Due to the fact that that Wikipedia is “collaboratively edited,”
leaving open the potential for error and misrepresentation of facts,
many academics have long advised pupils to avoid using the site as a
source. Still, the online encyclopedia of sorts does have many truthful
posts and contributors and encouraged to fact check and source
information posted on the site.
But where does Wikipedia, which has more than 22 million articles, get all of its information? WebEmpires.org “crawled the entire database
of English Wikipedia to compile a list of Wikipedia’s top sources.”
What it found was more than 22 million websites, which it then proceeded
to rank by number of times it was used as a source in articles.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, July 30, 2012
Vandals Hit Speed Camera For Second Time
Vandals have again hit a speed camera in Baltimore County.
It happened earlier this year to the same metal camera enclosure along Rolling Road near Catonsville High School.
The first time around back in April someone torched it.
This time it happened yesterday morning.
More
It happened earlier this year to the same metal camera enclosure along Rolling Road near Catonsville High School.
The first time around back in April someone torched it.
This time it happened yesterday morning.
More
Car Dealers Fear Obama Fuel Standards Will Make New Vehicles Unaffordable
The White House is expected to OK federal standards in the next few
weeks that will nearly double vehicle gas mileage for vehicles by 2025,
as automotive dealers warn the changes could slam the recovering retail
car industry because they will come with sticker prices that will keep
buyers off their lots.
The recommendations call for “fleet wide” gas mileage of 54.4 miles a gallon by 2025 -- essentially the average gas mileage for cars, trucks, vans and all other vehicles in a model year.
The Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration submitted their proposed 2017-2025 fuel-efficiency recommendations in mid-July to the administration’s Office of Management and Budget.
More
The recommendations call for “fleet wide” gas mileage of 54.4 miles a gallon by 2025 -- essentially the average gas mileage for cars, trucks, vans and all other vehicles in a model year.
The Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration submitted their proposed 2017-2025 fuel-efficiency recommendations in mid-July to the administration’s Office of Management and Budget.
More
Proceeds From 150th Antietam Re-enactment To Be Shared With Maryland Boy Scouts
Organizers of a major Civil War battle re-enactment near Sharpsburg say they have enlisted local Boy Scouts to sell tickets.
Civil War Heritage Inc. says the Mason-Dixon Boy Scout Council will receive a share of the proceeds from each ticket sold for the 150th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Antietam Sept. 15-16.
More
Distracted Pedestrians Stumble Into Danger
A young man talking on a cellphone meanders along the edge of
a lonely train platform at night. Suddenly he stumbles, loses his balance and
pitches over the side, landing head first on the tracks.
Fortunately there were no trains approaching the Philadelphia-area station at that moment, because it took the man several minutes to recover enough to climb out of danger. But the incident, captured last year by a security camera and provided to The Associated Press, underscores the risks of what government officials and safety experts say is a growing problem: distracted walking.
More
Fortunately there were no trains approaching the Philadelphia-area station at that moment, because it took the man several minutes to recover enough to climb out of danger. But the incident, captured last year by a security camera and provided to The Associated Press, underscores the risks of what government officials and safety experts say is a growing problem: distracted walking.
More
Scalia Suggests SCOTUS Could Limit Second Amendment
On an appearance on FOX News Sunday, conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said that “there are some limitations that can be imposed” on the Second Amendment and predicted “future” cases would come before the Supreme Court concerning gun control in which gun restrictions would have to be weighed “very carefully.”
Gun control is politically toxic for Democrats. Democrats in the Senate, despite the urging of their liberal cohorts to not let the tragic Aurora shootings go to waste in pushing for gun control, chickened out and said gun control measures will not be introduced.
‘Disgusting’: Participants in ‘World Naked Bike Race’ Seemingly Bring Their Children
Editor’s Note: The following story includes a content warning for video that contain brief nudity.
The “World Naked Bike Ride in St. Louis” Facebook page encourages bikers to “protest oil dependency,“ ”raise awareness of cyclist rights,“ and advocate a ”positive body image” by taking to the streets of St. Louis on their bicycles.
An estimated 500 people turned up, according to KDSK, and the movement reportedly has fans in 70 cities and 20 different countries.
But even if riding a bicycle naked in the dark could actually accomplish any of those things, at what point does a sane person decide not to bring their children to the event?
More
The “World Naked Bike Ride in St. Louis” Facebook page encourages bikers to “protest oil dependency,“ ”raise awareness of cyclist rights,“ and advocate a ”positive body image” by taking to the streets of St. Louis on their bicycles.
An estimated 500 people turned up, according to KDSK, and the movement reportedly has fans in 70 cities and 20 different countries.
But even if riding a bicycle naked in the dark could actually accomplish any of those things, at what point does a sane person decide not to bring their children to the event?
More
More Kids Visit ER for Accidental Medication Ingestion
More and more children are ending up in emergency rooms after
accidentally taking medications designed for adults.
"We are seeing an increase not just in our E.R., but region-wide," says Dr. Erik Schobitz, who works in the pediatric emergency room at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital.
It's part of a national trend. Safe Kids Worldwide, an advocacy group for child safety, reported earlier in 2012 that roughly 165 children in the U.S. are rushed to emergency rooms each day after finding and taking medications.
More
"We are seeing an increase not just in our E.R., but region-wide," says Dr. Erik Schobitz, who works in the pediatric emergency room at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital.
It's part of a national trend. Safe Kids Worldwide, an advocacy group for child safety, reported earlier in 2012 that roughly 165 children in the U.S. are rushed to emergency rooms each day after finding and taking medications.
More
Road to White House Will Decide Senate
Democrat control of the U.S. Senate is in serious jeopardy this November. Of the 33 seats up for election this Fall, Democrats are defending 22. The GOP needs a net-gain of 4 seats to take control of the chamber (3 if Romney is elected, as the GOP VP would provide a tie-breaking vote.) Of the 8 seats considered "toss up" by RealClearPolitics, Democrats are defending six. Moreover, though, Democrats are defending 8 seats in Presidential battleground states, linking their fates to the Obama/Romney contest.
In recent years, contested Senate races have tended to "break" in favor of one party. In 2006, Democrats picked up 6 seats and didn't lose any. In 2008, Dems picked up 8 and again successfully defended every seat. Same too for the GOP in 2010, who picked up 6 seats without losing any they had held. If the election contest breaks discernibly for either Obama or Romney, the Senate races in the 8 battleground states will likely break towards the candidate's party, delivering the Senate to the party of the Presidential victor.More
Police Lose Keys to Wembley Stadium
Police guarding Wembley Stadium where Olympic football
matches are being played revealed Monday that they have lost a set of
keys to the venue.
Officers searching the stadium in London ahead of the start of the Games misplaced the keys, prompting an investigation by Scotland Yard, but organisers insisted that security has not been compromised.
Organisers stressed that the keys were for internal doors and the relevant locks have now been changed.
More
Neil Prescott: Threatening 'Joker' or 'Gentle Giant'?
A Maryland man accused of threatening to shoot up his workplace and who
police say called himself "a joker" is a "gentle giant" who collected
firearms for target practice and had expressed concerns about someone
breaking into his apartment, a friend said Saturday.
Cochran said his friend was "no stranger to sarcasm regardless of political correctness" and was fond of T-shirts with sarcastic or inflammatory comments. When first approached by officers, police say Prescott was wearing a shirt that said, "Guns don't kill people. I do."
More
Mike Cochran told The Associated Press in an email that
Neil E. Prescott, accused of threatening a mass workplace shooting
earlier in the week, had an active sense of humor.
Cochran said his friend was "no stranger to sarcasm regardless of political correctness" and was fond of T-shirts with sarcastic or inflammatory comments. When first approached by officers, police say Prescott was wearing a shirt that said, "Guns don't kill people. I do."
More
Mayors Thrashed For Talk of Chick-fil-A Ban
When Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy said he supports biblical
marriage between a man and a woman – rather than homosexual marriage –
several U.S. mayors threatened to ban the fast-food chain from coming to
their cities.
But would such a move be legal?
Liberty Counsel President Mathew Staver told WND’s Greg Corombos that city bans on Chick-fil-A would be unconstitutional.
More
But would such a move be legal?
Liberty Counsel President Mathew Staver told WND’s Greg Corombos that city bans on Chick-fil-A would be unconstitutional.
More
Scalia Opens Door For Gun-Control Legislation, Extends Slow Burning Debate
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Sunday the Second
Amendment leaves open the possibility of gun-control legislation, adding
to what has become a slow-boiling debate on the issue since the
Colorado movie theater massacre earlier this month.
Scalia, one of the high court’s most conservative justices, said on “Fox News Sunday” that the majority opinion in the landmark 2008 case of District of Columbia v. Heller stated the extent of gun ownership “will have to be decided in future cases.”
“We’ll see,” he said.
More
Scalia, one of the high court’s most conservative justices, said on “Fox News Sunday” that the majority opinion in the landmark 2008 case of District of Columbia v. Heller stated the extent of gun ownership “will have to be decided in future cases.”
“We’ll see,” he said.
More
Bloomberg Comes Out Against Boston & Chicago Mayors’ Anti-Chick-Fil-A Messages
While New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a supporter of same-sex marriage, he says he disagrees with the way some of his fellow mayors have responded to the ongoing Chick fil-A controversy.
More »
More »
Youth In City Jail Face 'Deplorable' Conditions
Before the other boys jumped Tyrone, they asked if he wanted to fight.
That was a mere formality. Fights are a regular occurrence among juveniles being held in Baltimore's adult jail — where the 16-year-old was held for six months on attempted-robbery charges — and he had no say in the matter. A corrections officer sat just feet away, but his indifference created a gulf of miles, Tyrone said.
When it was over, Tyrone was missing a tooth. He ripped off a piece of bedsheet to stanch the bleeding above his eye and quietly climbed back into bed.
More
That was a mere formality. Fights are a regular occurrence among juveniles being held in Baltimore's adult jail — where the 16-year-old was held for six months on attempted-robbery charges — and he had no say in the matter. A corrections officer sat just feet away, but his indifference created a gulf of miles, Tyrone said.
When it was over, Tyrone was missing a tooth. He ripped off a piece of bedsheet to stanch the bleeding above his eye and quietly climbed back into bed.
More
Outraged Madonna Fans Intolerant Of Her Tolerance Concert Only Lasting 45 Minutes
There's nothing like a nice, small show to celebrate intolerance to get everyone's duff up: Madonna put on a concert in Paris, meant to celebrate nice things like acceptance of your fellow man, but closed things down after only 45 minutes to the dismay of her fans. They turned on the intolerance and reportedly began booing the Material Girl, crying out for refunds and slinging a few insults her way.
More »
More »
CURL: Romney Didn’t Say What They Said He Said
“Romney trip begins in shambles,” blared CNN. “Britain is not ready for the Olympics says Mitt Romney,” screamed the U.K.’s Daily Mail. “Mitt Romney’s Olympics gaffe overshadows visit to London,” bellowed Britain’s Telegraph newspaper.
Even the normally even-handed Reuters joined the fracas: “Romney tries to move beyond Britain gaffes,” the news agency said days later.
But guess what? Mr. Romney said nothing of the kind (which might be why Reuters didn’t even bother to repeat the quote that originally set off the whole thing). The “gaffe” was created solely by the media searching — as they often are — for something juicy to write about.
More
Even the normally even-handed Reuters joined the fracas: “Romney tries to move beyond Britain gaffes,” the news agency said days later.
But guess what? Mr. Romney said nothing of the kind (which might be why Reuters didn’t even bother to repeat the quote that originally set off the whole thing). The “gaffe” was created solely by the media searching — as they often are — for something juicy to write about.
More
Less Than 24 Hours Into The Olympics And NBC Has Already Ticked People Off
When NBC first announced it would offer free live streaming to all of the London 2012 Olympic Games, a lot of people were delighted that they would finally not be stuck having to wait until the network's oft-derided prime-time broadcast coverage just to see the results of events that were already spoiled to most folks with an Internet connection. And yet, even with the live feeds, NBC has managed to piss off an awful lot of viewers.
More »
More »
School Bullies ID'd – The Teachers Union!
While teachers unions across the country routinely may challenge
school voucher programs in court, the teachers union in Louisiana, the
Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE) has developed a new tactic –
bully the schools that accept the vouchers.
The American Federation for Children – the nation’s voice for school choice which is dedicated to empowering families with the ability to take charge of K-12 education choices for their children – today condemned the actions of the LAE.
More
The American Federation for Children – the nation’s voice for school choice which is dedicated to empowering families with the ability to take charge of K-12 education choices for their children – today condemned the actions of the LAE.
More
Letter About 7-Cent Student Loan Bill Seems Like Efficient Use Of Government Resources
It was really thoughtful of the U.S. Department of Education's Direct Loans program to let Puck know that his student loan payments, which he starts making in August, are too low to cover interest payments, and that some of that interest was about to be capitalized and become part of the loan's total. It wasn't all that thoughtful toward the environment or the program's bottom line, though, because they printed and mailed a letter inviting him to use a forty-four cent stamp to pay off seven cents in accrued interest.
Paper: U.S. Briefed Israel On Plans For Iran Attack
JERUSALEM — An Israeli newspaper reported Sunday that the Obama
administration’s top security official has briefed Israel on U.S. plans
for a possible attack on Iran, seeking to reassure it that Washington is
prepared to act militarily should diplomacy and sanctions fail to
pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear-enrichment program.
A senior Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential talks, said the article in the Haaretz daily was incorrect.
Haaretz said National Security Adviser Tom Donilon laid out the plans before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a dinner on a visit to Israel earlier this month.
More
A senior Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential talks, said the article in the Haaretz daily was incorrect.
Haaretz said National Security Adviser Tom Donilon laid out the plans before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a dinner on a visit to Israel earlier this month.
More
And You Thought the Housing Crisis Was Over!
Do you remember that thing about how the banks wouldn't lend to blacks and Hispanics because they were racists? And do you remember how they passed the Community Reinvestment Act so that banks were forced to reduce down payments practically to zero and lend to a lot of people they knew were bad credit risks? And do you remember how Wall Street bundled all these risky subprime mortgages and sold them to investors around the world so that when it became clear that those people weren't going to be able to pay their mortgages banks everywhere were left holding the bag and all five of the Wall Street investment houses either went under or had to be bailed out by the federal government?
And do you remember how, when it was all over, liberals said it was actually the banks' fault for "deceiving" all those people into thinking they could afford to buy homes and that the banks should be punished for it and some of those people be allowed to keep their homes anyway? And do you remember how all this cost the government close to a trillion dollars and put the whole economy in a hole that we really haven't begun to dig ourselves out of yet?
Well, get ready because the whole thing is about to happen again.
Yes, believe it or not, the federal government is now starting another initiative to force banks to lend to low-credit-rated blacks and Hispanics -- not just anybody but specifically blacks and Hispanics -- and is threatening -- and already imposing -- huge punitive fines if they don't. Moreover, this time they're going even further. They're going to take over the credit rating agencies and force them to change their standards to accommodate blacks and Hispanics so that nobody will have any idea who is a bad credit risk and who is not. In so many words, the government is about impose its will on the whole home-lending market and force another round of bad loans so that the banks are going to be looted once again so that even the federal government may not be able to bail them out this time.
More
And do you remember how, when it was all over, liberals said it was actually the banks' fault for "deceiving" all those people into thinking they could afford to buy homes and that the banks should be punished for it and some of those people be allowed to keep their homes anyway? And do you remember how all this cost the government close to a trillion dollars and put the whole economy in a hole that we really haven't begun to dig ourselves out of yet?
Well, get ready because the whole thing is about to happen again.
Yes, believe it or not, the federal government is now starting another initiative to force banks to lend to low-credit-rated blacks and Hispanics -- not just anybody but specifically blacks and Hispanics -- and is threatening -- and already imposing -- huge punitive fines if they don't. Moreover, this time they're going even further. They're going to take over the credit rating agencies and force them to change their standards to accommodate blacks and Hispanics so that nobody will have any idea who is a bad credit risk and who is not. In so many words, the government is about impose its will on the whole home-lending market and force another round of bad loans so that the banks are going to be looted once again so that even the federal government may not be able to bail them out this time.
More
2nd Amendment Proves Valid Defense Against Black Gangs
Please be forewarned the links in the following report may contain offensive language.
Jeremy Schenkel felt safe – right up to the moment he came face to face with one of the dozens of violent black mobs that terrorized Philadelphia last summer.
Schenkel survived the ensuing assault with no major broken bones. A few minutes later, the mob’s next victim was not so fortunate: They left him beaten, bloody and unconscious.
More
Jeremy Schenkel felt safe – right up to the moment he came face to face with one of the dozens of violent black mobs that terrorized Philadelphia last summer.
Schenkel survived the ensuing assault with no major broken bones. A few minutes later, the mob’s next victim was not so fortunate: They left him beaten, bloody and unconscious.
More
CAN YOU READ THIS?
Good example of a Brain Study: If you can read this OUT LOUD you have a strong mind.
And better than that: Alzheimers is a long, long, ways down the road before it ever gets anywheres near you.
7H15 M3554G3
53RV35 7O PR0V3
H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N
D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5!
1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5!
1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG
17 WA5 H4RD BU7
N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3
Y0UR M1ND 1S
R34D1NG 17
4U70M471C4LLY
W17H 0U7 3V3N
7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17,
B3 PROUD! 0NLY
C3R741N P30PL3 C4N
R3AD 7H15.
PL3453 F0RW4RD 1F
U C4N R34D 7H15.
To my 'selected' strange-minded friends:
If you can read the following paragraph, forward it on to your friends and the person that sent it to you with 'yes' in the subject line. Only great minds can read this. This is weird, but interesting!
If you can raed this, you have a sgtrane mnid, too.
Can you raed this? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseaethe huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
And better than that: Alzheimers is a long, long, ways down the road before it ever gets anywheres near you.
7H15 M3554G3
53RV35 7O PR0V3
H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N
D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5!
1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5!
1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG
17 WA5 H4RD BU7
N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3
Y0UR M1ND 1S
R34D1NG 17
4U70M471C4LLY
W17H 0U7 3V3N
7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17,
B3 PROUD! 0NLY
C3R741N P30PL3 C4N
R3AD 7H15.
PL3453 F0RW4RD 1F
U C4N R34D 7H15.
To my 'selected' strange-minded friends:
If you can read the following paragraph, forward it on to your friends and the person that sent it to you with 'yes' in the subject line. Only great minds can read this. This is weird, but interesting!
If you can raed this, you have a sgtrane mnid, too.
Can you raed this? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseaethe huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
Gymnast Aly Raisman’s Parents Have ‘Hilarious’ Reaction to Their Daughter’s Olympic Performance
It’s not easy being the parent of an Olympic athlete.
After supporting your children with everything from training to outfits since childhood, many parents, it seems, actually feel like they are performing– like somehow, if they just will certain things to happen, it will all go according to plan.
Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman’s parents– mother Lynn and father Ricky– are no different.
Though Raisman stunned the world with her performance on Sunday, Gawker has declared that a clip of her parents watching the performance is equally entertaining.
More
After supporting your children with everything from training to outfits since childhood, many parents, it seems, actually feel like they are performing– like somehow, if they just will certain things to happen, it will all go according to plan.
Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman’s parents– mother Lynn and father Ricky– are no different.
Though Raisman stunned the world with her performance on Sunday, Gawker has declared that a clip of her parents watching the performance is equally entertaining.
More
PONDERISMS
1· I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.
2· There are two kinds of pedestrians . . . The quick and the dead.
3· Life is sexually transmitted.
4· Healthy is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
5· The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
6· Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.
7· Have you noticed since everyone has a cell phone these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?
8· Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.
9· All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
10· In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
11· How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
12· Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, 'I think I'll squeeze these dangly things and drink whatever comes out'? Hmmmmm, How about eggs ? . . .
13· If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
14· Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?
15· If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?
16· Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
17· Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?
18· Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
2· There are two kinds of pedestrians . . . The quick and the dead.
3· Life is sexually transmitted.
4· Healthy is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
5· The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
6· Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.
7· Have you noticed since everyone has a cell phone these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?
8· Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.
9· All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
10· In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
11· How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
12· Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, 'I think I'll squeeze these dangly things and drink whatever comes out'? Hmmmmm, How about eggs ? . . .
13· If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
14· Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?
15· If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?
16· Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
17· Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?
18· Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
A Message From Vice President Joe Biden
From: Joe BidenTo: Joe Albero
Date: Mon, Jul 30, 2012 1:15 pm
Joe --
This isn't hyperbole or exaggeration:
If we don't win this election, it will be because we didn't close the spending gap when we could.
Because right now we're seeing that voters have a choice between two very different men.
And the only way someone like Mitt Romney -- who's asking Americans to put him in charge of their taxes while refusing to come clean about his own, who wants to repeal Obamacare, end Medicare as we know it and give more tax breaks to billionaires who don't need them -- defeats someone like Barack Obama, is if the other side spends us into oblivion.
Tomorrow is the most urgent fundraising deadline of this campaign so far. Will you make a donation of $3 or more today to make sure we can keep this close over the last 100 days?
It's already starting on TVs and radios in swing states, and it's not going to stop.
In the last two weeks of this month, Romney and his allies had an almost 2:1 spending advantage in Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Virginia -- and that could be the election right there.
We've got more than 2.4 million grassroots donors building this the right way.
But we're running out of time to close the money gap when it really matters.
Please donate $3 today, and help make sure our message can get through to as many voters as Mitt Romney's does:
Barack and I honestly wish we could thank everyone who contributes to this campaign personally. You're our second family, you know.
Thanks,
Joe
Dear Joe, Mr. Vice President,
Let me make myself perfectly clear, read my lips, HELL NO.
Joe Albero
West Salisbury Little League State Champions
I am writing on behalf of the West Salisbury Little League 12 year old All Star team. We have recently won the Maryland District 8 Championship, the Maryland State Championship and we are now headed to Bristol, CT to compete for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship. There we will compete with the State Champions from Delaware, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York for the privilege of representing the entire Mid-Atlantic Region in Williamsport, PA for the Little League World Series.
I would like you to consider making a tax deductable contribution to our team to help with cost of traveling expenses, baseballs and equipment. Your contribution will help make it possible for many of the boys and their families to be able to enjoy this wonderful experience together in this time of economic uncertainty.
Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. Donations are tax deductible as permitted by law (Tax ID # 52-1427772 and 503-C# 91-1928028). If you would like to help, please make checks payable to:
West Salisbury 12 year old All Stars
Hebron Savings Bank
c/o Debbie Walsh
PO Box 59, Hebron, MD 21830
On behalf of our boys and their families, I would like to thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely Yours,
Frank DelGaudio
Manager
West Salisbury 12 year old All Stars
Rush, Hannity, Savage face 'death by Obama'
PALM BEACH, Fla. – The radio shows of broadcasting giants such as
Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage and many others could be
drastically changed if Barack Obama wins a second term in office, says a
brand-new book forecasting the president’s agenda through 2016.
According to “Fool Me Twice: Obama’s Shocking Plans for the Next Four Years Exposed” by Aaron Klein and Brenda J. Elliott, Obama’s advisers are so adamant about silencing voices who oppose their position on man-made global warming, they are “outrageously” recommending Obama “reinstate the anti-free speech Fairness Doctrine in order to shut up some of global warming theory’s most effective challengers.”
More
According to “Fool Me Twice: Obama’s Shocking Plans for the Next Four Years Exposed” by Aaron Klein and Brenda J. Elliott, Obama’s advisers are so adamant about silencing voices who oppose their position on man-made global warming, they are “outrageously” recommending Obama “reinstate the anti-free speech Fairness Doctrine in order to shut up some of global warming theory’s most effective challengers.”
More
Investigators Looking For Wanted Sex Offender
Location: Milton, DE
Date of Occurrence: July 30, 2012
Suspect:
Jeffrey E. Dudziak Jr., 27, DE (Photo Attached)
White male, 5’09” tall, 170 lbs., blond hair, and blue eyes
Failure to Re-Register as a Sex Offender
Four Capias out of Sussex County Superior Court
Resume:
Milton, DE- The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and registration Unit (S.O.A.R) is currently looking for a Milton sex offender after he failed to re-register his current address.
Investigators have obtained warrants on Jeffrey E. Dudziak Jr., 27, who is a medium risk Tier 2 sex offender, after they learned that he failed to register his new address and had not notified S.O.A.R. of his status within 3 days as he is required to do by law. Dudziak is also wanted out of Sussex County Superior Court on four capias.
Jeffrey Dudziak is described as a white male, 5’09” tall and 170 lbs. He has blond hair and blue eyes. Dudziak may be in the Millsboro or Long Neck area.
The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit is asking anyone who may know the location of Jeffrey E. Dudziak Jr. to call 9-1-1 or 302-739-5882. Citizens may also provide a tip by texting keyword “DSP” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters may also provide information through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333.
Callers can also submit information via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
Teen Arrested After Cab Driver Alerts Police To Alleged Massacre Plot
An Oklahoma high school student was arrested after a cab driver
reported hearing him plot a Columbine-style shooting at his school,
police said.
Timmy Eike, 18, who would have been a senior this fall at Woodward High School, was arrested Tuesday after police found a shotgun, rifle and 250 rounds of ammunition in his bedroom, according to KWTV, News 9.
According to KWTV, court records show Eike bought those weapons illegally in the past month.
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Timmy Eike, 18, who would have been a senior this fall at Woodward High School, was arrested Tuesday after police found a shotgun, rifle and 250 rounds of ammunition in his bedroom, according to KWTV, News 9.
According to KWTV, court records show Eike bought those weapons illegally in the past month.
More
The Husband Store
A store that sells new husbands has opened in New York City , where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:
You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights.
The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!
So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1- These men Have Jobs
She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:
Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.
'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.'
So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads:
Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.
'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.
She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:
Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.
'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!'
Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:
Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.
She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:
Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.
PLEASE NOTE:
To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.
The first floor has wives that love sex.
The second floor has wives that love sex and have money and like beer.
The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.
You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights.
The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!
So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1- These men Have Jobs
She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:
Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.
'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.'
So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads:
Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.
'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.
She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:
Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.
'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!'
Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:
Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.
She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:
Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.
PLEASE NOTE:
To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.
The first floor has wives that love sex.
The second floor has wives that love sex and have money and like beer.
The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.
BREAKING NEWS: Colorado Massacre Suspect Charged With Murder, Attempted Murder
James Holmes, accused of killing a dozen people and wounding 58 in movie theater shooting, charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder in the first-degree.
From Fox News
From Fox News
Daily Times Viewer Ticked Off About OC Real Estate Market Article
Brian
I would be a little leery of overly 'pimping' the OC real estate market. Even at the current price levels - the Town is still way out of control. Case-in-point - look at the municipal salaries for most of OC personnel. And other important considerations - look at the shear number of taxes - (i.e. - Front foot assessment, fixture tax - (dishwasher, washer, lavatory, toilet) - and then you can pile on the Ocean City town taxes, and Worcester & State real estate taxes - not to mention the Federal Flood insurance premiums and Condo fees.
I know first hand because I developed many of Ocean City's multi-family projects like Hide-A-Way Harbor, Salt Spray Condominium, Villa White, among others. I can tell you first hand that the place is literally a TAX HELL.
And another observation - Memo Diriker is not the 'economic guru' that you make him out to be. In his economic classes - he use to tout that the US loss of key manufacturing jobs like textiles, rivets, steel, was no big deal as the US is still the economic engine for technology. BULL SH!T!!! I have informed him on numerous occasions and now I am informing you;
"That when a nation looses its economic base - the technological edge goes down the drain."
WE ARE ALREADY THERE.
I would be a little leery of overly 'pimping' the OC real estate market. Even at the current price levels - the Town is still way out of control. Case-in-point - look at the municipal salaries for most of OC personnel. And other important considerations - look at the shear number of taxes - (i.e. - Front foot assessment, fixture tax - (dishwasher, washer, lavatory, toilet) - and then you can pile on the Ocean City town taxes, and Worcester & State real estate taxes - not to mention the Federal Flood insurance premiums and Condo fees.
I know first hand because I developed many of Ocean City's multi-family projects like Hide-A-Way Harbor, Salt Spray Condominium, Villa White, among others. I can tell you first hand that the place is literally a TAX HELL.
And another observation - Memo Diriker is not the 'economic guru' that you make him out to be. In his economic classes - he use to tout that the US loss of key manufacturing jobs like textiles, rivets, steel, was no big deal as the US is still the economic engine for technology. BULL SH!T!!! I have informed him on numerous occasions and now I am informing you;
"That when a nation looses its economic base - the technological edge goes down the drain."
WE ARE ALREADY THERE.
Every Single Fiat Currency In History Has Collapsed
As the investment world eagerly awaits more stimulus, a debate on a previously unthinkable topic has started to emerge – can fiat currencies survive round after round of debasement?
Some heavy hitters say the answer is no.
A fiat currency derives its worth from the issuing government – it is not fixed in value to any objective standard. That means central banks can print as much money as they want. If an economy is struggling, injecting more notes into the system juices activity but lowers the value of the currency in question.
With major central banks all desperate to stimulate their economies, some say currencies have entered a dangerous new phase often described as a race to the bottom.
Mark Mobius, Executive Chairman of Templeton Emerging Markets Group, says investors will soon start to demand fiat currencies be backed by gold or other hard assets.
“It’s already happening, you’re beginning to see that trend with central
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Some heavy hitters say the answer is no.
A fiat currency derives its worth from the issuing government – it is not fixed in value to any objective standard. That means central banks can print as much money as they want. If an economy is struggling, injecting more notes into the system juices activity but lowers the value of the currency in question.
With major central banks all desperate to stimulate their economies, some say currencies have entered a dangerous new phase often described as a race to the bottom.
Mark Mobius, Executive Chairman of Templeton Emerging Markets Group, says investors will soon start to demand fiat currencies be backed by gold or other hard assets.
“It’s already happening, you’re beginning to see that trend with central
More
Business Owners Give Obama A Miserable Approval Rating
Business owners are now the group of the workforce most disapproving of President Barack Obama, according to a new poll from Gallup this morning. Fifty-nine percent of business owners disapprove of the job he is doing, and his approval rating has plunged to just 35 percent among the group.
Obama's approval rating among business owners has fallen 6 points in the second quarter of the year.
The Gallup poll measures a three-month period and was taken before presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney began hammering Obama on his "you didn't build that" comment from a July speech. More likely, it's an indicator of the backlash from sluggish economic growth in the second quarter of 2012.
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Obama's approval rating among business owners has fallen 6 points in the second quarter of the year.
The Gallup poll measures a three-month period and was taken before presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney began hammering Obama on his "you didn't build that" comment from a July speech. More likely, it's an indicator of the backlash from sluggish economic growth in the second quarter of 2012.
More
Romney Leads Obama In Rasmussen Poll: Biggest Lead In A Month
Some good news for Mitt Romney today after spending yesterday getting hammered in his London trip by British press and politicians: He's leading President Barack Obama in Rasmussen's daily tracking poll by his biggest margin in more than a month.
Romney leads Obama, 49 percent to 44 percent, in the general election matchup. That nearly mirrors the result on who voters say they trust more to handle the economy. Romney leads there 49-43.
Just last Saturday, though, the two candidates were tied at 46 percent apiece. Rasmussen notes that "as with any such change in the race, it remains to be seen whether it marks a lasting shift or is merely statistical noise."
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Romney leads Obama, 49 percent to 44 percent, in the general election matchup. That nearly mirrors the result on who voters say they trust more to handle the economy. Romney leads there 49-43.
Just last Saturday, though, the two candidates were tied at 46 percent apiece. Rasmussen notes that "as with any such change in the race, it remains to be seen whether it marks a lasting shift or is merely statistical noise."
More
Top Human Traffickers Need Not Fear Obama
The failure of the White House to enforce threatened sanctions against countries that the State Department has accused of doing little to control human trafficking is “appalling,” with the Obama administration • much like the George W. Bush administration
before it — using “every loophole possible” to issue waivers to avoid
punishing the offending nations by cutting U.S. aid, according to
elected officials, human rights activists and others.
Of the 23 countries cited by the State Department in a June 2011 report as having failed to meet minimum standards in fighting human trafficking, whose victims are usually women and children, President Obama granted full waivers in September to 13 — including Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen — and partial waivers to seven others, including Cuba, Iran, Myanmar and Venezuela. Only three countries faced the full force of the sanctions — Eritrea, Madagascar and North Korea — which were not anticipated to get the types of foreign assistance that could be restricted.
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Of the 23 countries cited by the State Department in a June 2011 report as having failed to meet minimum standards in fighting human trafficking, whose victims are usually women and children, President Obama granted full waivers in September to 13 — including Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen — and partial waivers to seven others, including Cuba, Iran, Myanmar and Venezuela. Only three countries faced the full force of the sanctions — Eritrea, Madagascar and North Korea — which were not anticipated to get the types of foreign assistance that could be restricted.
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Obama Wants Black Students To Excel
President Barack Obama's new project to help black students excel is getting both cheers and jeers. A new office is supposed to help agencies work closely with communities on African-American education, he writes in an executive order. African-Americans do not have equal access to good teachers and principals, safe schools and tough college-prep classes. Educators discipline and send them to special-ed more often. The order creates a new interagency working group that involves the Departments of Justice, Labor, Health and Human Services, Defense and the National Science Foundation, as well as the Education Department. Government Executive reports the move has some critics accusing the president of focusing on one race at the exclusion of others.
"Voluntary" Work Program Run in Private Detention Centers Pays Detained Immigrants $1 A Day
In the Stewart Detention Center in rural Lumpkin, Georgia, Pedro Guzman cleaned the communal areas, cooked, painted walls, ran paperwork and buffed floors. But Guzman was not brought into Stewart as an employee - he was a detained immigrant taking part in the detention center's "voluntary" work program.
"I didn't go more than a month without a job," said Guzman, who spent almost 20 months waiting, and working, inside Stewart while his immigration case was resolved.
In private prisons around the country, immigrants languishing in detention centers are being put to work by profit-making companies like the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) for far below the minimum wage. For doing a range of manual labor in the facility, the immigrants, many of whom are not legally permitted to work in the United States, are paid between $1-$3 a day.
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"I didn't go more than a month without a job," said Guzman, who spent almost 20 months waiting, and working, inside Stewart while his immigration case was resolved.
In private prisons around the country, immigrants languishing in detention centers are being put to work by profit-making companies like the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) for far below the minimum wage. For doing a range of manual labor in the facility, the immigrants, many of whom are not legally permitted to work in the United States, are paid between $1-$3 a day.
More
Here’s a Round-Up of How the Mainstream Media Covered Restoring Love
The three days of Restoring Love concluded Saturday night with tens of thousands of people packed into Cowboys Stadium for the main blowout event. Just what kind of coverage did it receive from the rest of the media world? Here’s a sample:
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram covered the main event…
Glenn Beck wanted to focus on one message Saturday night: It’s time to restore love.
Speaking before tens of thousands of people who packed into Cowboys Stadium, the conservative radio and TV host said it’s time “to love each other.”
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The Fort Worth Star-Telegram covered the main event…
Glenn Beck wanted to focus on one message Saturday night: It’s time to restore love.
Speaking before tens of thousands of people who packed into Cowboys Stadium, the conservative radio and TV host said it’s time “to love each other.”
“Here we are … to restore our purpose as a nation, to remember who we are as Americans,” Beck said. “America is great because America is good.”
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Unlike Mitt Romney, Most Americans Want to Cut US Military Spending
On some issues, there is a serious disconnect between candidates for public office and the public they are hoping to represent.
Take the case of Mitt Romney and military spending.
For some time now, the Republican presidential candidate has been an avid proponent of a vast U.S. military buildup. Last October, in a speech at the Citadel, he promised that he would never "wave the white flag of surrender" but, rather, devote himself to creating "an American Century." This would be secured, he explained, by a hefty increase in U.S. armaments. In terms of U.S. warships alone, he promised to raise annual production by 67 percent. Attacking President Barack Obama for what he claimed was military weakness, Romney called for increasing the U.S. military budget, in fiscal 2013, by 17 percent. Indeed, he has proposed raising U.S. military spending by as much as $2 trillion over the next decade.
This military obsession comes at a curious time. After all, the U.S. military budget -- currently standing at $648.6 billion -- has risen dramatically over the last thirteen years and is the largest in U.S. history. Currently, U.S. military spending constitutes nearly as much money as the military spending of all other countries combined. Furthermore, in the context of severe budget cutting by Congress, popular domestic social programs are being sacrificed to support the U.S. military budget -- so much so that it currently consumes more than half of the U.S. government's discretionary spending.
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Take the case of Mitt Romney and military spending.
For some time now, the Republican presidential candidate has been an avid proponent of a vast U.S. military buildup. Last October, in a speech at the Citadel, he promised that he would never "wave the white flag of surrender" but, rather, devote himself to creating "an American Century." This would be secured, he explained, by a hefty increase in U.S. armaments. In terms of U.S. warships alone, he promised to raise annual production by 67 percent. Attacking President Barack Obama for what he claimed was military weakness, Romney called for increasing the U.S. military budget, in fiscal 2013, by 17 percent. Indeed, he has proposed raising U.S. military spending by as much as $2 trillion over the next decade.
This military obsession comes at a curious time. After all, the U.S. military budget -- currently standing at $648.6 billion -- has risen dramatically over the last thirteen years and is the largest in U.S. history. Currently, U.S. military spending constitutes nearly as much money as the military spending of all other countries combined. Furthermore, in the context of severe budget cutting by Congress, popular domestic social programs are being sacrificed to support the U.S. military budget -- so much so that it currently consumes more than half of the U.S. government's discretionary spending.
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NYC Mayor Wants Hospitals To Lock Up Baby Formula to Encourage Breast-Feeding
The nanny state is going after moms.
Mayor Bloomberg is pushing hospitals to hide their baby formula behind locked doors so more new mothers will breast-feed.
Starting Sept. 3, the city will keep tabs on the number of bottles that participating hospitals stock and use — the most restrictive pro-breast-milk program in the nation.
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Mayor Bloomberg is pushing hospitals to hide their baby formula behind locked doors so more new mothers will breast-feed.
Starting Sept. 3, the city will keep tabs on the number of bottles that participating hospitals stock and use — the most restrictive pro-breast-milk program in the nation.
More
FDIC Loaned $618 Billion To Banks During Panic; Who Got How Much?
There are some stunning numbers coming out of the FDIC this morning. Writes Bob English for EPJ:
The FDIC just released "Issuer Reported Debt Details" for the Debt Guarantee Program (DGP) of its Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP)--meaning a detailed list of which banks borrowed on the backs of the taxpayer during the financial panic and how juicy the terms were. A total of $618 billion was guaranteed by the FDIC over an approximate one year period.
Bank America managed to borrow $64 billion at zero percent interest.
Here are the totals, by institution (keep in mind, holding companies and the actual regulated bank might be listed as separate entities):
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The FDIC just released "Issuer Reported Debt Details" for the Debt Guarantee Program (DGP) of its Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP)--meaning a detailed list of which banks borrowed on the backs of the taxpayer during the financial panic and how juicy the terms were. A total of $618 billion was guaranteed by the FDIC over an approximate one year period.
Bank America managed to borrow $64 billion at zero percent interest.
Here are the totals, by institution (keep in mind, holding companies and the actual regulated bank might be listed as separate entities):
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Key Senate Staffer on Military Issues Got Big Payout From Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin has big business in Washington, with Defense Department contracts representing [1] more than half of the company's $46.5 billion in net sales last year. And now, Lockheed has a former top lobbyist in a key position on Capitol Hill overseeing the company.
Former Lockheed vice president Ann Elise Sauer was hired by Sen. John McCain in February as the top Republican staffer on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The revolving door swings regularly in Washington, but the size of the compensation package Sauer received from Lockheed when she left the company is notable. A financial disclosure form [2] shows the defense giant gave Sauer $1.6 million in compensation around the time she took a buyout [3] in January 2011.
At the moment, the stakes for Lockheed in Washington are even higher than usual, with the company leading the military contracting industry's charge to convince Congress to avoid a $492 billion, 9-year cut in military spending set to be triggered in January.
Lockheed CEO Robert Stevens was on the Hill this month warning [4] that the company would have to lay off 10,000 employees if Congress does not make a deal. "Most tragically, we feel we will be unable to provide the equipment and support needed by our military forces," Stevens told the House.
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Former Lockheed vice president Ann Elise Sauer was hired by Sen. John McCain in February as the top Republican staffer on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The revolving door swings regularly in Washington, but the size of the compensation package Sauer received from Lockheed when she left the company is notable. A financial disclosure form [2] shows the defense giant gave Sauer $1.6 million in compensation around the time she took a buyout [3] in January 2011.
At the moment, the stakes for Lockheed in Washington are even higher than usual, with the company leading the military contracting industry's charge to convince Congress to avoid a $492 billion, 9-year cut in military spending set to be triggered in January.
Lockheed CEO Robert Stevens was on the Hill this month warning [4] that the company would have to lay off 10,000 employees if Congress does not make a deal. "Most tragically, we feel we will be unable to provide the equipment and support needed by our military forces," Stevens told the House.
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What Happened To Companies Connected To Geithner After News Leaked He Was To Be Appointed Treasury Secretary
So, why does cronyism occur? In my paper, entitled The Economics and History of Cronyism,released today by the Mercatus Center, I cite two factors: government power over the economy and the discretionary power available to particular government officials. If there was ever a doubt that this connection existed, consider this study from MIT, which shows that in the days following the leak of Tim Geithner’s appointment to Treasury Secretary, stocks of firms having any pre-existing connection to him jumped by about 15 percent. Clearly, the market expected firms that were connected to Geithner to do better, all other things equal.
Henderson continues:
So what’s wrong with this cozy relationship between business and government? It’s not just that cronyism takes wealth from the less politically organized to give to the more politically organized, but also that this taking and giving destroys wealth. For example, when the government bails out its cronies (think former Treasury Secretary Paulson and AIG), it destroys wealth in several ways.
Finally, when politicians dispense special privileges to certain businesses, a vicious cycle ensues: Businesses put their financial resources towards currying favor with politicians rather than investing those resources in their product and their customers.
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Henderson continues:
So what’s wrong with this cozy relationship between business and government? It’s not just that cronyism takes wealth from the less politically organized to give to the more politically organized, but also that this taking and giving destroys wealth. For example, when the government bails out its cronies (think former Treasury Secretary Paulson and AIG), it destroys wealth in several ways.
Finally, when politicians dispense special privileges to certain businesses, a vicious cycle ensues: Businesses put their financial resources towards currying favor with politicians rather than investing those resources in their product and their customers.
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Maryland Loses 6,500 Small Businesses In Three Years
Annapolis - Change Maryland announced today that nearly 6,500 small businesses vanished or left the state since 2007 - more evidence of a sharp decline in the productive components of the economy. As with other reports Change Maryland has produced, this publicly available data comes from government sources, namely the U.S. Census Bureau.
"Governor O'Malley says repeatedly the most important priority is 'jobs, jobs, jobs," said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. "If we are to hold the Governor accountable to the standard he set, then by every objective measure he has failed miserably."
This latest Change Maryland report draws on census bureau economic research that quantifies the number of firms from one to 99 employees during 2007 to 2010, the latest year for which numbers are available. Confirming earlier Change Maryland findings, government data shows the state's ability to support business, produce jobs and maintain its tax base is eroding. This report comes on the heels of Maryland leading the region in job loss this year and in out-migration of tax payers from 2007 to 2010.
Since 2007, in addition to losing 6,494 small businesses, Maryland has lost 31,000 residents of tax-paying households and 40,000 jobs. "The pattern here is unmistakable," said Hogan. "In record numbers, taxpayers, jobs and small businesses are fleeing state government's big-spending, over-taxed, over-regulated, anti-jobs agenda.”
Maryland's loss of small businesses is statistically tied with Delaware as the worst in the region, as a percentage of such firms that existed in 2007. Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia saw relatively smaller declines in a period of economic activity marked by pre-recession, recession and feeble recovery. On a percentage basis of firms lost, Delaware lost 4.72%, Maryland 4.71%, West Virginia 4.51%, Virginia 3.66%, and Pennsylvania 2.64%, Washington D.C., on the other hand, experienced a 2.59% gain in small businesses.
D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans, in widely reported remarks this Spring, said, "thank God Maryland keeps raising their taxes." Earlier this month, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell reminded Governor O'Malley in a joint appearance on CNN that “businesses and people are fleeing Maryland for Virginia because he’s raising taxes on just about everything that moves."
In a separate report this Spring , Change Maryland documented a record 24 tax and fee increases from 2007 to 2012 that remove an additional $2.4 billion from the economy annually.
"We are no longer able to compete in our region," said Hogan. "There should be no mistaking the fact that neighboring jurisdictions see our loss as their gain."
Change Maryland is the state’s largest and fastest growing non-partisan, grass-roots citizen organization with more than 18,000 Democrat, Republican and Independent members. It now has more than twice as many Facebook fans than the Maryland Democratic and Republican parties added together.
"Governor O'Malley says repeatedly the most important priority is 'jobs, jobs, jobs," said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. "If we are to hold the Governor accountable to the standard he set, then by every objective measure he has failed miserably."
This latest Change Maryland report draws on census bureau economic research that quantifies the number of firms from one to 99 employees during 2007 to 2010, the latest year for which numbers are available. Confirming earlier Change Maryland findings, government data shows the state's ability to support business, produce jobs and maintain its tax base is eroding. This report comes on the heels of Maryland leading the region in job loss this year and in out-migration of tax payers from 2007 to 2010.
Since 2007, in addition to losing 6,494 small businesses, Maryland has lost 31,000 residents of tax-paying households and 40,000 jobs. "The pattern here is unmistakable," said Hogan. "In record numbers, taxpayers, jobs and small businesses are fleeing state government's big-spending, over-taxed, over-regulated, anti-jobs agenda.”
Maryland's loss of small businesses is statistically tied with Delaware as the worst in the region, as a percentage of such firms that existed in 2007. Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia saw relatively smaller declines in a period of economic activity marked by pre-recession, recession and feeble recovery. On a percentage basis of firms lost, Delaware lost 4.72%, Maryland 4.71%, West Virginia 4.51%, Virginia 3.66%, and Pennsylvania 2.64%, Washington D.C., on the other hand, experienced a 2.59% gain in small businesses.
D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans, in widely reported remarks this Spring, said, "thank God Maryland keeps raising their taxes." Earlier this month, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell reminded Governor O'Malley in a joint appearance on CNN that “businesses and people are fleeing Maryland for Virginia because he’s raising taxes on just about everything that moves."
In a separate report this Spring , Change Maryland documented a record 24 tax and fee increases from 2007 to 2012 that remove an additional $2.4 billion from the economy annually.
"We are no longer able to compete in our region," said Hogan. "There should be no mistaking the fact that neighboring jurisdictions see our loss as their gain."
Change Maryland is the state’s largest and fastest growing non-partisan, grass-roots citizen organization with more than 18,000 Democrat, Republican and Independent members. It now has more than twice as many Facebook fans than the Maryland Democratic and Republican parties added together.
Romney: Jerusalem Capital of Israel
Today, Mitt Romney drew a clear contrast between himself and the Obama administration on the State of Israel. Standing before a backdrop of Jerusalem’s Old City on Judaism’s Ninth of Av – the day designated for mourning the destruction of the First and Second Temples – Romney didn’t flinch from embracing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, even as the Obama administration continued to refuse even that simple statement.
“It is a deeply moving experience to be in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel,” said Romney.
Romney is not Obama on Israel. He doesn’t believe Israel was based on the Holocaust alone. He doesn’t think that Israel’s status as a moral force in the Middle East is in question. He doesn’t think Israel ought to be forced into concessions to terrorists:
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46.5 Million Americans, Record 22.3 Million US Households, On Foodstamps; 8,753,935 On Disability
America's transition into a welfare state continues, as May saw a new all time high number of American households, 22.3 million to be exact, enter technical poverty and collect foodstamps. At the individual level, 46.5 million Americans lived off foodstamps, a 222,157 increase in the month, or nearly three times the number of people who found jobs in June according to the BLS. Next month this too will be a record, as it is currently just 17,367 before the previous all time high set in December of 2011. The good news, and we use the term loosely, is that the average benefit per household rose from all time lows of $275.82 to $276.76. Surely, the bottom is in and just like housing, there is on blue skies ahead.
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New Questions About Adelson's Casino Operations In Macau
Las Vegas Sands has insisted for more than a year that it needed approval from Macau authorities to turn over documents. Now, the company owned by the biggest GOP donor acknowledges that many documents have been in the U.S. all along.
A few days after Las Vegas Sands fired the president of its Macau casinos in July 2010, the company copied the hard drives of his office computers and moved the data to its headquarters in Las Vegas. In the months that followed, the company now acknowledges, its lawyers reviewed those records as they prepared to defend the casino giant against a civil suit by the executive for wrongful termination.
But when the executive, Steven Jacobs, asked in court for copies of his documents, a lawyer for the Las Vegas Sands subsidiary in Macau said it could not move files out of the Chinese enclave without permission from local authorities. The lawyer did not mention that copies of the documents were already in the United States.
Federal investigators examining Jacobs' claims that he had been ordered to overlook illegal activity in Macau faced the same roadblock, the lawyer told a Nevada judge.
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A few days after Las Vegas Sands fired the president of its Macau casinos in July 2010, the company copied the hard drives of his office computers and moved the data to its headquarters in Las Vegas. In the months that followed, the company now acknowledges, its lawyers reviewed those records as they prepared to defend the casino giant against a civil suit by the executive for wrongful termination.
But when the executive, Steven Jacobs, asked in court for copies of his documents, a lawyer for the Las Vegas Sands subsidiary in Macau said it could not move files out of the Chinese enclave without permission from local authorities. The lawyer did not mention that copies of the documents were already in the United States.
Federal investigators examining Jacobs' claims that he had been ordered to overlook illegal activity in Macau faced the same roadblock, the lawyer told a Nevada judge.
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Ron Paul Statement: Financial Services Committee Hearing
Before the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Hearing on the Annual Report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, July 25, 2012
Mr. Chairman, I welcome this hearing to receive the report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). The creation of FSOC underscores perfectly the complete intellectual bankruptcy underpinning the government's behavior towards financial markets. In the opinion of government leaders, the financial crisis was not caused by misguided regulation, interest rate manipulation, or government-caused distortions to the structure of production, but by a financial sector that was completely deregulated and laissez-faire. The response of legislators, therefore, was to create a new super-regulator with vast new powers to control the financial system.
Those who truly believe that the financial sector is deregulated might want to test their hypothesis by starting their own bank without the government's imprimatur, assuming that they are prepared to spend some time in a federal penitentiary. To say that the financial sector is deregulated could not be further from the truth. No other sector of the economy is as intertwined with the government as the financial industry.
Financial firms, especially smaller firms, suffer from costly and burdensome regulations that create barriers to entry in the market place and diminish competition. Excessive regulation ensures that only government-approved financial firms have a chance to enter the market. Those firms which are able to get through the hurdles are still at a competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis established firms who are better able to navigate the regulatory maze.
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Mr. Chairman, I welcome this hearing to receive the report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). The creation of FSOC underscores perfectly the complete intellectual bankruptcy underpinning the government's behavior towards financial markets. In the opinion of government leaders, the financial crisis was not caused by misguided regulation, interest rate manipulation, or government-caused distortions to the structure of production, but by a financial sector that was completely deregulated and laissez-faire. The response of legislators, therefore, was to create a new super-regulator with vast new powers to control the financial system.
Those who truly believe that the financial sector is deregulated might want to test their hypothesis by starting their own bank without the government's imprimatur, assuming that they are prepared to spend some time in a federal penitentiary. To say that the financial sector is deregulated could not be further from the truth. No other sector of the economy is as intertwined with the government as the financial industry.
Financial firms, especially smaller firms, suffer from costly and burdensome regulations that create barriers to entry in the market place and diminish competition. Excessive regulation ensures that only government-approved financial firms have a chance to enter the market. Those firms which are able to get through the hurdles are still at a competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis established firms who are better able to navigate the regulatory maze.
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Virginia To Get Federal Funds For Storm; Maryland, D.C. Apply
Virginia is getting funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deal with the impact of the intense storm that rocked the region in late June, and Maryland and the District are hoping FEMA will reimburse some of their costs as well.
On Friday, FEMA confirmed that Virginia, which applied for storm relief funds earlier this month, would get the federal assistance it seeks. Maryland and the District both applied for funds Friday.
Virginia's Department of Emergency Management and FEMA officials will reimburse funds from a joint office in Richmond. The June 29 storm caused $25 million in damage throughout the state.
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On Friday, FEMA confirmed that Virginia, which applied for storm relief funds earlier this month, would get the federal assistance it seeks. Maryland and the District both applied for funds Friday.
Virginia's Department of Emergency Management and FEMA officials will reimburse funds from a joint office in Richmond. The June 29 storm caused $25 million in damage throughout the state.
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SU Environmental Studies Faculty Earn $80,000 USM Elkins Award
Drs. Michael Lewis and Jill Caviglia-Harris have big plans for Salisbury University’s new Environmental Studies Department. Together, they recently garnered support for their efforts, earning the prestigious Wilson H. Elkins Professorship from the University System of Maryland. The honor includes an $80,000 award.
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Maryland Special Session Will Address Gambling Questions
Maryland legislators will be cutting their summer vacations short after Gov. Martin O'Malley announced a special session for Aug. 9 to address gambling questions left unanswered in the spring.
But after Mr. O'Malley repeatedly urged state leaders to “put the issues behind us so we can move forward,” some people are wondering whether the decision was a risky bluff.
It’s the second special session this summer — Mr. O'Malley called the first one in mid-May to wrap up the budget — and the issues of table game expansion at Maryland’s existing casinos and adding a sixth casino in Prince George’s County were largely used as the reasons why the General Assembly adjourned without passing a budget during the regular session.
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But after Mr. O'Malley repeatedly urged state leaders to “put the issues behind us so we can move forward,” some people are wondering whether the decision was a risky bluff.
It’s the second special session this summer — Mr. O'Malley called the first one in mid-May to wrap up the budget — and the issues of table game expansion at Maryland’s existing casinos and adding a sixth casino in Prince George’s County were largely used as the reasons why the General Assembly adjourned without passing a budget during the regular session.
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DelDOT Awarded Federal Aviation Planning Grant
Money will fund a business plan for Sussex County Airport and a statewide aviation economic impact study
Dover -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) was today awarded a $148,500 grant by the US Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The funding from FAA is for Aviation System Planning for Delaware. The grant was solicited by DelDOT's Office of Aeronautics to fund the cost of developing a business plan for the Sussex County Airport near Georgetown, and to develop an economic impact assessment of aviation development statewide.
DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt said, "DelDOT is pleased to be the recipient of this grant from the FAA. This funding will assist our agency in developing the case for future aviation investments throughout our state and create a business flight path for the facility in Sussex County."
"This funding complements perfectly the runway expansion and improvement project set to begin this fall at the Sussex County Airport. This is part of a larger strategy to attract new business opportunities in the aviation industry to Delaware," said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) "Not only will this federal funding support business and economic growth at the Sussex County Airport, but it will also help bring more good-paying jobs to the region."
The grant will also cover the costs of an economic impact video and brochure that will highlight direct and indirect employment and annual tax benefits to the State.
The funds from the FAA will cover 90 percent of the project cost. The FAA will provide $148,500 and the State match will be $16,500.
Dover -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) was today awarded a $148,500 grant by the US Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The funding from FAA is for Aviation System Planning for Delaware. The grant was solicited by DelDOT's Office of Aeronautics to fund the cost of developing a business plan for the Sussex County Airport near Georgetown, and to develop an economic impact assessment of aviation development statewide.
DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt said, "DelDOT is pleased to be the recipient of this grant from the FAA. This funding will assist our agency in developing the case for future aviation investments throughout our state and create a business flight path for the facility in Sussex County."
"This funding complements perfectly the runway expansion and improvement project set to begin this fall at the Sussex County Airport. This is part of a larger strategy to attract new business opportunities in the aviation industry to Delaware," said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) "Not only will this federal funding support business and economic growth at the Sussex County Airport, but it will also help bring more good-paying jobs to the region."
The grant will also cover the costs of an economic impact video and brochure that will highlight direct and indirect employment and annual tax benefits to the State.
The funds from the FAA will cover 90 percent of the project cost. The FAA will provide $148,500 and the State match will be $16,500.
Lost Cat: UPDATE
Hello everyone. Please help with lost cat. His name is Tommy. He is very large, black and white w/red collar. He is lost in the vicinity of Williams Mill Pond Rd near Stage Rd in Delmar. We just moved here and he doesn't know area. He ran because a feral cat that attacked him. He is very gentle and a talker.
We think he could have made it through cornfield from us to Gordy Mill Rd or possibly to Rum Ridge.
Thank you everyone!
Boat Carrying 9 People Sinks off Ocean City Coast
A boat with nine people aboard sank about 46 miles east of Ocean City, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The people aboard the 38-foot boat called the Coast Guard via radio at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, saying the vessel was taking on water. About a half hour later, the vessel sank, the Coast Guard said.
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