Please send your photos to alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349. Thanking You In Advance.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Send Us Your Photos Of Hurricane Sandy
Please send your photos to alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349. Thanking You In Advance.
Three More Deaths From Meningitis Outbreak Linked To Injections
Three more patients have died after contracting fungal meningitis from potentially tainted steroid injections supplied by a Massachusetts company, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday, bringing the death toll from the outbreak to 28 nationwide.
Two of the new deaths were in Michigan, which now has reported seven fatalities, and one in Tennessee which has confirmed 11 deaths, the CDC said. The two states have been the hardest hit by the outbreak, first discovered in Tennessee late last month.
The number of cases of fungal meningitis reported across the United States rose to 356 on Tuesday, up nine from Monday, the CDC said. Nineteen of 23 states that received shipments of the steroid have reported cases.
Disney Buying ‘Star Wars’ Maker Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion from George Lucas
Disney is paying $4.05 billion to buy Lucasfilm Ltd., the production company behind “Star Wars,” from its chairman and founder, George Lucas. It’s also making a seventh movie in the “Star Wars” series.
The Walt Disney Co. announced the agreement to make the purchase in cash and stock Tuesday. Disney added that “Star Wars Episode 7” is scheduled for release in 2015.
The deal brings Lucasfilm under the Disney banner with other brands including Pixar, Marvel, ESPN and ABC.
Poll: Romney's Independent Strengths Put Him In Lead Over Obama
Mitt Romney has a slim 1-point lead on President Barack Obama in a new NPR battleground poll, an astounding 8-point swing from a month ago that puts the Republican nominee in good position heading into the final week of the campaign.
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The poll continues a theme that has made Republicans bullish lately — Romney is scoring big with self-identified Independent voters.
Romney holds a 12-point overall lead among Independents in the poll, but more importantly, he holds a big advantage in favorability ratings among the group. Romney is rated favorably by 54 percent of Independents in the poll, compared with just 40 percent who view him favorably.
Comparatively, Obama's favorability rating among Independents sits at just 43 percent, compared with 53 percent who view him unfavorably.
The difference between vice presidential candidates, though not as important, is even more staggering. Paul Ryan has a 52-38 positive-to-negative favorability score. Vice President Joe Biden's stands at only 39-53. Combined, that's a 28-point difference.
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Early Voting Extended
The choices we will make in this election could not be more clear. As we come together to clean up and dig out after Hurricane Sandy, we also need to cast our vote for progress to keep our country and our state moving forward.
Early voting resumes early tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. and we need you to get out and vote.
We are extending early voting by one full day and extending the hours for every remaining day.
- Wednesday, October 31st - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m
- Thursday, November 1st - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Friday, November 2nd - 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Anyone standing in line at an early voting location by 9:00 p.m. will be guaranteed the right to cast a ballot. To find your polling location visit: www.mdearlyvote.com
You came together during this storm to protect your family and ensure the safety of your neighbors. Now, in these last remaining hours, we need you to stand up and take action by casting your ballot in this critically important election.
Thank you,
Martin O'Malley
McCain: Libya Was 'Cover-Up Or Incompetence'
Sen. John McCain said Sunday he was sure President Barack Obama would show leadership “in fine fashion” in response to Hurricane Sandy, but said his handling of the deadly Libya consulate attack was the worst “cover-up or incompetence” he had ever seen.
“This tragedy turned into a debacle and massive cover-up or massive incompetence in Libya is having an impact on the voters because of their view of the commander in chief,” the Arizona Republican said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
“It is now the worst cover-up or incompetence I have ever observed in my life. ...” said McCain, Obama's 2008 presidential rival. "Somebody the other day said to me, 'Well, this is as bad as Watergate.' Nobody died in Watergate."
McCain and other Republicans, including GOP National Chairman Reince Priebus and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, pounced on the Obama administration during the Sunday talk shows after news reports came out over the weekend showing discrepancies between the White House and Defense Department over why reinforcements weren't sent to Libya after the attack on the U.S. consulate in Beghazi.
WE NEED THE TRUTH ABOUT BENGHAZI
On December 30, 2009 a suicide bomber dispatched by Al Qaida detonated the explosive vest he was wearing inside of the CIA's Khost Base near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Seven CIAofficers, including close friends of mine, were killed. A number of others were wounded.
On October 19, 2010, the CIAannounced the results of its inquiry into the causes of this tragedy. The issues were legion. How in an area known to be so dangerous, in the midst of a struggle against such a ruthless foe, was an individual brought unsearched into such a sensitive facility? Why was he put in immediate proximity to virtually the entire complement of the Base? Who had approved the handling of this case in this fashion? The number of gross errors in the tradecraft used in high-risk environments that would have had to occur to produce such a result was staggering.
Despite this, the CIA's review, after acknowledging some errors were made, concluded that no disciplinary action of any kind should be taken against anyone. No one would be relieved. No one would be removed from service. In the words of then CIA Director Leon Panetta, all of the decisions made that lead to the Khost debacle were "reasonable" and based on the findings of the task force and the independent review, responsibility could not "be assigned to any particular individual or group".
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the bureaucratic language of Washington I will translate. "There are far too many senior officers with their fingerprints on this op to dig any further. Close the file."
Local News Stations Slacking
Hey Joe, This is sad, my mother in law has more info and video coverage of ocean city today than we have and she lives 4 hours away in PA! They have a reporter in OC like the Baltimore stations do.
Publishers Notes: Funny you should mention that. I have been receiving calls again today from
News Stations all across America asking if they could use our material. Today, the Daily Times
has a reporter walking around Downtown desperate for any one to talk to her, (photo below). She
has been around for hours. My guess, they saw our photos of Downtown last night and freaked.
WHERE WILL THE NYC RATS GO?
While the massive population of New York City is awfully impacted by Sandy, there is a more populous and even more caustic population that is struggling with the aftermath: Rats! As Forbes notes, the NYC Subway is notorious for its rat population and with all five subway tubes now submerged, one can only imagine where these cute cuddly rabies-wielding devil rodents will make their new homes. “Rats are incredibly good swimmers and they can climb” is hardly the reassuring news lower Manhattan homeowners were looking for, and as the Daily Mail notes, this could bring infectious diseases such as leptospirosis, hantavirus, typhus, salmonella, and even the plague into human contact. On the bright side (well not really), rats don’t need to bite a human to transmit its gross payload; rodent feces and urine can spread conditions like hantavirus just as easily – get long hand sanitizer stocks!
- Rats can climb brick walls, trees, and telephone poles, and walk across telephone lines.
- Rats can fall from a height of 50 feet without getting hurt.
- Rats can jump three feet in the air from a flat surface and leap more than four feet horizontally.
- Rats can scamper through openings as small as a quarter. General rule: If a rat’s head fits into the hole then the body will follow.
GOVERNOR O’MALLEY AND LT. GOVERNOR BROWN TO VOTE EARLY
ANNAPOLIS, MD – TOMORROW Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown will vote early in the General Election.
Due to Hurricane Sandy, early voting will resume Wednesday, October 31st from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, November 1st from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday, November 2nd from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, November 2nd was added as a makeup day for Monday, October 29th, which was cancelled due to the hurricane.
A list of all early voting locations across the state can be found here or by calling the State Board of Elections at 1-800-222-8683.
Please also note that the Board of Public Works Meeting is cancelled tomorrow.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE POLLITT LIFTS STATE OF EMERGENCY
October 30, 2012 - Salisbury, MD – After conducting an extensive tour of Wicomico County, Executive Pollitt decided to lift the State of Emergency as of 5:30pm today. Pollitt issued the Declaration of Emergency Sunday morning in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy.
Along with Pollitt, the team of Emergency Management officials traveled from Sharptown to Waterview to Willards, examining road accessibility and speaking with residents in impacted neighborhoods. Although the group observed areas of high standing water – specifically in areas targeted during the voluntary evacuation – debris and downed trees, the overall assessment is that Wicomico County ‘fared well’ in comparison to neighboring counties.
Wicomico County officials are requesting those who suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy, including homeowners, businesses and mobile homeowners, to report the damage by calling 211. Information will be used to document damage and help local emergency management agencies assess damage to determine if federal assistance can be pursued.
UPDATE FROM WICOMICO COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS
October 30, 2012 - Salisbury, MD – Early this afternoon County Executive Rick Pollitt, along with members of the Emergency Operations team, will conduct a windshield survey throughout Wicomico County to assess damage sustained post-Hurricane Sandy. This will allow personnel essential for public safety and health the opportunity to get an overall impression of the impact area and direct further steps towards a safe and efficient re-entry process.
As of noon today, the hurricane shelter is closed. A total of 111 individuals and 14 pets took advantage of shelter operations at James M. Bennett High.
For the second day in a row, Pollitt participated in a state-wide conference call with Governor O’Malley and top State leaders. State assets have been made available to local government as needed and Pollitt appreciated the significant contributions of the Maryland National Guard.
Today’s forecast is for minimal rain, sustained winds 15-20mph and gusts up to 30-35mph. These storm effects will continue to subside overnight tonight. Citizens are urged to remain cautious traveling throughout the county.
No School At Delmar Middle And High School Tomorrow
Something must have happened at Delmar Middle/High School as they are closed tomorrow.
You Can't Say The City Didn't Warn You
Brace Yourselves Again, Downtown Salisbury Is Flooding Again At High Tide
Taken just moments ago on the Wicomico River and Market Street Inn.
Let The Markets Clear!
French businessman and economist Jean-Baptiste Say is credited with identifying the fundamental economic principle that aggregate demand for goods in an economy will equal the aggregate supply of goods when markets are permitted to operate. Or in Say's words, "products are paid for with products."
English classical economist David Ricardo, among others, more fully developed this principle into what has become known as "Say's Law." Say's Law, according to Ricardo, leads us to understand that market equilibrium for goods is constant. This simply means that markets, when left alone by government planners or other fraudulent actors, inexorably tend toward an "equilibrium price" which eventually balances supply and demand for any particular good. Thus markets will clear themselves of any surpluses or shortages in the form of excess supply and demand.
Cities With The Most Murders Per The UCR
Every year the FBI compiles a massive amount of data for crime in America — including the cities with the most murders.
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The Uniform Crime Report tracks everything from most murders and most forcible rapes to art thefts.
Later this week we'll be bringing you a list of most violent cities per capita, but for now, here are the 15 cities in the United States that reported the most murders and non-negligent homicides in 2011:
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Ford Plummets In Consumer Reports Reliability Survey
Ford, the first of the Detroit 3 brands to rack up reliability ratings that rivaled the world's best, continued a fall from grace by dropping to next-to-last in the latest Consumer Reportsreliability survey, out Monday.
In only two years, Ford has fallen from the top 10, when 90% of its models were scored industry average or better for predicted reliability. But in the latest CR survey, it ranks 27th out of 28 makers.
"Sixty percent of Ford-branded models and half of Lincolns were below average in predicted reliability, and none placed above average," said Jake Fisher,director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports.
Severe Birth Defects Soar In Post-War Iraq
A new study confirms what many Iraqi doctors have been saying for years – that there is a virtual epidemic of rare congenital birth defects in cities that suffered bombing and artillery and small arms fire in the U.S.-led attacks and occupations of the country.
The hardest hit appear to be Fallujah (2004), a city in central Iraq, and Basra in the south (December 1998, March and April 2003).
Records show that the total number of birth defects observed by medical staff at Al Basrah Maternity Hospital more than doubled between 2003 and 2009. In Fallujah, between 2007 and 2010, more than half the children born there had some form of birth defect, compared to less than two percent in 2000.
Ocean City, Maryland Boardwalk Hurricane Sandy 10-30-12
3rd Street
Sand on the floor inside Dough Rollers
The Powers-That-Be Are Really Frightened
Over the past month Turner Classic Movies, my favorite cable/satellite channel, has been showing a series of films with political themes. But during this past week something dramatically changed. Both TCM hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz were joined by co-hosts PBS anchorman Jim Lehrer and CNN anchorman Wolf Blitzer to repeatedly reassure viewers before the November election that the dramatic stories they were watching were indeed fiction, that "the system" works, that yes there are a few "bad apples" but most politicians are good and decent persons looking to do good for the nation. These movies included All The Kings Men, All The Presidents Men, and Seven Days in May, films about incipient fascism in the USA. I just about puked my guts out having to endure these mendacious mainstream media gatekeepers simply to see the films once again. The Powers-that-be must be really scared to insert such propaganda nonsense on a channel simply showing classic films.
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Wicomico County Schools Have 2 Hour Delay Tomorrow
"This is John Fredrickson superintendent(?) of what comical County Public schools will be open Wednesday October thirty first with a two hour delay. This includes. James M Bennett high school. There will be no am prekindergarten Central and school offices will open on time. Thank you.
Robert Gibbs Blames The Victim?
"A 16-year-old American boy killed in an Obama administration drone strike 'should have [had] a far more responsible father,' Obama campaign senior adviser Robert Gibbs says in a new video released by the group We Are Change. – Young Turks
Dominant Social Theme: If you don't hit them over there, they will come here.
Free-Market News: In this video, Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks comments on why the US killed a male US minor in Yemen – a young US citizen whose father, US officials claim, was a terrorist.
Robert Gibbs is a former spokesperson for the Obama administration and the initial YouTube posting was created by the alternative media group, We Are Change. While the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki (who was said by some to have actually been a CIA asset) was widely reported, the death of his young son, Abdulrahman, also a US citizen who lived in the United States, is not nearly so well known.
Al-Awlaki's death is justified by those who carried it out as a strike against someone who meant to harm US citizens. He was labeled a terrorist and put on an Obama death list. But his son wasn't on any such list and was killed anyway, two weeks after his father, in another drone strike. Neither individual received judicial due process.
In defending the killing, Gibbs says at one point: "I would suggest that you should have a far more responsible father if they are truly concerned about the well being of their children. I don't think becoming an al Qaeda jihadist terrorist is the best way to go about doing your business."
Uygur calls this answer "a terrible one."
Report Recommends Reform Of Bail System
The Maryland Public Defender Office has been providing representation since June to all defendants seeking counsel in their bail review hearings. But a Justice Policy Institute report released last month on the bail system in Baltimore City found the money-bail system itself discriminates against lower income defendants.
Continue Reading...
How Can Obama Not Turn Our Backs On Failing Businesses?
During the rather brief and confusing discussion about bailing out automakers President Obama announced with his characteristic misplaced righteousness that we "will not turn our backs on one of America's basic industries." Of course, Mr. Obama and his cheerleaders do not mean that they will dip into their resources and provide help nor do they mention that what he means is that he wouldn't allow any American citizen to do so even if that seems a wise decision. In other words, in his typically collectivist thinking, he believed that his desire to bail out an industry with other people's resources is virtuous and must be made public policy. Everyone else must be forced to follow suit.
Obama hasn't the funds to bail out anyone, of course. In fact, neither does the United States of America, considering that the US Treasury is empty, running on promissory notes, the faith and hope that members of future generations will be productive enough for them to be ready to be robbed of their incomes and savings so as to fund what Mr. Obama believes is important to fund, such as bailouts for banks and car companies. And he proudly proclaims this to be a praiseworthy idea, him using our resources to fund his pet projects. And just when he wanted to capitalize on some minor rejuvenation in the auto industry, that industry started to falter again and cost taxpayers several billion dollars.
Like a monarch, Mr. Obama sees the country's wealth to be his wealth. He has no respect for private property rights – all property belongs, as argued by his favorite political philosophers Liam Murphy and Thomas Nagel (in their book,The Myth of Ownership), to the country and is not the property of the citizens of the country!
Hurricane Sandy For Dummies Books Tossed Out
While the Owner actually spent the night in the store, she watched the tide rise hour by hour until it came above the sand bags and started pouring in. Unfortunately the books on the lower shelves had to be tossed out.
Sobo's And Aqua Are Open
Sobo's
Every Tuesday Night, 2 can dine for $39. Choose one appetizer to share, two entrees and two glasses of wine (or pints of beer), all for just $39.00. Great way to spend Tuesday Nights
Aqua will open at 4 PM. I don't know about you but after the last 72 hours, I could really enjoy a nice cold beer tonight. See you there.
THIS IS WHY I LOVE THE EASTERN SHORE!
They explained how their Father was 90 and their Mother is in her late 80's. They live on Main Street in Crisfield and they couldn't make contact with them.
They called the Police but there was no answer. I came to learn the Crisfield Police Department had their entire roof come off the building.
I told the caller that I would do my best to make contact with someone in Crisfield and that I'd get right back to them. The very first person that came to mind was John Phoebus. John answered my call and I explained the situation. John said, give me the Florida phone number and I'll go over to their home right now and make sure every one is OK.
Not 15 minutes later I received a call back from John, the Parents are just fine. It turns out they have cell phones but unless you have Verizon service they just don't work in Crisfield. John let them use his cell phone to call their children and all is good.
I'm going to elect John Phoebus as the President of the "What A Guy Club". Thanks John!
Woman Arrested For Speaking Too Long At City Council Meeting
A 60-year-old woman was arrested after exceeding her allotted three minutes of speaking time at a California city council meeting.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that Karen Wright's arrested was caught on video, when she was handcuffed by police and cited for disrupting a public meeting during a Riverside City Council meeting.
"Can you see my wrists? You're pulling and jerking on my wrists!" Wright says in the video, while police forcibly handcuff her while she is on her knees. "I cannot get up without putting my hands down!"
Hurricane Sandy Didn't Impact West Delmar
While I had thought we were going to get hammered from Sandy, the main Pond in the top picture barely overflowed to our driveway. It's amazing what can happen when you bring in the right professionals.
Considering hurricane Sandy was a category one hurricane, the images we've been providing from Ocean City to Crisfield clearly show this was "the perfect storm" for waterfront property, damage wise. IF this hurricane had been stronger there might not be an Ocean City or a Crisfield any longer.
We should thank our lucky stars hurricane Sandy wasn't a category 3 or stronger. Plans need to be made for new construction. Downtown Salisbury used to be a lake, literally. Dams were made to create what we have now and when these storms come in you can count on flooding no matter what.
Proper storm water management is a necessity. You have to wonder if the City decided to open one or more of the four dams during hurricane Sandy. That would explain the massive flooding Downtown.