DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, April 09, 2014
Salisbury News To Deliver Major News Story At 7:00 AM Tomorrow Morning
Delegate McDermott's End of Session Letter
End of Session Wrap Up
Dear Fellow Citizen and Patriot of the Eastern Shore,
I wish I could report to you that Annapolis had changed its way of thinking this year. I had hoped beyond hope that the majority party that rules the General Assembly would wake up to the economic realities facing our great state and move us in the appropriate direction. Sadly, the days of reckless spending, tax and fee increases, and overly burdensome regulations have not yet ended for Maryland. I truly wanted to report to you that the legislature resisted robbing from teachers’ pensions, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and the Transportation Trust Fund, but that is not the case. I wanted a health care fix that would work for our people and an energy policy that made sense, but we continue to throw millions down a dark hole and refuse to seek natural gas reserves that would make us energy independent.
Instead of fiscal restraint and smart initiatives, the General Assembly has left us with:
Budgeting Fiasco
Increased spending by $2 Billion over last year’s budget
$4.5 billion robbed from “Trust Funds”
$200 million robbed from Teacher Pensions ($200 million more in 2015)
Rejected efforts to cut spending by hundreds of millions
Bond Bill/Earmark debt that outpaces revenue by $300 million, leading to higher Property Tax rates statewide.
Obamacare Debacle
$150 million spent on a computer system that will never work
Presented the governor with a blank check to pay for medical services for people who simply claim they could not get on the website
Added 400 employees to take calls and then abandoned the whole system!
The governor is now switching to another system, and we just gave him an additional $50 million to start that process with no idea on the total cost to operate the system.
Transgender Rights
Instead of truly facing the issues surrounding transgender rights, the House passed incoherent legislation that will allow for the following:
A man can use the women’s restroom if he simply thinks he should be a woman.
A woman’s day spa must allow a man access to their disrobing areas and dressing rooms if the man claims he is really a woman at heart.
A YMCA or local gym will need to provide alternative facilities for a transgender or they must allow a man to use the women’s locker room if he so desires.
These actions will cost businesses and nonprofit organizations money as they seek to preserve the integrity of their establishments from these changes.
New Gun Control Idea: Weapon Can't Fire Unless User Is Wearing Bracelet
"By making them either through finger print identification, the gun talks to a bracelet or something that you might wear, how guns can be used only by the person who is lawfully in possession of the weapon," said Holder.
"It’s those kinds of things that I think we want to try to explore so that we can make sure that people have the ability to enjoy their Second Amendment rights, but at the same time decreasing the misuse of weapons that lead to the kinds of things that we see on a daily basis."
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Nigeria just doubled the size of its economy with a stroke of a pen
Over the weekend, Nigeria’s government made an accounting adjustment in how it calculates its GDP statistics.
By changing the base-year in GDP calculations from 1990 to 2010, Nigeria increased the reported size of its economy by 89% over the weekend.
So with a stroke of a pen, the West African nation leapfrogged South Africa to become the continent’s largest economy.
And in doing so the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio fell below 20%. The ratio of bad loans in the banking system when compared to the overall size of the economy also dramatically declined in proportion.
The same thing happened in Poland last year when the government there made a grab for private pensions, then counted those new assets against government debt.
It was just another accounting scam. But it dramatically lowered Poland’s debt-to-GDP ratio on paper, even though the government had not actually gotten any ‘richer’.
Just hours ago, the European Central Bank released its 2013 annual report, showing a massive 44% surge in profits.
More
By changing the base-year in GDP calculations from 1990 to 2010, Nigeria increased the reported size of its economy by 89% over the weekend.
So with a stroke of a pen, the West African nation leapfrogged South Africa to become the continent’s largest economy.
And in doing so the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio fell below 20%. The ratio of bad loans in the banking system when compared to the overall size of the economy also dramatically declined in proportion.
The same thing happened in Poland last year when the government there made a grab for private pensions, then counted those new assets against government debt.
It was just another accounting scam. But it dramatically lowered Poland’s debt-to-GDP ratio on paper, even though the government had not actually gotten any ‘richer’.
Just hours ago, the European Central Bank released its 2013 annual report, showing a massive 44% surge in profits.
More
POLICE COMMISSION TO HOLD MEETING FOR TAXI MEDALLION OWNERS
(April 8, 2014) – The Police Commission will hold a meeting for all taxi medallion owners concerning the proposed rate increase on April 28. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and take place at the Ocean City Public Safety Building located at 6501 Coastal Highway. Medallion owners will have an opportunity to voice their opinions about the proposed rate hike prior to the Police Commission making any recommendation to the City Council.
This meeting is restricted to medallion owners or their assigned representatives. One speaker per company will be permitted. Those wishing to attend must contact Michelle Monico, Taxi Program Coordinator and Records Management Supervisor, at 410-723-6631 before April 24.
DNC calls on GOP to condemn Breitbart’s ‘reprehensible’ Nancy Pelosi twerking pic
In a statement, Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz called the site’s artwork — including a Photoshopped image of Nancy Pelosi’s head on Miley Cyrus’s twerking body — “a disgusting new low and would be reprehensible against any woman – regardless of party. It’s no wonder the Republicans are having problems appealing to women.”
She then called for Republican leaders to condemn the site, writing that “[i]f GOP leaders are serious about their rebrand, then both their elected and Party leadership should condemn this outrageous behavior, call on Breitbart News to immediately remove the ad, and not continue to use this website as a forum for their views.”
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Tense Exchange Complete With Finger-Pointing Erupts Between Eric Holder and Louie Gohmert: ‘Good Luck With Your Asparagus’
A tense moment during a congressional hearing Tuesday ended with Attorney General Eric Holder making a disparaging reference to something Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said during a hearing in 2013.
“Good luck with your asparagus,” Holder said after Gohmert’s time had expired.
Obviously, the “asparagus” reference requires some explaining.
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Dramatic, Little Known GOP Rule Change Takes Choice Of Presidential Candidate Away From Rank And File Republicans And Hands It To Party Elite
There’s an unspoken storm brewing in the Republican Party—a storm whose seeds were planted in the first days of the 2012 Republican National Convention.
For those who may not recall those late August days in 2012, the Republican Party arrived in Tampa dedicated to creating a seamless launch for the national presidential campaign of its standard bearer, Governor Mitt Romney, and to do all it could to insure at least the appearance of a united party as it moved toward the November election.
To make that happen, Chairman Reince Priebus—along with a number of national committee members on the Mitt Romney bandwagon—made the determination that anyone or anything associated with libertarian Ron Paul was bad news for the GOP’s chances and, as such, were to be avoided at all costs.
To meet that goal, Paul was denied an opportunity to speak at the convention unless he promised to allow the RNC to edit his speech.
But that wasn’t all. An additional condition for obtaining some recognition at the convention for Paul and his followers required that Dr. Paul be willing to publicly endorse the candidacy of Gov. Romney.
More
For those who may not recall those late August days in 2012, the Republican Party arrived in Tampa dedicated to creating a seamless launch for the national presidential campaign of its standard bearer, Governor Mitt Romney, and to do all it could to insure at least the appearance of a united party as it moved toward the November election.
To make that happen, Chairman Reince Priebus—along with a number of national committee members on the Mitt Romney bandwagon—made the determination that anyone or anything associated with libertarian Ron Paul was bad news for the GOP’s chances and, as such, were to be avoided at all costs.
To meet that goal, Paul was denied an opportunity to speak at the convention unless he promised to allow the RNC to edit his speech.
But that wasn’t all. An additional condition for obtaining some recognition at the convention for Paul and his followers required that Dr. Paul be willing to publicly endorse the candidacy of Gov. Romney.
More
Amazon-- What A System
Be sure to watch the video at the end...
As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon needs somewhere to put all of those products.
The solution? Giant warehouses. Eighty to be exact. Strategically located near key shipping hubs around the world.
The warehouses themselves are massive, with some over 1.2 million square feet in size (111,484 sq. m).
And at the heart of this global operation are people (over 65,000 of them), and a logistics system known as chaotic storage.
As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon needs somewhere to put all of those products.
The solution? Giant warehouses. Eighty to be exact. Strategically located near key shipping hubs around the world.
The warehouses themselves are massive, with some over 1.2 million square feet in size (111,484 sq. m).
And at the heart of this global operation are people (over 65,000 of them), and a logistics system known as chaotic storage.
Parties join forces in fight for personal privacy, liberty
ALEXANDRIA, Va.— Democrats and Republicans in Richmond may be debating whether the state should expand Medicaid, but lawmakers on both sides are joining forces to fight for something on which both parties can agree.
Protecting Virginians’ personal information from public authorities is the mission of the newly formed Ben Franklin Liberty Caucus, named for its namesake’s famous quote, “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Confronted with, among other things, the practice of local police departments randomly collecting and storing license plate data — despite then-Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issuing an opinion prohibiting the practice — delegates and senators from both political parties are coming to the table.
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Protecting Virginians’ personal information from public authorities is the mission of the newly formed Ben Franklin Liberty Caucus, named for its namesake’s famous quote, “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Confronted with, among other things, the practice of local police departments randomly collecting and storing license plate data — despite then-Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issuing an opinion prohibiting the practice — delegates and senators from both political parties are coming to the table.
More
TEEN SUSPECT CHARGED AS ADULT IN SCHOOL STABBINGS
Authorities say Alex Hribal was being charged as an adult following the Wednesday morning attack in Murrysville, 15 miles east of Pittsburgh.
He appeared before Magisterial District Judge Charles Conway and was charged with four counts of attempted homicide and 21 counts of aggravated assault. He was shackled by his hands and feet and was dressed in a hospital gown.
MORE
Feb. Job Postings Rise 7.7 Percent, Reach ’08 Levels
U.S. employers posted more job openings in February, a sign that hiring will likely improve in the months ahead.
The Labor Department said Tuesday that employers advertised 4.2 million job openings, up 7.7 percent from January. That’s the highest number of postings since January 2008, when the Great Recession was just beginning and the economy had yet to suffer the full shock of the downturn.
There are roughly 2.5 unemployed Americans for each open job, the report shows. That average has slowly been approaching the 2-1 ratio that is typical of healthier economies, after peaking at 6.7 unemployed people for each available job in July 2009, just after the recession ended.
MORE
The Labor Department said Tuesday that employers advertised 4.2 million job openings, up 7.7 percent from January. That’s the highest number of postings since January 2008, when the Great Recession was just beginning and the economy had yet to suffer the full shock of the downturn.
There are roughly 2.5 unemployed Americans for each open job, the report shows. That average has slowly been approaching the 2-1 ratio that is typical of healthier economies, after peaking at 6.7 unemployed people for each available job in July 2009, just after the recession ended.
MORE
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Case on Gay Wedding Snub – Christian Photographers Forced to Pay $6,837 Fine
As reported here in 2008, The New Mexico Human Rights Court sentenced Christian photographer Elaine Huguenin, owner of Elane Photography, a fine of $6,637.94 for refusing to photograph a gay commitment ceremony.
Today the US Supreme Court announced it will not hear a case on whther a New Mexico wedding photographer was within her rights when she refused to work at a same-sex ceremony. The penalty stands.
Today the US Supreme Court announced it will not hear a case on whther a New Mexico wedding photographer was within her rights when she refused to work at a same-sex ceremony. The penalty stands.
New Law Aims At Better Access To Md. Government Data As State Gets B- For Transparency
Some people don’t like how much Maryland spends or how it spends it, but an outside group says the state is getting a little better at reporting on where taxpayer dollars go.
At the same time, a bill passed unanimously and signed by Gov. Martin O’Malley Tuesday is designed to make more of Maryland’s government data more available and searchable to everyone through creation of a new Council on Open Data.
From C to B-
Maryland received a B- when it comes to transparency on government spending, up from a C last year, according to the fifth annual report card by Maryland PIRG Foundation, released Tuesday.
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At the same time, a bill passed unanimously and signed by Gov. Martin O’Malley Tuesday is designed to make more of Maryland’s government data more available and searchable to everyone through creation of a new Council on Open Data.
From C to B-
Maryland received a B- when it comes to transparency on government spending, up from a C last year, according to the fifth annual report card by Maryland PIRG Foundation, released Tuesday.
MORE
'Mark My Words,' Soon You'll See The Larger Scope Of NSA Abuses
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Edward Snowden and reporter Glenn Greenwald, who brought to light the whistleblower's leaks about mass U.S. government surveillance last year, appeared together via video link from opposite ends of the earth on Saturday for what was believed to be the first time since Snowden sought asylum in Russia.
A sympathetic crowd of nearly 1,000 packed a downtown Chicago hotel ballroom at Amnesty International USA's annual human rights meeting and gave Greenwald, who dialed in from Brazil, a raucous welcome before Snowden was patched in 15 minutes later to a standing ovation.
More
A sympathetic crowd of nearly 1,000 packed a downtown Chicago hotel ballroom at Amnesty International USA's annual human rights meeting and gave Greenwald, who dialed in from Brazil, a raucous welcome before Snowden was patched in 15 minutes later to a standing ovation.
More
Delegate Mike McDermott Guest Speaker
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DON'T MISS THURSDAY NIGHT MEETING
Delegate Mike McDermott last time addressing the Worcester County Tea Party as a delegate. His legislative wrap up will include:
1) Transgender Rights - A woman’s day spa must allow a man access to their disrobing areas and dressing rooms if the man claims he is really a woman at heart.
2) Marijuana Decriminalization - Possession of marijuana is not a crime in Maryland anymore.
3) Obamacare Debacle - $150 million spent on a computer system that will never work.
4)Budgeting Fiasco - Increased spending by $2 Billion over last year’s budget and $400 million robbed from teacher pension fund in next two years. And Much More
Thursday 4/10/14 - Ocean Pines Community Center. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Md. Man Says Red Light Cams Are About "Money" Not Safety
Mike Ficco says he received a $75 ticket because he stopped his car beyond the white line. He says video proves that he was not driving unsafely.
Major Mike England watched the clip and says Ficco broke the law.
"This driver says it's about money, not safety," said Major England, Rockville Police department. "Well we totally disagree."
Tuesday, dozens of cars made the same mistake at the same intersection - the corner of Gude Drive and Gaither Road. It's one of ten Rockville intersections with red light cameras.
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Major Mike England watched the clip and says Ficco broke the law.
"This driver says it's about money, not safety," said Major England, Rockville Police department. "Well we totally disagree."
Tuesday, dozens of cars made the same mistake at the same intersection - the corner of Gude Drive and Gaither Road. It's one of ten Rockville intersections with red light cameras.
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Cuts for a Cause at Sport Clips Across Maryland
What: Thirty-two Sport Clips Haircuts across Maryland are currently giving free buzz cuts in honor of sports writer and radio personality Nestor Aparicio’s wife, Jennifer, who is battling leukemia. In exchange for the free haircuts, a recommended donation of $10 to the There Goes My Hero organization, which funds blood cancer research and support programs, is requested.
When: Now through April 12, 2014, during regular business hours
Where: All 32 Sport Clips locations in Maryland. (listed below) To find a location near you and hours of operation, visit www.sportclips.com
Salisbury 2657 N. Salisbury Road
To learn more about There Goes My Hero, visit http://theregoesmyhero.org/ and to learn more about Sport Clips, visit www.sportclips.com
When: Now through April 12, 2014, during regular business hours
Where: All 32 Sport Clips locations in Maryland. (listed below) To find a location near you and hours of operation, visit www.sportclips.com
Salisbury 2657 N. Salisbury Road
To learn more about There Goes My Hero, visit http://theregoesmyhero.org/ and to learn more about Sport Clips, visit www.sportclips.com
Worcester County School Waiver Approved
The Dispatch
BREAKING NEWS: School Waiver Approved
The Worcester County Board of Education has learned a four-day waiver request for inclement weather days has been approved. The result of this action is the likelihood that the last day of school for public school students will be Friday, June 13 as anticipated.
BREAKING NEWS: School Waiver Approved
The Worcester County Board of Education has learned a four-day waiver request for inclement weather days has been approved. The result of this action is the likelihood that the last day of school for public school students will be Friday, June 13 as anticipated.
House Hungarian Caucus Statement on Hungarian Election
Caucus Co-Chairs Harris, Joyce, and Kaptur Congratulate Prime Minister Orbán
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), Dave Joyce (OH-14), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), Co-Chairs of the House Hungarian Caucus, released the following statement following the Parliamentary elections in Hungary on April 6, 2014:
On behalf of the House Hungarian Caucus, we congratulate Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on his party’s electoral victory. In 1989, Hungarians led the way in dismantling the Iron Curtain by calling for free and fair elections. Like our own Founding Fathers, what Hungarians yearned for during the decades of communist dictatorship was “a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
Twenty-five years later, Hungary is a member of the EU, a strong ally within NATO, and Hungarians have seen democratic self-government flourish. This is the seventh time since Hungary’s first democratic elections in 1990 that Hungarians have chosen their duly elected representatives through free and fair elections.
As recent events in Ukraine and Crimea show, free and fair elections are not something to be taken for granted in the region, and we look forward to working together with the government to advance our shared ideals of inclusiveness and human rights for all people. As co-chairs of the Hungarian Caucus in the U.S. Congress, we express our hope that members of this legislative body and the Hungarian Parliament will continue to work on issues of common interest. We look forward to welcoming the new Members of the Hungarian Parliament to Washington.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), Dave Joyce (OH-14), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), Co-Chairs of the House Hungarian Caucus, released the following statement following the Parliamentary elections in Hungary on April 6, 2014:
On behalf of the House Hungarian Caucus, we congratulate Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on his party’s electoral victory. In 1989, Hungarians led the way in dismantling the Iron Curtain by calling for free and fair elections. Like our own Founding Fathers, what Hungarians yearned for during the decades of communist dictatorship was “a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
Twenty-five years later, Hungary is a member of the EU, a strong ally within NATO, and Hungarians have seen democratic self-government flourish. This is the seventh time since Hungary’s first democratic elections in 1990 that Hungarians have chosen their duly elected representatives through free and fair elections.
As recent events in Ukraine and Crimea show, free and fair elections are not something to be taken for granted in the region, and we look forward to working together with the government to advance our shared ideals of inclusiveness and human rights for all people. As co-chairs of the Hungarian Caucus in the U.S. Congress, we express our hope that members of this legislative body and the Hungarian Parliament will continue to work on issues of common interest. We look forward to welcoming the new Members of the Hungarian Parliament to Washington.
Former President Bill Clinton endorses Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown
“Anthony Brown’s lengthy record of public service to our nation and the state of Maryland is a powerful testament to his character and leadership,” said Clinton in a statement.
“As Lt. Governor, Anthony has worked to create thousands of jobs, to make quality health care more accessible and affordable, to secure passage of some of the nation’s toughest gun safety laws, to protect women and children from domestic violence, and to make record investments in Maryland’s public schools. He is uniquely qualified to lead Maryland, and I am proud to support him for Governor.”
MORE
Energy Administration Announces $9 Million In Grants For EmPOWER Program
According to a Maryland Energy Administration news release, the program assists local governments and non-profit organizations with funding energy efficiency projects specifically designed to assist low to moderate income individuals.
With the grants, around 5,000 Maryland households will save on electricity and natural gas costs each year, resulting in more than $1 million saved annually, the release said.
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Lib Law Professor Alan Dershowitz On His Former Student Ted Cruz : “Off The Charts Brilliant”
The snow has finally ended, spring break is behind us, and major-league baseball is underway. That means the 2013-14 college year is entering the home stretch, and at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Mass., a legendary law professor will soon deliver his final lecture.
After 50 years with the same employer, Alan Dershowitz is nearing retirement. By his count, he’s had 10,000 students, and they include some of the leaders of the world, although not one who, despite becoming editor of the law review, was denied access to his enrollment. Dershowitz told me recently he will always remember fondly using the Socratic method in criminal law classes, where, in any given 90-minute lecture, he’d call on about 40 students out of 150 assembled.
“No answer is right,” he said. “I’d go from student to student. I knew my students very well and knew what their positions essentially would be so I knew who to call on to get a good, provocative discussion going.” [...]
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas): “Off-the-charts brilliant. And you know, liberals make the terrible mistake, including some of my friends and colleagues, of thinking that all conservatives are dumb. And I think one of the reasons that conservatives have been beating liberals in the courts and in public debates is because we underestimate them. Never underestimate Ted Cruz. He is off-the-chart brilliant. I don’t agree with his politics.”
Source
After 50 years with the same employer, Alan Dershowitz is nearing retirement. By his count, he’s had 10,000 students, and they include some of the leaders of the world, although not one who, despite becoming editor of the law review, was denied access to his enrollment. Dershowitz told me recently he will always remember fondly using the Socratic method in criminal law classes, where, in any given 90-minute lecture, he’d call on about 40 students out of 150 assembled.
“No answer is right,” he said. “I’d go from student to student. I knew my students very well and knew what their positions essentially would be so I knew who to call on to get a good, provocative discussion going.” [...]
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas): “Off-the-charts brilliant. And you know, liberals make the terrible mistake, including some of my friends and colleagues, of thinking that all conservatives are dumb. And I think one of the reasons that conservatives have been beating liberals in the courts and in public debates is because we underestimate them. Never underestimate Ted Cruz. He is off-the-chart brilliant. I don’t agree with his politics.”
Source
Feds Declare War On Affordable and Plentiful Imported Ammunition
The feds recently used an obscure “vaporware” Polish firearm as an excuse to outlaw the importation of cheap and plentiful Russian ammo into the United States.
The BATFE has determined the 7N6 cartridge is armor piercing and therefore illegal under the Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968 as amended in 1986.
As noted by The Bangswitch blog on Tuesday, the Russian ammo was not an issue with the federal government until the suspicious introduction of a 5.45×39 handgun on the U.S. market.
“Until one did appear, 7N6 surplus could flow freely from Russia, Ukraine and other sources. However, it would only be a matter of time before someone got the bright idea to produce a 5.45×39 pistol domestically or someone applied for a Form 6 to import one,” the blog reports.
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Md. County Will Comply With Judge's Prayer Order
WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -- The Carroll County Commissioners say they'll reluctantly obey a federal judge's order barring them from starting their public meetings with sectarian prayers.
The five-member, all-Republican board voted 3-2 Tuesday to use only nonsectarian prayers to open their meetings -- for now. The resolution runs through Aug. 1, when the board says it hopes the Supreme Court will have ruled on a similar dispute in New York state.
Some commissioners have routinely prayed to Jesus Christ when it was their turn to ask for divine guidance over board proceedings.
MORE
The five-member, all-Republican board voted 3-2 Tuesday to use only nonsectarian prayers to open their meetings -- for now. The resolution runs through Aug. 1, when the board says it hopes the Supreme Court will have ruled on a similar dispute in New York state.
Some commissioners have routinely prayed to Jesus Christ when it was their turn to ask for divine guidance over board proceedings.
MORE
Gallup survey suggests sign-ups under ObamaCare not as high as White House says
A major new Gallup survey suggests the ObamaCare sign-up numbers are not as soaring as the White House claims.
The massive survey, released on Monday, shows the number of uninsured indeed has fallen to its lowest level in years, likely thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index measured the share of adults without health insurance. That shrank from 17.1 percent at the end of last year to 15.6 percent for the first three months of 2014.
The decline of 1.5 percentage points would translate roughly to more than 3.5 million people gaining coverage.
But the numbers, released a week after the close of the health law's first enrollment season, also suggest a far more modest impact on coverage than statistics cited by the Obama administration.
More
The massive survey, released on Monday, shows the number of uninsured indeed has fallen to its lowest level in years, likely thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index measured the share of adults without health insurance. That shrank from 17.1 percent at the end of last year to 15.6 percent for the first three months of 2014.
The decline of 1.5 percentage points would translate roughly to more than 3.5 million people gaining coverage.
But the numbers, released a week after the close of the health law's first enrollment season, also suggest a far more modest impact on coverage than statistics cited by the Obama administration.
More
SFD Calls For Service 4-8-14
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 23:59:28Nature: Syncopal EpisodeCity: Salisbury
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 21:34:37Nature: SeizureCity: Salisbury
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 17:33:19Nature: OverdoseCity: Salisbury
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 16:00:15Nature: StrokeCity: Salisbury
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 15:21:50Nature: Pi AccidentCity: Salisbury
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 15:11:41Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 12:57:25Nature: Chest PainCity: Salisbury
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 11:00:14Nature: Difficulty BreathingCity: Salisbury
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 10:56:10Nature: Automatic AlarmAddress: 329 Calvin Dr Salisbury, MD 21801
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 10:56:07Nature: Gas LeakAddress: 1215 Mt Hermon Rd Salisbury, MD 21801
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 10:56:05Nature: Gas LeakAddress: 1215 Mt Hermon Rd Salisbury, MD 21801
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 01:57:30Nature: Assault EmsCity: Salisbury
- Tuesday April, 8 2014 @ 01:27:43Nature: Chest PainCity: Salisbury
Is the Case for Liberty Too Extreme?
If there is one label more than any other that principled advocates of individual liberty are often stamped with it is that they are "extremists." You are so extreme, it is said. What is wrong with a compromise between personal freedom and some "reasonable" degree of government regulation, welfare legislation, and social intervention?
The first question that should be asked back when confronted with such an accusation is: With what is the friend of liberty being asked to compromise? The real answer, of course, is that the friend of liberty is being asked to compromise with the use of coercive force in human relationships.
Freedom or Coercion in Human Affairs
The simple fact is that human association may be based on peaceful and mutually beneficial agreement and exchange, or it may be based on one party in this human relationship threatening or using force to make the other party do something that he would not willingly do if he were free from the danger of violence.
Freedom is important not because a person might want to say, "yes," to an offer that has been made to him, but because he might want to say, "no." If an individual cannot say "no" without being threatened with some form of physical harm from the other person in the relationship, then that individual is not free.
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The first question that should be asked back when confronted with such an accusation is: With what is the friend of liberty being asked to compromise? The real answer, of course, is that the friend of liberty is being asked to compromise with the use of coercive force in human relationships.
Freedom or Coercion in Human Affairs
The simple fact is that human association may be based on peaceful and mutually beneficial agreement and exchange, or it may be based on one party in this human relationship threatening or using force to make the other party do something that he would not willingly do if he were free from the danger of violence.
Freedom is important not because a person might want to say, "yes," to an offer that has been made to him, but because he might want to say, "no." If an individual cannot say "no" without being threatened with some form of physical harm from the other person in the relationship, then that individual is not free.
More
Democrat Congressman Alan Grayson’s Wife Accuses Him Of Trying To Kill Her, Admits Long-Term Abuse
Following last month’s domestic disturbance involving U.S. Rep.Alan Grayson, D-Fla., his wife told detectives the bombastic lawmaker had been hitting her “for years” and was trying to kill her.
A copy of Lolita Grayson‘s interview with local detectives after the incident in March was obtained by WFTV, documenting the allegations of spousal abuse.
“I’m done. My husband has always been hitting me for years,” she told police, according to the local ABC affiliate. “He’s been hitting me a lot. I’ve been so quiet for years.”
Mrs. Grayson also accused her husband of cheating on her, saying she threw him out in December when she could no longer tolerate his actions, according to WFTV.
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A copy of Lolita Grayson‘s interview with local detectives after the incident in March was obtained by WFTV, documenting the allegations of spousal abuse.
“I’m done. My husband has always been hitting me for years,” she told police, according to the local ABC affiliate. “He’s been hitting me a lot. I’ve been so quiet for years.”
Mrs. Grayson also accused her husband of cheating on her, saying she threw him out in December when she could no longer tolerate his actions, according to WFTV.
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JUST IN: House Panel Asks DOJ To Consider Criminal Prosecution For Lerner
The House Ways and Means Committee voted 23-14 to send the criminal referral. The vote marked an escalation in Republicans' push to confront Lerner over her role in the agency's controversial practice of singling out conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status for extra scrutiny.
On another front, a separate committee will vote Thursday on whether to hold her in contempt of Congress for twice refusing to testify on the scandal.
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Congratulations To Comcast, Your 2014 Worst Company In America!
Four years since winning its first Worst Company tournament, Comcast’s doubted that the Kabletown Krusher could ever regain that 2010 form. But after a few years of letting others hold the title, Comcast was fiercely intent on bringing a second Golden Poo to its Philadelphia lair. And in one of the narrowest Final Death Matches in the centuries’ long history of WCIA battle, Comcast managed to hold the genetically modified body blows of Monsanto.
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The Legislature Forgot Mental Health Again
This action addresses a legitimate need and no one should begrudge it. However, it does nothing for the direct care workers who serve equally vulnerable citizens, those with psychiatric disabilities.
On behalf of community mental health providers who serve 150,000 children and adults across the state, our organization began working several months ago with legislative leaders and developmental disabilities stakeholders to include mental health in legislation dealing with the impact of a higher minimum wage on the ability of community providers in both fields to recruit and retain qualified staff. Only developmental disabilities programs made the final cut.
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Senate Bans Proposed Iranian Ambassador To The U.S.
The Senate approves a bill to bar the man Iran has assigned to be the next ambassador to the United States. It was a rare bipartisan move. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). He argued the nominee, Hamid Aboutalebi, participated in the 1979 seizure of the American embassy in Tehran. Cruz was joined by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Aboutalebi reportedly has argued his role in the seizure was only translator and negotiator. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for more than a year. Cruz calls the nomination a deliberate and unambiguous insult to the United States.
New York assault weapons ban circumvented with simple modification
The Safe Act was billed as the nation's toughest, but a surprisingly easy loophole makes the weapons legal to sell
One month after the Newtown school shootings, the governor of New York state, Andrew Cuomo, signed into law a ban on the sale of assault weapons, hailing it the "nation's toughest".
The Safe Act, signed in January 2013, introduced stricter background checks while banning high-capacity magazines and so-called assault weapons like the AR-15-style gun Adam Lanza used to kill 27 people in Newtown in December 2012.
But while pro-gun campaigners continue to argue that the law is too strict – and are due to protest outside New York's statehouse in Albany on Tuesday – gunmakers, gun shops and gun owners have found a remarkably simple way to make their assault weapons legal.
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One month after the Newtown school shootings, the governor of New York state, Andrew Cuomo, signed into law a ban on the sale of assault weapons, hailing it the "nation's toughest".
The Safe Act, signed in January 2013, introduced stricter background checks while banning high-capacity magazines and so-called assault weapons like the AR-15-style gun Adam Lanza used to kill 27 people in Newtown in December 2012.
But while pro-gun campaigners continue to argue that the law is too strict – and are due to protest outside New York's statehouse in Albany on Tuesday – gunmakers, gun shops and gun owners have found a remarkably simple way to make their assault weapons legal.
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Yale student , 92 lbs., stuffed her face with Cheetos, ice cream to pacify school officials
NEW HAVEN - Frances Chan says she’s done stuffing her face with ice cream and Cheetos just to make Yale University happy. After months of wrangling, the university finally agrees.
The 20-year-old history major has spent the past few months sparring with Yale’s health center over her low weight. Chan is 5’2” and 92 lbs., and Yale doctors were concerned her health was severely at risk.
She contended that she’s always been very thin, as were her parents and grandparents at her age.
Yet until Friday, Yale had been telling Chan she might be forced to leave school if she didn’t put on some pounds.
“It felt really bad to be this powerless,” Chan said, taking in some afternoon sun in a campus courtyard. “I ate ice cream twice a day. I ate cookies. I used elevators instead of walking up stairs. But I don’t really gain any weight.”
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The 20-year-old history major has spent the past few months sparring with Yale’s health center over her low weight. Chan is 5’2” and 92 lbs., and Yale doctors were concerned her health was severely at risk.
She contended that she’s always been very thin, as were her parents and grandparents at her age.
Yet until Friday, Yale had been telling Chan she might be forced to leave school if she didn’t put on some pounds.
“It felt really bad to be this powerless,” Chan said, taking in some afternoon sun in a campus courtyard. “I ate ice cream twice a day. I ate cookies. I used elevators instead of walking up stairs. But I don’t really gain any weight.”
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Freeman Stage In Selbyville Announces Summer Concerts
Flight Radar
Follow someone's flight path (or your own) from beginning to destination.
Have you ever wondered where that plane flying over head is going and
What type of aircraft? Every day you see planes in the sky, sometimes
Very high, with or without con-trails. We often ask ourselves these
Questions: What type of plane, Airbus A320,330, Boeing 727, 747 or
Some other manufacturer.
Where did it come from, where is it going, what altitude, what speed,
What airline, etc.. Well, now you can see all this information
Instantly on your laptop screen. I just watched the plane whose vapor
Trail I could see over head, on my laptop, and was blown away by all
The information and also the view.
You are also going to be totally blown away when you see how many
Aircraft are flying in your area. I can now see why an air traffic
Controller is one very, very busy person.
Here is a note to help you get more out of your visit to this site.
These are all the aircraft in the air right now. In the left hand
Column, there is a box called "planes". The number in the box is the
Number of aircraft airborne. This view is what the various airport air
Traffic management people see for planning purposes.
Some additional tricks:
Drag your mouse on the map to take you to the area you want to view.
To view your region or town, you can zoom in by tapping with your
Mouse. On the map you will see all the planes in the air. When you
Click on a airplane, on the left screen you will get all the
Information related to; airline, plane type, air speed, altitude in
Real time that is re-calculated every 10 seconds. On some you can also
Local Imprisoned In Cuba Begins Hunger Strike
An American man who has been imprisoned in Cuba for more than four years is on a hunger strike, according to a statement released by his lawyer Tuesday.
Alan Gross, 64, said he began fasting to protest his treatment by the governments of both Cuba and the United States. He said he began fasting last Thursday.
Gross was arrested in Cuba in 2009 while working quietly in the Communist-run country to set up Internet access for the island's small Jewish community. At the time, Gross was working as a subcontractor for the U.S. government's U.S. Agency for International Development, which works to promote democracy on the island. Because Cuba considers USAID's programs illegal attempts by the U.S. to undermine its government, Gross was ultimately tried and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
His case has become a sticking point in improving ties between the two countries, which have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1961.
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Alan Gross, 64, said he began fasting to protest his treatment by the governments of both Cuba and the United States. He said he began fasting last Thursday.
Gross was arrested in Cuba in 2009 while working quietly in the Communist-run country to set up Internet access for the island's small Jewish community. At the time, Gross was working as a subcontractor for the U.S. government's U.S. Agency for International Development, which works to promote democracy on the island. Because Cuba considers USAID's programs illegal attempts by the U.S. to undermine its government, Gross was ultimately tried and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
His case has become a sticking point in improving ties between the two countries, which have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1961.
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Fed To The Sharks, Part 1: Robbing Purchasing Power As A Matter Of Policy
We're being Fed to the sharks, every day, one morsel at a time. What a way to go....
What can we say about the Federal Reserve's policies that hasn't been said a million times? How about simplifying the two primary purposes of Fed policies? I will cover one today and the second one tomorrow. Both involve feeding the 99.5% to the financier/ Wall Street/bank sharks.
Longtime readers are familiar with Harun I.'s incisive analysis. Two of his recent commentaries can be found in Resolution #1: Let's Call Things What They Really Are in 2014 (January 15, 2014) and Doomed If We Do, Doomed If We Don't (February 12, 2014)
In the above entries, Harun explained how the Fed's money creation has leveraged a global bubble in assets. At 72-to-1 leverage, the Fed's $3.3 trillion money expansion has generated inflation as well as asset bubbles, though the Fed and its cronies deny both asset bubbles and inflation.
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What can we say about the Federal Reserve's policies that hasn't been said a million times? How about simplifying the two primary purposes of Fed policies? I will cover one today and the second one tomorrow. Both involve feeding the 99.5% to the financier/ Wall Street/bank sharks.
Longtime readers are familiar with Harun I.'s incisive analysis. Two of his recent commentaries can be found in Resolution #1: Let's Call Things What They Really Are in 2014 (January 15, 2014) and Doomed If We Do, Doomed If We Don't (February 12, 2014)
In the above entries, Harun explained how the Fed's money creation has leveraged a global bubble in assets. At 72-to-1 leverage, the Fed's $3.3 trillion money expansion has generated inflation as well as asset bubbles, though the Fed and its cronies deny both asset bubbles and inflation.
More
The War on Antiwar Republicans
Hawks have Reps. Walter Jones and Justin Amash on their hit list—and Sen. Rand Paul will be next.
Walter Jones is the first target. The ten-term North Carolina Republican has emerged as a leading antiwar voice in Congress. As a result, he faces a primary challenge from former George W. Bush aide Taylor Griffin—and a barrage of hostile spending from outside groups.
The Emergency Committee for Israel has launched a six-figure ad campaign describing Jones as a convert to liberalism. “Once upon a time, Walter Jones was right for North Carolina but he’s changed,” says the narrator in the 30-second spot. “Isn’t it time your vote changed as well?”
A super PAC formed by TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts is also spending$156,000 on ads attacking Jones as some kind of liberal. Ricketts’ Ending the Spending claims Jones, one of the last members of the GOP class of ’94 in Congress, has “lost his North Carolina values.”
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Walter Jones is the first target. The ten-term North Carolina Republican has emerged as a leading antiwar voice in Congress. As a result, he faces a primary challenge from former George W. Bush aide Taylor Griffin—and a barrage of hostile spending from outside groups.
The Emergency Committee for Israel has launched a six-figure ad campaign describing Jones as a convert to liberalism. “Once upon a time, Walter Jones was right for North Carolina but he’s changed,” says the narrator in the 30-second spot. “Isn’t it time your vote changed as well?”
A super PAC formed by TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts is also spending$156,000 on ads attacking Jones as some kind of liberal. Ricketts’ Ending the Spending claims Jones, one of the last members of the GOP class of ’94 in Congress, has “lost his North Carolina values.”
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'Tax Freedom Day' falls three days later this year
The day when the nation collectively has made enough money
to pay its total tax burden for the year is three days later this year, according to a new report.
According to a report released Monday by the Tax Foundation, this year Tax Freedom Day falls 111 days into 2014, on April 21.
By April 21, to group says, Americans will have made enough to pay the $3 trillion in federal taxes and $1.5 trillion in state taxes — more than they will spend on food clothing and housing combined.
Tax Freedom Day is later than it was last year, due in large part to the slow economic recovery, the tax policy research group argues.
“Tax Freedom Day is three days later than last year due mainly to the country’s continued slow economic recovery, which is expected to boost tax revenue especially from the corporate, payroll, and individual income tax,” authors Kyle Pomerleau and Lyman Stone write.
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to pay its total tax burden for the year is three days later this year, according to a new report.According to a report released Monday by the Tax Foundation, this year Tax Freedom Day falls 111 days into 2014, on April 21.
By April 21, to group says, Americans will have made enough to pay the $3 trillion in federal taxes and $1.5 trillion in state taxes — more than they will spend on food clothing and housing combined.
Tax Freedom Day is later than it was last year, due in large part to the slow economic recovery, the tax policy research group argues.
“Tax Freedom Day is three days later than last year due mainly to the country’s continued slow economic recovery, which is expected to boost tax revenue especially from the corporate, payroll
, and individual income tax,” authors Kyle Pomerleau and Lyman Stone write.More
Former Md. Guard Gets 30 Months In Inmate Beating
BALTIMORE (AP) -- A former Maryland correctional officer is starting a 2 1/2-year federal prison term for conspiring to severely beat an inmate who had punched a guard at the medium-security Roxbury Correctional Institution near Hagerstown.
U.S. District Judge James Bredar (breh-DAR') sentenced Tyson Hinckle on Monday in Baltimore.
Hinckle is the seventh former officer sentenced in a federal investigation stemming from the beating of inmate Kenneth Davis in 2008. Seven more await sentencing.
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U.S. District Judge James Bredar (breh-DAR') sentenced Tyson Hinckle on Monday in Baltimore.
Hinckle is the seventh former officer sentenced in a federal investigation stemming from the beating of inmate Kenneth Davis in 2008. Seven more await sentencing.
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Outwitting the Purveyors of Dependency
Divide and conquer is an age-old strategy, effectively used by many in positions of power to ensure that they retain their wealth and authority.
During the dark days of slavery in America, there were many geographic areas where the number of slaves significantly exceeded the number of whites and slave owners. This occasioned appropriate anxiety for the owners, who cleverly sowed seeds of discord among the different groups of slaves in an attempt to effectively destroy unity. For example, field slaves were told that the house slaves thought of themselves as superior.
This worked in most cases, although there were notable instances of secret cooperation among the slaves to accomplish various goals. It required real wisdom and insight to avoid easy manipulation by the slave owners, who usually used slaves loyal to them to accomplish their nefarious objectives.
In today’s culture, there are political forces that see the descendants of slaves as useful objects for maintaining their positions of wealth and power. By promising to care for their every need, they create dependency.
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IRS agents’ testimony: NO progressive groups were targeted by IRS
IRS agents testified before Congress that the agency’s political targeting did not apply to progressive groups as Democrats and the media have claimed, according to a bombshell new staff report prepared by the House Oversight Committee chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa.
IRS agents testified before Oversight that ACORN groups were scrutinized because the agency thought they were old organizations applying as new ones. Emerge America was scrutinized for potential “improper private benefit.” No evidence exists that the IRS requested additional information from any Occupy Wall Street group.
“Only seven applications in the IRS backlog contained the word ‘progressive,’ all of which were then approved by the IRS, while Tea Party groups received unprecedented review and experienced years-long delays. While some liberal-oriented groups were singled out for scrutiny, evidence shows it was due to non-political reasons,” according to the Oversight staff report, which was obtained by The Daily Caller.
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IRS agents testified before Oversight that ACORN groups were scrutinized because the agency thought they were old organizations applying as new ones. Emerge America was scrutinized for potential “improper private benefit.” No evidence exists that the IRS requested additional information from any Occupy Wall Street
group.“Only seven applications
in the IRS backlog contained the word ‘progressive,’ all of which were then approved by the IRS, while Tea Party groups received unprecedented review and experienced years-long delays. While some liberal-oriented groups were singled out for scrutiny, evidence shows it was due to non-political reasons,” according to the Oversight staff report, which was obtained by The Daily Caller.More
A+ Garden Centre Web Catalog
The Garden Centre opening day has arrived. Let us know if we can assist with your planting preparations.
Check out our website for our catalog of plants and information. Thank you so much.
A+ Garden Center is located at Parkside High Career & Technology Education Center
Check out our website for our catalog of plants and information. Thank you so much.
How Many Personal Trips has Eric Holder Taken on Government Planes
It seems that the Obama family are not the only ones in the administration abusing taxpayer dollars with vacations excessive in both numbers and cost. Obama’s Attorney General Eric Holder faced questioning during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing over his use of Justice Department airplanes for personal use. In response to a Government Accountability Report, Holder defended his usage of the planes for personal use by stating that, despite the notion that he’s taken over a hundred trips for personal use, he’s only taken 27.
Gansler Calls For Special Counsel On Health Benefit Exchange
Gansler, Maryland's Attorney General, tells WBAL Radio the website and the ability for people to enroll in the Affordable Care Act on the Maryland exchange was a debacle. "We need to find out (why) and dig down deeper," Gansler says.
He wants an independent investigator with subpoena power to investigate the website and its issues and have that report complete in 60 days.
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ALLEN WEST HAMMERS 'ELITIST' JEB BUSH AS 'DISRESPECTFUL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE' AND THE CONSTITUTION
Former Rep. Allen West (R-FL) discussed Jeb Bush's comments this weekend that many people illegally cross the border as an "act of love" at an event for 25th anniversary of the presidency of George H. W. Bush at the library and museum. West said the statement was elitist and "disrespectful to the American people who are suffering under these economic conditions and are out of work"...
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Small Business Hiring Plans Plunge To 11-Month Lows
Having hit their most hopeful levels in seven years in January, small business hiring plans have collapsed at the fastest rate since Lehman in the ensuring 2 months. Despite the headlines proclaiming the modest rise and beat in the headline NFIB data, capex spending plans dropped and hiring expectations dropped to lows seen 11 months ago. We can only assume the small businesses are expecting more winter storms through the spring...
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A Letter To The Editor: Beware Of Verizon Scam
Dear Joe
I live in Delmar Md just 2 miles from the Md State Police but am currently vacationing IN South Carolina. It is unnerving to have received a call at 9pm from verizon wireless fraud dept, They called to verify we had placed an order for a phone or pad upgrade to our wireless account,,,,,we HAD NOT,,, Verizon told us. they think someone has observed we are away on vacation and are trying to scam us.... at first we were skeptical but we also got an email from Verizon Fraud Dept at the same time and were transferred to the fraud dept at same number as our caller so we knew the call was legit,, .....someone is watching our neighborhood,!!
Verizon told us this scam operates this way, they decide a house is currently empty so they take the address enter in reverse directory then they place an order for a phone or ipad upgrade they order the product and set up delivery without signature required and then wait for the item to be delivered and casually walk to the door pick up the package and walk away for us to discover on our next bill THANK YOU VERIZON WIRELESS FOR BEING ON TOP OF THINGS
I have read in the media recently that crooks cruise neigborhoods actually stealing the copper off the hvac and propane systems ,,,, well someone has been watching our house and we have a house sitter! So we will have a security system installed when we get home
The crooks gave themself away when Verizon asked security questions,the caller hung up on the operator ,,they tried twice thats when the fraud dept called us,, so they stopped the order,,,,, thats great BUT N0W WE KNOW 0ur neighborhood is being watched! I am sending this to our neighbors and asking them to forward or call other neighbors to be viligant,,,,,what if the car and rv were sold or being serviced and we were home and unaware of being observed! What then,,,well I have gotten pretty good with my 38 but really would like to try the taser out and watch the sparks fly SO SUCKER FIND A NEW PLACE TO WATCH DELMAR IS BEING WARNED....OH DID I MENTION BOTH THE GUN AND THE TASER HAVE A RED LASER LITE ,,,,SO GUESS WHERE IT IS GOING TO BE AIMED,,,,BELIEVE ME I WON['T MISS!
I live in Delmar Md just 2 miles from the Md State Police but am currently vacationing IN South Carolina. It is unnerving to have received a call at 9pm from verizon wireless fraud dept, They called to verify we had placed an order for a phone or pad upgrade to our wireless account,,,,,we HAD NOT,,, Verizon told us. they think someone has observed we are away on vacation and are trying to scam us.... at first we were skeptical but we also got an email from Verizon Fraud Dept at the same time and were transferred to the fraud dept at same number as our caller so we knew the call was legit,, .....someone is watching our neighborhood,!!
Verizon told us this scam operates this way, they decide a house is currently empty so they take the address enter in reverse directory then they place an order for a phone or ipad upgrade they order the product and set up delivery without signature required and then wait for the item to be delivered and casually walk to the door pick up the package and walk away for us to discover on our next bill THANK YOU VERIZON WIRELESS FOR BEING ON TOP OF THINGS
I have read in the media recently that crooks cruise neigborhoods actually stealing the copper off the hvac and propane systems ,,,, well someone has been watching our house and we have a house sitter! So we will have a security system installed when we get home
The crooks gave themself away when Verizon asked security questions,the caller hung up on the operator ,,they tried twice thats when the fraud dept called us,, so they stopped the order,,,,, thats great BUT N0W WE KNOW 0ur neighborhood is being watched! I am sending this to our neighbors and asking them to forward or call other neighbors to be viligant,,,,,what if the car and rv were sold or being serviced and we were home and unaware of being observed! What then,,,well I have gotten pretty good with my 38 but really would like to try the taser out and watch the sparks fly SO SUCKER FIND A NEW PLACE TO WATCH DELMAR IS BEING WARNED....OH DID I MENTION BOTH THE GUN AND THE TASER HAVE A RED LASER LITE ,,,,SO GUESS WHERE IT IS GOING TO BE AIMED,,,,BELIEVE ME I WON['T MISS!
Suspect in custody after reports of multiple stabbings at Pennsylvania high school
DEVELOPING: Up to six people were stabbed at a high school near Pittsburgh and one person is in custody early Wednesday, emergency officials say.
Dan Stevens, spokesman for Westmoreland County emergency management, said the suspect is in custody at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, roughly 15 miles east of Pittsburgh.
"A critical incident has occurred at the high school," a message on the school district's website reads. "All elementary schools are cancelled, the middle school and high school students are secure. Additional information will be released as soon as possible. Please keep our campus clear of traffic."
It's unclear if the suspect and the victims are students, adults, or a mix of both. Stevens said it doesn't appear any of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.
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Dan Stevens, spokesman for Westmoreland County emergency management, said the suspect is in custody at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, roughly 15 miles east of Pittsburgh.
"A critical incident has occurred at the high school," a message on the school district's website reads. "All elementary schools are cancelled, the middle school and high school students are secure. Additional information will be released as soon as possible. Please keep our campus clear of traffic."
It's unclear if the suspect and the victims are students, adults, or a mix of both. Stevens said it doesn't appear any of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.
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Massive, Man-Eating One-Ton Crocodile Captured in Uganda
The one-ton beast, which is believed to be just 103 lbs. lighter than the former world’s biggest crocodile, supposedly ate four people in Jinja and Mayuge districts near Lake Victoria.
A Uganda Wildlife Authority officer told The New Vision the agency believes that the reptile is about 80 years old.
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Extra Tax Break For ‘House of Cards’ Folds In Final Hour
Six lawmakers, three from each chamber of the Maryland General Assembly, standing in a ring in the House of Delegates lounge at a half hour before midnight, vehemently haggling over a single bill.
They had only 30 minutes before the close of the 2014 session, and they needed to find middle ground on legislation that would grant the popular Netflix drama an additional $3.5 million in tax dollars.
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Comcast Bought Democrats with Billion$, NBC News Coverage
From Ellen Sauerbrey on Prevailing Wage
Letter to the Editor,
In a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars, Maryland counties will be forced to pay more for school construction as well as roads, wastewater treatment plants and other public works projects thanks to the legislature taking a bad law and making it even worse.
The 2014 General Assembly has passed legislation to apply the prevailing wage to additional local government projects that receive partial state funding. The prevailing wage which is essentially the union wage, artificially inflates labor costs by ab estimated 30% to 50%
I commend Harford County Executive and Gubernatorial candidate David Craig for speaking out on the impact of the new law on his county, as well as the impact of prevailing wages on the state budget. Every local elected official concerned about getting the most value on public projects should want to let the market determine employee wages as is done in the private sector. County Executive Craig points out that the prevailing wage adds an additional $30 million cost to his county's $300 million capital budget for school construction.
Would we put up with a government that sets a s hourly wage of $50 an hour for everyone who shovels snow, and then require consumers to pay that wage? I don't think so! But that is essentially what the state is doing now with taxpayer-funded public projects.
The Maryland prevailing wage enables Democrat politicians to increase campaign contributions from their labor union allies. This is a taxpayer subsidy to a favored sub-set of workers. And the legislation discriminates against young, unskilled workers who might otherwise obtain an entry-level construction job. Many young people would like to learn skills as an apprentice carpenter, but employers can't afford to hire them at the inflated union wage rate.
The prevailing wage has another side effect. Like many other government programs, this one grows and expands. The number and value of Maryland projects subject to prevailing wage requirements has risen dramatically in just two years. The state labor department advises that its prevailing wage unit currently monitors more than 700 projects, compared with 187 in 2011. With this new law, the state estimates an additional 50 school projects will be monitored for compliance.
The practical effect to construction companies is that errors in adhering to prevailing wage requirements subject them to lawsuits, fines and penalties. Nearly $500,000 will be appropriated every year to the "enforcement unit" of bean counters in the Labor Department. Not surprisingly, this new expanded law increases the number of enforcers as well as the number of local government projects subject to state oversight.
The prevailing wage law artificially increases costs for schools and other public works projects, bestows benefits on a favored political class and creates more regulations for construction businesses. No Governor should tolerate such an obviously flawed system. David Craig has made it clear that he will not, and I encourage all the other candidates to speak out just as clearly in favor of fiscal responsibility and enabling more school construction at lower cost.
Ellen Sauerbrey
Former Minority Leader, Maryland House of Delegates
In a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars, Maryland counties will be forced to pay more for school construction as well as roads, wastewater treatment plants and other public works projects thanks to the legislature taking a bad law and making it even worse.
The 2014 General Assembly has passed legislation to apply the prevailing wage to additional local government projects that receive partial state funding. The prevailing wage which is essentially the union wage, artificially inflates labor costs by ab estimated 30% to 50%
I commend Harford County Executive and Gubernatorial candidate David Craig for speaking out on the impact of the new law on his county, as well as the impact of prevailing wages on the state budget. Every local elected official concerned about getting the most value on public projects should want to let the market determine employee wages as is done in the private sector. County Executive Craig points out that the prevailing wage adds an additional $30 million cost to his county's $300 million capital budget for school construction.
Would we put up with a government that sets a s hourly wage of $50 an hour for everyone who shovels snow, and then require consumers to pay that wage? I don't think so! But that is essentially what the state is doing now with taxpayer-funded public projects.
The Maryland prevailing wage enables Democrat politicians to increase campaign contributions from their labor union allies. This is a taxpayer subsidy to a favored sub-set of workers. And the legislation discriminates against young, unskilled workers who might otherwise obtain an entry-level construction job. Many young people would like to learn skills as an apprentice carpenter, but employers can't afford to hire them at the inflated union wage rate.
The prevailing wage has another side effect. Like many other government programs, this one grows and expands. The number and value of Maryland projects subject to prevailing wage requirements has risen dramatically in just two years. The state labor department advises that its prevailing wage unit currently monitors more than 700 projects, compared with 187 in 2011. With this new law, the state estimates an additional 50 school projects will be monitored for compliance.
The practical effect to construction companies is that errors in adhering to prevailing wage requirements subject them to lawsuits, fines and penalties. Nearly $500,000 will be appropriated every year to the "enforcement unit" of bean counters in the Labor Department. Not surprisingly, this new expanded law increases the number of enforcers as well as the number of local government projects subject to state oversight.
The prevailing wage law artificially increases costs for schools and other public works projects, bestows benefits on a favored political class and creates more regulations for construction businesses. No Governor should tolerate such an obviously flawed system. David Craig has made it clear that he will not, and I encourage all the other candidates to speak out just as clearly in favor of fiscal responsibility and enabling more school construction at lower cost.
Ellen Sauerbrey
Former Minority Leader, Maryland House of Delegates
HUMPHRIES: I’m SICK of your games, Mr. President! The lies have to stop!
So the president made some statements about Obamacare on April Fool’s Day. Man, that guy is pretty funny when he wants to be.
[PRESIDENT OBAMA: This law is doing what it’s supposed to do. It’s working, it’s helping people from coast to coast. All of which makes the lengths to which critics have gone to scare people, or undermine the law, or trying to repeal the law without offering any plausible alternative is so hard to understand. I gotta admit, I don’t get it.]
LOL! When the Left and Zack Galifin…, Golifin… — “The Hangover” guy said Obama could act, I didn’t think he was that good. What? It’s NOT a joke??? You’ve got to be kidding! That doesn’t speak well of the President of the United States at all. He’s incapable of engaging what honest critics to this mess are actually saying. He just pretends they’re lunatics or monsters.
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[PRESIDENT OBAMA: This law is doing what it’s supposed to do. It’s working, it’s helping people from coast to coast. All of which makes the lengths to which critics have gone to scare people, or undermine the law, or trying to repeal the law without offering any plausible alternative is so hard to understand. I gotta admit, I don’t get it.]
LOL! When the Left and Zack Galifin…, Golifin… — “The Hangover” guy said Obama could act, I didn’t think he was that good. What? It’s NOT a joke??? You’ve got to be kidding! That doesn’t speak well of the President of the United States at all. He’s incapable of engaging what honest critics to this mess are actually saying. He just pretends they’re lunatics or monsters.
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Bingomania Returns to the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center
New Date - Saturday, May 10
SALISBURY, Md. - Bingomania, the Eastern Shore’s largest bingo cash prize event, returns to the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on a new date, Saturday, May 10. Doors open at 5 p.m. for early bird games and regular games begin at 7:30 p.m.
Admission to Bingomania includes all regular and special games, including the Jumbo Jackpot Game. Regular game payouts are $500 while special games will pay out $1000. The Jumbo Jackpot Game pays a maximum of $10,000 depending upon attendance.
Increase your chances of winning and help a local food bank at the same time by bringing three non-perishable food items to the game. Those that do will receive three additional cards for the first early bird game.
Tickets are $45 per person in advance and $55 per person at the door, fees may apply to ticket prices. Tickets are on sale now at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (500 Glen Ave., Salisbury, MD; M-F, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.), online at www.WicomicoCivicCenter.org and by phone at 410-548-4911.
All proceeds benefit the Mardela Middle and High School Bands. For more information contact the Mardela Band-Aides at 410-677-5170.
WICOMICO PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES $4500 GRANT FROM ARTHUR W. PERDUE FOUNDATION FOR SUMMER READING PROGRAM
Perdue Farms, through a $4,500 grant funded by the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, is funding the Summer Reading Program at Wicomico Public Library. Renee Childs, left, Perdue associate relations representative, presents the grant to library associates, from left, Kelly White, Rosanne Cangialosi, and Katie Jasinski, while program participants and their parents look on.
Summer Reading has two components for families to enjoy program beginning June 25 and officially ends August 13. Part One invites kids from birth through 18 years of age to come to any of the Library’s branches and receive a Summer Reading game board. Each game board is specifically created for each age group: birth to 5 years old, 6 to 11 year olds and teens. The board provides an assortment of activities to do at home from talking and singing to your baby, reading with your child and attending teen programs. In addition to reading during the summer, part two of the program allows kids and their families can come to free events such as magic shows, a visit from your Salisbury Zoo and a fun science experiment with the Maryland Science Center’s Traveling Science Program. Sign-ups for game boards begin June 2. “Summer Reading is an important component in a child’s education.” says Library Executive Director Andrea Berstler. “Much more than just fan and games, summer reading programs address the ‘Summer Slide’. This loss of skills and knowledge causes children to lose ground in their educational progress. Studies show that by the 5th grade, children can lose 2 to3 years of educational progress, due simply to a lack of exposure to reading and educational opportunities over the summer months.”
“We believe libraries to be very important hubs of community activity and educational resources,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. “So much so that the founder of our organization, Arthur W. Perdue, started the Foundation with the singular mission of giving to libraries in our region.”
Summer Reading has two components for families to enjoy program beginning June 25 and officially ends August 13. Part One invites kids from birth through 18 years of age to come to any of the Library’s branches and receive a Summer Reading game board. Each game board is specifically created for each age group: birth to 5 years old, 6 to 11 year olds and teens. The board provides an assortment of activities to do at home from talking and singing to your baby, reading with your child and attending teen programs. In addition to reading during the summer, part two of the program allows kids and their families can come to free events such as magic shows, a visit from your Salisbury Zoo and a fun science experiment with the Maryland Science Center’s Traveling Science Program. Sign-ups for game boards begin June 2. “Summer Reading is an important component in a child’s education.” says Library Executive Director Andrea Berstler. “Much more than just fan and games, summer reading programs address the ‘Summer Slide’. This loss of skills and knowledge causes children to lose ground in their educational progress. Studies show that by the 5th grade, children can lose 2 to3 years of educational progress, due simply to a lack of exposure to reading and educational opportunities over the summer months.”
“We believe libraries to be very important hubs of community activity and educational resources,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. “So much so that the founder of our organization, Arthur W. Perdue, started the Foundation with the singular mission of giving to libraries in our region.”
Trees are the Answer
Ask a question about our environment – the Chesapeake Bay, air quality, wildlife habitat, even climate change – and more likely than not, trees are a big part of the answer.
Trees clean the air we breathe and filter the water we drink. They provide homes for all types of birds and animals. They help cool temperatures, reducing energy costs and the greenhouse gases caused by burning fossil fuels. They beautify our neighborhoods and highways, increase property values, and contribute to safer communities.
Here in Maryland, we have worked hard to earn our reputation as leaders and innovators in forestry practices. Citizens have planted and registered more than 110,000 trees through our Marylanders Plant Trees program, and that number continues to climb. In the space three years the Maryland inmates’ Forest Brigade planted a record one million trees on public lands. Students are now planting buffers along stream sides near their schools, through the Stream Restoration Challenge.
Last year, our General Assembly passed a no-net-loss of forest law, first-of-its-kind legislation committing us to maintaining or expanding our current 40 percent tree canopy. Last month, we launched Lawn to Woodland, a program to provide free trees, planting and technical services for landowners who agree to convert one to four acres of unused lawn to forest cover.
Here in Maryland, we have worked hard to earn our reputation as leaders and innovators in forestry practices. Citizens have planted and registered more than 110,000 trees through our Marylanders Plant Trees program, and that number continues to climb. In the space three years the Maryland inmates’ Forest Brigade planted a record one million trees on public lands. Students are now planting buffers along stream sides near their schools, through the Stream Restoration Challenge.
Last year, our General Assembly passed a no-net-loss of forest law, first-of-its-kind legislation committing us to maintaining or expanding our current 40 percent tree canopy. Last month, we launched Lawn to Woodland, a program to provide free trees, planting and technical services for landowners who agree to convert one to four acres of unused lawn to forest cover.
GOVERNOR O’MALLEY ISSUES STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION LEGISLATION
Annapolis, Md. -- Governor O’Malley released the following statement in response to the final passage of Possession of Marijuana - Civil Offense (SB 364), which will decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana:
“With more effective policing and more widely available drug treatment, together in Maryland, we have driven violent crime down to its lowest levels in 30 years. This progress has been hard-won and much remains to be done. Recent spikes in homicides and heroin overdose deaths underscore the life-saving urgency of the work before us.
“The General Assembly has decided after much consideration -- and with clear majorities in both Chambers -- to send to my desk a bill that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and I plan to sign it.
“As a matter of judicial economy and prosecutorial discretion, few if any defendants go to prison for a first or even a second offense of marijuana possession in Maryland. Desuetude is often a precursor of reform.
“As a young prosecutor, I once thought that decriminalizing the possession of marijuana might undermine the Public Will necessary to combat drug violence and improve public safety. I now think that decriminalizing possession of marijuana is an acknowledgement of the low priority that our courts, our prosecutors, our police, and the vast majority of citizens already attach to this transgression of public order and public health. Such an acknowledgment in law might even lead to a greater focus on far more serious threats to public safety and the lives of our citizens.”
“With more effective policing and more widely available drug treatment, together in Maryland, we have driven violent crime down to its lowest levels in 30 years. This progress has been hard-won and much remains to be done. Recent spikes in homicides and heroin overdose deaths underscore the life-saving urgency of the work before us.
“The General Assembly has decided after much consideration -- and with clear majorities in both Chambers -- to send to my desk a bill that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and I plan to sign it.
“As a matter of judicial economy and prosecutorial discretion, few if any defendants go to prison for a first or even a second offense of marijuana possession in Maryland. Desuetude is often a precursor of reform.
“As a young prosecutor, I once thought that decriminalizing the possession of marijuana might undermine the Public Will necessary to combat drug violence and improve public safety. I now think that decriminalizing possession of marijuana is an acknowledgement of the low priority that our courts, our prosecutors, our police, and the vast majority of citizens already attach to this transgression of public order and public health. Such an acknowledgment in law might even lead to a greater focus on far more serious threats to public safety and the lives of our citizens.”
Colorado lawmakers weigh ban on red-light, speeding traffic cameras
DENVER – A proposal to ban red-light and speeding cameras in Colorado is back at the Capitol, and the bill sponsor says he has more support than when he pitched the idea two years ago.
The bill from Greeley Republican Sen. Scott Renfroe would forbid cities and towns from using the automated traffic enforcement devices. He introduced it Friday.
The measure is identical to what Renfroe sponsored in 2012. The Colorado Municipal League opposed that bill, saying it should be up to cities and towns to decide the matter on their own.
Renfroe argues the cameras are used to make money, not to improve public safety.
"I mean, it's exponential the amount of revenue that is brought in, and our intersections should be about safety and not about a revenue generator," he said.
More
The bill from Greeley Republican Sen. Scott Renfroe would forbid cities and towns from using the automated traffic enforcement devices. He introduced it Friday.
The measure is identical to what Renfroe sponsored in 2012. The Colorado Municipal League opposed that bill, saying it should be up to cities and towns to decide the matter on their own.
Renfroe argues the cameras are used to make money, not to improve public safety.
"I mean, it's exponential the amount of revenue that is brought in, and our intersections should be about safety and not about a revenue generator," he said.
More
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