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Thursday, May 10, 2012
Animal Rights Kooks At The Lexus Project Want To Save A Dog That Killed A Baby
I love dogs. I really do. In fact, I like them better than most people — in the abstract at least.
No wonder.
Dogs are fun, they’re loyal, they throw a little celebration when you get home even if you’re just gone for a few hours. Still, they’re not human beings. They’re just not. If you don’t get that all the way down at the core of your being, there’s just something fundamentally wrong with you.
The fate of “Onion” a 6-year-old mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback mix will be decided on Friday. Onion recently mauled a toddler to death in Henderson, Nev., but animal rights activists are saying it wasn’t a malicious act and they hope the dog will be allowed to live at an animal sanctuary for aggressive canines.
Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan was killed late last month when the 120-pound Onion reportedly attacked the 1-year-old as he was using the animal to help pull himself to his feet — something he did regularly. The Las Vegas Review Journal has more on the incident:
He latched his jaws around the boy’s head and began shaking him back and forth. Jeremiah‘s grandmother wasn’t strong enough to pull the boy away. [Christopher] Shahan heard the commotion from upstairs and raced to rescue his son.
The dog should have been put down Tuesday according to Nevada state law, but the local Fox affiliate reports an animal rights group filed an injunction hours before Onion would have been euthanized:
“The dog didn’t do anything,” said Richard Rosenthal, co-founder of The Lexus Project. “This was not a vicious attack where the dog attempted to tear the child apart, and it’s not a situation where the child was on the ground and the dog went over to him and attacked him.”
The group has set up for the dog to be sent to an animal sanctuary in Colorado, instead of being euthanized.
“They’re willing to take the dog, evaluate the dog and rehabilitate the dog,” Rosenthal said. ”The dog can stay there as long as need be, including the rest of his life, if it turns out there is an aggression issue.”
More
No wonder.
Dogs are fun, they’re loyal, they throw a little celebration when you get home even if you’re just gone for a few hours. Still, they’re not human beings. They’re just not. If you don’t get that all the way down at the core of your being, there’s just something fundamentally wrong with you.
The fate of “Onion” a 6-year-old mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback mix will be decided on Friday. Onion recently mauled a toddler to death in Henderson, Nev., but animal rights activists are saying it wasn’t a malicious act and they hope the dog will be allowed to live at an animal sanctuary for aggressive canines.
Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan was killed late last month when the 120-pound Onion reportedly attacked the 1-year-old as he was using the animal to help pull himself to his feet — something he did regularly. The Las Vegas Review Journal has more on the incident:
He latched his jaws around the boy’s head and began shaking him back and forth. Jeremiah‘s grandmother wasn’t strong enough to pull the boy away. [Christopher] Shahan heard the commotion from upstairs and raced to rescue his son.
The dog should have been put down Tuesday according to Nevada state law, but the local Fox affiliate reports an animal rights group filed an injunction hours before Onion would have been euthanized:
“The dog didn’t do anything,” said Richard Rosenthal, co-founder of The Lexus Project. “This was not a vicious attack where the dog attempted to tear the child apart, and it’s not a situation where the child was on the ground and the dog went over to him and attacked him.”
The group has set up for the dog to be sent to an animal sanctuary in Colorado, instead of being euthanized.
“They’re willing to take the dog, evaluate the dog and rehabilitate the dog,” Rosenthal said. ”The dog can stay there as long as need be, including the rest of his life, if it turns out there is an aggression issue.”
More
Hackers Gain Access To Homes Through Webcams
CLEVELAND — Internet users are becoming vulnerable to hackers who can infiltrate software and gain access to webcams.
“The main thing to worry about is when software is able to turn on your camera without notifying you, without the user explicitly turning it on, that’s the main issue,” said Feross Aboukhadijeh, a student at Stanford University in California.
Via Skype, Feross told FOX 8 about his online discovery last year that criminals were able to “clickjack” – or trick – computer users into handing over control of their webcams via Adobe Flash Player. The move enabled hackers to turn on cameras and watch people without permission.
“There’s a whole underground on the internet that does this sort of stuff, so it’s basically an arms race,” said Feross. “There’s the hackers on one side trying to figure out new ways to exploit software and there’s the companies on the other side trying really hard to patch-up their software and make sure it’s not vulnerable to this type of stuff.”
More
“The main thing to worry about is when software is able to turn on your camera without notifying you, without the user explicitly turning it on, that’s the main issue,” said Feross Aboukhadijeh, a student at Stanford University in California.
Via Skype, Feross told FOX 8 about his online discovery last year that criminals were able to “clickjack” – or trick – computer users into handing over control of their webcams via Adobe Flash Player. The move enabled hackers to turn on cameras and watch people without permission.
“There’s a whole underground on the internet that does this sort of stuff, so it’s basically an arms race,” said Feross. “There’s the hackers on one side trying to figure out new ways to exploit software and there’s the companies on the other side trying really hard to patch-up their software and make sure it’s not vulnerable to this type of stuff.”
More
Obama-Loving Media Spin The Economy
National Public Radio’s Kai Ryssdal recently talked about the weak economy. His guests, two reporters from The Washington Post and The New York Times, acknowledged the obvious — that the economy is underperforming.
Yet, in the 20 minutes of my sitting and listening in the car in bad Los Angeles traffic, I heard no one mention the words “President Barack Obama.”
Time magazine, in a cover story on the economy, called the current economic recovery a “97-pound weakling.” It informs us that our sluggish economy is now driven by broad, virtually uncontrollable worldwide economic trends. Only once in this lengthy article did Time mention Obama — and only to say that Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney “plans to use the economy as a hammer against President Obama.”
That’s it. The President, Mr. Hope-and-Change, you see, is powerless to do anything about the economy. None of that “the buck stops here” stuff for him.
More
Yet, in the 20 minutes of my sitting and listening in the car in bad Los Angeles traffic, I heard no one mention the words “President Barack Obama.”
Time magazine, in a cover story on the economy, called the current economic recovery a “97-pound weakling.” It informs us that our sluggish economy is now driven by broad, virtually uncontrollable worldwide economic trends. Only once in this lengthy article did Time mention Obama — and only to say that Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney “plans to use the economy as a hammer against President Obama.”
That’s it. The President, Mr. Hope-and-Change, you see, is powerless to do anything about the economy. None of that “the buck stops here” stuff for him.
More
Bankster Power
United States House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy & Technology, May 8, 2012
Although it has taken nearly a century, it seems that the entire spectrum of the American political establishment has finally realized the destructive power of the Federal Reserve System. Whether left, right, or libertarian, politicians are lining up to attack Ben Bernanke and the Fed's destructive monetary policy. Where there is disagreement or lack of understanding, however, is on why the Fed's monetary policy is destructive, how it harms the economy, and what should be done about it. Today's hearing will examine the various proposals that have been put forth both to mend and to end the Fed. It is my hope that this hearing will spur a vigorous and long-lasting discussion about the Fed's problems, a discussion which will lead to concrete actions once and for all to rein in the Fed.
Much confusion exists over what the Federal Reserve System actually is. Some people claim that is a secret cabal of elite bankers, while others claim that it is part of the federal government. In reality it is a bit of both. The Federal Reserve Board is a government agency, while the Federal Reserve Banks are privately-run government-chartered institutions, and monetary policy decisions are made by the Federal Open Market Committee, which has members from both the Board and the Reserve Banks.
More
Although it has taken nearly a century, it seems that the entire spectrum of the American political establishment has finally realized the destructive power of the Federal Reserve System. Whether left, right, or libertarian, politicians are lining up to attack Ben Bernanke and the Fed's destructive monetary policy. Where there is disagreement or lack of understanding, however, is on why the Fed's monetary policy is destructive, how it harms the economy, and what should be done about it. Today's hearing will examine the various proposals that have been put forth both to mend and to end the Fed. It is my hope that this hearing will spur a vigorous and long-lasting discussion about the Fed's problems, a discussion which will lead to concrete actions once and for all to rein in the Fed.
Much confusion exists over what the Federal Reserve System actually is. Some people claim that is a secret cabal of elite bankers, while others claim that it is part of the federal government. In reality it is a bit of both. The Federal Reserve Board is a government agency, while the Federal Reserve Banks are privately-run government-chartered institutions, and monetary policy decisions are made by the Federal Open Market Committee, which has members from both the Board and the Reserve Banks.
More
J.P. Morgan loses 2.3 BILLION in the last 6 weeks!
So what happens next? Another Bailout? Can we blame Bush? Obama? How about greed? They make bad choices, the markets goes down, and our economy suffers.
go here to see more http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304070304577396511420792008.html
go here to see more http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304070304577396511420792008.html
USPS Offers Buyouts
The Postal Service is offering buyouts to its 21,000 postmasters. Most of them are eligible for retirement now. The buyouts are part of a new, more modest attempt to cut costs. The agency's first plan to close small, underused post offices angered lawmakers from rural areas. The Postal Service has backed off of it.
Corner Drugstores Hotbed For Medicare Fraud
The nation's fabled corner drugstores appear to be hotbeds of Medicare fraud. The Health and Human Services IG has found 2,600 local pharmacies were paid $5.6 billion in questionable Medicare claims. A drugstore in Kansas submitted bills showing two patients each received 1,000 prescriptions in a single year. The research was directed by the New York regional inspector general's office. It used statistical analysis to look at a billion transactions. Marilyn Tavenner, Medicare administrator, said she accepted the findings, but she said asking insurers to police drug store billings would be burdensome.
Parents Reveal Secret Attempts to Free U.S. Soldier
Frustrated by what they said are stalled efforts to free a U.S. soldier taken prisoner three years ago in Afghanistan, the man's parents have gone public with previously secret U.S. attempts to trade him for Taliban prisoners in U.S. hands.
Bob Bergdahl and his wife, Jani Bergdahl,
said in interviews that they are concerned the U.S. government hasn't
done enough to secure the release of their son, 26-year-old Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
"There is a dynamic here that has to change," Bob Bergdahl said in an interview with the Idaho Mountain Express. "Everybody is frustrated with how slowly the process has evolved."
84-Year-Old Korean War Vet Shoots Home Invader in PA — Then Forgives Intruder’s Family
An 84-year-old western Pennsylvania man and Korean War vet shot and
wounded a home invasion suspect, and then forgave the man’s family when
they came to apologize.
WPXI-TV has video with details of how this no-nonsense war vet dealt with an imminent threat to his life and property:
The New York Daily News described the scene as something that:
WPXI-TV has video with details of how this no-nonsense war vet dealt with an imminent threat to his life and property:
The New York Daily News described the scene as something that:
“appeared to be pulled from the pages of the Clint Eastwood film ‘Gran Torino,’ [as] grizzled war hero Fred Ricciutti grabbed his battlefield sidearm after he heard someone bust through a kitchen door of his Elizabeth Township house at around 4:30 a.m.”More
Look Who's Paying for Occupy's DC Digs
A labor union with strong ties to President Obama is paying for
Occupy’s Washington, D.C., office space inside a thinktank that also is
heavily tied to the White House.
Both the thinktank and the union are closely associated with Occupy.
The Service Employees International Union is forking over $4,000 per month for three offices inside the Institute for Policy Studies, or IPS thinktank, whose headquarters are a short distance from the tent city Occupy set up in McPherson Square in Washington in October.
More
Both the thinktank and the union are closely associated with Occupy.
The Service Employees International Union is forking over $4,000 per month for three offices inside the Institute for Policy Studies, or IPS thinktank, whose headquarters are a short distance from the tent city Occupy set up in McPherson Square in Washington in October.
More
Despite Boycott, Limbaugh Thrives as CNN and WaPo Collapse
Over at the left-wing Politico, the headline is "Limbaugh Boycott Cost 'Millions." But once you actually click on the story, you get the real story:
"It hit us pretty hard," Dickey said during a call with financial analysts yesterday. "A couple of million bucks in the first quarter and a couple of million bucks in quarter two."Dickey would not give exact figures, but said the "millions" accounted for "about one percent" of the roughly $245 million in first quarter revenues, and said he expected revenue to return to normal in June.
More
Police in Maryland Drive Campaign to Increase Seat Belt Use
Maryland State Police will have an eye out for young, night drivers in particular this summer.
Particularly, troopers and officers will be watching for drivers under the age of 35 who are most likely to lose their lives in a crash because they were not wearing seat belts.
The effort is part of a nationwide "Click It or Ticket" mobilization that began the first week of May and lasts through the beginning of June.
State police said young people -- men in particular -- are among those least likely to buckle up at night. According to recent figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lap and shoulder seat belts -- when worn -- lower the risk of death to passengers in the front seat by 45 percent. The research revealed that seat belts also reduce the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by half.
More
Particularly, troopers and officers will be watching for drivers under the age of 35 who are most likely to lose their lives in a crash because they were not wearing seat belts.
The effort is part of a nationwide "Click It or Ticket" mobilization that began the first week of May and lasts through the beginning of June.
State police said young people -- men in particular -- are among those least likely to buckle up at night. According to recent figures released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lap and shoulder seat belts -- when worn -- lower the risk of death to passengers in the front seat by 45 percent. The research revealed that seat belts also reduce the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by half.
More
New Limits On Gays In The Military
A House panel is backing new limits on gays in the military. The House Armed Services Committee has approved two measures. One would prevent same-sex couples from marrying or having commitment ceremonies on military installations. The other would force the military to accommodate service members or chaplains who oppose homosexuality on religious or moral grounds. The provisions are part of a Defense reauthorization bill and passed on party lines. Critics said the committee was trying to turn back the clock just months after the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."
Sharpton: GOP Declared 'War on Black People' Time To 'Fire Back'
MSNBC's Al Sharpton in JEFFERSON CITY,
MO: It’s war on black people, it’s war on women, it’s war on immigrants.
… We have got to turn this around and start targeting in Missouri those
legislators that want to roll back our right to vote!”
Video Here
Video Here
O'Malley, Lawmakers Agree On Tax Hikes For Special Session
Pointing to 2007 tax hikes, Republicans say 'Enough is enough'
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - State lawmakers announced Wednesday an agreement reached on re-working the state budget.
Gov. Martin O'Malley and presiding officers of the General Assembly declared they have struck a deal on a budget plan that includes income tax hikes.
"I'm very pleased with the direction the governor has taken bringing both members of the House and Senate back together," House Speaker Michael Busch said.
"I'm very honored to be back here another day to correct what needs to be corrected and move the state forward," Senate President Mike Miller said.
More
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - State lawmakers announced Wednesday an agreement reached on re-working the state budget.
Gov. Martin O'Malley and presiding officers of the General Assembly declared they have struck a deal on a budget plan that includes income tax hikes.
"I'm very pleased with the direction the governor has taken bringing both members of the House and Senate back together," House Speaker Michael Busch said.
"I'm very honored to be back here another day to correct what needs to be corrected and move the state forward," Senate President Mike Miller said.
More
Detroit Group Tells Welfare Recipients to Hijack Homes
The Michigan Welfare Rights Organization (MWRO), headed by Maureen Taylor, has been telling Detroit welfare recipients to occupy foreclosed homes around the city. “You can’t imagine,” Taylor told WWJ in Detroit, “when we get to work at 9 and 10 in the morning, there are 20 to 30 people in the hallway talking about ‘I don’t have any more money, my rent is due’ – three or four months behind – what can I do? And its unreal, because we don’t have answers except to say, ‘here’s a list of houses that we have intercepted that have been repossessed by banks, pick one and move in.’” To boot these trespassers out of the homes, banks are forced to take MWRO to court.
More
Reward Offered In Death Of Two Bald Eagles In Talbot County
Federal wildlife officials are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person who killed a pair of bald eagles in Talbot County last Monday.
The carcasses were found by a resident near the intersection of Kitty's Corner and State Road 328, just south of Tuckahoe Creek. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials believe the eagles were the victims of secondary poisoning after feeding on a dead fox.
More
The carcasses were found by a resident near the intersection of Kitty's Corner and State Road 328, just south of Tuckahoe Creek. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials believe the eagles were the victims of secondary poisoning after feeding on a dead fox.
More
Fed Clears China's First US Bank Takeover
The United States opened its banking market to China's biggest bank ICBC, for the first time clearing a takeover of a US bank by a Chinese state-controlled company.
Just days after high-level US-China economic talks in Beijing, the Federal Reserve approved an application from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to buy a majority stake in the US subsidiary of Bank of East Asia.
The transaction will make ICBC the first Chinese state-controlled bank to acquire retail bank branches in the United States.
ICBC has been the most aggressive of China's "big four" banks in expanding abroad.
No More War
It now looks like the underwear bomber terror plot that was foiled - wasn't really a terror plot at all. The would-be bomber was actually an informant working for the Saudi government and the CIA, who had infiltrated Al-Qaida in Yemen, and then volunteered to carry out the attack. Once the informant was given the bomb – he turned it over to his handlers – who then turned it over to the FBI. The underwear bomb that was seized, by the way, is a much more sophisticated device than the one used in the failed 2009 bombing: Reportedly, it's a non-metallic device that would have been undetectable even during an intrusive pat-down. So, surprise - our security theatre in airports - complete with Chertoff X-Ray porno scanners and TSA gropes – doesn't keep us safe. Next step? Have TSA agents slap on latex gloves and bust out the K-Y jelly? We've become insane, and Ben Franklin was right when he said that, "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Time to end the "security theatre" and get rational again.
Teacher Charged After Assault Investigation
Location:
George V. Kirk Middle School, 140 Brennen Drive, Newark, DE
Date of Occurrence:
Monday, April 16, 2012 at 9:25 a.m.
Victim:
13 year old Newark, DE male (student)
Defendant and Charges:
Iris K. Saunders, 38, Bear, DE (pictured below)
Assault 3rd degree
Disorderly Conduct
Arraigned at JP Court 2 and released on her own recognizance.
Resume:
Newark- The Delaware State Police have arrested a teacher at the Kirk Middle School following an investigation into an assault of a student that occurred last month.
The investigation into the incident began on Friday, April 27, 2012 after the Delaware State Trooper assigned as the School Resource Officer at the George V. Kirk Middle School, located in the 100 block of Brennen Drive in Newark, was informed by school officials of an incident in which a teacher allegedly struck a student.
The investigation revealed that on Monday, April 16, 2012 at approximately 9:25 a.m., a 13 year old male student was inside of a classroom at the school when a female teacher walked into the room. At this point the male student made a comment about the teacher which was overheard by a second teacher, Iris Saunders. Upon hearing the comment, Saunders approached the student and told him to apologize. The student, however, refused to apologize, at which time Saunders “plucked” the victim in the mouth with her finger causing a minor injury to the victim. The victim then responded to the school nurse for treatment.
Iris Saunders was arrested this morning, Thursday, May 10th, and charged with the above crimes. She was then arraigned at JP Court 2 and released on her own recognizance.
Please contact the Christina School District at 302-552-2600 for any questions concerning Iris Saunders’ employment status or district policies.
Why are some fugitives receiving unemployment checks?
With jobless rates still running between eight and nine percent, nearly
200,000 Oregonians are out of work and collecting unemployment
benefits.
It also turns out that some of those people are wanted by police and prosecutors, and they're still collecting taxpayers-funded pay every week.
KATU Investigative Reporter Thom Jensen spoke with one woman who said a system that pays known fugitives while they are on the run from the law is a broken system.
"You trust in the system to go and help you and to see that they're not doing much to help your case ... it bothers me a lot," Maggie said.
More
It also turns out that some of those people are wanted by police and prosecutors, and they're still collecting taxpayers-funded pay every week.
KATU Investigative Reporter Thom Jensen spoke with one woman who said a system that pays known fugitives while they are on the run from the law is a broken system.
"You trust in the system to go and help you and to see that they're not doing much to help your case ... it bothers me a lot," Maggie said.
More
Underwear Bomber Not A Terror Plot After All
It now looks like the underwear bomber terror plot that was foiled - wasn't really a terror plot at all. The would-be bomber was actually an informant working for the Saudi government and the CIA, who had infiltrated Al-Qaida in Yemen, and then volunteered to carry out the attack. Once the informant was given the bomb – he turned it over to his handlers – who then turned it over to the FBI. The underwear bomb that was seized, by the way, is a much more sophisticated device than the one used in the failed 2009 bombing: Reportedly, it's a non-metallic device that would have been undetectable even during an intrusive pat-down. So, surprise - our security theatre in airports - complete with Chertoff X-Ray porno scanners and TSA gropes – doesn't keep us safe. Next step? Have TSA agents slap on latex gloves and bust out the K-Y jelly? We've become insane, and Ben Franklin was right when he said that, "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Time to end the "security theatre" and get rational again.
Schools Suspension at Age 4 or 5: Is That Too Young?
Each year, hundreds of children between the ages of 4 and 5 are suspended from Maryland schools, but is that too young? WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team reporter David Collins talked with experts to expose the growing social and academic problem.
Makhi, 5, is a big brother and attends kindergarten at Cross Country Elementary School, according to his mother, Michelle McKnight.
She told the 11 News I-Team she's upset because the 5-year-old has been suspended 12 times since the start of the school year. McKnight said specialists diagnosed him with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and disruptive behavior disorder.
More
Oil Prices Are the Lowest They Have Been This Year So Far
The price drop might have to do with oil speculators selling off their futures contracts – since as much as $14 of every tank of gas in America is a result of banksters speculating on Wall Street. Those suffering the most from falling oil prices are Republican operatives who've been trying to pin rising gas prices on President Obama, despite the fact that he's increased domestic drilling and reduced dependence on foreign oil each year he's been in office. US inventories are now at a 21-year high, and demand at a 7-year low. Now that gas prices are falling – let's see if Republicans are as quick to give the President credit as they were to fault him when they were rising.
Church Leaders Offer to Hold Funeral Services For the Man Who Shot and Killed Two Church Employees X
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. - The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is offering
forgiveness and a funeral service for a homeless man who killed himself
after fatally shooting an Ellicott City priest and church secretary last
week.
Church officials said Wednesday that the family of Douglas Franklin Jones hasn't decided whether to accept offers from several parishes to hold a Christian burial service for the man responsible for the bloodshed at St. Peter's last Thursday.
More
Church officials said Wednesday that the family of Douglas Franklin Jones hasn't decided whether to accept offers from several parishes to hold a Christian burial service for the man responsible for the bloodshed at St. Peter's last Thursday.
More
SU Recognizes Four Distinguished Community Leaders
Four hard-working individuals and organizations dedicated to a vision of a caring community are the 2012 recipients of the Salisbury University President’s Distinguished Community Leadership Awards. Their work is celebrated during SU’s 86th year Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 19, at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center.
More
More
Justice Department Planning to Sue Arizona Sheriff Arpaio Over Alleged Racial Profiling
Federal authorities said Wednesday they plan to sue an Arizona county
sheriff and his office over allegations of civil rights violations,
including the racial profiling of Hispanics.
The U.S. Justice Department has been seeking an agreement requiring sheriff Joe Arpaio office to train officers in how to make constitutional traffic stops, collect data on people arrested in traffic stops and reach out to Hispanics to assure them that the department is there to also protect them.
Arpaio has denied the racial profiling allegations and has claimed that allowing a court monitor would mean that every policy decision would have to be cleared through an observer and would nullify his authority.
The U.S. Justice Department has been seeking an agreement requiring sheriff Joe Arpaio office to train officers in how to make constitutional traffic stops, collect data on people arrested in traffic stops and reach out to Hispanics to assure them that the department is there to also protect them.
Arpaio has denied the racial profiling allegations and has claimed that allowing a court monitor would mean that every policy decision would have to be cleared through an observer and would nullify his authority.
Retired Couples May Need $240,000 for Health Care
Couples retiring this year can expect their medical bills throughout
retirement to cost 4 percent more than those who retired a year ago,
according to an annual projection released Wednesday by Fidelity
Investments.
The estimated $240,000 that a newly retired couple will need to cover health care expenses reflects the typical pattern of projected annual increases. The Boston-based company cut the estimate for the first time last year, citing President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Medicare changes resulting from that plan are expected to gradually reduce many seniors' out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs.
But Fidelity says overall health care cost trends are on the rise again, so it's raising its cost estimate from last year's $230,000 figure.
More
The estimated $240,000 that a newly retired couple will need to cover health care expenses reflects the typical pattern of projected annual increases. The Boston-based company cut the estimate for the first time last year, citing President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Medicare changes resulting from that plan are expected to gradually reduce many seniors' out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs.
But Fidelity says overall health care cost trends are on the rise again, so it's raising its cost estimate from last year's $230,000 figure.
More
Board Of Education Makes Administrative Appointments For 2012-13 School Year
The Wicomico County Board of Education on Tuesday, May 8 approved two administrative appointments for the 2012-13 school year, effective July 1.
Supervisor of Reading: Patricia Blevins
Mrs. Blevins has served Wicomico County Public Schools as Coordinator of Reading since 2003. She has been involved in public education for 37 years, and has extensive experience in a variety of settings in effectively teaching reading. She has represented Wicomico County by presenting on the local, state, regional and national level, and is currently assisting the Maryland State Department of Education with Common Core curriculum writing. Mrs. Blevins is a graduate of Salisbury University, with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education degree with a concentration in reading. She was a Title I reading teacher from 1991-2003, and prior to that served as a classroom teacher in Wicomico and Somerset counties (1975-1991). She has been an adjunct professor in the Salisbury University Master of Education Reading Specialist Program.
Elementary Assistant Principal: Shelly Hall
Mrs. Hall, currently a grade 3 classroom teacher at Delmar Elementary School, was appointed an Elementary Assistant Principal. A graduate of Wicomico County Public Schools, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Salisbury University, and a Master of Education in Public School Administration and a Master in Education as a certified Reading Specialist, both from SU. Mrs. Hall began her teaching career in Somerset County Public Schools in 1993, working as a middle school teacher. In 1997, she was hired as a middle school teacher in Wicomico County Public Schools, starting at Salisbury Middle School. She later moved to Delmar Elementary School. In 2001, she became a Reading Support Teacher for Salisbury Middle and later Reading Intervention Specialist at Wicomico Middle. This year, Mrs. Hall returned to Delmar Elementary. Mrs. Hall has served on the School Improvement Team, PBIS School Committee, Examining Student Work Initiative, and the Wicomico County Reading Committee.
Supervisor of Reading: Patricia Blevins
Mrs. Blevins has served Wicomico County Public Schools as Coordinator of Reading since 2003. She has been involved in public education for 37 years, and has extensive experience in a variety of settings in effectively teaching reading. She has represented Wicomico County by presenting on the local, state, regional and national level, and is currently assisting the Maryland State Department of Education with Common Core curriculum writing. Mrs. Blevins is a graduate of Salisbury University, with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education degree with a concentration in reading. She was a Title I reading teacher from 1991-2003, and prior to that served as a classroom teacher in Wicomico and Somerset counties (1975-1991). She has been an adjunct professor in the Salisbury University Master of Education Reading Specialist Program.
Elementary Assistant Principal: Shelly Hall
Mrs. Hall, currently a grade 3 classroom teacher at Delmar Elementary School, was appointed an Elementary Assistant Principal. A graduate of Wicomico County Public Schools, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Salisbury University, and a Master of Education in Public School Administration and a Master in Education as a certified Reading Specialist, both from SU. Mrs. Hall began her teaching career in Somerset County Public Schools in 1993, working as a middle school teacher. In 1997, she was hired as a middle school teacher in Wicomico County Public Schools, starting at Salisbury Middle School. She later moved to Delmar Elementary School. In 2001, she became a Reading Support Teacher for Salisbury Middle and later Reading Intervention Specialist at Wicomico Middle. This year, Mrs. Hall returned to Delmar Elementary. Mrs. Hall has served on the School Improvement Team, PBIS School Committee, Examining Student Work Initiative, and the Wicomico County Reading Committee.
Lawmakers: Victims of Domestic Terrorism Deserve Purple Heart
Top lawmakers on Capitol Hill are challenging the U.S. military to rethink how it classifies terrorist attacks on U.S. soil after the Defense Department decided the 2009 attack at Fort Hood
and the attack on a recruiting office in Arkansas were domestic
killings rather than flash points in the global war on terrorism.
Those classifications mean the dozens who were wounded or killed at Fort Hood, Texas, and those killed or injured in Little Rock, Ark., were not eligible for Purple Heart medals — a ruling that House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter T. King and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman want to change.
They have introduced legislation that would allow domestic attacks on service members to be reviewed the same way as international terrorist attacks when it comes to awarding the Purple Heart, which is the military’s decoration for troops wounded or killed while in combat zones.
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Those classifications mean the dozens who were wounded or killed at Fort Hood, Texas, and those killed or injured in Little Rock, Ark., were not eligible for Purple Heart medals — a ruling that House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter T. King and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman want to change.
They have introduced legislation that would allow domestic attacks on service members to be reviewed the same way as international terrorist attacks when it comes to awarding the Purple Heart, which is the military’s decoration for troops wounded or killed while in combat zones.
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Public Notice
ELECTION REDISTRICTING SLATED FOR AGENDA WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED FY13 BUDGET
The Salibury City Council’s regular legislative session on Monday, May 14, will feature a presentation and opportunity for public input on two election redistricting proposals, along with two advertised public hearings: one on the Mayor’s Proposed FY13 Budget and one on the Constant Yield Tax Rate. The meeting is called to order at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers (Room 301) of the Government Office Building (125 N. Division St.)
By visiting the City’s website, http://www.ci.salisbury.md.us, the public can view the proposed budget, election redistricting maps, and the briefing book for the Monday night meeting. Links to the proposed budget and maps are found on the home page, under “Latest News. The briefing book can be accessed though the “City Government” menu item at the top of the home page, then through the sub-menu of “City Council” and then clicking “City Council Agendas.”
The Salibury City Council’s regular legislative session on Monday, May 14, will feature a presentation and opportunity for public input on two election redistricting proposals, along with two advertised public hearings: one on the Mayor’s Proposed FY13 Budget and one on the Constant Yield Tax Rate. The meeting is called to order at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers (Room 301) of the Government Office Building (125 N. Division St.)
By visiting the City’s website, http://www.ci.salisbury.md.us, the public can view the proposed budget, election redistricting maps, and the briefing book for the Monday night meeting. Links to the proposed budget and maps are found on the home page, under “Latest News. The briefing book can be accessed though the “City Government” menu item at the top of the home page, then through the sub-menu of “City Council” and then clicking “City Council Agendas.”
Obama gay marriage support could roil Va contest
President Barack Obama's newly announced support for same-sex
marriages adds an emotional new element with an uncertain effect into
his re-election bid in Virginia, a battleground state he won in 2008 but
where voters have consistently opposed it.
Virginia Democratic and Republican leaders on both sides and political analysts said Wednesday it's unclear whether Obama or his presumptive Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, gains the most in an election dominated by the economy.
Obama, who once opposed gay marriage, became the first sitting president to announce his support for it. He said in an ABC News interview Wednesday that he was taking a personal position on the issue and felt public policy on marriage is best decided by individual states.
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Virginia Democratic and Republican leaders on both sides and political analysts said Wednesday it's unclear whether Obama or his presumptive Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, gains the most in an election dominated by the economy.
Obama, who once opposed gay marriage, became the first sitting president to announce his support for it. He said in an ABC News interview Wednesday that he was taking a personal position on the issue and felt public policy on marriage is best decided by individual states.
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There Are More Job Openings Now Than There Have Been For 4 Years
Get your resume spiffed up and your best interview outfit ironed — there are more job openings in the U.S. than there have been in almost four years. In March, employers were looking for people to fill positions at a rate that hasn't been seen since July 2008.
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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA 5-10-12
MAY 14, 2012 6:00 p.m.
Government Office Building Room 301
Times shown for agenda items are estimates only.
Government Office Building Room 301
Times shown for agenda items are estimates only.
6:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER
6:01 p.m. WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS
6:06 p.m. INVOCATION/MEDITATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
6:08 p.m. CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION – Mayor James P. Ireton, Jr.
Salisbury University’s “The Big Event”
6:14 p.m. ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
6:17 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA –City Clerk Kim Nichols
March 15, 2012 closed session minutes (separate envelope)
March 19, 2012 work session minutes 1a
Resolution No. 2163 – declaring that Eastern Shore Psychological 1b
Services, LLC is eligible to receive Enterprise Zone benefits for property located at 2336 Goddard Parkway
6:20 p.m. RESOLUTIONS – City Administrator John Pick
Resolution No. 2164 - authorizing the Mayor to submit the 2012 CDBG Action Plan to HUD
Resolution No. 2165 - authorizing the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion
6:40 p.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Constant Yield Tax Rate
Ordinance No. 2201 – Mayor’s Proposed FY13 Budget 3b
7:30 p.m. ELECTION REDISTRICTING PRESENTATION & PUBLIC INPUT
8:15 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS
8:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT
Man Tells TSA He Has No Idea How Gun Parts Got In His Son's Stuffed Animals
It's unfortunate when gun parts show up when you least expect them. Say, in your son's stuffed toy while going through security at an airport. A man traveling with his four-year-old told officials at T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island that he didn't know how handgun parts ended up in his kid's three stuffed animals.
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Get Your Bumper Stickers NOW At 300 W. Main Street
"Joe I was out running errands this morning and OMG I saw 3 cars with your bumper sticker on it. I think that is COOL! You Go Joe"
Honda Wins Reversal Of Small-Claims Judgment Over Hybrid Mileage
Remember that story of the Honda owner who won nearly $10,000 in small claims court after she opted out of the $100-200 settlement from the class-action lawsuit alleging that the car maker made misleading claims about the gas mileage of its Civic hybrid vehicles? Well, her glory didn't last long. A judge in California has overturned that judgment.
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Troopers Arrest Men for Burglaries in Western Sussex County
Location: Locations from Greenwood to Delmar, DE
Date of Occurrence: August 2011 to February 2012
Defendants, Charges, and Bail Information:
Laquante W. Wright, 22, Hurlock, MD (No Photo Available)
Burglary 2nd
Possession of Burglar Tools
Theft of a Firearm
Theft < $1,500.00
Criminal Mischief
Currently incarcerated in Maryland awaiting extradition to Delaware.
Leontray T. Smith, 23, Hurlock, MD (Photo Attached)
Burglary 2nd (4 counts)
Theft < $1,500.00 but victim is 62 years of Age or Older (Felony)
Theft $1,500.00 or Greater (Felony)
Conspiracy 2nd (4 counts)
Theft < $1,500.00 (2 counts)
Criminal Mischief (4 counts)
Arrested and arraigned on February 24, 2012 at JP2. Released after posting $20,000.00 secured bail.
Tayvon A. Dobson, 22, Cambridge, MD (No Photo Available)
Burglary 2nd (4 counts)
Theft < $1,500.00 but victim is 62 years of Age or Older (Felony)
Theft $1,500.00 or Greater (Felony)
Conspiracy 2nd (4 counts)
Theft < $1,500.00 (2 counts)
Criminal Mischief (4 counts)
Currently incarcerated in Maryland awaiting extradition to Delaware.
Floyd Daniels, 19, Cambridge, MD (No Photo Available)
Burglary 2nd (4 counts)
Theft < $1,500.00 but victim is 62 years of Age or Older (Felony)
Theft $1,500.00 or Greater (Felony)
Conspiracy 2nd (4 counts)
Theft < $1,500.00 (2 counts)
Criminal Mischief (4 counts)
Currently incarcerated in Maryland awaiting extradition to Delaware.
Resume:
Western Sussex County, DE- The Delaware State Police have arrested one of four men in connection with a series of burglaries from Greenwood to Delmar.
In November 2011, the Delaware State Police began a joint investigation with the Maryland State Police, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, and Laurel Police Department (Delaware). From mid-August 2011 through February 1, 2012 numerous residential burglaries were reported from Greenwood down to Delmar, Delaware, west of US 13. The primary target of these burglars was firearms and flat screen televisions. Through the investigation, the listed suspects were identified and warrants were obtained for their arrests in Delaware.
Leontray T. Smith was arrested on February 24, 2012 and was arraigned at JP2. He was released after posting $20,000.00 secured bail. Laquante W. Wright, Tayvon A. Dobson, and Floyd Daniels are currently incarcerated in Maryland awaiting extradition to Delaware for their charges.
These investigations are on-going and Detectives are asking anyone that may have information on these incidents to contact Troop 4 at 302-856-5850 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Information may also be provided via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com
Send an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."
Gov. O’Malley Touts Low Taxes As He Calls Special Session To Raise Them
Maryland has some of the lowest taxes in the country, Gov. Martin O’Malley said Wednesday officially announcing plans to call a special session of the legislature to fix a budget impasse -- partially by raising taxes.
Mayor Jim Ireton Is Killing Salisbury Maryland
NOTHING pisses me off more than to watch the above going on in Downtown Salisbury. You see, every Thursday when the Opportunity Shop is getting ready to open their doors, along comes the parking meter staff to start writing tickets.
As I stated the other day, there's only 12 parking spaces, many of which were already taken before these customers came by. The rest are permit parking and most of the people visiting the Opportunity Shop are elderly.
Trust me, if I become Mayor I will immediately take away those parking meters in Lot 15 as well as most of the permit parking. We WILL encourage economic and development in Downtown Salisbury and NOT punish those people truly here to do business and spend money.
I need your support and I'll need your vote. Enough is enough.
New Posts to fall below.
MIKE MCDERMOTT WOWS THE WICOMICO PATRIOTS
Last night’s meeting, held at the Legacy restaurant (formerly Chef Fred’s), was a winner. The featured speaker, G.A. Harrison, gave a comprehensive analysis of the death of Wicomico County’s tax revenue cap by recent state legislation that allows Annapolis to direct payment of the County’s income tax revenue to the Board of Education in a county that does not meet stare-mandated “maintenance of effort” funding of its Board of Ed. He gave due credit for that measure to Delegates Conway and Cane – the only ones from the Shore who supported the bill (Senate Bill 848), which authorizes the County Council to break the tax cap if the excess revenue goes to fund education. He also discussed Rick Pollitt’s scam in this year’s county budget “based on a fiction” that the State is not going to screw Wicomico County because the special session of the General Assembly will somehow save us and the tax increases proposed by Pollitt will be enough.
Mr. Harrison is much more that your average citizen when it comes to governmental chicanery. Among the disturbing facts he mentioned: Rick Pollitt has, once again, failed to make his detailed (“line-item”) budget available for convenient public access on the County’s website. Maybe the County Council – several members were in the audience – will take prompt and appropriate action to right that wrong.
If anyone was bored by Mr. Harrison’s detailed analysis, Delegate McDermott provided the antidote with his emotional, spell-binding critique of cause of the Maryland malaise – the O’Malley dictatorship, to which most of the state’s liberal legislative mafia (including the dynamic duo named above) pay homage. At the risk of overlooking other bombshells in his commentary, do you know that funding for a new library at Salisbury Univ. -- $135 Million, which he opposed – was added to the state budget at the last minute and without normal discussion? It will probably become a reality even though the State can’t provide funding for roads, etc., and the existing library is certainly adequate. Is there any wonder why O’Malley and his acolytes are increasing taxes again?
If Mike wants to have another career, he could be a great full-time motivational speaker for the conservative cause. But we are better off if he stays in the General Assembly. He urged those who were present to actively participate by standing up to the elected officials, even if just to say “I’m mad as hell and won’t take more taxes” (my words, not his). That was also part of Mr. Harrison’s presentation.
Greg Belcher ran the meeting while encouraging audience participation, and the food was quite good at Legacy (try it if you haven’t). Nobody who attended regretted having done so.
New Posts to fall below.
IRS Loophole Costing Taxpayers $4 Billion Per Year!
While a media report out of Indiana has just now highlighted an IRS problem that is outrageous, I have already taken actions to fix it. Many friends have forwarded this video and report to me recently. If you haven’t already seen the news report that is going viral on the internet, I encourage you to watch this link. It is 6 ½ minutes and worth your time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gwWaKkV6RM
I became aware of this issue in the fall of 2011. Illegal aliens are filing false tax returns claiming numerous fake child tax credits. Once our tax dollars are in the hands of illegal aliens, it’s impossible to get the money back. Once I learned about this outrageous loophole that allows billions of dollars per year to be stolen from US taxpayers, I knew I had to act.
In November of 2011, I joined Rep Sam Johnson in introducing H.R. 1956, Refundable Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Reform Act, to close this loophole. The bill is necessary because the IRS claims that they are simply following the law. We had hoped that the IRS would act without legislation.
One would think that the White House would instruct the IRS to stop giving away tax dollars to illegal aliens scamming our tax system. This is an urgent and immediate problem, especially as we’ve passed the tax filing deadline of April 15th.
The child care tax credits have grown from $924 million in 2005 to $4.2 billion last year. H.R. 1956 will curb the fraud in this program by requiring the IRS to only allow this tax credit for children with a social security number. H.R. 1956 was assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee and I am waiting for the hearing to be scheduled any time. The sponsor and cosponsors are urging our colleagues in the House of Representatives to move this measure and a fix this problem as soon as possible.
I’m as outraged about this as you are and I’m glad that the issue is finally getting some attention. Perhaps the White House and the Congress will act now that the media is picking up the story.
Andy
'Tanorexic' Mom Banned from New Jersey Tanning Salons
Krentcil, who denies charges that she brought her five-year-old daughter into a tanning booth, will be turned away from the Nutley, N.J., stores of Planet Sun Tanning Salon, Body Works Salon, Bodies in Heat and Sunset Tans should she deign to show her deeply-bronzed face, TMZ reported Wednesday.
And just in case the salons' receptionists do not recognize her mahogany hue, some have posted a picture of the so-called "Tanning Mom" on the wall.
PRESIDENT PAUL
Ron Paul’s treatment by mainstream media, other Republican hopefuls, and the punditry makes me think the W.B. Yeats lines “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world” also describe the year 2012 in the United States. Indeed, Paul’s experience in the nomination campaign suggests U.S. politics lacks reasoned substance, common sense, and an understanding of what America’s Founding Fathers intended.
Open up any newspaper to see the mess America has sunk itself into around the world: for example, facing off with China over a lone, non-American dissident whose safety has no relation to U.S. security.
Yet today, Paul’s call for staying out of other people’s wars unless genuine U.S. national interests are at stake is deemed radical, immoral, even anti-American. Amazing.
If elected president, Paul’s most valuable contribution to a prosperous and secure American future might well lie in his application of a noninterventionist foreign policy, following the wishes of George Washington and the other founders.
Before explaining why Paul’s foreign policy would benefit the United States, it is worth rebutting those ill-educated jackasses in politics, the media, and the academy who denigrate the founders as “dead white males.” To them, the modern world is so different from Washington’s time that nothing the founders said or wrote pertains to contemporary foreign-policymaking. Such self-serving and ahistoric attitudes allow their advocates to pursue policies negating the Constitution, piling up debt, and fueling relentless intervention abroad.
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Open up any newspaper to see the mess America has sunk itself into around the world: for example, facing off with China over a lone, non-American dissident whose safety has no relation to U.S. security.
Yet today, Paul’s call for staying out of other people’s wars unless genuine U.S. national interests are at stake is deemed radical, immoral, even anti-American. Amazing.
If elected president, Paul’s most valuable contribution to a prosperous and secure American future might well lie in his application of a noninterventionist foreign policy, following the wishes of George Washington and the other founders.
Before explaining why Paul’s foreign policy would benefit the United States, it is worth rebutting those ill-educated jackasses in politics, the media, and the academy who denigrate the founders as “dead white males.” To them, the modern world is so different from Washington’s time that nothing the founders said or wrote pertains to contemporary foreign-policymaking. Such self-serving and ahistoric attitudes allow their advocates to pursue policies negating the Constitution, piling up debt, and fueling relentless intervention abroad.
More
Today's Survey Question 5-10-12
Do you think schools should fill vending machines with healthy snacks instead of junk food?
Resilience And Success
A happy, successful life does more than make you feel good. It also serves to strengthen you, and to open your mind to options and opportunities that you would otherwise not see. In difficult times, this can make the difference between living in fear and flourishing.
What makes for a successful life? This is, of course, a very personal issue. You may say that it's your faith, or your family, or some political or charity work that you do. But there are two general elements that are common to most everybody:
Work that you can enjoy and be good at, and that has meaning to you.
Relationships that are satisfying, joyful and meaningful.
You would no doubt add something else for yourself but today I want to focus on these two areas of life and give you some very tangible things that you can do to improve them.
Let's start with work.
If you're looking to find work that suits you better or to craft your present work so that it's a better fit, consider this: What matters to you, what are you good at and what do you enjoy? These three questions can help you to focus and give you some perspective on what to look for.
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What makes for a successful life? This is, of course, a very personal issue. You may say that it's your faith, or your family, or some political or charity work that you do. But there are two general elements that are common to most everybody:
Work that you can enjoy and be good at, and that has meaning to you.
Relationships that are satisfying, joyful and meaningful.
You would no doubt add something else for yourself but today I want to focus on these two areas of life and give you some very tangible things that you can do to improve them.
Let's start with work.
If you're looking to find work that suits you better or to craft your present work so that it's a better fit, consider this: What matters to you, what are you good at and what do you enjoy? These three questions can help you to focus and give you some perspective on what to look for.
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ICBC Gets Approval To Take Over US Bank
PUBLISHERS NOTES: It has officially and publically begun, China given permission to take over a US bank.
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has been given the nod to take over a US bank, the first such US approval for a Chinese firm.
The US Federal Reserve approved state-owned ICBC's plans to acquire the US subsidiary of Bank of East Asia.
This comes just days after high-level economic talks between the US and China in Beijing.
The Fed also gave permission to two other Chinese banks to increase their presence in the US.
"It is a pretty significant step. There has been a lot of backlash about Chinese state-run companies acquiring overseas assets," Stephen Joske of Australia Super, an institutional investor in Beijing, told the BBC.
"The permission [given] to ICBC is a clear message that things may be returning to normal and that fears about Chinese state-run firms may be moderating."
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Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has been given the nod to take over a US bank, the first such US approval for a Chinese firm.
The US Federal Reserve approved state-owned ICBC's plans to acquire the US subsidiary of Bank of East Asia.
This comes just days after high-level economic talks between the US and China in Beijing.
The Fed also gave permission to two other Chinese banks to increase their presence in the US.
"It is a pretty significant step. There has been a lot of backlash about Chinese state-run companies acquiring overseas assets," Stephen Joske of Australia Super, an institutional investor in Beijing, told the BBC.
"The permission [given] to ICBC is a clear message that things may be returning to normal and that fears about Chinese state-run firms may be moderating."
More
About 92,000 Trampolines Sold at Walmart Being Recalled
About 92,000 trampolines, made by Sportspower Limited, are being recalled because of a problem with the netting.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing a voluntary recall, along with Sportspower Limited, of their Sportspower BouncePro 14' Trampolines.
The company says the netting surrounding the trampolines can break, and children can fall through.
So far, Sportspower says they've received 17 reports of the net breaking, and in 11 of those cases, people were hurt, including broken bones, back and neck injuries, and contusions.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing a voluntary recall, along with Sportspower Limited, of their Sportspower BouncePro 14' Trampolines.
The company says the netting surrounding the trampolines can break, and children can fall through.
So far, Sportspower says they've received 17 reports of the net breaking, and in 11 of those cases, people were hurt, including broken bones, back and neck injuries, and contusions.
A Comment Worthy Of A Post 5-10-12
Joe, in regards to Pittsville... really dumb question... and I hope by all means you could possibly post this on your main page. I've grown up in Pittsville and now I own my own house and I have a small family with a 1 year old. I live "in town" Pittsville. My point... THE FIRE WHISTLE! I fail to see a use for it. It blows for 3-4 minutes and I guess recently Pittsville FD hasn't been responding in a timely fashion so they blow it again for another 3-4 minutes. This happened TWICE last night! 16 minutes of nothing but fire whistle noise, I thought America was under some massive attack. My 1 year old son refuses to go to sleep afterwards because it's so loud. In the world of pagers and cell phones is there still a need to wake up firemen at 3am via a fire whistle that blows for 3 - 4 minutes? I've heard people complain about it over and over again. Many people say they have complained in person and they REFUSE to change it so they REFUSED to donate any money to the fire department until the whistle is deactivated during sleeping hours.
Catch These Corporate Bribers And Put Them In Jail
Wrangling over anti-bribery law rages on, with top firms facing investigation ... The U.S. anti-bribery law that Wal-Mart may have violated in Mexico has ensnared leading companies from virtually every sector of the economy as federal prosecutors increasingly crack down on a wide range of transgressions, from improper accounting to giving foreign officials computers and bags of cash. The list of those facing federal bribery inquiries stretches well beyond 100 and includes prominent names such as Pfizer, 3M, Goldman Sachs and Alcoa. Even icons of corporate responsibility such as General Electric and IBM have paid hefty sums to settle allegations, part of a broader effort that has netted the government billions in fines in recent years and landed some executives in prison. – Washington Post
Dominant Social Theme: These corrupt multinationals need to be reined in. The US prosecutorial system is there to act, thank goodness.
Free-Market Analysis: There is a manufactured "surface" conversation in this world and then there is reality.
The reality is that a secretive power elite has taken over the West, seeks to rule the world and uses mercantilism to achieve its objectives.
Mercantilism is the usage of government laws and legislatures to achieve aims that advantage only a few who are basically in control behind the scenes.
This is the basic problem of modern regulatory democracy – which in its more aggressive postures is more oppressive for the larger polity than almost any monarchy.
Regulatory democracy seems to have been developed after the advent of the Gutenberg printing press rocked the powers-that-be, helped create the Renaissance, the Reformation and the republicanism and agrarianism of the New World.
PRMC Goes Green?
Even though the big banner says they're one of the top Hospitals in the country, they're clearly polluting the air on a daily basis. This is no fire. It's their furnace. I personally took this picture at 9:00 AM this morning.
Mother and Son Graduating College Together at George Mason University
A couple of math geeks on a college campus. That is nothing new, right?
Hold onto your calculus book, but these two have the same major, the same last name and they are about to graduate together.
Yes, 49-year-old Jody Shipp and 26-year-old Devin Shipp are mother and son. They are part of the Class of 2012 at George Mason University.
"Before I even got to the first class, she texted me and said, 'Are you going to come sit next to me in class?’” says Devin. “And I was like 'Why not?'"
Even so, it took a little while for the professors to figure it out.
Hold onto your calculus book, but these two have the same major, the same last name and they are about to graduate together.
Yes, 49-year-old Jody Shipp and 26-year-old Devin Shipp are mother and son. They are part of the Class of 2012 at George Mason University.
"Before I even got to the first class, she texted me and said, 'Are you going to come sit next to me in class?’” says Devin. “And I was like 'Why not?'"
Even so, it took a little while for the professors to figure it out.
House Committee Considers Criminal Referral For TSA
A House staff report suggests TSA misled congressional investigators about contents of a Texas warehouse that holds security screening equipment. In referring to inaccurate documents his staff received from TSA, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said, "I would propose that we have the ability to criminally refer to that as lying to Congress."
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The Death Spiral Of Debt, Risk And Jobs
Debt, risk and employment are in a death-spiral of malinvestment and debt-based consumption.
Standard-issue financial pundits (SIFPs) and economists look at debt, risk and the job market as separate issues. No wonder they can't make sense of our "jobless recovery": the three are intimately and causally connected. An entire book could be written about debt, risk and jobs, but let's see if we can't shed some light on a complex dynamic in a few paragraphs.
Risk: As I described in Resistance, Revolution, Liberation: A Model for Positive Change, risk cannot be eliminated, it can only be shifted to others or temporarily masked.
Masking risk simply lets it pile up beneath the surface until it brings down the entire system. Transferring it to others is a neat "solution" but when it blows up then those who took the fall are not pleased.
Risk and gain are causally connected: no risk, no gain. The ideal setup is to keep the gain but transfer the risk to others. This was the financial meltdown in a nutshell: the bankers kept their gains and transferred the losses/risk to the taxpayers via the bankers' toadies and apparatchiks in Congress, the White House and the Federal Reserve.
Risk is like the dog that didn't bark. In the story Silver Blaze, Sherlock Holmes calls the police inspector's attention to the fact that a dog did something curious the night in question: it did not bark when it should have.
When scarce capital is misallocated to unproductive uses such as duplicate tests that can be billed to Medicare, sprawling McMansions in the middle of nowhere, etc., "the dog that didn't bark" is this question: what productive uses for that scarce capital have been passed over to squander the scarce capital on Medicare fraud, McMansions, Homeland Security ("Papers, please! No papers? Take him away"), etc.
Once the capital has been squandered, it's gone, and the opportunity to invest it in productive uses has been irrevocably lost.
More
Standard-issue financial pundits (SIFPs) and economists look at debt, risk and the job market as separate issues. No wonder they can't make sense of our "jobless recovery": the three are intimately and causally connected. An entire book could be written about debt, risk and jobs, but let's see if we can't shed some light on a complex dynamic in a few paragraphs.
Risk: As I described in Resistance, Revolution, Liberation: A Model for Positive Change, risk cannot be eliminated, it can only be shifted to others or temporarily masked.
Masking risk simply lets it pile up beneath the surface until it brings down the entire system. Transferring it to others is a neat "solution" but when it blows up then those who took the fall are not pleased.
Risk and gain are causally connected: no risk, no gain. The ideal setup is to keep the gain but transfer the risk to others. This was the financial meltdown in a nutshell: the bankers kept their gains and transferred the losses/risk to the taxpayers via the bankers' toadies and apparatchiks in Congress, the White House and the Federal Reserve.
Risk is like the dog that didn't bark. In the story Silver Blaze, Sherlock Holmes calls the police inspector's attention to the fact that a dog did something curious the night in question: it did not bark when it should have.
When scarce capital is misallocated to unproductive uses such as duplicate tests that can be billed to Medicare, sprawling McMansions in the middle of nowhere, etc., "the dog that didn't bark" is this question: what productive uses for that scarce capital have been passed over to squander the scarce capital on Medicare fraud, McMansions, Homeland Security ("Papers, please! No papers? Take him away"), etc.
Once the capital has been squandered, it's gone, and the opportunity to invest it in productive uses has been irrevocably lost.
More
O’Malley Still Confident About Gay Marriage In Md., Says Obama Support “Game Changer”
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — President Barack Obama takes a new, bold stand on same-sex marriage. Wednesday afternoon, he announced he now supports the unions. Adam May has reaction and the latest on the fight for marriage equality in Maryland.
After years of saying his stance on same-sex marriage was evolving, President Obama became the first president in history to come out in favor of marriage equality. He told ABC News, “It is important for me personally to go ahead and affirm that same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
The announcement came one day after voters in North Carolina approve a constitutional amendment banning the unions.
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After years of saying his stance on same-sex marriage was evolving, President Obama became the first president in history to come out in favor of marriage equality. He told ABC News, “It is important for me personally to go ahead and affirm that same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
The announcement came one day after voters in North Carolina approve a constitutional amendment banning the unions.
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Putin Opts Out of G-8 Summit, Cancels Meeting With Obama
Russian President Vladimir Putin is skipping a planned visit to the
United States this month for an economic summit and a much-anticipated
meeting with President Barack Obama, the White House announced
Wednesday.
The Russian leader told Obama by phone that he is unable to join the other leaders of the Group of Eight industrial nations meeting outside Washington on May 18-19 because he needs to finish work setting up his new Cabinet, the White House said. The Obama administration had moved the gathering to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland from the planned venue in Chicago partly to accommodate Putin.
Neither the White House nor the Kremlin had discussed the change in plans until Wednesday, but a White House official said National Security Adviser Tom Donilon was informed of it when he visited Putin and other Russian officials in Moscow last week.
The Russian leader told Obama by phone that he is unable to join the other leaders of the Group of Eight industrial nations meeting outside Washington on May 18-19 because he needs to finish work setting up his new Cabinet, the White House said. The Obama administration had moved the gathering to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland from the planned venue in Chicago partly to accommodate Putin.
Neither the White House nor the Kremlin had discussed the change in plans until Wednesday, but a White House official said National Security Adviser Tom Donilon was informed of it when he visited Putin and other Russian officials in Moscow last week.
Victim Hospitalized Following Purse Snatching
Location:
Super Fresh Grocery Store, 2044 New Castle Avenue, New Castle, DE
Date of Occurrence:
Wednesday, May 09, 2012 at 10:53 a.m.
Victim:
85 year old New Castle, DE female
Suspect:
Black female, 25-32 years of age, 5’09”-6’00” tall, 120-130 lbs. She was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and blue jeans.
No surveillance photos/video available
Resume:
New Castle- The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a purse snatching style robbery in which a female victim was injured that occurred late this morning.
The incident happened at approximately 10:53 a.m. this morning (5/9) as an 85 year old New Castle female was inside of the Super Fresh grocery store located in the 2000 block of New Castle Avenue in New Castle. The victim, who was pushing a shopping cart at the time, was then approached by a female suspect who attempted to remove the victim’s purse which was located inside of the cart. The victim, however, had a hold of the purse. The suspect and the victim then began to struggle over the purse which caused the victim to fall to the ground. The suspect was then able to wrestle the purse from the victim. She then fled from the store and was last seen running toward Stamm Boulevard.
The victim, who was injured during the struggle, was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center where she was admitted for her injuries.
The Delaware State Police are asking anyone who may have any information in reference to this incident to contact the Robbery Unit at Troop 2 at 302-834-2630 ext. 6. Citizens may also provide a tip by texting keyword “DSP” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters may also provide information through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333. Callers can also submit information via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
Super Fresh Grocery Store, 2044 New Castle Avenue, New Castle, DE
Date of Occurrence:
Wednesday, May 09, 2012 at 10:53 a.m.
Victim:
85 year old New Castle, DE female
Suspect:
Black female, 25-32 years of age, 5’09”-6’00” tall, 120-130 lbs. She was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and blue jeans.
No surveillance photos/video available
Resume:
New Castle- The Delaware State Police are currently investigating a purse snatching style robbery in which a female victim was injured that occurred late this morning.
The incident happened at approximately 10:53 a.m. this morning (5/9) as an 85 year old New Castle female was inside of the Super Fresh grocery store located in the 2000 block of New Castle Avenue in New Castle. The victim, who was pushing a shopping cart at the time, was then approached by a female suspect who attempted to remove the victim’s purse which was located inside of the cart. The victim, however, had a hold of the purse. The suspect and the victim then began to struggle over the purse which caused the victim to fall to the ground. The suspect was then able to wrestle the purse from the victim. She then fled from the store and was last seen running toward Stamm Boulevard.
The victim, who was injured during the struggle, was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center where she was admitted for her injuries.
The Delaware State Police are asking anyone who may have any information in reference to this incident to contact the Robbery Unit at Troop 2 at 302-834-2630 ext. 6. Citizens may also provide a tip by texting keyword “DSP” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters may also provide information through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333. Callers can also submit information via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
Romney Reaffirms Support for Traditional Marriage
Today, in response to Barack Obama’s announcement that his evolution was now complete and that he had evolved into a supporter of same-sex marriage, Mitt Romney reaffirmed his opposition to same-sex marriage. Romney stated:
My position is the same on gay marriage
and it’s been well, from the beginning, and that is that marriage is a
relation between a man and a woman. That’s the posture I had as governor
and I have that today.
Baywater Animal Rescue Seeks Entries For Pet Photo Contest
Cambridge, MD---Is your pet the shining star of your family? Then, give him the fan base he deserves by entering him in Baywater Animal Rescue's Pet Paparazzi Photo Contest! Amateur and professional photographers are invited to send in submissions by June 20, 2012, accompanied by a $15 registration fee per photo. Submissions can be submitted digitally via email to photos@baywateranimalrescue.org, or in person by delivering framed photos to Dorchester Center for the Arts.
The online contest includes opportunities for friends, family members and the community at large to support their favorite photo by casting $1.00 votes. The photographer who raises the most vote money wins the online contest, and will have their winning photo featured on Baywater Animal Rescue's website. The online votes and entry fee can be paid on the website via the "Give Now" page. Votes and entry fees can also be mailed via check to: Baywater Animal Rescue, 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD 21613. Submitted photos will be displayed at www.baywateranimalrescue.org from July 1st through July 31st. Voting will be closed after July 31st. The winner and runners-up will be announced the week of August 6th.
Framed submissions delivered to the Dorchester Center for the Arts will by judged by a panel that will consider the following criteria: quality of photograph, originality, composition and overall presentation. Winners will be chosen from three categories: Best Photograph Featuring a Single Pet, Best Photograph Featuring Multiple Pets, Best Eastern Shore Photograph. Contest entries will be displayed at Dorchester Center for the Arts July 5th through July 28th. An awards ceremony to announce the winners will take place at the Arts Center on July 26th at 5pm. Winning entries will receive ribbons, and will have their photos featured on Baywater Animal Rescue's website. Submissions should be delivered to: Dorchester Center for the Arts, 321 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613.
All registration and voting proceeds from this event benefit the animals served by Baywater Animal Rescue. For more information about the contest, please call Baywater Animal Rescue at 410-228-3090, or the Dorchester Center for the Arts at 410-228-7782.
The online contest includes opportunities for friends, family members and the community at large to support their favorite photo by casting $1.00 votes. The photographer who raises the most vote money wins the online contest, and will have their winning photo featured on Baywater Animal Rescue's website. The online votes and entry fee can be paid on the website via the "Give Now" page. Votes and entry fees can also be mailed via check to: Baywater Animal Rescue, 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD 21613. Submitted photos will be displayed at www.baywateranimalrescue.org from July 1st through July 31st. Voting will be closed after July 31st. The winner and runners-up will be announced the week of August 6th.
Framed submissions delivered to the Dorchester Center for the Arts will by judged by a panel that will consider the following criteria: quality of photograph, originality, composition and overall presentation. Winners will be chosen from three categories: Best Photograph Featuring a Single Pet, Best Photograph Featuring Multiple Pets, Best Eastern Shore Photograph. Contest entries will be displayed at Dorchester Center for the Arts July 5th through July 28th. An awards ceremony to announce the winners will take place at the Arts Center on July 26th at 5pm. Winning entries will receive ribbons, and will have their photos featured on Baywater Animal Rescue's website. Submissions should be delivered to: Dorchester Center for the Arts, 321 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613.
All registration and voting proceeds from this event benefit the animals served by Baywater Animal Rescue. For more information about the contest, please call Baywater Animal Rescue at 410-228-3090, or the Dorchester Center for the Arts at 410-228-7782.
Liberator of Ladies' Hair Vidal Sassoon Dies at 84
Vidal Sassoon used his hairstyling shears to free women from
beehives and hot rollers and give them wash-and-wear cuts that made him
an international name in hair care.
When he came on the scene in the 1950s, hair was high and heavy _ typically curled, teased, piled and shellacked into place. Then came the 1960s, and Sassoon's creative cuts, which required little styling and fell into place perfectly every time, fit right in with the fledgling women's liberation movement.
"His timing was perfect: As women's hair was liberated, so were their lives," Allure magazine Editor-in-Chief Linda Wells told The Associated Press in a written statement. "Sassoon was one of the original feminists."
More
When he came on the scene in the 1950s, hair was high and heavy _ typically curled, teased, piled and shellacked into place. Then came the 1960s, and Sassoon's creative cuts, which required little styling and fell into place perfectly every time, fit right in with the fledgling women's liberation movement.
"His timing was perfect: As women's hair was liberated, so were their lives," Allure magazine Editor-in-Chief Linda Wells told The Associated Press in a written statement. "Sassoon was one of the original feminists."
More
Leftist Race-Baiters
MSNBC's Chris Matthews, in a recent debate with former Republican National Chairman Michael Steele, called the Republican Party the "grand wizard crowd." Grand wizard is the title given to the leader of the Ku Klux Klan. It is truly misinformed to call Republicans the party of the Klan. Throughout our history, most Klansmen and most racists have been Democrats. Here are a few racist quotes from major Democratic figures.
The late Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., a former Klansman, wrote during World War II: "I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side. ... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."
More
The late Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., a former Klansman, wrote during World War II: "I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side. ... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."
More
Md. Prosecutors Drop St. Patrick's Day Attackers Charges
Almost half of the charges filed against four people connected with
the St. Patrick's Day beating of a man, left stripped naked and
unconscious on a Baltimore street, have been dropped, The Baltimore Sun reports.
A total of 24 charges were filed against Aaron Jacob Parsons, 20, Shayona Mikia Davis, 20, Shatia Baldwin, 21, and Deangelo Carter, 19, including first-degree assault for attacking an Alexandria, Va. man in March. Prosecutors have dropped 13 of those charges.
The Baltimore State's Attorney's Office has not yet commented on dropping the charges.
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A total of 24 charges were filed against Aaron Jacob Parsons, 20, Shayona Mikia Davis, 20, Shatia Baldwin, 21, and Deangelo Carter, 19, including first-degree assault for attacking an Alexandria, Va. man in March. Prosecutors have dropped 13 of those charges.
The Baltimore State's Attorney's Office has not yet commented on dropping the charges.
More
How The Good Old Boy System Actually Works
Take Pittsville for example. You see, nowhere else in the Country do you get a letter dated on the first, mailed on the 8th, delivered on the 9th with demands something be done by the following day.
I was lucky to actually have my Wife deliver this to me this morning and even luckier that I had nothing to do, bored enough to open a piece of mail from Pittsville.
It seems Pittsville isn't too happy with my lawn height on my property there and I can't say as I blame them. Out of sight, out of mind. I do have someone contracted to do the regular scheduled cutting and last year the Town would actually go on my property without ANY warning and cut the grass in between my contractor doing so. The next thing I knew, when I went to go pay the taxes on the property were all these additional charges for mowing.
I will make a phone call to the Town this morning and give them a piece of my mind but considering Paul Wilber is their Town attorney with a bug up his rear end, I can probably expect the Town to be on my property tomorrow morning no matter what happens.
Yeah, the good old boys are alive and well. In the mean time, do you think it's legal to mail a letter drafted on the 1st, mailed on the 8th, delivered on the 9th with a demand to have something done by the 11th?????
Is This the End Of 'One Europe'?
How Europe's crisis resolves itself as yet remains unknown.
But with Sunday's returns from France and Greece, the mega-trends on the Old Continent are unmistakable. And for the European Union, they are ominous.
Nationalism – be it economic nationalism or ethnic nationalism – is ascendant. Transnationalism and multiculturalism are in headlong if not irreversible retreat. The European project is itself imperiled.
To be sure, no one should underestimate the commitment of Europe's elites to the vision of One Europe as challenger to the United States. In the capitals and corporate headquarters of the continent, these elites are, almost to a man and woman, devout Europeans.
Yet their ability to keep Europe on course until its peoples have yielded up their sovereignty and agreed to submerge themselves in a single entity is now in question. From Paris to Athens, the radical left and the nationalist right are resurgent. Marxists and patriots dream different dreams than the disciples of Jean Monnet.
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But with Sunday's returns from France and Greece, the mega-trends on the Old Continent are unmistakable. And for the European Union, they are ominous.
Nationalism – be it economic nationalism or ethnic nationalism – is ascendant. Transnationalism and multiculturalism are in headlong if not irreversible retreat. The European project is itself imperiled.
To be sure, no one should underestimate the commitment of Europe's elites to the vision of One Europe as challenger to the United States. In the capitals and corporate headquarters of the continent, these elites are, almost to a man and woman, devout Europeans.
Yet their ability to keep Europe on course until its peoples have yielded up their sovereignty and agreed to submerge themselves in a single entity is now in question. From Paris to Athens, the radical left and the nationalist right are resurgent. Marxists and patriots dream different dreams than the disciples of Jean Monnet.
More