Facing yourself in the mirror of a changing room can be a tough experience in itself (bathing suit season, ugh — am I right, ladies?), but to find out that someone has been peeping on what you thought was a private clothes-changing session is extra uncool. Sears is being sued by about 25 people alleging a former maintenance man hid video cameras and taped women in one of its dressing rooms.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Obama To Cut Broadband Expense By Up To 90%
President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order today to cut the costs of building broadband by up to 90 percent. The White House said agencies would have to adopt a uniform approach for letting broadband carriers build networks on or through their properties. It singled out seven large departments, including Defense, Veterans Affairs and the Postal Service. It said they would have to post leasing information on their websites, and Performance.gov will track the progress of regional broadband projects. The cost savings would come when carriers time their construction activities to coincide with periods when streets are already under construction.
Racy E-Mail Messages
Racy emails are fueling a partisan battle over President Barack Obama's pick for Iraq envoy. Six Republican senators warned Obama to withdraw the nomination. They said Brett McGurk acted inappropriately while working at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad during the Bush administration. The emails revealed McGurk had an affair with a journalist and joked about giving her sensitive information. They have since married. The White House said it was sticking with McGurk, who has a long history working in Iraq. The current ambassador to Iraq, James Jeffrey, and two predecessors have endorsed him.
Panel Helps Postal Workers To Work Smarter
The president of the National Association of Letter Carriers has proposed a panel to help the Postal Service work smarter. Fredric Rolando told GovExec the panel would include agency stakeholders who would propose and vet ideas for new revenue streams. He said the panel would not resemble the commission proposed by House Republicans. He said current legislation doesn't do enough to explore new revenue streams, like partnerships with banks, pharmacies and other government services. NALC represents 200,000 mail carriers and has lost about a quarter of its employees in the last two years.
Juvenile Services Department Allots $8.5 Million For Out-Of-State Placements
The Juvenile Services Department’s so-called “Maryland model” aims to reduce reliance on out-of-state treatment facilities for youth sentenced in juvenile court but has set aside about $8.5 million to send less than a score of them to centers across the U.S. over the next three years. The Board of Public Works last week approved four contracts to send up to 18 youth, ages 6-20 years old, to residential treatment facilities (RTCs) in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida and Arkansas.
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Remembering Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech 25 years later
On June 12, 1987, in a dramatic speech set against the backdrop of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, President Ronald Reagan delivered a challenge to Soviet leader Mikahil Gorbachev: "General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
The speech, delivered about 100 yards from the Berlin Wall, marked Reagan's most prominent call for the reunification of East and West Berlin, and was considered a bold challenge to Gorbachev to prove he was serious about reforming Soviet governmental policies. Ultimately, it also signaled a hallmark moment in Reagan's presidency.
"The audience was exhilarated," says CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante, who covered the speech for CBS at the time. "And so were most of us who covered the event."
Sea Glass Becomes a Rare and Special Find
They can be found just about anywhere on the beach:
glittering jewel-like shards called sea glass.
To some they look like hunks of shiny junk, but in reality, they truly are special.
Author Richard LaMotte, a resident of Maryland's Eastern Shore, researched the origins of sea glass and wrote a book about the subject called "Pure Sea Glass." He says most sea glass comes from bottles.
"Bottle glass became disposable in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and so as these things were thrown out they would be thrown out in dumps next to bays or rivers, and they were broken into pieces. They'd be tumbled, let's say in the Chesapeake, for years. Decades. And as these get tumbled up, they actually turn into these shapes that people like to use in jewelry or other types of craft that really take a jewel-like patina and frosting to it."
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To some they look like hunks of shiny junk, but in reality, they truly are special.
Author Richard LaMotte, a resident of Maryland's Eastern Shore, researched the origins of sea glass and wrote a book about the subject called "Pure Sea Glass." He says most sea glass comes from bottles.
"Bottle glass became disposable in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and so as these things were thrown out they would be thrown out in dumps next to bays or rivers, and they were broken into pieces. They'd be tumbled, let's say in the Chesapeake, for years. Decades. And as these get tumbled up, they actually turn into these shapes that people like to use in jewelry or other types of craft that really take a jewel-like patina and frosting to it."
More
Old Gold? 10 Vinyl Records That Could Be Worth $1,000 Or More!
Pay attention to that box of old records at the yard sale. There may be a small fortune lurking among the dusty old recordings.
According to moneymusic.com’s Mighty John Marshall, there are at least ten vinyl records that could be worth $1,000 to $20,000 – depending on their condition and a few very specific factors.
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According to moneymusic.com’s Mighty John Marshall, there are at least ten vinyl records that could be worth $1,000 to $20,000 – depending on their condition and a few very specific factors.
More
History Repeating: Greek Neo-Nazi Party Threatens to Throw Immigrants and Their Children Out of Hospital, Into the Streets
As Greece’s political and economic future hangs in the balance, one
of the country’s contending political parties has vowed to raid
hospitals and kindergarten schools in order to remove immigrants and
their children “so that Greeks can take their place” if they are elected
into power.
Not surprisingly, this threat came from the country’s extremist Neo-Nazi party, Golden Dawn, during a campaign rally on Monday. And as they say, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
“If Chrysi Avgi [Golden Dawn] gets into parliament, it will carry out raids on hospitals and kindergartens and it will throw immigrants and their children out on the street so that Greeks can take their place,” Golden Dawn MP Ilias Panagiotaros said to thunderous applause, according to the Guardian.
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Not surprisingly, this threat came from the country’s extremist Neo-Nazi party, Golden Dawn, during a campaign rally on Monday. And as they say, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
“If Chrysi Avgi [Golden Dawn] gets into parliament, it will carry out raids on hospitals and kindergartens and it will throw immigrants and their children out on the street so that Greeks can take their place,” Golden Dawn MP Ilias Panagiotaros said to thunderous applause, according to the Guardian.
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Delaware State Police Issues Gold Alert
Gold Alert Subject:
Richard Barnes, 76, Seaford, DE (Photo Attached)
White male, 5’06” tall, 165 lbs, with gray hair and brown eyes.
Operating a red 1997 Saturn SL with a NY Yankees plate on front of car
Location Last Seen:
Residence in the unit block of Big Mill Branch Lane, Seaford, DE
Date Last Seen:
Thursday June 14, 2012 at approximately 5:00 a.m.
Resume:
Seaford, DE- The Delaware State Police have issued a Gold Alert for a missing Seaford, DE man.
Troopers are currently searching for Richard Barnes, 76. Barnes was last seen at approximately 5:00 a.m. this morning at his residence. Richard Barnes is described as a white male, 5’06” tall and 165 lbs with gray hair and brown eyes. He may be operating a red 1997 Saturn SL with a Delaware registration of 229595 and a NY Yankees style plate on the front of the car.
Richard Barnes’ medical condition is such that there is a real concern for his safety.
Troopers are asking anyone who may have any information as to the whereabouts of Richard Barnes to contact Troop 5 at 302-337-1090. Citizens may also provide a tip by texting keyword “DSP” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters may also provide information through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333. Callers can also submit information via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
US Anti-Doping Agency Charges Armstrong
For Lance Armstrong, the doping allegations aren't going away. In fact, they're starting all over again.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has filed formal charges against the seven-time Tour de France winner, threatening to strip him of his victories in the storied cycling race.
Armstrong, who forcefully denied the accusations, could face a lifetime ban from the sport if he is found to have used performance-enhancing drugs. The move by USADA immediately bans him from competing in triathlons, which he turned to after he retired from cycling last year.
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The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has filed formal charges against the seven-time Tour de France winner, threatening to strip him of his victories in the storied cycling race.
Armstrong, who forcefully denied the accusations, could face a lifetime ban from the sport if he is found to have used performance-enhancing drugs. The move by USADA immediately bans him from competing in triathlons, which he turned to after he retired from cycling last year.
More
Gallup: Obama's Base Cracks; Support Among Blacks Slips
Yesterday, Breitbart News reported a number of polls that showed troubling signs for Team Obama; union support is down nationwide and in the states of New York and North Carolina respectively, Jewish and black support has tumbled. According to a new poll released by Gallup, these polls are apparently not statistical noise. Serious cracks are starting to show in Obama's base:
IBD's Andrew Malcolm:
Gallup finds a deep crack in
Obama support emerging among whites, still statistically by far the
largest group of voters. His support among several white subgroups is
down 5% now among registered voters from what it was just before the
2008 election, when he easily defeated John McCain.
Wild Vid: 18-Month-Old Flung from SUV During High-Speed Police Chase…and Walks off Unharmed
When 17-year-old Kenny Shawn Jimenez robbed 19-year-old Chelsea
Betenbough at gunpoint in west Texas on Saturday, she rhetorically asked
him, “All that with a baby in the backseat?”
But witnessing the robbery was one of the calmer points of the night for the 18-month-old.
After a high-speed chase ensued and the getaway vehicle barrel rolled, the baby was flung from the window of the car and, miraculously, walked off with only a few scratches.
In police-cruiser video released Monday, the toddler can actually be seen popping right back up and going after the vehicle with her arms out, before a woman jumps out of the car and swoops her up. Reports indicate that Jimenez is her father.
More including video HERE
But witnessing the robbery was one of the calmer points of the night for the 18-month-old.
After a high-speed chase ensued and the getaway vehicle barrel rolled, the baby was flung from the window of the car and, miraculously, walked off with only a few scratches.
In police-cruiser video released Monday, the toddler can actually be seen popping right back up and going after the vehicle with her arms out, before a woman jumps out of the car and swoops her up. Reports indicate that Jimenez is her father.
More including video HERE
150 Christian Leaders Send Protest Letter Accusing Obama Admin of Creating ‘Two-Class Religious Scheme’
Christians leaders aren’t backing down on their pleas for the Obama
administration to further expand religious exemptions surrounding the
controversial contraceptive mandate.
The ongoing debate about religious freedom has been raging since the mandate was first announced in January, causing a massive rift between Obama and a plethora of religious leaders and congregants. In a June 11 letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, 149 faith leaders made their views on the matter known.
The letter, which can be read in full here, was assembled by Stanley Carlson-Thies who helped setup George W. Bush’s faith-based office. While numerous protestants were included in the pool of individuals signing on, no Catholic bishops joined in. As stated, the Catholic Church is pursuing its own lawsuits to help rectify the wrongs it sees inherent in the
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The ongoing debate about religious freedom has been raging since the mandate was first announced in January, causing a massive rift between Obama and a plethora of religious leaders and congregants. In a June 11 letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, 149 faith leaders made their views on the matter known.
The letter, which can be read in full here, was assembled by Stanley Carlson-Thies who helped setup George W. Bush’s faith-based office. While numerous protestants were included in the pool of individuals signing on, no Catholic bishops joined in. As stated, the Catholic Church is pursuing its own lawsuits to help rectify the wrongs it sees inherent in the
More
AFL-CIO To Cut Direct Funding to Democrats
After President Obama’s decision to avoid the Wisconsin recall election, undercutting desperate union members who wanted to oust Governor Scott Walker, the AFL-CIO has announced that it will take money away from political candidates and instead put it into “infrastructure and advocacy,” according to AFL-CIO spokesman Josh Goldstein. “There will be less contributions to candidates.”
That means that President Obama will receive less direct funding from the AFL-CIO than usual, but it doesn’t mean the AFL-CIO will be silent – it just means they’ll message independentlyof the Obama campaign. “This is not a slight at the president,” Goldstein said. The goal is to create a massive system that would give “different kinds of support to different candidates.” Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO, had said back in 2009 that the labor movement would be building its own campaign machinery.
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I THOUGHT OBAMACARE WAS GOING TO REDUCE HEALTHCARE COSTS
Health-Care Spending to Reach 20% of U.S. Economy by 2021
An aging population, improving economy and President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul will push spending on medical services to almost 20 percent of U.S. gross domestic product by 2021, the government projected.
Spending on hospital visits, medications and other health care rose an estimated 3.9 percent in 2011 and consumed about 17.9 percent of GDP, the same as the previous two years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said yesterday. The increases in such expenditures will continue to outpace economic growth projections, jumping 7.4 percent in 2014, when much of the insurance expansion created by the health law begins.
With a Supreme Court decision looming this month on the constitutionality of the health law, the Obama administration and Republican opponents have squabbled over whether the measure can trim medical spending while adding more than 30 million people to insurance rolls. The law would add 0.1 percentage point to average annual health spending through 2021, according to an analysis published in the journal Health Affairs.
“The real mystery is, what happens once we get past this projection period, when things have the real potential for spending going way out of control?” said Joe Antos, an adviser to the Congressional Budget Office who works as a health economist at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington- based research group that advocates for limited government.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a blog post that the law “is helping control health costs and expand coverage, and ensure
More
An aging population, improving economy and President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul will push spending on medical services to almost 20 percent of U.S. gross domestic product by 2021, the government projected.
Spending on hospital visits, medications and other health care rose an estimated 3.9 percent in 2011 and consumed about 17.9 percent of GDP, the same as the previous two years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said yesterday. The increases in such expenditures will continue to outpace economic growth projections, jumping 7.4 percent in 2014, when much of the insurance expansion created by the health law begins.
With a Supreme Court decision looming this month on the constitutionality of the health law, the Obama administration and Republican opponents have squabbled over whether the measure can trim medical spending while adding more than 30 million people to insurance rolls. The law would add 0.1 percentage point to average annual health spending through 2021, according to an analysis published in the journal Health Affairs.
“The real mystery is, what happens once we get past this projection period, when things have the real potential for spending going way out of control?” said Joe Antos, an adviser to the Congressional Budget Office who works as a health economist at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington- based research group that advocates for limited government.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a blog post that the law “is helping control health costs and expand coverage, and ensure
More
‘Real Journalists Are Apologists for Corrupt-ocracy’: Michelle Malkin Takes on Juan Williams in Tense Live TV Segment
Things got a little more heated than usual on tonight’s Hannity in a
debate between noted conservative blogger Michelle Malkin and liberal
Fox News contributor Juan Williams over the nature of the recent White
House leaks.
Williams had tried to argue that there was nothing particularly special about the leaks regarding national security currently emanating from the White House, claiming that every administration had done the same thing. Malkin fired back by raising the point that the liberal press had excoriated former President Bush over the leaks regarding CIA agent Valerie Plame, which were seen as an attack on the country’s intelligence community and, by extension, on national security.
Williams’ response was to pull rank on Malkin. “I’m a real reporter, I’m not a blogger out on the blogosphere,” Williams said dismissively, before launching into a lecture about how reporters talk to officials, something he apparently didn’t believe Malkin had any experience with.
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Williams had tried to argue that there was nothing particularly special about the leaks regarding national security currently emanating from the White House, claiming that every administration had done the same thing. Malkin fired back by raising the point that the liberal press had excoriated former President Bush over the leaks regarding CIA agent Valerie Plame, which were seen as an attack on the country’s intelligence community and, by extension, on national security.
Williams’ response was to pull rank on Malkin. “I’m a real reporter, I’m not a blogger out on the blogosphere,” Williams said dismissively, before launching into a lecture about how reporters talk to officials, something he apparently didn’t believe Malkin had any experience with.
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Onalaska Parents Say Sex Ed Is Too Racy For 5th Graders
ONALASKA, Wash. - You can tell Onalaska is old fashioned just by looking.
"We're in the country, we're small town, we like it that way,” said parent Kadra Gilliland.
But something at the elementary school last week has folks in this quiet town making noise.
"What gives this woman the right to come down here and go above our authority, is the way I look at it,” said parent Curt Pannkuk.
"I was one pissed off cowboy," said parent James Gilliland.
These parents are upset about a sex education class for the fifth graders last week.
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"We're in the country, we're small town, we like it that way,” said parent Kadra Gilliland.
But something at the elementary school last week has folks in this quiet town making noise.
"What gives this woman the right to come down here and go above our authority, is the way I look at it,” said parent Curt Pannkuk.
"I was one pissed off cowboy," said parent James Gilliland.
These parents are upset about a sex education class for the fifth graders last week.
More
Female Run Over By OC Tram
A female has been hit by the Boardwalk Tram and is being rushed to PRMC with serious injuries.
Ventura: Abolish Both Political Parties
Slams mainstream media as “hired guns to push an agenda”
Former Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura called for the abolition of the Democratic and Republican parties in an appearance last night on CNN, saying they are worse than violent warring street gangs.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Ventura did not hold back, urging that “We need to abolish the political parties,” and “Make them political action committees.”
As he does in his new book, the former Navy Seal compared the current two party US political system to the infamous Los Angeles street gangs the Bloods and Crips.
“They call the blue states Democrats, well that is also the colors of the Crips,” he explained. “Naturally, the Bloods’ color is red and the Republican states are called red states.”
“They’re worse,” Ventura continued. “Let me explain why they’re worse: The Crips and the Bloods, the street gangs, while they can be devastating to a certain small part of the population, the Democrips and the Rep-bloodicans, they affect everybody in this country.”
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Former Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura called for the abolition of the Democratic and Republican parties in an appearance last night on CNN, saying they are worse than violent warring street gangs.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Ventura did not hold back, urging that “We need to abolish the political parties,” and “Make them political action committees.”
As he does in his new book, the former Navy Seal compared the current two party US political system to the infamous Los Angeles street gangs the Bloods and Crips.
“They call the blue states Democrats, well that is also the colors of the Crips,” he explained. “Naturally, the Bloods’ color is red and the Republican states are called red states.”
“They’re worse,” Ventura continued. “Let me explain why they’re worse: The Crips and the Bloods, the street gangs, while they can be devastating to a certain small part of the population, the Democrips and the Rep-bloodicans, they affect everybody in this country.”
More
Is Legalizing Weed Obama's Secret Weapon?
In 2004 George W. Bush's re-election campaign worked to put anti-gay
marriage ballot initiatives up for vote in several swing states in order
to turn out more hard-core conservatives to the polls. This year the
question is whether marijuana legalization measures will turn out young
voters for Obama.
Bush's plan to use gay marriage bans -- in states that did not actually allow gay marriage -- as a turnout booster led to signs featuring icky public restroom symbols proliferated and liberal panic that the Christian right had taken over. The press obsessed over "values voters." One of Bush's aides, Ken Mehlman, who later came out as gay himself, has apologized for the strategy, two others say it didn't work.
This year there's another incumbent president with modest approval ratings who could turn out his base with controversial ballot measures. But this time, the issue features no biblical or scatological imagery. In 2012, voters in swing states will decide whether they'll allow their fellow citizens to bear joints. Unlike the gay marriage votes, there's no indication that Obama's re-election team is behind any of the pot legalization initiatives, but there are Democrats who are hoping that it will boost turnout among weed's biggest fans: young people.
More
Bush's plan to use gay marriage bans -- in states that did not actually allow gay marriage -- as a turnout booster led to signs featuring icky public restroom symbols proliferated and liberal panic that the Christian right had taken over. The press obsessed over "values voters." One of Bush's aides, Ken Mehlman, who later came out as gay himself, has apologized for the strategy, two others say it didn't work.
This year there's another incumbent president with modest approval ratings who could turn out his base with controversial ballot measures. But this time, the issue features no biblical or scatological imagery. In 2012, voters in swing states will decide whether they'll allow their fellow citizens to bear joints. Unlike the gay marriage votes, there's no indication that Obama's re-election team is behind any of the pot legalization initiatives, but there are Democrats who are hoping that it will boost turnout among weed's biggest fans: young people.
More
Will Heads Roll For The Stuxnet Leak?
Within days of SEAL Team Six's killing of Osama on that midnight mission in Pakistan, Defense Secretary Bob Gates, reading all about the raid in the press, went to the White House to tell President Obama's national security adviser pungently to "shut the (bleep) up."
Leaked secrets of that raid may have led to the imprisonment for 33 years of a Pakistani doctor who helped us locate bin Laden.
Yet, according to Judicial Watch, the White House has been providing Hollywood with details of the raid for a movie that will, we may be sure, heroize our commander in chief. More troubling are two recent stories in The New York Times.
One, by Jo Becker and Scott Shane, describes how, at meetings in the Situation Room, Obama examines "baseball cards" of al-Qaida targets in Pakistan and Yemen and decides on the "kill list" for drone strikes.
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Leaked secrets of that raid may have led to the imprisonment for 33 years of a Pakistani doctor who helped us locate bin Laden.
Yet, according to Judicial Watch, the White House has been providing Hollywood with details of the raid for a movie that will, we may be sure, heroize our commander in chief. More troubling are two recent stories in The New York Times.
One, by Jo Becker and Scott Shane, describes how, at meetings in the Situation Room, Obama examines "baseball cards" of al-Qaida targets in Pakistan and Yemen and decides on the "kill list" for drone strikes.
More
Harford County Ship Among 'Sailabration' Fleet
The Maryland Transportation Authority is warning motorists to
anticipate delays in Baltimore this week as an international maritime festival gets
under way.
The "Star-Spangled Sailabration" kicks off Wednesday and runs through Tuesday. The festival is part of the bicentennial commemoration of the War of 1812 and will feature more than 40 tall ships and navy ships of a dozen nations.
Organizers hope to attract more than 1 million people over the week.
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The "Star-Spangled Sailabration" kicks off Wednesday and runs through Tuesday. The festival is part of the bicentennial commemoration of the War of 1812 and will feature more than 40 tall ships and navy ships of a dozen nations.
Organizers hope to attract more than 1 million people over the week.
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TO FRANKENSTEIN'S CASTLE!!
When Will Enough Be Enough
When taxes become destructive they’ve surpassed the consent of the governed bending to the will of tyranny. When regulations strangle competition instead of securing it from evil combinations they’ve become counterproductive and defeat the very purpose for which they were proposed. When foreign entanglements bleed the nation but do not secure the peace or defeat the enemy they’ve become interventionist vehicles for vested interests. When spending becomes a hemorrhaging of assists leading to national bankruptcy those who continue to pile debtupon debt seek not the good of the nation but instead its destruction. When leaders selected to unite instead do all they can to divide they no longer advance the interest of the whole and are instead partisan leaders in a factional fight.A social contract is one made between a people and their government. It is an agreement whereby the people surrender certain aspects of their independence for the guarantee of corporate securityand the enjoyment of a general welfare. In the case of most countries this is an unwritten and unconscious arrangement built upon tradition and precedent as in the case of England. However in the United States we have an actual contract, the Constitution. This was ratified by the original states and the subsequent states were formed under it and admitted as full partners to it.
All contracts may be legitimately changed over time as long as there are mechanisms either within the document or established by the document to do so. Within our Constitution there is an amendment process and it has been amended 27 times so far. Whether we agree with those amendments or not they have been legally ratified and accepted becoming part of the document. However, over the years our government structure has been changed and our manner of life transformed more by the informal changes than by the formal. Nowhere in the Constitution is the central government given the power to wage unending undeclared war. Nowhere is the central government given the right to ignore the requirement to protect the states from invasion. Nowhere is there found any basis for executive orders, signing statements or bureaucratic regulations to have the force of law without legislative action by Congress.
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When taxes become destructive they’ve surpassed the consent of the governed bending to the will of tyranny. When regulations strangle competition instead of securing it from evil combinations they’ve become counterproductive and defeat the very purpose for which they were proposed. When foreign entanglements bleed the nation but do not secure the peace or defeat the enemy they’ve become interventionist vehicles for vested interests. When spending becomes a hemorrhaging of assists leading to national bankruptcy those who continue to pile debtupon debt seek not the good of the nation but instead its destruction. When leaders selected to unite instead do all they can to divide they no longer advance the interest of the whole and are instead partisan leaders in a factional fight.A social contract is one made between a people and their government. It is an agreement whereby the people surrender certain aspects of their independence for the guarantee of corporate securityand the enjoyment of a general welfare. In the case of most countries this is an unwritten and unconscious arrangement built upon tradition and precedent as in the case of England. However in the United States we have an actual contract, the Constitution. This was ratified by the original states and the subsequent states were formed under it and admitted as full partners to it.
All contracts may be legitimately changed over time as long as there are mechanisms either within the document or established by the document to do so. Within our Constitution there is an amendment process and it has been amended 27 times so far. Whether we agree with those amendments or not they have been legally ratified and accepted becoming part of the document. However, over the years our government structure has been changed and our manner of life transformed more by the informal changes than by the formal. Nowhere in the Constitution is the central government given the power to wage unending undeclared war. Nowhere is the central government given the right to ignore the requirement to protect the states from invasion. Nowhere is there found any basis for executive orders, signing statements or bureaucratic regulations to have the force of law without legislative action by Congress.
More
Media Scorched for Pathetic Obama Coverage
“The media doesn’t report this stuff and they think as a result nobody knows about it,” Limbaugh said today on his top-rated program.
“They continue to live in a state of denial, that there is an alternative media that is just as penetrating. They can pretend that by not covering a story, the story doesn’t happen. They can pretend by not covering a story, or not condemning an action, that nobody hears about it.”
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Hard Data On The Death Of The American Middle Class
Here is a good, brief article from the NY Times demonstrating the death of the middle class in America using new Federal Reserve data. Not that we need the Fed to tell us about the destruction of the economic and social fabric of the nation, after all, it is their policies that are most responsible for the damage. Perhaps the most telling line in the article is: “the survey illuminates problems that continue to slow the pace of the economic recovery.” Hmmmm let’s think about that. The middle class of a nation is being driven into the ground and we are calling it a “recovery.” We need to start to develop new criteria on what constitutes an economic recovery. Call me crazy but when the crony capitalist oligarchs steal from the productive middle class via government contacts and then use the same government to pay off the poor with food stamps that’s not recovery…it’s theft.
Key Quotes:
The recent economic crisis left the median American family in 2010 with no more wealth than in the early 1990s, erasing almost two decades of accumulated prosperity, the Federal Reserve said Monday.
The Fed found that middle-class families had sustained the largest percentage losses in both wealth and income during the crisis, limiting their ability and willingness to spend.
More
Key Quotes:
The recent economic crisis left the median American family in 2010 with no more wealth than in the early 1990s, erasing almost two decades of accumulated prosperity, the Federal Reserve said Monday.
The Fed found that middle-class families had sustained the largest percentage losses in both wealth and income during the crisis, limiting their ability and willingness to spend.
More
NUGENT: Attracting the Latino Vote
Due to ever-shifting demographics, Americans of Latin descent are
being courted by both the Republican and Democratic parties. The party
that wins their support will be in the political driver’s seat come
November. The Democrats currently own that seat.
In the 2008 presidential election, the Obama-Biden team won the Latino vote by more than a 2-to-1 margin over McCain-Palin.
President Obama currently has a commanding lead over former Gov. Mitt Romney in Latino support. There is little doubt the president will spend millions of dollars trying to ensure that support does not erode before the November election, especially in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.
The first order of business for Mr. Romney should be to let Latinos know that the GOP wants all people to succeed to the very best of their abilities, unencumbered by the heavy and draconian foot of Fedzillacrats who believe they know what is best for people.
More
In the 2008 presidential election, the Obama-Biden team won the Latino vote by more than a 2-to-1 margin over McCain-Palin.
President Obama currently has a commanding lead over former Gov. Mitt Romney in Latino support. There is little doubt the president will spend millions of dollars trying to ensure that support does not erode before the November election, especially in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.
The first order of business for Mr. Romney should be to let Latinos know that the GOP wants all people to succeed to the very best of their abilities, unencumbered by the heavy and draconian foot of Fedzillacrats who believe they know what is best for people.
More
Colonel Robert M. Coupe Announces State Police Promotions
Colonel Robert M. Coupe Announces State Police Promotions
Location:
Wilmington University, Dover, DE
DATE and TIME:
Friday, June 15, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.
Promotees:
FROM SERGEANT TO LIEUTENANT
Roger M. Davis (Headquarters-State Bureau of Identification)
FROM CORPORAL TO SERGEANT
Joseph M. Gardner (Troop 2- Patrol)
Bruce W. Harris (Headquarters- Human Resources)
Joseph D. Rose (Troop 3-Patrol)
Resume:
Dover- On Friday, June 15, Colonel Robert M. Coupe, Superintendant of the Delaware State Police, will announce the division’s most recent promotions. The promotional ceremony will be held at Wilmington University in Dover, DE and begin at 9:00 a.m.
Notable dignitaries scheduled to make remarks include Attorney General Beau Biden, Cabinet Secretary Lewis D. Schiliro, and Colonel Robert Coupe.
Surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, 4 Delaware State Troopers will be promoted to their new ranks.
Location:
Wilmington University, Dover, DE
DATE and TIME:
Friday, June 15, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.
Promotees:
FROM SERGEANT TO LIEUTENANT
Roger M. Davis (Headquarters-State Bureau of Identification)
FROM CORPORAL TO SERGEANT
Joseph M. Gardner (Troop 2- Patrol)
Bruce W. Harris (Headquarters- Human Resources)
Joseph D. Rose (Troop 3-Patrol)
Resume:
Dover- On Friday, June 15, Colonel Robert M. Coupe, Superintendant of the Delaware State Police, will announce the division’s most recent promotions. The promotional ceremony will be held at Wilmington University in Dover, DE and begin at 9:00 a.m.
Notable dignitaries scheduled to make remarks include Attorney General Beau Biden, Cabinet Secretary Lewis D. Schiliro, and Colonel Robert Coupe.
Surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, 4 Delaware State Troopers will be promoted to their new ranks.
Court Of Appeals Allows DREAM Act Vote
Less than 24 hours
after hearing arguments, the Maryland Court of Appeals has ruled a
referendum vote on Maryland's DREAM Act can move forward in November.
A one page ruling was issued this morning from Maryland's highest court affirming an Anne Arundel County Circuit Court decision allowing the vote.
The DREAM Act, which was passed last year by the Maryland legislature, requires that community colleges offer their lowest tuition rate to undocumented immigrants, if they can prove residency in the county where the college is located.
More
A one page ruling was issued this morning from Maryland's highest court affirming an Anne Arundel County Circuit Court decision allowing the vote.
The DREAM Act, which was passed last year by the Maryland legislature, requires that community colleges offer their lowest tuition rate to undocumented immigrants, if they can prove residency in the county where the college is located.
More
O'Malley: Well-Positioned for Job Growth
On Tuesday, the Chamber of Commerce came out with a list of States seen growing and creating jobs. Maryland was named as one of the top states in the nation. Here’s what they had to say about us in the Enterprising States 2012 report:
“Maryland continues to focus on developing technology jobs, building on its national leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship. The state’s new Invest Maryland initiative raised $84 million of venture capital in 2012 by the online auction of tax credits to insurance companies, exceeding its goal of $70 million-75 million. The new funds will be split between private investment firms and the state’s Maryland Venture Fund to make investments in promising tech-based startups. State profits on investments will be directed into the venture fund to support future investments or be placed into the state’s general fund.
In addition to seeking new sources of venture capital for growing tech firms, Maryland also continues to offer a variety of tax credits focused on supporting job creation in technology-based sectors. These include a biotechnology tax credit of up to 50% for qualified investments in Maryland-based companies and a research and development tax credit.
While it is strong in innovative research and development activity, Maryland has identified commercialization of innovations developed in the state as an area in need of more focus. The state’s new Innovate Maryland initiative, adopted by the 2012 General Assembly, is designed to build a technology transfer partnership between state agencies, federal labs, and several of the state’s universities. Led by the state’s successful Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), the new initiative will provide grants to university-based researchers developing technologies with commercial potential, supporting the creation of new innovation-based companies and jobs in the state.
Governor Martin O’Malley has also emphasized government reform as part of his job-creation strategy. In 2011, he launched a “Job Creation Through Regulatory Reform” initiative, focused on conducting an intensive, two-month review of state rules and regulations. Each agency in government was directed to find ways to streamline regulation and better interact with the private sector. The process led to the identification of 131 regulations for repeal or revision. The state launched the Maryland Made Easy initiative to ease business interaction with government agencies. The project includes creation of a one-stop website to access licensing and permitting resources, expedited state review of development proposals, and reforms of permitting processes to increase efficiency and reduce barriers for business.
Maryland is among the nation’s leading states for STEM job concentration. The state is home to a strong concentration of technology-based industries, which have helped Maryland become a center for academic and private-sector research and development.”
“Maryland continues to focus on developing technology jobs, building on its national leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship. The state’s new Invest Maryland initiative raised $84 million of venture capital in 2012 by the online auction of tax credits to insurance companies, exceeding its goal of $70 million-75 million. The new funds will be split between private investment firms and the state’s Maryland Venture Fund to make investments in promising tech-based startups. State profits on investments will be directed into the venture fund to support future investments or be placed into the state’s general fund.
In addition to seeking new sources of venture capital for growing tech firms, Maryland also continues to offer a variety of tax credits focused on supporting job creation in technology-based sectors. These include a biotechnology tax credit of up to 50% for qualified investments in Maryland-based companies and a research and development tax credit.
While it is strong in innovative research and development activity, Maryland has identified commercialization of innovations developed in the state as an area in need of more focus. The state’s new Innovate Maryland initiative, adopted by the 2012 General Assembly, is designed to build a technology transfer partnership between state agencies, federal labs, and several of the state’s universities. Led by the state’s successful Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), the new initiative will provide grants to university-based researchers developing technologies with commercial potential, supporting the creation of new innovation-based companies and jobs in the state.
Governor Martin O’Malley has also emphasized government reform as part of his job-creation strategy. In 2011, he launched a “Job Creation Through Regulatory Reform” initiative, focused on conducting an intensive, two-month review of state rules and regulations. Each agency in government was directed to find ways to streamline regulation and better interact with the private sector. The process led to the identification of 131 regulations for repeal or revision. The state launched the Maryland Made Easy initiative to ease business interaction with government agencies. The project includes creation of a one-stop website to access licensing and permitting resources, expedited state review of development proposals, and reforms of permitting processes to increase efficiency and reduce barriers for business.
Maryland is among the nation’s leading states for STEM job concentration. The state is home to a strong concentration of technology-based industries, which have helped Maryland become a center for academic and private-sector research and development.”
Maryland Spending Growth Highest In Region
Annapolis, MD - A report issued yesterday underscores again dramatic spending growth in Maryland, where the budget has increased more than any other state on the eastern seaboard and the mid-Atlantic region. Nationally, the rate of growth is higher than all but five other states, according to the non-partisan National Governor's Association which compares state general fund budgets from fiscal years 2011 to 2013.
"What happens when you increase spending by more than most other states and you pass 24 tax and fee hikes? You end up having the biggest job loss in the nation," said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan, referring to the latest U.S. Department of Labor report which showed Maryland leading the nation in lost jobs.
The report, issued twice a year by the National Governor's Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers, details budget levels among the fifty states. Taking into account the last two years and the next fiscal year's budget, Maryland's 15.5% growth contradicts numbers the O'Malley Administration pointed to just six months ago. At that time the spending increase was 11.4% between fiscal years 2011 and 2012, which the Administration tried to dismiss due to expiring federal stimulus dollars.
An O'Malley Administration spokesperson said in November that, "Maryland has increased general fund spending more slowly over the last two years than most of our neighbors."
"Once again, the Administration is making it up as they go," said Hogan. This is just like the fictional $8 billion in 'cuts' the Administration claims to have made. Fortunately, a non-partisan organization, of which the Governor is a member, provides some much-needed facts."
The total operating budget has grown from $28.8 billion in 2007 to $35.5 billion today. The general fund accounts for discretionary spending funded by state tax dollars.
The report adjusts budget numbers with each issue based on estimated versus actual spending. The average budget growth among all states from 2011 to 2013 is 5.5%.
"What happens when you increase spending by more than most other states and you pass 24 tax and fee hikes? You end up having the biggest job loss in the nation," said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan, referring to the latest U.S. Department of Labor report which showed Maryland leading the nation in lost jobs.
The report, issued twice a year by the National Governor's Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers, details budget levels among the fifty states. Taking into account the last two years and the next fiscal year's budget, Maryland's 15.5% growth contradicts numbers the O'Malley Administration pointed to just six months ago. At that time the spending increase was 11.4% between fiscal years 2011 and 2012, which the Administration tried to dismiss due to expiring federal stimulus dollars.
An O'Malley Administration spokesperson said in November that, "Maryland has increased general fund spending more slowly over the last two years than most of our neighbors."
"Once again, the Administration is making it up as they go," said Hogan. This is just like the fictional $8 billion in 'cuts' the Administration claims to have made. Fortunately, a non-partisan organization, of which the Governor is a member, provides some much-needed facts."
The total operating budget has grown from $28.8 billion in 2007 to $35.5 billion today. The general fund accounts for discretionary spending funded by state tax dollars.
The report adjusts budget numbers with each issue based on estimated versus actual spending. The average budget growth among all states from 2011 to 2013 is 5.5%.
Club For Growth To Track Spending Cut Votes With New Scorecard
Club for Growth President Chris Chocola: “It is good news that Congress is finally talking about spending cuts, but our review of voting records show that we have a long way to go if we’re going to achieve smaller government.”
Washington, DC – The Club for Growth today launched a new Spending Cut Scorecard designed for members of the public and Club Members to track how members of the House of Representatives are voting on amendments to cut spending from the FY13 appropriations bills. In the past, the Club for Growth tracked amendments to cut earmarks from appropriations bills, but recently noticed that many House members who ran on promises to cut spending have abandoned their pledges to do so.
The Club will include clean spending cut amendments and will update the Spending Cut Scorecard following the passage of every appropriations bill. To view the new Spending Cut Scorecard, click here: www.ClubForGrowth.org/SpendingCutScorecard
Thus far, interesting statistics from the Spending Cut Scorecard include:
· 20 members of the House have voted for every amendment to cut spending. All are Republicans.
· 50 members of the House have voted against every amendment to cut spending. 49 are Democrats. One is a Republican (Bonner).
· The average Republican voted for spending cuts 59% of the time. Republican Freshman are only slightly better at 60%.
· The average Democrat voted for spending cuts 6% of the time.
· The nine Republicans, including four freshmen, who have least often voted to cut spending are: Bonner 0%, Meehan 4%, LaTourette 4%, Bass 4%, Simpson 4%, Lucas 4%, King, P. 4%, Grimm 4%, and Dold 4%
· The eight Democrats who have most often voted to cut spending are: Matheson 32%, Rush 31%, Kucinich 30%, Polis 28%, Cooper 20%, McIntyre 17%, Velazquez 17%, and Honda 17%
“It is good news that Congress is finally talking about spending cuts, but our review of voting records show that we have a long way to go if we’re going to achieve smaller government,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “It’s important that Americans hold their members of Congress accountable for their votes and the Club for Growth intends to continue to make it easy for them to do so.”
“The Club continues to be disappointed, in particular, by the big spenders in the Republican Party. With a $16 trillion debt, voting to keep discretionary spending in appropriations bills is simply kicking hard choices into the future and passing the buck to future generations. House Leadership is clearly not pushing its conference to vote for spending cuts offered on the floor,” added Chocola.
Washington, DC – The Club for Growth today launched a new Spending Cut Scorecard designed for members of the public and Club Members to track how members of the House of Representatives are voting on amendments to cut spending from the FY13 appropriations bills. In the past, the Club for Growth tracked amendments to cut earmarks from appropriations bills, but recently noticed that many House members who ran on promises to cut spending have abandoned their pledges to do so.
The Club will include clean spending cut amendments and will update the Spending Cut Scorecard following the passage of every appropriations bill. To view the new Spending Cut Scorecard, click here: www.ClubForGrowth.org/SpendingCutScorecard
Thus far, interesting statistics from the Spending Cut Scorecard include:
· 20 members of the House have voted for every amendment to cut spending. All are Republicans.
· 50 members of the House have voted against every amendment to cut spending. 49 are Democrats. One is a Republican (Bonner).
· The average Republican voted for spending cuts 59% of the time. Republican Freshman are only slightly better at 60%.
· The average Democrat voted for spending cuts 6% of the time.
· The nine Republicans, including four freshmen, who have least often voted to cut spending are: Bonner 0%, Meehan 4%, LaTourette 4%, Bass 4%, Simpson 4%, Lucas 4%, King, P. 4%, Grimm 4%, and Dold 4%
· The eight Democrats who have most often voted to cut spending are: Matheson 32%, Rush 31%, Kucinich 30%, Polis 28%, Cooper 20%, McIntyre 17%, Velazquez 17%, and Honda 17%
“It is good news that Congress is finally talking about spending cuts, but our review of voting records show that we have a long way to go if we’re going to achieve smaller government,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “It’s important that Americans hold their members of Congress accountable for their votes and the Club for Growth intends to continue to make it easy for them to do so.”
“The Club continues to be disappointed, in particular, by the big spenders in the Republican Party. With a $16 trillion debt, voting to keep discretionary spending in appropriations bills is simply kicking hard choices into the future and passing the buck to future generations. House Leadership is clearly not pushing its conference to vote for spending cuts offered on the floor,” added Chocola.
DOJ Official to Become U. of Baltimore Law Dean
A Department of Justice official will become the new dean of the
University of Baltimore School of Law.
The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs Ronald Weich will be leaving to take the position.
According to a Department of Justice biography Weich previously served as chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and counsel to former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and the late Massachusetts senator Edward M. Kennedy. He was nominated to his Department of Justice post in 2009.
More
The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs Ronald Weich will be leaving to take the position.
According to a Department of Justice biography Weich previously served as chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and counsel to former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and the late Massachusetts senator Edward M. Kennedy. He was nominated to his Department of Justice post in 2009.
More
MAP OF THE USA PUZZLE
Wonder how a high school senior would do on this one? See how you do in placing the states of the United States of America . All you do is look at the top of the page and drag'n'drop the state to where it belongs.
[Smart map, varies the order of the states' placement with each new try!]
It isn't easy mostly because placing a state in the precise location when it as yet has no boundaries in place is a bit tricky! No half credit for close but over a tad...
[Smart map, varies the order of the states' placement with each new try!]
It isn't easy mostly because placing a state in the precise location when it as yet has no boundaries in place is a bit tricky! No half credit for close but over a tad...
No New Trial For John Edwards
Justice Department announces it will not re-try John Edwards after a mistrial on five of six counts of corruption.
A Simple Explanation
* Democrats don't understand THE DEBT CEILING
* Republicans don't understand THE DEBT CEILING
* Liberals don't understand THE DEBT CEILING
* NO ONE understands THE DEBT CEILING
* Republicans don't understand THE DEBT CEILING
* Liberals don't understand THE DEBT CEILING
* NO ONE understands THE DEBT CEILING
SO - Allow me to explain.
Let's say you come home from work and find there has been a sewer backup in your neighborhood.
Your home has sewage all the way up to your ceilings.
What do you think you should do? Raise the ceilings or pump out the crap?
Your choice is coming in November. Don't miss the opportunity.
House GOP Blocking Abortion Access For Raped Soldiers
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) wants to expand access to abortion for servicewomen who are raped. Only a few Republicans are willing to help.
Republican Senators John McCain, Scott Brown, and Susan Collins all support an effort by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, to expand abortion access for military women who are raped. But despite bipartisan support in the Senate, Shaheen's proposal may not make it into the final version of the 2013 defense authorization bill—because House Republicans oppose it.
If Shaheen's measure passes, military families will finally have the same access to abortion that other federal employees already receive. Unlike the rest of the federal government, the Department of Defense currently only provides abortion coverage if the life of the mother is at stake. Under current law, if a State Department employee is raped, her government health insurance plan will pay for an abortion if she wants one. But if an Army medic serving in Afghanistan is raped and becomes pregnant, she can't use her military health plan to pay for an abortion. If she does decide to get an abortion, she will have to pay for it with her own money. And if she can't prove she was raped—which is difficult before an investigation is completed—she may have to look for services off base, which can be dangerous or impossible in many parts of the world.
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Republican Senators John McCain, Scott Brown, and Susan Collins all support an effort by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, to expand abortion access for military women who are raped. But despite bipartisan support in the Senate, Shaheen's proposal may not make it into the final version of the 2013 defense authorization bill—because House Republicans oppose it.
If Shaheen's measure passes, military families will finally have the same access to abortion that other federal employees already receive. Unlike the rest of the federal government, the Department of Defense currently only provides abortion coverage if the life of the mother is at stake. Under current law, if a State Department employee is raped, her government health insurance plan will pay for an abortion if she wants one. But if an Army medic serving in Afghanistan is raped and becomes pregnant, she can't use her military health plan to pay for an abortion. If she does decide to get an abortion, she will have to pay for it with her own money. And if she can't prove she was raped—which is difficult before an investigation is completed—she may have to look for services off base, which can be dangerous or impossible in many parts of the world.
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BRILLIANT!!
Brilliant in its Simplicity................
A) Back off and let those men who want to marry men, marry men.
B) Allow those women who want to marry women, marry women.
C) Allow those folks who want to abort their babies, abort their babies.
D) In three generations, there will be no Democrats.
I love it when a good plan comes together
A) Back off and let those men who want to marry men, marry men.
B) Allow those women who want to marry women, marry women.
C) Allow those folks who want to abort their babies, abort their babies.
D) In three generations, there will be no Democrats.
I love it when a good plan comes together
Mayor Ireton Sends In Troops For 3rd Friday
The Downtown Plaza has seen city workers working diligently on the Plaza for the last two days. They removed all of the plants in the planters and replaced them with new ones, again. As usual the Plaza gets shut down each time. Don't knock the workers. They are just doing what they are told.
A Different Kind Of Robbery
The police state is not only here — it is being welcomed with open arms.
Exhibit A: In Aurora, Colorado, police searching for suspected bank robbers locked down an entire intersection, dragooned 40 random motorists out of their cars at gunpoint, handcuffed them and “asked” for permission to search their vehicles. (See here for the ABC News story.)
Naturally, no one refused permission.
The action itself is startling: 40 people, guilty of nothing more than proximity, of being in the same general area where a suspected criminal might also be, are literally pulled from their vehicles, shackled and detained for more than two hours — even after it was obvious they were guilty of no crime at all.
Even more startling, however, than these over-the-top tactics is the fact that (apparently) every one of these 40 innocent people complied without a peep of protest. Not one said: “I’m sorry officer, but unless I’ve committed a crime I’d like to be free to go about my business.” Not one said, ” I do not consent to any searches.”
None put up a fuss when the cuffs came out.
More
Exhibit A: In Aurora, Colorado, police searching for suspected bank robbers locked down an entire intersection, dragooned 40 random motorists out of their cars at gunpoint, handcuffed them and “asked” for permission to search their vehicles. (See here for the ABC News story.)
Naturally, no one refused permission.
The action itself is startling: 40 people, guilty of nothing more than proximity, of being in the same general area where a suspected criminal might also be, are literally pulled from their vehicles, shackled and detained for more than two hours — even after it was obvious they were guilty of no crime at all.
Even more startling, however, than these over-the-top tactics is the fact that (apparently) every one of these 40 innocent people complied without a peep of protest. Not one said: “I’m sorry officer, but unless I’ve committed a crime I’d like to be free to go about my business.” Not one said, ” I do not consent to any searches.”
None put up a fuss when the cuffs came out.
More
Michigan House Passes Sweeping Abortion Bill
The Michigan State House of Representatives passed one part of a
massive, three-bill omnibus package on Wednesday that would restrict
access to abortions and heavily regulate clinics that provide them.
The bill would impose new insurance and licensing requirements on abortion clinics that bill opponents said could force them to close. It also would regulate the disposal of fetal remains, require some physicians who perform abortions to carry $1 million in liability insurance, ban the use of teleconferences to prescribe abortion medication, and force doctors to screen women for coercion before providing abortions.
More
The bill would impose new insurance and licensing requirements on abortion clinics that bill opponents said could force them to close. It also would regulate the disposal of fetal remains, require some physicians who perform abortions to carry $1 million in liability insurance, ban the use of teleconferences to prescribe abortion medication, and force doctors to screen women for coercion before providing abortions.
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Who’s Lying? Obama Or The Times?
Both can’t be telling the truth. One is lying.
The New York Times says that the national security leaks that exposed our cyber-war against Iran and how our drone strikes against terrorists operate came from “aides” to the president and “members of the president’s national security team who were in the [White House Situation Room]” during key discussions and current American officials involved with the program who spoke anonymously because “the effort remains highly classified.” The author of one of the Times stories, David Sanger, writes that some of his sources would be fired for divulging classified material to him.
Obama’s Administration Press Secretary Jay Carney calls the charges “grossly irresponsible” and attacks Senator John McCain (R-AZ) for making them.
They can’t both be right.
My money is on the New York Times.
More
The New York Times says that the national security leaks that exposed our cyber-war against Iran and how our drone strikes against terrorists operate came from “aides” to the president and “members of the president’s national security team who were in the [White House Situation Room]” during key discussions and current American officials involved with the program who spoke anonymously because “the effort remains highly classified.” The author of one of the Times stories, David Sanger, writes that some of his sources would be fired for divulging classified material to him.
Obama’s Administration Press Secretary Jay Carney calls the charges “grossly irresponsible” and attacks Senator John McCain (R-AZ) for making them.
They can’t both be right.
My money is on the New York Times.
More
Ex-Cop Found Guilty Of Rape; He Blamed Zoloft For His Actions
The jury deliberating the fate of a former Westminster police detective accused of raping a waitress has rejected a controversial "Zoloft defense," finding the defendant guilty of all seven charges.
The jury of eight women and four men began deliberations late Tuesday and reached the verdict Wednesday morning. It found the defendant, Anthony Nicholas Orban, a Marine veteran of the Iraq War, guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of forced oral copulation, two of sexual penetration with a foreign object, one count of making a criminal threat, and a sentence enhancement of using a firearm in commission of a kidnapping.
Orban faces a sanity hearing before sentencing.
More
The jury of eight women and four men began deliberations late Tuesday and reached the verdict Wednesday morning. It found the defendant, Anthony Nicholas Orban, a Marine veteran of the Iraq War, guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of forced oral copulation, two of sexual penetration with a foreign object, one count of making a criminal threat, and a sentence enhancement of using a firearm in commission of a kidnapping.
Orban faces a sanity hearing before sentencing.
More
Shoot Your Daughter’s Pimp, Receive A Get Out Of Jail Free Card
A San Francisco couple whose teenage daughter was allegedly being pimped by a Southern California man tracked him around the state, failing at one attempt to kill him before shooting him to death near Candlestick Park, authorities said Wednesday.
Attorneys for the couple say that they tried everything to rescue their daughter from Calvin Sneed, a 22-year-old alleged gang member from Compton (Los Angeles County), but that they didn’t kill him.
Prosecutors, however, say that when Barry Gilton and his longtime girlfriend, Lupe Mercado, couldn’t get their 17-year-old daughter back through legitimate means, they turned to premeditated murder.
Gilton, 38, and Mercado, 37, appeared in court Wednesday on murder and other charges for allegedly shooting Sneed in the Bayview neighborhood in the early hours of June 4.
The couple have been together since middle school and live with their three other children in San Francisco. Their daughter disappeared some time ago and after searching for her, Gilton and Mercado discovered that she was turning tricks and that Sneed was her pimp, their attorneys said.
“They had gone out to local police agencies, agencies in Southern California – they had even tried talking to national organizations,” said Eric Safire, Gilton’s attorney. “Every place they turned to turned them away.”
More
Attorneys for the couple say that they tried everything to rescue their daughter from Calvin Sneed, a 22-year-old alleged gang member from Compton (Los Angeles County), but that they didn’t kill him.
Prosecutors, however, say that when Barry Gilton and his longtime girlfriend, Lupe Mercado, couldn’t get their 17-year-old daughter back through legitimate means, they turned to premeditated murder.
Gilton, 38, and Mercado, 37, appeared in court Wednesday on murder and other charges for allegedly shooting Sneed in the Bayview neighborhood in the early hours of June 4.
The couple have been together since middle school and live with their three other children in San Francisco. Their daughter disappeared some time ago and after searching for her, Gilton and Mercado discovered that she was turning tricks and that Sneed was her pimp, their attorneys said.
“They had gone out to local police agencies, agencies in Southern California – they had even tried talking to national organizations,” said Eric Safire, Gilton’s attorney. “Every place they turned to turned them away.”
More
Cities Dangle Carrot To Students: Move Here & We'll Pay Off Your Debt
What's a great way to get a young, thriving community to pop up in your town and revitalize an area? A little gentle monetary incentive, in the form of offers to pay off student loan debt for young residents moving into the town. Niagara Falls, N.Y. is just one such town trying to entice fresh-faced professionals to move in by paying off part of their debts.
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NJ Supreme Court: HOA Can't Tell You To Remove Political Signs From House
As you may have heard, it's a presidential election year, which means homeowners associations all around the country will be removing — and fining people for — political signs placed in residents' front yards and windows. But the people of New Jersey are now free to announce their favorite candidates without fear of reprisal.
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Bath Salt Abuse Edging into D.C. Region
"Bath salts" have been linked to several bizarre criminal attacks
in recent months and authorities say problems with the chemical concoction are
edging into the D.C. region.
The nation was shocked last month when a homeless man's face was eaten alongside a busy Miami Highway by a man authorities speculate was under the influence of the stimulant drug known as bath salts.
Months before, media reports circulated that a 21-year-old Louisiana man cut his own throat and shot himself under the influence of the drug. And in Maine, authorities say a woman under the influence thought her teeth were filled with ticks and attempted to cut them out.
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The nation was shocked last month when a homeless man's face was eaten alongside a busy Miami Highway by a man authorities speculate was under the influence of the stimulant drug known as bath salts.
Months before, media reports circulated that a 21-year-old Louisiana man cut his own throat and shot himself under the influence of the drug. And in Maine, authorities say a woman under the influence thought her teeth were filled with ticks and attempted to cut them out.
More
Pittsville Elementary Loaded With Temporary Buildings
This was the scene yesterday as I drove past Pittsville Elementary.
FREE CAR SEAT CHECK THIS FRIDAY
WHO:
Safe Kids Lower Shore Maryland, Walmart
WHAT:
FREE CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK.
Have a certified child safety seat technician inspect your child’s safety seat for free!
WHEN:
Friday, June 15, 2012
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Walmart
409 N. Fruitland Blvd.
Fruitland, Maryland
WHY:
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under. Each year, more than 1,700 children die and an additional 265,000 are injured as occupants of motor vehicles. Among children who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2000, 56% were completely unrestrained.
Safe Kids Lower Shore Maryland, Walmart
WHAT:
FREE CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK.
Have a certified child safety seat technician inspect your child’s safety seat for free!
WHEN:
Friday, June 15, 2012
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Walmart
409 N. Fruitland Blvd.
Fruitland, Maryland
WHY:
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under. Each year, more than 1,700 children die and an additional 265,000 are injured as occupants of motor vehicles. Among children who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2000, 56% were completely unrestrained.
DOJ Reportedly Investigating Cable Companies For Squashing Online Competition
The Justice Department is reportedly engaged in an anti-trust investigation into many areas where the cable TV industry might be acting inappropriately to try and quell competition from online video. Many consumers want to pick and choose what they watch, using services like Hulu and Netflix, whereas cable companies would like them to continue to pay for bundles of TV channels, even some they might not watch.
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Islamically Correct Counterterrorism
The Department of Justice and the FBI
are revising their counterterrorism training material to remove
“inaccurate and biased information” at the direction of Attorney General
Eric H. Holder Jr. and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller. The Department of Homeland Security,
which uses the most funding for counterterrorism training, recently
issued new guidelines on “countering violent extremism.” Why the sudden
need for drastic change?
On Nov. 15, 2011, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) National launched a coordinated campaign across the country, with its various chapters requesting records from local, state and federal agencies on their use of taxpayer dollars to fund “Islamophobic training.” The campaign involves 87 filings for records requests across 15 cities nationwide.
CAIR-Michigan’s civil rights director claims CAIR wants these records to ensure that law enforcement is using trainers who provide “objective and unbiased information” to protect Americans from “violent extremists.” CAIR expressed particular concern that tax dollars are being “wasted” on “agenda-driven, inaccurate, or Islamophobic” training and materials.
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On Nov. 15, 2011, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) National launched a coordinated campaign across the country, with its various chapters requesting records from local, state and federal agencies on their use of taxpayer dollars to fund “Islamophobic training.” The campaign involves 87 filings for records requests across 15 cities nationwide.
CAIR-Michigan’s civil rights director claims CAIR wants these records to ensure that law enforcement is using trainers who provide “objective and unbiased information” to protect Americans from “violent extremists.” CAIR expressed particular concern that tax dollars are being “wasted” on “agenda-driven, inaccurate, or Islamophobic” training and materials.
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“Rock The Run” At Alapocas Run State Park This Weekend
WILMINGTON – Visitors can explore the world of rock climbing at Alapocas Run State Park’s “Ready to Rock the Run” event on Saturday, June 16th from 3 to 5 p.m. This free event will allow visitors to discover the sport of outdoor rock climbing, sign up for climbing classes or a climbing camp (if spaces are still available), and see some great climbing demonstrations, courtesy of event partners Eastern Mountain Sports and The Delaware Rock Gym. Parking for the event is available at the Bancroft Mills parking lot on Bancroft Mills Road.
In addition to its rock climbing area, Alapocas Run State Park features the Can-Do Playground, the historic Blue Ball Barn, and a multi-use trail that connects to the Northern Delaware Greenway. The park is open from 8 a.m. until sunset, year-round. For more information on the park, or for directions to the Alapocas Run State Park Rock Climbing Wall, please visit destateparks.com, or call the Wilmington State Parks office at 302-577-7020 or Alapocas Run State Park at 302-577-1164.
In addition to its rock climbing area, Alapocas Run State Park features the Can-Do Playground, the historic Blue Ball Barn, and a multi-use trail that connects to the Northern Delaware Greenway. The park is open from 8 a.m. until sunset, year-round. For more information on the park, or for directions to the Alapocas Run State Park Rock Climbing Wall, please visit destateparks.com, or call the Wilmington State Parks office at 302-577-7020 or Alapocas Run State Park at 302-577-1164.
DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Seeking Great Shots Of Young Delaware Anglers For 2012 Photo Contest
DOVER – Have you taken a great photo of a young angler in action? If so, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife invites you to enter the 2012 Delaware Fishing Photo Contest. The winning photo will be featured on the cover or inside of the 2013 Delaware Fishing Guide to be published next spring.
“After the success of last year’s contest, we are hoping that once again photographers from all over the state will share some of their best images with us, so we can share them with the fishing public,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director David Saveikis. “This year, we are reminding photographers that summer is a great time to catch young anglers – the next generation of conservationists – in action as they carry on Delaware’s fishing traditions.”
The contest is open to Delaware residents of all ages, with a maximum of three entries per person. To be eligible, photographs must depict youth participating in fishing activities and must have been taken in Delaware. Adults may be included in the photo, such as a parent or grandparent fishing with a child.
A judging panel comprised of DNREC staff and professional photographers will be looking for photos that best portray this year’s contest theme, “Carrying on the Tradition.” Judges also will be looking at technical criteria including resolution, clarity and composition.
The contest opened on April 1. Entries may be mailed to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, Attention: Amanda Belford, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. All entries must be postmarked or delivered by Saturday, Sept. 15, and must include a completed and signed entry form and photo release form. Information and forms are available on the Division’s website at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Pages/FWphoto_contest.aspx and the Fish and Wildlife Facebook page (search Delaware Fish & Wildlife), or may be requested by calling Amanda Belford at 302-739-9911, or email amanda.belford@state.de.us.
Photos must be 8 x 10 paper prints, with no frames or mats and no markings or signatures on the front or back. Normal processing of RAW image files, minimal cropping and minor adjustments to color and contrast are acceptable. HDR and focus stacking are permitted as long as manipulation is disclosed upon entry. Nothing should be added to the image or, aside from dust spots, taken away. The entrant must hold all rights to the photograph and must not infringe on the rights of any other person. Images that involve unlawful harm to fish or damage to the environment should not be submitted and will not be accepted. Entries will not be returned.
The Division’s 2012 Hunting Photo Contest will accept entries from Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012 to Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, with similar guidelines.
“After the success of last year’s contest, we are hoping that once again photographers from all over the state will share some of their best images with us, so we can share them with the fishing public,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director David Saveikis. “This year, we are reminding photographers that summer is a great time to catch young anglers – the next generation of conservationists – in action as they carry on Delaware’s fishing traditions.”
The contest is open to Delaware residents of all ages, with a maximum of three entries per person. To be eligible, photographs must depict youth participating in fishing activities and must have been taken in Delaware. Adults may be included in the photo, such as a parent or grandparent fishing with a child.
A judging panel comprised of DNREC staff and professional photographers will be looking for photos that best portray this year’s contest theme, “Carrying on the Tradition.” Judges also will be looking at technical criteria including resolution, clarity and composition.
The contest opened on April 1. Entries may be mailed to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, Attention: Amanda Belford, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901. All entries must be postmarked or delivered by Saturday, Sept. 15, and must include a completed and signed entry form and photo release form. Information and forms are available on the Division’s website at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Pages/FWphoto_contest.aspx and the Fish and Wildlife Facebook page (search Delaware Fish & Wildlife), or may be requested by calling Amanda Belford at 302-739-9911, or email amanda.belford@state.de.us.
Photos must be 8 x 10 paper prints, with no frames or mats and no markings or signatures on the front or back. Normal processing of RAW image files, minimal cropping and minor adjustments to color and contrast are acceptable. HDR and focus stacking are permitted as long as manipulation is disclosed upon entry. Nothing should be added to the image or, aside from dust spots, taken away. The entrant must hold all rights to the photograph and must not infringe on the rights of any other person. Images that involve unlawful harm to fish or damage to the environment should not be submitted and will not be accepted. Entries will not be returned.
The Division’s 2012 Hunting Photo Contest will accept entries from Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012 to Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, with similar guidelines.
Killens Pond Water Park to Host “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™” Event
On Thursday, June 14, Killens Pond Water Park will be a host location for the “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™,” a global effort designed to raise awareness and encourage education for drowning prevention. Aquatic facilities around the world participate in this event, holding simultaneous swim lessons at 11:00 a.m. in an effort to break the Guinness World Record for largest simultaneous swimming lesson conducted. The 2012 “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™” will endeavor to beat their own Guinness World Record from 2011, when over 20,000 individuals participated in the international event.
Registration for the “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™” at Killens Pond Water Park will begin at 10:30 a.m. on June 14. Lessons will start promptly at 11:00 a.m. and last for 45 minutes. Normal entrance fees apply for the park, and participants are welcome to stay at the water park after the event. For more information, call 302-284-4526.
Registration for the “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™” at Killens Pond Water Park will begin at 10:30 a.m. on June 14. Lessons will start promptly at 11:00 a.m. and last for 45 minutes. Normal entrance fees apply for the park, and participants are welcome to stay at the water park after the event. For more information, call 302-284-4526.
Maryland Campaign Donation Loophole Targeted
Maryland officials say they are drawing closer to closing a
campaign-finance loophole that has allowed owners of limited liability
companies to give millions in extra donations to state political
candidates.
The state’s Commission to Study Campaign Finance Law met for two days this week to discuss possible legislation to tighten the state’s relatively loose campaign-finance laws, and members acknowledged the loophole is one of the most pressing matters before them.
Under Maryland law, individuals and corporations can give no more than $4,000 to a political candidate and $10,000 total during an election cycle.
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The state’s Commission to Study Campaign Finance Law met for two days this week to discuss possible legislation to tighten the state’s relatively loose campaign-finance laws, and members acknowledged the loophole is one of the most pressing matters before them.
Under Maryland law, individuals and corporations can give no more than $4,000 to a political candidate and $10,000 total during an election cycle.
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Women's Wine 6/26/12
SOBO'S
Women's Wine
1st Course
Golden Beet Salad
LaLande Sauvignon Blanc
2nd Course
Mahi-Mahi
Domaine Manciat Macon Charnay
3rd Course
Warm Crostini
Domaine De La Petite Cassagne Rouge
4th Course
Lemon Tart
Hummingbird
1st Course
Golden Beet Salad
LaLande Sauvignon Blanc
2nd Course
Mahi-Mahi
Domaine Manciat Macon Charnay
3rd Course
Warm Crostini
Domaine De La Petite Cassagne Rouge
4th Course
Lemon Tart
Hummingbird
Sobo's Wine Beerstro 410-219-1117 Tuesday June 26th
Rt 50 Shut Down In Both Directions Again
Rt. 50 is shut down in both directions just east of Easton. It is unknown why but if we get an update we'll let you know.
UPDATE: 4 or 5 car accident. One car flipped upside down.
UPDATE: 4 or 5 car accident. One car flipped upside down.
"OPERATION BORDER TO BORDER, COORDINATED FOUR STATE ENFORCEMENT AIMS TO REDUCE CRASHES ON 400 MILES OF US ROUTE 15
(FREDERICK, MD) – Four state police agencies will engage in “Operation Border to Border,” a coordinated traffic safety enforcement initiative targeting approximately 400 miles of U.S. Route 15, a heavily-traveled thoroughfare for summer vacationers and for those attempting to avoid congested interstates serving all four states.
Just as schools let out for the summer on Friday, June 15, 2012, state troopers from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina will carry out ‘Operation Border to Border’ to prevent traffic crashes along the length of U.S. Route 15, which extends through all four jurisdictions. State Police from each of the four agencies will work together, conducting saturation patrols, sobriety check points and other enforcement initiatives to reduce traffic crashes and combat criminal behavior along this major non-interstate highway. The initiative runs June 15, 2012, through Sunday, June 17, 2012.
Three of the participating agencies, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, will be hosting a press event to kickoff this first-of-its-kind safety project on Thursday, June 14, 2012:
Date: Thursday, June 14, 2012
Time: 2:00 p.m. Remarks and Photo Opp
Location: Maryland State Police Barrack B/Frederick – 110 E. Airport Drive, Frederick, MD 21701
(Driving directions area available online through the Maryland State Police site at http://www.mdsp.org/Organization/FieldOperationsBureau/Barracks/BarrackBFrederick.aspx)
Just as schools let out for the summer on Friday, June 15, 2012, state troopers from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina will carry out ‘Operation Border to Border’ to prevent traffic crashes along the length of U.S. Route 15, which extends through all four jurisdictions. State Police from each of the four agencies will work together, conducting saturation patrols, sobriety check points and other enforcement initiatives to reduce traffic crashes and combat criminal behavior along this major non-interstate highway. The initiative runs June 15, 2012, through Sunday, June 17, 2012.
Three of the participating agencies, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, will be hosting a press event to kickoff this first-of-its-kind safety project on Thursday, June 14, 2012:
Date: Thursday, June 14, 2012
Time: 2:00 p.m. Remarks and Photo Opp
Location: Maryland State Police Barrack B/Frederick – 110 E. Airport Drive, Frederick, MD 21701
(Driving directions area available online through the Maryland State Police site at http://www.mdsp.org/Organization/FieldOperationsBureau/Barracks/BarrackBFrederick.aspx)
Whose Broad Stripes And Bright Stars
Today is Flag Day – June 14.
I hope you will take a few minutes to read these comments by President Ronald Reagan taken from a radio address to the nation on Flag Day, which also fell during Father's Day week, June 14, 1986.
We are a blessed nation, indeed. I could not have expressed my feelings towards Flag Day and Father’s Day any better than Reagan does here. After all, Reagan is known as “The Great Communicator.” His comments about the War of 1812, Baltimore and Ft. McHenry could not be more appropriate this week considering the Sailabration going on right here in Maryland commemorating the War of 1812.
God Bless,
Andy Harris
“Today we celebrate Flag Day, the birthday of our Stars and Stripes. As we think back over the history of our nation's flag, we remember that the story of its early years was often one of hardship and trials, sometimes a fight for simple survival.
Such is the story behind our Star-Spangled Banner. It was 2 years into the War of 1812, and America seemed to be teetering on the edge of defeat. The British had already taken our Capital and burned the White House. Baltimore was the next target in a grand design to divide our forces and crush this newly independent nation of upstart colonies. All that stood between the British and Baltimore were the guns of Fort McHenry, blocking their entry into Baltimore Harbor.
The British bombardment lasted for 25 hours. Through the dark hours of the night, the rockets fired and the bombs exploded. And a young American patriot named Key, held captive aboard a British ship, watched anxiously for some proof, some sign, that liberty would prevail. You can imagine his joy when the next morning, in the dawn's early light, he looked out and saw the banner still flying—a little tattered and torn, but still flying proudly above the ramparts. Fort McHenry and the brave men manning it had withstood the assault. Baltimore was saved. The United States, this great experiment in human freedom, as George Washington described it, would endure.
Thinking back to those times, one realizes that our democracy is so strong because it was forged in the fires of adversity. In those dark days of the war, it must have been easy to give in to despair. But our forefathers were motivated by a cause beyond themselves. From the harsh winter of Valley Forge to the blazing night above Fort McHenry, those patriot soldiers were sustained by the ideals of human freedom. Through the hardships and the setbacks, they kept their eyes on that ideal and purpose, just as through the smoke of battle they kept a lookout for the flag. For with the birth of our nation, the cause of human freedom had become forever tied to that flag and its survival.
As the American Republic grew and prospered and new stars were added to the flag, the ideal of freedom grew and prospered. From the rolling hills of Kentucky to the shores of California to the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon, our pioneers carried our flag before them, a symbol of the indomitable spirit of a free people. And let us never forget that in honoring our flag, we honor the American men and women who have courageously fought and died for it over the last 200 years, patriots who set an ideal above any consideration of self. Our flag flies free today because of their sacrifice.
And I hope you all will join Nancy and me and millions of other Americans at 7 o'clock this evening, eastern daylight time, when we pause a few minutes to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Though separated by many miles, we will be together in our thoughts. These anniversaries remind us that the great American experiment in freedom and democracy has really just begun. They remind us of the terrible hardships our forefathers willingly endured for their beliefs. And they challenge us to match that greatness of spirit in our own time, and I know we will. We are, after all, the land of the free and the home of the brave.
If we ask ourselves what has held our nation together, what has given it the strength to endure and the spirit to achieve, we find the answer in our families and those basic family values of work, hope, charity, faith, and love. So, it's appropriate that this year Father's Day falls on the same weekend as Flag Day, for in commemorating fatherhood, we're also expressing a basic truth about America. What does fatherhood mean today in America? I guess the same as it always has.
Fatherhood can sometimes be walking the floor at midnight with a baby that can't sleep. More likely, fatherhood is repairing a bicycle wheel for the umpteenth time, knowing that it won't last the afternoon. Fatherhood is guiding a youth through the wilderness of adolescence toward adulthood. Fatherhood is holding tight when all seems to be falling apart; and it's letting go when it is time to part. Fatherhood is long hours at the blast furnace or in the fields, behind the wheel or in front of a computer screen, working a 12-hour shift or doing a 6-month tour of duty. It's giving one's all, from the break of day to its end, on the job, in the house, but most of all in the heart.
Now, if you are thinking, "Look who's talking—he's a father himself." Well, that's right, but on today I think we could all remember—this weekend, at least—that every father is also a son. So, on this day for fathers, we, too, say thanks to America's dads—for the labor and legacy of our families and our freedoms.
Until next week, thanks for listening, and God bless you.”
Ronald Reagan
I hope you will take a few minutes to read these comments by President Ronald Reagan taken from a radio address to the nation on Flag Day, which also fell during Father's Day week, June 14, 1986.
We are a blessed nation, indeed. I could not have expressed my feelings towards Flag Day and Father’s Day any better than Reagan does here. After all, Reagan is known as “The Great Communicator.” His comments about the War of 1812, Baltimore and Ft. McHenry could not be more appropriate this week considering the Sailabration going on right here in Maryland commemorating the War of 1812.
God Bless,
Andy Harris
“Today we celebrate Flag Day, the birthday of our Stars and Stripes. As we think back over the history of our nation's flag, we remember that the story of its early years was often one of hardship and trials, sometimes a fight for simple survival.
Such is the story behind our Star-Spangled Banner. It was 2 years into the War of 1812, and America seemed to be teetering on the edge of defeat. The British had already taken our Capital and burned the White House. Baltimore was the next target in a grand design to divide our forces and crush this newly independent nation of upstart colonies. All that stood between the British and Baltimore were the guns of Fort McHenry, blocking their entry into Baltimore Harbor.
The British bombardment lasted for 25 hours. Through the dark hours of the night, the rockets fired and the bombs exploded. And a young American patriot named Key, held captive aboard a British ship, watched anxiously for some proof, some sign, that liberty would prevail. You can imagine his joy when the next morning, in the dawn's early light, he looked out and saw the banner still flying—a little tattered and torn, but still flying proudly above the ramparts. Fort McHenry and the brave men manning it had withstood the assault. Baltimore was saved. The United States, this great experiment in human freedom, as George Washington described it, would endure.
Thinking back to those times, one realizes that our democracy is so strong because it was forged in the fires of adversity. In those dark days of the war, it must have been easy to give in to despair. But our forefathers were motivated by a cause beyond themselves. From the harsh winter of Valley Forge to the blazing night above Fort McHenry, those patriot soldiers were sustained by the ideals of human freedom. Through the hardships and the setbacks, they kept their eyes on that ideal and purpose, just as through the smoke of battle they kept a lookout for the flag. For with the birth of our nation, the cause of human freedom had become forever tied to that flag and its survival.
As the American Republic grew and prospered and new stars were added to the flag, the ideal of freedom grew and prospered. From the rolling hills of Kentucky to the shores of California to the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon, our pioneers carried our flag before them, a symbol of the indomitable spirit of a free people. And let us never forget that in honoring our flag, we honor the American men and women who have courageously fought and died for it over the last 200 years, patriots who set an ideal above any consideration of self. Our flag flies free today because of their sacrifice.
And I hope you all will join Nancy and me and millions of other Americans at 7 o'clock this evening, eastern daylight time, when we pause a few minutes to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Though separated by many miles, we will be together in our thoughts. These anniversaries remind us that the great American experiment in freedom and democracy has really just begun. They remind us of the terrible hardships our forefathers willingly endured for their beliefs. And they challenge us to match that greatness of spirit in our own time, and I know we will. We are, after all, the land of the free and the home of the brave.
If we ask ourselves what has held our nation together, what has given it the strength to endure and the spirit to achieve, we find the answer in our families and those basic family values of work, hope, charity, faith, and love. So, it's appropriate that this year Father's Day falls on the same weekend as Flag Day, for in commemorating fatherhood, we're also expressing a basic truth about America. What does fatherhood mean today in America? I guess the same as it always has.
Fatherhood can sometimes be walking the floor at midnight with a baby that can't sleep. More likely, fatherhood is repairing a bicycle wheel for the umpteenth time, knowing that it won't last the afternoon. Fatherhood is guiding a youth through the wilderness of adolescence toward adulthood. Fatherhood is holding tight when all seems to be falling apart; and it's letting go when it is time to part. Fatherhood is long hours at the blast furnace or in the fields, behind the wheel or in front of a computer screen, working a 12-hour shift or doing a 6-month tour of duty. It's giving one's all, from the break of day to its end, on the job, in the house, but most of all in the heart.
Now, if you are thinking, "Look who's talking—he's a father himself." Well, that's right, but on today I think we could all remember—this weekend, at least—that every father is also a son. So, on this day for fathers, we, too, say thanks to America's dads—for the labor and legacy of our families and our freedoms.
Until next week, thanks for listening, and God bless you.”
Ronald Reagan
EDITORIAL: Operation Flagpole
Thursday is Flag Day,
a time to pay special tribute to the American flag and to the ideals
and freedoms it symbolizes. While most Americans can freely display Old
Glory, a few still run into small-minded opponents who don’t understand
what our banner is all about.
In April, the Reverend Review blog reported on a case in Holmdel, N.J., in which homeowner William Lang was forced to remove two small flags he had placed at the entrance to his home to honor his daughter and grandson, who had died during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A representative of the Grace Wood Glen Community Homeowners Association removed the flags and told Mr. Lang, “You are not allowed to fly these flags. No ornaments are allowed on the property.” Mr. Lang responded, “The American Flag is not an ornament.” The association was unmoved.
Fox News Radio reported on 75-year-old Dawn Paulus, of Phillipsburg, N.J., who was ordered to remove some small flags from the balcony of her public-housing unit. She was informed there was a safety issue (the hand-held-sized flags might fall) and that there was an issue of fairness under the housing authority’s interpretation of the Fair Housing Act. “If I hung the American flag up and someone hung a Nazi flag up, they couldn’t tell them to take the Nazi flag down and still let me fly the American flag,” she said she was told. Mrs. Paulus was threatened with eviction.
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In April, the Reverend Review blog reported on a case in Holmdel, N.J., in which homeowner William Lang was forced to remove two small flags he had placed at the entrance to his home to honor his daughter and grandson, who had died during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A representative of the Grace Wood Glen Community Homeowners Association removed the flags and told Mr. Lang, “You are not allowed to fly these flags. No ornaments are allowed on the property.” Mr. Lang responded, “The American Flag is not an ornament.” The association was unmoved.
Fox News Radio reported on 75-year-old Dawn Paulus, of Phillipsburg, N.J., who was ordered to remove some small flags from the balcony of her public-housing unit. She was informed there was a safety issue (the hand-held-sized flags might fall) and that there was an issue of fairness under the housing authority’s interpretation of the Fair Housing Act. “If I hung the American flag up and someone hung a Nazi flag up, they couldn’t tell them to take the Nazi flag down and still let me fly the American flag,” she said she was told. Mrs. Paulus was threatened with eviction.
More
Labor Launches a Campaign To Register 500,000 New Union Voters, And More
Montreal. “A vision of free, publicly accessible post secondary education has strong roots in Quebec where the concept of universal access to education is often seen as comparable to socialized health care. This common value is the result of the massive overhaul of post secondary education in the 1960′s when, after mass student protests, the government created nine new university campuses and a free college system that was intended to open up higher education to those not part of the political and economic elite or clergy who then dominated Quebec. While tuition was initially justified to help cover the costs of the expanding campuses, students believed it would be eventually phased out.” “4170 estimated number of arrests made in Quebec since February as a result of the protests.” “We can not punish or arrest people for offenses they have not yet committed or are about to commit. Democracy requires that we take risks and that the police power should be strictly controlled.” Pearl clutching: Eugène Delacroix parody poster sold by Quebec rock band found in arrested Québec Solidaire MNA Amir Khadir’s home, shows Charest dead at feet of the Bananarchiste (Banane Rebelle guidant le peuple). Yves Bolduc, Quebec Health Minister: “There are always subliminal messages MR SUBLIMINAL Banane! Banane! put forward through paintings like this. For certain vulnerable people, this can be a danger.” Be sure not to keep any political cartoons in your house! Red Square: “The idea is to show up at Émilie Gamelin Park with $10 and receive a tattoo of the carré rouge on your chest. The event is called “Tatoo-O-thon de carrés rouges.” From the Facebook event: “They would like us to remove (our red squares). That is why we will put them on our chest in permanently. Imagine hundreds of people getting red squares tattooed on the chest at the same time, all in the same evening. A monumental ‘FUCK YOU’ to the authorities who would like to see (the squares) disappear.” Silent majority: “Will it be the PQ or the Liberals in the next elections? ‘It will either be the street and referendums or democracy and the economy,’ affirms Jean Charest. Under the pretext of this demagogic principle, the government is allowing a situation to fester to the point where it could deteriorate into a major social crisis. If serious events occur, the Premier will demonize civil disobedience, violence, chaos, vandals and all supporters of opposition movements.”
Minister of Culture, Communications, and the Status of Women, Mrs. Christine St-Pierre responds to Fred Pellerin, the red-square toting storyteller, who turned down the National Order of Québec. “St-Pierre’s public affirmation that there is a link between the red square and violence sends the loud and clear message that all those who have spoken out against the tuition hikes are potentially behind the universally condemned actions that have taken place at certain protests. The government is effectively saying that all those who wear the square could even be responsible. It charges anyone who wears the red square of guilt-by-association with the few that have committed some reprehensible acts. It also says that violent incidents are more than just the actions of a fraction of those present.”
CO. “According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about one-third of Weld County is in a drought condition and the rest is considered to be abnormally dry. Overall, all of CO is at least ‘abnormally dry’ and three-quarters of the state has some level of drought. ”
FL. “FL Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has worked to outlaw manmade narcotic ‘bath salts’ since shortly after she took office, said she is ready to add more chemicals to the list of banned substances, including ‘Spice’ and other synthetic drugs sold at gas stations and specialty shops.” Sold at gas stations?
ME. Of Angus King, I: “If it’s a 50-49 Senate, he becomes a very powerful person,”
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Minister of Culture, Communications, and the Status of Women, Mrs. Christine St-Pierre responds to Fred Pellerin, the red-square toting storyteller, who turned down the National Order of Québec. “St-Pierre’s public affirmation that there is a link between the red square and violence sends the loud and clear message that all those who have spoken out against the tuition hikes are potentially behind the universally condemned actions that have taken place at certain protests. The government is effectively saying that all those who wear the square could even be responsible. It charges anyone who wears the red square of guilt-by-association with the few that have committed some reprehensible acts. It also says that violent incidents are more than just the actions of a fraction of those present.”
CO. “According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about one-third of Weld County is in a drought condition and the rest is considered to be abnormally dry. Overall, all of CO is at least ‘abnormally dry’ and three-quarters of the state has some level of drought. ”
FL. “FL Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has worked to outlaw manmade narcotic ‘bath salts’ since shortly after she took office, said she is ready to add more chemicals to the list of banned substances, including ‘Spice’ and other synthetic drugs sold at gas stations and specialty shops.” Sold at gas stations?
ME. Of Angus King, I: “If it’s a 50-49 Senate, he becomes a very powerful person,”
More
Sailabration Thursday Schedule
The Maryland
Transportation Authority is warning motorists to anticipate delays in
Baltimore this week as an international maritime festival gets under
way.
The "Star-Spangled Sailabration" kicked off Wednesday and runs through Tuesday. The festival is part of the bicentennial commemoration of the War of 1812 and will feature more than 40 tall ships and navy ships of a dozen nations.
Organizers hope to attract more than 1 million people over the week.
State transportation officials say the event could result in major delays at the Fort McHenry Tunnel and along the Interstate 95/Interstate 395 corridor. The heaviest traffic is expected on Saturday and Sunday. Motorists headed into the city are advised to find alternate routes.
More
The "Star-Spangled Sailabration" kicked off Wednesday and runs through Tuesday. The festival is part of the bicentennial commemoration of the War of 1812 and will feature more than 40 tall ships and navy ships of a dozen nations.
Organizers hope to attract more than 1 million people over the week.
State transportation officials say the event could result in major delays at the Fort McHenry Tunnel and along the Interstate 95/Interstate 395 corridor. The heaviest traffic is expected on Saturday and Sunday. Motorists headed into the city are advised to find alternate routes.
More
SPD Press Releases 6-14-12
Duckenson Osias Florestal, 21yo of Salisbury, MD was arrested on an arrest warrant charging him with 2nd degree Rape, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th degree Sex Offense, 2nd degree Assault, False Imprisonment, and Contribute to Conditions of a Child.
On June 10, 2012 at approximately 2200hrs, the victim (juvenile female) left her residence to visit a friend in her neighborhood.
As the victim walked to her friend’s house a vehicle pulled up
next to her. She recognized the driver as Florestal who offered the victim a ride.
Victim entered the vehicle and Florestal drove to a secluded area near Dover Dale playground. Upon stopping the vehicle, Florestal locked the vehicle doors preventing the victim from exiting. Florestal then climbed over the center console of the vehicle and on top of the victim. The victim repeatedly told Florestal to stop, which he did not and the victim started to punch and kick him. Florestal was able to remove the victim’s clothing and engaged in sexual intercourse against the
victim’s will.
Detectives were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Florestal who was located in Ocean City, MD on June 11, 2012. Detectives contacted the Ocean City Police Department for assistance in serving the arrest warrant. Officers from the OCPD responded to the 2300 block of Philadelphia Ave and arrested Florestal pursuant to the warrant. Florestal is currently being held without bond.
On June 10, 2012 at approximately 2200hrs, the victim (juvenile female) left her residence to visit a friend in her neighborhood.
As the victim walked to her friend’s house a vehicle pulled up
next to her. She recognized the driver as Florestal who offered the victim a ride.
Victim entered the vehicle and Florestal drove to a secluded area near Dover Dale playground. Upon stopping the vehicle, Florestal locked the vehicle doors preventing the victim from exiting. Florestal then climbed over the center console of the vehicle and on top of the victim. The victim repeatedly told Florestal to stop, which he did not and the victim started to punch and kick him. Florestal was able to remove the victim’s clothing and engaged in sexual intercourse against the
victim’s will.
Detectives were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Florestal who was located in Ocean City, MD on June 11, 2012. Detectives contacted the Ocean City Police Department for assistance in serving the arrest warrant. Officers from the OCPD responded to the 2300 block of Philadelphia Ave and arrested Florestal pursuant to the warrant. Florestal is currently being held without bond.
Saks, Hostess Warn of Layoffs in Md.
Maryland state labor officials say two employers are warning of layoffs that could affect about 380 workers.
The Department of Labor said Tuesday that Saks Fifth Avenue plans to terminate a third of its workforce _ about 220 employees _ at its Aberdeen distribution and order fulfillment center beginning in late May.
Julia Bentley, a spokeswoman for Saks, tells The Baltimore Sun that the retailer is opening a new fulfillment center in Tennessee and phasing out jobs in Aberdeen. Bentley says Saks is providing separation packages and re-employment assistance to affected workers.
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The Department of Labor said Tuesday that Saks Fifth Avenue plans to terminate a third of its workforce _ about 220 employees _ at its Aberdeen distribution and order fulfillment center beginning in late May.
Julia Bentley, a spokeswoman for Saks, tells The Baltimore Sun that the retailer is opening a new fulfillment center in Tennessee and phasing out jobs in Aberdeen. Bentley says Saks is providing separation packages and re-employment assistance to affected workers.
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Etiquette to Follow on Flag Day and Any Day
June 14 is Flag Day, and a good time to be reminded of proper
etiquette for handling the American flag.
It's customary to have the American flag displayed in front of federal and state government buildings. Flags are raised at sun up and lowered at sundown, according to Maryland State Trooper Sgt. Robert Fraley.
There's only one exception.
"Unless it's a situation like out front where you have the spotlight illuminating a flag, which you're allowed to display at all hours of the darkness," says Fraley.
The flag also should never be dipped.
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It's customary to have the American flag displayed in front of federal and state government buildings. Flags are raised at sun up and lowered at sundown, according to Maryland State Trooper Sgt. Robert Fraley.
There's only one exception.
"Unless it's a situation like out front where you have the spotlight illuminating a flag, which you're allowed to display at all hours of the darkness," says Fraley.
The flag also should never be dipped.
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Today Is Flag Day
People across the United States celebrate Flag Day on June 14 each year to honor the United States flag and to commemorate the flag’s adoption.
What do people do?
Flag Day falls within National Flag Week, a time when Americans reflect on the foundations of the nation’s freedom. The flag of the United States represents freedom and has been an enduring symbol of the country’s ideals since its early days. During both events, Americans also remember their loyalty to the nation, reaffirm their belief in liberty and justice, and observe the nation’s unity.Many people in the United States honor this day by displaying the American flag at homes and public buildings. Other popular ways of observing this holiday include: flag-raising ceremonies; Flag Day services; school quizzes and essay competitions about the American flag; musical salutes; street parades; and awards for special recognition.
Organizations such as The National Flag Day Foundation are actively involved in coordinating activities centered on the event and keeping the flag’s traditions alive. Following Flag Day is Honor America Days, a 21-day period through to Independence Day (July 4) to honor America. During this period, people hold public gatherings and activities to celebrate and honor the nation.
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