Why Has Paula Deen Been Vilified, While Alec Baldwin’s Been Given a Pass?

Paula Deen has been dropped by many of her sponsors for admitting to spewing a racial epithet about a man who shoved a gun in her face in ’87, while Alec Baldwin has received less backlash for attempting to ‘f--k up’ a ‘queen.’ Why?

Poor Richard’s Almanack was distributed in the American colonies annually between 1732 and 1758. Published by Benjamin Franklin under the pseudonym “Poor Richard,” the almanac proved enormously popular, with the number of copies sold reaching the tens of thousands. In the 1752 edition, Franklin—ever the cheeky wordsmith—took on the subject of hypocrisy (which was a pretty big deal at the time): “Mankind are very odd Creatures: One Half censure what they practice, the other half practice what they censure; the rest always say and do as they ought.”

Franklin’s musing, a remnant of a mind-numbing U.S. history lecture during my freshman year of college, came bubbling to the surface after witnessing the crucifixion of Paula Deen, and the comparatively tepid criticism received by Alec Baldwin after the 30 Rock actor tweeted a barrage of vile, homophobic remarks at a reporter for the Daily Mail. The disparate reactions speak volumes about society’s attitudes toward racism, homophobia, and celebrity.

First, let’s review the transgressions.
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Draft This

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel noted today's 40th anniversary of the all-volunteer military. He called the switch from the draft one of the most consequential and far-reaching changes in the history of America's armed forces. Hagel, a Vietnam veteran, says skeptics were wrong about the all-volunteer force. It managed to help win the Cold War, reversed Iraqi aggression in the Persian Gulf region, and kept peace in the Balkans. But he says the armed forces will have to adapt and change to meet future challenges.

Kirsten Powers: I Don’t Stand With Wendy Davis

Stand with the pink-sneakered Texas legislator and her fight to allow mothers to abort babies past the 20th week of pregnancy? Never—and most women wouldn’t either, says Kirsten Powers.

It’s amazing what is considered heroism these days.

A Texas legislator and her pink sneakers have been lionized for an eleventh-hour filibuster against a bill that would have made it illegal for mothers to abort babies past 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in the case of severe fetal abnormalities or to protect the life or health of the mother.

People actually cheered this.

But the fight is not over. The bill will be reintroduced, and supporters of the ban are optimistic it will pass. For now, Wendy Davis has achieved the dubious victory of maintaining a very dark status quo. Texas women will still be able to abort a healthy baby up to the 26th week of pregnancy for any reason, as the current law allows. 
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Why The U.S. Is In So Much Trouble

A DC 'airport ticket agent' offers some examples of why the US is in so much trouble!

1.I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman (Carol Shea-Porter) ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window. (On an airplane!)

2. I got a call from a Kansas Congressman's (Moore) staffer (Howard Bauleke), who wanted to go to Cape Town. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information, and then he interrupted me with, ''I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Cape Town is in Massachusetts ..''

Without trying to make him look stupid, I calmly explained, ''Cape Cod is in Massachusetts , Cape Town is in South Africa ..''
His response -- click..

3. A senior Vermont Congressman (Bernie Sanders) called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando . He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that's not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state.

He replied, 'Don't lie to me!, I looked on the map, and Florida is a very THIN state!!'' (OMG)

4. I got a call from a lawmaker's wife (Landra Reid) who asked, ''Is it possible to see England from Canada ?''

I said, ''No.''

She said, ''But they look so close on the map'' (OMG, again!)

5. An aide for a cabinet member (Janet Napolitano) once called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas .. I pulled up the reservation and noticed he had only a 1-hour layover in Dallas ... When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, ''I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between gates to save time.'' (Aghhhh)

6. An Illinois Congresswoman (Jan Schakowsky) called last week. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:30 a.m., and got to Chicago at 8:33 a.m.

I explained that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois , but she couldn't understand the concept of time zones. Finally, I told her the plane went fast, and she bought that.

7. A New York lawmaker, (Jerrold Nadler) called and asked, ''Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to whom?'' I said, 'No, why do you ask?'

He replied, ''Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said (FAT), and I'm overweight. I think that's very rude!''

After putting him on hold for a minute, while I looked into it. (I was dying laughing). I came back and explained the city code for Fresno , Ca. is (FAT - Fresno Air Terminal), and the airline was just putting a destination tag on his luggage..

8. A Senator John Kerry aide (Lindsay Ross) called to inquire about a trip package to Hawaii . After going over all the cost info, she asked, ''Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii ?''

9. I just got off the phone with a freshman Congressman, Bobby Bright from Ala. who asked, ''How do I know which plane to get on?''

I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, ''I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these planes have numbers on them.''

10 Senator Dianne Feinstein called and said, ''I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola , Florida . Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?''

I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola and fly on a commuter plane..

She said, ''Yeah, whatever, smarty!''

11 Mary Landrieu, La. Senator, called and had a question about the documents she needed in order to fly to China .. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded her that she needed a visa. "Oh, no I don't. I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those.''

I double checked and sure enough, her stay required a visa. When I told her this she said, ''Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!''

Social Security Paid 1,546 Dead People $31 Million -- Deceased Collected Benefits Up to 20 Years

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has paid at least 1,546 dead people $31 million, with some of the deceased receiving benefits for 20 years.

According to a June 21 audit by the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, 2,475 beneficiaries had a recorded date of death in Social Security’s own database. The IG determined that “at least” 1,546 of these individuals were in fact dead and still receiving benefits, totaling $30,956,695 through May 2012.

Among those 1,546 deceased, some were receiving benefits for up to 20 years. 

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O'MALLEY/BROWN STEALING YOUR SUMMER VACATION SAYS DELEGATE RON GEORGE

Gubernatorial candidate Ron George issues the following statement on today's tax increases:

O'Malley/Brown now are stealing from your summer vacation funds. Since they robbed and misspent what was needed for transportation, they are now grabbing your money through tolls, rain and gas.

As you look at the bay bridge behind me, it is an example of what is happening around Maryland.

More and more people on the Eastern Shore, which has lost manufacturing jobs, have to drive to Washington and Virginia for a job, if they have a job.

Less and less people on the Western shore will drive to doctors and businesses on the Eastern Shore.

This is not how you build an economy.

Obamacare Regulation Effectively Bars Catholics from Owning Health Insurance Companies

The final version of Obamacare’s “preventive services” regulation that the Department of Health and Human Services published on Friday discriminates against faithful members of the Roman Catholic Church by effectively barring them from owning and operating health-insurance companies.

This is because the regulation orders health insurance companies to provide sterilizations, contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs to all female beneficiaries except those insured by “religious employers”--which, according to the regulation, includes only actual “houses of worship” (n.b. parish churches), their immediate auxiliaries, associations of houses of worship and the “exclusively religious activities of any religious order.”

The Catholic Church teaches that sterilization, artificial contraception, and abortion are intrinsically immoral. The church also teaches that Catholics are not allowed to cooperate in evil acts such as abortion--which the church says is a form of murder.
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QUOTES OF THE DAY 7-2-13

“What are the facts? Again and again and again – what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what “the stars foretell,” avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable “verdict of history” – what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts!”
― Robert A. Heinlein

“The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

“Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

“Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best, he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear his shoes, bathe, and not make messes in the house.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

“At least once every human should have to run for his life, to teach him that milk does not come from supermarkets, that safety does not come from policemen, that ‘news’ is not something that happens to other people. He might learn how his ancestors lived and that he himself is no different–in the crunch his life depends on his agility, alertness, and personal resourcefulness.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

“It is impossible for anyone to be responsible for another person’s behavior. The most you or any leader can do is to encourage each one to be responsible for himself.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

“Political tags — such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth — are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

“A generation which ignores history has no past — and no future.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

George W. Bush On AIDS, Mandela, Snowden And His Legacy

 Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, are in Africa this week, where they renovated a cancer screening clinic in Zambia and commemorated the victims of the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing in Tanzania.

The clinic, which is designed help women fight cervical cancer, builds on the former president's work fighting AIDS on the continent. While he was in office, Bush set up a plan that dramatically reduced the number of AIDS deaths in Africa.
 
I'm really proud of the American people for their generosity," he told CNN in an exclusive interview. "I wish Americans knew how many lives were saved. Someday, they will."

Bush also told CNN why he respects Nelson Mandela, what he thinks about Edward Snowden and President Barack Obama, and how he's not going to be around when his legacy is finally decided.
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'The Extremists Are Coming; The Extremists Are Coming!'

"Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice! And . . .
moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"

~ Barry Goldwater, in speech written by Karl Hess

A recent discussion on the Fox Business channel, amongst John Stossel, Stuart Varney, and Judge Andrew Napolitano, has raised, once again, the empty charge directed at libertarians: "you are being an extremist!" Such words are always offered in lieu of a substantive analysis of the position advocated. That both Albert Einstein and Jeffery Dahmer could be labeled as "extremists," by virtue of how far their thinking deviated from some norm, provides us no basis upon which to evaluate their thinking or conduct. Intelligent minds would ask: by what criteria do you judge these men; what are the implications of what each is doing or saying? That so many scientists who contributed to the development of our understanding of the world had to endure such criticism, should cause us to insist upon a standard of evaluation that rises above the simplistic thinking presently in place.

These three men were debating the wide-ranging NSA surveillance practices recently revealed by Edward Snowden – whose actions have led statists to label him an "extremist," among other charges. When Judge Napolitano insisted that the government should be required to adhere to Fourth Amendment standards and procedures, Varney – the moderator of the program – began accusing the good judge of "extremism."

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If You Like The Surveillance State, You’ll Love E-Verify

From massive NSA spying, to IRS targeting of the administration's political opponents, to collection and sharing of our health care information as part of Obamacare, it seems every day we learn of another assault on our privacy. Sadly, this week the Senate took another significant, if little-noticed, step toward creating an authoritarian surveillance state. Buried in the immigration bill is a national identification system called mandatory E-Verify.

The Senate did not spend much time discussing E-Verify, and what little discussion took place was mostly bipartisan praise for its effectiveness as a tool for preventing illegal immigrants from obtaining employment. It is a tragedy that mandatory E-Verify is not receiving more attention, as it will impact nearly every American’s privacy and liberty.

The mandatory E-Verify system requires Americans to carry a “tamper-proof” social security card. Before they can legally begin a job, American citizens will have to show the card to their prospective employer, who will then have to verify their identity and eligibility to hold a job in the US by running the information through the newly-created federal E-Verify database. The database will contain photographs taken from passport files and state driver's licenses. The law gives federal bureaucrats broad discretion in adding other “biometric” identifiers to the database. It also gives the bureaucracy broad authority to determine what features the “tamper proof” card should contain.

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Serious Injuries Reported In Resort Boating Accident

OCEAN CITY -- One man was severely injured and another faces charges of operating a boat under the influence of alcohol this week after an accident in the Assawoman Bay on Saturday when victim was struck by the vessel’s propeller and had to be airlifted to PRMC.

On Saturday evening, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) received a call of a reported boating accident involving an unidentified victim being struck with a boat propeller. NRP crews arrived at the scene in the Assawoman Bay near 94th Street and transported the victim by boat to waiting Ocean City Fire Department EMS at 94thStreet. The victim was then transported by Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 4 to PRMC in Salisbury.

The investigation revealed the victim was being pulled behind the vessel on an inner tube when he fell off. The boat circled back around to pick up the victim and he was struck by the vessel’s propeller as he attempted to get back into the boat, according to NRP Public Information Officer Sgt. Brian Albert. Albert said the victim, whose name was not available, received severe wounds on both legs.
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BEWARE OF THE CYBER-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Barrett Brown’s Letter from Jail
Barrett Brown is an American political prisoner who’s struggle I have highlighted in the past. Most notably in my article earlier this year, Barrett Brown: A Jailed American Dissident. It was through Barrett’s investigative journalism that I was able to learn about the shadiness of Booz Allen Hamilton and the defense contract industry generally well before Edward Snowden’s leaks came on the scene. Well now he has written a note from prison, published by The Guardian of course. Some excerpts:
It’s a fine thing to see mainstream American media outlets finally sparing some of their attention toward the cyber-industrial complex – that unprecedented conglomeration of state, military and corporate interests that together exercise growing power over the flow of information. It would be even more heartening if so many of the nation’s most influential voices, from senator to pundits, were not clearly intent on killing off even this belated scrutiny into the invisible empire that so thoroughly scrutinizes us – at our own expense and to unknown ends.

Besides, the government to which we’re ceding these broad new powers is a democracy, overseen by real, live Americans. And it’s hard to imagine American government officials abusing their powers – or at least, it would be, had such officials not already abused similar but more limited powers through repeated campaigns of disinformation, intimidation and airtight crimes directed at the American public over the last five decades. Cointelpro, Operation Mockingbird, Ultra and Chaos are among the now-acknowledged CIA, FBI and NSA programs by which those agencies managed to subvert American democracy with impunity. Supporters of mass surveillance conducted under the very same agencies have yet to address how such abuses can be insured against in the context of powers far greater than anything J Edgar Hoover could command.

Many have never heard of these programs; the sort of people who trust states with secret authority tend not to know what such things have led to in the recent past. Those who do know of such things may perhaps contend that these practices would never be repeated today. But it was just two years ago that the late Michael Hastings revealed that US army officials in Afghanistan were conducting psy-ops against visiting US senators in order to sway them towards continued funding for that unsuccessful war. If military and intelligence officials have so little respect for the civilian leadership, one can guess how they feel about mere civilians.

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SPD Press Release 7-2-13

Seaford Sex Offender Charged With Rape

Location: 2000 block of Stein Highway, Seaford, DE

Date of Occurrence: Monday July 1, 2013 at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Victim: 15 year old female

Defendant, Charges, and Bond Information:

Olan F. Morgan, 28, Seaford, DE (Photo Attached)
Unlawful Sexual Conduct Against a Child by a Sex Offender
Rape 4th (3 counts)
Endangering the Welfare of a Child

Arraigned at JP3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $15,000.00 cash only bail

Resume:
Seaford, DE- The Delaware State Police has arrested a 28 year old Seaford man after he allegedly raped a 15 year old girl.

Staff at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital notified Troopers of a sexual assault victim Monday evening around 5:30 p.m. when a 15 year old girl was brought in to be examined. Through the investigation, detectives learned the victim was at a residence in the 2000 block of Stein Highway when Olan F. Morgan came to the house and knocked on the door. When the victim opened the door, Morgan pulled her outside and began kissing her and touching her inappropriately. The victim was then released by Morgan and ran back into the house where she called relatives for help.

Olan Morgan, who is a Tier 1 low risk sex offender from a Unlawful Sexual Contact 3rd conviction in July of 2010, was taken into custody by troopers at his residence and transported back to Troop 5 where he was arrested for Unlawful Sexual Conduct Against a Child by a Sex Offender, three counts of Rape 4th, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He was arraigned at JP3 and committed to SCI on $15,000.00 cash only bail.

Because of the sensitivity of this case, and in consideration of the victim, only limited information will be released.

Why The Collection Of Metadata Is A Very, Very Big Deal

Some people seemed strangely relieved in the wake of the NSA spying scandal when Obama said “no one is listening to your phone calls.” First of all, while they are clearly not listening to everyone’s phone calls, they certainly are listening to certain people’s calls and that isn’t acceptable in a free society. Second of all, it’s pretty obvious that the one reason they aren’t listening to everyone’s calls is because it wouldn’t be practical or effective. As Matt Blaze notes in this great article from Wired, the government isn’t primarily tracking metadata rather than content in an attempt to protect privacy, but rather because metadata is the most efficient and effective way in which to spy on and preempt domestic political dissent. From Wired:

We now know that every day, U.S. phone companies quietly send the government a list of who called whom and when — “telephony metadata” — for every call made on their networks, because of a secret order by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. It turns out that this has been going on for seven years (and was even reported by USA Today then); the difference now is that the government — uncharacteristically for such a secret intelligence operation — quickly acknowledged the authenticity of the leaked order and the existence of the metadata collection program.

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EASTERN SHORE CASHIER RINGS UP SCRATCH-OFF SUCCESS WITH $1 MILLION WINNER

An Eastern Shore cashier decided to treat himself to a $20 Money Multiplier scratch-off in May after he saw a customer purchase the bright yellow ticket. That lucky decision led the Salisbury resident on an exciting journey to the Maryland Lottery’s Baltimore headquarters, where he claimed the ticket’s $1 million top prize on June 28!

After he scratched off the ticket that day and unveiled his big prize, the man immediately called his brother to share the good news. “My brother came over to look at the ticket because he really didn’t believe me,” the 33-year-old said, chuckling. “I’ve only shared the news with my brother and his sister-in-law. No one else knows.”

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WCSO Press Release 7-2-13

• 7/2/2013 CDS - Farlow
• 7/2/2013 CDS - Hummel
• 7/2/2013 Assault - Gemayel
• 7/2/2013 Child Support - Thompson, Palmer, Parker, Davis
• 7/1/2013 DUI - Flores
• 7/1/2013 Theft - Clarkson
• 7/1/2013 Figitive - Loayesvail
• 7/1/2013 Assault - Smith
• 7/1/2013 DUI - Warfield
• 7/1/2013 Warrant - Dashiell

Lazenby: Nevada Victories

Two major victories for drug de-criminalization and public health, which go hand-in-hand, were recently scored in Nevada. The state’s medical marijuana law, first passed in 1998, required the legislature to create mechanisms for dispensing the drug to patients, and that has finally occurred. Nevada’s Republican governor, Brian Sandoval, signed into law Senate Bill 374, which will establish a state-regulated system of dispensaries, with at least one in each county.

Nevada joins Arizona, Colorado, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Rhode Island on the list of states that have state-regulated medical marijuana dispensaries. As reported by StopTheDrugWar.org, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of the consequences of prohibition, the bill creates rules and regulations not only for dispensaries, but also for infused product manufacturers and cultivation and testing facilities. Additionally, it imposes 2% excise taxes on both wholesale and retail sales, with 75 percent of revenues going to state education funding and 25 percent going to cover the cost of regulating the medical marijuana industry.

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Student Loan Rates Double Without Congress’ Action

College students taking out new loans for the fall term will see interest rates twice what they were in the spring — unless Congress fulfills its pledge to restore lower rates when it returns after the July 4 holiday.

Subsidized Stafford loans, which account for roughly a quarter of all direct federal borrowing, went from 3.4 percent interest to 6.8 percent interest on Monday. Congress’ Joint Economic Committee estimated the cost passed to students would be about $2,600.

“In the grand scheme of all the loans that I already have, I suppose it’s not out of control,” said Angie Platt, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student who expects to graduate with at least $60,000 in debt.
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13 Scientifically Proven Ways To Be A Happier Person

You have the power to make yourself happier.
That's what we learned from 13 scientific studies that discovered small changes we can all make to improve our outlook on life.

From writing down the good parts of your day to simply smiling, here are a few proactive steps you can take towards becoming a happier you.

Now learn how to be happier »

It’s Official: Only Lawyers Can Argue Before Supreme Court Now

You must be a lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court.

Thought that already was the case? It wasn’t — until Monday, when the Supreme Court revised its 80-page rule book for the first time since 2010.

The update covers items such as filing deadlines but also adds Rule 28.8, which requires anyone arguing before the court to be a lawyer. The high court says the new rule simply codifies a “long-standing practice of the court.”
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Free Justin Carter Now

The 19-year-old has been in prison since March for the crime of sarcasm.

When defending the liberty of unsavory characters, I usually write of my native England. Not this week, alas. In the state of Texas, a 19-year-old man named Justin Carter sits in prison, ruthlessly stripped of his freedom for making an offensive joke. After a Facebook friend with whom he played video games described him as “crazy” and “messed up in the head,” Carter replied — sarcastically, one imagines — “Oh yeah, I’m real messed up in the head, I’m going to go shoot up a school full of kids and eat their still, beating hearts.” He added “lol” and “jk” for good measure. For this he was arrested by Austin police, charged with making a “terroristic threat,” and thrown into prison. He may languish there until the start of the next decade.

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Should I Trade In My Car Or Sell It Myself?

When buying a new car, should you trade your old one in or see how much you can get on the open market? The conventional wisdom is that you get more money on your own, but meeting with buyers and doing paperwork is a hassle you may not want to bother with. Also consider the tax advantages in some states if you trade in at the same dealer where you buy your new car. [Consumer Reports]

Too Big To Fail, Forever

The nation’s five biggest banks are bigger than they were six years ago.
Over the past three decades, the U.S. financial system has suffered a nasty financial shock every half dozen years or so, on average. And each incarnation has been different — from the 1987 stock-market crash to the savings-and-loan crisis to the demise of Long-Term Capital Management to the Great Global Financial Crisis, which arguably began six years ago this summer with the collapse of two Bear Stearns hedge funds.

If life were like the movies, it would be time for some world-weary-but-knowing character to drop the now-hackneyed line, “There’s a storm coming.” And whatever form that storm might take, would Wall Street be ready to weather it? Or more important for Main Street, would the U.S. economy be able to withstand another financial blowup without resorting to yet another taxpayer bailout?

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Revisions To FTC's Online Child Privacy Rules Take Effect Today

Revisions to COPPA, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, went into effect today after nearly two years of review. The changes reflect new ways kids are using the Internet, including how they interact with mobile devices and social networking.

COPPA, first put into effect in 2000, regulates the ways in which businesses and other online operators are allowed to collect and use personal information from children under the age of 13. The new rule adds "persistent identifiers such as cookies that track a child's activity online, geolocation information, photos, videos, and audio recordings" to the definition of children's personal information.

Operators have to notify parents and get their verifiable consent before they're permitted to collect, use, or disclose such personal information, and collected information must be kept secure.

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Precautions Urged Against West Nile Virus

Public health officials are urging Maryland residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites to prevent infection with the West Nile virus.

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene says it began tracking the virus on Monday for the 2013 season. Last year, there were 47 cases reported in Maryland.

Officials say residents should avoid areas of high mosquito activity long pants, long-sleeved shirts and hats when concerned about mosquito exposure. Residents are also urged to use an EPA-registered insect repellent.
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Government Furloughs

Furloughs mean doing less with less. That's the gist of Pentagon guidance to Defense agencies facing civilian employee furloughs. A new memo reminds agency managers they are barred from shifting work to military members or to contractors. And they're not allowed to force civilians still on the job to work longer hours to compensate for their furloughed colleagues. In fact, those returning from furlough can't be forced to work longer hours to make up for their unpaid time off. The first of 11 DoD furloughs is scheduled for Monday.

When Less Is More: The Power Of Limited Government

by Delegate Mike McDermott

I have seen few applications in life where the phrase, “Less is more” could be applied accurately; but when it comes to government, I can make the connection. When the American people experience “less government” in their lives, the result is always “more” liberty; and what Americans have done with their freedom is the envy of the world.

Our Constitution was purposely crafted to “limit” the powers of government rather than limit the freedom of the people. Big government remains expensive to operate, and every dollar sent to Uncle Sam is a dollar not utilized by the one who earned it in the first place. Government is a taker, not a producer. Some believe that government spending stimulates the economy despite all evidence to the contrary. Any short term gains are soon replaced with greater deficits, while there is convincing evidence that the private sector and consumer confidence are what move our country forward.
When he became President, Ronald Reagan restored our sense of liberty in America. His policies worked to limit the size and scope of government. Through tax cuts and streamlining, our country pulled itself out of the muck and mire. Conservatism was put on display and what followed was the greatest economic expansion in our nation’s history.
Our economy and American way of life has always been based upon risk versus reward. It holds us in check and makes us weigh our choices carefully. It makes us responsible for our own actions or lack thereof. Liberty allows us to choose wisely, it does not protect us from failure. You want to stretch a double into a triple? You better be sure you can make it! When consumers pick the winners, we all win. We all know what it is like when an umpire (government) becomes part of the game instead of a neutral arbiter.

Time is money in business. Consider a chicken house up and running in 6-months versus 2-years (MD’s current rate). During the 18-month difference, a broiler operation could produce 9-10 flocks as opposed to zero. That constitutes a family providing for itself while feeding the world. It means discretionary spending boosting our local economy and increased government revenues from Property and Income Taxes paid. Over regulation costs time, and we begin to see that time is money for taxpayers as well.

The best stimulus for our economy is limited government. Less money in taxes and fees results in more money in the pockets of taxpayers. Historically, what do Americans do with more money in their pockets? They invest, and they spend which fuels an economy like nothing else can. Again, this results in increased government revenue through an increasing tax base.

Our government is to protect us from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. It has been established to serve at our pleasure that we may,”… secure the blessings of liberty, to ourselves and our posterity.” When we focus government on protecting and defending liberty, we narrow the scope and make it more effective.

The Attempted Extortion Of Paula Deen

The real story behind the Paula Deen scandal can be summed up in a single word: greed. The American judicial system and the media are being used as formidable weapons in a brazen attempt to extort money from Ms. Deen, in my opinion.

This isn't a story about racism. It's all about the money.

The mainstream media have reported with glee only some of the gory details as Paula Deen's financial empire continue to crumble. The Food Network, Wal-Mart, Target, and the publisher of her bestselling cookbook all have abruptly terminated their relationship with Ms. Deen. The firestorm erupted after it was widely reported that Ms. Deen gave a deposition in a civil lawsuit in which she admitted using the N-word.

Rarely if ever mentioned by the national press is the context in which the word was used, or the reason the deposition became public knowledge.

No one is interested in defending the use of that particular word, including this writer.

But for the record, the specific instance in which Ms. Deen admitted to using that specific word was in the privacy of her own home, used to describe a robber who had pointed a gun at her head. The mainstream media also doesn't seem to care that Ms. Deen could easily have lied about that specific incident, yet chose to tell the truth under oath.

Apparently there's a zero tolerance policy when certain people use the forbidden N-word

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Maryland Gun Law Update

(Annapolis) -- Delegate Mike Mcdermott has been urging the Maryland State Police to take action in two areas relating to gun laws in Maryland. 

7 Day Wait Period
Delegate Mike McDermott has called upon the Maryland State Police to eliminate the extensive delays now being applied to regulated firearms purchases. Current law requires a 7-day waiting period before a firearm may be transferred to another person, but the current waiting period has now exceeded 90-days and continues to grow in length.

“I have called upon Colonel Brown to assign adequate staff for the mission at hand and to work with dealers in providing reasonable discretion without the fear of incurring the wrath of this State”, said Delegate McDermott. “Law abiding citizens are being denied their Constitutional right to simply defend themselves on their own property by these unreasonable delays.”

“There are other methods to determine eligibility that are employed by the Federal Government which provide nearly instant results as to any potential disqualification of a potential purchaser,”Delegate McDermott went on to say. “We live in a technology driven world while we provide a Stone Age response time, and this is unacceptable to the people we serve.”

Six-Year-Old Dies Waiting For New Heart

A sad update to a storyWJZ has been following for some time now. The little girl in need of a new heart has died.

The family of six-year-old Teresa Bartlinski say she passed away Monday after an unsuccessful attempt to implant an artificial heart.

Teresa was born in China with a congenital heart disease that weakened her lungs. She received a heart transplant June 18 but her body rejected that heart.
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Keepin' It Cool With The Humane Society Of Wicomico County

Save the Date! Humane Society Four Man Best Ball September 28th

July 20th 1-3pm Christmas in July here at our shelter! Light refreshments served, giveaways for the first people to bring presents for the animals, games and activities for the kids and more! Help us during our busiest months. Everyone in the house welcome, even the furry ones! We especially want to see our Pit friends visit for some photos. Join us for our Chipotle fundraiser! 7/29/2013--- 5 to 8pm Make dinner a selfless act. Verbally communicate to the cashier that you are supporting the fundraiser and 50% of the proceeds benefit our animals.

Hot Pockets

Allen West: Time to teach Obama ‘lesson our forefathers taught King George III’

Former Rep. Allen B. West had some harsh words for President Obama and the Supreme Court on Sunday night, taking to Facebook to express his disdain for the court’s decision on Proposition 8.

“This week we’ll celebrate the 237th anniversary of our independence. But are we a free people?” Mr. West, a Florida Republican, asked.

“SCOTUS made an ill-conceived ruling believing the choice of sexual behavior should trump the people’s referendum. We are free to love anyone or anything we desire in America, but that does not correlate to rights beyond the unalienable ones Jefferson articulated 237 years ago.
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KABOOM! NOW BLACK MOBS KILL 4TH OF JULY

People 'traveling from city to city just causing problems'
(Editor’s note: Colin Flaherty has done more reporting than any other journalist on what appears to be a nationwide trend of skyrocketing black-on-white crime, violence and abuse. WND features these reports to counterbalance the virtual blackout by the rest of the media due to their concerns that reporting such incidents would be inflammatory or even racist. WND considers it racist not to report racial abuse solely because of the skin color of the perpetrators or victims.) Videos linked or embedded may contain foul language and violence.

The threat of a repeat of black mob violence on the Fourth of July is causing at least three cities to cancel their annual Independence Day fireworks parties.

Black mob violence has marred for several years the annual holiday celebrations in the Cleveland suburb of Bedford. Almost none of which made its way to the local media. But the city council heard an earful from local residents following last year’s holiday violence.

They reported that 50 to 80 black people were hitting people in the face and disrupting the festival and surrounding areas.

“Police officers used pepper ball pellets and a taser,” said city council minutes from a special meeting in August 2012. “Even the Wal-Mart and Get-Go store had to be closed for three hours.”

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A Brooke Mulford Update 7-2-13

Brooke and I spent Thursday-Sunday in Chicago for the CNCF Neuroblastoma Parent Conference. NB specialists from all over the world came to present info about NB and mostly about past, present and future clinical trials. It was such a great opportunity to be able to meet with all these doctors/researchers and learn more about what is available, especially for kids who have relapsed. Equally wonderful was getting to meet so many more NB families. Brooke had a great time as usual and made a ton of new friends. We also got to visit with good friends that live in Chicago and also our friends from South Dakota drove all the way to Chicago just to spend a few hours with us!!!

This week we will be spending most of our time in and out of CHOP for scans, bone marrow biopsy, surgery to have a port placed and dr. appts. We are in the office now for pre-op stuff. Already met with the surgeon, had iv placed and labs drawn in oncology clinic, drank all the contrast (in record time), had CT scan of head, neck, thoracic and abdominal areas and had MIBG injection with nuclear medicine. Whew!

We will be back in tomorrow morning for MIBG, spect scans and clinic. Will try to post again tomorrow with any updates.

Please pray for stable or better scans this week!

Blessings,
Amy

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

THE WORCESTER COUNTY TEA PARTY WILL MEET ON THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013 AT THE OCEAN PINES COMMUNITY CENTER. SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE CHARLES LOLLAR, CHAIRMAN OF NEW DAY MARYLAND - "To think that just a few weeks ago, Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown stated that Maryland had a “great session” makes me wonder what great accomplishment they had. Was it the Rain Tax that punishes citizens when it rains because of how much “impervious surfaces” they have on their property? Was it the fee increase for tolls up to $6? Or was it the gas tax increase that pretty much goes up year after year? ... Have you had enough yet? Have you had enough of the double talk, the regressive taxes, and the extremely high cost of living here in our wonderful state? If you have, isn’t time for a New Day in Maryland? ” - Charles Lollar 7/1/13

Doors will open at 6:30 pm, the meeting will start at 7:00 pm. All interested citizens are invited to attend. The Worcester County Tea Party is a grassroots organization, not affiliated with any political party, which is committed to promoting fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and restoring Constitutional limits to the government. For more information, call 443-614-7214, email TeaParty@gmail.com, visit HTTP://WWW.WORCESTERCOUNTYTEAPARTY.COM/

Change Maryland Blasts July 1 Tax And Toll Hikes

Change Maryland founder Larry Hogan fired up a sold-out crowd of several hundred at a fundraiser last Thursday, "Your family trip to the beach just got a lot more expensive. Today, the second round of O'Malley toll increases took effect and the gas tax increase kicked in at the same time. While you are sitting in traffic at the Bay Bridge for the 4th of July weekend you can thank Governor O'Malley and the monopoly in Annapolis for the 140% increase in tolls, and for giving us the most expensive gas in the region."

Change Maryland, a non-partisan organization, is the largest and fastest growing grassroots movement in the state made up of more than 46,000 people from every jurisdiction in the state. Nearly half of them are Democrats and Independents. The group's Facebook page includes 10 times more people than Democrat gubernatorial candidate Anthony Brown, and 25 times more than Republican candidate David Craig. In fact, the Change Maryland page has more people engaged on-line than the Maryland Democrat and Republican Parties, and all the potential Democrat and Republican candidates for governor, combined. As of last week, Larry Hogan's organization actually surpassed that of his frequent sparring partner, Martin O'Malley, the former Baltimore Mayor, two term governor and candidate for President.

Hogan explained that the impact of the 30% increase in state spending and the 40 consecutive O'Malley-Brown tax increases was that the state has gone from 13 Fortune 500 companies down to 3, we lost 6,500 small businesses, the unemployment rate has nearly doubled and 31,000 taxpayers have fled the state. Hogan then fired up the standing room only crowd with: "Governor O'Malley says he's 'Moving Maryland Forward'. But if that's moving Maryland forward, I say maybe next year, we'll just have to take Maryland back!"

The bipartisan crowd at the Change Maryland event included many top Republican leaders, as well as a former Democratic Governor, a former Speaker of the House and a number of prominent Democrats from across the state. "This isn't just another fight between Democrats and Republicans. It's more important than that. This is a fight for Maryland's future, and it's a fight worth fighting", Hogan said.

In addition to being the founder and Chairman of Change Maryland, Hogan is a successful businessman, and a former state Cabinet Secretary. In 2010 he was the only serious candidate willing to challenge O'Malley, until former Governor Bob Ehrlich entered the race. Ehrlich called him "One of the only Republicans in Maryland who could win." Maryland's most powerful Democrat, Steny Hoyer called Hogan the toughest opponent he has ever faced in his entire career.

America - Government

America governs lawlessly. Out-of-control rogues run things. Conditions go from bad to worse. Tyranny threatens everyone. So does possible global war.

Fear-mongering, saber rattling, hot wars, proxy ones, drone ones, geopolitical ones, financial ones, anti-populist ones, mass incarceration, censorship, lawless sanctions, subversion, sabotage, targeted assassinations, mass murder, cyber-war, and horrific draconian harshness reflect out-of control governance gone mad.

Lying is official policy. So is state terror. Independent governments aren’t tolerated. They’re targeted. Regime change is prioritized. World peace is threatened. Humanity’s menaced. Survival’s uncertain.

Daily revelations explain more. War is called peace. State-sponsored assassins are called freedom fighters. Real ones are called terrorists.

Capital has divine rights. Monied interests run things. Plundering the earth for profit is prioritized. Popular needs go begging. Social America’s dying. Poverty, unemployment, hunger, homelessness and human misery go unaddressed. Corporate rights alone matter.

Democracy’s a four-letter word. Out-of-control power is unaccountable. Rule of law principles are mocked. Tyranny’s the law of the land. Advancing America’s imperium matters most.

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National Aquarium’s Major “Blacktip Reef” Exhibition Will Now Open Without Sharks

The National Aquarium’s massive, $12.5 million new permanent coral reef exhibition, “Blacktip Reef,” was slated to open July 10 with more than 1,000 animals of 75 different species — including 20 blacktip reef sharks – lurking within its 260,000-gallon tank. When complete, visitors would be able to gaze upon an aquatic universe that swirls around a meticulously created coral reef.

But the Aquarium announced today that it’s going to take longer than expected to realize that vision. “We’ve decided to give the 1,200 residents of Blacktip Reef more time to acclimate to their new home,” National Aquarium CEO John Racanelli wrote in a statement. What it means is that the Aquarium will now add the animals in phases over the month of July, even as the exhibit opens to guests.
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SCHUMER: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS A 'CIVIL RIGHT'

On Sunday, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), one of the key leaders behind the "Gang of Eight" immigration bill that passed the Senate last week, declared that the push to pass comprehensive immigration reform would be "one of the greatest civil rights movements we've ever seen."

It was only the latest attempt by Democrats to use the civil rights movement--largely a movement against Democratic governments--to push a partisan cause.

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Victims No More: Concealed Carry Coming To Chicago

The city that has long been synonymous with gun control, rampant crime, and the senseless killing of citizens is about to become a city in which law-abiding citizens can carry guns to defend their lives and the lives of their families.

Thanks to Illinois state lawmakers, concealed carry is coming to Chicago with or without Gov. Pat Quinn's (D) support, because the legislation passed with a veto-proof majority.

And while there are the usual naysayers warning that concealed carry will turn the Windy City into the Wild West, the AP reports there are many Chicago citizens eager to be able, finally to defend themselves from gang violence and criminal attack.

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Governor O’Malley To Host “Governor For A Day”

Day’s Events to Highlight the Many Contributions Women Make in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 2, 2013) – Today, July 2, Governor O’Malley will join “Governor for a Day” essay contest winner Genea Harrison for a full day of gubernatorial activities as part of Maryland’s continued effort to encourage young women to pursue careers in public service, including elected office. The Governor will begin the day by swearing in Genea before participating in a number of events, including a "Congress of Educators" assembly on stream restoration and environmental literacy and a women's caucus meeting.

Genea, an eight-year-old who attends Rosa L. Parks Elementary in Prince George’s County, was chosen after we received more than 200 essay submissions from young women under 13 explaining why they want to be governor of Maryland and what they would do if they were “Governor for a Day.” Governor O’Malley launched Maryland’s first-ever “Governor for a Day” Essay Contest in honor of International Women’s Day to build on the Administration's strong commitment to empowering women and fighting for equal opportunity.

In Maryland, our diversity is our greatest strength and the accomplishments of women are an integral part of our progress as a people. Together, we’ve made the better choices to support our women-owned businesses, appoint a record number of exceptional women to the bench, provide better health care to those previously uninsured, and drive down violence against women.

NFL Players Arrested Since Super Bowl

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NFL players arrested since Super Bowl - NFL - Sporting News

New Md. Law Aims To Crack Down On Toll Scofflaws, More Than 860K Unpaid On ICC

LAUREL, Md. — Hundreds of thousands of tolls have gone unpaid on Maryland’s Intercounty Connector, but officials hope a new law will help them crack down on toll scofflaws.

Records obtained by WTOP-FM show 862,458 tolls have not been paid since January 2012, costing the state millions of dollars. Documents also show 88,593 drivers with two or more unpaid video tolls.

The new laws that go into effect on Monday crack down on drivers who skip out on tolls across Maryland and then fail to pay the bills. The change coincides with toll increases at bridges and tunnels.

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