Salisbury News: 08/21/12

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The Blessings of a Free Country

Americans, like all great peoples of the past, have fallen prey to a dangerous phenomenon inherent in the human condition: they have taken too much for granted. We live in a land of miraculous bounty and plenty, with wonderful comforts, affordable high-tech goods, and time-saving services available to the great majority of people, especially those who work for a living. While many Americans, and particularly upper middle class “intellectuals,” urge the government to take from the “haves” to give to the “have-nots,” these purported do-gooders neglect to notice that the economic system that provides them the ability to be “compassionate” with other people’s money is being destroyed. These self-less folks are irreparably damaging the engine of wealth creation known as free market capitalism.

The self-described elites who unremorsely do so fail to comprehend that the state-led economic policies they endorse is not progressivism, in any meaningful sense, it is regressivism. State-led economics are not the unknown in the human experience, it is the nearly omnipresent norm. It is free market economics in any semblance that is the rarity, and the prime mover behind America’s meteoric rise to world power and influence.

Federal officials said Monday that they had seized $150 million as part of a crackdown on a money laundering scheme linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The seizure came following a complaint filed in December of last year alleging that the now-defunct Lebanese Canadian Bank laundered money for Hezbollah-controlled groups around the world. The U.S. State Department has designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

U.S. officials say that between 2007 and 2011, Lebanese Canadian Bank and other financial institutions routed at least $329 million in proceeds from drug sales and other criminal activity to the U.S., where this money bought used cars that were later sold in West Africa. These proceeds were then funneled back to Lebanon via Hezbollah-controlled channels, the Drug Enforcement Administration said in a statement.

A 20-year-old woman whose aunt allegedly beat her and held her captive for a decade in the basement of a Philadelphia apartment building has sued the city, claiming her ordeal could have been avoided if officials had acted appropriately.

Beatrice Weston alleges the city failed to "properly train Department of Human Services workers in child placements," resulting in her being put in the custody of her aunt, Linda Weston, a convicted felon, a statement from her attorney Shanin Specter said. The complaint says the city of Philadelphia failed to release information about the aunt's criminal history.

Linda Weston served eight years in prison for killing her sister's boyfriend in the early 1980s. In that case, the victim "was held captive for an extended period of time, locked in a closet and he literally starved to death," Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said in October.

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Frank Mandelbaum's Will Dictates That Gay Son, Robert Mandelbaum, Marry Woman To Get Inheritance

The late Frank Mandelbaum stipulated in his will that none of his son Robert's children would receive any inheritance if Robert "not be married to the child’s mother within six months of the child’s birth," The New York Post reports .

A bit old-fashioned? Sure. Especially when you consider Robert Mendelbaum, a 47-year-old Manhattan Criminal Court judge , is gay.

Frank Mandelbaum, who founded the ID verification company Intelli-Check , died in 2007 at the age of 73 .

Back in 2010, Heinz seemed to solve an age-old problem routinely faced by fans enjoying its ketchup on the move. With the new “Dip & Squeeze” packet, consumers could both easily spread the condiment on burgers and sandwiches, as well as use it as a dip for french fries.

But according to a recent lawsuit , the "Dip & Squeeze" idea may have been stolen. Scott White, an inventor who works as a risk analyst at the Chicago Housing Authority by day, is suing Heinz, alleging the condiment company stole his CondiCup design after he pitched it to them in 2006.

Berlin Ceasing All Financial Aid To Fire Company

Citing hostile working conditions and unveiled hints of discrimination and harassment, the Berlin Mayor and Council today announced the town was disassociating itself from and ceasing all financial aid to the Berlin Fire Company (BFC).

The Berlin Mayor and Council on Tuesday announced it will amend its fiscal year 2013 budget to cease all financial aid to the BFC as a result of the organization’s inability to accept basic requirements of the town’s personnel policies to eliminate workplace harassment based on sexual orientation, race and sex of paid emergency medical services (EMS) employees at the Berlin Fire House. The funding support is also being withdrawn from the budget because the BFC has allegedly seriously breached the terms of an employment agreement for paid EMS personnel with the town in effect since 2009.

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Anti-Islamic Ads Go Up In NY Metro-North Stations

LARCHMONT, N.Y. (AP) -An anti-Islamic advertisement has gone up at several Metro-North Railroad stations in Westchester County.

It reads: "It's not Islamophobia, it's Islamorealism."

The American Freedom Defense Initiative paid for it. It associates Islam with 19,250 terrorist attacks carried out by extremists since the 9/11.

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YOUR MONEY HARD AT WORK: SOLYNDRA TUBES TURNED INTO MODERN ART

The federal government’s $535 million investment in the now-bankrupt and utterly ruined “green” energy company Solyndra has been surrounded by scandal, intrigue, and many, many unanswered questions.

“One of the great mysteries of the 2011 Solyndra bankruptcy was: What happened to all that money? After the United States government ‘loaned’ Solyndra $535 million, the money quickly vanished; the bankruptcy court later found that the company had essentially no cash on hand. They had spent it all on equipment and inventory,” the blogger Zombie writes for PJ Media .

“Surely, then, the inventory could be sold and liquidated, to recover some of the ill-spent cash — right?” Zombie asks.

White Males Now Classed As A 'Minority Group' At UK University

The move by the Royal Veterinary College, where more than three-quarters of the intake are female, marks the first time that white men have been included in a strategy to help under-represented groups.

While the college is an extreme case, it reflects a wider trend of women overtaking men in education. Of the 24 leading universities in the Russell Group, only three have a majority of male students.

Across UK universities, 984,000 female undergraduates are studying for degrees, compared to 713,000 male. The gap is expected to widen in future years as new government rules make it easier for universities to recruit students with A-level grades of AAB or better, more of whom are female.

Wal-Mart Brings Back Holiday Layaway

After seeing high customer demand for layaway during last year's winter holiday season, Wal-Mart is expanding the interest-free pay-over-time program for Christmas.

The new program will last a month longer than last year's and will include more items than the toys and electronics featured last year.

The world's largest retailer says its mostly lower-income shoppers are still having a hard time stretching their dollars to the next paycheck. A little more than three years into the economic recovery, shoppers, particularly in the low-income bracket, remain particularly hard hit by unemployment and other financial worries.

A pair of upstate brothers hope to roll-out toilet paper advertising across the country, targeting a captive audience that might be looking for something to read.

Bryan Silverman, 18 and his brother Jordan, 22, formed Star Toilet Paper in 2010.

It prints advertisements and coupons on toilet paper. And the younger Silverman is hoping to win an entrepreneur contest to help fund an expansion.

Lunch Workers Across U.S. study How To Get Kids To Eat Healthy

There will be more whole grains on school lunch menus this year, along with a wider selection of fruits and vegetables and other healthy options. The challenge is getting children to eat them.

"We don't want healthy trash cans. We want kids who are eating this stuff," said Kern Halls, a former Disney World restaurant manager who now works in school nutrition at Orange County Public Schools in Florida.

At a School Nutrition Association conference in Denver this summer, food workers heard tips about how to get children to make healthy food choices in the cafeteria.

Bloomberg: ‘Nobody Has Come Across the [U.S.-Mexico] Border in a Long Time'

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said last week that "nobody" had illegal crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in a "long time."

Bloomberg also advised that it would be easier for those wishing to illegally immigrate to the United States to simply buy a ticket to fly here and then overstay their visa.

He was speaking in Boston at an Aug. 14 forum on immigration sponsored by the New England Council. He shared the stage for the forum with News Corporation Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch.

'Man we was just on the news foe hitting dat man'

Six teens arrested recently in the Cincinnati suburb of North College Hill for beating 45-year-old Pat Mahaney reportedly told police they ambushed the man because they were bored.

Mahaney, who was walking to his mother’s home when he was blindsided by the group of teens and left unconscious, spent four days in intensive care. One of the attackers allegedly threw a beer can at Mahaney’s head. Mahaney is reportedly unemployed and lacks health insurance.

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The Eye Of Sauron

The pieces come together. Within the last week I have read:

1) New software, associated with Google, will recognize customers in stores so as to offer them discounts; having your photos uploaded to allow this service will (for now) be voluntary.

2) A new surveillance system in New York will store footage from cameras in, for example, the subway, so that when an unattended package is discovered, the police can look back in time to see who left it.

3) TSA is perfecting a laser that will allow detection on travelers of trace amounts of drugs, explosives, and doubtless a wide variety of other things.

4) The government is moving toward mandating black boxes on cars to record information thought to be useful in ascribing blame in crashes.

5) Various police departments are beginning to use “drone” aircraft to monitor the population.

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‘I DON’T TAKE THESE FOLKS TOO SERIOUSLY’: OBAMA DISMISSES SEAL GROUP ATTACKS

President Obama said Monday he isn’t taking two groups of military veterans currently running campaign ads against him “too seriously.”

Last week, the Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund and Special Operations Speaks launched anti-Obama campaigns, criticizing the president for his handling of national security, intelligence leaks and taking too much responsibility for killing Osama bin Laden. The groups — both founded by ex-Navy SEALs — are political action committees made up of military veterans.

President Obama is writing off the attacks as partisan and unfounded.

Major General: Why Are Domestic Government Agencies Purchashing Enough Lethal Ammunition To Put 5 Rounds In Every American?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirms that it is purchasing 174 thousand rounds of hollow point bullets to be delivered to 41 locations in major cities across the U.S.

Those against whom the hollow point bullets are to be used — those causing the civil unrest — must be American citizens; since the SSA has never been used overseas to help foreign countries maintain control of their citizens.

What would be the target of these 174, 000 rounds of hollow point bullets? It can’t simply be to control demonstrators or rioters. Hollow point bullets are so lethal that the Geneva Convention does not allow their use on the battle field in time of war. Hollow point bullets don’t just stop or hurt people, they penetrate the body, spread out, fragment and cause maximum damage to the body’s organs. Death often follows.

Potentially each hollow nose bullet represents a dead American. If so, why would the U.S. government want the SSA to kill 174,000 of our citizens, even during a time of civil unrest?

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'2016: OBAMA'S AMERICA' JUMPS NEARLY 300 PERCENT AT BOX OFFICE

The new documentary "2016: Obama's America" doesn't have fancy stars or a massive budget. It simply tries to deconstruct why President Barack Obama governs the way he does.

And it's striking a chord with the public, apparently.

"2016: Obama's America: came in number 13 at the box office over the weekend , representing a bump of 293 percent from the previous week. The film's per-screen average for Friday through Sunday soared to $7,391, the fifth highest average of any film over the weekend.

LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE: POLYGAMY GETS SIZZLE

Is polygamy becoming the new “gay” movement in America?

With television shows such as HBO’s “Big Love” and TLC’s “Sister Wives,” polygamy is the once-taboo lifestyle that appears to be gaining wider acceptance – especially on the heels of homosexual marriage victories across the nation.

Just this weekend, the website Pro-Polygamy.com declared Aug. 19 the 12th annual Polygamy Day. According to the site, since it began, “the annual celebration grew into a widespread and religiously-neutral individual celebration around the country among all forms of consenting-adult pro-polygamists.”

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 8-21-12

On August 17, 2012 at 5:59 am., a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was dispatched for a disorderly subject at the Lake Haven Trailer Park in Berlin, Maryland. As the Deputy pulled into the trailer park and exited his patrol vehicle, the suspect, James Conroy, 38 years of age from Baltimore Maryland, began aggressively running directly toward the Deputy. The Deputy ordered Mr. Conroy to stop who refused to comply with any orders and continued to run at the Deputy. The Deputy shot Mr. Conroy with his tazer in an attempt to protect himself. The tazer had no effect on Mr. Conroy. Mr. Conroy then began to assault the Deputy. A short time later, members of the Maryland State Police, Berlin Police Department and Ocean Pines Police Department arrived on scene. Mr. Conroy continued to fight with officers and Deputy and was eventually taken into custody. The Deputy and two additional officers were treated and released at Atlantic General Hospital for minor injuries. Mr. Conroy was subsequently charged with assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct, and held on a $50,000.00 bond. It was subsequently determined that Mr. Conroy was allegedly under the influence of PCP.

On August 19, 2012, at approximately 1129 hours, A Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy stopped a vehicle for a seatbelt violation on Rt. 50 in the area of Keyser Pt. Rd. in West Ocean City. The driver was identified as James Paul Kimble 27 of Pasadena Md. and the passenger was identified as Gaberille Marie Fitzgerald 22 of Baltimore Md. Upon making contact with the occupants the Deputy could smell a strong odor of burnt marijuana.

Ms. Fitzgerald stated that there was marijuana and a “bowl” in her bag in the trunk of the vehicle. A search of the vehicle produced suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Mr. Kimble was charged with possession drug paraphernalia. Ms. Fitzgerald was charged with possession drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Both subjects were released pending trial.

On 08/21/2012 at approximately 0019 hours, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputies stopped a vehicle on Ocean Highway at Old Virginia Rd, Pocomoke City, Maryland for an equipment violation.

After searching the vehicle Deputies discovered a loaded Smith and Wesson .40 Caliber handgun, approximately one pound of marijuana, and $517.47 of US currency.

Arrested were, Loronda Weathers, age 24, of Norfolk Virginia and Dewayne Walker, age 30, of Nassawadox Virginia. Both subjects have been charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, and Possession of a firearm while committing a drug trafficking crime.

Both subjects are being held at the Worcester County Jail on $5,000.00.

Court Rules Georgia Police May Verify Immigration Status

ATLANTA – A federal appeals court has ruled law enforcement in Georgia may verify the immigration status of criminal suspects who fail to produce proper identification.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Monday that a hold blocking that section of the state's 2011 immigration law should be lifted. It was not immediately clear when that would happen.

Stop Daily Times Newspaper Delivery

Joe,

How do you go about getting the Daily Times to stop throwing the free newspapers into our yard? I seriously doubt these people they hire to distribute these things will look at a list of do not throw here's. Is the only thing one can do is put up a sign?

Maybe we should do like they did with all the AOL cd's back in the day, collect them in a dump truck and dump them in the Daily Times parking lot?

Publisher's Notes: This is nothing new. We have been fielding complaints about this for years. Many have stated they called the Daily Times and complained but the papers still kept coming.

Now there's yet another problem. The new paper in town is delivering free papers that will clutter up neighborhoods throughout Salisbury and Wicomico County. They do state in their paper if you call them they will stop delivering them per your request but considering they have kids delivering them, I doubt they'll pay true attention to every request.

The paper is doing so in order to reach a goal of 100,000 papers so they can ask the City and County for their legal ads. There should be a law against this. People should be REQUESTING these papers. That would fairly show people are actually interested in receiving it and not allow them to subject you to trash in your yard.

Are you listening City and County Officials?

BEWARE

Speed cameras in front of Parkside. 25 MPH sign is flashing, meaning if you go 37 you'll get a ticket.

The Return Of The Death Panels

Health care was supposed to be President Obama’s issue in 2012. The 2009 Obamacare law was hailed as his signature legislative achievement, but it’s never been popular. Its most onerous provisions were timed to kick in after the election specifically to avoid damaging the re-election effort. For months, the Obama campaign tried to negate the issue. It spent a great deal of energy seeking to inoculate itself from Mitt Romney’s attacks by claiming the Massachusetts health care law passed when Mr. Romney was governor was “just like Obamacare.”

Some of Mr. Obama’s supporters claimed to be thrilled by Mr. Romney’s selection of Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate. The spin was that Mr. Ryan’s budget plan provided the necessary contrast to Obamacare to enable Democrats to move to the offensive. Pro-Obama commentators resurrected the allegation that the Ryan plan would “end Medicare as we know it,” a charge the nonpartisan fact checkers at Politifact dubbed the “lie of the year” in December 2011. Meanwhile, Republicans highlighted the $716 billion that Obamacare cuts from Medicare, a fact affirmed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. This cut was the talking point that stuck.

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Anti-Suicide Nasal Spray Coming To Keep Troops From Killing Themselves

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana University School of Medicine scientist has been awarded $3 million to develop a nasal spray intended to combat suicidal thoughts among soldiers.

IU said TRH is known to have antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects, but it isn’t suitable for injection or oral use. So Kubek and other scientists at Purdue and at Hebrew University in Jerusalem are developing a nasal spray designed to deliver appropriate doses of the drug to the brain over time.

The project is part of a national effort designed to combat suicides in the nation’s military.

Guess what will happen next. Yep, you guessed it. When the suicides migrate here to our shores and increasingly affect the civilian class, which they invariably will, what do you thing the solution will be? Grow the economy? Nope, give a serf some nasal spray!

We are better than this.

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Statement From Governor Martin O’Malley On TRAIN DERAILMENT IN ELLICOTT CITY

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 21, 2012) – Governor Martin O’Malley today released the following statement on this morning’s CSX train derailment.

“It is tragic that we’ve lost two young women in the train derailment early this morning in Ellicott City. I’ve spoken with County Executive Ulman, and the State will continue to support our first responders and local partners in Howard County.”

New U.S. Department of Agriculture Guidelines For School Lunches

New U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for school lunches will take effect this fall, including the first national calorie and sodium limits for what can be served on lunch lines. A look at what the new guidelines require, according to the School Nutrition Association:

Grains:
Grades K-5: 8 to 9 servings per week
Grades 6-8: 8 to 10 servings per week
Grades 9-12: 10 to 12 servings per week
Students should have at least one serving of grains each day, and one-half of offerings must be rich in whole grain.

Meats/Meat alternatives:
Grades K-5: 8 to 10 ounces per week
Grades 6-8: 9 to 10 ounces per week
Grades 9-12: 10 to 12 ounces per week
Nuts, tofu, cheese and eggs can be substituted for meat in some cases.

Milk:
Grades K-12: 1 cup per day
Fat-free, low-fat and lactose-free milk options are allowable.

Fruits:
Grades K-8: One-half cup per day
Grades 9-12: One cup per day
Only half of the weekly fruit requirement can come from juice.

Vegetables:
Grades K-8: Three-quarters cup per day
Grades 9-12: One cup per day
Weekly requirements for vegetable subgroups, including dark green, red/orange, beans/peas, starchy and others.

Sodium:
By July 2014, sodium levels for lunches should not exceed:
Grades K-5: 640 milligrams
Grades 6-8: 710 milligrams
Grades 9-12: 740 milligrams
A timetable sets targets for further reducing sodium levels by 2022.

Fats:
No more than 10 percent saturated fats. No trans-fat, except for those naturally occurring in meat and dairy products.

Total calories:
Grades K-5: 550 to 650 per day
Grades 6-8: 600 to 700 per day
Grades 9-12: 750 to 850 per day

Calories can be averaged over the week.

NASA Is Flexing Its Muscles On Mars

Its Curiosity rover first obliterated a rock over the weekend just to show what it could do with its laser. Then it literally flexed its muscle yesterday by stretching its 7-foot-long robotic arm for the first time since launch. It uses that arm to wield a camera, a drill and other tools. The maneuver was part of a check-up to make sure the machine is in good working order. It passed with flying colors. NASA said everything worked as planned. The rover plans to make its first drive in the next few days.

Rosie O'Donnell Suffers Heart Attack, Gets Stent

Rosie O'Donnell says she suffered a heart attack last week and is "lucky to be here."

The 50-year-old comedian detailed the experience on her blog Monday, saying sudden nausea, aches and other symptoms pushed her to do an online search for "women's heart attack symptoms." She took a few aspirin and went to a cardiologist the next day.

1st State Dinner For Kids

The White House may have been built in 1800, but only yesterday it hosted the first state dinner just for kids. It was lunch actually, presided over by First Lady Michelle Obama. The bill of fare consisted of items dreamed up by chefs all under the age of 12. Fifty-four recipes were chosen out of more than 1,000 entries. Among the dishes: Kickin' Chicken Salad and Secret Service Super Salad. President Obama stopped by to say hello.

Michelle Obama Just Can't Leave Me Alone

From: Michelle Obama
To: Joe Albero
Date: Tue, Aug 21, 2012 12:56 pm

Joe --

Before you go to bed tonight, do me a favor and read Barack's note.

We've always known this election was going to be even tougher than the last one. All across the country, supporters like you have stepped up to give your time and energy to help move this country forward. We can't let that hard work be undone by our opponents' unlimited spending on negative TV ads.

If we win, it will because of what you do today, and for the next 77 days. Please donate $3 or more now:

Thanks for everything you do for Barack and this campaign.

Michelle

Dear Michelle,

Before YOU go to bed tonight, put $3.00 under your pillow and I can guarantee you when you wake up Barack will have stolen your money, just like the rest of us Americans.

Welcome to OUR new America.

Joe Albero

Columbia/Ellicott City Ranked Among Best Places To Live

Money Magazine has ranked Columbia/Ellicott City #8 on its “America’s Best Places to Live 2012” list. Columbia/Ellicott City is the only Maryland location chosen in the top 10.

"We truly have the 'best of both worlds' here in Howard County, and I am proud that our strong sense of community, quality of life, and commitment to innovation and job creation continues to be nationally recognized,” said County Executive Ulman. “Thanks to all of the residents and businesses, and those from the public and private sectors, who invest and believe in what our community can accomplish when we work together."

Last seen on Malta Ave in Salisbury. Also seen at Winterplace Brantley Ave off Old Ocean City Rd. Rotweller and Lab mix.

Obama Unsure If Congress Will Reach A Budget Deal

President Barack Obama said he didn't believe Congress would manage to reach a budget deal before the November elections. That means deep cuts in the Defense Department budget under sequestration would occur. The president spent much of Monday talking to new outlets in areas with large military installations. He said he has made sure that service members won't lose pay or benefits under sequestration. Nor would veterans lose any VA benefits. But Obama said cuts could negatively affect military readiness.

The Growing Threat Of Soybean-Inspired Social Unrest In China

Two weeks ago we explained [3] why the drought-inspired soaring price of Soybeans - specifically from the US - would notably influence global central-planners' actions - and more specifically the Chinese (given its high impact on food price inflation). Food prices remain elevated and the PBoC is undertaking Reverse Repos - the exact opposite of an RRR-driven easing program so many expected. However, there is a further, deeper, and more troubling consequence than 'simple' inflationary arguments - that of social unrest. Confirming our insight, the LA Times points out,

Soybean oil is the most important edible oil in China with more than two-thirds of cooking oil consumed in China coming from soybeans - and most of those soybeans are supplied by the US (more than half of US exports are to China and the US is China's number 1 supplier). According to one official this "makes [China] vulnerable to the drought" and bound to the fortunes of farmers in the American heartland. The Chinese devote more than 20% of their income to food (three times more than Americans - according to the USDA).

This means the dramatic rise not just in grain prices, but in the up-stream prices of meat, eggs, and milk combined with the until-now newly affluent (un-dirt-poor) Chinese have grown transitorily-used to an "everything needs oil" attitude when spending and this price-jolt to newly entrenched tastes is why authorities are concerned about social stability; as IHS points out "Inflation has a long history of sparking discontent, so obviously it's on the forefront of the Chinese leadership's mind."

Source

Governor’s Office Had Repeat Audit Findings Over Equipment, Cash Handling

The Executive Department and governor’s office had missing computer equipment, improper handling of cash receipts and unreliable inventory records, state auditors found, and some of the problems had been uncovered in previous audits.

Today's Fill In The Blank 8-21-12

I attended _____ High School in ___.

Two Dead Following CSX Train Derailment In Ellicott City

21 cars in 80-car train derailed or overturned; no hazardous materials were on the train

Two people have died following the partial derailment of a CSX train carrying coal and traveling through Ellicott City around midnight Tuesday — the second partial derailment this month in Howard County on the railway's Old Main Line.

The victims' identities have not been released as of 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Frederick Road, which becomes Main Street in Ellicott City, was closed to traffic from Old Columbia Pike to Oella Avenue as a result of the accident.

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Early Childhood Anesthesia Linked To Problems With Language, Memory

Increasingly, research finds that exposure to anesthesia in early childhood may have long-term effects on kids’ brain development.

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BOATLIFT - An Untold Tale Of 9/11 Resilliance

Salisbury News Partners Thursday Night With The Plaza Deli

Last week we told you we'd be coming up with something special in conjunction with the Plaza Deli. Well, here it is.

Come join us Thursday night at 5:00 PM for $1.00 Pulled Pork Sliders. If you've never tried Phil's food, FAGETABOUTIT! Dis place is da bomb!

When you get off work, come on down to the Plaza Deli and try this new item. Treat it like White Castle Burgers and bring home a bunch for the Family or sit down and dine with us.

I'll have Albero For Mayor Tee Shirts on hand for anyone who would like one as well as Bumper Stickers.

We'll see you Thursday night at 5:00 PM.

Today's Advertiser Of The Day 8-21-12

Why College Binge Drinkers Are Happier, Have High Status

A new study explores the rarely examined benefits of college binge drinking, which must be understood for effective prevention

College binge drinkers say they’re happier with their social lives than those who don’t indulge — but it’s probably the boost in social status, not the booze itself that lifts their mood, according to new research presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association.

“Binge drinking is a symbolic proxy for high status in college,” said study co-author Carolyn Hsu, an associate professor of sociology at Colgate University in a statement, noting that it’s what the wealthy, powerful and happy students on campus do.

The study found that rich white frat boys reported having the greatest social satisfaction at school and were considered the big men on campus by others. They were not only happier than students in low-status groups — women, minorities and people who were less financially well-off — but also more likely to binge drink. “Binge drinking then becomes associated with high status and the ‘cool’ students on campus,” said Hsu.

Low-status students in turn reported being happier if they binged than if they didn’t. Indeed, alcohol seemed to be the great social equalizer, bringing members of low-status groups to happiness levels similar to those of greater social power if they binged. “Students in all groups consistently liked college more when they participated in the campus’ binge drinking culture,” Hsu said. Since the study has not yet been subjected to peer review, its findings should be considered preliminary.

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In The Color Of Money,  Red Staters More Charitable Than Blues

Am I my brother’s keeper? Conservatives and churchgoers are far more likely to say “yes,” research shows.

A major survey by the Chronicle of Philanthropy confirms that residents of states that lean Republican and are most religious donate more of their money to charity, while more secular regions — and areas that tend to vote Democrat — give less.

But researchers caution that churchgoers are no more generous than secular Americans when donations to religious groups are excluded.

Survey Finds Broad Public Support For Vital Federal Programs

A new survey finds broad public support for vital federal services despite pressure to cut federal spending. But the survey itself may have missed the mark.

About seven in 10 respondents believe the federal government should devote more resources and manpower to food safety and border security, according to the survey, commissioned by the National Treasury Employees Union

"The results strongly support the belief that government should invest more in resources and manpower for the important work federal employees do every day," said NTEU President Colleen Kelley . "Regardless of party affiliation, respondents believe in the importance of adequate resources and manpower for vital public services and the need for the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share to retain those services."

What’s the Right Age to Give Your Kid a Cell Phone?

Madonna Sued in Russia For Supporting Gays

Some Russian activists have sued Madonna for millions of dollars, claiming they were offended by her support for gay rights during a recent concert in St. Petersburg.

Anti-gay sentiment is strong in Russia. In St. Petersburg, a law passed in February makes it illegal to promote homosexuality to minors, and the author of that law has pointed to the presence of children as young as 12 at Madonna's concert on Aug. 9.

Russian news agencies quote Alexander Pochuyev, a lawyer representing the nine activists, as saying the suit was filed Friday against Madonna, the organizer of her concert, and the hall where it was held, asking for damages totaling 333 million rubles, or nearly $10.5 million.

Obama Camp - We Are Intentionally Limiting Crowd Size At Rallies

The presumptive GOP presidential and vice presidential nominees Mitt Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan are attracting thousands of supporters to their campaign rallies since Mr. Romney named Mr. Ryan to the bottom of the ticket. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has taken notice of the massive crowds at the Romney Ryan stump speeches and sent out an urgent e-mail to their supporters, reported The Washington Examiner last week.

However, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are not drawing the crowds they once could. The New York Times reported that the Obama campaign said that it is intentionally limiting crowd size at their events because of security and cost:

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Ohio Military Vote

Time Ticking For Former Employees Of RG Steel

Former workers at the RG Steel plant at Sparrows Point learned Monday how they will be impacted since the plant shut down and was sold to a liquidation company.

More than 1,000 people attended a meeting Monday at their union hall in Dundalk.

Benefits are scheduled to run out shortly.

Government Links Sovereign Citizens To Police Murders In Louisiana

Authorities now believe that some of the suspected gunmen from last week’s shootout near a Louisiana trailer park are members of the sovereign citizen movement, a collective described by the FBI as domestic terrorists.

Two Louisiana deputies were killed and at least two others were injured following what authorities have described as an ambush at a trailer park near the city of New Orleans on Thursday morning that involved at least 20 shots fired from multiple weapons. Days later, investigators have acknowledged that they believe that several of the suspected gunmen involved in the attack are self-described sovereign citizens, members of an anti-government movement that has attracted criticism from both the FBI and the Anti-Defamation League.

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Rebuilding Together Hits Milestone

CHESTERTOWN - For the 100th time, a group of local volunteers teamed up, donned tool belts and went to work making a difference for someone in need.

With the construction last week of a new wheelchair ramp at Doris Brown's Langford Road home, Rebuilding Together Kent County, MD celebrated the completion of its 100th project in less than a decade. A quarter of those were done just in the past year.

“We've been in Kent County since 2004. We do necessary home repairs for low-income homeowners,” said Lindsey Buckless – the organization's director of marketing, fundraising and volunteers – from the construction site Aug. 16.

Attention

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

'Man we was just on the news foe hitting dat man'

The new documentary "2016: Obama's America" doesn't have fancy stars or a massive budget. It simply tries to deconstruct why President Barack Obama governs the way he does.