How Can We Help Relieve Some Tax Burdens On Salisbury Taxpayers

In a recent radio interview Don Rush asked me this question. While I knew ANY answer wouldn't be popular, I openly exposed one of the areas in which I'll campaign on. Considering this interview will air tomorrow morning and knowing he can't allot enough time to explain it in full I thought I'd take this opportunity to share what I expressed.

Ladies & Gentlemen, 7 years ago the entire budget for the Salisbury Zoo was $350,000.00. They could feed the animals, pay the entire staff and get what was needed off that $350,000.00.

TODAY, the salaries alone are $773,000.00 per year! Their operating expense, (to the taxpayers) is an additional $239,000.00. The overhead is now in excess of $1,000,000.00 per year and that does NOT include local, state and federal grant money! Some say the total expense average per year for the Zoo is nearly $3,000,000.00 a year.

If you're wondering why the Salisbury Police haven't seen raises, well, now you know. If you're wondering why City employees aren't getting raises, now you know.

The Salisbury Zoo has become a major liability, yet you never hear any of this information in the Press. So how can we fix it? Well, that's where things get difficult in the sense that there needs to be some give and take. A gumball used to cost a penny, now it's a quarter. The Zoo just can't be free any more but allow me to explain how my plan can and will work.

I'd like to propose we charge a $1.00 fee to get into the Zoo. Now before you get your panties all twisted, listen to how we can make this work.

The Salisbury Zoo is YOUR ZOO. It should remain FREE to ALL City Residents. However, if you live in Laurel, Seaford, Cambridge, Ocean City, etc., you'll pay $1.00 to get in. I'd propose that the Zoo be open one day a month FREE to ALL visitors. This will resolve any issue with those who cannot afford to get in.

Now follow these numbers. The Zoo claims they get 350,000 visitors per year. While I do not believe these numbers to be accurate, let's just go with what they provide. If we were to get 350,000 paying visitors into the Zoo, we'd only have $350,000.00 towards the relief of Salisbury taxpayers. IF we were to be far more realistic, I'd say, (giving them credit) 100,000 paying people per year we'd only relieve the taxpayers by $100,000.00.

Considering the Zoo staff payroll has increased almost 3 fold in the past 7 years, $100,000.00 isn't much, but it's something. You have to admit, the Zoo doesn't look $400,000.00 a year nicer than it did 7 years ago. However, every time someone upgrades the Zoo, (look at the numbers) the expenses go way UP. Similar to the new Fire Boat. It may be all nice and shiny but give it a few years and wait until you see what it costs to keep it up.

The Salisbury Zoo is an incredible asset to our City. You should know that 99% of ALL the Zoo Directors across the United States are responsible for 100% of the overhead to run their Zoo's. IF the Director cannot fund raise to cover ALL of their overhead, they're fired. The days of the Salisbury's Zoo Director getting a free ride off the taxpayers is over. We no longer live in an economy where the Zoo can remain free. That is, unless your a local citizen living in the City.

I cannot imagine ANYONE who would say no to this proposal. It is fiscally responsible and the very people who live in the City would continue to have free access to their Zoo. It's a win/win for all.

I didn't want people hearing bits and pieces of this radio interview without having the full knowledge of my proposal. Again, I will not run and hide behind my intent should I get elected. I will always be up front expressing my ideas as I have nothing to hide. We cannot continue to give things away, especially when the overhead rises 200 and 300%. We have mouths to feed. We have employees who have not seen COLA increases, let alone pay raises in several years. We continue to hit employees up with health insurance increases every year. We must do something to offer some relief and I really do not believe a $1.00 charge is going to break anyone.

So there it is Ladies & Gentlemen. It may not be popular but it IS fiscally responsible.

I'd Like To Add: I'd also like to see ONE entrance to the Zoo instead of two. This would get rid of flashers, skateboarders, bicyclists, people trying to drive cars into the Zoo, joggers, pets, people sneaking food in and pedophiles. It's almost impossible to police the Zoo in any way when people can run the opposite way and get out. This is a ZOO, not a park.

You have NO idea how big a problem the above has been over the years. Where do pedophiles hang out? THINK about it Folks. I know for a fact this is a problem at the Salisbury Zoo but has been kept quiet for all too many years. Charge a buck and they won't pay to get in. Close the east gate and have everyone enter from the west gate where it's much safer for children.

USPS Needs More Time

A soaring number of appeals is slowing the Postal Service's plans to close thousands of small post offices. Auditors said appeals rose from just six two-years ago to 126 by May of this year. More than one in every five closures faced appeal and a long, drawn-out process. Both the Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission are spending more time and money on appeals. The Postal Service inspector general said the rise caught USPS lawyers off guard. It said they need more resources to handle the rising workload. The Postal Service is planning to contract out the work.

Veteran Disability Claims

Veterans Affairs officials go to Capitol Hill today to defend the agency's progress on tackling the backlog of veterans' disability claims. About two-thirds of veterans who apply for disability have to wait more than four months for a response. Undersecretary Allison Hickey said VA was moving faster to process applications, but she didn't expect the backlog this year to shrink to the size it was a year ago. She said many of those veterans with pending claims already received some disability benefits. A House panel called the hearing. Lawmakers were frustrated that VA still processed claims on paper despite plans to move to an electronic system.

Pentagon Wants Tougher Armored Trucks

The Pentagon is looking for the next generation of armored trucks to replace its long-time Humvees. Bloomberg Government reported the vehicles may no longer match the military's needs, and Humvees have been vulnerable to roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it said the Army and Marine Corps are developing a replacement truck and plan to begin making it in three years. In the next two months, the Defense Department plans to award contracts for prototypes. Some defense analysts say the department should spend its money elsewhere given the looming budget cuts.

Flip-flops Present Feet With a Painful Problem

With a litany of stubbed toes, sprained ankles, broken bones and blistered feet, Americans' feet are hurting.

According to the National Foot Health Assessment 2012 released in June, 78% of adults 21 and older have experienced one or more foot problems in their lives.

One common culprit of America's foot pain, especially during the summer, is the flip-flop.

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Cecil Dairy Farm Bringing Back the Milkman

RISING SUN — To modern ears, it sounds like a fairy tale: Once upon a time, a uniformed man drove a truck and delivered glass bottles of cold milk to the front door.

But the tale of the milkman seemed to be a story without a happy ending.

Doorstep milk deliveries across the U.S. disappeared almost to extinction about 30 years ago. The quaint, yet outdated, practice became as relevant as a rotary phone.

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USS Cole Bombing Judge Denies Recusal Motion

The military judge presiding over the war crimes trial of a Guantanamo Bay prisoner charged in the attack on the USS Cole rejected a motion Tuesday by defense attorneys that he remove himself from the case.

Lawyers for Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri said they don’t believe Army Col. James Pohl can be impartial because he has a financial incentive to side with the Pentagon, which pays his salary, and he is serving as the judge in other Guantanamo cases. But Pohl said at a hearing that the defense offered scant evidence to support its argument.

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Romney: Obama 'Wants Americans to Be Ashamed of Success'

A fiery Mitt Romney on Tuesday accused President Barack Obama of believing the government is more vital to a thriving economy than the nation's workers and dreamers, scrambling to get back on message by declaring of Obama, "I'm convinced he wants Americans to be ashamed of success."

The new Romney approach came as Democrats pressed for the release of more of Romney's tax returns and hounded the Republican candidate over discrepancies in when he left his private equity firm. The conservative magazine National Review urged Romney to release more of his tax records

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BREAKING NEWS: Hannity Interviews Zimmerman

George Zimmerman, accused of murder in the shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, sits for an exclusive interview with Sean Hannity: Watch on Fox News at 9 p.m. ET.

Hoyer: Food Stamps, Unemployment Insurance 2 'Most Stimulative' Things for Economy

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Tuesday that food stamps and unemployment insurance are the two "most stimulative" t things you can do for the economy.

During a pen and pad briefing with reporters on Capitol Hill, Hoyer was asked if any Democrats are “reconsidering the wisdom” of letting the Bush tax cuts expire at year’s end for the top income earners given the still struggling U.S. economy.

"I haven’t talked to any who are of that mind," said Hoyer. "If you talk to economists, they will tell you there are two things that are the most stimulative that you can do -- one’s unemployment insurance, the other’s food stamps, okay?”

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Trump: Romney Should Release Tax Docs When Obama Releases College Records

The Donald is back and better than ever. Today, Donald Trump explained that Mitt Romney should release his tax records … but not until Barack Obama releases his college records. “Obama should give his college applications and records – you talk about transparency,” said Trump. “We will learn more about Obama when we look at those college applications than any other thing that can happen.” President Obama has already refused repeatedly to hand over such records, lumping the entire topic in with talk about his birth certificate.

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GOP Spending Bill Aims To Defund Planned Parenthood, Up Abstinence-Only Funds

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) released a labor, health and education spending bill on Tuesday that would defund Planned Parenthood and Title X, block the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, allow any employer to deny women birth control coverage under the ACA for "moral reasons" and increase spending for abstinence-only education.

Specifically, the bill prevents federal dollars from flowing to Planned Parenthood clinics until the family planning provider can certify that it no longer offers abortions, even though Planned Parenthood only uses federal money for non-abortion services.

The legislation also states that none of its funds can be used to carry out the Title X family planning program or be used to "implement, administer, enforce, or further the provisions" of the Affordable Care Act.

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Are You a R.A.C.I.S.T?

Arizona Immigration Law Opponents File New Offensive Aimed at Blocking Status Check

PHOENIX –  Opponents of Arizona's hardline immigration enforcement law launched a new effort Tuesday aimed at thwarting a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that will allow police to enforce the so-called "show me your papers" provision.

A coalition of civil rights groups, religious leaders and business organizations filed a new request seeking a court order that would prevent authorities from enforcing a rule that requires police to check the immigration status of people they stop for other reasons.

The groups are asking U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton to block enforcement of the requirement before it takes effect, arguing that Latinos in Arizona would face systematic racial profiling and unreasonably long detentions under the contentious section of the 2010 law.

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Rules About Guns

Chick-Fil-A President, On Anti-Gay Stance: 'Guilty As Charged'

Though Chick-fil-A has come under considerable fire for its documented support of anti-gay Christian organizations, officials for the fast food chain have remained mostly tight-lipped about the controversy -- until now.

In a new interview with the Baptist Press, Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy -- the son of company founder S. Truett Cathy -- addresses what the publication describes as his franchise's "support of the traditional family."

Cathy's somewhat glib response: "Well, guilty as charged."

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Springfield Boy With Lemonade Stand Reaches Goal

Johnny Karlinchak, the 8-year-old Springfield kid who set up lemonade stands to help his neighbors rebuild their home after it was damaged in the recent storm, has reached his goal.

With some perserverence, he raised the $500 deductible for the Myers family fund.

After his story ran in the The Washington Post on Sunday, people knocked on his door and called in pledges. When he and his family ate at a restaurant that night, the owners saw his story — Johnny is no stranger to tragedy — and donated $45 on the spot, bringing his total to $500. 

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Old Gardens Of The Hamptons 100 Years Ago

East Hampton may be known for its over-the-top real estate, but the homes of today don't hold a candle to the estates of last century.

The Library of Congress recently released hundreds of lantern slides (hand-colored glass transparencies) of old gardens, including some images of gardens in East Hampton 100 years in the past.

We combed through the pictures and, where possible, figured out what happened to the properties.

Click here to see the gardens >

Judge Suggests 'Discovery' in Obamacare Fight

A federal judge is suggesting the possibility of legal discovery – the process of demanding information and evidence – in a lawsuit over a committee that advised Barack Obama while the new taxes in Obamacare were being written.

An order issued by U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts in a case brought by Freedom Watch over federal rules requiring details about White House advisory groups requires that the government “file by August 13, 2012, as status report addressing whether it proposes to provide further evidentiary support for its supplemental memorandum or to confer with Freedom Watch regarding discovery.”

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Are Race Riots News?

When I first saw a book with the title, White Girl Bleed A Lot by Colin Flaherty, I instantly knew what it was about, even though I had not seen the book reviewed anywhere, and knew nothing about the author.

That is because I had encountered that phrase before, while doing research for the four new chapters on intellectuals and race that I added to the revised edition of my own book, Intellectuals and Society, published this year.

That phrase was spoken by a member of a mob of young blacks who attacked whites at random at a Fourth of July celebration in Milwaukee last year. What I was appalled to learn, in the course of my research, was that such race riots have occurred in other cities across the United States in recent years – and that the national mainstream media usually ignore these riots.

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Has Your City Been Infiltrated by Mexican Drug Cartels? Find Out Here

Forget drug cartels being a Mexican problem, they have infiltrated thousands of U.S. cities and are running complex and lucrative drug operations right under our noses. After all, we are their biggest and most relied upon customer.

Using information from a report released by the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Post was able to identify the trafficking routes and bases of various Mexican drug cartels. And it may shock you just how deeply embedded they are in America.

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I'm Finally Leaving America's Crazed Police State

Dudes, I'm done with this. I'm leaving the United States today, and won't be back for a while. I recently visited my childhood hometown and noticed a whole bunch of brand new surveillance cameras at nearly every intersection and street corner; this is just a town, mind you, not some city of national or international significance.

After doing some research, it turns out the cameras are "high-definition" 24/7 surveillance cameras, manufactured and operated by Sprint Nextel Corp, and paid for through federal Department of Homeland Security grants to the town's local police department.

In fact, the number of these cameras in my hometown has reportedly tripled over the past couple years. There are as many as six of them at each intersection, they aren't red light traffic cameras (topic for another article altogether, though). Here's a photo I took of the cameras.

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Catch-22: Senate Democrats Must Accept Mining Is Necessary for Green Technology

Last Thursday, House Republicans--with the support of a handful of Democrats, and no support from the White House--passed the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act. The Act is an important first step to getting past the U.S. environmental movement’s grave misunderstanding when it comes to the relationship between metal mining and America’s green energy future. Now it is up to the Democrat-controlled Senate, which is not expected to pass the new law. 

Here is why it must.
Ask any environmentally-minded person to describe the future they hope for our planet, and you tend to get pretty much the same answer. Our primary energy sources will be non-polluting, sustainable technologies such as wind and solar. Our remaining reliance on oil, coal and gas will be limited to highly efficient non-polluting power generation systems such as fuel cells and hybrid electric motors. Wasteful technologies and equipment will be replaced with advanced energy efficient high technologies and equipment, e.g. 20^th Century incandescent lighting will be replaced with 21^st Century LED lighting. No surprises.

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DOUBLE STANDARD

NEW TECHNOLOGY (AMAZING)

Kitten vs TWO Scary Things

Bitter Creek Western Live Steam Narrow Gauge Meet

THE TERRIFYING MOMENT A 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL FALLS OUT A THIRD-STORY WINDOW…AND IS CAUGHT BY A LOCAL BUS DRIVER!

Steve St. Bernard, 52, became a local hero after saving the life of his autistic, 7-year-old neighbor.

According to the New York Daily News, the girl had opened the window of her family’s third-story apartment in the Brooklyn-area, before crawling out.

She sang and danced as neighboring kids watched in horror from the ground, but soon lost her balance. 

Video and more Here 

Surprise! Somehow The Recession Didn’t Do Severe Damage To Our Credit Scores

While plenty of other financial aspects of our lives may have been sent into a downward spiral since the recession hit in 2008, there is a bright spot in all that job loss and economic gloom: On average, our credit scores have stayed steady. But what exactly does that mean?

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It's Just Too Hot

The Tawes Festival is in full swing but quite frankly I attended last years event in this kind of heat and it was just miserable.

While I'll miss seeing a lot of old friends and associates, I'm staying in the A/C this year and skipping it.

Destroyed by Occupiers, LA Unveils New $550,000 City Hall Lawn

When Occupy LA took up residence in the park around LA's City Hall in 2011 the building was surrounded by a well-maintanined lawn. Months of camping at the site reduced it to a filthy, barren landscape where only the trees survived (and some of them had been damaged too).

The campers were removed by LAPD in late November. Fences went up and maintenance workers spent months repairing the damage. Thursday the fences around LA's City Hall will come down and visitors will get their first glimpse of the new $550,000 greenscape. KPCC public radio reports that total was supplemented by donations from "Scott's, Home Depot, a turf company, and the Metropolitan Water District."

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This Just In

The Maryland State police station is on fire in Salisbury, MD.

Free Phone Frenzy

BREAKING NEWS: Israeli Tour Bus Bombed In Bulgaria

At least three people are dead after a bomb exploded on a bus packed with Israeli tourists who had landed at the airport in Burgas, Bulgaria.

From Fox News

Despite Protests, Boy Scouts Reaffirm Ban on Gays

After a confidential two-year review, the Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday emphatically reaffirmed its policy of excluding gays, angering critics who hoped that relentless protest campaigns might lead to change.

The Scouts cited support from parents as a key reason for keeping the policy and expressed hope that the prolonged debate over it might now subside. Bitter reactions from gay-rights activists suggested that result was unlikely.

The Scouts' national spokesman, Deron Smith, told The Associated Press that an 11-member special committee, formed discreetly by top Scout leaders in 2010, came to the conclusion that the exclusion policy "is absolutely the best policy" for the 102-year-old organization.

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Charges Unlikely Against Man Who Shot Robbers

OCALA - The Internet cafe patron who shot and injured two men as they tried to rob the business will likely not face any criminal charges.

“Based on what I have seen and what I know at this time, I don't anticipate filing any charges,” said Bill Gladson of the State Attorney's Office for 5th Judicial Circuit.

Gladson said he has reviewed the security surveillance video from the cafe. While he still awaits final reports from the Marion County Sheriff's Office, he said the shooting appeared justified.

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IT’S HOT OUTSIDE! STAY COOL. STAY HYDRATED. STAY INFORMED

“Protect athletes from heat-related illness”

(Salisbury, MD) - Wicomico County is experiencing extreme heat with the highest temperatures forecasted for Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Extremely hot weather can cause serious health effects such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke which may lead to death. Athletes and people who exercise in extreme heat are more likely to become dehydrated and are more likely to get heat illness.

Lori Brewster, Wicomico County Health Officer encourages everyone to help the athletes under your supervision stay cool, hydrated, and informed.

If an athlete feels faint or even weak, STOP all activity and get them to a cool environment.

Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when it is the hottest part of the day.
Schedule workouts and practices earlier or later in the day to avoid midday heat.
Pace activity. Start activities slow and pick up the pace gradually.
Encourage athletes to:
Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while exercising. Muscle cramping may be an early sign of heat illness.
Monitor a teammate’s condition, and have someone do the same for them.
Wear a baseball cap and loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
Seek medical care immediately if an athlete experiences symptoms of heat illness.

“Heat related illnesses are a serious health threat and can be life threatening,” says Mrs. Brewster, “I urge athletes to drink lots of water, stay cool, and look out for each other.”

State Police Probe Thefts From Vehicles

Locations:
Eastern Sussex County

Dates:
June 2012 – July 2012

Suspect(s):
No Suspects

Resume:
Over the past couple months; the Delaware State Police has investigated thefts from unsecured vehicles at over a dozen locations located in eastern Sussex County.

State Police learned that an undetermined number of suspects entered approximately twelve different vehicles stealing items and also rummaging through unsecured vehicles. The suspects stole items ranging from car speakers to U. S. Currency and jewelry. No damage was done to the vehicles because they were left unsecured. In most of these cases the vehicles were parked in the victim’s driveways.

The Delaware State Police urge people to utilize the following tips:
Lock your car doors and roll up you windows
Do not leave valuables inside your vehicle
Leave outdoor lights on in the driveway or have security lighting installed
Report any suspicious activity

If anyone has any information on these incidents, they are asked to contact Troop 7 at 302-644-5020 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."

Today's Fill In The Blank 7-18-12

I think minimum wage should be $____ per hour.

Pills

The wife told me to go out and get some of those pills that will help me get an erection .

You should have seen her face when I came back and tossed her some diet pills !

I'm looking for a place to live, can you help me?

Maryland Young Republicans Chairman's Statement On The Proposed Special Session On Expanding Gaming

Griffiths says O'Malley should suspend 2016 Campaign to work on coherent gaming plan

ANNAPOLIS- Maryland Young Republicans Chairman Brian Griffiths issued the following statement today on the proposed Special Session of the Maryland General Assembly.

"The Democrats continued failure to come to an agreement on the parameters for holding a Special Session on expanding gaming in the state of Maryland is the latest in a string of failures that show the Maryland Democratic establishment is incapable of leadership.

"The failures of the Democrats to lead five years ago lead to this convoluted system that creates an environment that makes Maryland unattractive to gaming companies. The failures of the Democrats to reduce spending in a down economic climate make it impossible for the state to make ends meet. It is for that reason, and that reason alone, Governor O'Malley, Senate President Miller, and Speaker Busch are insistent upon rushing through a complicated gaming bill and thrusting it before the people this fall.

"While it is understandable that Maryland's Democrats are jealous of the success of the Maryland Republican Party and MDPetitions.com on successfully giving voters a voice on three liberal pieces of legislation, it would be unwise for the Governor and legislative leadership to rush a bad bill through a Special Session to force it upon the voters this year.

"The most prudent course of action would be for Governor O'Malley to suspend his 2016 Presidential Campaign, come back home, and attempt to work with legislative leadership to put together a comprehensive and coherent gaming expansion package for the regularly scheduled session of the General Assembly commencing in January. There is no reason to rush another bad gambling policy before the people of Maryland."

The Maryland Young Republicans are the leading organization of Republican youth in the Old Line State. We are Maryland's officially chartered affiliate of the Young Republican National Federation. But we are so much more than that. Our clubs consist of active members of our communities. They are members of local central committees, active in community leadership, and running campaigns for office across Maryland.

DRUG DROP BOX GETTING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OFF STREETS, LANDFILLS AND WATERWAYS

In May 2012, the Ocean City Police Department joined the effort by communities and law enforcement agencies to prevent the abuse of unused prescription medication by becoming the first location in Worcester County to offer a permanent drug drop box. Donated by the Ocean City Elks Lodge, the drug drop box has already recovered numerous pounds of prescription drugs, a portion of which were prescription narcotics.

The Ocean City Police Department’s drug drop box has already proved to be tremendous success by yielding 26 pounds of assorted medication, some of which were narcotics, in the past two weeks alone. “We are extremely pleased with the response we are receiving from the program,” said Chief Bernadette DiPino. “We are proud to be part of a program that has increased the ability of residents and visitors to easily and properly dispose of unneeded, expired or unwanted medicine.”

The drug drop box program, which was launched by the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI), was designed to significantly reduce the prescription drugs in American homes that are either no longer needed or outdated. The Ocean City Police Department reminds citizens that they can dispose of their unwanted medication by using the drug drop box, which is mounted in the lobby of the Public Safety Building, at any time or day.

Police ask citizens who wish to remove their personal information from the medicine container to please leave visible the name of the medication, in order to properly dispose of it. For additional information, please contact the Ocean City Police Department’s Public Affairs Office at 410-723-6665.

Today's Advertiser Of The Day 7-18-12

Seasonal Firefighters Can Now Join The Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program

The Office of Personnel Management said they can enjoy the same health care benefits that other federal employees have whenever they are working for the government. When the firefighters return home, they can continue their coverage at their own expense. OPM's move comes just a week after President Barack Obama ordered the agency to step in. Wildland firefighters working for the Interior and Agriculture departments were ineligible for benefits because they worked just part of the year.

Why Mitt Romney Is Unlikable!

A lot is being said in the media about Mitt Romney not being "likable" or that he doesn't "relate well" to people. Frankly, we struggled to understand why. So after much research, we have come up with a Top Ten List to explain this "unlikablility."

Top Ten Reasons To Dislike Mitt Romney:

1. Drop-dead, collar-ad handsome with gracious, statesmanlike aura. Looks like every central casting's #1 choice for Commander-in-Chief.

2. Been married to ONE woman his entire life, and has been faithful to her, including through her bouts with breast cancer and MS.

3. No scandals or skeletons in his closet. (How boring is that?)

4. Can't speak in a fake, southern, "black preacher voice" when necessary.

5. Highly intelligent. Graduated cum laude from both Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School...and by the way, his academic records are NOT sealed.

6. Doesn't smoke or drink alcohol, and has never done drugs, not even in the counter-culture age when he went to college. Too square for today's America?

7. Represents an America of "yesterday", where people believed in God, went to Church, didn't screw around, worked hard, and became a SUCCESS!

8. Has a family of five great sons....and none of them have police records or are in drug rehab. But of course, they were raised by a stay-at-home mom, and that "choice" deserves America's scorn.

9. Oh yes.....he's a MORMON. We need to be very afraid of that very strange religion that teaches its members to be clean-living, patriotic, fiscally conservative, charitable, self-reliant, and honest.

10. And one more point.....pundits say because of his wealth, he can't relate to ordinary Americans. I guess that's because he made that money HIMSELF.....as opposed to marrying it or inheriting it from Dad. Apparently, he didn't understand that actually working at a job and earning your own money made you unrelatable to Americans.

My goodness, it's a strange world, isn't it?

Salisbury Police Department Press Release 7-18-12

Marjorie Dickerson, 52yoa of Salisbury, MD was arrested July 16, 2012 and charged with Assault 2nd Degree, Reckless Endangerment and Conspiracy – Assault 1st Degree.

On July 16, 2012 at 1356hrs Salisbury Police officers responded to 824 W. Isabella St. for a reported assault. Officers met with the victim who advised that he was accosted by Dickerson and a male acquaintance. The male suspect pushed the victim to the ground and struck the victim several times with a metal cane.

Dickerson then punched the victim multiple times about the face and chest. The victim received lacerations and contusions to his arm and neck as a result of the assault.

Dickerson was released to Central Booking. Investigation is continuing and charges against the male suspect are pending.

2011 Report Card for Maryland's Infrastructure

 More HERE

2012 Maryland School Assessment (MSA) Results Available Online

The Maryland State Department of Education has made available online the 2012 Maryland School Assessment (MSA) results, with brand new guidelines for determining accountability and rigorous, realistic progress goals individualized for each school.

The 2012 MSA was given in March to all Maryland students in grades 3 through 8. The results are available online at www.mdreportcard.org. Home reports showing each Wicomico student’s performance on the MSA were mailed to parents/guardians in June.

Maryland is committed to supporting the success of its students, and for the past four years has led the nation as the No. 1 state for public education, according to Education Weekly. Earlier this year, Maryland successfully sought a waiver from some of the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the 2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Maryland’s waiver allows for ESEA flexibility, with NCLB measures like Adequate Yearly Progress and School Improvement labels replaced by a Maryland School Progress Index that will hold schools, school systems and the state accountable for achievement, gap reduction and growth.

The 2012 data release marks the first under Maryland’s recently granted flexibility from NCLB. Under NCLB, all students must score at proficient levels by 2014, and progress toward that goal was gauged by a statewide measurement known as Adequate Yearly Progress. Under Maryland’s new “School Progress” plan, each school is measured against its own targets, and must work to strengthen achievement across all subgroups. Under the School Progress calculation, nearly 85 percent (84.8 percent) of Maryland schools met the AMO targets for this baseline year. The percentage of Maryland students achieving proficiency increased this year for elementary Math and Reading and middle school Math.

This year’s data begins a new baseline, and schools and systems will work to cut in half over the next six years the percentage of students not scoring at proficient levels on the exams. As in the past, the accountability system measures all students as well as racial subgroups and groups of students receiving additional services, such as special education and English language learners. Schools and systems must work to hit improvement targets, known as annual measureable objectives (AMOs). AMOs will be calculated for the student population in each school as well as for special service and racial subgroups.

Gone are the categories of “School Improvement,” under which schools were sanctioned for not making progress. Maryland’s plan now focuses special attention on those schools with the most difficulty, but the requirement for restructuring and other sanctions is no longer part of the equation.

MSA proficiency is just one area of the Maryland School Progress Index, which will be made public later this year. The index will also include gap reduction and MSA growth for individual students for grades prekindergarten-8, and for the high school grades, High School Assessment (HSA) achievement, gap reduction on the HSA, graduation rate and cohort dropout rate, and college and career readiness.

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OCCUPY Respect

Special Consistent Attire Program (CAP) Show Begins Airing Wednesday, July 18 On PAC 14

Wicomico’s new Consistent Attire Program (CAP) is featured in a special edition of "Working Together for Children" that begins airing on PAC 14 (Comcast Channel 14) on Wednesday, July 18.

The 15-minute show explores the details of CAP, which the following elementary schools will pilot for the 2012-13 school year: Beaver Run, Charles H. Chipman, Delmar, North Salisbury, Pemberton, Pinehurst, Prince Street, West Salisbury and Wicomico Early Learning Center. Find out why the school system is piloting a Consistent Attire Program, what clothing students in CAP schools will need, and where they can purchase it. The show includes a fashion show, hosted by the Sears store in Salisbury, with students from CAP schools.

The CAP show is currently scheduled to air, in conjunction with the “Working Together for Children” summer yearbook edition, at the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, July 18: 7:30 a.m. Working Together yearbook edition 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m; CAP show 7:59 a.m. and 7:29 p.m.

• Thursday, July 19: CAP show 7:30 a.m. and 6:29 p.m. Working Together yearbook edition 7:45 a.m. and 6 p.m;

For additional airtimes during the rest of the summer, please check Programming at www.pac14.org. PAC 14’s website now features Video on Demand, so the program may be viewed at any time.

A Comment Worthy Of A Post 7-18-12

"education is the next big bubble to burst. Within the next ten or so years, many colleges and universities are going to go out of business. So, here is a thought experiment for you, Joe.

Pretend SU closes it's doors (which it will, mark my words- does anyone seriously think when the economy collapses that the state will fund the hinterland branches of its university system?)...as mayor, what would you do with it?"

Publishers Notes:

Considering the Federal Government now has its hands in ALL student loans, I HIGHLY doubt you'll see any Universities close their doors. IF they got into trouble AND IF Obama were to get re elected, bailouts seem to be his legacy and the Universities would be top on his list to save.

That being said, IF I were to "Pretend" (as you stated) we'd be in a pretty major jam. I'm not so sure I'd be more worried about it closing than I would about ALL of the job losses we'd be facing. This is one of my biggest concerns here on the Shore. The lack of building permits for new chicken houses is slapping all of the citizens here in the face. We need to wake up, we're shrinking, not growing. Some may not mind that there are less chicken houses. However, the fact that the regulations here in Maryland are becoming so harsh, states like North Carolina are picking up the slack. We could be looking at massive job losses here in that Industry as well.

We cannot continue to depend on PRMC, SU or Perdue. We MUST start TODAY looking into how we can attract manufacturing and other sources of income. Salisbury has the infrastructure to provide incredible opportunities, yet we seem to have a Mayor who's only interest is entitlement housing projects instead.

Today's Survey Question 7-18-12

Obama: Boxers or Briefs?

Fox News: Obama Has Declared 'War On Success'

Fox's cable news hosts are up-in-arms over President Barack Obama's recent comment that business owners are not solely responsible for their own success, joining a chorus of Republicans who say the remarks prove Obama is unfit to lead the economic recovery.

Of course, the President's remarks, made at a campaign stop in Virginia last week, are slightly more nuanced:

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help — there was a great teacher in your life, somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive," Obama said, "If you got a business, you didn't build that — somebody else made that happen."

Fox networks have interpreted the comments as vindication of the conservative characterization of Obama as a Big Government ideologue. On Fox Business yesterday, host Stu Varney ran the clip of Obama's remark several times over the banner headline "War On Success," before expressing his outrage over Obama's comments:

"I don't understand why the President should do this," Varney said. "Why does he go after capitalism, private enterprise, small businesses? It was almost an insult to say that 'You've got a small business, you've been successful — you didn't do it, you had to have help from us, the government.'"

View More HERE.

Guard/Reserve Pay

2012 Monthly Reserve/Guard Enlisted Drill Military Pay ScalesPay Grade Years of Service

Less than 2 Over 2 Over 3 Over 4 Over 6
E-7 356 390 405 425 440
E-6 309 340 355 370 385
E-5 283 303 316 331 355
E-4 260 272 288 303 315
E-3 234 249 264 264 264
E-2 222 222 222 222 222
E-1 199 199 199 199 199

Inflation Is A Monetary Phenomenon

Later this month Congress will have an unprecedented opportunity to force the Federal Reserve to provide meaningful transparency to lawmakers and taxpayers. HR 459, my bill known as "Audit the Fed," is scheduled for a vote before the full Congress in July. More than 270 of my colleagues cosponsored the bill, and it has the support of congressional leadership. But its passage in the House of Representatives is only the beginning of the battle, as many Senators and the President still don't see the critical need to have a national discussion about monetary policy.

The American public now senses that the Fed's actions, especially since 2008, are enormously inflationary and will cause great harm to the American economy in the long run. They are beginning to understand what so many economists still don't understand, which is that inflation is a monetary phenomenon, and rising prices are merely a symptom of that phenomenon. Prices eventually rise when the supply of US dollars (paper or electronic) grows faster than the available goods and services being chased by those dollars.

This fundamental truth has been thoroughly explained by Milton Friedman and many others, so today's Keynesian economists have no excuse for their claims that "inflation is under control." Ordinary Americans don't need a PhD simply to look at the Fed's balance sheet and understand the staggering amount of money creation that has occurred in recent years. They know it will have harmful consequences for all of us eventually.

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Md. Woman Exposed to Rabies Following Deer's Kick

LAVALE, Md. - It's strange enough to be kicked in the face by a deer, let alone one with rabies.

But that's what happened to one western Maryland woman this month.

Theresa Stevens, of LaVale, tells the Cumberland Times-News that she encountered the deer on July 6 after letting her dog out of the house.

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The FDA Is Caught Spying On Its Employees And Creating An "Enemies List"

Ah, so now we see the surveillance state is indeed everywhere. This is what happens when the government itself claims the right the tear up the supreme law of the land – The U.S. Constitution – and just track anyone they want anytime they want. When I first woke up to the gigantic fraud that is the global monetary system I thought I had figured it all out. Boy was I wrong. The more stones I overturn, the more I see the syndicate is indeed everywhere. The food industry and the healthcare industry are indeed as corrupt as the financial system. Just like the “regulators” in the financial markets simply serve as gatekeepers for the bankster oligarchs, so too does the FDA serve as a gatekeeper to the pharmaceutical elite. You know the corporations that in many cases are more interested in keeping you sick and selling you medicine than actually curing disease.

Key quotes from this NY Time article:

WASHINGTON — A wide-ranging surveillance operation by the Food and Drug Administration against a group of its own scientists used an enemies list of sorts as it secretly captured thousands of e-mails that the disgruntled scientists sent privately to members of Congress, lawyers, labor officials, journalists and even President Obama, previously undisclosed records show.

The agency, using so-called spy software designed to help employers monitor workers, captured screen images from the government laptops of the five scientists as they were being used at work or at home. The software tracked their keystrokes, intercepted their personal e-mails, copied the documents on their personal thumb drives and even followed their messages line by line as they were being drafted, the documents show.

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Obama At The Bat

The Gathering Pace Of Muni Fails

The can has been kicked. The austerity has been implemented. The revenues have fallen. And as we see in the chart below, the pace of local government distress is accelerating. As has been made so clear in the past, defaults cluster; and sure enough it is starting, as tensions between unions and city managers become irreconcilable.

The pace of local government distress is accelerating...

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He Said What in 2008?

What impact do negative campaign ads have on 2012 race?

Go HERE  to watch the video

Cat Has Been Mayor Of Alaska Town For 15 Years

National polls show that voters all over the country are losing faith in their elected leaders. But the 900 residents of Talkeetna, Alaska, say their mayor is doing a great job bringing in tourist dollars and has served in office for over a decade.

"He's good. He's probably the best we've ever had," resident Lauri Stec tells KTUU. "He was just in the Alaska Magazine, and he's been featured in a few different things."

In fact, Stec hangs out with Mayor Stubbs most days at Nagley's General Store, even though she notes, "He's growling at me right now."

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YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE TO GET ON A PLANE AGAIN........ Mesmerizing!!! This is just fantastic.

Pick out any interesting location around the world and click on it. A page will come up with a photo. In the centre is a circle with a triangle.

Click on the triangle. Now you get a full picture. If it's not a full screen, click on the 4 dots in the lower right corner.

Now with full screen, place your curser anywhere on the screen and slowly drag the picture in any direction you want. Left, right, up, down, slow or stop.

Try the Egyptian Pyramids in Egypt or Moscow, Kremlin to get started.

Panoramas and 3D Tours of the Most Beautiful Places Around the World! Click on the below City Names & Enjoy !

Victoria Falls, Zambia • Venezuela, Surroundings of Angel Falls, Venezuela • Angel falls, Venezuela • Kalyan Minaret, Bukhara, Uzbekistan • Miami, USA • Las Vegas, USA • Lake Powell, USA • Manhattan, New York, USA • Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, USA • Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, New York, USA • Oahu, Hawaii, USA • Las Vegas, Nevada, USA • Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, New York, USA • Golden Gate Bridge, USA • Statue of Liberty, New York, USA • Manhattan, New York, USA • Hollywood, California, USA • San Juan and Colorado rivers, USA • Goosenecks, Utah, USA • Mono Lake, California, USA • Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, New York, USA • Chicago, Illinois, USA • Los Angeles, California, USA • Kiev, Ukraine • Ay-Petri, Ukraine • Dubai, UAE • Dubai, Islands, UAE • Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE • Bangkok, Thailand • Sankt-Moritz, Switzerland • Cape Good Hope, South Africa • Cape-Town, South Africa • Moscow, MSU, Russia • Moscow, Kremlin, Bolotnaya Square , Russia • Moscow, Russia • Moscow Kremlin, Russia • 55.748765;37.540841, Russia • Moscow City, Russia • Kremlin, Moscow, Russia • Moscow City, Russia • Trinity Lavra of Sait Sergius, Russia • Saint-Petersburg, Russia • New Jerusalem Monastery, Russia • Saint Petersburg, Russia • Novodevichy Convent. Moscow, Russia • Ramenki,Moscow, Russia • MKAD, Moscow, Russia • Moscow, Russia • Moscow, Russia • Krokus Expo Center, Moscow, Russia • Moscow Region, Russia • Moeraki Boulders, New Zealand • Fiordland, New Zealand • Nepal, Nepal • Maldives, Maldives • Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia • Grimsvotn, Iceland • Amsterdam, Holland • Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany • Egyptian Pyramids, Egypt • Hong Kong, China • The Iguassu Falls, Brazil • Twelve Apostles Marine National Park, Australia • Sydney, Australia • Buenos Aires, Argentina •

South Beach Tow - This Is One Bad A$$ Repo Woman

Watch till the end...funny...look out behind you.

Massive ‘Flash Mob’ of 300 Terrorizes, Robs Florida Walmart After Local Party Broken Up by Police

Roughly 300 teenagers took to a Jacksonville, Florida Walmart Saturday night after a nearby party was broken up by police (possibly because someone was reportedly shot in the leg).

Not only did the out-of-control youths both steal and destroy merchandise, according to reports, they also started throwing food and equipment around for the sake of it.

“They are stealing items, they are all over the store. You can imagine how fearful the customers were who were in there at that particular time,” Channel 4 crime analyst Ken Jefferson said.

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Let's Find Waldo

I'm encouraging all of you who care about the animals at the Wicomico Humane Society to pick up the phone or physically stop in there today and ask for Mr. Fitzgerald, the new Director.

If you can't get a hold of him I want you to keep trying for the next two weeks, seriously.

What you'll find is that Mr. Fitzgerald cannot be located because he's left the Humane Society for a two week vacation in Hawaii. So now your saying, so, what's the big deal, right. Who's running the shelter? He fired ALL of the people who were qualified. Who's running the books, since he fired the accountants?

The Humane Society had the opportunity to hire a true professional. Instead, Mrs. Gordy hired her Brother In Law who has no experience. The other professional wanted $50,000.00 a year to direct the HS. Instead, it's been reported she hired her Brother In Law for $45,000.00 a year with a promise of another $5,000.00 a year the 2nd year.

I personally believe all of the members of the Humane Society need to call together a meeting and terminate the entire sitting Board. The Humane Society is completely out of control at the expense of the animals.

If you think I'm wrong, go pay a visit and see if Mr. Fitzgerald is there over the next two weeks. Ask the person in charge how much experience they have. Ask if they were a part time employee.

MANY people that have financially given up large sums of money over the years told me they are done. They are so disgusted with how things are going down there they refuse to put up any more donations.

Mrs. Gordy, it's time you step down and let some fresh faces take over. I'd also suggest term limits for new Board Members.

It's About What The People Want

It's not all about Tee Shirts and Bumper Stickers, it's about what the citizens want. My friend said, your already getting fan mail. Thanks for the support Folks, seriously.

GM Tunnel Of Love

Welcome to the GM tunnel of love in Detroit. Even the public and the media aren't allowed in this building. Very few people know it exists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?feature=endscreen&=R=1&v=RvVmDsWnMOk

SURVEILLANCE VID SHOWS 71-YEAR-OLD CONCEALED CARRY HOLDER OPENING FIRE ON WOULD-BE ROBBERS

Samuel Williams could soon become a poster child for concealed carry. Or rather a poster senior citizen.

Williams is being hailed as a hero this week after he sprung into action on Friday to thwart an armed robbery at an internet cafe. Williams was present when two masked thugs walked into the Palms Internet Cafe in Marion County, Florida. One of the men was brandishing a gun while the other had a bat. They started ordering patrons around and one smashes a computer screen. That’s when Williams took action.

More including video Here

Behold An Olive Garden And A Red Lobster Under One Roof

Darden, parent company of ubiquitous chain restaurants such as Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and LongHorn Steakhouse, likes to cluster its restaurants near each other. So it makes sense that in smaller markets, they would pair a Red Lobster and an Olive Garden in one building, with a shared kitchen, bar, waiting area, and rest rooms. This seemed like totally amazing news until we learned that customers will not be able to order off both menus. Then what's the point?

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Leaked! Obama's Devastating 2nd-term Plans

A soon-to-be-released, game-changing election book will reveal the blueprint for a second Barack Obama presidential term.

Slated for release Aug. 7 by WND Books, “Fool Me Twice: Obama’s Shocking Plans for the Next Four Years Exposed” uncovers the template for Obama’s next four years – the actual, extensive plans created by Obama’s own top advisers and progressive strategists.

The explosive book unveils all the main areas of Obama’s second-term domestic policy onslaught – jobs, wages, health care, immigration “overhaul,” electoral “reform,” national energy policy, Pentagon plans and much more.

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Turns Out Gas Station Has A Habit Of Over-Charging Customers By Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars

It may not have been just a freaky set of circumstances that led to a man having over $84,000 charged to his bank card after buying $30 of gas last week. That same Nashville gas station has seen a few other overcharges that also reached into the high tens of thousands.

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Stranded Jet Skiers Rescued by MSP

TALBOT COUNTY, Md. - A Maryland State Police helicopter rescued two stranded jet skiers in Skipton Creek Monday night.

MSP Trooper 6, based at the Easton Airport, was dispatched at about 10:30 p.m. to complete a hoist rescue mission for two victims who grounded their jet skis in the mud in the middle of the creek. The victims were stranded at night and exposed to elements for 3 hours with no ability to get back ashore.

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Cemetery: You Paid For The Crypt But You Didn’t Pay For Us To Put You In it

A couple in New Jersey thought they had made the final payment on their prepaid funeral arrangements 30 years ago. That is, until the cemetery called to tell them they still owed more than $2,000 if they ever hoped to actually be entombed in the crypt they had purchased.

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