A very old man lay dying in his bed. In death's doorway, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookie wafting up the stairs.
He gathered his remaining strength and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. With labored breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven.
There, spread out on newspapers on the kitchen table, were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies. Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?
Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table. The aged and withered hand, shaking, made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table, when he was suddenly smacked with a spatula by his wife.
"Stay out of those," she said. "They're for the funeral."
Brings a tear to your eye doesn't it?
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Forget Bain — Obama’s Public-Equity Record Is The Real Scandal
Despite a growing backlash from his fellow Democrats, President Obama has doubled down on his attacks on Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital. But the strategy could backfire in ways Obama did not anticipate. After all, if Romney’s record in private equity is fair game, then so is Obama’s record in public equity — and that record is not pretty.
Since taking office, Obama has invested billions of taxpayer dollars in private businesses, including as part of his stimulus spending bill. Many of those investments have turned out to be unmitigated disasters — leaving in their wake bankruptcies, layoffs, criminal investigations and taxpayers on the hook for billions. Consider just a few examples of Obama’s public equity failures:
● Raser Technologies. In 2010, the Obama administration gave Raser a $33 million taxpayer-funded grant to build a power plant in Beaver Creek, Utah. According to the Wall Street Journal, after burning through our tax dollars, the company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2012. The plant now has fewer than 10 employees, and Raser owes $1.5 million in back taxes.
● ECOtality. The Obama administration gave ECOtality $126.2 million in taxpayer money in 2009 for, among other things, the installation of 14,000 electric car chargers in five states. Obama even hosted the company’s president, Don Karner, in the first lady’s box during the 2010 State of the Union address as an example of a stimulus success story. According to ECOtality’s own SEC filings, the company has since incurred more than $45 million in losses and has told the federal government, “We may not achieve or sustain profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future.”
Worse, according to CBS News the company is “under investigation for insider trading,” and Karner has been subpoenaed “for any and all documentation surrounding the public announcement of the first Department of Energy grant to the company.”
More
Since taking office, Obama has invested billions of taxpayer dollars in private businesses, including as part of his stimulus spending bill. Many of those investments have turned out to be unmitigated disasters — leaving in their wake bankruptcies, layoffs, criminal investigations and taxpayers on the hook for billions. Consider just a few examples of Obama’s public equity failures:
● Raser Technologies. In 2010, the Obama administration gave Raser a $33 million taxpayer-funded grant to build a power plant in Beaver Creek, Utah. According to the Wall Street Journal, after burning through our tax dollars, the company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2012. The plant now has fewer than 10 employees, and Raser owes $1.5 million in back taxes.
● ECOtality. The Obama administration gave ECOtality $126.2 million in taxpayer money in 2009 for, among other things, the installation of 14,000 electric car chargers in five states. Obama even hosted the company’s president, Don Karner, in the first lady’s box during the 2010 State of the Union address as an example of a stimulus success story. According to ECOtality’s own SEC filings, the company has since incurred more than $45 million in losses and has told the federal government, “We may not achieve or sustain profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future.”
Worse, according to CBS News the company is “under investigation for insider trading,” and Karner has been subpoenaed “for any and all documentation surrounding the public announcement of the first Department of Energy grant to the company.”
More
HERE'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
Most important question regarding the upcoming presidential election
Columnist Andrew McCarthy gives us what probably is the most important question regarding the upcoming presidential election….“…..if Mitt wins the nomination, as seems very likely, I will enthusiastically support his candidacy. For my friends who have hesitation on that score, I’d just ask you to keep four things in mind:
1.. Justice Scalia just turned 78
2.. Justice Kennedy will turn 78 later this year
3.. Justice Breyer will be 76 in August
4.. Justice Ginsburg turned 81 about a week ago.
We wish them all well, of course, but the brute fact is that whoever we elect as president in November is almost certainly going to choose at least one and maybe more new members of the Supreme Court — in addition to hundreds of other life-tenured federal judges, all of whom will be making momentous decisions about our lives for decades to come.If you don’t think it matters whether the guy making those calls is Mitt Romney or Barack Obama, I think you’re smokin’ something funky….”
So for anybody who is thinking of not voting because your favorite didn’t get nominated, or writing in a candidate who can't win... Imagine this:
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ERIC HOLDER
Columnist Andrew McCarthy gives us what probably is the most important question regarding the upcoming presidential election….“…..if Mitt wins the nomination, as seems very likely, I will enthusiastically support his candidacy. For my friends who have hesitation on that score, I’d just ask you to keep four things in mind:
1.. Justice Scalia just turned 78
2.. Justice Kennedy will turn 78 later this year
3.. Justice Breyer will be 76 in August
4.. Justice Ginsburg turned 81 about a week ago.
We wish them all well, of course, but the brute fact is that whoever we elect as president in November is almost certainly going to choose at least one and maybe more new members of the Supreme Court — in addition to hundreds of other life-tenured federal judges, all of whom will be making momentous decisions about our lives for decades to come.If you don’t think it matters whether the guy making those calls is Mitt Romney or Barack Obama, I think you’re smokin’ something funky….”
So for anybody who is thinking of not voting because your favorite didn’t get nominated, or writing in a candidate who can't win... Imagine this:
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ERIC HOLDER
It's Tough To Get Away
I decided to take some time away from Salisbury News for a few days only to return to more than 1,400 e-mail messages. For those of you who sent me timely information I do apologize for not being able to get that information up. Thanks for understanding.
NEW CASTLE – Do you know an outstanding volunteer or volunteer group? The State Office of Volunteerism is now accepting nominations for the 2012 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards.
The volunteer form is available on www.volunteerdelaware.org. Nominations must be received by Aug. 20. To be eligible:
Service must be performed in Delaware and the nominee cannot receive employment compensation.
Nominees must be 18 years of age or older and out of high school.
Nominees may not nominate themselves or be nominated by a family member.
Previous Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award winners, individual or group, are not eligible for three years. State Office of Volunteerism staff and commissioners are not eligible.
Nominees must have been active within the previous 12 months. Nominators should also include information about long-term volunteer efforts.
Service may not be limited to partisan political involvement or religious activities, or solely for the benefit of an organization’s own membership.
Individual nominees must have volunteered a minimum of 100 hours and groups 250 hours.
“Every day across our state, volunteers donate their time and talents in the service of others,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “Their selfless contributions build stronger communities and lift up individuals and organizations in need of support. The Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards is an opportunity to recognize individuals and groups for their service, and to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism in Delaware.”
More than 148,000 Delawareans volunteered in 2010, contributing 16.9 million hours of service to nonprofit and community organizations in 2010, according to the Corporation for National & Community Service. Another 41,000 Delawareans volunteered informally helping neighbors or working on community issues.
To find volunteer opportunities or to post the need for volunteer assistance, go to www.volunteerdelaware.org.
“So many of the contributions from volunteers across Delaware directly complement the work of the Department of Health and Social Services,” said Rita Landgraf, Cabinet Secretary for DHSS, which oversees the State Office of Volunteerism. “We see how volunteers improve the quality of life for many of Delaware’s most vulnerable citizens. These awards are another chance for us to say thank you.”
Judging for the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards will take place in September and winners will be notified soon after that. The awards ceremony will be Oct. 25 in Dover.
For more information about the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards, go to www.volunteerdelaware.org, or contact Catherine Fox, Marketing and Media Coordinator, at the State Office of Volunteerism, at (302) 255-9745. Or contact Deborah Vandiver, New Castle County RSVP Program Manager, at the State Office of Volunteerism, at (302) 255-9878.
The volunteer form is available on www.volunteerdelaware.org. Nominations must be received by Aug. 20. To be eligible:
Service must be performed in Delaware and the nominee cannot receive employment compensation.
Nominees must be 18 years of age or older and out of high school.
Nominees may not nominate themselves or be nominated by a family member.
Previous Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award winners, individual or group, are not eligible for three years. State Office of Volunteerism staff and commissioners are not eligible.
Nominees must have been active within the previous 12 months. Nominators should also include information about long-term volunteer efforts.
Service may not be limited to partisan political involvement or religious activities, or solely for the benefit of an organization’s own membership.
Individual nominees must have volunteered a minimum of 100 hours and groups 250 hours.
“Every day across our state, volunteers donate their time and talents in the service of others,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “Their selfless contributions build stronger communities and lift up individuals and organizations in need of support. The Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards is an opportunity to recognize individuals and groups for their service, and to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism in Delaware.”
More than 148,000 Delawareans volunteered in 2010, contributing 16.9 million hours of service to nonprofit and community organizations in 2010, according to the Corporation for National & Community Service. Another 41,000 Delawareans volunteered informally helping neighbors or working on community issues.
To find volunteer opportunities or to post the need for volunteer assistance, go to www.volunteerdelaware.org.
“So many of the contributions from volunteers across Delaware directly complement the work of the Department of Health and Social Services,” said Rita Landgraf, Cabinet Secretary for DHSS, which oversees the State Office of Volunteerism. “We see how volunteers improve the quality of life for many of Delaware’s most vulnerable citizens. These awards are another chance for us to say thank you.”
Judging for the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards will take place in September and winners will be notified soon after that. The awards ceremony will be Oct. 25 in Dover.
For more information about the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards, go to www.volunteerdelaware.org, or contact Catherine Fox, Marketing and Media Coordinator, at the State Office of Volunteerism, at (302) 255-9745. Or contact Deborah Vandiver, New Castle County RSVP Program Manager, at the State Office of Volunteerism, at (302) 255-9878.
The 25 Best Quotes From American Soldiers
25) "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" -- William Prescott at the Battle Of Bunker Hill
24) "To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." -- George Washington
23) "When this war is over, the Japanese language will be spoken only in hell!" -- Admiral Bill Halsey on December 7, 1941
22) "Nuts." -- The response of General Anthony MacAuliffe, when asked to surrender during the Battle of the Bulge, 1944
21) "I tremble for my country when I hear of confidence expressed in me. I know too well my weakness, that our only hope is in God." -- Robert E. Lee
20) "War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over." -- Gen William T. ShermanMore
Obama's 'Stronger, Safer and More Respected' Delusion
On May 23, President Barack Obama told more than 1,000 jubilant,
uniform-prepped-and-polished graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy
that the world has a "new feeling about America." He declared: "I see it
everywhere I go, from London and Prague to Tokyo and Seoul to Rio and
Jakarta. There's a new confidence in our leadership." If only it were
true.
Obama boasted, "We can say with confidence and pride: The United States is stronger, safer and more respected in the world."
"Stronger, safer and more respected"?
"Stronger," as in Obama's plan to initiate more than $500 billion in automatic cuts to the defense budget over a decade, starting next January. Bloomberg Businessweek reported that the Democratic-controlled Senate voted
May 24 to authorize another reduced spending package for the Pentagon.
"Safer," as in the report card from the Bipartisan Policy Center, including many of the original 9/11 Commission members, which reported on national preparedness 10 years after those catastrophic terrorist attacks: "Our country is undoubtedly safer and more secure than it was a decade ago," but "we fail to achieve the security we could or should have." The report concluded that the federal government has failed to meet nine of the 9/11 Commission's 41 recommendations.
More
Obama boasted, "We can say with confidence and pride: The United States is stronger, safer and more respected in the world."
"Stronger, safer and more respected"?
"Stronger," as in Obama's plan to initiate more than $500 billion in automatic cuts to the defense budget over a decade, starting next January. Bloomberg Businessweek reported that the Democratic-controlled Senate voted
May 24 to authorize another reduced spending package for the Pentagon.
"Safer," as in the report card from the Bipartisan Policy Center, including many of the original 9/11 Commission members, which reported on national preparedness 10 years after those catastrophic terrorist attacks: "Our country is undoubtedly safer and more secure than it was a decade ago," but "we fail to achieve the security we could or should have." The report concluded that the federal government has failed to meet nine of the 9/11 Commission's 41 recommendations.
More
Poll Shows Romney With Commanding Lead Over Obama Among Veterans
Mitt Romney has a commanding lead over President Obama among U.S.
military veterans, according to a new poll released on Memorial Day.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee led the incumbent president 58-34 percent among U.S. veterans polled by Gallup over the past two months. The polling firm noted in its latest report that veterans, which make up 13 percent of the adult population, are mostly older men -- who have tended to support Romney in this race.
Both Obama and Romney were paying tribute Monday to America's veterans, with Obama attending ceremonies in Washington and Romney speaking at a veterans event in San Diego. The candidates are closely eyeing the veteran vote, with swing states like Florida and Virginia all veteran strongholds.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee led the incumbent president 58-34 percent among U.S. veterans polled by Gallup over the past two months. The polling firm noted in its latest report that veterans, which make up 13 percent of the adult population, are mostly older men -- who have tended to support Romney in this race.
Both Obama and Romney were paying tribute Monday to America's veterans, with Obama attending ceremonies in Washington and Romney speaking at a veterans event in San Diego. The candidates are closely eyeing the veteran vote, with swing states like Florida and Virginia all veteran strongholds.
Analysis: JPMorgan Dips Into Cookie Jar to Offset "London Whale" Losses
JPMorgan Chase & Co has sold an estimated $25 billion of profitable securities in an effort to prop up earnings after suffering trading losses tied to the bank's now-infamous "London Whale," compounding the cost of those trades.
CEO Jamie Dimon earlier this month said the bank sold corporate bonds and other securities, pocketing $1 billion in gains that will help offset more than $2 billion in losses. As a result, the bank will not have to report as big an earnings hit for the second quarter.
The sales of profitable securities from elsewhere in the bank's investment portfolio will increase its costs by triggering taxes on the gains and by eliminating future earnings from the securities.
More
5 of 7 State Supreme Court Judges Flee Case
A Kansas state power structure that has been in full abortion-support
mode since Kathleen Sebelius was governor may be employing a new
retreat strategy after five of seven state Supreme Court judges recused
themselves from hearing a case involving former Attorney General Phill
Kline.
Kline famously took on an investigation of the abortion industry in Kansas when he was a state official. He ultimately filed charges against Planned Parenthood as well as a late-term abortionist operating in the state at the time.
He was defeated in his re-election bid when industry powers coalesced against him, and he’s been fighting off their claims of inappropriate investigations ever since
More
Kline famously took on an investigation of the abortion industry in Kansas when he was a state official. He ultimately filed charges against Planned Parenthood as well as a late-term abortionist operating in the state at the time.
He was defeated in his re-election bid when industry powers coalesced against him, and he’s been fighting off their claims of inappropriate investigations ever since
More
Major Economies Need More Skilled Workers, Engineers: Study
The United States and other large economies cannot find enough skilled workers, engineers and other in-demand employees, according to an annual study on talent shortages.
The study, by staffing services giant ManpowerGroup ,
found 34 percent of employers around the world report trouble filling
jobs because of a lack of available talent. The percentage is unchanged
from 2011 but up from the prior three years.
However, most of the employers -- 56 percent -- say unfilled jobs are likely to have little or no impact on customers and investors. That is up from 36 percent who said so a year ago.
Polls on Gay Marriage Not Yet Reflected in Votes
Poll after poll shows public support for same-sex marriage steadily
increasing, to the point where it's now a majority viewpoint. Yet in all
32 states where gay marriage has been on the ballot, voters have
rejected it.
It's possible the streak could end in November, when Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington state are likely to have closely contested gay marriage measures on their ballots.
For now, however, there remains a gap between the national polling results and the way states have voted. It's a paradox with multiple explanations, from political geography to the likelihood that some conflicted voters tell pollsters one thing and then vote differently.
More
It's possible the streak could end in November, when Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington state are likely to have closely contested gay marriage measures on their ballots.
For now, however, there remains a gap between the national polling results and the way states have voted. It's a paradox with multiple explanations, from political geography to the likelihood that some conflicted voters tell pollsters one thing and then vote differently.
More
Can Romney 'Connect'? Poised to Clinch Nomination, GOP Candidate Faces Next Test
Mitt Romney, after weathering an onslaught of rotating primary
challengers over the course of the last year, is poised to clinch the
Republican presidential nomination as early as Tuesday.
In doing so, his campaign will complete its shift, from knocking off Republican rivals one by one to challenging a single Democratic opponent, President Obama.
And with the Obama campaign now pouring airtime and resources into the latest attacks on Romney's private equity experience, the GOP candidate is discovering early that one of his biggest advantages in the primaries -- his war chest -- isn't quite so impressive in the general.
In doing so, his campaign will complete its shift, from knocking off Republican rivals one by one to challenging a single Democratic opponent, President Obama.
And with the Obama campaign now pouring airtime and resources into the latest attacks on Romney's private equity experience, the GOP candidate is discovering early that one of his biggest advantages in the primaries -- his war chest -- isn't quite so impressive in the general.
Expect Council To Reject Fireworks Funding Tonight
Considering I have been around City politics for several years now, after seeing what Mayor Ireton did to propose a $5,000.00 donation to the Red, White & Boom Fireworks in this years budget and since the entire expense has already been funded, it won't fly.
There is absolutely no point whatsoever for the Council to agree to pony up $5,000.00 above and beyond the many thousands of dollars worth of resources you'll already be paying for with Police and Fire protection already committed to.
Considering Mr. Dunn has raised 100% of the funding, I have to believe Mayor Ireton is simply trying, (ONCE AGAIN) to make this Council look ridiculous. However, this time around YOU can actually make him look like the fool that he is by simply understanding the money is NOT necessary.
Mr. Dunn told me last week he thought the Mayor was trying to donate the $5,000.00 for next year but went on to say he was doing everything he can to "keep government out of it". The funding Mayor Ireton wants is for 2012 and not 2013, that's a fact. Mr. Dunn went on to say that he believes the Mayor should have the power to make such donations and I agreed to disagree.
Mr. Dunn also stated that when he mentioned the $40,000.00 last week he meant that as their goal. Mind you, it took a few days before he contacted me to tell me that but it's whatever.
In the mean time we are already seeing complications just as soon as government gets involved. Just know what the Council will more than likely do by voting this down is simply based on the fact that they have enough money to run the event this year without any help from the City.
Common Painkillers Tied to Lower Skin Cancer Risk
In a new study from
Denmark, people who had taken aspirin, ibuprofen and related
painkillers -- especially at high doses and for years at a time -- were
less likely to get skin cancer, compared to those who rarely used those medications.
The findings add to
growing evidence that long-term use of the medications, known as
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, may help protect people against skin cancers, including melanoma, the deadliest type.
Still, research has
not been unanimous in that finding: one large 2008 report found no link
between NSAIDs and melanoma.
The drugs have also been linked to an increased risk of kidney cancer
and come with known bleeding risks -- so more research is needed to
weigh the possible harms and benefits of the drugs outside of pain
relief, researchers said.
Motorcycle Operator Charged
Resume:
Laurel- Matthew A. Kondash, 28, (Photo attached) the operator of the motorcycle involved in the fatal motorcycle crash in Laurel on May 18th, has been formally charged in the crash that claimed the life of Eleanor B. Pusey of Laurel.
Delaware State Detectives extradited Kondash back from Virginia this afternoon where he was being held as a fugitive. Kondash was processed at Troop 4 in Georgetown for the charges of: Manslaughter, Driving with a Suspended License, Reckless Driving, Operating a Vehicle with No Insurance, Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle, Displaying a Fictitious Registration Plate, No Motorcycle License, Operating a Vehicle in a No Passing Zone, and Traveling at an Unreasonable Speed. He was arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $20,800.00 secured bond.
Google Warns Hundreds of Thousands May Lose Internet in July
Google plans to warn more than half a million users of a computer
infection that may knock their computers off the Internet this summer.
Unknown to most of them, their problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of infected computers around the world. In a highly unusual response, the FBI set up a safety net months ago using government computers to prevent Internet disruptions for those infected users. But that system will be shut down July 9 -- killing connections for those people.
The FBI has run an impressive campaign for months, encouraging people to visit a website that will inform them whether they're infected and explain how to fix the problem. After July 9, infected users won't be able to connect to the Internet.
Unknown to most of them, their problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of infected computers around the world. In a highly unusual response, the FBI set up a safety net months ago using government computers to prevent Internet disruptions for those infected users. But that system will be shut down July 9 -- killing connections for those people.
The FBI has run an impressive campaign for months, encouraging people to visit a website that will inform them whether they're infected and explain how to fix the problem. After July 9, infected users won't be able to connect to the Internet.
Same Sex Marriage Or What?????
Dear Mr. Obama,
I learned yesterday that you have 'evolving' views on marriage. Just so I fully understand your current views, what you are saying is that you no longer believe that marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman. If it is now open to interpretation, then precisely what is it?
The scene is at the San Francisco Marriage License desk, "Next."
"Good morning. We want to apply for a marriage license."
"Names?"
"Tim and Jim Jones."
"Jones? Are you related? I see a physical resemblance."
"Yes, we're brothers."
"Brothers? You can't get married."
"Why not? Aren't you giving marriage licenses to same gender couples?"
"Yes, thousands. But we haven't had any siblings. That's incest!"
"Incest?" No, we are not gay."
"Not gay?? Then why do you want to get married?"
"For the financial benefits, of course. And we do love each other. Besides, we don't have any other prospects."
"But we're issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples who've been denied equal protection under the law. If you are not gay, you can get married to a woman."
"Wait a minute. A gay man has the same right to marry a woman as I have. But just because I'm straight doesn't mean I want to marry a woman. I want to marry Jim."
"And I want to marry Tim, Are you going to discriminate against us just because we are not gay?"
"All right, all right. I'll give you your license. Next."
"Hi. We are here to get married."
"Names?"
"John Smith, Jane James, Robert Green, and June Johnson."
"Who wants to marry whom?"
"We all want to marry each other."
"But there are four of you!"
"That's right. You see, we're all bisexual. I love Jane and Robert, Jane loves me and June, June loves Robert and Jane, and Robert loves June and me. All of us getting married together is the only way that we can express our sexual preferences in a marital relationship."
"But we've only been granting licenses to gay and lesbian couples." "So you're discriminating against bisexuals!"
"No, it's just that, well, the traditional idea of marriage is that it's just for couples."
"Since when are you standing on tradition?"
"Well, I mean, you have to draw the line somewhere."
"Who says? There's no logical reason to limit marriage to couples.
The more the better. Besides, we demand our rights! The mayor says the constitution guarantees equal protection under the law. Give us a marriage license!"
"All right, all right. Next."
"Hello, I'd like a marriage license." "In what names?" "David Deets." "And the other man?" "That's all. I just want to marry myself."
"Marry yourself? What do you mean?"
"Well, my psychiatrist says I have a dual personality, so I want to marry the two together. Maybe now I'll be able to file a joint income-tax return."
"That does it! I quit! You people are making a mockery of marriage!"
So, Mr. Obama, exactly how evolved are you?
I learned yesterday that you have 'evolving' views on marriage. Just so I fully understand your current views, what you are saying is that you no longer believe that marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman. If it is now open to interpretation, then precisely what is it?
The scene is at the San Francisco Marriage License desk, "Next."
"Good morning. We want to apply for a marriage license."
"Names?"
"Tim and Jim Jones."
"Jones? Are you related? I see a physical resemblance."
"Yes, we're brothers."
"Brothers? You can't get married."
"Why not? Aren't you giving marriage licenses to same gender couples?"
"Yes, thousands. But we haven't had any siblings. That's incest!"
"Incest?" No, we are not gay."
"Not gay?? Then why do you want to get married?"
"For the financial benefits, of course. And we do love each other. Besides, we don't have any other prospects."
"But we're issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples who've been denied equal protection under the law. If you are not gay, you can get married to a woman."
"Wait a minute. A gay man has the same right to marry a woman as I have. But just because I'm straight doesn't mean I want to marry a woman. I want to marry Jim."
"And I want to marry Tim, Are you going to discriminate against us just because we are not gay?"
"All right, all right. I'll give you your license. Next."
"Hi. We are here to get married."
"Names?"
"John Smith, Jane James, Robert Green, and June Johnson."
"Who wants to marry whom?"
"We all want to marry each other."
"But there are four of you!"
"That's right. You see, we're all bisexual. I love Jane and Robert, Jane loves me and June, June loves Robert and Jane, and Robert loves June and me. All of us getting married together is the only way that we can express our sexual preferences in a marital relationship."
"But we've only been granting licenses to gay and lesbian couples." "So you're discriminating against bisexuals!"
"No, it's just that, well, the traditional idea of marriage is that it's just for couples."
"Since when are you standing on tradition?"
"Well, I mean, you have to draw the line somewhere."
"Who says? There's no logical reason to limit marriage to couples.
The more the better. Besides, we demand our rights! The mayor says the constitution guarantees equal protection under the law. Give us a marriage license!"
"All right, all right. Next."
"Hello, I'd like a marriage license." "In what names?" "David Deets." "And the other man?" "That's all. I just want to marry myself."
"Marry yourself? What do you mean?"
"Well, my psychiatrist says I have a dual personality, so I want to marry the two together. Maybe now I'll be able to file a joint income-tax return."
"That does it! I quit! You people are making a mockery of marriage!"
So, Mr. Obama, exactly how evolved are you?
Va. Girl is Youngest Ever in National Spelling Bee
"Hold on to that basalt," Lori Anne Madison said in a bossy 6-year-old's voice, "and do not drop it."
"Go away," her mother said playfully.
Sorina Madison held on the rock nonetheless, and soon was carrying more basalt and a nice hunk of quartz. "I can't carry the entire park," she eventually told her daughter.
More
The Laws Beyond Murphy's Law
For your 'inner engineer' . . . . . .
1. Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.
2. Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible place in the universe.
3. Law of Probability - The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
4. Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal - and someone always answers.
6. Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
7. Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
8. Law of Close Encounters - The probability of meeting someone you know INCREASES dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
9. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, IT WILL!!!
10. Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
11. Law of the Theater & Hockey Arena - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the performance. The aisle people also are very surly folk.
12. The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
13. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only 2 people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
14. Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.
15. Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible IF you don't know what you are talking about.
16. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.
17. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking -- A CLOSED MOUTH GATHERS NO FEET!!!
18. Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
19. Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor; by the time you get there you'll feel better. But don't make an appointment, and you'll stay sick.
1. Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.
2. Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible place in the universe.
3. Law of Probability - The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
4. Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal - and someone always answers.
6. Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
7. Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
8. Law of Close Encounters - The probability of meeting someone you know INCREASES dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
9. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, IT WILL!!!
10. Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
11. Law of the Theater & Hockey Arena - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the performance. The aisle people also are very surly folk.
12. The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
13. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only 2 people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
14. Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.
15. Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible IF you don't know what you are talking about.
16. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.
17. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking -- A CLOSED MOUTH GATHERS NO FEET!!!
18. Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
19. Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor; by the time you get there you'll feel better. But don't make an appointment, and you'll stay sick.
Powerful "Flame" Cyber Weapon Found in Middle East
Security experts have discovered a new data-stealing virus
dubbed "Flame" they say has lurked inside thousands of computers across
the Middle East for as long as five years as part of a sophisticated
cyber warfare campaign.
It is the most complex piece of malicious software discovered to date, said Kaspersky Lab security senior researcher Roel Schouwenberg, whose company discovered the virus. The results of the Lab's work were made available on Monday.
Schouwenberg said he did not know who built Flame.
If the Lab's analysis is correct, Flame could be the third major cyber weapon uncovered after the Stuxnet virus that attacked Iran's nuclear program in 2010, and its data-stealing cousin Duqu, named after the Star Wars villain.
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Shell Gas Station On Snow Hill Rd And College Ave
I recently purchased gas at this station and I used discount points from Giant.
They short changed me $33. I complained to the store owner, Balil Khan, who pleaded ignorance. After this I went to Giant and asked them if they had previously had any problems with this store and they said there is a pattern of people being shortchanged on their gas points by this gas station. I hope you can put he word out to be cautious of this gas station or simply avoid it all together.
Thanks
Greg
They short changed me $33. I complained to the store owner, Balil Khan, who pleaded ignorance. After this I went to Giant and asked them if they had previously had any problems with this store and they said there is a pattern of people being shortchanged on their gas points by this gas station. I hope you can put he word out to be cautious of this gas station or simply avoid it all together.
Thanks
Greg
Stray Dog Joins 2,700-Mile Race Across China
A stray dog has completed an amazing journey across China with an
adopted pack of cyclists.
After one of the cyclists gave him food, the dog ran alongside the group for its 2,735-mile journey across the country, from Sichuan province to Tibet.
The group nicknamed the dog "Xiaosa." He ran with the group for 24 days straight, covering roughly 96 miles a day and climbing 12 mountains without ever falling behind.
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After one of the cyclists gave him food, the dog ran alongside the group for its 2,735-mile journey across the country, from Sichuan province to Tibet.
The group nicknamed the dog "Xiaosa." He ran with the group for 24 days straight, covering roughly 96 miles a day and climbing 12 mountains without ever falling behind.
More
'Boredom' Proves To Be Trigger For 'Flash Mobs'
A new study suggests “flash mobs” are launched because of boredom and the desire to “provoke older people and make havoc.”
Described by one youth in a newly published study as a gathering in which “a certain age group of children go … to provoke older people and make havoc,” some flash mobs have turned violent, with large-scale attacks taking place most recently in Norfolk, Va., and Newark, N.J.
Organizers in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, recently canceled the annual Coventry Arts Street Fair because 1,000 young people disrupted the event in “flash mob fashion” last year by fighting and “running at reckless abandon.”
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Described by one youth in a newly published study as a gathering in which “a certain age group of children go … to provoke older people and make havoc,” some flash mobs have turned violent, with large-scale attacks taking place most recently in Norfolk, Va., and Newark, N.J.
Organizers in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, recently canceled the annual Coventry Arts Street Fair because 1,000 young people disrupted the event in “flash mob fashion” last year by fighting and “running at reckless abandon.”
More
A Letter To The Editor 5-29-12
There is a new restaurant where Cafe Mambo was. It is called Cafe Italiano. The food is great. The pizza is New York style and everything is made fresh. I had a dish called chicken italiano and it was incredible. The people were very friendly and went out of their way to make the food the way we wanted it. If you are looking for some good fresh italian food without a wait, stop in and try it. They also deliver.
Cafe Italiano
Cafe Italiano
Salisbury Is Getting Tagged Again With Graffiti
Its going to take the entire community again to keep our eyes open to kids or young adults standing around items like shown above to see if or who is tagging Downtown Salisbury.
More than likely they're using artist markers so if you see someone looking suspicious please contact the Salisbury Police and report it before it gets completely out of control, again.
Appeal of Voided Md. Gun-Permit Law Awaits Ruling
A federal judge is considering whether to block enforcement of a
recent court ruling that would relax Maryland’s handgun-permit law.
The state is currently appealing a March ruling by U.S. District Judge Benson Everett Legg that struck down as unconstitutional Maryland’s law requiring people seeking concealed-carry permits to provide a “good and substantial reason” for needing a gun.
Judge Legg issued a temporary stay against the ruling shortly after the state filed its appeal, allowing the state to continue enforcing the “good and substantial” restriction. He is now weighing whether to end the stay or extend it until after the case is heard by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
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The state is currently appealing a March ruling by U.S. District Judge Benson Everett Legg that struck down as unconstitutional Maryland’s law requiring people seeking concealed-carry permits to provide a “good and substantial reason” for needing a gun.
Judge Legg issued a temporary stay against the ruling shortly after the state filed its appeal, allowing the state to continue enforcing the “good and substantial” restriction. He is now weighing whether to end the stay or extend it until after the case is heard by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
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PETITION SIGNATURES
Church-led activists hoping to repeal Maryland’s same-sex marriage law plan to deliver the first batch of petitions ahead of schedule this week, and they say the number of signatures will far exceed the mark, Annie Linskey reports for the Sun.
As Commandos Raid Tampa, US State Dept Demands Power To Declare War?
Clinton Goes Commando, Sells Diplomats as Shadow Warriors ... Clinton, wearing pearls and a silver and black blouse, climbed the stage and began to speak. And soon it all made more sense. She had an idea to sell — and to defend ... She described a vision in which shadowy U.S. and allied Special Operations Forces, working hand in hand with America's embassies and foreign governments, together play a key role in preventing low-intensity conflicts. And where prevention fails, the same commando-diplomat team goes on the attack ... – Wired (5/24/12)
It happened again at the recent Tampa-based conference, "Building the Global SOF Partnership" ...
The US military staged a mock drill in violation of 130+ years of the Posse Comitatus Act that bars domestic forces from active use on US soil.
It wasn't just the US, either. Some 90 nations supposedly participated in the drill, which aimed to "rescue" Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, supposedly kidnapped by terrorists. There were helicopters overhead and a tactical assault showed up by water. Then special ops teams invaded a "terrorist village" near the Convention Center and rescued the mayor, who said he was grateful.
The ongoing militarization of all phases of US society via Homeland Security searches and military training exercises surely should be of concern to those who are searching for a less warlike and aggressive United States.
But the pendulum apparently continues to swing in the other direction. While the mock drill received a lot of attention in the alternative media, statements of the guest of honor, Hillary Clinton, are worthy of equivalent concern.
The Secretary of State seemed to inform the conference that the State Department now had the unilateral authority to declare a limited state of war via an expanding liaison with US Special Operations Forces. Here are some direct quotes:
... We created a new Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations that is working to put into practice lessons learned over the past decade and institutionalize a civilian surge capacity to deal with crises and hotspots.
More
It happened again at the recent Tampa-based conference, "Building the Global SOF Partnership" ...
The US military staged a mock drill in violation of 130+ years of the Posse Comitatus Act that bars domestic forces from active use on US soil.
It wasn't just the US, either. Some 90 nations supposedly participated in the drill, which aimed to "rescue" Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, supposedly kidnapped by terrorists. There were helicopters overhead and a tactical assault showed up by water. Then special ops teams invaded a "terrorist village" near the Convention Center and rescued the mayor, who said he was grateful.
The ongoing militarization of all phases of US society via Homeland Security searches and military training exercises surely should be of concern to those who are searching for a less warlike and aggressive United States.
But the pendulum apparently continues to swing in the other direction. While the mock drill received a lot of attention in the alternative media, statements of the guest of honor, Hillary Clinton, are worthy of equivalent concern.
The Secretary of State seemed to inform the conference that the State Department now had the unilateral authority to declare a limited state of war via an expanding liaison with US Special Operations Forces. Here are some direct quotes:
... We created a new Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations that is working to put into practice lessons learned over the past decade and institutionalize a civilian surge capacity to deal with crises and hotspots.
More
Republicans Struggling To Get Signatures Against Congressional Redistricting
Republicans are having a tough time getting enough petition signatures on a petition to bring to referendum the congressional redistricting plan passed by the legislature. The map redrew lines to make it possible for Democrats to pick up the 6th Congressional District seat of Rep. Roscoe Bartlett in western Maryland.
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Obama Ducks Calls to Release His Collegiate Transcripts
When President Obama gave the commencement address last week at the Air Force Academy, he congratulated the cadets for excelling at one of the most demanding schools in the country.
But decades after Mr. Obama completed his own college course work, his academic performance is still a mystery. Before and after his election as president, Mr. Obama has refused to release his college transcripts from his days as an undergraduate and a law school student.
Most presidents’ academic records are made public by the time they reach the highest office in the land, either with their consent or by someone else digging them up.
“There’s no reason why people shouldn’t know,” said Stephen Hess, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who focuses on the presidency. “At this point, it’s pretty moot — perhaps amusing if it turned out that he didn’t do very well.”
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But decades after Mr. Obama completed his own college course work, his academic performance is still a mystery. Before and after his election as president, Mr. Obama has refused to release his college transcripts from his days as an undergraduate and a law school student.
Most presidents’ academic records are made public by the time they reach the highest office in the land, either with their consent or by someone else digging them up.
“There’s no reason why people shouldn’t know,” said Stephen Hess, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who focuses on the presidency. “At this point, it’s pretty moot — perhaps amusing if it turned out that he didn’t do very well.”
More
Anti-Tax Advocate Norquist Says GOP Can ‘Change Maryland’
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, is the man Democrats blame for partisan gridlock in Washington stemming from the no-new-taxes pledge he has gotten most Republican lawmakers to sign. He brought his conservative message to Queen Anne’s County Republicans at their annual Reagan Day Dinner Thursday night and praised the party for emphasizing electing officials at the local level as a way to counter Maryland’s Democratic leanings.
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ANTHONY WATERS SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE PLUS THIRTY YEARS
On May 24, 2012, the Wicomico County Circuit Court sentenced Anthony Waters, age 28, of Salisbury, Maryland, to the Division of Corrections for life without the possibility of parole for the First Degree Premeditated Murder of Veshawn Bratten that occurred on July 31, 2011, on Patrick Avenue in Salisbury, Maryland. The Court also sentenced Waters to an additional thirty (30) years incarceration, consecutive to his life sentence, for Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and other handgun offenses which carry mandatory/minimum sentences.
Waters was convicted after a three day jury trial that began on March 19, 2012 and concluded on March 21, 2012. The jury found Waters guilty of 1st Degree Premeditated Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, 1st Degree Assault, Use of a Handgun in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Handgun by a Prohibited Person.
Waters was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for an additional twenty one (21) years, consecutive to the sentence he received for the murder of Veshawn Bratten, for violating his probation. (Walls was on probation for an armed robbery and drug conviction that he received in 2004).
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation (W.B.I.) for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello and Deputy State’s Attorney Ella M. Disharoon.
Waters was convicted after a three day jury trial that began on March 19, 2012 and concluded on March 21, 2012. The jury found Waters guilty of 1st Degree Premeditated Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, 1st Degree Assault, Use of a Handgun in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Handgun by a Prohibited Person.
Waters was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for an additional twenty one (21) years, consecutive to the sentence he received for the murder of Veshawn Bratten, for violating his probation. (Walls was on probation for an armed robbery and drug conviction that he received in 2004).
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation (W.B.I.) for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. This case was prosecuted by State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello and Deputy State’s Attorney Ella M. Disharoon.
Some Builders Scramble To Be Grandfathered Under New Septics Law
In some counties, homebuilders and developers are scrambling to get percolation tests down by July 1 so they can be grandfathered in under the new law that restricts use of septic systems for major subdivisions in Maryland. That’s a “natural” outcome of the bill that stirred intense controversy and opposition in the General Assembly, Planning Secretary Richard Hall told MarylandReporter.com.
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Radioactive Bluefin Tuna Crossed the Pacific to US
Across the vast Pacific, the mighty bluefin tuna carried radioactive
contamination that leaked from Japan's crippled nuclear plant to the
shores of the United States 6,000 miles away _ the first time a huge
migrating fish has been shown to carry radioactivity such a distance.
"We were frankly kind of startled," said Nicholas Fisher, one of the researchers reporting the findings online Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The levels of radioactive cesium were 10 times higher than the amount measured in tuna off the California coast in previous years. But even so, that's still far below safe-to-eat limits set by the U.S. and Japanese governments
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"We were frankly kind of startled," said Nicholas Fisher, one of the researchers reporting the findings online Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The levels of radioactive cesium were 10 times higher than the amount measured in tuna off the California coast in previous years. But even so, that's still far below safe-to-eat limits set by the U.S. and Japanese governments
More
The Lawyer Party
By Bruce Walker
The Democratic Party has become the Lawyers Party.
Barack Obama is a lawyer. Michelle Obama is a lawyer.
Hillary Clinton is a lawyer. Bill Clinton is a lawyer.
John Edwards is a lawyer. Elizabeth Edwards was a lawyer.
Every Democrat nominee since 1984 went to law school
(although Gore did not graduate). LOL
Every Democrat vice presidential nominee since 1976, except for Lloyd Bentsen, went to law school.
Look at leaders of the Democrat Party in Congress:
Harry Reid is a lawyer. Nancy Pelosi is a lawyer.
The Republican Party is different.
President Bush is a businessman.
Vice President Cheney is a businessman.
The leaders of the Republican Revolution:
Newt Gingrich was a history professor.
Tom Delay was an exterminator. Dick Armey was an economist.
House Minority Leader Boehner was a plastic manufacturer.
The former Senate Majority Leader Bill First is a heart surgeon.
Who was the last Republican president who was a lawyer? Gerald Ford, who left office 31 years ago and who barely won the Republican nomination as a sitting president, running against Ronald Reagan in 1976.
The Republican Party is made up of real people doing real work, who are often the targets of lawyers.
The Democrat Party is made up of lawyers. Democrats mock and scorn men who create wealth, like Bush and Cheney, or who heal the sick, like First, or who immerse themselves in history, like Gingrich. The Lawyers Party sees these sorts of people, who provide goods and services that people want, as the enemies of America .. And, so we have seen the procession of official enemies, in the eyes of the Lawyers Party, grow.
Against whom do Hillary and Obama rail?....Pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, hospitals, manufacturers, fast food restaurant chains, large retail businesses, bankers, and anyone producing anything of value in our nation. This is the natural consequence of viewing everything through the eyes of lawyers. Lawyers solve problems by successfully representing their clients, in this case the American people. Lawyers seek to have new laws passed, they seek to win lawsuits, they press appellate courts to overturn precedent, and lawyers always parse language to favor their side.
Confined to the narrow practice of law, that is fine. But it is an awful way to govern a great nation. When politicians as lawyers begin to view some Americans as clients and other Americans as opposing parties, then the role of the legal system in our life becomes all-consuming. Some Americans become adverse parties of our very government. We are not all litigants in some vast social class-action suit. We are citizens of a republic that promises us a great deal of freedom from laws, from courts, and from lawyers.
Today, we are drowning in laws; we are contorted by judicial decisions; we are driven to distraction by omnipresent lawyers in all parts of our once private lives. America has a place for laws and lawyers, but that place is modest and reasonable, not vast and unchecked. When the most important decision for our next president is whom he will appoint to the Supreme Court, the role of lawyers and the law in America is too big.
When House Democrats sue America in order to hamstring our efforts to learn what our enemies are planning to do to us, then the role of litigation in America has become crushing.
Perhaps Americans will understand that change cannot be brought to our nation by those lawyers who already largely dictate American society and business. Perhaps Americans will see that hope does not come from the mouths of lawyers but from personal dreams nourished by hard work. Perhaps Americans will embrace the truth that more lawyers with more power will only make our problems worse.
The United States has 5% of the world’s population and 66% of the world’s lawyers! Tort (Legal) reform legislation has been introduced in congress several times in the last several years to limit punitive damages in ridiculous lawsuits such as spilling hot coffee on yourself and suing the establishment that sold it to you and also to limit punitive damages in huge medical malpractice lawsuits. This legislation has continually been blocked from even being voted on by the Democrat Party. When you see that 97% of the political contributions from the American Trial Lawyers Association go to the Democrat Party, then you realize who is responsible for our medical and product costs being so high!
The Democratic Party has become the Lawyers Party.
Barack Obama is a lawyer. Michelle Obama is a lawyer.
Hillary Clinton is a lawyer. Bill Clinton is a lawyer.
John Edwards is a lawyer. Elizabeth Edwards was a lawyer.
Every Democrat nominee since 1984 went to law school
(although Gore did not graduate). LOL
Every Democrat vice presidential nominee since 1976, except for Lloyd Bentsen, went to law school.
Look at leaders of the Democrat Party in Congress:
Harry Reid is a lawyer. Nancy Pelosi is a lawyer.
The Republican Party is different.
President Bush is a businessman.
Vice President Cheney is a businessman.
The leaders of the Republican Revolution:
Newt Gingrich was a history professor.
Tom Delay was an exterminator. Dick Armey was an economist.
House Minority Leader Boehner was a plastic manufacturer.
The former Senate Majority Leader Bill First is a heart surgeon.
Who was the last Republican president who was a lawyer? Gerald Ford, who left office 31 years ago and who barely won the Republican nomination as a sitting president, running against Ronald Reagan in 1976.
The Republican Party is made up of real people doing real work, who are often the targets of lawyers.
The Democrat Party is made up of lawyers. Democrats mock and scorn men who create wealth, like Bush and Cheney, or who heal the sick, like First, or who immerse themselves in history, like Gingrich. The Lawyers Party sees these sorts of people, who provide goods and services that people want, as the enemies of America .. And, so we have seen the procession of official enemies, in the eyes of the Lawyers Party, grow.
Against whom do Hillary and Obama rail?....Pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, hospitals, manufacturers, fast food restaurant chains, large retail businesses, bankers, and anyone producing anything of value in our nation. This is the natural consequence of viewing everything through the eyes of lawyers. Lawyers solve problems by successfully representing their clients, in this case the American people. Lawyers seek to have new laws passed, they seek to win lawsuits, they press appellate courts to overturn precedent, and lawyers always parse language to favor their side.
Confined to the narrow practice of law, that is fine. But it is an awful way to govern a great nation. When politicians as lawyers begin to view some Americans as clients and other Americans as opposing parties, then the role of the legal system in our life becomes all-consuming. Some Americans become adverse parties of our very government. We are not all litigants in some vast social class-action suit. We are citizens of a republic that promises us a great deal of freedom from laws, from courts, and from lawyers.
Today, we are drowning in laws; we are contorted by judicial decisions; we are driven to distraction by omnipresent lawyers in all parts of our once private lives. America has a place for laws and lawyers, but that place is modest and reasonable, not vast and unchecked. When the most important decision for our next president is whom he will appoint to the Supreme Court, the role of lawyers and the law in America is too big.
When House Democrats sue America in order to hamstring our efforts to learn what our enemies are planning to do to us, then the role of litigation in America has become crushing.
Perhaps Americans will understand that change cannot be brought to our nation by those lawyers who already largely dictate American society and business. Perhaps Americans will see that hope does not come from the mouths of lawyers but from personal dreams nourished by hard work. Perhaps Americans will embrace the truth that more lawyers with more power will only make our problems worse.
The United States has 5% of the world’s population and 66% of the world’s lawyers! Tort (Legal) reform legislation has been introduced in congress several times in the last several years to limit punitive damages in ridiculous lawsuits such as spilling hot coffee on yourself and suing the establishment that sold it to you and also to limit punitive damages in huge medical malpractice lawsuits. This legislation has continually been blocked from even being voted on by the Democrat Party. When you see that 97% of the political contributions from the American Trial Lawyers Association go to the Democrat Party, then you realize who is responsible for our medical and product costs being so high!
OCPD SEIZES SUSPECTED ILLEGAL SYNTHETIC DRUGS FROM BOARDWALK BUSINESSES
On May 25, 2012, at approximately 7:30 P.M., the Ocean City Police Narcotics Unit, Patrol Officers, Worcester County Sheriff’s Criminal Enforcement Team and Investigators from the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office served a search and seizure warrant at two boardwalk businesses: “Cool Topics” (107 Atlantic Avenue Units 3 and 4) and “New York, New York” (101 Atlantic Avenue) as it related to them selling synthetic drugs, synthetic drug paraphernalia and drug paraphernalia in violation of the Maryland State Law and local Ocean City ordinances.
During the investigation OCPD Narcotics Detectives made undercover purchases from the above stores. Employees that sold illegal products to the undercover officers told the detectives that the products would get them high, instructed them on how to get high, what devices to use to smoke the synthetic drugs and marijuana, and how long the high would last. Police seized a large amount of suspected synthetic marijuana and packaging materials. Investigators also seized over 500 bags of packaged suspected synthetic marijuana and several hundred other pieces of suspected drug paraphernalia and a computer.
During the service of the Search Warrants the following persons were arrested:
David Shalom Lougasi, 52, of Berlin, Maryland
Nitzahn Lougasi, 27, of Ocean City, Maryland
Teodras Masresha Kassa, 22 of Ocean City, Maryland
Haileleul Mulugeta, 21, of Silver Spring, Maryland
All four were charged with distribution of drug paraphernalia under theMarylandstate law and violations of theOceanCityordinance banning the sale and distribution of a Cannabimimetic agent, distribution of a hallucinogenic agent, failing to attach a list of ingredients to a synthetic drug and distribution of any substance intended to have physical / psychological effects.
At the time of this release, David Shalom Lougasi, Nitzahn Lougasi, and Teodras Masresha Kassa were all seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and released on their own recognizance. Haileleul Mulugeta is being held at the OCPD pending an appearance before an Ocean City District Court Commissioner.
This investigation is a continuing effort to keep illegal and dangerous substance out of OceanCity. The department will continue to perform compliance checks and enforcement throughout the summer.
During the investigation OCPD Narcotics Detectives made undercover purchases from the above stores. Employees that sold illegal products to the undercover officers told the detectives that the products would get them high, instructed them on how to get high, what devices to use to smoke the synthetic drugs and marijuana, and how long the high would last. Police seized a large amount of suspected synthetic marijuana and packaging materials. Investigators also seized over 500 bags of packaged suspected synthetic marijuana and several hundred other pieces of suspected drug paraphernalia and a computer.
During the service of the Search Warrants the following persons were arrested:
David Shalom Lougasi, 52, of Berlin, Maryland
Nitzahn Lougasi, 27, of Ocean City, Maryland
Teodras Masresha Kassa, 22 of Ocean City, Maryland
Haileleul Mulugeta, 21, of Silver Spring, Maryland
All four were charged with distribution of drug paraphernalia under theMarylandstate law and violations of theOceanCityordinance banning the sale and distribution of a Cannabimimetic agent, distribution of a hallucinogenic agent, failing to attach a list of ingredients to a synthetic drug and distribution of any substance intended to have physical / psychological effects.
At the time of this release, David Shalom Lougasi, Nitzahn Lougasi, and Teodras Masresha Kassa were all seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and released on their own recognizance. Haileleul Mulugeta is being held at the OCPD pending an appearance before an Ocean City District Court Commissioner.
This investigation is a continuing effort to keep illegal and dangerous substance out of OceanCity. The department will continue to perform compliance checks and enforcement throughout the summer.
Second Home Or 1 Million Crab Cakes?
Seven bedroom riverfront mansion or 160,000 bushels of blue crabs?
Sure it’s a tough choice but something to consider in these turbulent economic times. Give a man $32 million and you can swim in his 60-foot infinity edge pool and play on his tennis courts. Or sink that cash into steamed crabs and you (and your entire extended family) can feast for a lifetime.
Steve and Maxine Phillips are hoping to attract those who would choose the former. A decade after buying 23-acre Friary on the Severn for $2.5 million, the Phillips Seafood CEO and his wife are selling the overhauled Annapolis property that includes eight bathrooms, a nine-car garage and a six-slip private boat dock. Local brokers say it’s the largest listed price ever for an Anne Arundel County home.
It’s got history. It was formerly a Capuchin monastery. Prior to that, it was home to an arms dealer. It’s secluded and luxurious but for the same price one could enjoy:
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Sure it’s a tough choice but something to consider in these turbulent economic times. Give a man $32 million and you can swim in his 60-foot infinity edge pool and play on his tennis courts. Or sink that cash into steamed crabs and you (and your entire extended family) can feast for a lifetime.
Steve and Maxine Phillips are hoping to attract those who would choose the former. A decade after buying 23-acre Friary on the Severn for $2.5 million, the Phillips Seafood CEO and his wife are selling the overhauled Annapolis property that includes eight bathrooms, a nine-car garage and a six-slip private boat dock. Local brokers say it’s the largest listed price ever for an Anne Arundel County home.
It’s got history. It was formerly a Capuchin monastery. Prior to that, it was home to an arms dealer. It’s secluded and luxurious but for the same price one could enjoy:
More
4 Things You Might Not Have Known About Your Cell Phone
FIRST (Emergency)
The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.
SECOND (Hidden Battery Power)
Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.
THIRD (How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?)
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following Digits on your phone:
*#06#.
A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.
If your phone is stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. The y will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.
And Finally....
FOURTH (Free Directory Service for Cells)
Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial:
(800) FREE411 or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.
This is sponsored by McDonald's.
The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.
SECOND (Hidden Battery Power)
Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.
THIRD (How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?)
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following Digits on your phone:
*#06#.
A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.
If your phone is stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. The y will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.
And Finally....
FOURTH (Free Directory Service for Cells)
Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial:
(800) FREE411 or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.
This is sponsored by McDonald's.
CAUSE OF DEATHS DETERMINED IN KENT CO. FARM ACCIDENT
(BALTIMORE, MD) – Autopsies have determined the cause of death for the father and his two sons found early yesterday morning after a farm accident in Kent County.
The bodies of Glen Nolt, 48, and two of his sons, Kelvin, 18, and Cleason, 14, all of Peach Bottom, PA, were recovered yesterday from a manure pit on a dairy farm in the 12000-block of Vansant Corner Road, Kennedyville, Md, where they had been working. Autopsies were conducted on the three at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Baltimore.
Doctors at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told Maryland State Police investigators the autopsies revealed all three victims died of asphyxia. Cleason Nolt had an additional cause of death listed as multiple injuries. Investigators believe the injuries were inflicted by the large propeller on the end of the auger that circulates the liquid manure in the pit. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner doctors ruled all three deaths accidental.
The bodies of Glen Nolt, 48, and two of his sons, Kelvin, 18, and Cleason, 14, all of Peach Bottom, PA, were recovered yesterday from a manure pit on a dairy farm in the 12000-block of Vansant Corner Road, Kennedyville, Md, where they had been working. Autopsies were conducted on the three at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Baltimore.
Doctors at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told Maryland State Police investigators the autopsies revealed all three victims died of asphyxia. Cleason Nolt had an additional cause of death listed as multiple injuries. Investigators believe the injuries were inflicted by the large propeller on the end of the auger that circulates the liquid manure in the pit. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner doctors ruled all three deaths accidental.
New Farmers Market Opens Wednesday
Click on the picture to print out the coupons for the new farmers market opening on E. Naylor Mill Road, Wednesday May 30th. Market hours are 3:00pm until 6:00pm
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
MAY 29, 2012 6:00 p.m.
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. ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
6:10 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA – City Clerk Kim Nichols
March 19, 2012 closed session minutes (separate envelope)
March 26, 2012 regular meeting minutes
March 26, 2012 work session minutes
Manufacturing exemption request – Spartech Polycom
Designation of honorary board members of Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion
Resolution No. 2166 - donation to Salisbury Police Department Physical Fitness Room
Resolution No. 2167 - donation of shotguns to Salisbury Police Department
Resolution No. 2168 – appointment of trustee to Retiree Health Plan Trust
(GASB#45 Trust)
6:15 p.m. AWARD OF BIDS – Assistant Internal Services Director – Procurement Catrice 2
Parsons
Declaration of surplus – 5 shotguns
Change Order #3 to Contract #A-7-09 R2 Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk
Award Contract #110-12 Parsons Road Pavement Replacement
6:30 p.m. ORDINANCES – City Attorney Mark Tilghman
Ordinance No. 2205 – 1st reading – FY12 budget amendment to appropriate funds for a contribution to support the Red, White and Boom Fireworks Display
Ordinance No. 2202 - 1st reading - FY12 budget amendment to purchase properties at tax sale, along with associated costs
Ordinance No. 2203 - 1st reading – to revise the scheduled dates for submission to Council of a draft comprehensive connection charge structure
Ordinance No. 2204 - 1st reading - FY12 budget amendment to appropriate funds received from Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
7:30 p.m. FY2013 BUDGET – Council President Terry Cohen
Ordinance No. 2201 – 2nd reading for adoption of FY2013 budget as amended (setting of real property tax rate, water/sewer rates, fees and establishing appropriations)
8:30 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS
8:45 p.m. ADJOURNMENT
Delmar Festival
36th Annual Delmarva's Day in the Park Festival
Sat. June 2nd - 10a - 6p. State Street Park, Delmar, DE
Rain date: Sat. June 16th.
Sat. June 2nd - 10a - 6p. State Street Park, Delmar, DE
Rain date: Sat. June 16th.
Food, crafts, informational vendors, raffles, attractions, games
50/50 drawing, silent auction, live entertainment and more!
This year's live music is Gene Paul. This group is a blues group
and a few of the members are Delmar natives. Their sound is awesome.
They'll be playing from 2p - 6p.
Come on out with your lawn chair or your blanket and enjoy!
Mitchell's Martial Arts will also be doing a demonstration.
A fun-filled day for the entire family!
Festival sponsored by The Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce.
Typical CEO Made $9.6M Last Year, AP Study Finds
Profits at big U.S. companies broke records last year, and so did pay for CEOs.
The head of a typical public company made $9.6 million in 2011, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data from Equilar, an executive pay research firm.
That was up more than 6 percent from the previous year, and is the second year in a row of increases. The figure is also the highest since the AP began tracking executive compensation in 2006.
More
The head of a typical public company made $9.6 million in 2011, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data from Equilar, an executive pay research firm.
That was up more than 6 percent from the previous year, and is the second year in a row of increases. The figure is also the highest since the AP began tracking executive compensation in 2006.
More
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER
Once upon a time, the largest U.S. cities were the envy of the entire world. Sadly, that is no longer the case. Sure, there are areas of New York City, Boston, Washington and Los Angeles that are still absolutely beautiful but for the most part our major cities are rapidly rotting and decaying. Cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, Memphis, New Orleans, St. Louis and Oakland were all once places where middle class American workers thrived and raised their families. Today, all of those cities are rapidly being transformed into cesspools of filth, decay and wretchedness. Millions of good jobs have left our major cities in recent decades and poverty has absolutely exploded. Basically, you can turn out the lights because the party is over. In fact, some major U.S. cities are literally turning out the lights. In Detroit, about 40 percent of the streetlights are already broken and the city cannot afford to repair them. So Mayor Bing has come up with a plan to cut the number of operating streetlights almost in half and leave vast sections of the city totally in the dark at night. I wonder what that will do to the crime rate in the city. But don’t look down on Detroit too much, because what is happening in Detroit will be happening where you live soon enough.
A recent Bloomberg article described Mayor Bing’s plan to eliminate nearly half of Detroit’s streetlights….
Detroit, whose 139 square miles contain 60 percent fewer residents than in 1950, will try to nudge them into a smaller living space by eliminating almost half its streetlights.
As it is, 40 percent of the 88,000 streetlights are broken and the city, whose finances are to be overseen by an appointed board, can’t afford to fix them. Mayor Dave Bing’s plan would create an authority to borrow $160 million to upgrade and reduce the number of streetlights to 46,000. Maintenance would be contracted out, saving the city $10 million a year.
What this means is that there are going to be a lot of neighborhoods that will have the lights turned off permanently.
So which neighborhoods will those be?
According to one top Detroit official, “distressed areas” are going to be on the low end of the totem pole….
“You have to identify those neighborhoods where you want to concentrate your population,” said Chris Brown, Detroit’s chief operating officer. “We’re not going to light distressed areas like we light other areas.”
City officials know that they cannot force people to move from “distressed areas”, so they are going to encourage them to leave by cutting off services.
But turning off the lights is not the only way that Detroit is trying to save money.
More
A recent Bloomberg article described Mayor Bing’s plan to eliminate nearly half of Detroit’s streetlights….
Detroit, whose 139 square miles contain 60 percent fewer residents than in 1950, will try to nudge them into a smaller living space by eliminating almost half its streetlights.
As it is, 40 percent of the 88,000 streetlights are broken and the city, whose finances are to be overseen by an appointed board, can’t afford to fix them. Mayor Dave Bing’s plan would create an authority to borrow $160 million to upgrade and reduce the number of streetlights to 46,000. Maintenance would be contracted out, saving the city $10 million a year.
What this means is that there are going to be a lot of neighborhoods that will have the lights turned off permanently.
So which neighborhoods will those be?
According to one top Detroit official, “distressed areas” are going to be on the low end of the totem pole….
“You have to identify those neighborhoods where you want to concentrate your population,” said Chris Brown, Detroit’s chief operating officer. “We’re not going to light distressed areas like we light other areas.”
City officials know that they cannot force people to move from “distressed areas”, so they are going to encourage them to leave by cutting off services.
But turning off the lights is not the only way that Detroit is trying to save money.
More
Maryland Attorney General - News Release
Online Training on Maryland's Open Meetings Act Now AvailableAG Gansler and UMD's
Institute for Governmental Service and Research join in effort to educate political leaders, government employees, reporters and the public
Baltimore, MD (May 23, 2012) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and the University of Maryland's Institute for Governmental Service and Research have announced the availability of a new online class on Maryland's Open Meetings Act. The class is designed for elected officials, public employees, members of the media and any Marylander interested in open government who wishes to become more familiar with the requirements of the Act.
“Giving people an easier way to gain a working knowledge of the Open Meetings Act promotes a more open and honest government,” said Attorney General Gansler. “We're proud to be part of this online resource that is available to any Marylander who has an interest in good government practices, and we're grateful for the expertise that the Institute for Governmental Service and Research brings to this initiative. ”
Maryland's Open Meetings Act online class is immediately available to the public at the Institute for Governmental Service and Research's website (www.igsr.umd.edu/VLC/OMA/). The full text of the Act, as well as information about Maryland's Public Information Act, is also available online at the Attorney General's Open Government page. The Office of the Attorney General and the Institute for Governmental Service and Research will keep the class content current, including any potential changes to the Act itself or its interpretation by the courts and the Open Meetings Compliance Board (OMCB).
The class, comprised of 6 lessons and 10 quizzes, takes about 2.5 hours to complete and covers the purpose, mechanics and applicability of the Open Meetings Act. Participants who finish the lessons and pass the quizzes earn a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
Each year, the OMCB issues a report on the number and types of complaints it receives and other information related to Maryland's Open Meetings Act. Citizens, government officials and news media personnel may complain to the OMCB when they believe a public body has not adhered to the Act, and the OMCB issues opinions on whether the complaint is justified. From July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, the OMCB received substantially more complaints than it had in the previous year.
Public bodies most often run into trouble when holding closed meetings. Maryland's Open Meetings Act has explicit requirements for when meetings may be closed to the public, what can be discussed in those meetings, and what must be provided for the public record. This new online class, which includes statutory language from the Act as well as examples geared to address routinely encountered problems, will be an excellent tool to keep Maryland's government open and transparent.
More
Institute for Governmental Service and Research join in effort to educate political leaders, government employees, reporters and the public
Baltimore, MD (May 23, 2012) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and the University of Maryland's Institute for Governmental Service and Research have announced the availability of a new online class on Maryland's Open Meetings Act. The class is designed for elected officials, public employees, members of the media and any Marylander interested in open government who wishes to become more familiar with the requirements of the Act.
“Giving people an easier way to gain a working knowledge of the Open Meetings Act promotes a more open and honest government,” said Attorney General Gansler. “We're proud to be part of this online resource that is available to any Marylander who has an interest in good government practices, and we're grateful for the expertise that the Institute for Governmental Service and Research brings to this initiative. ”
Maryland's Open Meetings Act online class is immediately available to the public at the Institute for Governmental Service and Research's website (www.igsr.umd.edu/VLC/OMA/). The full text of the Act, as well as information about Maryland's Public Information Act, is also available online at the Attorney General's Open Government page. The Office of the Attorney General and the Institute for Governmental Service and Research will keep the class content current, including any potential changes to the Act itself or its interpretation by the courts and the Open Meetings Compliance Board (OMCB).
The class, comprised of 6 lessons and 10 quizzes, takes about 2.5 hours to complete and covers the purpose, mechanics and applicability of the Open Meetings Act. Participants who finish the lessons and pass the quizzes earn a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
Each year, the OMCB issues a report on the number and types of complaints it receives and other information related to Maryland's Open Meetings Act. Citizens, government officials and news media personnel may complain to the OMCB when they believe a public body has not adhered to the Act, and the OMCB issues opinions on whether the complaint is justified. From July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, the OMCB received substantially more complaints than it had in the previous year.
Public bodies most often run into trouble when holding closed meetings. Maryland's Open Meetings Act has explicit requirements for when meetings may be closed to the public, what can be discussed in those meetings, and what must be provided for the public record. This new online class, which includes statutory language from the Act as well as examples geared to address routinely encountered problems, will be an excellent tool to keep Maryland's government open and transparent.
More
Feds Having Hard Time Hiring 100,000 Disabled People
The federal government is struggling to meet its goal of hiring 100,000 disabled workers within the next three years. A new Government Accountability Office report said a lack of preparation, knowledge and training existed at many agencies. Even agencies with leaders committed to the cause said funding constraints could hurt their progress. But the report said the Office of Personnel Management shared some blame. OPM was still developing mandatory training programs two years after President Barack Obama issued his executive order directing agencies to set the example for all employers.
US To Backstop The Anglo-American Derivatives Exchanges With Fed Dollars - 'Too Big To Fail'
It sounds like the principle of keeping AIG whole on its obligations so that it can pay off to the banks at 100 cents on the dollar. This should make Jamie feel a little better about his bad derivatives trades.
And Blythe should rest easy knowing that Benny has her back on those massive metals shorts.
Sounds like they even plan to have the Fed backstop the derivatives trade in London.
Heads the banks win, tails those holding US dollars lose.
How will they support the next bailout? Austerity!
More
And Blythe should rest easy knowing that Benny has her back on those massive metals shorts.
Sounds like they even plan to have the Fed backstop the derivatives trade in London.
Heads the banks win, tails those holding US dollars lose.
How will they support the next bailout? Austerity!
More
BREAKING NEWS: US Expels Top Syrian Diplomat
The US is expelling Syria's top Washington, DC, diplomat, following similar actions by several allies, in protest of last Friday's massacre in Houla that left at least 108 dead, including 49 children and 34 women, the UN reports.
From Fox News
From Fox News
USPS Offers $15,000.00 Early Out
The Postal Service is offering an early retirement and buy-out deal to the tune of $15,000. It announced the deal on Friday after in-depth discussions with the National Postal Mail Handlers Union. Employees who take the deal would receive half the money this December, and the other in December 2013. Sign-up closes on July 2. USPS hopes to shed 45,000 employees in this round of buyouts. It will also offer buyouts to all of its 21,000 postmasters and planned to close 230 processing plants.
Shale Study’s Lead Author Faces ‘Green’ Backlash
Faced with mounting criticism, the State University of New York at Buffalo is distancing itself from a Marcellus Shale gas-drilling study released earlier this month by the school’s own Shale Resources and Society Institute.
But the report’s lead author is defending the work by the fledgling institute, saying Monday that it’s being mischaracterized by environmental activists who oppose any additional domestic fossil-fuel production.
“I stand by the work,” said Timothy Considine, University of Wyoming professor and one of three researchers who penned the institute’s survey, adding that he and his colleagues aren’t at all surprised by the green backlash it has generated.
More
But the report’s lead author is defending the work by the fledgling institute, saying Monday that it’s being mischaracterized by environmental activists who oppose any additional domestic fossil-fuel production.
“I stand by the work,” said Timothy Considine, University of Wyoming professor and one of three researchers who penned the institute’s survey, adding that he and his colleagues aren’t at all surprised by the green backlash it has generated.
More
Albero's Invade Busch Gardens
Quite a few of the Albero Family arrived at Busch Gardens this weekend to enjoy the holiday weekend. I hope all of you enjoyed your holiday weekend as well.
William Black on JP Morgan And the Failure To Regulate Wall Street Fraud
JPMorgan’s flacks and apologists have, unintentionally, exposed the fact that their cover story – hedging gone bad – is false. JPMorgan runs the world’s largest gambling operation in financial derivatives. The New York Times reported the key facts, but not the analytics, in an article entitled “Discord at Key JPMorgan Unit is Faulted in Loss.” [16] The analytics suggest that the latest JPMorgan cover story – it was JPMorgan’s “Achilles the heel” (based in the UK) who caused the loss – is misleading.
The thrust of the story is that in the beginning JPMorgan’s Chief Investment Office (CIO) was run by a fair princess (Ina Drew) and all was fabulous. Sadly, Ms. Drew contracted Lyme’s Disease and was unable to ensure peace and prosperity in her land. The evil Achilles Macris, based in the UK, became disloyal and mean. He made massive, bad purchases of financial derivatives that caused major losses. CIO senior officers based in the U.S. (and women to boot) tried to warn Achilles but he screamed at them and refused to listen and learn. The just king, Jamie Dimon, did not act promptly to save his kingdom from loss because of his great confidence in Princess Drew.
The personal story of Achilles acting like a heel makes compelling journalism, but it obscures rather than clarifies the analysis as to why JPMorgan poses a clear and present danger to the global economy.
We need to begin with context. It was toxic financial derivatives (not) backed by fraudulent liar’s loan mortgages (“green slime”) that drove the U.S. crisis. Paul Volcker urged the administration and Congress to bar any entity that received federal deposit insurance from investing in financial derivatives. The Dodd-Frank Act did so in a provision called “the Volcker rule.” Treasury Secretary Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, who exist to serve the interests of CEOs of the largest banks, oppose the Volcker rule. Jamie Dimon leads the banking industry’s opposition to the Volcker rule.
Dimon has a three-part strategy: stall the Volcker rule, gut its effectiveness by creating a massive loophole, and get the rule repealed by a future Congress. The loophole takes advantage of the fact that the Volcker rule was not intended to prevent banks from using derivatives to create (true) hedges. The current draft of the rule, however, renders the rule useless because it allows banks to call non-hedges “hedges” – it adopts a standard I call “hedginess.” A systemically dangerous institution (SDI) like JPMorgan has vast amounts of financial derivatives and it can (and does) call any speculative bet it takes in financial derivatives a “hedge.”
The NYT article demonstrates that JPMorgan is speculating, not hedging, and that the current draft of the Volcker rule would render us defenseless against the next financial crisis. The article misses these analytics and presents a misleading portrayal of the purportedly good years of CIO under Princess Drew. It turns out that CIO’s profits and losses come from the same practice – gambling on massive amounts of financial derivatives – not hedging. The NYT misses this key analytical point...
More
The thrust of the story is that in the beginning JPMorgan’s Chief Investment Office (CIO) was run by a fair princess (Ina Drew) and all was fabulous. Sadly, Ms. Drew contracted Lyme’s Disease and was unable to ensure peace and prosperity in her land. The evil Achilles Macris, based in the UK, became disloyal and mean. He made massive, bad purchases of financial derivatives that caused major losses. CIO senior officers based in the U.S. (and women to boot) tried to warn Achilles but he screamed at them and refused to listen and learn. The just king, Jamie Dimon, did not act promptly to save his kingdom from loss because of his great confidence in Princess Drew.
The personal story of Achilles acting like a heel makes compelling journalism, but it obscures rather than clarifies the analysis as to why JPMorgan poses a clear and present danger to the global economy.
We need to begin with context. It was toxic financial derivatives (not) backed by fraudulent liar’s loan mortgages (“green slime”) that drove the U.S. crisis. Paul Volcker urged the administration and Congress to bar any entity that received federal deposit insurance from investing in financial derivatives. The Dodd-Frank Act did so in a provision called “the Volcker rule.” Treasury Secretary Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, who exist to serve the interests of CEOs of the largest banks, oppose the Volcker rule. Jamie Dimon leads the banking industry’s opposition to the Volcker rule.
Dimon has a three-part strategy: stall the Volcker rule, gut its effectiveness by creating a massive loophole, and get the rule repealed by a future Congress. The loophole takes advantage of the fact that the Volcker rule was not intended to prevent banks from using derivatives to create (true) hedges. The current draft of the rule, however, renders the rule useless because it allows banks to call non-hedges “hedges” – it adopts a standard I call “hedginess.” A systemically dangerous institution (SDI) like JPMorgan has vast amounts of financial derivatives and it can (and does) call any speculative bet it takes in financial derivatives a “hedge.”
The NYT article demonstrates that JPMorgan is speculating, not hedging, and that the current draft of the Volcker rule would render us defenseless against the next financial crisis. The article misses these analytics and presents a misleading portrayal of the purportedly good years of CIO under Princess Drew. It turns out that CIO’s profits and losses come from the same practice – gambling on massive amounts of financial derivatives – not hedging. The NYT misses this key analytical point...
More
Join Us This Evening At Our Open House!
Join other members of our community as United Way launches the Imagination Library on May 29th. The open house kick-off will take place at the Wicomico Public Library from 5-7pm. Food and refreshments will be served. Guests are welcome.
We are very pleased to have the opportunity to offer such a wonderful program to children in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester Counties. This book program is TOTALLY FREE to participating children. Upon registering for the program, a child will receive a high quality, age-appropriate book delivered to his or her home each month until his or her fifth birthday. Children can sign up at any age as long as they are under five years old. For more details, visit http://www.unitedway4us.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library .
The goals for the Imagination Library include:
To help children foster a love of reading
To encourage family involvement
To enable every household to have books regardless of income level
And, ultimately, to better prepare children for entry into the school system Those who attend our event on May 29th will have the opportunity to learn more about this wonderful program, to discuss possible partnerships, volunteer opportunities and involvement, to network with other community-minded professionals, and to celebrate a great opportunity for young children on the Eastern Shore.
We are very pleased to have the opportunity to offer such a wonderful program to children in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester Counties. This book program is TOTALLY FREE to participating children. Upon registering for the program, a child will receive a high quality, age-appropriate book delivered to his or her home each month until his or her fifth birthday. Children can sign up at any age as long as they are under five years old. For more details, visit http://www.unitedway4us.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library .
The goals for the Imagination Library include:
To help children foster a love of reading
To encourage family involvement
To enable every household to have books regardless of income level
And, ultimately, to better prepare children for entry into the school system Those who attend our event on May 29th will have the opportunity to learn more about this wonderful program, to discuss possible partnerships, volunteer opportunities and involvement, to network with other community-minded professionals, and to celebrate a great opportunity for young children on the Eastern Shore.
Oysters Save Chesapeake, Taxes And You Can Eat Them Too
If you want to help clean up the Chesapeake Bay and you're fond of oysters, there's a program you should know about.
Buy a special float used to grow oysters on the water, and you can get all your money back in Maryland in the form of a state tax credit.
If you own a home on the water you can place the float under your dock and the growing oysters will naturally filter the water, improving its quality.
More
Buy a special float used to grow oysters on the water, and you can get all your money back in Maryland in the form of a state tax credit.
If you own a home on the water you can place the float under your dock and the growing oysters will naturally filter the water, improving its quality.
More
Obama And His Pot-Smoking ‘Choom Gang’
Unlike Bill Clinton, Barack Obama never tried to say he didn’t inhale.
In his 1995 memoir “Dreams of My Father,” Obama writes about smoking pot almost like Dr. Seuss wrote about eating green eggs and ham. As a high school kid, Obama wrote, he would smoke “in a white classmate’s sparkling new van,” he would smoke “in the dorm room of some brother” and he would smoke “on the beach with a couple of Hawaiian kids.”
He would smoke it here and there. He would smoke it anywhere.
Now a soon-to-be published biography by David Maraniss entitled “Barack Obama: The Story” gives more detail on Obama’s pot-smoking days, complete with testimonials from young Barry Obama’s high school buddies, a group that went by the name “the Choom Gang.” Choom was slang for smoking marijuana.
Maraniss portrays the teenage Obama as not just a pot smoker, but a pot-smoking innovator.
“As a member of the Choom Gang,” Maraniss writes, “Barry Obama was known for starting a few pot-smoking trends.”
More
In his 1995 memoir “Dreams of My Father,” Obama writes about smoking pot almost like Dr. Seuss wrote about eating green eggs and ham. As a high school kid, Obama wrote, he would smoke “in a white classmate’s sparkling new van,” he would smoke “in the dorm room of some brother” and he would smoke “on the beach with a couple of Hawaiian kids.”
He would smoke it here and there. He would smoke it anywhere.
Now a soon-to-be published biography by David Maraniss entitled “Barack Obama: The Story” gives more detail on Obama’s pot-smoking days, complete with testimonials from young Barry Obama’s high school buddies, a group that went by the name “the Choom Gang.” Choom was slang for smoking marijuana.
Maraniss portrays the teenage Obama as not just a pot smoker, but a pot-smoking innovator.
“As a member of the Choom Gang,” Maraniss writes, “Barry Obama was known for starting a few pot-smoking trends.”
More
Flash Mob Steals From Baltimore 7-Eleven; Beats Store Manager Who Tries To Stop Them
BALTIMORE (WJZ)– Another mob of juveniles causes problems in downtown Baltimore. This time, it happens inside a 7-Eleven where dozens of kids came for free Slurpees but ended up stealing much more.
Derek Valcourt reports.
The entire incident was caught on video. But city police and managers at the 7-Eleven have refused to let WJZ see that video. But there are plenty of people in that busy area of town who saw it all unfold.
More
Derek Valcourt reports.
The entire incident was caught on video. But city police and managers at the 7-Eleven have refused to let WJZ see that video. But there are plenty of people in that busy area of town who saw it all unfold.
More
PORN STARS: Bill Clinton ASKED To Take A Picture With Us
Brooklyn Lee and Tasha Reign, the porn stars who posed for a picture with Bill Clinton at a gala in Monaco last night, claim that the former president personally requested the now infamous photo.
The two adult film stars called into TMZ today and explained how the whole thing went down:
"He kind of was looking over at us once in a while, and we're huge, like psycho fans of Bill — we just think he's really cute," Lee said. "So we ended up wandering by and we were going to approach him to take a picture and his Secret Service sort of brushed us away."
"As we were walking away, Bill actually had the Secret Service guy call us back and take a picture."
You can listen to the whole call here. And just in case you missed it, here's the picture:
MorePosse in Hawaii: 'Shocking' News Coming
A letter from Hawaii’s Department of Health verifying Barack Obama’s birth in Honolulu has not only not
stopped Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Cold Case Posse work on the island, his
lead investigator reports it has actually “opened the door” to some
“shocking revelations” the posse is promising to disclose.
Among the details leaked early by Cold Case Posse lead investigator Mike Zullo: There are allegedly several stamps bearing Registrar Alvin Onaka’s name “floating around” inside the Hawaii Department of Health.
Zullo was interviewed via telephone from Hawaii by Tea Party Power Hour host Mark Gillar to discuss, among other things, a letter stamped with Onaka’s name and sent to Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett as verification of Obama’s Hawaiian birth.
More
Among the details leaked early by Cold Case Posse lead investigator Mike Zullo: There are allegedly several stamps bearing Registrar Alvin Onaka’s name “floating around” inside the Hawaii Department of Health.
Zullo was interviewed via telephone from Hawaii by Tea Party Power Hour host Mark Gillar to discuss, among other things, a letter stamped with Onaka’s name and sent to Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett as verification of Obama’s Hawaiian birth.
More
America's "Failed States"
CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS BRING GREEK-STYLE FISCAL TRAGEDY TO AMERICA
The Eurozone isn’t the only economy reeling from “failed states.” The United States has several of its own – most notably California and Illinois.
According to the CIA’s world factbook, California’s economy is the ninth largest in the world with a gross state product of $1.9 trillion. Illinois’ economy is the world’s 23rd largest economy with a gross state product of nearly $630 billion.
These are impressive figures, to be sure, but both states have seen their global position slip in recent years – and further erosion is likely thanks to poor fiscal stewardship and anti-competitive tax increases.
Both California and Illinois are hoping that tax hikes will bridge gaping deficits created by politicians’ failure to rein in government growth – including expanded entitlements and exorbitant public sector pensions.
Does any of this sound familiar? It should. This is precisely the sort of unchecked public sector growth that has landed Greece in its current predicament – a worsening crisis that has pushed the entire euro zone to the brink of collapse.
“Public payroll expenses (salaries and pensions of civil servants) rose in Greece from 38 percent of state revenue in 2000 to 55 percent in 2009,” reports Antonis Kamaris of the Council on Foreign Relations. “Compounding this trend, local elites became hostile to any coherent national reform effort, precisely to preserve the system that now privileged them.”
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The Eurozone isn’t the only economy reeling from “failed states.” The United States has several of its own – most notably California and Illinois.
According to the CIA’s world factbook, California’s economy is the ninth largest in the world with a gross state product of $1.9 trillion. Illinois’ economy is the world’s 23rd largest economy with a gross state product of nearly $630 billion.
These are impressive figures, to be sure, but both states have seen their global position slip in recent years – and further erosion is likely thanks to poor fiscal stewardship and anti-competitive tax increases.
Both California and Illinois are hoping that tax hikes will bridge gaping deficits created by politicians’ failure to rein in government growth – including expanded entitlements and exorbitant public sector pensions.
Does any of this sound familiar? It should. This is precisely the sort of unchecked public sector growth that has landed Greece in its current predicament – a worsening crisis that has pushed the entire euro zone to the brink of collapse.
“Public payroll expenses (salaries and pensions of civil servants) rose in Greece from 38 percent of state revenue in 2000 to 55 percent in 2009,” reports Antonis Kamaris of the Council on Foreign Relations. “Compounding this trend, local elites became hostile to any coherent national reform effort, precisely to preserve the system that now privileged them.”
More
These Charts Showing What People Are Searching On Google Are Worrisome
You can learn a lot about what‘s on people’s minds by knowing what information they are searching for on the Internet. So what are people all across the globe searching for in droves? “Bank run.”
The econ blog Zero Hedge explains why that’s potentially concerning:
The volume of searches for the phrase ‘Bank Run’ has just hit an all-time high – higher now than even during the peak of the Lehman Brothers ‘moment’. While English dominates the language choices, the Europeans (Dutch, Germans, and French) are extremely ‘interested’ as are the Chinese [...] . It seems the fears of real ‘bank runs’ are becoming virtually ‘viral’ – not a good sign for the stability of the fictional-reserve-banking-dependent status quo. [Emphasis theirs]
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The econ blog Zero Hedge explains why that’s potentially concerning:
The volume of searches for the phrase ‘Bank Run’ has just hit an all-time high – higher now than even during the peak of the Lehman Brothers ‘moment’. While English dominates the language choices, the Europeans (Dutch, Germans, and French) are extremely ‘interested’ as are the Chinese [...] . It seems the fears of real ‘bank runs’ are becoming virtually ‘viral’ – not a good sign for the stability of the fictional-reserve-banking-dependent status quo. [Emphasis theirs]
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** FREE **
First Time Homebuyers Seminar
Thursday June 7th from 6:30-7:30 P.M.
An informative hour with local guest speakers
who will cover the homebuying process from start to finish.
It's not as complicated as you think!
A "FREE" Kindle Fire will be given to one lucky guest.
Join us at Keller Williams Select Realtors
1409 South Salisbury Blvd. Suite C
Salsibury,MD ( between Cheers and Milford St on Rt13 S )
For More Information call 410-726-8829 or 410-430-5912
Thursday June 7th from 6:30-7:30 P.M.
An informative hour with local guest speakers
who will cover the homebuying process from start to finish.
It's not as complicated as you think!
A "FREE" Kindle Fire will be given to one lucky guest.
Join us at Keller Williams Select Realtors
1409 South Salisbury Blvd. Suite C
Salsibury,MD ( between Cheers and Milford St on Rt13 S )
For More Information call 410-726-8829 or 410-430-5912
Big Flag Unveiled On Beach
On Memorial Day afternoon, more than 250 people unfurled a giant American flag on the beach near Division Street.
The flag is 45,000 square feet and weighs 850 pounds, making it one of the largest ceremonial American flags in the country.
Mayor Rick Meehan told WBAL's Maryland's Morning News that the weather and plenty of free events have brought the crowds to the resort town for the weekend.
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BREAKING NEWS: Syrian Envoys Expelled In Protest Of Massacre
Several nations, including France, Germany, Britain and Australia, are expelling Syrian diplomats in protest of the massacre last Friday in Houla that left at least 108 dead, including 49 children and 34 women, the UN reports.
From Fox News
From Fox News
The Big Print Is Coming
We are discreet sheep; we wait to see how the drove is going, and then go with the drove. We have two opinions: one private, which we are afraid to express; and another one – the one we use – which we force ourselves to wear to please Mrs. Grundy, until habit makes us comfortable in it, and the custom of defending it presently makes us love it, adore it, and forget how pitifully we came by it. Look at it in politics.
- Mark Twain
Humanity’s most valuable assets have been the non-conformists. Were it not for the non-conformists, he who refuses to be satisfied to go along with the continuance of things as they are, and insists upon attempting to find new ways of bettering things, the world would have known little progress, indeed.
- Josiah William Gitt
The media I’ve had a lot to do with is lazy. We fed them and they ate it every day.
- Michael Deaver (Former top aide to President Reagan)
Has The Fed Waited Too Long?
Those that know me understand clear as crystal that I don’t approve of massive money printing. I think it is theft, plain and simple, and represents an egregiously deceptive manner of transferring wealth from the poor to the wealthy and from the productive to parasitic financial oligarchs. That being said, the world we live in is being led by a bunch of crooked banksters and the Central Planners that do their bidding. At the top of the Central Planning global ponzi pyramid, is our very own Federal Reserve, headed by master Keynesian magician, the Wizard of Eccles, Ben Bernanke. For the vast majority of 2012, the Federal Reserve has been playing a very, very dangerous game. This game has been to pretend that they will not be printing any more money in an attempt to get commodity prices down as low as possible before they proceed with the inevitable. While they have done this on a smaller scale many times in the past, this particular game of chicken has in my opinion gone dangerously wrong. You see, ever since the 2008 debacle the Fed has been quite aggressive and more or less “ahead of the curve” when it has come to feeding new liquidity into the system…until now.
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- Mark Twain
Humanity’s most valuable assets have been the non-conformists. Were it not for the non-conformists, he who refuses to be satisfied to go along with the continuance of things as they are, and insists upon attempting to find new ways of bettering things, the world would have known little progress, indeed.
- Josiah William Gitt
The media I’ve had a lot to do with is lazy. We fed them and they ate it every day.
- Michael Deaver (Former top aide to President Reagan)
Has The Fed Waited Too Long?
Those that know me understand clear as crystal that I don’t approve of massive money printing. I think it is theft, plain and simple, and represents an egregiously deceptive manner of transferring wealth from the poor to the wealthy and from the productive to parasitic financial oligarchs. That being said, the world we live in is being led by a bunch of crooked banksters and the Central Planners that do their bidding. At the top of the Central Planning global ponzi pyramid, is our very own Federal Reserve, headed by master Keynesian magician, the Wizard of Eccles, Ben Bernanke. For the vast majority of 2012, the Federal Reserve has been playing a very, very dangerous game. This game has been to pretend that they will not be printing any more money in an attempt to get commodity prices down as low as possible before they proceed with the inevitable. While they have done this on a smaller scale many times in the past, this particular game of chicken has in my opinion gone dangerously wrong. You see, ever since the 2008 debacle the Fed has been quite aggressive and more or less “ahead of the curve” when it has come to feeding new liquidity into the system…until now.
More
Gay-Marriage Foes to Submit Signatures
Organizers of a petition against Maryland’s same-sex-marriage law are
expected to submit their first batch of signatures to the state Board of Elections on Tuesday.
The Maryland Marriage Alliance, which is leading an effort to force a November referendum on the law, has until June 30 to submit 55,736 valid voter signatures to the state in order to have the law decided by a public vote on Election Day. At least one-third of those signatures - 18,579 - must be turned in by Thursday.
Many gay-marriage supporters and opponents say the law is likely to go to referendum. The legislation passed the General Assembly in February but is not scheduled to go into effect until January.
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The Maryland Marriage Alliance, which is leading an effort to force a November referendum on the law, has until June 30 to submit 55,736 valid voter signatures to the state in order to have the law decided by a public vote on Election Day. At least one-third of those signatures - 18,579 - must be turned in by Thursday.
Many gay-marriage supporters and opponents say the law is likely to go to referendum. The legislation passed the General Assembly in February but is not scheduled to go into effect until January.
More
SU WINS 10th NATIONAL TITLE IN MEN'S LAX
First, we take this opportunity to salute this year's SU men's lax team and Coach Berkman, who underwent an emergency medical procedure during the season, on another undefeated season and national championship.
And we congratulate the seven Sea Gulls named to this year's 1st All-American team: Matt Cannone, Erik Krum, Sam Bradman, Ryan Clarke, Tyler Granelli, Andrew Sellers and Dean Rossi. Cannone and Bradman had that honor last year, and Bradman was named to the 1st Team in 2010. as well.
If Bradman or Cannone is not named this year's national player of the year, it's got to be because the other was, thereby joining the seven former Sea Gulls who have received that honor. If Jim Berkman is named the national coach of the year it will be for the third time., and it should be.
And, in NCAA Division I the final game is today, at 1 PM, between Loyola, which beat Notre Dame in an all-Catholic college semi-final contest, and Maryland, which topped Duke in an all-ACC game, both held yesterday. That final will be on ESPN.
That game, like the one played yesterday, will show the viewer why lacrosse is the fastest growing organized team sport in the US.
*****
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – No. 1 Salisbury capped off the program's seventh undefeated season and 10th national championship on Sunday by defeating Cortland in the 2012 NCAA Division III title game, 14-10, at Gillette Stadium.
The team finished the season with a 23-0 record and ends the year riding a 30-game winning streak. Twenty-three wins matches the program record for most in a season and the national title is the 16th team title in Salisbury University history.
"We've had some pretty special teams at Salisbury," Head Coach Jim Berkman said. "I can honestly say that this team is right there with some of those other teams. When we talk about the best teams, this is definitely right there in the same breath."
Senior attackman Sam Bradman became the first Division III men's lacrosse player to win the Most Outstanding Player award in a National Championship game in back-to-back years. Bradman led the Sea Gulls with seven points on six goals and one assist in the game.
"I've loved big competition, big games ever since high school," Bradman said. "Getting into the big games, my intensity goes up, and I just like to give it my all."
Bradman and senior attackmen Matt Cannone and Lantz Carter led Salisbury to victory, completing the championship repeat. Cannone led the team with three assists and netted two goals for five points. Carter chipped in with four points on three goals and one assist.
Bradman put Salisbury on the board first with an unassisted goal just 29 seconds into the game. Two Cortland goals gave the Red Dragons the lead before Carter netted his first score to tie the game, 2-2.
Bradman scored his second with 16 seconds left in the first and the Gulls went into the second quarter tied with Cortland, 3-3.
Goals by Bradman and Cannone to start the second quarter gave Salisbury a 5-3 lead. After Cortland scored two to tie the game, senior midfielder Jeff McGuire and Carter netted scores to regain the two-goal lead. Carter's goal came with two seconds left, and Salisbury took the 7-5 lead into halftime.
The Sea Gull offense came to life in the second quarter to outshoot the Red Dragons 14-7. In the first half, Salisbury outshot Cortland 19-16, won 8 of 13 faceoffs and was successful on 6 of 7 clears.
Salisbury started the second half slowly, as the Red Dragons netted two quick scores in the first five minutes of the third quarter. However, two more goals from Bradman and a man-up score from senior attackman Erik Krum gave the Gulls a 10-9 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Salisbury held the lead despite being outscored 4-3 in the third period.
The Sea Gulls rebounded in the fourth quarter to outscore Cortland 4-1, and solidify the win. Bradman, Cannone, Carter and junior midfielder Ryan Clarke all scored in the quarter.
"We had a great senior class, 18 kids who contributed a great deal over a four-year period," Berkman said. "I'm very fortunate to be able to coach those 18 seniors."
Throughout its time at Salisbury University, the senior class has amassed a record of 81-7, made it to four NCAA tournaments, advanced to three National Championship games and won two national championships.