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Monday, June 25, 2012

Online Petition Drives Have Made Referendums Easier

Maryland voters in November may face as many as three questions on the ballot to overturn laws passed by the General Assembly. Opponents of the third measure -- a gerrymandered congressional district plan -- are nearly halfway to reaching the signatures needed with a week left to go.


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The Solution To Concentrated Power: The Triple Ds

Why keep squabbling over issues that cannot be resolved except by the Tyranny of the Manipulated Majority? Decentralize, diffuse and devolve power to the lowest level and the national dead-ends vanish. Natural selection will sort out what works and what doesn't.

The solution to centralized power can be summarized as the three Ds: diffusion, decentralization, and devolution of power to local communities. Yesterday I analyzed the global failure of centralization: The Master Narrative Nobody Dares Admit: Centralization Has Failed [9] (June 21, 2012).

The concentration of power into the hands of a few bureaucrats in Europe has failed, just as concentrating monetary power into the (privately owned) hands of Federal Reserve bureaucrats has failed. Enabled by a captured Central State, financial power has become concentrated in five banks, media control has been concentrated into six corporations, and so on, ad nauseum.

Concentrating centralized political power inevitably spawns State/private-capital cartels that stripmine taxpayer/citizens. This cannot be avoided or staved off with 1,000-page legislative bills and 30,000 pages of regulations, all of which serve to consolidate the power of centralized government and private capital.

The Argument Industry [10](May 25, 2012) is a symptom of what I term profound political disunity. (If I didn't coin the phrase, I am the predominant user of it in recent history.) This is a key concept in my books Survival+ and Resistance, Revolution, Liberation, for it underpins our inability to address, much less solve, the over-arching problems of our society and economy.

Yes, arguing fruitlessly without hope of resolution is a profitable "make-work" business, but it has a debilitating effect in the real world: views get hardened by propaganda into rigid ideological silos, and fractured institutions are slowly delegitimized.

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Salisbury Police Department Press Release

Fred Lee Woody Jr, 40yo of Parsonsburg, MD was arrested and charged with 1st & 2nd degree Assault, Reckless Endangerment, and Disorderly Intoxication.

On June 19, 2012 at approximately 8:12pm officers responded to 600 W RailRoad Ave for a domestic assault in progress. Officers made contact with Woody and observed a large amount of blood on his hands, arms, and face. Officers also made contact with
the victim who was found to have a laceration to her forehead, swelling around the left eye and severe bruising to her face, arms, and back. Salisbury EMS responded and transported the victim to PRMC-ER. Further investigation revealed that Woody
and the victim became involved in a verbal argument. Woody then struck the victim in her face with a closed fist. The victim also stated to the officers that when she fell to the floor after being struck in the face, Woody continued to assault her by
kicking her several times.

Woody was released to the custody of central booking and held
on $50,000.00 bond.

OCEAN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WELCOMES SIX EASTERN SHORE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY GRADUATES

The Ocean City Police Department proudly graduated six new officers from the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy’s 68th police academy class on Wednesday, June 13, 2012. Officers were formally recognized as certified police officers of the Ocean City Police Department, after 24 weeks (919 hours) of intense training.

The recruit class was comprised of various law enforcement agencies from all over Maryland’s Eastern Shore. These officers continued the long established tradition of OCPD officers by graduating from the police academy with top honors. Five of the six OCPD officers were received recognition for being top in their class. Their commendations are as follows:

Firearms Award: by distinguishing themselves as above average in the firearms category, OFC Goggins placed first in his class with a 100 percent shot, OFC Dzunak placed second in his class, OFC Kutz placed third in his class and OFC McBride received the Firearms Award for Firing Expert.

Academic Awards: OFC Kutz was second in his class academically, with a 96.9 percent average while OFC Goggins was fifth in the class with a 96.8 percent average
Fitness Award: OFC Kutz and OFC Gemerek were awarded recognized for their achievement in the physical fitness category.

“Once again our new officers continue OCPD’s long-standing tradition of excellence by taking the awards in their class. It’s an honor to welcome these six officers to our department,” said Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino. “They have demonstrated that they have what it takes to be leaders within the Ocean City Police Department and the Ocean City community. I am thrilled to have them as members of the Ocean City Police Department. They exemplify all that is good in law enforcement and will serve our community with pride, integrity and professionalism.”

Pakistanis, Iranians Cozy Up

The anti-American feelings Pakistan has, coupled with Iran’s concerns over U.S. and Israeli intentions to bomb its nuclear facilities, have brought Islamabad and Tehran closer together regarding a 1,300-mile pipeline to carry natural gas from Iran, according to a report in Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin.

The deal is going forward despite opposition from Washington, which still hasn’t apologized as the Pakistanis have demanded for the accidental killing of 24 Pakistani guards along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border last November.

Pakistan is proceeding with plans for the pipeline to bring some 750 million cubic feet of gas a day from a massive offshore South Pars field in the Persian Gulf for the next 25 years.

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Brewer: Supreme Court's Arizona Decision a 'Victory For The Rule of Law'

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer issued the following statement Monday on the Supreme Court striking down three provisions of the state's law cracking down on illegal immigrants but upholding, for now, a fourth provision allowing police to stop people suspected of being in the country illegally:

Today's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is a victory for the rule of law. It is also a victory for the 10th Amendment and all Americans who believe in the inherent right and responsibility of states to defend their citizens. After more than two years of legal challenges, the heart of SB 1070 can now be implemented in accordance with the U.S. Constitution.

While we are grateful for this legal victory, today is an opportunity to reflect on our journey and focus upon the true task ahead: the implementation and enforcement of this law in an even-handed manner that lives up to our highest ideals as American citizens. I know the State of Arizona and its law enforcement officers are up to the task. The case for SB 1070 has always been about our support for the rule of law. That means every law, including those against both illegal immigration and racial profiling. Law enforcement will be held accountable should this statute be misused in a fashion that violates an individual's civil rights.

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Chicago Gun Turn-In Yields 5,500 firearms

Chicago police collected firearms numbering more than 5,500 and counting on Saturday, from a gun turn-in program designed to take dangerous weapons off the street.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said the tally could go considerably higher, reports CBS Station WBBM.

Pallets were still being unloaded at a Homan Square facility where the weapons were being sorted.

"I'm quite certain that if you look at some of these heavy weapons, we certainly are making a difference here, just by getting these guns off the street," McCarthy said at a news conference to show off some of the weapons.

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World Loses Species With Death of Lonesome George

Lonesome George has died, leaving the world one species poorer.

The only remaining Pinta Island tortoise and celebrated conservation icon passed away Sunday, the Galapagos National Park Service said in a statement.
Estimated to be more than 100 years old, the creature's cause of death remains unclear and a necropsy is planned.

Lonesome George's longtime caretaker, Fausto Llerena, found the tortoise's remains stretched out in the "direction of his watering hole" on Santa Cruz Island, the statement said.

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Military Pulls Its Insignias From Bibles

The Pentagon has revoked permission for a Christian ministry to produce Bibles for different branches of the military, marked with those insignias, after an anti-Christian group called them a threat to national security.

In 2003, B&H Publishing, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources, was given authorization to use the official seals of the U.S. military branches on a line of Bibles. No government funds were used in the production of the Bibles, which contained devotional material unique to each service branch in much the same way they are tailored to other groups such as teens or children.

As part of the features, the Bibles featured the Pledge of Allegiance, the first and fourth verses of the Star Spangled Banner, Patton’s famous Christmas prayer card from 1944 as well as testimonials from the Officers’ Christian Fellowship.

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Exclusive Update: NC Student Who Videotaped Pro-Obama Screaming Teacher Faces Harassment

Remember one month ago, when a high-school junior in the Rowan-Salisbury school district in North Carolina videotaped his teacher yelling at another student that he was being disrespectful for criticizing Barack Obama and that his behavior was a criminal offense?



The young man who did the videotaping had a hellish time finishing the school year. In an interview with Breitbart News, the young man’s sister described the ensuing weeks after the videotape. She said that some of the other students have said they are out to get the young man; the teacher, Tanya Dixon-Neely, has relatives who are students in the school. The young man’s family, fearing for his safety, requested for the young man to finish the last three weeks of school at home, but the school refused. Instead, the school offered for the young man to come to school after the other students were already in class, be secluded from other students during the school day and leave before school ended.



According to the videotaper’s sister, not only did the school authorities reject the appeal for home-schooling, they gave him a suspension on his school record for videotaping in the classroom -- the first suspension ever issued for such an action, despite the fact that other students have also videotaped on school grounds.

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FLASHBACK: Obama in Cairo in ‘09: America Will Not Support An Egyptian Gov‘t ’Ruthless in Suppressing the Rights of Others’; Will Only Welcome New Gov‘t ’With Respect for All’

PRESIDENT OBAMA
Cairo, Egypt
June 4, 2009

“So let me be clear: No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other.

That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people.  Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people.  America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election.  But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things:  the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn’t steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose.  These are not just American ideas; they are human rights.  And that is why we will support them everywhere.  (Applause.)

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Troopers Investigate Laurel Home Invasion

Location:
30000 block of Old Sailor Road, Laurel, DE

Date of Occurrence:
Monday, June 25, 2012 at 5:00 a.m.

Victims:
83 year old female
88 year old male

Suspects:
Two male suspects (No further physical or clothing description available)

Resume:
Laurel- The Delaware State Police are investigating a home invasion that has left an elderly couple from Laurel hospitalized.

The incident occurred at approximately 5:00 a.m. this morning as two male suspects forced entry into the residence located in the 30000 block of Old Sailor Road, Laurel, DE. Once inside the residence, the suspects confronted the 88 year old male and 83 year old female occupants and physically assaulted them, demanding money. The victims complied and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspects. Both suspects fled on foot from the residence in an unknown direction.

Both victims were transported to a local hospital where they were treated and admitted in stable condition due to injuries received during the assault.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact the Troop 4 Major Crimes Unit at 302-856-5850 Extension #3 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Information may also be provided via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com

New Yorkers Stunned as Plane Flies Swastika Banner Over NYC’s Beaches

Beach attendees were stunned over the weekend after a small plane flew a swastika banner over Long Beach Island, though it could be seen, according to the New York Post, from Manhattan and even the Jersey shore.

“Proswastika.org” was reportedly written on the banner, and the swastika symbol was depicted intertwined with the Star of David.

A group called the International Raelian Movement is claiming responsibility for the stunt, which they say is part of “swastika rehabilitation day,” or making the swastika a positive symbol after World War II gave it a new meaning internationally.

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State Police Target Aggressive Panhandling

Locations:
Various locations throughout New Castle County

Date of Occurrence:
Thursday, June 21, 2012

Resume:
Prices Corner- Troopers launch initiative to address public concerns targeting aggressive street solicitation in various locations.

On Thursday, June 21, 2012 Troopers from Troop 6 launched an initiative to address concerns from the public about aggressive panhandling and quality of life issues. Troopers focused on several locations including the I95 Service Area, Ogletown Stanton Road and Harmony Road, First State Plaza, Stanton, and Churchmans Road.

As a result of the sweep, Troopers arrested and charged a total of four individuals with Loitering for the Purpose of Begging for Money and other related street solicitation charges. One of those arrested was also charged with Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia.

Since May 2012, Troopers from Troop 6 have arrested and charged 20 individuals for Loitering for the Purpose of Begging for Money.
Troopers request the public’s assistance in curbing panhandlers and street solicitors by not providing money and by reporting incidents of solicitations.

Guess Which Restaurant Defends Right to Bear Arms!

While many retail businesses around the country have taken up the trend of plastering “no guns allowed” signs on their front doors, one national restaurant chain has boldly declared the right to bear arms key to what makes this nation “great.”

Denny’s restaurants, a diner chain famous for being open every hour of every day, earlier this month released a commercial titled “Greatness,” which asks what makes America great, only to answer with – among other things – the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“Kids,” the father in the commercial asks after receiving a “Midwestern Meat & Potatoes Sandwich” he’s clearly admiring, “do you know what it is that makes this country great?

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Ron Paul's Task: Build Up The Remnant

Few people in public life ever stray from the three-by-five card of approved opinion. On those rare occasions when they do, a macabre ritual of clarifications, retractions, and apologies – a veritable liturgy of expiation – invariably follows. Forgive me, for I have contradicted the holy mainstream. Never again shall I stray from the Biden-to-Romney spectrum.

The world changed on May 15, 2007. Someone strayed from Establishment opinion, and then not only declined to do penance, but actually stood his ground and refused to be intimidated into silence.

That day, in a Republican presidential debate, Ron Paul said things Americans were not supposed to hear about their government’s foreign policy. When Rudy Giuliani demanded a retraction, Dr. Paul wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. He instead pressed his point even harder.

Jon Arden, a regular American who happened to be watching, was instantly converted to the Paul cause.

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Reston Zoo Director Charged With Animal Cruelty

The 26-year-old director of the Reston Zoo was arrested Friday.

Meghan Mogensen of Silver Spring was charged with animal cruelty and possession of a controllled substance after alleged improper treatment of a sick wallaby.

Fairfax County animal control officers were notified of a suspicious circumstance after the death of an adult wallaby at the facility in the 1200 block of Hunter Mill Road in Reston.

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Team USA


In a few weeks, hundreds of dedicated athletes from across our country will travel to London to represent our great nation. They’ll compete, win medals and stand proudly as our national anthem plays and our stars and stripes waves high.


But they can’t do it alone.


The U.S. Olympic team receives no government funding and relies solely on corporate sponsorships and private donors. This year, we all can help by buying a stitch on the American Flag that the team will take to London. Each stitch costs $12 and can be dedicated to anyone, anywhere. Katie and I are buying a stitch and we hope you’ll join us. Click here to get yours today.


The Olympic Games are much more than just a sporting event. They are games that have united us as Americans and as a global community for hundreds of years. And this year, I know that Team USA will go all the way.


A special thanks to Governor Hickenlooper from Colorado for letting us know about this sponsorship program.


Good luck to all of the Olympians from Maryland. We’re proud of you.

‘Repudiate the Muslim Brotherhood’: Allen West Calls for Obama to Immediately Cut All American Foreign Aid to Egypt Following Election Results

Congressman Allen West (R-Fla.) on Sunday called for President Barack Obama to immediately cut off all American foreign aid to Egypt and to denounce the results of its presidential election after Muslim Brotherhood-backed candidate Mohammed Morsi’s victory.

In a brief post on his Facebook page, West said Sunday’s results were reminiscent of the 1979 Iranian revolution that saw Islamists installed as leaders of the country.

“A year ago there were those of us who warned the Obama administration of a Muslim Brotherhood takeover in Egypt,” West wrote. “We were castigated as alarmists and loose cannons. Today our predictions have come to reality and the ominous specter reminding us of the Iranian revolution is evident.”

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Dodd-Frank : Unconstitutional?

When President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act into law nearly two years ago, he stated that "our financial system only works—our market is only free—when there are clear rules and basic safeguards that prevent abuse, that check excess, that ensure that it is more profitable to play by the rules than to game the system."

We completely agree. Which is why we filed a lawsuit on Thursday asking a federal court to declare that two parts of Dodd-Frank violate a bedrock rule of law: the Constitution's separation of powers, which the Founders designed specifically to limit the growth of government. ...

One of us is chairman and CEO of a small community bank in Texas that has been investing in its community for over a century. The other is a former White House counsel who has witnessed firsthand how commitment to the rule of law promotes economic growth.

Of course, the government will respond that we are "against consumers" or that we oppose "financial stability." And of course that's false. Along with the other plaintiffs in our case, the 60 Plus Association and the Competitive Enterprise Institute, we are taking a stand because we know that the surest protection for consumers and financial stability is the rule of law, beginning with the Constitution.

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Students Severely Sunburned at School Field Day Because of Little-Known State Sunscreen Law

Jesse Michener is outraged after her two daughters returned home from a school field day with what she described as “hurts to look at” sunburns because they weren’t allowed to put on sunscreen.

Michener said it was raining in the morning so she didn’t put sunscreen on the girls before they left, but even if she had, she noted that they would still have had to reapply it at some point.  And there’s the rub– apparently, teachers are not allowed to put sunscreen on students in Washington, and kids can only put it on themselves if they have a doctor’s note.

Michener wrote her own account of what happened on her blog, after explaining that she is particularly irritated because one of her daughters has a documented form of Albinism that makes her extra sensitive to the sun:

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Imperial President In The White House

The United States was born when rebellious colonists declared their independence from an imperial ruler who had vastly overstepped his bounds. “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States,” they wrote in their Declaration of Independence.

Today’s presidency lacks the regal air of George III. But imperialism is back, in a big way.

Last week, the Obama Administration’s Department of Homeland Security issued a memorandum instructing U.S. immigration officials to use their “prosecutorial discretion” to create a policy scheme contrary to existing law, designed to implement legislation that Congress hasn’t passed.

The President himself has admitted he doesn’t have the authority to do this. “The idea of doing things on my own is very tempting, I promise you, not just on immigration reform. But that’s not how our system works,” he told Hispanic activists last year. “That’s not how our democracy functions.”

Indeed.

We can now see before us a persistent pattern of disregard for the powers of the legislative branch in favor of administrative decision-making without—and often in spite of—congressional action. This violates the spirit—and potentially the letter—of the Constitution’s separation of the legislative and executive powers of Congress and the President.

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Fed-up Christians Go To War Against Food Giant

A Christian ministry has launched a boycott targeting the Green Giant brand name of canned vegetables because of General Mills’ advocacy for homosexual marriage.

WND recently reported the Minnesota food giant whose Honey Nut Cheerios Bee, Lucky the Leprechaun and Trix Rabbit are familiar to children is now publicly supporting homosexual marriage.

General Mills CEO Ken Powell announced at a homosexual pride event his company opposes a proposed amendment Minnesotans will vote on in November that protects traditional marriage.

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Woodland Ferry Is Underway

Ferry returns to service following repairs

Seaford -- The Woodland Ferry is underway once again, crossing the Nanticoke River, after spending about six weeks undergoing maintenance and repairs.

Operated by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), the ferry returned to service Friday, June 22. It connects the communities of Bethel and Woodland on Woodland Ferry Road.

Named the "Tina Fallon," after longtime teacher and State Senator from Seaford, passage on the Woodland Ferry the ferry is free. In the summer months, the ferry runs from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

BREAKING NEWS: Feds Suspend Immigration Enforcement Program After Court Ruling

Obama administration says in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on Arizona's immigration law that it is suspending a program that allowed local authorities to partner with the federal government on immigration checks.

From Fox News

Detectives Investigate Discovery Of Skull, Delaware City

Location:
Pea Patch Island, Delaware City, DE

Date of Occurrence:
Sunday, June 24, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
Resume:
Delaware City- Delaware State Police detectives are currently investigating the discovery of a human skull which occurred early yesterday evening.

The investigation began on Sunday (6/24) after detectives were told to respond to Carney’s Point, New Jersey in reference to a New Jersey man who had recovered a human skull in the water off of Pea Patch Island in Delaware City at approximately 6:00 p.m. The man advised detectives that he had gone on his boat to the island with his daughter and her friends in order to go swimming. It was at this time that he located the skull in the water approximately four feet from the shore. He then checked the area for other remains but was unable to locate any. The man then brought the skull back to Carney’s Point, New Jersey with him and contacted the Delaware State Police.

The skull was turned over to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for possible identification. Delaware State Police detectives responded back to Pea Patch Island earlier today (6/25) to conduct a search for other remains, however, none were located.

The investigation is on-going at this time.

Hebron Bicycle Parade July 4th

FREE

EVERYONE WELCOME

Starts 5:00 pm At The

Hebron Train Depot

MAIN ST IN HEBRON

Trophies

To The Three Best

14 & Under

All that is required is that your bicycle has some kind of

holiday decoration.

(Even if it just has an American flag)

call 410-742-5555 or 443-880-4893

for more info

Are Dental X-Rays Harmful to Your Health?

Researchers say adults who had frequent dental X-rays as kids now face an increased risk of a common type of non-cancerous brain tumor.

Dr. Alex Naimi, a Vienna-based dentist, says patients have a right to be concerned about any type of radiation exposure, but she says it is important to consider all the facts when looking at the latest study from the Yale School of Public Health.

She says the study, published in the online journal of the American Cancer Society, looks at the cumulative effects of X-ray technology that has actually been phased out.

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A Letter To The Editor 6-25-12

This story is disturbing on many levels.

I was at Wal-Mart, Saturday 6/24 around 5. Someone left their dog in their suv, in the sun, with the windows cracked. My car was registering 90 degrees outside. I asked the cart person if Wal-Mart assists in this type of situation and he said go in the store and ask. I went to Wal-Mart customer service and asked if they intercede. They told me I had to call the Salisbury PD on the non emergency number. So I asked them what it was, and they said they do not have it and would not look it up. I had to call 911.

Wal-Mart's policy seems to be if an employee see an animal potentially dying, lock in the car in the sun, do not do anything, just walk away.
And if a customer asks for assistance, play stupid and do not assist.
If their policy is to call the non emergency number then they should have it available to give to customer.

The pet owners actions speak for them.
I was dealing with the situation for at least 20 minutes from the time I saw the dog, to walking in and out of the store, to calling the police to the time they arrived (which was in 6 minutes.. thank you guys!). I do not know how long he had been there before I arrived.

Wal-Mart and the pet owner, showed an appalling level of ignorance. I don't mind doing the dirty work, but the least Wal-Mart could do is give me the tools to do it.

Both Sides Gear Up for Dream Act Vote in Md.

Maryland voters will decide this November whether to allow in-state tuition rates for some illegal immigrants, and activists on both sides of the issue are ramping up efforts to get their message out to the public.

The state’s Dream Act would allow many college-aged illegal immigrants to pay in-state rates to attend community colleges and potentially continue to four-year universities. The General Assembly narrowly passed the law in April 2011, but it was petitioned to the ballot by voters.

Supporters say the law will help hard-working teens pay for an education they are otherwise unable to afford, while opponents contend it is in violation of federal immigration laws and will only add to state education expenses.

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Propaganda, Lies, And War

If I asked what the cause of the American Civil War was, would your first answer be slavery? Would it surprise you to know that slavery was only one grievance the South had with the Lincoln administration?

Up until the first bullet was fired on Fort Sumter, Abraham Lincoln had been leading a type of economic aggression to force the South into initiating the official version of the conflict. When Lincoln ran for president, his platform was based on Henry Clay-inspired mercantilism where he promised to maintain a high protective tariff that would serve [27] Northern industrial interests while impoverishing the South’s still predominantly agrarian economy. This, of course, angered the South much like it did when John Quincy Adams imposed the same type of tariff in 1828 which lead to the Nullification Crisis [28]. With the Morrill Tariff [29], which increased the tax on dutiable imports by about 70%, put in place by President Buchanan two days before he left office, the South stood ready to secede. After Lincoln’s inauguration, he began to maneuver the seceding South into firing the first shot by breaking a previously established agreement to not attempt to restock Fort Sumter. He secretly sent troops the Fort which escalated into what turned out to be the bloodiest war in American history. Lincoln’s close friend and confidante Senator Orville H. Browning would go on to write [30] in his diary:

He told me that the very first thing placed in his hands after his inauguration was a letter from Major Anderson announcing the impossibility of defending or relieving Sumter. That he called the cabinet together and consulted General Scott—that Scott concurred with Anderson, and the cabinet, with the exception of PM General Blair were for evacuating the Fort and all the troubles and anxieties of his life had not equalled (sic) those which intervened between this time and the fall of Sumter. He himself conceived the idea, and proposed sending supplies, without an attempt to reinforce giving notice of the fact to Governor Pickens of S.C. The plan succeed. They attacked Sumter—it fell, and thus, did more service than it otherwise could.

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Lost Dog UPDATE



Joe,

I found this dog on Greenlewis Rd in Willards.

Spin Doctors Prepare to Pounce on Health Care Decision

With the nine Supreme Court justices poised to announce the fate of President Obama’s health care law this week, Washington is bracing for the long-awaited ruling that is expected to rattle the political fault lines leading up to the November election.

While activists on both sides huddled over how to spin the decision in their favor, the Obama administration focused on highlighting the most popular parts of the Affordable Care Act and Republicans stuck to their message that no matter how much of the law the court upholds, they will still work to repeal the rest of it.

“What the Supreme Court is deciding is whether the law is constitutional, not whether it’s a good idea or not,” Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

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Obama: Candidate Of The 1 Percent

General Carl von Clausewitz warned that artillery is the one weapon that an enterprising adversary could turn against its former owners. Barack Obama's support for cap and trade allows us to similarly turn his class warfare rhetoric against him.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a strong supporter of Obama's cap-and-trade agenda, has provided us more than ample means to do so. Gillibrand argues in favor of the 21st-century counterpart of indulgence-peddling as follows:

According to financial experts, carbon permits could quickly become the world's largest commodities market, growing to as much as $3 trillion by 2020 from just over $100 billion today. With thousands of firms and energy producers buying and selling permits to emit carbon, transaction fees for exchanges and clearing alone could top nearly half a billion dollars.

... An infrastructure is already beginning to form, as entities like the New York Stock Exchange, J.P. Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and the new Green Exchange are developing carbon trading platforms or expanding their environmental trading desks. There are nearly 100 funds already focused on green investments.

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Maraniss Bio Deepens Obama Birth Mystery

David Maraniss has no use for "birthers." In a recent interview, he dismissed their beliefs as "preposterous" and wonders why they cling to them, since "every fact and document leads in another direction."

Yet the one core belief that has united the birther community -- if there be such a thing -- is that Obama dissembled when he talked at both the 2004 and 2008 Democratic Conventions about his parents' "improbable love" and "abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation."

Birthers have known for years that there was no Obama family, that the couple never lived together, that Obama campaigned on a lie, and that the major media covered for him every step of the way. This, ironically, Maraniss confirms in Barack Obama: The Story, a book that has to be parsed as carefully as the Talmud or Finnegan's Wake to be made sense of. Despite his slam on birthers, the facts herein will come as more of a shock to the Obama faithful than to those who have questioned the official birth narrative.

"In the college life of Barack Obama [Senior] in 1961 and 1962," writes Maraniss, "as recounted by his friends and acquaintances in Honolulu, there was no Ann; there was no baby." Although Maraniss talked to many of Obama Sr.'s friends, none of the credible ones ever so much as saw him with Obama's mother, Ann Dunham.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY 6-25-12

“Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience.

Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders… and millions have been killed because of this obedience…

Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty.

Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… the grand thieves are running the country.

That’s our problem.”

–Howard Zinn

DELMARVA PONY CRAB RAFFLE

CRAB RAFFLE!!! 2 CHANCES TO WIN!!!

Drawing: 2 bushels to be raffled off on 6/29/12 at 5 pm

Delivery: 6/30/12 at 2pm at Delmarva Pony League

Cost: $1 per ticket or $3 for 5 tickets

Support our 2012 Delmarva Pony League All Stars


Contact: Steve Causey


410-742-6408

Top Secret: What Food Stamps Buy

Taxpayers kept in dark about $80B a year


Americans spend $80 billion each year financing food stamps for the poor, but the country has no idea where or how the money is spent.


Food stamps can be spent on goods ranging from candy to steak and are accepted at retailers from gas stations that primarily sell potato chips to fried-chicken restaurants. And as the amount spent on food stamps has more than doubled in recent years, the amount of food stamps laundered into cash has increased dramatically, government statistics show.


But the government won’t say which stores are doing the most business in food stamps, and even it doesn’t know what kinds of food those taxpayer dollars buy.


Coinciding with lobbying by convenience stores, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the program in conjunction with states, contends that disclosing how much each store authorized to accept benefits, known as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), receives in taxpayer funds would amount to revealing trade secrets.


As a result, fraud is hard to track and the efficacy of the massive program is impossible to evaluate.


As the House debates the once-every-five-years farm bill, the majority of which goes to food stamps, there is a renewed and fervent call from a broad spectrum of camps that the information - some of the most high-dollar, frequently requested and closely held secrets of the government - be set free.


“We can’t release it based on federal rules. If it were up to us, I wouldn’t have a problem releasing the information. It’s taxpayer money,” said Tom Steinhauser with the division of benefit programs for the Virginia Department of Social Services.


The District said it would be illegal to tell the newspaper how many food stamp dollars were flowing to each local vendor, but first offered to sell The Washington Times the information for $125,000.


“Why don’t you just pay the charges? Your paper has a lot of money,” said David Umansky, spokesman for the District’s chief financial officer.


http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/24/top-secret-what-food-stamps-buy/

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Releases 6-25-12

On June 20, 2012 around 8:00 pm Deputies from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to near the Greene Turtle in West Ocean City. The reports were that an intoxicated person had wandered into the road and was lying in the roadway. When Deputies arrived they met with Karen Pledger 32 years of age from Delmar Md. who was very intoxicated and belligerent. Ms. Pledger was arrested for disorderly conduct and transported to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. At the office Ms. Pledger was processed and released on a criminal citation for disorderly conduct. Ms. Pledger was released to the care and custody of a male friend who had come to the Sheriff’s Office to give Ms. Pledger a ride home. Ms. Pledger became irate with the male and began to throw pieces of paper at him, and eventually threw a pen. Ms. Pledger was arrested again in the parking lot for assault. Ms. Pledger resisted the arrest and was eventually placed into custody once again. Ms. Pledger was later transported to the District Court Commissioner in Snow Hill and was released with a trial date of July 31, 2012 at 9:00 am in the Snow Hill District Court.

On 06/12/2012 at 0300 Worcester County Sheriff's Office Deputies received a call in reference to a disabled vehicle. The Deputies responded to the area and made contact with the defendant, Victor Evans II 22 years of age, of Temperancville Va. who was walking on the roadway attempting to purchase gasoline.

Upon the Mr. Evans returning to his car, Deputies observed marijuana and CDS paraphernalia in the vehicle. The Mr. Evans was placed under arrest and charged with,

Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of CDS Paraphernalia. Mr. Evans was taken before the District Court Commissioner, where he was released on his own recognizance.

On 06/16/2012 at approximately 1750 hours, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested Jeremy Wayne Snyder, 22, of Easton, Pennsylvania for a District Court Arrest Warrant issued on 05/29/2012 for Rape-Second Degree. Snyder was later taken before a District Court Commissioner and held at the Worcester County Detention Center on $25,000 bond.

On 06/16/2012 at approximately 1750 hours, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested James McKinley Brown, 49, of Willards, Maryland for (4) District Court Arrest Warrants. Mr. Brown is being charged with Burglary-Second Degree, and Theft-$1,000 to $10,000 for the first warrant issued on 05/05/2012. Mr. Brown is also being charged with Burglary-First Degree and Fourth Degree for the second warrant issued on 08/06/2011. Mr. Brown’s also being charged with Burglary-First Degree and Fourth Degree, along with MDOP-Less than $500. Mr. Brown’s fourth warrant was issued on 08/29/2011 for Assault-Second Degree. Mr. Brown was later taken before a District Court Commissioner and held on $15,000 bond for each of the first three warrants and released on his personal recognizance for the fourth warrant. Mr. Brown has two additional warrants through Wicomico County and a detainer was sent from Baltimore City Police Department for Violation of Parole. Mr. Brown is currently held at the Worcester County Detention Center Pending Trial.

Miguel Mitchell Steps Down As President Of Democratic Club


It's been reported Miguel Mitchell, husband of Salisbury Councilwoman Laura Mitchell, who was named as the Wicomico Democratic Club's President in January just resigned.

In the 6 months as president, he pretty much did nothing, including NOT doing any prep for the Club's crab feast, its biggest annual fundraiser, and NOT doing the regular, year in and year out annual prep work for the Club's prominent attendance at the Tawes Crab Fest: no tent, no literature, no banners, no promo stuff, no permits, no nothing.

Club members reportedly asked him again and again if he wanted their help, but he always refused. Laura Mitchell and Jim Ireton were evidently no help at all. This all may be hushed up, but it's kind of a black eye for all involved, right up to the Governor.

Big Oil Is buying The United States House Of Representatives

On Thursday – House Republicans, with a few Democrats, passed the Domestic Energy Production Act to increase oil drilling, scrap environmental regulations, and mandate drilling on public lands. The vote tally was 248 to 163. And according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics – Big Oil paid a lot of money for all those yes votes. Each of the 248 Members who supported the giveaway to the oil industry received, on average, more than $150,000 in campaign contributions from Big Oil. But, each of the Members who voted no, have only received an average $36,000 from Big Oil. Altogether, Big Oil spent $38.6 million to get enough yes votes to pass the bill. And already, the oil industry has spent more money on the House of Representatives than in 2008 and 2010, with 88% of its campaign contributions going to Republicans. That explains why this is the most anti-environment House in our nation's history – with one out of every five votes taken to roll back regulation that keep our public lands, air, and water safe from polluters. Remember, Big Oil isn't really making campaign contributions, they're making investments – and getting great returns from their Republican shills.

Lieutenant Colonel Greg Gadson Is Giants' Inspirational Co-Captain

His name is Lt. Col. Greg Gadson and he used to wear No. 98 for the Army football team and was with the Second Battalion and 32nd Field Artillery, on his way back from a memorial service for two soldiers from his brigade when he lost both his legs to a roadside bomb in Bahgdad. It was the night of May 7, 2007, and Lt. Col. Gadson didn't know it at the time because he couldn't possibly have known, but it was the beginning of a journey that brought him to Lambeau Field Sunday night.

He was there as an honorary co-captain of the Giants, there on the sideline at Lambeau because this Giants' season has become his season now and he wasn't going to watch from some box. This is a Giant at the Super Bowl worth knowing about, as much as any of them.

"Me being a part of this team," Gadson was saying Monday night from his home in Virginia, having made it back there from Green Bay, "really starts with the team I played on at West Point."

He played at West Point between 1985 and 1988, and one of his teammates was Mike Sullivan, who played cornerback and some safety and is now one of Tom Coughlin's assistants with the Giants. When Sullivan and so many other of Gadson's teammates found out what had happened on the night of May 7, found that Gadson had first lost his left leg to arterial infections and then his right, it brought that old Army team back together.

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Farm Bill Passes US Senate

The farm bill S. 3240, passed the U.S. Senate on June 21. The bill, which is renewed approximately every five years, dictates congressional spending on not only farm issues such as crop subsidies, but nutritional programs like food stamps and the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), and conservation programs. Total spending controlled by this one bill is in the billions of dollars each year. In 2010, farm bill spending amounted to $96.3 billion, according to the Environmental Working Group.

This year, Senators introduced more than 300 amendments to the farm bill. 73 amendments were approved for debate in the Senate starting on Tuesday afternoon. Of those considered and either approved or rejected, important amendments include:

"Consumers Right to Know About Genetically Engineered Food Act": Senator Bernie Sanders' (I-VT) amendment number 2310, the "Consumers Right to Know About Genetically Engineered Food Act," which would have allowed states to adopt labeling requirements for genetically engineered foods, was rejected. Sen. Sanders said of his amendment, "All over this country, people are becoming more conscious about the foods they are eating and the foods they are serving to their kids, and this is certainly true for genetically engineered foods. I believe that when a mother goes to the store and purchases food for her child, she has the right to know what she is feeding her child."

Crop Insurance for Organic Farmers: Senator Jeff Merkley's (D-OR) amendment number 2382, which addresses barriers to make crop insurance more accessible to organic farmers, was agreed to. Crop insurance protects farmers financially when crops are lost due to natural disasters (crop-yield insurance), or when the prices of commodity crops decline (crop-revenue insurance). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) currently charges a five percent surcharge on crop insurance for organic farmers who participate in federal crop insurance programs. Organic crops are currently insured at the same amounts as conventional crops, despite often being worth as much as two times as much as a conventional crop in the marketplace. This means that organic farmers currently are not adequately compensated if they suffer a crop loss, relative to conventional farmers' compensation.

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O'Malley Struggles in Second Year of Second Term

It's been a tough year so far for Maryland's Democratic governor, despite the benefit of strong Democratic majorities in the General Assembly.

Gov. Martin O'Malley's push to develop wind energy is a two-time loser, despite a scaled back version this year. His gas tax proposal stalled. A package of budget legislation unraveled in an embarrassing meltdown in the final hours of this year's legislative session, requiring a special session last month to finish the job.

Frequent appearances on national television news programs to bolster President Barack Obama and trips out of the state as the head of the Democratic Governors Association have some questioning how tuned in O'Malley is on the political home front.

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US Drone Strikes Setting Dangerous Global Precedent

United Nations - U.S. counterterrorism measures are under intense scrutiny from United Nations (U.N.) experts and civil rights groups declaring drone strikes illegal under current frameworks.

During the 20th Session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva from Jun. 18 to Jul. 6, these experts declared such measures in urgent need of greater accountability and transparency.

Targeted-killing programs, including drone strikes, are "a strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability", wrote former special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Philip Alston in his 2010 report to the council.

Two years later, strategies that the United States justifies as a necessary response to terrorism remain questionable both in legality and according to humanitarian principles.

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Troopers Investigate Georgetown Home Invasion

Location:
19000 block of Savannah Road, Georgetown, DE

Date of Occurrence:
Monday, June 25, 2012 at 3:40 a.m.

Victims:
20 year old male
48 year old female
65 year old female

Suspects:
Suspect 1: Black male, unknown age, 5’06” tall, medium build (No further description available). Last seen wearing dark clothing with mask covering face. Suspect armed with unknown type handgun.
Suspect 2: Black male, unknown age (No further description available). last seen wearing dark clothing with mask covering face. Suspect armed with unknown type handgun.
Suspect 3: White male, unknown age, 6’05” tall, with mask covering face (No further description available). Suspect armed with unknown type handgun.

Resume:
Georgetown- The Delaware State Police are investigating a home invasion that occurred in the 19000 block of Savannah Road, Georgetown, DE early this morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:40 a.m. as three male suspects, all masked and armed with handguns, entered the residence through an unsecured rear door. Once inside the residence the suspects confronted the victims’ and demanded money. The suspects removed an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the residence on foot in an unknown direction. There were no injuries as a result of this incident.

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact the Troop 4 Major Crimes Unit at 302-856-5850 Extension #3 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Information may also be provided via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com

Send an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."

Ironic

Well, if this isn't ironic....

The SNAP/Food Stamp Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is pleased to be distributing the greatest amount of free meals and food stamps ever.

Meanwhile, the National Park Service, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, asks us to "Please Do Not Feed The Animals." This is because the animals may grow dependent on handouts and not learn to take care of themselves.

Thus endeth today’s lesson.

Cost Of E-ZPass Transponders For New Customers Will Be Reduced Starting July 1

Dover -- Starting July 1, motorists that choose to take advantage of Delaware's E-ZPass electronic toll services will be able to purchase their transponder for $15. The new cost is a savings of $10 off the current price.

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Mom Ordered To Stay Away From Nordstrom For Leaving Kids In The Car To Shop

Endangering your kids to check out some great shopping? That didn't fly with a judge in the San Francisco area. A new mom has been ordered to stay away from Nordstrom after leaving her 11-week-old twins inside her SUV while she was visiting the store in February. Once again -- never leave your kids in the car, no matter the season.

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OCEAN CITY POLICE HOLDING TESTING FOR 2013 FULL TIME & SEASONAL POSITIONS

The Ocean City Police Department will be conducting applicant testing on August 11 and August 12, 2012. This test will be for full-time and seasonal police officer and public safety aid positions. Testing will begin at the Ocean City Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, on Saturday, August 11 at 8 a.m. Applicants must arrive no later than 7:45 a.m.

Testing on Saturday will consist of the written exam followed by the physical ability test. Applicants should wear workout clothes and must have an application, physician’s statement and photo ID to be admitted to the test. The oral interview portion of the test will take place at the Ocean City Public Safety Building, 6501 Coastal Highway, on Sunday, August 12.

“I believe there is no more honorable or rewarding career than law enforcement,” said Chief Bernadette DiPino. “We are looking for honest, motivated, community oriented leaders who are looking to make a positive difference in the world. The Ocean City Police Department has a professional reputation, so if you have the character and ability to be a one of the best then we encourage you to apply with us.

For more information about the testing process, please contact the Ocean City Police Department Training and Recruiting Section at 410-723-6612 or pdtrain@oceanitymd.gov.

Applicants who wish to take the exam are asked to make a reservation with the OCPD Training and Recruiting Section.

GM Recalls 475K Chevy Cruze Vehicles Over Fire Risk

As we mentioned back in April, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration had launched an investigation into the cause of fires in two Chevy Cruze vehicles. Today, General Motors announced a recall of more than 475,000 Cruze cars for safety modifications intended to prevent engine fires.

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BREAKING NEWS: Supreme Court Strikes Down 3 Of 4 Parts of Arizona Immigration Law

Supreme Court strikes down three of four provisions in Arizona's controversial immigration law while upholding measure allowing police to stop suspected illegal immigrants .

From Fox News

100 Person Brawl Outside of Gaithersburg Restaurant

A serious fight involving about 100 people broke out at a restaurant in Gaithersburg early Sunday morning, according to Montgomery County Police.

Police say a man was shot and five others were stabbed during the fight at the New Red Rock Cafe in the Festival Shopping center around 1:30 Sunday morning. They were all taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

In addition, a woman suffered cuts and a male was struck with a blunt object. Others with injuries refused treatment.

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Who Knew It Only Costs $1.36 To Charge An iPad For A Whole Year?

When it comes to bang for the bucks you spend on electricity, it seems some devices run pretty darn cheap -- in fact, it costs more to buy say, your morning muffin than to charge an iPad for a whole year.

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WORK GROUP TO CONSIDER GAMING EXPANSION IN MARYLAND

Statement from Governor Martin O’Malley on THE WORK GROUP TO CONSIDER GAMING EXPANSION IN MARYLAND

ANNAPOLIS, MD
– Governor Martin O’Malley today released the following statement on the work group to consider gaming expansion in Maryland:

“The Commission arrived at a consensus for moving forward to resolve issues around gambling in Maryland. For some reason, the House leadership at the last minute decided they did not want to share in that consensus. Finding common ground will be difficult if House leadership has become invested in the notion that the Anne Arundel site should enjoy a virtual monopoly for as long as possible.

“Over the next several days, I will continue to have conversations with Senate President Miller, House Speaker Busch, Chairman Morton, and County Executive Baker to resolve these lingering issues.”

$15 Mil To Go Towards Homelessness Among Veterans

Labor is awarding $15 million in efforts to combat homelessness among veterans. The department says 64 groups around the country are getting money to provide job training for homeless vets. The Washington Post quotes a senior Labor Department official as saying more job training grants will probably be awarded in the next couple of years. The administration has set a goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says the number of homeless veterans in the country is now below 60,000.

Brush Fire in Queen Anne's County Mostly Contained


Operations at a 30- to 50-acre brush fire in Romancoke should continue well into the night, officials said at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

The fire, which is off state Route 8 near Wicomico Road, is about 90 percent contained and some units have been released. Since the blaze started this morning, crews on scene included firefighters from Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's, Anne Arundel and Talbot counties and from Delaware, along with the U.S. Naval Academy, Ft. Meade, military and forestry department assistance.

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NFLFSA

The taxpayers of Virginia have to pony up $6 million of their tax dollars to build a practice field for the Washington Redskins even though they are owned by a billionaire.

Gulf Oil Spill

These video clips are from Democrats & Republicans alike. Very interesting video.

Great video….

EVERY AMERICAN NEEDS TO VIEW THIS VIDEO.
View this and see our president in action!
You have to watch this -- click on "GULF" And then please vote in November....
Really pathetic that we elected this YO-YO
Liberal or Conservative, this is the very definitions of incompetence, ineptness, and apathy!
Jon Stewart, Chris Matthews, and James Carville no less..
IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE TODAY,,,,,,,,,, VIEW THIS VIDEO !!
Click onto this brilliant video regarding the oil spill. You will want to send it on.
Click here: gulf

Maryland Plans To Sell $790.3 Million In General Obligation Bonds

ANNAPOLIS – Maryland State Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp announced that the Board of Public Works (BPW), comprised of Governor Martin O’Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Kopp, approved yesterday the anticipated sale of up to $790,320,000 of General Obligation bonds in five series.

This offering will include the direct retail sale of approximately $75 million of bonds with first priority to Maryland citizens, similar to recent successful transactions. “Marylanders receive first preference in buying highly desirable, conservative quality bonds while investing in their State – a win-win situation,” Treasurer Kopp said.

The retail bond sale begins July 27th and likely will end on July 30th. For more information, potential buyers should check www.buymarylandbonds.com.

The bond sale will conclude with the BPW presiding over the competitive bond sale on Wednesday, August 1st in the Assembly Room in the Goldstein Treasury Building in Annapolis. This sale will include four competitively bid series for the remaining bonds, which are expected to be sold to institutions. The sale will include approximately $430 million of tax-exempt bonds, $20 million of taxable bonds, $15.3 million of taxable Qualified Zone Academy bonds, and up to $250 million of tax-exempt refunding bonds.

As has always been the case with the issuance of Maryland’s General Obligation Bonds, the State will use the proceeds to finance necessary capital projects,

'Jeopardy!' host Trebek suffers mild heart attack

"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek is in a Los Angeles hospital recovering from a mild heart attack.

Sony Television spokeswoman Paula Askanas said Sunday that Trebek was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Saturday. She says the 71-year-old Trebek is expected to fully recover and be back giving answers when "Jeopardy!" resumes production on a new season in July.

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Barack Obama Job Approval Rating Is Falling To Drastic Levels

Gallup's daily tracking of President Barack Obama's job approval rating puts the president on shaky ground for re-election this fall.

Obama's approval rating is down to 43 percent in Gallup's rolling three-day average, down from about 45 percent earlier this month. It's the first time his approval rating has been this low since the end of March. The percentage of people who disapprove of his job performance now stands at 49 percent.

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The Master Narrative Nobody Dares Admit: Centralization Has Failed

All centralized systems, open and shadow alike, act as heavy taxes on the society and economy. This is why they cannot compete with the forces of networked decentralization.

The primary "news" narrative may be the failure of the euro, but the master narrative is much, much bigger: centralization has failed. The failure of Europe's "ultimate centralization project" is but a symptom of a global failure of centralization.

Though many look at China's command-economy as proof that the model of Elite-controlled centralization is a roaring success, let's check in on China's stability and distribution of prosperity in 2021 before declaring centralization an enduring success. The pressure cooker is already hissing and the flame is being turned up every day.

What's the key driver of this master narrative? Technology, specifically, the Internet. Gatekeepers and centralized authority are no match for decentralized knowledge and decision-making. Once a people don't need to rely on a centralized authority to tell them what to do, the centralized authority becomes a costly impediment, a tax on the entire society and economy.

In a cost-benefit analysis, centralization once paid significant dividends. Now it is a drag that only inhibits growth and progress. The Eurozone is the ultimate attempt to impose an intrinsically inefficient and unproductive centralized authority on disparate economies, and we are witnessing its spectacular implosion.

Centralization acts as a positive feedback, i.e. a self-reinforcing loop that leads to a runaway death spiral. Centralize the entire banking sector into five corporations and guess what happens? They buy access to the highly centralized power centers of the Federal government. Like the HIV virus, centralized concentrations of capital like the five "too big to fail" banks disrupt the regulatory "immune response" that was supposed to control them.

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Top Secret: What Food Stamps Buy

Americans spend $80 billion each year financing food stamps for the poor, but the country has no idea where or how the money is spent.

Food stamps can be spent on goods ranging from candy to steak and are accepted at retailers from gas stations that primarily sell potato chips to fried-chicken restaurants. And as the amount spent on food stamps has more than doubled in recent years, the amount of food stamps laundered into cash has increased dramatically, government statistics show.

But the government won’t say which stores are doing the most business in food stamps, and even it doesn’t know what kinds of food those taxpayer dollars buy.

Coinciding with lobbying by convenience stores, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the program in conjunction with states, contends that disclosing how much each store authorized to accept benefits, known as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), receives in taxpayer funds would amount to revealing trade secrets.

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Manufacturing Growth Slows, Labor Market Struggling

WASHINGTON – US manufacturing grew in June at its slowest pace in 11 months and the number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits fell slightly last week, pointing to an economy mired in a soft patch.

The weakening economic tone was also underscored by other reports on Thursday showing a gauge of factory activity in the Mid-Atlantic region tumbled to a 10-month low in June and a pullback in home resales in May.

The data came one day after the Federal Reserve eased monetary policy further by extending a program to re-weight securities it holds toward longer maturities to hold down borrowing costs and signaled it was ready to do more to help the flagging recovery.

“We’ve seen a pretty steady diet of lower-than-expected data points, pointing to a continued slowdown, and that has not changed,” said Paul Nolte, managing director at Dearborn Partners in Chicago.

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PFC. Bradley Manning Seeks Damage Assessment From U.S. Government

The pre-trial hearing for Private First Class Bradley Manning will take place Monday afternoon at Fort Meade.

Manning, who is being tried for the biggest leak of secrets in U.S. history, is seeking reports from government agencies to assess the damage done by his disclosure of classified diplomatic cables and war logs to the whistle-blower website Wikileaks.

He is also asking that the military judge postpone his September trial date to allow both sides time to obtain and study the documents.

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Can The President Rewrite Federal Law?

Here we go again. Is the Constitution merely a guideline to be consulted by those it purports to regulate, or is it really the supreme law of the land? If it is just a guideline, then it is meaningless, as it only will be followed by those in government when it is not an obstacle to their purposes. If it is the supreme law of the land, what do we do when one branch of government seizes power from another and the branch that had its power stolen does nothing about it?

Late last week, President Obama, fresh from a series of revelations that he kills whomever he pleases in foreign lands, that the U.S. military is actually fighting undeclared wars in Somalia and Yemen, and that the CIA is using cyber warfare – computers – to destabilize innocents in Iran, announced that he has rewritten a small portion of federal immigration law so as to accommodate the needs of young immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and remained here. By establishing new rules governing deportation, rules that Congress declined to enact, the president has usurped the power to write federal law from Congress and commandeered it for himself.

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Sea Rise Faster on East Coast Than Rest of Globe

From Cape Hatteras, N.C., to just north of Boston, sea levels are rising much faster than they are around the globe, putting one of the world's most costly coasts in danger of flooding, government researchers report.

U.S. Geological Survey scientists call the 600-mile swath a "hot spot" for climbing sea levels caused by global warming. Along the region, the Atlantic Ocean is rising at an annual rate three times to four times faster than the global average since 1990, according to the study published Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

It's not just a faster rate, but at a faster pace, like a car on a highway "jamming on the accelerator," said the study's lead author, Asbury Sallenger Jr., an oceanographer at the agency. He looked at sea levels starting in 1950, and noticed a change beginning in 1990.

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