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Sunday, February 17, 2013

Wife Of The Year


Saturday Night Live Observes Lent With The Most Offensive Sketch In Its History: Djesus Uncrossed

2013's Lenten season began Wednesday, and Christians all over the world are observing the six week lead-up to Easter Sunday. It's a solemn, reverent, time for millions of faithful. So, of course, the ultra-tolerant progressive left sees it as an opportunity to unload their derision, their hatred, and their ugliness upon believers.

Case in point is last night's episode of Saturday Night Live.

NBC's comedic brain trust thought it would be just oh-so-hilarious to mark the fourth day of Lent with an appalling, ugly, and insulting sketch called "Djesus Uncrossed." The mock movie trailer portrays the resurrected Christ as an uber-violent, shotgun wielding, killer. Back from the grave, the risen Christ seeks bloody revenge against the Romans who crucified him.

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QUOTES OF THE DAY 2-17-13

“Each central bank…sought to dominate its government by its ability to control Treasury loans, to manipulate foreign exchanges, to influence the level of economic activity in the country, and to influence cooperative politicians by subsequent economic rewards in the business world.”

Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope, p. 278

“Of course, convergence of finance and monopoly capitalism with monopoly communism was always the long-range goal of the Money Power, as William Gladstone called them…

The conflict between the East and West was designed to scare the people of the world into accepting a convergence of these two monopoly systems of authoritarian power. The end result was to be a new Imperial Order and a New World Empire run by an elite self-perpetuating oligarchies from the leading nations of the earth.”

Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope, p. 860
“Another cause of today’s instability is that we now have a society in America, Europe and much of the world which is totally dominated by the two elements of sovereignty that are not included in the state structure: control of credit and banking, and the corporation.

These are free of political controls and social responsibility and have largely monopolized power in Western Civilization and in American society. They are ruthlessly going forward to eliminate land, labor, entrepreneurial-managerial skills, and everything else the economists once told us were the chief elements of production.

The only element of production they are concerned with is the one they can control: capital.”

Carroll Quigley, Oscar Iden Lecture Series 3, 1976

Why Raising The Minimum Wage Is A Terrible Idea

The biggest problem with Americans today, and the politicians that pander to them, is that they make choices based on emotional effect and not on data. This is why there’s no outrage over the budget-busting compensation of public sector employees like teachers, firefighters and police (yes, they all do important jobs, but the free market should dictate their salaries and compensation, not union thuggery and fleecing of the taxpayer), why nobody cares about all the stupid stimulus bills that had no impact other than to further increase our national debt (and hence, debt servicing costs), why people think price gouging is bad (gouging is GOOD) and of course, why Americans love a minimum wage. To add insult to injury, Obama used emotional platitudes to highlight why America needs to raise the minimum wage yet again. It is a terrible idea; here’s why:
Forced Overpayment for Labor – I’m sorry, but someone should be paid what they’re worth to the employer. If it’s an absolutely zero skill job that just requires a body, why is the government mandating you pay them any set wage rate at all? Think like an employer. Consider a dishwasher. There’s no prior experience required, no special skills and easily replaced. Many restaurants use illegal immigrants for this type of role anyway, but let’s say they’re by the books and paying the full wage, payroll taxes (people forget about all the additional expenses business incur when something like this is proposed) and all the other costs associated with employing someone…

Reports: Mindy McCready Dead Of Apparent Suicide

Country music singer Mindy McCready has committed suicide, according to FOX 17 and multiple other reports.

Stacy McCloud, a reporter at FOX 17 in Nashville, tweeted:

“A close family friend of Mindy McCready has informed me that the country singer has committed suicide.”

A short time later she tweeted:

“The Mindy McCready suicide I told you about has now been confirmed from 4 different sources. A statement from the family is in the works.”

McCloud said she spoke to McCready’s family who confirmed the news.

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Dude, Where's My Refund? IRS Website Overrun

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Internal Revenue Service has a message for taxpayers eager to learn the status of their tax refund: Please don't check the IRS website every five minutes -- once a day is enough.

The IRS says its "Where's my refund?" website and smartphone app are being overwhelmed by eager taxpayers. The agency says its systems are only updated once a day, usually overnight, and the same information is available on the website, the IRS2go smartphone app and IRS toll-free phone lines.

The IRS provides three updates: when the tax return is received, when the refund is approved and when the refund is sent. To avoid delays, the agency says the best time to check on refunds is evenings and weekends.

"I think what we're seeing is just part of the natural evolution in the refund process," said IRS

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Democratic Voter Fraud Cases Become Ammo For Virginia GOP

Well-publicized instances of attempted voter fraud by high-profile Democrats in Virginia and Maryland have helped Republican lawmakers make a case for tougher voting requirements.

In Virginia, Patrick Moran, the son of Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, has become the poster child for voter fraud after he was documented on a hidden camera last year coaching an undercover conservative operative on how to forge a utility bill to vote for someone else. At the time, the younger Moran was working on his father's campaign in Northern Virginia, though he stepped down after the embarrassing incident.

Authorities did not file charges against Moran, but that hasn't stopped Republicans from frequently alluding to the case this year while pushing for a photo voter identification law.

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Would You Pay $30 An Hour To Nap In A 7-By-8-Foot Room At The Airport?

You’ve been up since the crack of dawn and have arrived bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived at the airport, only to find your connecting flight is delayed. Like, way delayed. Your options are limited and probably include camping out near a wall so you can at least lean your head against it and catch a few z’s while you wait. Or would you be willing to pay $30 an hour to take a nap in a tiny room of your own?

A company called Minute Suites has been rolling out mini nap rooms in airports like Atlanta and Philadelphia, with plans in the works for Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, reports NPR, so that weary travelers can rest their heads in private.

The rooms are about 7-by-8 feet and and are staffed by college students learning the hospitality trade. The first hour costs $30 and then travelers are billed in 15-minute increments. An overnight stay goes for $120 and only ticketed passengers can get a room.

$1000/HR: OBAMA BOOKS WORLD'S TOP GOLF PRO FOR VACATION

Economic growth is in the negative, unemployment is on the rise, Walmart's forecasting a disastrous February for retail sales, poverty's up, gas prices are up, the cost of health care premiums are up, middle class incomes are falling, consumer confidence is at a two year low, our deficit is unsustainable, and Barack Obama has just signed up for private golf lessons with two of the top teachers in the country.

You might want to go back and read that last part again.

Safely re-elected and with no concerns whatsoever that the media will take issue with his elitist behavior (hell, the media won't even make an issue of the economy), what would certainly be the kind of optics the media would bludgeon a Republican with will likely go unnoticed, because the narrative's been set that Obama can do no wrong.

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WE ARE ALREADY GREECE & SPAIN

I know I’m supposed to be shocked by the 50% to 60% youth unemployment rates in Greece and Spain, but I’m not. We have the exact same rates of youth unemployement here in the good old US of A. Greece and Spain need to outsource their data reporting to the BLS and things will get miraculously better overnight. My guess is that Greece and Spain actually calculate how many 15 to 24 year olds have a job versus the total number of 15 to 24 year olds. How antiquated and unoriginal.

Our beloved BLS reports an unemployment rate of 17.6% for all 16 to 24 year olds in America. Isn’t that precious? There happen to be 38.9 million 16 to 24 year olds in the United States of America. There happen to be 17.2 million of them employed. For the math challenged out there, this means that 56% of all 16 to 24 year olds in our country are not employed. Sure sounds like it is at Greece and Spain levels to me. So how can the BLS report a 17.6% unemployment rate with a straight face? They just ASSUME that 18 million 16 to 24 year olds are not in the labor force by their own choosing. That’s a helluva an assumption. Checkout the numbers for yourself:

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After Obamacare Health Exchange Deadline Passes, 26 States Opt In With Feds

Twenty-six states have chosen to let the federal government run the online insurance markets required next year by President Obama’s health care law instead of taking on the job themselves or partnering with the feds.

The Department of Health and Human Services had encouraged states to run their own markets, or “exchanges,” that help the uninsured find coverage, but only 17 states and the District of Columbia took on the task and seven states decided to split the duty with the Obama administration, according to a breakdown by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

States that wanted to run a partnership exchange with the federal government had to let HHS know by late Friday, concluding months deliberation in each of the 50 states. 

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Wall Street Wins Again: The Much Vaunted Mortgage Task Force "Does Not Exist"

You know why Jaime Dimon is always smiling and why the oligarchs in general are so arrogant? They keep pillaging the American public and no one does anything about it. The sheeple are so brainwashed at this point most of them will fall for anything. Now, for the outrageous story of the day… From Salon:

Recent profiles of this event have called last night’s State of the Union the “anniversary” of the formation of the working group. But you can’t really have an anniversary of something that never existed in the first place. There never was a Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities working group, never a so-called task force dedicated to ferreting out Wall Street fraud — the deceptive origination of mortgage loans, sale of worthless mortgage-backed securities for huge sums, and subsequent unloading of toxic debt to unsuspecting buyers. The working group fails to exist as a tangible entity to this day. What does exist is the same years-old Financial Fraud Enforcement Group that serves as a conduit for press releases about investigative actions already in progress.

Schneiderman’s “task force” (a generous appellation) was merely a politically motivated shell organization grafted onto that public relations strategy. This was evident almost from the moment of the announcement, but the coalition of self-proclaimed bank accountability advocates, who had backed the administration into a corner over the lack of prosecutions, decided to align with Schneiderman and his kabuki task force, losing whatever leverage they may have had. If those same groups who feel “betrayed” and “lied to” had stayed on the outside and shamed those in power into action, we would probably have more accountability today.

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D.C. Barbershop Owner Pleads Guilty In $20 Million ID Fraud Operation

The owner of a D.C. barbershop pleaded guilty to a $20 million identity theft and tax fraud scheme that stole personal information from nursing home patients, dead people and victims who were duped into believing they were getting "Obama Stimulus Money."

The massive scam involved more than 100 participants, including postal workers and bank tellers, who schemed to file more than 7,000 fake tax returns seeking to rip off $20 million over six years.

Prosecutors say the primary organizer and leader was 42-year-old Kevin Brown, of Capitol Heights, the owner of the Classic Kutz hair salon and barber shop in Southeast Washington.

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1943 Group Photo Of 65 MGM Movie Stars At Studio's 20th Birthday Party

Many of the actors under contract with MGM at studio's 20th Birthday Party

1st Row: James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Lucille Ball, Hedy Lamarr, Katharine Hepburn, Louis B Mayer, Greer Garson, Irene Dunne, Susan Peters, Ginny Simms, Lionel Barrymore

2nd Row: Harry James, Brian Donlevy, Red Skelton, Mickey Rooney, William Powell, Wallace Beery, Spencer Tracy, Walter Pidgeon, RobertTaylor, Pierre Aumont,

Lewis Stone, Gene Kelly, Jackie Jenkins

3rd Row: Tommy Dorsey, George Murphy, Jean Rogers, James Craig, Donna Reed, Van Johnson, Fay Bainter, Marsha Hunt, Ruth Hussey, Marjorie Main, Robert Benchley

4th Row: Dame May Whitty, Reginald Owen, Keenan Wynn, Diana Lewis, Marilyn Maxwell, Esther Williams, Ann Richards, Marta Linden,

Lee Bowman, Richard Carlson, Mary Astor

5th Row: Blanche Ring, Sara Haden, Fay Holden, Bert Lahr, Frances Gifford, June Allyson, Richard Whorf, Frances Rafferty, Spring Byington, Connie Gilchrist, Gladys Cooper

6th Row: Ben Blue, Chill Wills, Keye Luke, Barry Nelson, Desi Arnaz, Henry O¹Neill, Bob Crosby, Rags Ragland

Public Outcry, Crash Data Leads To Traffic Light Decision Being Overturned

SNOW HILL -- One troubled intersection in the south end of Worcester County will receive a traffic light by mid-summer, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT).

While MDOT and the State Highway Administration (SHA) had previously opposed a light in favor of installing J-turns, public outcry persuaded MDOT to re-evaluate the need for a traffic signal at the intersection of Routes 113 and 12 near Snow Hill.

The decision was widely lauded by representatives on the Eastern Shore like Delegate Mike McDermott (R-38B), who has stressed in the past the high rate of accidents and fatalities at the intersection.

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TELL ME AGAIN HOW HE BROKE HIS COLLARBONE?

Click on image to enlarge.

Delaware License Plate Expected To Fetch Six Figures

REHOBOTH BEACH — A Delaware license plate with only two digits, 67, is expected to sell at auction in Rehoboth Beach for more than $100,000. But exactly how much more won’t be known until the black-and-white tag is hammered down Sunday, Feb. 17.

“I can’t say for sure what it’ll go for, but it could be in the $120,000 to $175,000 range,” said Butch Emmert, president and owner of Rehoboth Beach-based Emmert Auction Associates.

Emmert, who has auctioned Delaware license plates for 25 years, said he’s been lucky to have some prominent plates come his way.

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The Unscary Sequester

As Obama tries to scare the public with dire consequences of the sequester that HE proposed, let’s put it into perspective. According to the CBO, the much ballyhooed sequester would cut spending by $44 billion in 2013. The expected budget for 2013 is $3.97 trillion, so a $44 billion cut amounts to 1.2% of the budget. $44 billion is what the federal government spends in approximately 4.5 days Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) pointed out that "even with the sequester, spending goes up $7 trillion or $8 trillion over the next ten years." We are going to hear a cacophony of howls and wails about dire spending cuts hurting children and the poor.

As reported in a February 6th Wall Street Journal article, “...Still, from 2008-2013 federal discretionary spending has climbed to $1.062 trillion from $933 billion—an increase of 13.9%. Domestic programs grew by 16.6%, much faster than the 11.6% for national security. …

But wait—this doesn't include the recent Hurricane Sandy relief bill. Less than half of that $59 billion is going to storm victims while the rest is a spending end-run around the normal appropriations process. Add that money to the tab, and total discretionary domestic spending is up closer to 30% from 2008-2013. The sequester would claw that back by all of about 5%. “

Democrats are demanding tax increases as a means of preventing the sequester. Republicans cannot buckle to the Democrat fear campaign.

Knut The Polar Bear Becomes Museum Display

Adorable in life, still attracting admirers in death: Knut the polar bear's hide has been mounted on a polyurethane body and is going on display in a Berlin museum.

The Natural History Museum on Friday unveiled the statue prepared by taxidermists featuring the famous Berlin Zoo bear's fur and claws, with the synthetic body and glass eyes.

The display runs through March 15. Knut will then be added to the museum's scientific collections.

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THE 30,000 FOOT VIEW

Flash posted this on another thread. I go back and forth between thinking, as the author does, that there will be a complete crash at some point, or whether there will simply be a slow slide towards a complete Totalitarian State with most living a NeoFeudal life of debt and taxes. At the moment I’m leaning towards the Totalitarian State.
http://capitalisteric.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/the-30000-foot-view-of-whats-coming/

In today’s world of instant news, “spin” from MSM and their shills, and the constant struggle to make a living in a declining economy, it’s difficult to understand the big picture. This essay is an attempt to bring the latest news into a single coherent essay, and share what I see happening… and what it means.

As a result of the Newtown School shootings, big-government elites have been hammering HARD for their version of gun control- which is really “victim disarmament.” Indeed, the push has been more aggressive and contentious than anything I’ve ever seen. The obvious goal of our government (as the NDAA and NDRP amply demonstrate) is complete and total control of the population, and elimination of any possibility of armed resistance to their hidden agenda. Oh, we know the agenda is power, but we don’t know the details of why, when or where… or do we?

There are plenty of official proclamations as to how much debt the USA has-$16 Trillion.

But the unofficial debt, using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) now stands at $238 Trillion. Against an annual GDP of approximately $16 Trillion, that means that every dollar of value created by goods and services for the next 15 years is already spent. And that number, by the way, is in today’s dollars.

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NEW INTERACTIVE MAP SHOWS THE NUMBER OF TIMES GUNS HAVE SAVED AMERICANS

Proponents of stricter gun control measures regularly call attention to the number of people who have killed in gun-related crimes:

However, what these people often neglect to mention is the number of people who have been saved by firearms. That is, gun control advocates rarely — if ever — acknowledge the possible benefits of owning a gun.

But is there an upside to owning a gun, as defenders of the Second Amendment claim? Of course there is. Indeed, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when we say numerous would-be murderers, burglars, and rapists have been thwarted by guns.

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Police Investigate Murder Of UMES Student

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. (WJZ) — A UMES student was murdered Saturday night and police are searching for those responsible.

Police say 21-year-old Edmond St. Clair, from Severn, died of injuries sustained from an assault stemming from an altercation on campus.

Police are searching for three suspects who are identified as African-American men in their late teens or early twenties.

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Top Dog: U.S. Marines Welcome Their Newest Bulldog, Chesty

He’s only nine weeks old, but has already entered recruit training. That would be “Chesty,” the pedigreed English bulldog and future Marine Corps mascot, who arrived at Marine Barracks in the nation’s capital on Valentine’s Day.

The handsome and distinguished young Chesty will enter obedience school and canine “recruit training,” earn the title of Marine and be named the next Marine Corps mascot on March 29. His official duties include marching in myriad events, including the Friday twilight parades at the facility, looking tough but buff in his own custom dress blues.

Mascots and Marines have a long history, according to Marion F. Sturkey, who penned “Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines,” published in 2001:

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19 People Who Are Having A Way Worse Day Than You

Police Seize Counterfeit Goods From Flea Market

Baltimore County Police detectives shut down a flea market in Dundalk this morning, as they seized counterfeit goods.

Baltimore County Police Corporal Cathy Batton says detectives served the warrants on 16 vendors at the Plaza Flea Market in the 2400 block of Old North Point Road.

The warrants were served at around 10 a.m.

"We want to make it clear this is not against the flea market in its entirety, but only against vendors who rent space in the flea market," Batton told WBAL News.

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POLICE SEEK SUSPECTS IN MURDER OF UMES STUDENT

(PRINCESS ANNE, MD) – Maryland State Police and University of Maryland Eastern Shore Police are searching for those responsible for the murder of a student who died last night of injuries sustained when he was assaulted during an apparent altercation on the Somerset County campus.

The victim is identified as Edmond A. St. Clair, 21, of Severn, Md., who was a student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He was pronounced dead at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury shortly after 9:30 p.m. yesterday.

Three unidentified suspects are being sought by police at this time. They are described only as African American males in their late teens or early twenties.

The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was contacted last night by University of Maryland Eastern Shore Police Department Interim Chief Kenny Collins, who requested State Police respond and conduct the investigation. In addition to campus police officers, State Police homicide investigators are being assisted by troopers and criminal investigators from the Princess Anne Barrack and crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division.

The preliminary investigation indicates that shortly after 9:00 p.m. yesterday, a campus police officer was parked in her patrol car in the parking lot of the “Pavilion” on College Backbone Road, when a male, later identified as the victim’s brother, came running to her police car and reported his brother had been stabbed. The officer responded to the nearby scene and found the victim lying on the roadside next to his girlfriend’s car.

The officer saw the victim had sustained injuries to his upper torso. EMS personnel were summoned to the scene and the victim was transported to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

Investigators have learned the victim was apparently a passenger in his girlfriend’s Honda that was being driven by his brother. Another male passenger was in the rear of the vehicle. Neither the victim’s brother nor the other male are students at the university, but both were visiting for the weekend.

According to witnesses interviewed so far, the three were driving through campus when they encountered three or four people walking in the street. Some type of altercation ensued and the victim was stabbed with an as yet unidentified weapon.

Police have no reason at this time to believe this was a random assault. The motive appears to be the result of an argument or ongoing dispute. State Police are continuing to conduct interviews and serve search warrants as the investigation progresses. Anyone who witnessed this crime or has information is urged to contact Maryland State Police at the Princess Anne Barrack at 443-260-3700. Callers may remain anonymous.

University students were warned of the crime through their campus security alert system. Students have been provided a number to call, 410-651-8484, if they have questions or concerns.

Bounds Funeral Home

I cant say enough praise about this business, hope you will share....
I wanted to get word out about a business in Salisbury that has blown me away in their kindness and honesty. I lived most of my life on the Eastern Shore and a few years ago moved out of state. I met my wife on the shore and have many friends there.

I had to take a trip back to Eastern Shore last week due to a death in the family. It was a hard time and not pleasant to handle. This is a task my wife and I have never had to really do. If you have never had to arrange a funeral for a loved one, it’s completely different than attending one. We decided to stop into Bounds Funeral Home. It was one of the many ones we were aware of. Our thoughts were to check a couple of them out. We never went anywhere else, after we met with a group of the most professional, honest people I have had to deal with on the Shore in 35 plus years of being there. A young lady named Denise waited on us, and we felt so comfortable with her explanation of what needed to be done we never looked any further. She took a long time to explain everything that was needed or required to do for the service. I cannot tell you how nice and kind that the staff was.

Once we started the process, we needed to provide items for the service to prepare our family member. While dropping off these items, we needed to complete more paperwork. One of the workers there took the items of clothing, and undergarment. A few minutes later while we are completing paperwork she returns. You see, our family member had hidden in one of her clothing items several thousands of dollars in cash. We had no knowledge of this, and would have never known if it was taken. You may say of course this is what is expected of businesses, and people but in todays time I find it exceptional to see such honesty. When you find someone, or a business that have employees that have this moral it is outstanding and should be acknowledged. There was one more item that amazed me in all this, knowing that we recovered several thousands dollars the lady who helped us made a small error on a procedure requirement. She advised by mistake that since we were going out of state with transportation a simple procedure that cost minimal money was needed. She later found out it was not, and refunded that amount to us.

I cannot say enough about “Honesty” “Integrity” and “Compassion” that this business has to its customers. Funerals are not fun, they are a hard time to deal with. They are expensive and full of surprises and experiences if you have to arrange them you will find difficult. If you need to do any of these, pick a business that has the qualities that Bounds Funeral Home has.

Thank you Denise, and the staff off Bounds Funeral Home.

WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR THE LATEST LEFT-WING CONSPIRACY ABOUT THE TEA PARTY — AND YOUR TAX DOLLARS FUNDED THE ‘STUDY’

Americans’ hard earned tax dollars were used to help fund a study that attempted to link the Tea Party movement to the tobacco lobby. The study argues that the Tea Party was not a spontaneous grassroots movement, but rather the brainchild of big tobacco.

Tea Party leaders quickly mocked the study’s conclusions, which were published earlier this month in the Tobacco Control journal. It was also reportedly presented by its actual authors at an on-campus symposium in San Francisco on Feb. 8. The research was conducted at the University of California-San Francisco.

“The Tea Party that we see in 2009 actually has decades of influence from tobacco and other corporate interests,” co-author Amanda Fallin said.

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The SOTU & What We’ve Done In Maryland…Part II

The President’s State of the Union focused on finding new and innovative ways to cut waste, improve efficiencies, improve education — from Pre-School to higher education — and create jobs. Here in Maryland, we are already working towards stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger America.

A More Sustainable Energy Future
Here’s what President Obama said:

“Four years ago, other countries dominated the clean energy market and the jobs that came with it. We’ve begun to change that. Last year, wind energy added nearly half of all new power capacity in America. So let’s generate even more.”
And here’s what we’ve done and are doing in Maryland:

In Maryland, we’ve set some of the nation’s most aggressive renewable energy standards and goals both (1) because we understand that a green energy future matters for jobs, it matters for our quality of life and it matters for the future we leave our children; and (2) because we can only achieve progress if we set measurable goals and hold ourselves accountable.

This year, we’re proposing to move forward with the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013, a project that will create jobs, supply electricity, reduce emissions and put us on a path to long term price stability.

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Sen. Rubio To Meet with Israel's Netanyahu, Palestinian PM

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio announced that he will be traveling to Jordan and Israel on Saturday, just days after delivering the Republican response — in English and Spanish — to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.

“America's friendship with Israel is a truly special one, and we must continue to do all we can to support this beacon of democracy, religious freedom and free enterprise in the heart of an unstable region,” Rubio blogged on Saturday.

The first-term senator is considered a rising star in the Republican Party and his name is frequently mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2016.

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Letters I Thought You Should See

January 16, 2013

Darrell B. Mobley, Acting Secretary
Maryland Department of Transportation
Corporate Center Drive
Hanover, MD.

Dear Secretary Mobley,

For countless years, the citizens of Worcester County and the travelers passing through our area have dealt with the treacherous two lane sections of US Rt. 13. Perhaps the worst area of this terrible section of the highway is located at the intersection of Rt. 12 in Snow Hill. The fatalities and serious injury accidents are astounding.

An overpass is clearly needed but the $10 million price tag is apparently out of reach. While I have little input on funding priorities, I understand this is the current reality. However, a recent decision to create J-Turns at this intersection is being received poorly by the community as a means of soiving the problem. The people who use the roadway the most would like a traffic control device installed. They have legitimate concerns about the amount
 of traffic that would be required to utilize the proposed J-Turns and the functionality of this highway modification.

Lastly, it is inherently less expensive to simply install a traffic control device at the intersection than it would be to install the proposed J-Turns. I have seen your budget projections moving forward and it is clear that funding is limited. Moving forward with traffic control devices even makes better economic sense during these challenging times.

Several years ago, the SFIA elected to install a traffic control device at our Board of Education complex a few miles north of Snow Hill. The device was not requested by local government nor did any traffic count or demonstrative graphics support such a measure. Yet, it was installed anyway.

Now, the people in and around Snow Hill have been clamoring for a light while accidents continue, and yet they are denied or offered a very unattractive alternative. Please help us move forward in a positive direction in 2013. Grant our request for the traffic signal now.

With Warmest Regards ,

Michael A. McDermott, Delegate
Wicomico & Worcester Counties


The Honorable Michael A. McDermott
Maryland House of Delegates
Room 323
6 Bladen Street
Annapolis MD 21401

Dear Delegate McDermott:
This letter is in regard to the intersections of US 1 l3 at MD 12 (Snow Hill Road) and US I l3 at MD 365 (Public Landing Road) in Snow Hill, Worcester County. I appreciate your partnership with the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) in responding to the concerns of your constituents in Snow Hill.

The State Highway Administration (SHA) has reviewed the US I l3 corridor between MD 365 and MD 12. The long-range plan for this corridor calls for an interchange at MD 12 replacing the existing "at
grade" intersection as Phase 5 of the US I 13 dualization project. 

The plan also includes replacing the existing "at grade" intersection at US I 13 and MD 365 with J-Turns. which have been successful along the US 113 coridor between Snow Hill and Berlin.

After careful consideration of the immediate safety concerns and community feedback, I am pleased to inform you that SHA's review has determined that a fully operating traffic signal should replace the
existing flashing beacon at the US I l3 and MD l2 intersection. SHA found that a signal is needed based on projected 2013 traffic counts and current 2012 crash data just obtained from the Maryland State Police.

The temporary traffic signal is a cost effective interim solution that will remain in place until the interchange, the ultimate solution, is complete. SHA will continue its design and construction of J-Turns
for the US I l3 and MD 365 intersection, since it is in keeping with the treatment of other similar intersections along this corridor.

We anticipate that the traffic signal at US I 13 and MD 12 will be installed by mid-summer. Construction of the i-I'urns at US 113 and MD 365 will begin as soon as construction funding becomes available.

Thank you, again, for your letter. If you have additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Donnie L. Drewer, District Engineer, SHA at 410-677-4006, toll-free 1-800-825-4742 or via email at ddrewer@sha.state.md.us. Of course, you should feel free to contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Darrell B. Mobley
Acting Secretary

Sarah Brady Coming To Annapolis

As lawmakers in Maryland debate a gun control bill, one of this nation's leading gun control advocates is coming to Annapolis in the coming week.

Sarah Brady will be in Annapolis on Wednesday to help raise money for Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence.

She will also meet with Governor Martin O'Malley.

Brady is the co-founder of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and has advocated for gun control legislation across the country.

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I LOVE FREE STUFF

Michael Ramirez Cartoon

WD-40 / Who Knew

DID YOU KNOW?
What IS The Main Ingredient of WD-40?
Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40?
No Cheating.....

... WD-40 ~ Who knew!

I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup.
I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason).
I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news.
He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do....
probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.
Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off.
It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I was impressed!

WD-40 who knew?
"Water Displacement #40".
The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.
WD-40 was created in 1953, by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.
Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'Water Displacement' Compound.
They were finally successful for a formulation, with their fortieth attempt, thus WD-40.
The 'Convair Company' bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.
Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.
When you read the 'shower door' part, try it.
It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door.
If yours is plastic, it works just as well as on glass.
It's a miracle!
Then try it on your stovetop.
It's now shinier than it's ever been.
You'll be amazed.
WD-40 Uses:
1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4. Gives floor that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.
5. Keeps the flies off of Cows, Horses, and other Farm Critters, as well. (Ya gotta love this one!!!)
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7. Removes lipstick stains.
8. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.
10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic / terracotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on both home and vehicles doors.
18. It removes that nasty tar and scuff marks from the kitchen flooring.
It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.
Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19. Remove those nasty Bug guts that will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!
20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gearshift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers...
22. Rids kids rocking chair and swings of squeaky noises.
23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes grease splatters from stovetops.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35. Removes all traces of duct tape.
36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37. Florida's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38. The favorite use in the state of New York, it protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.
Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41. It is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray it on the marks and wipe with a clean rag.
42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!
43. If you spray it inside a wet distributor cap, it will displace the moisture, allowing the engine to start.

P.S.
As for that Basic, Main Ingredient.......
Well.... it's FISH OIL....
Who would have guessed ? ? ?

Gun Rights Draws Crowd to Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Andy Harris in Ocean City

It was a full house at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Ocean City this afternoon as area residents sat in on a Town Hall Meeting with 1st District Congressman Andy Harris about gun rights and gun issues.

After the most recent incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School, numerous measures have been proposed both at the state level and in Congress that would affect licensing, registration, guns and ammunition. However Congressman Harris says none of these measures – including the legislation proposed by Governor Martin O'Malley would – had they been in place – would have stopped what occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

O'Malley's plan is a 4-point measure to limit gun violence and includes a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity gun magazines, strict gun licensing rules, to strengthen school security and aid those with mental illnesses.

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