both still be alive.
Alone In Public Housing, With Extra Space
Getting tenants like Shirley Jones, 70, to downsize from two-bedrooms they do not need anymore is a delicate problem for the New York City Housing Authority.
After 40 years living in her Manhattan apartment, Shirley Jones has accumulated a lifetime of mementos: pictures of yawning babies, colonies of tiny figurines, photographs of relatives, and a small collection of stuffed animals crowded onto a chair in the living room. Ms. Jones, 70, moved into her apartment, in the Amsterdam Houses on West 63rd Street, with her son when she was 30 years old and has lived there ever since.
But last month, she opened a letter that said it was time for her to go: Ms. Jones lives alone in a public housing development, taking up a two-bedroom apartment that she no longer requires.
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After 40 years living in her Manhattan apartment, Shirley Jones has accumulated a lifetime of mementos: pictures of yawning babies, colonies of tiny figurines, photographs of relatives, and a small collection of stuffed animals crowded onto a chair in the living room. Ms. Jones, 70, moved into her apartment, in the Amsterdam Houses on West 63rd Street, with her son when she was 30 years old and has lived there ever since.
But last month, she opened a letter that said it was time for her to go: Ms. Jones lives alone in a public housing development, taking up a two-bedroom apartment that she no longer requires.
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Potato Chips
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him some chips. He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.
His smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever..
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"
Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, "Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!
Have lunch with God... bring chips.
His smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever..
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"
Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, "Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!
Have lunch with God... bring chips.
Slut! Should We Reclaim The Word Or Banish It?
The Limbaugh controversy is a perfect example of the complexities of reappropriating, or renouncing, the slur.
Until now, reclaiming the word “slut” never appealed to me. I fully supported the message of SlutWalk — that women don’t ask to be raped by dressing a certain way — but I had no interest in applying the slur to myself. But this Limbaugh thing has me singing a different tune.
I’m not exactly scrawling “slut” on my forehead, but suddenly, reclaiming the word seems potentially exciting. I’m not the only one recognizing a shift in the conversation about reclamation. Megan Gibson of Time wrote, “While the motivation [for SlutWalk] was inarguably sound … the protest caused controversy, in part because many were wary to associate themselves with the word slut.” She continues, “Remarkably, thanks to Limbaugh’s ignorant vitriol, we’re seeing a marked change in that wariness.”
That said, in identifying with Sandra Fluke, the target of Limbaugh’s rant, some women have instead chosen to distance themselves from the term, which perfectly illustrates how complicated reclamation can be.
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UK Government Will Oppose Wearing of Cross at Work, Newspaper Says
The British government will argue in court that Christians don't have a right to wear a cross or crucifix openly at work, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
The newspaper said the landmark case before the European Court of Human Rights involves two British women who are trying to establish their right to display the cross. The Telegraph said it's the first time the government has had to openly address whether Christians have a right to wear the symbol at work.
The Sunday Telegraph said it had seen a document that says the government will argue that because it is not a “requirement” of the Christian faith, employers can ban the wearing of the cross.
Mother’s Day Plant/Bake Sale Sat. May 7, 9-2:00
On Saturday May 5, from 9-2:00 , Poplar Hill Mansion will have a Mother’s Day plant/bake sale. We are selling home baked goodies from the yummy kitchens of Board members, and plants from the Four Season’s Garden Club. Also featured will be special hand made gifts from the Poplar Hill Mansion gift shop, jewelry, crocheted and hooked rugs and hand spun crocheted shawls, photographs and beautiful Spring scarves by M. R. Tiso. Find a special gift for Mom (you too), and help support Poplar Hill Mansion and local artists! Come out and bring Mom and your friends. For more information, call 410 749 1776, or 410 749 5168. Clean out your food cabinets for Spring, and drop off your donation to our food bank for Joseph House.
Poplar Hill Mansion, Salisbury’s oldest documented Federal House Museum, 1795-1805 is a 501 ( c ) (3) and winner of this year’s LESHC Heritage Award. All monies earned go toward the restoration and preservation of Poplar Hill Mansion. Please come for a free historic tour, the first and third Sunday’s of each month from 1-4. Private tours , including school groups are available for a small fee by reservation, and the mansion is available to rent for your wedding or other special occasion. Come be a part of history at Poplar Hill Mansion! Visit our website at http://www.poplarhillmansion.org/
Poplar Hill Mansion, Salisbury’s oldest documented Federal House Museum, 1795-1805 is a 501 ( c ) (3) and winner of this year’s LESHC Heritage Award. All monies earned go toward the restoration and preservation of Poplar Hill Mansion. Please come for a free historic tour, the first and third Sunday’s of each month from 1-4. Private tours , including school groups are available for a small fee by reservation, and the mansion is available to rent for your wedding or other special occasion. Come be a part of history at Poplar Hill Mansion! Visit our website at http://www.poplarhillmansion.org/
LORA Gala A Huge Success
Clearly sold out, this annual event keeps growing and delivered spectacular food and entertainment.The Gala was designed mainly to maintain a scholarship for local people interested in becoming a chef. On the other hand, it also allows local restaurants to come together and show off different kinds of food each business provides in their restaurant.
It grows because it is one of the best events of the year here on the Eastern Shore.
BREAKING NEWS: Obama Administration Blocks Texas Voter ID Law
White House blocks law requiring Texas residents to show photo identification before voting, citing concerns that it would restrict Hispanic voters.
From Fox News
From Fox News
Is There More To The Invisible Children Story In Uganda Than MeetsTthe Eye?
I was a sophomore in college when I first saw the movie. I remember sitting cross-legged in front of the screen while wearing a white undershirt and khaki pants. I cried.
How can you not shed a tear when you see innocent children talking about having to kill family members and being captured to take part in a mad man’s war? I never forgot the images.
Those images were the result of the nonprofit Invisible Children — a group fighting to end the atrocities of Joseph Kony in Uganda. He and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) captures the helpless children, forces them to fight, and kills and rapes others.
For a little bit, I even wanted to go over to Uganda and join the fight against Kony. I didn’t. I became a journalist. And now I find myself in a tough position: after posting an Associated Press story about the Invisible Children’s newest video (which has been seen millions and millions of times and even has the support of Anonymous), I’ve been getting messages from people (including my own brother) telling me to look into it more. Something seems a little off, they’ve said. Torn, I started digging a little more. And here’s what I found.
More
How can you not shed a tear when you see innocent children talking about having to kill family members and being captured to take part in a mad man’s war? I never forgot the images.
Those images were the result of the nonprofit Invisible Children — a group fighting to end the atrocities of Joseph Kony in Uganda. He and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) captures the helpless children, forces them to fight, and kills and rapes others.
For a little bit, I even wanted to go over to Uganda and join the fight against Kony. I didn’t. I became a journalist. And now I find myself in a tough position: after posting an Associated Press story about the Invisible Children’s newest video (which has been seen millions and millions of times and even has the support of Anonymous), I’ve been getting messages from people (including my own brother) telling me to look into it more. Something seems a little off, they’ve said. Torn, I started digging a little more. And here’s what I found.
More
Criticize Government, Get Arrested!
A major civil liberties organization has filed a brief in a case heading to the U.S. Supreme Court that asks the justices to create a deterrent to government agents who would arrest individuals in retaliation for their speech.
The friend-of-the-court filing comes from the Rutherford Institute in the case Virgil D. Reichle Jr. and Dan Doyle vs. Steven Howards.
Howards was at a Colorado shopping mall with his son when he learned that then-Vice President Dick Cheney was there. Howards decided to approach Cheney and express his opposition to the war in Iraq.
Contraception Deception Is No Fluke
Democrats should be on the defensive over the ObamaCare contraception mandate but have instead made the entire issue a circus. They're employing their best smoke and mirrors to distract from the fundamental issue at stake -- whether Barack Obama has the constitutional authority to override religious liberty to achieve his desired insurance coverage -- but they won't get away with it.
As we noted last week, one Sandra Fluke testified before Congress on the need to have free birth control provided for all women at Georgetown University. Fluke is no typical college student, however. She's a 30-year-old self-professed "reproductive rights activist" who is pursuing her law degree, though she chose the Jesuit school for the express purpose of changing its policy on insuring contraception. Birth control is contrary to the religious doctrine of the Catholic Church, of which Jesuits are a part.
Simply put, Fluke wants them to abandon their principles in order to accommodate her and her fellow female students' recreational choices. The Left then cloaks this in the language of "rights" when no one on the Right is talking about taking rights away from anyone.
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As we noted last week, one Sandra Fluke testified before Congress on the need to have free birth control provided for all women at Georgetown University. Fluke is no typical college student, however. She's a 30-year-old self-professed "reproductive rights activist" who is pursuing her law degree, though she chose the Jesuit school for the express purpose of changing its policy on insuring contraception. Birth control is contrary to the religious doctrine of the Catholic Church, of which Jesuits are a part.
Simply put, Fluke wants them to abandon their principles in order to accommodate her and her fellow female students' recreational choices. The Left then cloaks this in the language of "rights" when no one on the Right is talking about taking rights away from anyone.
More
Egypt Army Court Acquits Doctor Over Virginity Test
CAIRO - An Egyptian military court on Sunday acquitted an army doctor charged with carrying out a forced virginity test on a female detainee during protests last year, said a court source, in a case that has fuelled anger against the ruling generals.
Activist Samira Ibrahim, who defied taboos in the conservative Muslim country to raise her case, said she was forced to undergo a virginity test in March last year after she was arrested during a protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
Ibrahim's and similar cases stoked criticism of the generals who took control of Egypt after Hosni Mubarak was driven from office on Feb. 11, 2011, by a popular uprising.
Today's Quote 3-12-12
"The preservation of freedom is the protective reason for limiting and
decentralizing governmental power. But there is also a constructive reason. The
great advances of civilization, whether in architecture or painting, in science
or in literature, in industry or agriculture, have never come from centralized
government."
-- Milton Friedman
(1912-2006) Nobel Prize-winning economist, economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan, "ultimate guru of the free-market system"
Source: "Capitalism and Freedom"
decentralizing governmental power. But there is also a constructive reason. The
great advances of civilization, whether in architecture or painting, in science
or in literature, in industry or agriculture, have never come from centralized
government."
-- Milton Friedman
(1912-2006) Nobel Prize-winning economist, economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan, "ultimate guru of the free-market system"
Source: "Capitalism and Freedom"
ENDGAME SCENARIO
We are the Imperial power. We are the country attacking sovereign countries. We are the country threatening and bullying countries across the globe. We are the Roman Empire. We are the British Empire. We are clearly in decline, but act like we’re still all-powerful. We will not win World War III. No one will win World War III.
Submitted by Sean Stone
Backing into World War III?
According to the doctrine of pre-emptive war, Iran can be attacked based on its alleged desire to develop nuclear weapons, just as Iraq was attacked in 2003. In fact, Congress is currently debating whether a nuclear capability alone (which Brazil, Japan, and other countries enjoy) could justify the ‘preventive’ attack. I believe it is time to negate this doctrine by postulating that Iran in fact has a right, as a sovereign nation, to a nuclear capability.
Having traveled to Iran recently, I can attest to the Joint Chiefs’ General Dempsey’s reference to Iran as a ‘rational’ actor. The Iranians have no interest in destroying America, or Israel, at the expense of one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world, dating back about 2600 years. Iran is currently surrounded by over 40 U.S. military installations, not counting Israel’s still-unaccounted nuclear arsenal. To assert that Iran would jeopardize its culture for a one-shot nuclear attack is a complete miscalculation of the Iranian spirit; that spirit gave rise to a revolution in 1979 against what they perceived as Anglo-American imperialism in the form of the Shah, much as our own revolution opposed British imperialism.
I agree with General Dempsey that an attack on Iran would not only be imprudent, it would be ‘destabilizing’, and for more than just Iran. What is at stake is much larger than Iran’s right to become a nuclear power; and based on the attitude of the political figures I spoke with in Iran, they understand this very well — should Israel, with or without American support, attack Iran’s nuclear or military infrastructure, it would be considered an act of war that may prompt World War III.
What I believe is currently being played out is an ‘endgame’ scenario, by failing West European and American economies, threatening to explode what has historically been referred to by British imperialists as the Heartland of Eurasia: stretching from the Horn of Africa (guarding the shipping lanes of the Gulf) to Afghanistan and Pakistan (in Russia and China’s underbelly). The Russians know this ‘Great Game’ well, having played it with the British since at least the Crimean War of the mid-19th Century. So when Russia says it cannot accept the ongoing destruction of the Syrian government, or an attack on Iran, it is based on the understanding that such destabilization of this ‘Heartland’ could ignite war between Shia and Sunni Muslims across the region, even affecting the Muslim populations of southern Russia and western China.
More
Submitted by Sean Stone
Backing into World War III?
According to the doctrine of pre-emptive war, Iran can be attacked based on its alleged desire to develop nuclear weapons, just as Iraq was attacked in 2003. In fact, Congress is currently debating whether a nuclear capability alone (which Brazil, Japan, and other countries enjoy) could justify the ‘preventive’ attack. I believe it is time to negate this doctrine by postulating that Iran in fact has a right, as a sovereign nation, to a nuclear capability.
Having traveled to Iran recently, I can attest to the Joint Chiefs’ General Dempsey’s reference to Iran as a ‘rational’ actor. The Iranians have no interest in destroying America, or Israel, at the expense of one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world, dating back about 2600 years. Iran is currently surrounded by over 40 U.S. military installations, not counting Israel’s still-unaccounted nuclear arsenal. To assert that Iran would jeopardize its culture for a one-shot nuclear attack is a complete miscalculation of the Iranian spirit; that spirit gave rise to a revolution in 1979 against what they perceived as Anglo-American imperialism in the form of the Shah, much as our own revolution opposed British imperialism.
I agree with General Dempsey that an attack on Iran would not only be imprudent, it would be ‘destabilizing’, and for more than just Iran. What is at stake is much larger than Iran’s right to become a nuclear power; and based on the attitude of the political figures I spoke with in Iran, they understand this very well — should Israel, with or without American support, attack Iran’s nuclear or military infrastructure, it would be considered an act of war that may prompt World War III.
What I believe is currently being played out is an ‘endgame’ scenario, by failing West European and American economies, threatening to explode what has historically been referred to by British imperialists as the Heartland of Eurasia: stretching from the Horn of Africa (guarding the shipping lanes of the Gulf) to Afghanistan and Pakistan (in Russia and China’s underbelly). The Russians know this ‘Great Game’ well, having played it with the British since at least the Crimean War of the mid-19th Century. So when Russia says it cannot accept the ongoing destruction of the Syrian government, or an attack on Iran, it is based on the understanding that such destabilization of this ‘Heartland’ could ignite war between Shia and Sunni Muslims across the region, even affecting the Muslim populations of southern Russia and western China.
More
Paul Supporters Across The Pond
Back in London for meetings and to conduct another 3-day quant finance workshop - http://www.imackgroup.com/speaking-engagements-and-publications
Overheard some folks singing Dr. Paul's praises and puzzled as to why his message of "peace and prosperity" was not catching on fire with everyone in the states?
Peace and good nite from the UK
Overheard some folks singing Dr. Paul's praises and puzzled as to why his message of "peace and prosperity" was not catching on fire with everyone in the states?
Peace and good nite from the UK
Maryland Asks For Stay During Gun Permit Ruling Appeal
BALTIMORE -- Maryland’s attorney general asked a federal judge Wednesday to keep the state's gun permit law in place while the state appeals his ruling that the law is unconstitutional.
In an order filed earlier this week, Judge Benson Everett Legg ruled that the Second Amendment right to bear arms is not limited to the home and Maryland's requirement that residents must show a "good and substantial reason" to carry a handgun is unconstitutional.
While the ruling is appealed, Maryland State Police, the agency that processes permit applications, will not make decisions on applications in which approval rests solely on that clause, said Maryland State Police spokesman Greg Shipley.
In an order filed earlier this week, Judge Benson Everett Legg ruled that the Second Amendment right to bear arms is not limited to the home and Maryland's requirement that residents must show a "good and substantial reason" to carry a handgun is unconstitutional.
While the ruling is appealed, Maryland State Police, the agency that processes permit applications, will not make decisions on applications in which approval rests solely on that clause, said Maryland State Police spokesman Greg Shipley.
Let's Pretend "Job Growth Is Best Since 2006"
Instead of just swallowing Ministry of Propaganda swill, let's examine actual data. If we do that, we find job growth is mostly smoke and mirrors.
The Ministry of Propaganda and its media minions are announcing that "job growth is on a tear" and the "best growth since 2006." How about we look under the hood of the employment euphoria? Here is an example of the Ministry's work: Best U.S. employment growth in 12 years [9]Almost all the data agree — labor market’s on a tear.
Over the past six months, the number of people who are employed has risen by 2.3 million — an average of 385,000 per month. That’s the best growth since early 2000, when the dot-com bubble was in full flower.
Since August, the unemployment rate has fallen by 0.8 of a percentage points, to 8.3%. For adults over 25, the jobless rate has fallen to 7%.
In other words, people who generally work full time so they don't have to share a bunk in a flop house or live in their parents' basement are almost fully employed, as 'full employment" typically generates an unemployment rate of 5% just due to churn.
More
The Ministry of Propaganda and its media minions are announcing that "job growth is on a tear" and the "best growth since 2006." How about we look under the hood of the employment euphoria? Here is an example of the Ministry's work: Best U.S. employment growth in 12 years [9]Almost all the data agree — labor market’s on a tear.
Over the past six months, the number of people who are employed has risen by 2.3 million — an average of 385,000 per month. That’s the best growth since early 2000, when the dot-com bubble was in full flower.
Since August, the unemployment rate has fallen by 0.8 of a percentage points, to 8.3%. For adults over 25, the jobless rate has fallen to 7%.
In other words, people who generally work full time so they don't have to share a bunk in a flop house or live in their parents' basement are almost fully employed, as 'full employment" typically generates an unemployment rate of 5% just due to churn.
More
YOU CALL THIS A RECOVERY?
This is what we’ve gotten for the $7 trillion of debt, ZIRP, Bank bailouts, QE1, QE2, Operation Twist, 99 weeks of unemployment benefits and 47 million people on food stamps. What do we do when the bottom falls out in April/May?
The latest jobs report came out today with the Labor Department reporting that nonfarm payrolls (jobs) increased by 227,000 in February. Today’s chart puts the latest data into perspective by comparing nonfarm payrolls following the end of the latest economic recession (i.e. the Great Recession — solid red line) to that of the prior recession (i.e. 2001 recession — dashed gold line) to that of the average post-recession from 1954-2000 (dashed blue line). As today’s chart illustrates, the current jobs recovery is much weaker than the average jobs recovery that follows the end of a recession. Today’s chart also illustrates that the jobs market continues to improve at a fairly steady pace — a pace very similar to what occurred following the recession of 2001.
More
The latest jobs report came out today with the Labor Department reporting that nonfarm payrolls (jobs) increased by 227,000 in February. Today’s chart puts the latest data into perspective by comparing nonfarm payrolls following the end of the latest economic recession (i.e. the Great Recession — solid red line) to that of the prior recession (i.e. 2001 recession — dashed gold line) to that of the average post-recession from 1954-2000 (dashed blue line). As today’s chart illustrates, the current jobs recovery is much weaker than the average jobs recovery that follows the end of a recession. Today’s chart also illustrates that the jobs market continues to improve at a fairly steady pace — a pace very similar to what occurred following the recession of 2001.
More
6% Of State Employees Make $100,00 Or More — 5,522 People
Last year, 5,522 state employees brought home paychecks that added up to $100,000 or more, according to salary figures from the Comptroller’s office. That’s about 6% of most full-time workers employed by the state and 383 more than in 2010.
Continue Reading...
Continue Reading...
Is The GOP Becoming A War Party?
Denouncing Republican "bluster" about war with Iran, President Obama went on the offensive Tuesday:
"Those who are ... beating the drums of war should explain clearly to the American people what they think the costs and benefits would be."
The president had in mind such remarks as those Newt Gingrich delivered to the Israeli lobby AIPAC that same day: "The red line is now ... because the Iranians are deepening their commitment to nuclear weapons" – an assertion the Joint Chiefs and U.S. intelligence agencies say is blatantly false.
They insist: Iran has not made the decision to build a bomb.
Perhaps the president was referring to Mitt Romney's pledge to that same cheering throng to "station multiple carriers and warships at Iran's door" and deny Tehran even "the capacity to make a bomb."
But if "the capacity to make a bomb" means knowledge of how to build one and an ability to enrich uranium to bomb-grade, should they decide to do so, Iran already has that.
More
"Those who are ... beating the drums of war should explain clearly to the American people what they think the costs and benefits would be."
The president had in mind such remarks as those Newt Gingrich delivered to the Israeli lobby AIPAC that same day: "The red line is now ... because the Iranians are deepening their commitment to nuclear weapons" – an assertion the Joint Chiefs and U.S. intelligence agencies say is blatantly false.
They insist: Iran has not made the decision to build a bomb.
Perhaps the president was referring to Mitt Romney's pledge to that same cheering throng to "station multiple carriers and warships at Iran's door" and deny Tehran even "the capacity to make a bomb."
But if "the capacity to make a bomb" means knowledge of how to build one and an ability to enrich uranium to bomb-grade, should they decide to do so, Iran already has that.
More
Part Time Workers Celebrate The Recovery With Soaring Gun Purchases
Following continued strength in earnings (and analyst upgrades), Smith & Wesson is up 23% this morning (near three year highs). It seems all those freshly printed temporary workers are spending their hard-earned minimum wage on 'defense' instead of iPads.
*SMITH & WESSON BOOSTS REV. FORECAST :SWHC US
*SMITH & WESSON 3Q EPS CONT OPS 8C, EST. 4C :SWHC
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*SMITH & WESSON BOOSTS REV. FORECAST :SWHC US
*SMITH & WESSON 3Q EPS CONT OPS 8C, EST. 4C :SWHC
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