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Friday, May 09, 2014
Stasi In the Pew
Cops penetrate churches and turn them into snitch operations for the national security state
The Hanover County, Virginia, Sheriff has rolled out a surveillance and snitch program based inside local churches.
The mission of the program, according to a post on the Hanover County web page, is to “reduce crime and the fear of crime in houses of worship and areas frequented by the faith community as well as provide for emergency preparedness partnership initiatives. We provide education and partnership opportunities to our faith community in an effort to recognize crime risks, train them to accurately report crimes, and be better prepared in the event of an emergency.”
As we have previously noted, emergency preparedness has operated as a cover for federal penetration of state and local law enforcement since the presidency of Ronald Reagan under Executive Order 12656, but really took off after the 9/11 terror attacks.
Laws passed since the 9/11 attacks, including the Patriot Act, the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007, and the Military Commissions Act, are designed to compliment and enhance continuity of government operations more tightly focused on responding to internal dissent and threats to the status quo than maintaining government cohesion after a nuclear attack.
As the Department of Defense has stressed, crime and terrorism are now inseparable.
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The Hanover County, Virginia, Sheriff has rolled out a surveillance and snitch program based inside local churches.
The mission of the program, according to a post on the Hanover County web page, is to “reduce crime and the fear of crime in houses of worship and areas frequented by the faith community as well as provide for emergency preparedness partnership initiatives. We provide education and partnership opportunities to our faith community in an effort to recognize crime risks, train them to accurately report crimes, and be better prepared in the event of an emergency.”
As we have previously noted, emergency preparedness has operated as a cover for federal penetration of state and local law enforcement since the presidency of Ronald Reagan under Executive Order 12656, but really took off after the 9/11 terror attacks.
Laws passed since the 9/11 attacks, including the Patriot Act, the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007, and the Military Commissions Act, are designed to compliment and enhance continuity of government operations more tightly focused on responding to internal dissent and threats to the status quo than maintaining government cohesion after a nuclear attack.
As the Department of Defense has stressed, crime and terrorism are now inseparable.
More
Issa: 'How Much Pornography' Does it Take 'to Get Fired' at EPA?
"How much pornography would it take for an EPA employee to lose their job?" Darrell Issa, (R-Calif.) Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, asked EPA officials at a hearing yesterday, where it emerged that an EPA employee viewed two to six hours of porn per day since 2010.
The employee has over 7,000 porn files on his computer and even watched porn when inspector general agents visited his office, Deputy Assistant Inspector General Allan Williams testified in a statement submitted to the committee. He makes over $120,000 a year and he even received performance awards for his time at the agency. And this man is still employed at the EPA, even though he confessed to the time he spent viewing the pornography.
"This individual spent four consecutive hours on a site called 'sadism is beautiful,'" Issa said at the hearing. "I've been out of the business world for a number of years, but I have a strong feeling that the House of Representatives has figured out how to block sites with titles like that. It would shock me that they wouldn't. It shocks me that you could tell us that you do a pretty good job [of blocking porn sites] and something as explicit as those key words or 'bear so horny' or - I'm not going into the other names, it disgusts me. You are running an organization from which no one can get fired."
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The employee has over 7,000 porn files on his computer and even watched porn when inspector general agents visited his office, Deputy Assistant Inspector General Allan Williams testified in a statement submitted to the committee. He makes over $120,000 a year and he even received performance awards for his time at the agency. And this man is still employed at the EPA, even though he confessed to the time he spent viewing the pornography.
"This individual spent four consecutive hours on a site called 'sadism is beautiful,'" Issa said at the hearing. "I've been out of the business world for a number of years, but I have a strong feeling that the House of Representatives has figured out how to block sites with titles like that. It would shock me that they wouldn't. It shocks me that you could tell us that you do a pretty good job [of blocking porn sites] and something as explicit as those key words or 'bear so horny' or - I'm not going into the other names, it disgusts me. You are running an organization from which no one can get fired."
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Elections Not Stopping Obama Pollution Rules
Within weeks, President Barack Obama's administration is set to unveil unprecedented emissions limits on power plants across the U.S., much to the dismay of many Democratic candidates who are running for election in energy-producing states. Fearful of a political backlash, they wish their fellow Democrat in the White House would hold off until after the voting.
But Obama can't wait that long.
Unlike the Keystone XL oil pipeline, whose review the administration has delayed, probably until after November's elections, the clock is ticking for the power plant rules — the cornerstone of Obama's campaign to curb climate change. Unless he starts now, the rules won't be in place before he leaves office, making it easier for his successor to stop them.
So even though the action could bolster Republican attacks against some of this year's most vulnerable Democrats, the administration is proceeding at full speed. Obama's counselor on climate issues, John Podesta, affirmed that the proposal will be unveiled in early June — just as this year's general election is heating up.
"Having this debate now will only injure Democrats," said Hank Sheinkopf, a longtime Democratic strategist. "Democrats are in trouble. The best thing when you're in trouble is to avoid further controversy."
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But Obama can't wait that long.
Unlike the Keystone XL oil pipeline, whose review the administration has delayed, probably until after November's elections, the clock is ticking for the power plant rules — the cornerstone of Obama's campaign to curb climate change. Unless he starts now, the rules won't be in place before he leaves office, making it easier for his successor to stop them.
So even though the action could bolster Republican attacks against some of this year's most vulnerable Democrats, the administration is proceeding at full speed. Obama's counselor on climate issues, John Podesta, affirmed that the proposal will be unveiled in early June — just as this year's general election is heating up.
"Having this debate now will only injure Democrats," said Hank Sheinkopf, a longtime Democratic strategist. "Democrats are in trouble. The best thing when you're in trouble is to avoid further controversy."
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Obama Sternly Warns State and Local School Districts "Not to Deny" Illegal Immigrant Enrollment
In a joint letter, the U.S. Education and Justice departments said they had become aware of student enrollment practices "that may chill or discourage" participation of students based on their or their parents' "actual or perceived immigration status."
"These practices contravene Federal law," the letter said.
The letter, which updates 2011 guidelines, did not single out districts for criticism. However, practices at some of the nation's districts have been targeted by immigration rights advocates in recent years.
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Obama's actions on night of Benghazi attack under scrutiny
White House calls probes a partisan witch hunt
As House investigators gear up for a new probe of Benghazi, one question they’ll likely pursue is what President Obama did or didn’t do on the night that the terrorist attack was unfolding 20 months ago.
While much attention has focused on Susan E. Rice’s “talking points” that blamed the Benghazi attack on an anti-Islam video, the White House has largely ducked questions about Mr. Obama’s actions during the crucial hours when U.S. officials were debating how, or whether, to rescue the Americans under attack at U.S. consulate in Libya.
Four U.S. citizens died, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the first U.S. ambassador to be killed in the line of duty since 1979.
The White House said Wednesday it has provided “remarkable cooperation” on seven previous congressional probes into Benghazi. And an Obama aide criticized a Republican fundraising email that mentioned the new probe, saying it’s evidence of a partisan witch hunt.
“I think that tells you just about all you need to know when it comes to assessing the political motivations of those who are leading the effort to form this committee,” said White House deputy press secretary Joshua Earnest.
More
As House investigators gear up for a new probe of Benghazi, one question they’ll likely pursue is what President Obama did or didn’t do on the night that the terrorist attack was unfolding 20 months ago.
While much attention has focused on Susan E. Rice’s “talking points” that blamed the Benghazi attack on an anti-Islam video, the White House has largely ducked questions about Mr. Obama’s actions during the crucial hours when U.S. officials were debating how, or whether, to rescue the Americans under attack at U.S. consulate in Libya.
Four U.S. citizens died, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the first U.S. ambassador to be killed in the line of duty since 1979.
The White House said Wednesday it has provided “remarkable cooperation” on seven previous congressional probes into Benghazi. And an Obama aide criticized a Republican fundraising email that mentioned the new probe, saying it’s evidence of a partisan witch hunt.
“I think that tells you just about all you need to know when it comes to assessing the political motivations of those who are leading the effort to form this committee,” said White House deputy press secretary Joshua Earnest.
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They Put Old Bay On Everything In Maryland. Soon You Will, Too
In short, it feels like Old Bay is everywhere these days, and not just in Maryland. Old Bay's Facebook page has nearly half a million 'likes.' On its Web site, the company claims 50 million ounces of the seasoning were sold last year — that works out to about 8.3 million of the little yellow tins that are ubiquitous on dinner tables in the Chesapeake Bay region. The company also maintains an "Old Bay Nation" fan site that collects testimonials from Old Bay enthusiasts worldwide.
Search data from Google confirms that interest in Old Bay — nationwide, not just in Maryland — is indeed on the upswing.
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Convicted Felon with ‘Mood Disorder’ Receives $8,700/Month Disability & My Daughter with Brain Tumor Denied
When I read about former US Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., a convicted felon, receiving $8,700 a MONTH in disability for his mood disorder, I was and still am livid.
Jackson Jr. and his wife Sandra pled guilty to the criminal charges of illegally using campaign funds for personal gain. Sandra stole a mere $168,000 from the campaign fund, while her hubby pilfered a whopping $750,000. Among the 3,100 personal lavishes that were financed with campaign funds between 2005 to April 2012, were fur capes and parkas purchased by Sandra for $5,150. Jesse Jr used $9,587.64 of campaign funds to buy children’s furniture and another $43,350 for a gold-plated Rolex watch. The couple used Campaign credit cards to purchase $582,772 worth of personal items, $60,857 for restaurants, lounges, nightclubs and gym memberships, $5,814 for alcohol and $14,513 for dry cleaning. Additionally, his campaign fund paid Sandra’s consulting firm $5,000 a week during the entire time of his indiscretions. The consulting fees totaled up to over $340,000.
As part of the plea deal, Sandra has been ordered to pay restitution of $168,000 and Jesse Jr has been ordered to pay restitution of $750,000. Federal prosecutors have recommended that Sandra also serve 18 months in prison and Jesse Jr serve 48 months in prison. They also recommend that Sandra serve her sentence first and then Jesse since the couple have kids. If you asked me, both parents should serve time together and the kids would be much better off living with someone else that might help instill better values and morals.
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Jackson Jr. and his wife Sandra pled guilty to the criminal charges of illegally using campaign funds for personal gain. Sandra stole a mere $168,000 from the campaign fund, while her hubby pilfered a whopping $750,000. Among the 3,100 personal lavishes that were financed with campaign funds between 2005 to April 2012, were fur capes and parkas purchased by Sandra for $5,150. Jesse Jr used $9,587.64 of campaign funds to buy children’s furniture and another $43,350 for a gold-plated Rolex watch. The couple used Campaign credit cards to purchase $582,772 worth of personal items, $60,857 for restaurants, lounges, nightclubs and gym memberships, $5,814 for alcohol and $14,513 for dry cleaning. Additionally, his campaign fund paid Sandra’s consulting firm $5,000 a week during the entire time of his indiscretions. The consulting fees totaled up to over $340,000.
As part of the plea deal, Sandra has been ordered to pay restitution of $168,000 and Jesse Jr has been ordered to pay restitution of $750,000. Federal prosecutors have recommended that Sandra also serve 18 months in prison and Jesse Jr serve 48 months in prison. They also recommend that Sandra serve her sentence first and then Jesse since the couple have kids. If you asked me, both parents should serve time together and the kids would be much better off living with someone else that might help instill better values and morals.
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Md. Senior Olympics Coming to Kent Island
Wroth said, “The venue at the Elks’ lodge is possibly the best location in the state. It’s outstanding.”
This will be only the second time that the any portion of the Maryland games will be hosted on the Eastern Shore. Beginning in 1980, all Maryland games were hosted at Towson University. Towson’s Athletic Director Bob Ziegler helped start the Maryland Senior Olympics, and the university hosted the games until Ziegler retired in 2006.
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Wind Farms Severely Harmful to Wildlife, New Study Finds
A new study from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, combining an impressive six hundred other studies, describes the severe effects wind turbines can have on wildlife. Not only are the disturbances and noise of the building of turbines an issue but also the sound of the windmills rotating and electromagnetic fields (EMF) caused by transferring the electricity produced to the mainland.
At the construction phase, for example, "extreme noise from pile-driving" is observed to cause "significant avoidance behaviour in marine mammals" and "highly likely to cause mortality and tissue damage in fish."
On the noise of the blades there was "avoidance of the offshore wind farm (OWF) area by harbour porpoise, and possibly a habituation over time."
EMF affects “cartilaginous fish, which use electromagnetic signals in detecting prey” and EMF could also disturb fish migration patterns.”
The OWF “may also alter local biodiversity patterns and lead to undesired effects.”
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At the construction phase, for example, "extreme noise from pile-driving" is observed to cause "significant avoidance behaviour in marine mammals" and "highly likely to cause mortality and tissue damage in fish."
On the noise of the blades there was "avoidance of the offshore wind farm (OWF) area by harbour porpoise, and possibly a habituation over time."
EMF affects “cartilaginous fish, which use electromagnetic signals in detecting prey” and EMF could also disturb fish migration patterns.”
The OWF “may also alter local biodiversity patterns and lead to undesired effects.”
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Cardin Responds To Report Of Missed Votes
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Baltimore County Delegate Jon Cardin responded to a Baltimore Sun review that showed Delegate Jon Cardin missed 75-percent of his votes on the House Ways and Means Committee in this year's legislative session, while he was running for the Democratic nomination for attorney general.
His rivals Senator Brian Frosh and Delegate Aisha Braveboy criticized Cardin, noting that the fate of many bills is determined in the committee, and not on the House floor.
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Alaska hunter bags world record grizzly bear
Although Fitzgerald shot the bear last September, Boone and Crockett, which certifies hunting records, has only now determined the grizzly, with a skull measuring 27 and 6/16ths inches, is the biggest ever taken down by a hunter, and the second largest grizzly ever documented. Only a grizzly skull found by an Alaska taxidermist in 1976 was bigger than that of the bear Fitzgerald bagged.
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Wicomico Districts Slightly Changed
SALISBURY – The Wicomico County Council voted this week to make a slight amendment to its redrawn election districts.
The Resolution states, “the Wicomico County Council have established Councilmanic districts. Subsequent to the establishment of the Councilmanic districts, the State of Maryland concluded the realignment of state legislative districts. As a result of the State’s realignment of the legislative districts, a precinct containing one block with a single voter was created.
The Wicomico County Board of Election Supervisors has requested a modification of the boundaries of Councilmanic Districts 1 and 2 to eliminate the single voter precinct to avoid the expense and confusion that may accompany reporting election results with a single voter precinct.”
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The Resolution states, “the Wicomico County Council have established Councilmanic districts. Subsequent to the establishment of the Councilmanic districts, the State of Maryland concluded the realignment of state legislative districts. As a result of the State’s realignment of the legislative districts, a precinct containing one block with a single voter was created.
The Wicomico County Board of Election Supervisors has requested a modification of the boundaries of Councilmanic Districts 1 and 2 to eliminate the single voter precinct to avoid the expense and confusion that may accompany reporting election results with a single voter precinct.”
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Dick Morris: We're Missing the Wrong Benghazi Talking Points
We’ve been looking in the wrong place.
Until now, anyone trying to figure out what really happened at Benghazi has examined the "talking points" prepared by the CIA on Sept. 14, 2012 that President Barack Obama’s former UN Ambassador Susan Rice supposedly relied on.
Rice appeared on five Sunday talk shows two days later and on each show, she falsely claimed that an internet video caused a "spontaneous" demonstration that eventually erupted into the deadly violence in Benghazi.
But that never made sense, because the CIA memo never mentioned anything about a video.
So where did she get that completely erroneous information?
Straight from the Obama White House, that’s where.
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Until now, anyone trying to figure out what really happened at Benghazi has examined the "talking points" prepared by the CIA on Sept. 14, 2012 that President Barack Obama’s former UN Ambassador Susan Rice supposedly relied on.
Rice appeared on five Sunday talk shows two days later and on each show, she falsely claimed that an internet video caused a "spontaneous" demonstration that eventually erupted into the deadly violence in Benghazi.
But that never made sense, because the CIA memo never mentioned anything about a video.
So where did she get that completely erroneous information?
Straight from the Obama White House, that’s where.
More
State’s First Large Wind Farm To Be Off OC Coastline
With Ocean City poised to be the site of Maryland’s first large-scale, offshore wind farm, the Business Network for Maryland Offshore Wind is working to connect potential business partners with wind farm developers.
The Network launched its supply chain portal — a listing of businesses from logistics companies to land-based contractors —a month ago, but 75 companies have already signed up for the free service, said Liz Burdock, executive director of the group.
“It’s helpful for the developer,” she said. “Say they wanted a marine diving company to do some work. They would call me, and I could give them the name of the marine diving companies that were interested in the offshore wind project.
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The Network launched its supply chain portal — a listing of businesses from logistics companies to land-based contractors —a month ago, but 75 companies have already signed up for the free service, said Liz Burdock, executive director of the group.
“It’s helpful for the developer,” she said. “Say they wanted a marine diving company to do some work. They would call me, and I could give them the name of the marine diving companies that were interested in the offshore wind project.
More
NSA to Control the Stock Market
Spy agency can easily manipulate the market through latest surveillance hub
Through the use of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)’s latest database, which keeps investor data in the same centralized location, the NSA could easily capture private, financial data on targeted investors and even influence the stock market as a whole.
And it appears that the dragnet database, called the Comprehensive Automated Risk Data System (CARDS), was designed with such vulnerabilities in mind.
“I can’t think of any other reason that someone would invest so much time and so much effort into trying to monitor every brokerage account in the United States in real time,” Porter Stansberry, the founder of the Stansberry & Associates Investment Research Conference, said on the Alex Jones Show. “That is an enormous technical challenge.”
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Council Questions Capital Improvement List
SALISBURY — The Salisbury City Council indicated this week that it in the future would like to see a more realistic Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) presented for annual review.
Acknowledging that the CIP is basically a wish list of upcoming projects, several council members said Monday that past CIPs have seemed overloaded with many projects having to be shelved for years.
The issue was raised by Councilwoman Laura Mitchell during a work session this week. This year’s CIP, which is a five-year outlook plan on city projects, was being discussed when Mitchell mentioned that she’s seen a pattern during her years reviewing similar plans.
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Acknowledging that the CIP is basically a wish list of upcoming projects, several council members said Monday that past CIPs have seemed overloaded with many projects having to be shelved for years.
The issue was raised by Councilwoman Laura Mitchell during a work session this week. This year’s CIP, which is a five-year outlook plan on city projects, was being discussed when Mitchell mentioned that she’s seen a pattern during her years reviewing similar plans.
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Roses Discount Store Chestertown MD
CHESTERTOWN — Roses Discount Store, a fixture of the Kent Plaza shopping center for 26 years, will be closing its doors.
Wilson Sawyer, president of Roses, said in a phone interview Wednesday, May 7, that the store’s landlord, the Cordish Companies, told Roses it has another use for the space. “We will be leaving before Aug. 1,” when the lease runs out, he said.
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Wilson Sawyer, president of Roses, said in a phone interview Wednesday, May 7, that the store’s landlord, the Cordish Companies, told Roses it has another use for the space. “We will be leaving before Aug. 1,” when the lease runs out, he said.
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Maryland's Unhappy Residents
"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." That little nugget of truth, also known as the "law of the instrument," can be applied to more than just tool selection. When it comes to some closely-held beliefs, people tend to see circumstances as frequently proving them correct — even when they do nothing of the kind.
At least that might explain why a recently-released Gallup poll finding that 47 percent of Maryland residents would choose to move if they could — the third highest percentage among the states — is being cited by many as evidence of failed tax policy. What the state's anti-tax crowd may lack of political muscle, they certainly make up in fidelity to their point of view.
And it isn't just Republicans or conservatives offering the usual anti-tax screed to explain every signal of dissatisfaction. That was Attorney General Douglas Gansler who mentioned the Gallup poll and attributed the results to high taxes in the televised debate among Democratic candidates for governor last week in College Park.
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At least that might explain why a recently-released Gallup poll finding that 47 percent of Maryland residents would choose to move if they could — the third highest percentage among the states — is being cited by many as evidence of failed tax policy. What the state's anti-tax crowd may lack of political muscle, they certainly make up in fidelity to their point of view.
And it isn't just Republicans or conservatives offering the usual anti-tax screed to explain every signal of dissatisfaction. That was Attorney General Douglas Gansler who mentioned the Gallup poll and attributed the results to high taxes in the televised debate among Democratic candidates for governor last week in College Park.
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Familiar Firm To Manage Beach Patrol Project
OCEAN CITY – The city decided this week to hire Gillis Gilkerson to manage the construction of the new Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) headquarters downtown.
During Monday evening’s Mayor and City Council session, two bid awards came under the consent agenda — construction management services for the new OCBP headquarters and an Energy Performance Contract.
The city received six proposals for the OCBP construction management services that have been reviewed by staff, and two firms were selected to make oral presentations. Staff recommended to the Mayor and City Council to award the contract to Gillis Gilkerson.
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During Monday evening’s Mayor and City Council session, two bid awards came under the consent agenda — construction management services for the new OCBP headquarters and an Energy Performance Contract.
The city received six proposals for the OCBP construction management services that have been reviewed by staff, and two firms were selected to make oral presentations. Staff recommended to the Mayor and City Council to award the contract to Gillis Gilkerson.
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Flooding problems shutter popular Linthicum restaurant
Nearby Patapsco River flood waters rise up to restaurant
LINTHICUM, Md. —A popular Anne Arundel County restaurant is closing its doors after decades of flooding problems.
It has been a really good run for Snyder's Willow Grove in Linthicum. The bar, restaurant and lounge has been in the same spot on Hammonds Ferry Road since the early 1940s.
Mobile users tap here for video
On the other side of the trees is the Patapsco River, which, when it rains hard enough, floods up to the restaurant, and after the last storm, the owners are throwing in the towel.
For Vernon Snyder, walking the flooded-out halls and dining rooms of his well-known restaurant is almost too overwhelming.
"It's just devastating, that's all. After we've been here 77 years and this is our seventh flood, and we just can't do it again," Snyder said.
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LINTHICUM, Md. —A popular Anne Arundel County restaurant is closing its doors after decades of flooding problems.
It has been a really good run for Snyder's Willow Grove in Linthicum. The bar, restaurant and lounge has been in the same spot on Hammonds Ferry Road since the early 1940s.
Mobile users tap here for video
On the other side of the trees is the Patapsco River, which, when it rains hard enough, floods up to the restaurant, and after the last storm, the owners are throwing in the towel.
For Vernon Snyder, walking the flooded-out halls and dining rooms of his well-known restaurant is almost too overwhelming.
"It's just devastating, that's all. After we've been here 77 years and this is our seventh flood, and we just can't do it again," Snyder said.
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The High Price of Incarceration in America
While the old saying notes that crime doesn't pay, that doesn't hold true for America's system of incarceration, which has seen spending more than triple since 1980.
That means each U.S. resident is paying about $260 per year on corrections, up from $77 per person in 1980, thanks to the country's annual $80 billion price tag for incarceration, according to a new report from The Hamilton Project, which is part of Washington, D.C., think tank The Brookings Institution.
The surge in spending poses a number of questions about the country's system of incarceration, especially given that the overall rate for violent and property crimes has actually declined 45 percent during the past two decades.
So, if fewer crimes are being committed, why are we spending more on prisons? Federal and state policies -- such as mandatory sentencing and repeat-offender laws -- have actually led to an explosion in the country's incarceration rate, which is driving up spending.
"For every prisoner there are costs and benefits to incarceration," said Ben Harris, a co-author of "Ten Economic Facts about Crime and Incarceration in the United States." "For someone who has committed a violent offense, we as a society can agree it's worth putting this person in prison."
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That means each U.S. resident is paying about $260 per year on corrections, up from $77 per person in 1980, thanks to the country's annual $80 billion price tag for incarceration, according to a new report from The Hamilton Project, which is part of Washington, D.C., think tank The Brookings Institution.
The surge in spending poses a number of questions about the country's system of incarceration, especially given that the overall rate for violent and property crimes has actually declined 45 percent during the past two decades.
So, if fewer crimes are being committed, why are we spending more on prisons? Federal and state policies -- such as mandatory sentencing and repeat-offender laws -- have actually led to an explosion in the country's incarceration rate, which is driving up spending.
"For every prisoner there are costs and benefits to incarceration," said Ben Harris, a co-author of "Ten Economic Facts about Crime and Incarceration in the United States." "For someone who has committed a violent offense, we as a society can agree it's worth putting this person in prison."
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The Real Gun Violence Issue
Take away the astroturf games like the so-called grassroots organization(s) that sprung up (by magic!) out of Newtown and you wind up with a truly ugly truth when it comes to gun violence in this country: Most of it is gang-related, most of the gangs are in our inner cities, and our President, along with the rest of the so-called “mainstream media”, simply refuses to address any of it.
Take a recent shooting in Chicago. The media pictures of both shooter and victim are radically inaccurate measured against their own social media postings.
The truth about that particular shooting? The gun, originally claimed to be stolen, wasn’t. It instead passed through a number of hands, at least one of them on probation and a second person who allegedly took the weapon to the shooter knowing it was going to be used to commit violence, a 30ish old aunt who allegedly went for the show (seriously!) someone who unjammed the gun after it malfunctioned and gave it back to the girl who had just tried to murder the victim but the weapon failed to fire.
Nor is that all. We have another case where a “cute little charter-school graduate” (as presented by the family and the media) appears to have a bunch of social-media postings of her bearing weapons of all sorts, including a rather-large revolver that looks right out of a Clint Eastwood movie and a pump-action shotgun. Oh, and this angel apparently capped at least two people before being killed herself. She was 17.
Are we ever going to address this instead of playing Astroturf games with kids who are drugged up on various psychotropic meds and then go insane — a rare but obviously far-too-common event?
Probably not.
More
Take a recent shooting in Chicago. The media pictures of both shooter and victim are radically inaccurate measured against their own social media postings.
The truth about that particular shooting? The gun, originally claimed to be stolen, wasn’t. It instead passed through a number of hands, at least one of them on probation and a second person who allegedly took the weapon to the shooter knowing it was going to be used to commit violence, a 30ish old aunt who allegedly went for the show (seriously!) someone who unjammed the gun after it malfunctioned and gave it back to the girl who had just tried to murder the victim but the weapon failed to fire.
Nor is that all. We have another case where a “cute little charter-school graduate” (as presented by the family and the media) appears to have a bunch of social-media postings of her bearing weapons of all sorts, including a rather-large revolver that looks right out of a Clint Eastwood movie and a pump-action shotgun. Oh, and this angel apparently capped at least two people before being killed herself. She was 17.
Are we ever going to address this instead of playing Astroturf games with kids who are drugged up on various psychotropic meds and then go insane — a rare but obviously far-too-common event?
Probably not.
More
Fewer Students Have Jobs on Graduation Day
The class of 2014 expects to make bigger bucks than those who graduated the year before, but they're already behind in the first step: getting a job.
Only 11% secured a job two months before graduation, according to a survey conducted in March by Accenture. Meanwhile, even more of them are leaving school with debt. Nearly 80% of those surveyed are facing at least $10,000 in loans.
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Only 11% secured a job two months before graduation, according to a survey conducted in March by Accenture. Meanwhile, even more of them are leaving school with debt. Nearly 80% of those surveyed are facing at least $10,000 in loans.
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Governor O'Malley Heads To South Carolina To Campaign
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is scheduled to be in South Carolina to campaign for state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, the Democratic candidate for governor there.
O'Malley has a meet and greet in Charleston on Friday afternoon. The two also have a media availability scheduled.
O'Malley campaigned for Sheheen last year, when he was the keynote speaker at a convention for South Carolina Democrats.
The campaign stop will bring O'Malley to an early primary state. The term-limited Maryland Democrat is considering a run for the White House in 2016.
Source
O'Malley has a meet and greet in Charleston on Friday afternoon. The two also have a media availability scheduled.
O'Malley campaigned for Sheheen last year, when he was the keynote speaker at a convention for South Carolina Democrats.
The campaign stop will bring O'Malley to an early primary state. The term-limited Maryland Democrat is considering a run for the White House in 2016.
Source
Attorneys: Constitution silver bullet for Obamacare
Appellate ruling expected to be elevated to Supreme Court docket
Attorneys for Matt Sissel – a small-business owner who wants to pay medical expenses on his own and has financial, philosophical and constitutional objections to being ordered to purchase a health plan he does not need or want – have argued to a federal appeals court that the authors of the Constitution meant different things when they used different words.
The words are “amend” and “originate.”
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Attorneys for Matt Sissel – a small-business owner who wants to pay medical expenses on his own and has financial, philosophical and constitutional objections to being ordered to purchase a health plan he does not need or want – have argued to a federal appeals court that the authors of the Constitution meant different things when they used different words.
The words are “amend” and “originate.”
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Carroll County Commissioners Go Back To Sectarian Prayers
When the Carroll County Board of Commissioners goes back to opening its meetings with a sectarian Christian prayer May 13, Commissioner Robin Bartlett Frazier will be the one giving it.
The board of commissioners voted unanimously Thursday morning to reverse its April decision and return to saying sectarian prayers at the start of its meetings. Frazier has been the most fervent supporter of opening board meetings with a prayer to Jesus Christ, even saying she would go to jail to fight a federal judge's temporary injunction halting the practice after a federal court lawsuit argued the commissioners’ Christian prayers were unconstitutional.
U.S. District Court of Maryland Judge William D. Quarles Jr. lifted the injunction Monday, a few hours after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway that affirmed the constitutionality of the upstate New York town's opening its board meetings with mostly Christian prayers.
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The board of commissioners voted unanimously Thursday morning to reverse its April decision and return to saying sectarian prayers at the start of its meetings. Frazier has been the most fervent supporter of opening board meetings with a prayer to Jesus Christ, even saying she would go to jail to fight a federal judge's temporary injunction halting the practice after a federal court lawsuit argued the commissioners’ Christian prayers were unconstitutional.
U.S. District Court of Maryland Judge William D. Quarles Jr. lifted the injunction Monday, a few hours after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway that affirmed the constitutionality of the upstate New York town's opening its board meetings with mostly Christian prayers.
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Bill ending NSA data collection continues swift path through Congress
(Reuters) - A bill to end the government's bulk collection of telephone records got a unanimous go-ahead on Thursday from a second U.S. congressional committee, advancing the first legislative effort at surveillance reform since former contractor Edward Snowden revealed the program a year ago.
The House of Representatives Intelligence committee voted unanimously by voice vote for the "USA Freedom Act," which would end the National Security Agency's practice of gathering information on calls made by millions of Americans and storing them for at least five years.
It would instead leave the records with telephone companies.
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The House of Representatives Intelligence committee voted unanimously by voice vote for the "USA Freedom Act," which would end the National Security Agency's practice of gathering information on calls made by millions of Americans and storing them for at least five years.
It would instead leave the records with telephone companies.
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Feds to schools: You must accept children of undocumented immigrants
The Justice and Education Departments are teaming up to remind public schools that they are required to provide all children with equal access to education at the elementary and secondary level regardless of their parents' or guardians' citizenship or immigration status.
The "dear colleague," letter to schools providing guidance to schools on their legal obligations comes as the departments say they have "become aware of student enrollment practices that may chill or discourage the participation, or lead to the exclusion, of students."
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The "dear colleague," letter to schools providing guidance to schools on their legal obligations comes as the departments say they have "become aware of student enrollment practices that may chill or discourage the participation, or lead to the exclusion, of students."
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Chicago Teachers Union Joins Opposition to Common Core
Opposition to Common Core education policies is creating strange political bedfellows. Now, even the Chicago Teachers Union is joining conservatives in opposition to the top-down education standards.
On its blog, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) published a new resolution announcing that it had joined the opposition to the "deeply flawed Common Core standards."
"Now that the resolution has passed," the union said in its statement, "the CTU will lobby the Illinois Board of Education to eliminate the use of the Common Core for teaching and assessment; and be it further and will work to organize other members and affiliates to increase opposition to the law that increases the expansion of nationwide controls over educational issues."
Unlike conservatives whose opposition is based on a desire to maintain local control of education policy, many teachers unions stand against both the testing requirements and the plans to use the standards to evaluate teachers. However, unions also say that teachers lose their autonomy in the classroom because of the standards. On the latter, conservatives fully agree.
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On its blog, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) published a new resolution announcing that it had joined the opposition to the "deeply flawed Common Core standards."
"Now that the resolution has passed," the union said in its statement, "the CTU will lobby the Illinois Board of Education to eliminate the use of the Common Core for teaching and assessment; and be it further and will work to organize other members and affiliates to increase opposition to the law that increases the expansion of nationwide controls over educational issues."
Unlike conservatives whose opposition is based on a desire to maintain local control of education policy, many teachers unions stand against both the testing requirements and the plans to use the standards to evaluate teachers. However, unions also say that teachers lose their autonomy in the classroom because of the standards. On the latter, conservatives fully agree.
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Companies: O.Care is Hurting Our Profit
Companies find all sorts of excuses during earnings season for disappointments, with theweather being an all-time favorite. But some companies are finding a new scapegoat: Obamacare.
Thirty companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500, including United Parcel Service, General Electric and retailer Dollar General, have mentioned the Affordable Care Act during their conference calls since March 1 and all through the first-quarter earnings season, says John Butters, analyst at financial data research firm FactSet. That’s a healthy cross section of companies if you consider that so far, 446 companies in the S&P 500 have reported first-quarter results.
Exactly half the companies that mentioned the Act are in the healthcare industry, where there’s a direct interaction with the new law. But in the other half, companies ranging from many industries discussed the fallout of the Affordable Care Act on their business.
Most of the companies talking about the law did so negatively, pointing out how it either hurts demand for their business or causes costs to increase. “There are legitimate complaints,” says Kip Piper, an independent consultant that advises companies on health-care plans. “The ACA does impose costs and obligations that cost money.”
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Thirty companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500, including United Parcel Service, General Electric and retailer Dollar General, have mentioned the Affordable Care Act during their conference calls since March 1 and all through the first-quarter earnings season, says John Butters, analyst at financial data research firm FactSet. That’s a healthy cross section of companies if you consider that so far, 446 companies in the S&P 500 have reported first-quarter results.
Exactly half the companies that mentioned the Act are in the healthcare industry, where there’s a direct interaction with the new law. But in the other half, companies ranging from many industries discussed the fallout of the Affordable Care Act on their business.
Most of the companies talking about the law did so negatively, pointing out how it either hurts demand for their business or causes costs to increase. “There are legitimate complaints,” says Kip Piper, an independent consultant that advises companies on health-care plans. “The ACA does impose costs and obligations that cost money.”
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2 Governors Express Concerns To Pfizer
The governors of Maryland and Delaware are voicing concern about Pfizer Inc.'s efforts to acquire AstraZeneca PLC.
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell sent a letter on Thursday to Ian Read, the chief executive officer of Pfizer.
The two governors say they are concerned about the potential impact such a deal could have on jobs in Maryland and Delaware. AstraZeneca employs about 3,100 people in Maryland and about 2,600 in Delaware.
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Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell sent a letter on Thursday to Ian Read, the chief executive officer of Pfizer.
The two governors say they are concerned about the potential impact such a deal could have on jobs in Maryland and Delaware. AstraZeneca employs about 3,100 people in Maryland and about 2,600 in Delaware.
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Sexual assaults jumped by 50 percent last year
The House Armed Services Committee has endorsed the Pentagon's approach to combating sexual assault.
In a marathon session on the fiscal 20-15 defense authorization bill the committee rejected a measure that would have stripped commanders of their power to pursue charges against those accused of sex crimes. Advocates for change want that job to go to military lawyers.
The Pentagon says commanders must be held accountable for misconduct in their ranks. Last week, the Pentagon said reports by members of the military of sexual assaults jumped by 50 percent last year to more than 5,000 reports of abuse.
Another amendment to the bill, from California's Duncan Hunter, maintains the status quo on other aspects of military life. He says smoking is one of the few pleasures for a battle-hardened service member and moved to pre-empt the military's efforts to clamp down on tobacco use. The bill also would prohibit the Army's new hair and grooming requirements for female soldiers, including limits on the size of twists and cornrows. Some members of the service have said they unfairly target black women.
US Syphilis Rate Up; Mostly Gay And Bisexual Men
Health officials say syphilis has reached its highest level since 1995 with the increase all in men.
Syphilis remains far less common in the U.S. than many other sexually spread diseases. But there has been a steady rise in gay and bisexual men catching the disease. They account for most of the recent infectious cases.
Since 2005, the rate in men has nearly doubled. It is much lower in women and hasn't changed much.
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Syphilis remains far less common in the U.S. than many other sexually spread diseases. But there has been a steady rise in gay and bisexual men catching the disease. They account for most of the recent infectious cases.
Since 2005, the rate in men has nearly doubled. It is much lower in women and hasn't changed much.
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Potential 2016 Dem candidate: Martin O'Malley
In this edition of Capital Download, This Week with Susan Page, Gov. Martin O'Malley talks about his successful legislative session, Maryland's plans for an innovation economy and a possible run in 2016. Shannon Rae Green, H. Darr Beiser
GO HERE to view.
GO HERE to view.
Muslim Brotherhood ties to White House resurface
Recipient of 'smoking gun' Benghazi memo eyed
NEW YORK – The controversy that developed in 2012 when Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and four other GOP members of the House sent letters to the inspector generals at the departments of Homeland Security, Justice and State asking for an investigation of the influence played by the Muslim Brotherhood on U.S. government officials in the Obama administration took on new light last week.
On the distribution list of the “smoking gun” email released in the Benghazi probe last week was a figure with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Medhi Alhassani, who shares a similar background with Huma Abedin, the longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, reported former PLO-member and Arabic-speaking researcher Walid Shoebat.
As WND reported, Abedin had been a particular concern of Bachmann and other GOP congressmen who were calling for further investigation of the Muslim Brotherhood influence on the White House.
The email released last week in a FOIA request by Judicial Watch was from Ben Rhodes, a White House special assistant in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the National Security Council.
“It is obvious that as a Muslim Brotherhood operative, Alhassani wanted to blame the video for the violence that erupted in the Middle East,” Shoebat commented, referring to the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. compound at Benghazi.
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NEW YORK – The controversy that developed in 2012 when Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and four other GOP members of the House sent letters to the inspector generals at the departments of Homeland Security, Justice and State asking for an investigation of the influence played by the Muslim Brotherhood on U.S. government officials in the Obama administration took on new light last week.
On the distribution list of the “smoking gun” email released in the Benghazi probe last week was a figure with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Medhi Alhassani, who shares a similar background with Huma Abedin, the longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, reported former PLO-member and Arabic-speaking researcher Walid Shoebat.
As WND reported, Abedin had been a particular concern of Bachmann and other GOP congressmen who were calling for further investigation of the Muslim Brotherhood influence on the White House.
The email released last week in a FOIA request by Judicial Watch was from Ben Rhodes, a White House special assistant in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the National Security Council.
“It is obvious that as a Muslim Brotherhood operative, Alhassani wanted to blame the video for the violence that erupted in the Middle East,” Shoebat commented, referring to the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. compound at Benghazi.
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Pelosi misses Lerner vote for fundraiser
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) did not attend the Wednesday evening vote series to hold former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt for refusing to testify about the agency’s improper scrutiny of Tea Party groups.
She was, however, at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser attended by the president and roughly 90 guests at the home of Disney Chairman Alan Horn in Bel Air, Calif., according to a White House pool report.
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She was, however, at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser attended by the president and roughly 90 guests at the home of Disney Chairman Alan Horn in Bel Air, Calif., according to a White House pool report.
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Cummings Denounces Special Committee On Benghazi As Partisan
The House has voted to establish a new investigation of the deadly assault in Benghazi, Libya, with Republicans vowing to dig deeper in a search for truth.
Democrats say the election-year inquiry is actually a political ploy to raise campaign cash and motivate GOP voters, and they're weighing a boycott.
The vote Thursday was 232-186.
Four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, died in the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission.
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The Economics Of Marriage
The marriage rate in the United States has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded. So why is this happening? Well, the truth is that there are a lot of reasons why so many young people are choosing not to get married today. One big reason is money.
Young adults in the U.S. are really struggling to find good jobs, and many are hesitant to take a big step like marriage without achieving a certain level of financial security first. And as you will see below, many young adults (especially women) do not even want to date someone that is not employed. In this harsh economic environment, money makes a big difference in the world of romance. Another big reason for the decline of marriage in America is a seismic shift in cultural attitudes. Americans (especially young people) do not place the same kind of importance on marriage and having children that they once did. Instead, more Americans are choosing to “move in together” than ever before. But if the percentage of Americans that choose to get married continues to decline, what is that going to mean for our future, and what is our country going to look like moving forward?
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Young adults in the U.S. are really struggling to find good jobs, and many are hesitant to take a big step like marriage without achieving a certain level of financial security first. And as you will see below, many young adults (especially women) do not even want to date someone that is not employed. In this harsh economic environment, money makes a big difference in the world of romance. Another big reason for the decline of marriage in America is a seismic shift in cultural attitudes. Americans (especially young people) do not place the same kind of importance on marriage and having children that they once did. Instead, more Americans are choosing to “move in together” than ever before. But if the percentage of Americans that choose to get married continues to decline, what is that going to mean for our future, and what is our country going to look like moving forward?
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Hillary Clinton Ignored Boko Haram’s Slaughter of Hundreds of Christians
While Hillary Clinton has been vocal in drawing attention to the plight of 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria, she was in fact complicit in aiding the militant group in a number of different ways, including delaying the designation of the outfit as a terrorist organization, arming its allies in Africa and ignoring the slaughter of hundreds of Christians when she was Secretary of State.
Clinton reacted to the news that 200 schoolgirls had been kidnapped by Boko Haram this week by blaming the Nigerian government. Clinton also took part in the viral #BringBackOurGirls Twitter campaign that was similarly backed by Michelle Obama.
However, when Clinton was warned in 2012 that the group had been responsible for slaughtering hundreds of Christians as part of a brutal attempt to Islamize Nigeria and obliterate Christianity, she did nothing and the State Department refused to add the group to a list of terrorist organizations despite massive pressure from Congress, the CIA and the FBI.
During Clinton’s visit to Nigeria in August 2012, she was addressed in an open letter by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of the Christian Association Of Nigeria. Oritsejafor is a prominent figure in Nigeria and testified in the U.S. at a congressional hearing in July 2012.
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Word On The Street...
Word on the street is that Sarbanes people are claiming he and MJ have roughly the same experience.
Try case search (http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/processDisclaimer.jis)
Criminal for each of the candidates.
Civil for each of the candidates.
How are those lists roughly similar?
Ask the Sarbanes people this..... how many criminal trials (in Circuit or District Court) has Sarbanes done? Answer, one. For trespassing. In District Court.
How many criminal jury trials for Sarbanes? Answer, none. Nadda. Zippo.
This is too important a position in our community to leave to on the job training. Too much is at stake for the State, and for each of the citizens of Wicomico County.
15 years is a long time to have to live with a mistake.
Try case search (http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/processDisclaimer.jis)
Criminal for each of the candidates.
Civil for each of the candidates.
How are those lists roughly similar?
Ask the Sarbanes people this..... how many criminal trials (in Circuit or District Court) has Sarbanes done? Answer, one. For trespassing. In District Court.
How many criminal jury trials for Sarbanes? Answer, none. Nadda. Zippo.
This is too important a position in our community to leave to on the job training. Too much is at stake for the State, and for each of the citizens of Wicomico County.
15 years is a long time to have to live with a mistake.
CASA To Hold Annual Pirate Party
The pirates will be taking over Sunset Grille in West Ocean City on May 16 to raise money for CASA. The party is the agency’s primary annual fundraiser and responsible for meeting the majority of their grant matching funding. Each “pirate” volunteer is responsible for raising at least $500 and this year marks the record for the most buccaneers to have ever participated.
“It’s going well. We’re up to 17 pirates … this is the most we’ve ever had,” said Brigitte Southworth, CASA director.
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WHO WOULD LIKE TWO TICKETS TO TONIGHT'S ALEX GUERRERO FIGHT AT DOVER DOWNS?
As many of you know, the price of a ticket at Dover Downs is nothing like buying tickets at the Wicomico Civic Center. Dover is a much more expensive.
So send me an e-mail by 2:00 PM today telling me why YOU would like to attend the event. alberobutzo@wmconnect.com
Your e-mail messages will remain between you and me.
Garage Sale 5-8-14
GOP Candidate Forum May 9
What:
The Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the Maryland Public Policy Institute will co-sponsor a policy forum for Republican candidates for Maryland governor.
When:
Fri, May 09, 2014 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Where:
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Auerbach Auditorium of St. Mary's Hall
8952 E. Fishers Road, St. Mary's City, MD 20686
Who:
David Craig
Ron George
Charles Lollar
The Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the Maryland Public Policy Institute will co-sponsor a policy forum for Republican candidates for Maryland governor.
When:
Fri, May 09, 2014 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Where:
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Auerbach Auditorium of St. Mary's Hall
8952 E. Fishers Road, St. Mary's City, MD 20686
Who:
David Craig
Ron George
Charles Lollar
GOVERNORS MARTIN O’MALLEY AND JACK MARKELL ISSUE JOINT LETTERS OF CONCERN ON POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF ASTRAZENECA
Letters underscore concerns about job retention, and impact on R&D in both states
Annapolis, Md. -- Governors Martin O’Malley (MD) and Jack Markell (DE) sent a letter to Ian Read, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, Inc., expressing deep concerns about the potential acquisition of AstraZeneca PLC. The letter highlights the potentially significant impact on good, family-sustaining jobs in both Maryland and Delaware, and expresses concern about the company’s open interest in gaining access to offshore funds and “tax-efficient” operations.
AstraZeneca employs approximately 3,100 people in Maryland, and approximately 2,600 people in Delaware, prompting the two governors to seek answers about the company’s potential future in the two states.
The two governors also sent letters expressing concern to several federal executive branch officials, including Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, and SEC Chair Mary Jo White, as well as to a number of members of Congress -- including Speaker of the House John Boehner, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, several congressional committees, Chairs Representative Kevin Brady and Senator Amy Klobuchar of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee, and members of both the Maryland and Delaware Congressional delegations.
The governors also highlighted Pfizer’s assurances to British Prime Minister David Cameron on job retention, potential relocation, as well as employment guarantees for workers in the United Kingdom, and noted that Pfizer has yet to provide any commitment to Maryland or Delaware.
Annapolis, Md. -- Governors Martin O’Malley (MD) and Jack Markell (DE) sent a letter to Ian Read, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, Inc., expressing deep concerns about the potential acquisition of AstraZeneca PLC. The letter highlights the potentially significant impact on good, family-sustaining jobs in both Maryland and Delaware, and expresses concern about the company’s open interest in gaining access to offshore funds and “tax-efficient” operations.
AstraZeneca employs approximately 3,100 people in Maryland, and approximately 2,600 people in Delaware, prompting the two governors to seek answers about the company’s potential future in the two states.
The two governors also sent letters expressing concern to several federal executive branch officials, including Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, and SEC Chair Mary Jo White, as well as to a number of members of Congress -- including Speaker of the House John Boehner, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, several congressional committees, Chairs Representative Kevin Brady and Senator Amy Klobuchar of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee, and members of both the Maryland and Delaware Congressional delegations.
The governors also highlighted Pfizer’s assurances to British Prime Minister David Cameron on job retention, potential relocation, as well as employment guarantees for workers in the United Kingdom, and noted that Pfizer has yet to provide any commitment to Maryland or Delaware.
Denninger: “If You Take Out Black-on-Black Homicide… Three Quarters of All Gun Murders Disappear”
Editor’s Note: If you’ve ever spent some time reading Karl Denninger’s Market Ticker you’ve come to realize that he is a straight-shooter of the highest order. Whether commenting on geo-politics, the economy, corruption or the persistent destruction of our liberties, Denninger doesn’t mince words. His arguments are not only logical in a world plagued by irrationality, but backed up with solid data.
In the following article Denninger details the lies, half-truths and coverups surrounding America’s gun debate and the war on drugs. As it relates to gun control, our government and the politicians running it often cite manipulated statistics in order to push forward their agenda. The goal is to disarm America’s tens of millions of law abiding citizens of their right to bear arms. But as is often the case, Denninger blows their entire argument to smithereens with real facts, showing that the violent crime statistics often used to justify the actions of gun control proponents are created by their very own actions and policies.
This is a set up and most Americans, especially those who subscribe to the notion that government is trying to make everything better, haven’t a clue that they’re being indoctrinated by the very people who have caused the problem.
The Real Gun Violence Issue
By Karl Denninger / The Market Ticker
Take away the astroturf games like the so-called grassroots organization(s) that sprung up (by magic!) out of Newtown and you wind up with a truly ugly truth when it comes to gun violence in this country: Most of it is gang-related, most of the gangs are in our inner cities, and our President, along with the rest of the so-called “mainstream media”, simply refuses to address any of it.
Take a recent shooting in Chicago. The media pictures of both shooter and victim are radically inaccurate measured against their own social media postings.
The truth about that particular shooting? The gun, originally claimed to be stolen, wasn’t. It instead passed through a number of hands, at least one of them on probation and a second person who allegedly took the weapon to the shooter knowing it was going to be used to commit violence, a 30ish old aunt who allegedly went for the show (seriously!) someone who unjammed the gun after it malfunctioned and gave it back to the girl who had just tried to murder the victim but the weapon failed to fire.
More
In the following article Denninger details the lies, half-truths and coverups surrounding America’s gun debate and the war on drugs. As it relates to gun control, our government and the politicians running it often cite manipulated statistics in order to push forward their agenda. The goal is to disarm America’s tens of millions of law abiding citizens of their right to bear arms. But as is often the case, Denninger blows their entire argument to smithereens with real facts, showing that the violent crime statistics often used to justify the actions of gun control proponents are created by their very own actions and policies.
This is a set up and most Americans, especially those who subscribe to the notion that government is trying to make everything better, haven’t a clue that they’re being indoctrinated by the very people who have caused the problem.
The Real Gun Violence Issue
By Karl Denninger / The Market Ticker
Take away the astroturf games like the so-called grassroots organization(s) that sprung up (by magic!) out of Newtown and you wind up with a truly ugly truth when it comes to gun violence in this country: Most of it is gang-related, most of the gangs are in our inner cities, and our President, along with the rest of the so-called “mainstream media”, simply refuses to address any of it.
Take a recent shooting in Chicago. The media pictures of both shooter and victim are radically inaccurate measured against their own social media postings.
The truth about that particular shooting? The gun, originally claimed to be stolen, wasn’t. It instead passed through a number of hands, at least one of them on probation and a second person who allegedly took the weapon to the shooter knowing it was going to be used to commit violence, a 30ish old aunt who allegedly went for the show (seriously!) someone who unjammed the gun after it malfunctioned and gave it back to the girl who had just tried to murder the victim but the weapon failed to fire.
More
Witch Hunt?
The House has voted to hold a former IRS official in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify at hearings over the agency's treatment of conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. Six Democrats sided with Republicans. Other Democrats called the vote on Lois Lerner a "witch hunt." Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right to stay silent when she appeared before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The House also has called on the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel to investigate the IRS over the way agents handled applications for tax-exempt status. The measure is non-binding. In pushing for the vote House Republicans said they doubted the Justice Department would conduct an impartial investigation.
U.S. Sends Troops To Nigeria
The United States is sending troops and equipment to help Nigerian security forces find school girls abducted by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram. U.S. Africa Command will help with communications, logistics and intelligence planning. It will not conduct military operations. The departments of State and Justice also will be involved, working from the U-S embassy in Abuja. More than 250 girls were taken from their secondary school about three weeks ago. Boko Haram is thought to have taken them into the dense Sambisa Forest. The insurgents have reportedly married some of them and threatened to sell others into slavery.
LENNART BENGTSSON: HE KNOWS HOW LITTLE WE KNOW
One of the most eminent climate scientists, the Swede Lennart Bengtsson, has defected to the camp of climate sceptics. For the climate debate, this could have beneficial effects.
“Only partially understood”: The Swedish climate scientist Lennart Bengtsson calls for prudence and moderation.
How the global climate will develop in coming years and decades, and what influence mankind has upon the climate, is a question that has been discussed with almost religious fervor until a few years ago. That is, there were no discussions really; rather, one of the two parties declared the other insane: “climate denier“ was the term used for those who were of the opinion that global warming does not take place or that it may be warming less rapidly as most scientists believed. In any case, the human impact on climate change was far from proven.
The similarity between “climate denier” and Holocaust denier was intentional: the term should insinuate that anyone who deviated from the widely prevailing consensus was a crank, possibly driven by sinister motives. Above all, very few climate sceptics were leading experts, and this was probably the alarmists’ strongest argument. While climatologists and meteorologists warned and warned, those who were becalming and moderate were often economists. As one of the leading climate sceptics, one ex-politician stood out: Nigel Lawson, Britain’s former Chancellor of the Exchequer and the chairman of the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF).
Thaw
Gradually, however, the ice seems to be melting – if not at the polar caps, then at least in the climate debates: for the first time, a widely recognized expert has changed camps. Lennart Bengtsson , the Swedish climatologist, meteorologist and former director of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, has now joined the GWPF’s academic advisory council.
After his decision was announced Bengtsson was attacked, says Lawson, which shows what kind of emotions the issue can still generate. The reason cited by the 77-year-old scientist for his decision comes in bone-dry scientific language: The relationship between greenhouse gases and global warming was “complex and only partially understood,” Bengtsson wrote in acommentary for the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
Apart from that, all empirical observations showed that global warming has been “no serious problem up to now.” How the climate would develop in the future only model simulations could show, and these were rather “problematic”.
More
How the global climate will develop in coming years and decades, and what influence mankind has upon the climate, is a question that has been discussed with almost religious fervor until a few years ago. That is, there were no discussions really; rather, one of the two parties declared the other insane: “climate denier“ was the term used for those who were of the opinion that global warming does not take place or that it may be warming less rapidly as most scientists believed. In any case, the human impact on climate change was far from proven.
The similarity between “climate denier” and Holocaust denier was intentional: the term should insinuate that anyone who deviated from the widely prevailing consensus was a crank, possibly driven by sinister motives. Above all, very few climate sceptics were leading experts, and this was probably the alarmists’ strongest argument. While climatologists and meteorologists warned and warned, those who were becalming and moderate were often economists. As one of the leading climate sceptics, one ex-politician stood out: Nigel Lawson, Britain’s former Chancellor of the Exchequer and the chairman of the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF).
Thaw
Gradually, however, the ice seems to be melting – if not at the polar caps, then at least in the climate debates: for the first time, a widely recognized expert has changed camps. Lennart Bengtsson , the Swedish climatologist, meteorologist and former director of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, has now joined the GWPF’s academic advisory council.
After his decision was announced Bengtsson was attacked, says Lawson, which shows what kind of emotions the issue can still generate. The reason cited by the 77-year-old scientist for his decision comes in bone-dry scientific language: The relationship between greenhouse gases and global warming was “complex and only partially understood,” Bengtsson wrote in acommentary for the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
Apart from that, all empirical observations showed that global warming has been “no serious problem up to now.” How the climate would develop in the future only model simulations could show, and these were rather “problematic”.
More
Hints for Bounce
All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer!
It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.
Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice
from entering your vehicle.
It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling..
Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan..
Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds..Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.
Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.
Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe love bugs off easily with the wet Bounce. Put a sheet of Bounce in your suitcase when traveling, it will help keep mites or any other critters out of it. While you are at it, travel with several Bounce sheets and run them up and down your bed linen before getting into bed, it will cause all the critters already in your bed to run. Keep a sheet in your suitcase even after you have unpacked to protect your suitcases from bugs nesting in it.
It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.
Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice
from entering your vehicle.
It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling..
Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan..
Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds..Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.
Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.
Wet a Bounce sheet, hose down your car, and wipe love bugs off easily with the wet Bounce. Put a sheet of Bounce in your suitcase when traveling, it will help keep mites or any other critters out of it. While you are at it, travel with several Bounce sheets and run them up and down your bed linen before getting into bed, it will cause all the critters already in your bed to run. Keep a sheet in your suitcase even after you have unpacked to protect your suitcases from bugs nesting in it.
INNER PEACE
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without alcohol,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs................. Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!
(And you thought I was going to get all spiritual .....)
Handle every Stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, Piss on it and walk away.
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without alcohol,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs................. Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!
(And you thought I was going to get all spiritual .....)
Handle every Stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, Piss on it and walk away.
Make your Mother's Day Reservations at Station 7 today!
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Comcast Signs $7.75B Deal To Broadcast Olympics Through 2032
Bob Costas fans rejoice! The International Olympic Committee has only chosen venues for its summer games through 2020, but that hasn’t stopped the IOC from quietly striking a nearly $8 billion deal with Comcast to grant NBC exclusive U.S. rights to Olympics broadcasts through 2032, meaning children conceived in the afterglow of Team Canada’s dual Curling wins at Sochi will be adults before they even have the chance to see the games broadcast on another network.
According to the AP, the $7.75 billion accord between Comcast and the IOC has been going on in secret for about six months, during which time no other networks were given a chance to bid.
To repeat: The IOC only negotiated with Comcast for U.S. broadcast rights… for a 10-figure deal… that doesn’t sound like a solid business practice to us; nor does it sound like the U.S. media market is terribly competitive.
It extends NBC’s existing deal, signed in 2011, that had already guaranteed Olympics coverage to the network through the 2020 Summer games in Tokyo.
More
According to the AP, the $7.75 billion accord between Comcast and the IOC has been going on in secret for about six months, during which time no other networks were given a chance to bid.
To repeat: The IOC only negotiated with Comcast for U.S. broadcast rights… for a 10-figure deal… that doesn’t sound like a solid business practice to us; nor does it sound like the U.S. media market is terribly competitive.
It extends NBC’s existing deal, signed in 2011, that had already guaranteed Olympics coverage to the network through the 2020 Summer games in Tokyo.
More