by Victor Davis Hanson
Pajamas Media
Stimulus, Stimulus and Not a Drop…
A “stimulus” of nearly a trillion dollars was proposed, without which we were told, unemployment would skyrocket and credit would tighten further. Six months later — unemployment having risen even higher than the administration’s forecast would have been the case had their stimulus package not been implemented — now the same proponents of massive borrowing demand a second stimulus to accomplish what the first ’successful’ borrowing apparently did not. If you fail, then try the same thing to fail even bigger the second time — while calling for more success to follow the earlier success?
The Larger Agenda
Note here I mean something quite different from the accustomed notion of “accomplish.” You see, I think the point was never much to build more bike paths on borrowed money or just bail out GM, but rather more to reengineer the tax code, as part of a grander vision of creating a new equality of result in America.
Soon we will all end up after each April 15 about making the same, driving the same sort of cars and using the same sort of mass transit, living in about the same sorts of houses, and having about the same sorts of “”they will take care of it for me” philosophies — all overseen by brilliant, but highly ranked and exempt Platonic Guardians who suffer on our behalf as they jet and limo at breakneck speed ensuring our welfare.
Gorging “the Beast”
We are beginning to sense the debate is not about “stimulus” (politicians did not even read the various bills that they rammed through and care little about the fiscal impact from them). Rather, we are witnessing an inversion of Reagan’s sort of playing chicken, once called “starve the beast” (which I thought was a wrong notion), a philosophy of cutting taxes to cut revenue to starve the federal government’s excessive spending in the face of spiraling deficits.
Under Obama’s “gorge the beast” version, America will simply write so many bounced checks, run up such an enormous $10 trillion debt, that taxes will have to rise on “them” — and wasn’t this really the point of it all anyway: to “spread the wealth around” and “never let a crisis go to waste”? Since new programs never shrink, but, like Johnson grass, grow with impunity, and since Democrats, even more so than wasteful Republicans, don’t worry about deficits, taxes must escalate to avoid catastrophe.
The Bad Guys
Ponder a simple fact: The Obama administration is dispersing income lavishly to those who do not pay taxes and it will have to be paid for by those who do. For all the talk of that awful percentile who make over $200,000, this administration has not distinguished the hyper-rich 1% that make untold money (e.g., the Buffets, Soroses, Turners, Gateses, Kerrys, Gores, etc.), from the much more demonized, larger 5% of the population whose income does not come from investments and insider influence and deal-making, but rather from providing more tangible goods and services — the family doctor, the plumbing contractor, the small lumber company owner, the car dealer, the local family-held insurance company, the airline pilot, the car-leasing firm, the patent attorney, etc.
“Their Fair Share”
Last fall we heard that this percentile was unpatriotic, did not wish to spread the wealth around, and had made off like bandits under Bush. But the fact is, to quote Mayor Gavin Newsome’s ‘like it or not’, they are precisely those who decide most dynamically whether to hire, fire, expand, contract, buy/sell goods, etc.
And the results of the Obama war against them are threefold: 1) in major key states, the productive minority’s state income taxes will near or exceed 10%; their federal rates will go to 40%; the abolition of caps on FICA will ensure 15% plus of most their income will go for new Medicare and Social Security bites; and they may well be eligible for a newly proposed punitive health-care surcharge tax of 4-6%.
Add It Up
1) If one were to add all that up (forget rises in sales taxes, inheritance taxes, luxury taxes, etc.), then one can get to 70% of one’s income. So right this minute, the electrical contractor is thinking:
‘I made $412,000 last year due to Saturday jobs, overtime, risky bidding, gambles on new equipment, and new lines of credit, but under Obama I will pay maybe $50-80,000 more of my income to the government. In other words the cost of, say, hiring two more entry-level electricians, or the cost of outfitting an entire new van with boom and equipment, or what I cleared every Saturday last year — all that will go to the government.”
Ripples of Doubt
And that means rippling throughout this key sector of the economy — even before these taxes have been enacted — are hesitation, stasis, and ultimately constriction — at first for psychological reasons, soon confirmed by the actual facts of less money. In short, very bright people will be thinking how to hide income, how to barter, how to slow down and not produce goods and services, rather than blast full speed ahead and enrich angry others.
A Certain Paranoia
2) Do not discount again the psychological element. This putative electrical contractor also knows that after handing over his profits to the new government, and delaying or ending his plans for enlargement, he will not be praised, but continually demonized (I scanned CNN, MSNBC, CBS, and NBC the other evening, and all the stories had a common theme: the “rich” (yes, you see, ACME Electric is now about the equivalent to AIG and Citibank) will have to pay their “fair share” for all sorts of “overdue” necessities: cap-and-trade, nationalized health care, education grants and freebies, and new social programs.
You Owe Us
So our electrician senses that despite his newfound, sizable contribution to the public good, he will a) not be thanked but only further ridiculed; b) see his money diverted from his own wise use of it, to anonymous agencies’ liberal expenditures of it: the money will not be just lost, but invested in things that will make things worse, not better, through subsidies of failed programs and the destruction of incentives; c) see that the world under Obama is now unfair in Orwellian fashion: the Citibanks and AIGs, in Robert Rubin fashion, are so well connected to both parties that they will suffer little for their mistakes; the Ivy-League and Washington technocratic class that is to run all this is happy with its government perks and does not think new taxes and compliance apply to themselves (cf. Dodd, Rangel, Geithner, Daschle, Murtha, etc.).
You Never Needed All That Anyway
3) Finally the now chastised and ossified electrician will begin to see that his new truck, his boat, his vacation home, all these are somehow immoral in carbon, political, cultural, racial, and social terms. And he senses that others, who do not pay any income taxes (approaching 50% of the population), see themselves at war with him: the more he pays in taxes, the more others see that his compliance with such new burdens is proof of what he “really” owed all the time, and a sign that he can pay even more next round.
A Most Revolutionary Vision
Final observations: Obama brilliantly conflated the Wall Street class with the upper-tier of Main Street in Animal Farm fashion: the former gets lectured, but stays enriched through bailouts; the latter takes both the moral hit for the former’s crimes and greed and the actual hit in higher taxes.
(Nota Bene: the new Democrats, in Prince Charles fashion, like the taste and culture of the hyper-rich, who care little about taxes, are sensitive behind their ramparts to the less well off, and know high-culture (think Streisand, Gates, Soros, the Georgetown/Hollwood/Silicon Valley, Upper East Side, Cambridge, Mass, set). These aristoi despise the wheeler-dealer, always on the move, uppity, wanna-get-rich scrambler that is desperately trying to get his kid through Public University, and add a wing on his gross MacMansion, while towing his outboard up to the lake for five hours of water-skiing, without an opera, symphony, or NPR analysis on the radio).
Bottom Line
This recovery cannot work, other than a brief spurt that results from trillions in printed money, because we are rewarding unproductive areas of the economy (federal money for more wind farms, federal hurdles for pumping more known natural gas or nuclear power construction; more of the community-organizing model, less of the productive small business model) and punishing the engines of the economy.
The New Culture of “Pay Up, Mister–or Else!”
For Obama to pull this off, an entire sort of new vocabulary, rhetoric, and attitude is necessary. And the model is California: the carpenter and the bricklayer are laid off, and the state snoozes; while the assistant solid waste inspector of Green Acres is on television every night (his union can afford the advertising) to weep, and claim that if he and those like him (retire at 55 with $100,000 for life) are laid off, then Dantesque things follow.
Remember the logic: the poor Californian voter who works at Starbucks or Target is angry that the grandee social worker is unnecessary and grossly overpaid at $90,000 a year, with lush retirement and benefits, and so is told that if he does not raise taxes to over 10% income and 9% sales, then firemen, police, and water workers will quit/be laid off/furlow and so he will starve, be murdered, and have no sewage.
Screw the Fool Hammering, Save the Grandee Behind the Desk — and Call it Egalitarian Morality
That is the model here in California and that is the model we are soon to see in Washington: the government worker and those who receive his largess, are kings; those who pay for them, and who work in private enterprise for far less, are, well, less than fools.
Whereas thousands are fleeing the natural paradise of California for the arid deserts of no-tax Nevada, there is no Nevada to the United States — the last hope of an otherwise depressing planet.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
TRAFFIC ALERT
Rehoboth Avenue Extended & Church Street Signal ActivatedTraffic Camera Installation this Week
Rehoboth -- The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) will be activating a new traffic signal at the intersection of Rehoboth Avenue Extended/Route 1A and Church Street in Rehoboth. The signal will be converted to full stop and go operation at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15.
As part of this signal work, a new traffic monitoring camera will also be installed on Thursday, July 16 between the hours of 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. To decrease the impact on commuter traffic on Rehoboth Avenue, all work will occur during these hours.
The contractor for this project is Kriss Contracting, Inc., and DelDOT's Traffic Signal Construction Section.
Majoritiy of Americans Oppose Sotomayor
In a recent Rasmussen poll, only 38% of Americans believe that this “wise Latina” should be confirmed to serve on our nation’s highest court. Justice Clarence Thomas (who the left loves to attack at every turn) had the support of a majority of Americans during his confirmation process.
Fortunately, the left understands that we are all stupid and will save us from our own ignorance. She is, after all, “the most qualified nominee in the last 100 years.” In this way, we may be treated to years of Justice Sotomayor crafting new law without ever going to the bother of running for a legislative office.
Snow Hill Rd Exit Off Bypass
Joe,
I travel north on the bypass daily and take the exit for Rt. 12 Snow Hill Rd. To travel east on Snow Hill Rd you must cross the west-bound lane to an opening in the median. The design of the intersection makes it hard for people to see east-bound oncoming cars when sitting in the median. It becomes even more difficult when the grass on the median is as high as it has been. The grass is approximately 12-18" tall. I attached a poor cell phone picture. Do you think there is anything I can do or anyone I can speak to about this intersection? Thanks
What's Wrong With This Picture?
I encourage you to click on this image to enlarge it and then study it for a while and tell us what you see wrong with this photo. There are actually two things wrong with this picture. Let's see how long it takes for everyone to figure it out. 
Wine
To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine...and those who don't. As Ben Franklin said:
In wine there is wisdom,
in beer there is freedom,
in water there is bacteria.
In a number of carefully controlled trials,
scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than
1 kilo of Escherichia coli,
(E. coli) - bacteria found in feces.
In other words, we are consuming1 kilo of poop.
However, we do NOT run that risk when
drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whisky or other liquor), because alcohol has to go through a purification
process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.
Remember:
Water = Poop Wine = Health
Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid,
than to drink water and be full of poop.
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing it as a public service.
In wine there is wisdom,
in beer there is freedom,
in water there is bacteria.
In a number of carefully controlled trials,
scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than
1 kilo of Escherichia coli,
(E. coli) - bacteria found in feces.
In other words, we are consuming1 kilo of poop.
However, we do NOT run that risk when
drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whisky or other liquor), because alcohol has to go through a purification
process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.
Remember:
Water = Poop Wine = Health
Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid,
than to drink water and be full of poop.
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing it as a public service.
Don’t File An Ethics Complaint in Cecil County
Here in Wicomico County, we’ve seen our share of frivolous ethics complaints lately. That said, they are part of the price you pay in an attempt to receive good local government. It appears that the people who govern Cecil County aren’t too interested in that. Perhaps that is why they attempt to intimidate those who file ethics complaints.
Del. Mike Smigiel notes Cecil County now has a provision in their ethics complaint process which prohibits complainants from discussing the matter with ANYONE. If they do, they are subject to a $5,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
In reality, this is much ado about nothing. State law prohibits the county from doing this. Therefore, its unenforceable. However, how many people filing ethics complaints are lawyers and / or know that. Since the “Penalties” are clearly stated on the complaint form, how many people have been intimidated from filing a complaint – frivolous or no?
This sounds like something out of the Barrie Comegys school of governance.
Snakes Alive Is Coming To Pemberton Historical Park
(Salisbury, MD) Join other outdoor enthusiasts on Saturday, July 25 from 11:00am to 12:30pm for a special program, Snakes Alive. This program is open to all ages and is $3 per person. Friends of Pemberton receive free admission.
Pemberton Park Naturalists will bring you face to face with several of Wicomico County’s local reptilian creatures. The county is home to a wide variety of wild life, and our snake population includes the northern water snake, the black rate snake and copperheads, some of which may make an appearance during Snakes Alive.
Pemberton Historical Park is located at 5561 Plantation Lane in Salisbury, MD. For more information, please contact Pemberton Park at 410-860-2447 or email pembertonpark@wicomicocounty.org.
Pemberton Park Naturalists will bring you face to face with several of Wicomico County’s local reptilian creatures. The county is home to a wide variety of wild life, and our snake population includes the northern water snake, the black rate snake and copperheads, some of which may make an appearance during Snakes Alive.
Pemberton Historical Park is located at 5561 Plantation Lane in Salisbury, MD. For more information, please contact Pemberton Park at 410-860-2447 or email pembertonpark@wicomicocounty.org.
Accident On Civic Ave & Business Rt. 50
This was the scene yesterday afternoon on Civic Ave. & Business Rt. 50. For what it's worth, I look at this photo and think, now how could a head on collision like this happen? Look at the picture again and notice how both vehicles are truly face to face. Perhaps this is just how they ended up but ONE of the two drivers had to see what was coming. Oh well, it is what it is. It didn't appear like there were any serious injuries but I was just driving by and snapped the photo. Maybe someone can update us on the outcome. No disrespect to the Fire Department but what the heck are they doing using a Ladder Truck for an accident scene?
Information Obtained From The Crime Task Force Meeting Yesterday
In April of 2008, Mayor Ellen O. Moyer appointed a new Police Chief to bring the rising crime problem in Annapolis back under control. At the same time, with the support of the Governor’s office and top political officials, the Capital City Safe Streets Coalition (CCSS) was formed. This innovative approach brought together federal, state, and local public safety agencies to collaborate and strategize on crime reduction in Annapolis. Through a combination of improved police tactics and practices, modern and enhanced technology, and the integration of our expanded partnerships, Annapolis benefited from a remarkable reduction in serious crime since the inception of CCSS. The chart below reflects a 417% decrease in total crime, and almost a 3663% reduction in violent crime over the past 12 months compared to the same prior period.
Offense May 1-Apr 30 2007-2008
Apr-Mar 2007-2008 May 1-Apr 30 2008-2009
Apr-Mar 2008-2009
HomicideHomicide 1011 44 -60.00%-175.00%
Forcible Rape Forcible Rape 78 87 14.29%-14.29%
RobberyRobbery 177183 102106 -42.37%-72.64%
Assault, Aggravated 204218 141140 -30.88%-55.71%
Burglary 435449 116232 -73.33%-93.53%
TheftTheft 757707 517569 -31.70%-24.25%
Theft from Auto Theft from Auto 584574 394423 -32.53%-35.70%
Stolen Auto Motor Vehicle 191193 111114 -41.88%-69.30%
Part One Violent Part One Violent 398420 255257 -35.93%-63.42%
Part One Property Part One Property 19671923 11381338 -42.15%-43.72%
Total 23652342 13931594 -41.10%-46.93%
In conjunction with Capital City Safe Streets, the Annapolis Police Department has improved its capacity to reduce crime. Working closely with the Division of Parole and Probation (P&P), repeat, violent offenders are being removed from the community. Arrest notification is immediately initiated to P&P; probation violation warrants are requested, issued, and served without unnecessary delay. The Community Prosecutor – funded in part by the CCSS grant – has on numerous occasions successfully prosecuted repeat and violent offenders leading to their incarceration. To date, more than 25 Violent Prevention Initiative offenders (VPI) have been violated and incarcerated. A similar procedure is in place with the Department of Juvenile Justice for violent juvenile offenders
Other accomplishments include coordinated warrant service successful warrant initiatives with the AA County Sheriffs Office. Annapolis Police served 22% more warrants in this time period compared to the prior year. and undercover narcotics investigations with AA County Police Department. Comparing the same 12 month period, Annapolis Police served 15% more warrants. Illustrating outstanding cooperation with the AA County Police, detectives from both agencies joined forces for three months this year investigating illegal narcotic operations in the City of Annapolis. cooperated in a drug investigation resulting in Detectives made 75 undercover “drug buys” of illegal narcotics from Annapolis Drug dealers. This resulting ed so far in 48 felony drug charges and indictments. 41 felony drug charges, mostly by way of indictment. Earlier in the year, joint initiatives with the Maryland State Police Gang and Narcotic Units joined Annapolis Police and, together, made resulted in over fifty arrests. Anything about DGS???
Selected serious felony cases are now being forwarded to the US Attrorney’s Office for review. Working with our federal partners, the criminals of Annapolis are subject to longer mandatory sentences far away from home. To date, there has been one successful plea deal and other cases are pending trial. In addition to case prosecution, federal law enforcement remains committed to maintaining open lines of communication with state and local agencies, including the State's Attorney's Office, to support the Annapolis community's fight against crime and violence.
Our community outreach has dramatically accelerated. One effective approach is the recent implementation of our Community Safe Zones, a holistic approach to fighting crime and providing comfort to the community through greater police visibility. The APD has also improved the website including “CrimeReports.com.” Citizens now have greater police outreach and more information about crimes affecting their neighborhoods.can search crime in their neighborhoods within a six month time frame. CrimeReports updates on a regular basis so the information is timely and accurate.Say something about Mapping, real-time crime data,,,,,
We share open lines of communication with the US Attorney’s Office, something else, and something else ??? ????. (If you can think of something… I’m tired now)
Future plans include yet more joint-agency initiatives, Safe Zones, CCTV in and around low income housing communities, updated technology including rugged laptops, field for officers, -based reporting, E Citations, Mobile Fingerprinting,, and a publicn interactive crime- mapping- website. The Annapolis Police Department The administration with the is capitalizing on new technology, resources and resources and partnerships along with effective enforcement strategies of Capital City Safe Streets is working towards in modernizing the Annapolis Police Department with state of the art technology and proven enforcement strategies. (say something about other things we’re getting… not audio visual)..
A marked decrease in jor impact on overall and violent crime was seen following the reorganization of the Police Department which touched every police divisions, sections and units. This enabled us to renew , and the Police Department’s renewed our focus on crime prevention and core law , enforcement duties, and quality of life in neighborhoods. Simply, tThe Department’s resources were harnessed harnessed and shifted to communities disproportionately affected by drug activity and other crime. The Police Chief Michael Pristoop reinitiatedcreated proactive enforcement squads staffed by comprised of officers willing and able to make a difference in the community. The Police Department improved its partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) resulting in greater command and control of officers patrolling HACA property and conducting enforcement. ing the law. This presence helped deter crime awhile HACA officials pursued evictions and banning of notices for those arrested on onHACA property and around the property. The below chart depictsisplays the a dramatic decrease in total Pserious art 1 crime (Part 1) in on HACA communities: property (Can you get a better graph or just something with numbers??) Does this work?
HACA Property May 1-Apr 30 2007-2008Apr-Mar 2007-2008 May 1-Apr 30 2008-2009Apr-Mar 2008-2009 Total Annapolis GGardens/ Bowman Ct. 2931 2122 -27.59%-40.91% Bloomsbury Square 88 12 -87.50%-300.00% College Creek Terr. & Obery Court 1619 66 -62.50%-216.67% Eastport Terr. 88 75 -12.50%-60.00% Glenwood 1110 67 -45.45%-42.86% Harbor House 4946 1926 -61.22%-76.92% Newtowne 20 1011 1010 0.00%-10.00% Robinwood 2830 1413 -50.00%-130.77% Total 159163 8491 -47.17%-79.12%
The below chart demonstrates enforcement over the past 12 months: We are not doing this right?
(Can you add an enforcement chart… showing arrests, trespassing, etc)
The efforts of the Annapolis Police Department, new police administration, along with with the help of the CCSS initiative and outstanding community support,, have made the City of Annapolis a safer place to live, work, and visit. This, however, is only the beginning. To date in 2009, Part 1 crime is down 54%. This, however, is only the beginning. We will continue to provide the commitment and energy needed to sustain and improve our progress. , and further seek improvements in technology. We expect the cooperation and communication embodying between and among our the CCSS partnership will to continue and grow. Most important, reover, the dedicated men and women of the Annapolis Police Department stand ready for all challenges with the tools and leadership needed to succeed.
Fresh Local Produce
If you're looking for a place to pick up fresh produce, stop in at the Produce Stand on Naylor Mill Road and Jersey Road. They have a fantastic selection of produce and great prices to boot.
A Soldier's Take On Michael Jackson's Death
This is written by a young soldier serving his third tour of duty in Iraq . Thought you might find his take on the Michael Jackson news interesting and he's right.
Okay, I need to rant.
I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant.
Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?
Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America . Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good riddance," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"
I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.
Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;
"So that others may live..."
Isaac
P.S.-"So that others may live..." was also the creed of the Air Rescue & Recovery Service during Vietnam & is still today.
Okay, I need to rant.
I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant.
Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?
Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America . Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good riddance," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"
I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.
Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;
"So that others may live..."
Isaac
P.S.-"So that others may live..." was also the creed of the Air Rescue & Recovery Service during Vietnam & is still today.
Security Company Scam
Mr. Albero:
I just wanted to update you & your readers -
The scam with the door-to-door security company 'sales' is still going on.
I live in one of the subdivisions near Adeloytte Town homes (Old OC and Beaglin Park). Today a white male, in his early to mid 20's, wearing a white shirt that said Pinehurst Security, khaki shorts, a white baseball cap and some sort of fake badge or ID thing hanging around his neck, was going door-to-door trying to get people to sign up for free installation of a security service. (And, I'm sure, give their personal info including their social security number, etc.)
I refused to open the door, yelled through the door to go away, and let the dog loose to bark and claw at the door. He refused to leave, and kept ringing my doorbell until I held my cell phone up to the door that I was calling the police. Minutes later, my husband came home, and when I met him at the door I saw the young man talking to my next door neighbor. We went over and confronted him. He claimed he had a permit from the city to solicit in our neighborhood, and was being VERY pushy with my neighbor, trying to get her to let him in her house. I told him to take a hike and that soliciting is not permitted in our neighborhood, with or without a permit, because our HOA does not allow it. I also told him I had seen something about this on your blog, which got him very agitated. He refused to leave. My husband stood in front of him and called the city police and then County Sheriff's Dept. and confirmed he had no permit. He finally went as far as the end of my neighbor's driveway. My husband called the Sheriff back and asked them to come out and remove a trespasser.
Once he realized we had really called the police, he took off and completely disappeared from the neighborhood, and was gone by the time the Sheriff drive through.
I don't know if this guy is scoping out houses to break into, is just trying to get social security numbers, or what, but it is DEFINITELY a scam. Please let your readers know to be careful - this guy was pretty aggressive.
Thanks -
A Concerned Homeowner in Salisbury
I just wanted to update you & your readers -
The scam with the door-to-door security company 'sales' is still going on.
I live in one of the subdivisions near Adeloytte Town homes (Old OC and Beaglin Park). Today a white male, in his early to mid 20's, wearing a white shirt that said Pinehurst Security, khaki shorts, a white baseball cap and some sort of fake badge or ID thing hanging around his neck, was going door-to-door trying to get people to sign up for free installation of a security service. (And, I'm sure, give their personal info including their social security number, etc.)
I refused to open the door, yelled through the door to go away, and let the dog loose to bark and claw at the door. He refused to leave, and kept ringing my doorbell until I held my cell phone up to the door that I was calling the police. Minutes later, my husband came home, and when I met him at the door I saw the young man talking to my next door neighbor. We went over and confronted him. He claimed he had a permit from the city to solicit in our neighborhood, and was being VERY pushy with my neighbor, trying to get her to let him in her house. I told him to take a hike and that soliciting is not permitted in our neighborhood, with or without a permit, because our HOA does not allow it. I also told him I had seen something about this on your blog, which got him very agitated. He refused to leave. My husband stood in front of him and called the city police and then County Sheriff's Dept. and confirmed he had no permit. He finally went as far as the end of my neighbor's driveway. My husband called the Sheriff back and asked them to come out and remove a trespasser.
Once he realized we had really called the police, he took off and completely disappeared from the neighborhood, and was gone by the time the Sheriff drive through.
I don't know if this guy is scoping out houses to break into, is just trying to get social security numbers, or what, but it is DEFINITELY a scam. Please let your readers know to be careful - this guy was pretty aggressive.
Thanks -
A Concerned Homeowner in Salisbury
Two Important Petitions For Obama
JOBS FOR UNEMPLOYED IN JEOPARDY!
Sign Petition to White House Urging Obama to Keep E-Verify, Fence, No-Match Amendments.
www.numbersusa.com/petition
Four important amendments that open up jobs to unemployed Americans
won approval in the Homeland Security Bill this week.
Although passed by the Senate, the Conference Committee may eliminate them.
Please sign this petition to President Obama urging him to direct his staffers to
keep E-Verify, the border fence and No-Match Amendments that verifies Social
Security numbers of illegal aliens.
Please sign this petiton and forward to friends
www.numbersusa.com/petition
Will Obama's Health Care Suit Your Needs?
Speak up and act before its too late
Sign this petition
www.freeourhealthcarenow.com
Tuesday The House passed their version of health care, but will you have a voice or a choice?
CHOICE to chose your own doctor and health insurance plan that suits your family and budget.
ACCESS- no delay, no denial and be patient centered
FAIRNESS- same tax breaks for self-insured
RESPONSIBILTY-more control over health care decisions. Eliminate fraud and waste.
The United States has the best medical system in the world. Let us not destroy that in order to insure the million or so that desire and need health insurance.
Sign Petition to White House Urging Obama to Keep E-Verify, Fence, No-Match Amendments.
www.numbersusa.com/petition
Four important amendments that open up jobs to unemployed Americans
won approval in the Homeland Security Bill this week.
Although passed by the Senate, the Conference Committee may eliminate them.
Please sign this petition to President Obama urging him to direct his staffers to
keep E-Verify, the border fence and No-Match Amendments that verifies Social
Security numbers of illegal aliens.
Please sign this petiton and forward to friends
www.numbersusa.com/petition
Will Obama's Health Care Suit Your Needs?
Speak up and act before its too late
Sign this petition
www.freeourhealthcarenow.com
Tuesday The House passed their version of health care, but will you have a voice or a choice?
CHOICE to chose your own doctor and health insurance plan that suits your family and budget.
ACCESS- no delay, no denial and be patient centered
FAIRNESS- same tax breaks for self-insured
RESPONSIBILTY-more control over health care decisions. Eliminate fraud and waste.
The United States has the best medical system in the world. Let us not destroy that in order to insure the million or so that desire and need health insurance.
President Obama claims that 40 million people are without health coverage. These are false numbers like much put out by this administration. According to census figures, over half of that number are illegal aliens. Of the remaining 20 million, over half can afford health insurance, but, chose to not purchase health coverage. Those that truly can not afford health coverage should receive assistance as they do now, but to dismantle the best medical system the world has ever seen is irrational.
European socialized medicine has not worked anywhere it has been attempted. Delay and denial in testing and treatment has caused needless suffering and death.
Let's tweak what isn't working by creating choice, access, fairness, and responsibility.
Please sign this petition and show the White House the people demand choice,access, fairness, and responsibility.
www.freeourhealthcarenow.com
Bombshell: Orders Revoked For Soldier Challenging President
Major victory for Army warrior questioning Obama's birthplace
Chelsea Schilling and Joe Kovacs© 2009 WorldNetDaily
Dr. Orly Taitz
A U.S. Army Reserve major from Florida scheduled to report for deployment to Afghanistan within days has had his military orders revoked after arguing he should not be required to serve under a president who has not proven his eligibility for office.
His attorney, Orly Taitz, confirmed to WND the military has rescinded his impending deployment orders.
"We won! We won before we even arrived," she said with excitement.
"It means that the military has nothing to show for Obama. It means that the military has directly responded by saying Obama is illegitimate – and they cannot fight it. Therefore, they are revoking the order!"
She continued, "They just said, 'Order revoked.' No explanation. No reasons – just revoked."
A hearing on the questions raised by Maj. Stefan Frederick Cook, an engineer who told WND he wants to serve his country in Afghanistan, was scheduled for July 16 at 9:30 a.m.
"As an officer in the armed forces of the United States, it is [my] duty to gain clarification on any order we may believe illegal. With that said, if President Obama is found not to be a 'natural-born citizen,' he is not eligible to be commander-in-chief," he told WND only hours after the case was filed.
GO HERE to read more.
A Message From The Governor
Safe Neighborhoods, Safe Families
http://images.publicaster.com/ImageLibrary/account689/images/090603-OneMD-MSG.jpg
Improving public safety in our neighborhoods and communities is the most important obligation we have as public servants.
Yesterday, I was proud to stand with House Speaker Michael E. Busch, Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer, public safety officials and community leaders to celebrate the successes of the Capital City Safe Streets program, launched one year ago as a first-of-its-kind state and local partnership to reduce crime in Annapolis. To date, total crime is down 32 percent and violent crime is down 39 percent in Annapolis over the past year, when compared to the 12 months prior.
The Capital City Safe Streets initiative shows that by working together, across borders and throughout our One Maryland, we can harness the necessary tools to make our neighborhoods safer and protect Maryland families. Today, we are seeing the unmistakable benefits of this unique partnership.
We continue to put families first by making public safety a top priority, achieving 66 fewer homicides last year statewide – a 12 percent reduction – the second highest reduction in homicides in nearly a quarter-century. We've increased public safety funding in Maryland by more than $200 million to make Maryland families safer, eliminated an inherited backlog of over 24,000 DNA samples, and created the Violence Prevention Initiative to identify and closely monitor the most violent, repeat offenders in our State to get them off the streets the moment they become a risk to the public.
The initiative in Annapolis demonstrates what we can accomplish when we work together. I look forward to similar partnerships with jurisdictions throughout Maryland, as we continue putting families first by improving public safety.
Martin O'Malley
Governor
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
BALTIMORE MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
(Baltimore, MD) - Members of the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit have arrested a Baltimore man in connection with the possession and distribution of child pornography.
Marcus Curtis Clark, 29, of the 1000 block of S. Beechfield Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland, was charged today with five counts of distributing and nine counts of possessing child pornography. He turned himself in to a Computer Crimes investigator early this morning. Clark was processed and taken before a District Court Commissioner where he was held on $50,000 bond, pending a future trial date. If convicted, Clark could be sentenced up to 70 years in prison and/or $150,000 in fines.
A trooper assigned to the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began the investigation in April 2008 after locating a computer on a peer-to-peer network that was offering pornographic videos of children for others to download. Troopers were able to trace the computer back to Clark. Investigators executed a search warrant at Clark’s residence and confiscated multiple computers, hard drives, and miscellaneous storage media.
A complete forensic analysis of the confiscated equipment was conducted by the State Police’s Computer Forensics Laboratory. Examiners recovered dozens of videos and images of children engaged in various stages of sexual activity.
The primary mission of the Computer Crimes Unit is to protect children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. The unit works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide resources to combat these crimes. The unit is also charged with helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education and community awareness.
One Lucky Family Will Win This Pool
The other day, my old friend, Billy Hill called me and asked me if I'd be willing to do him a favor. He had read the article about Bruce Hunter, (Bruce's Billiards) and Salisbury News giving away free Hot Dogs on the 4th of July and he said he also wanted to do something to give back to a family in need.He told me he had purchased an above ground swimming pool and wanted to have me find a needy Family with lots of kids and give them this Swimming Pool. So here we are.
We're looking for a Family that have had to go through a rough patch and we want to make the rest of your HOT Summer months relaxing and enjoyable. We have this brand new pool in its original box and we're very excited about finding that special Family.
So here's what we want you to do. First, you need to spread the word that this FREE POOL is available to all of your friends, especially ones that could qualify. I'm sure in your circle of friends and associates you know someone who could really use this Pool to bring some joy to an other wise difficult period. I happen to know of at least two or three. However, this isn't about knowing somebody and giving it away to special interests.
I want this to be fair and we want to give it away very soon so this Family can enjoy the Summer. It can be assembled in less than 30 minutes and let me assure you, this Pool, (if you go out and shop it) isn't cheap.
I want you or your friends and or associates to e-mail me at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com and tell us why you think you deserve this Pool and what it would do for your Family. Please put the word "POOL" in the subjest line as I received hundreds of e-mails a day and I want to make sure they're not put in the trash bin as spam. I will NOT expose anyone's story with exception of the winner and their names will remain anonymous.
We stated on January 1, 2009 that this year was going to be all about giving back to those less fortunate. I will create a board in which we will review the letters that come in and choose a winner.
If YOU would like to participate in giving back by offering these types of items as a FREE Giveaway you may also contact me at the address above. We will gladly advertise your business, (if you so choose). Billy Hill Construction is the company and individual who provided this FREE gift.
I look forward to your letters and I'm sure we'll have someone picked out by the end of the week.
Salisbury News nor Billy Hill Construction are responsible for any liability with this Pool.
Does Congress Trade On Inside Information?
Did you know that it's perfectly legal for members of Congress to trade on information they gather about companies in the course of their work? Not only is this legal, but research suggests that the average member of Congress earns 25 percent higher returns on their investments compared to the average investor. You can't really expect Congress to enforce laws against insider trading if Congress is not bound by the same laws.
This is why it comes as a surprise to me that someone in Congress is actually trying to make insider trading by Congress illegal. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Brian Baird (D-WA) have introduced legislation that would prohibit lawmakers and their staffs from trading stocks or engaging in other financial transactions based on information they learn in their jobs that is not also available to the public.
GO HERE to read more.
This is why it comes as a surprise to me that someone in Congress is actually trying to make insider trading by Congress illegal. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Brian Baird (D-WA) have introduced legislation that would prohibit lawmakers and their staffs from trading stocks or engaging in other financial transactions based on information they learn in their jobs that is not also available to the public.
GO HERE to read more.
Funeral Home Shut Down After Body's Legs Cut
By JEFFREY COLLINS, AP
COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 14) – A South Carolina judge Tuesday revoked the license of a funeral home where a worker cut the legs off a 6-foot-7 body so it would fit in a casket.
Administrative Law Judge Deborah Durden gave her decision immediately after hearing the appeal of Cave Funeral Home and owner Michael Cave.
GO HERE to read more.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 14) – A South Carolina judge Tuesday revoked the license of a funeral home where a worker cut the legs off a 6-foot-7 body so it would fit in a casket.
Administrative Law Judge Deborah Durden gave her decision immediately after hearing the appeal of Cave Funeral Home and owner Michael Cave.
GO HERE to read more.
Robbery Suspect Caught In The Act
Suspect(s): Kristin Kemplem, 24, of the 600 block of Stanton Road in Newark, Delaware
Resume: Kristin Kemplem, 24, of Newark, was arrested today during the commission of a robbery she was committing at the Happy Harry’s on McKennans Church Road.
At about 12:30 p.m., the State Police dispatch center in New Castle County, RECOM, received a call from inside the Happy Harry’s during which caller advised a robbery was currently taking place. The caller advised the suspect was a white female who was holding the pharmacy staff at gunpoint. RECOM relayed this information to responding Troopers who arrived quickly on the scene.
Officers made entry into the business and confronted the suspect at the pharmacy counter. She was holding a black handgun. Troopers ordered her to drop the weapon and to surrender- the suspect eventually complied. She was identified as Kristin Kemplem.
Ms. Kemplem was transported from the scene to Troop 2 where she will be charged this evening with robbery. This case is still under investigation and an additional news release will be provided later tonight.
UPDATE:
Wilmington- Ms. Kristin Kemplem was formally charged this evening with two counts of Attempted Robbery 2nd (felony). She was committed to the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute in lieu of $40,000.00 secured bond.
Additional information: During the robbery, Ms. Kemplem presented a demand note to the pharmacy clerk while displaying what later proved to be a replica handgun. She was attempting to obtain prescription narcotics. No one was injured in this incident.
Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases
Incident: Fugitive from Delaware
Date of Incident: 11 July 2009
Location: 1200 block of Walnut Street, Delmar, MD
Suspect: Joseph N. Matthews, 42, Delmar, MD
Narrative: On 11 July 2009 at 2:00 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office arrested Joseph Matthews in a campground in Delmar, MD. The Delaware State Police had obtained an arrest warrant on 10 July 2009 that charged Matthews with Failure to Re-register as a Sex offender after a change of address. As a requirement of his probation, Matthews was required to register his current address with the Delaware State Police. Delaware authorities became aware of Matthews location when a television interview that took place in Delmar MD was broadcast on WBOC on 7 July 2009. During the interview, Matthews identified himself as a resident of Delmar, MD. Previous information supplied to Delaware indicated that Matthews resided in Seaford, DE. During the subsequent investigation by both Delaware authorities and deputies assigned to the WCSO Sex Offender Registration Unit, it was learned that Matthews had been residing in Delmar, MD since April 2009.
Matthews was taken to the Wicomico County Detention Center where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner as a Fugitive from Justice from Delaware. After an initial appearance, Matthews was detained in the Detention Center without bond pending extradition to Delaware.
Charges:
Fugitive from Justice
Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
Incident: Possession of Marijuana
Date of Incident: 13 July 2009
Location: 800 block of Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Andrew C. Heller, 21, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 13 July 2009 at 10:49 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle operated by Andrew Heller for speeding on Snow Hill road in the area of Regency Drive in Salisbury. During the traffic stop, the deputy asked for Heller to exit his vehicle at which point the deputy discovered Heller to be in possession of a baggie containing what the deputy recognized as marijuana.
The deputy placed Heller under arrest and transported Heller to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Heller was released on Personal Recognizance by the District Court Commissioner.
Charges: Possession of Marijuana
Incident: Possession of Cocaine / DUI
Date of Incident: 10 July 2009
Location: Main Street at Salisbury Pkwy, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Kenneth Wayne Pierce, 46, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 10 July 2009 at 9:39 PM a deputy with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle operated by Kenneth Pierce for an equipment violation on Main Street in Salisbury, MD. Upon stopping Pierce, the deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Pierce and also discovered that his Maryland driver’s license was suspended. Upon conclusion of roadside field sobriety tests, the deputy placed Pierce under arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. The deputy then located two small baggies inside the driver’s side door of Pierce’s vehicle that contained what the deputy recognized as crack cocaine.
Pierce was transported to the Wicomico County Central Booking where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Pierce was released on Personal recognizance.
Charges:
Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Sam's Club Does It Again
I was driving around Salisbury a little while ago and noticed two of the three Gordy Tiger Marts has gas for $2.45 a gallon. The one at the Mall mysteriously had gas at $2.39 a gallon. However, Sam's Club shows them all up once again by being as much as $ .11 cents per gallon lower than Gordy. I'll bet the lines are BIG at Sam's Club after this Post gets out there.
Lumber Companies Experiencing A 32 Year Decline In Demand
The images you see above is the yard behind the Salisbury Lowes. Typically you'd see this entire storage area completely loaded and stacked high full of lumber. However, the demand is so low, Lowes and other Lumber Companies are only storing materials indoors. We were told this is the worst anyone has seen in the past 32 years.
There are signs all around us Folks, you just need to open your eyes. If lumber has dropped that low just in inventory alone, imagine just how many people are now out of work.
I have been stating for years now, it will continue to get worse before it gets better. I have also stated that we are in fact in a deep depression, while our government keeps telling everyone we're in a recession and things are about to turn.
Again, I'm sick and tired of our own government pissing on our heads and telling us its raining! I for one don't buy it. I see for sale and for rent signs everywhere, it's not getting better.
Anyone dumb enough to purchase a home in this market right now has to be absolutely desperate. I just spoke to a woman who owns a home on Mt. Hermon Road. She just received her tax bill and in the last 2 years her taxes went up $2,000.00 a year and her property value dropped 50%!
To those Democrats with their eye wide SHUT, the Tea Parties are what many consider a way out. It's a way to express yourself and not act all dumb and stupid playing follow the leader. The leaders have screwed America out of everything we stood for and very soon it will all be over. They'll finally admit we are in fact in a Depression and the fingers will be pointed at everyone else.
Many of you ask, what's the answer then Joe. I'll tell you for the 100th time, VOTE OUT EVERY INCUMBENT IN CONGRESS! Congress is out of control. It's not Bush, it's not Obama, it's CONGRESS!
Vote for people with strong successful business backgrounds, not angry people who talk the talk but have absolutely no clue how to walk the walk. If you're not a proven businessperson, get out of our way because we have a ton of work to do.
The photos do NOT lie Folks. That yard truly was packed and now it's just about empty. Open your eyes, all of you. The County isn't bringing in any money for new housing either, so you can expect tax increases to keep up with all the new luxuries, especially within the City of Salisbury. We need to look ahead right now and start cutting EVERYWHERE. I hate to say it but places like the Zoo need to be closed until we rebound. If citizens want to take care of Parks or companies want to donate their time cutting lawns, so be it. However, I'm telling you we cannot keep up at the pace we've been going. The Library, stop these people from wasting every ones time and tell them there's absolutely no way we can even consider relocating or building a new Library in the next 5 years.
Stop the spending and STOP BAILING EVERYONE OUT!
US Supreme Court Pick Fires Back At Bigotry Charges
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Sonia Sotomayor, nearly sure to become the first Hispanic US Supreme Court justice, distanced herself Tuesday from her past remark that a Latina woman's heritage might make her a better judge.
On the second of at least four days of confirmation hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sotomayor called the much-criticized comment "a rhetorical flourish that fell flat."
"I want to state up front, unequivocally and without doubt, I do not believe that any ethnic, racial or gender group has an advantage in sound judging," the appeals court judge, 55, told the panel.
"I do believe that every person has an equal opportunity to be a good and wise judge regardless of their background or life experiences," the appeals judge told the committee after weeks of fierce attacks on her impartiality.
Her comments came in response to questions by the panel's top Republican, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, about her remark that: "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion" than a white judge.
GO HERE to read more.
COUNCILWOMAN SAMPLE-HUGHES RE-SCHEDULES NEXT DISTRICT ONE CITIZEN’S FORUM
Wicomico County Councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes will hold the next in a series of District One Citizen’s Forum meetings on Wednesday, July 22nd, at 7:00 P.M. at Salisbury Fire Department Station 16 on Cypress Street in Salisbury. The meeting had been originally set for June 24th.
The program will focus on the just-approved Fiscal Year 2010 Wicomico County Operating Budget.
Councilwoman Sample-Hughes said that she will be joined by Sub-District 37A Delegate Rudolph C. Cane, Wicomico County Council President John Cannon, 1st Sergeant Tim Robinson representing Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis and Wicomico County Public Information Officer Jim Fineran representing Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr.
Wicomico County District One includes Delmar, Hebron, San Domingo, Salisbury- West Side and Mardela Springs. Mrs. Sample-Hughes said the over-all theme of the forums is “Creating Community Connections.” She commented that the purpose of the forums is to provide citizens with an opportunity to speak face-to-face with their elected officials. She further noted that this is the continuation of the fulfillment of her campaign promise to hold quarterly meetings throughout District One.
Mrs. Sample-Hughes said that “I encourage as many of my constituents who possibly can to join us for this important meeting.”
Don't Know Much About History
By pandora
Stories like this make me angry. Is our goal really to become the dumbest country on the planet? Perhaps we should rethink the Texas secession thing… especially given their influence over the textbook market.
The Texas Board of Education, which recently approved new science standards that made room for creationist critiques of evolution, is revising the state’s social studies curriculum. In early recommendations from outside experts appointed by the board, a divide has opened over how central religious theology should be to the teaching of history.
Three reviewers, appointed by social conservatives, have recommended revamping the K-12 curriculum to emphasize the roles of the Bible, the Christian faith and the civic virtue of religion in the study of American history. Two of them want to remove or de-emphasize references to several historical figures who have become liberal icons, such as César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall.
Christianists like to whine about the war against their faith, but if they keep shoving this nonsense down everyone’s throat they might find themselves creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. I have always been a live and let live sort of person, but this sort of indoctrination of our school children is where I draw the line.
And look at who’s on the committee and what they think (and I use the word think loosely):
The three reviewers appointed by the moderate and liberal board members are all professors of history or education at Texas universities, including Mr. de la Teja, a former state historian. The reviewers appointed by conservatives include two who run conservative Christian organizations: David Barton, founder of WallBuilders, a group that promotes America’s Christian heritage; and Rev. Marshall, who preaches that Watergate, the Vietnam War and Hurricane Katrina were God’s judgments on the nation’s sexual immorality. The third is Daniel Dreisbach, a professor of public affairs at American University.
The conservative reviewers say they believe that children must learn that America’s founding principles are biblical. For instance, they say the separation of powers set forth in the Constitution stems from a scriptural understanding of man’s fall and inherent sinfulness, or “radical depravity,” which means he can be governed only by an intricate system of checks and balances.
The curriculum, they say, should clearly present Christianity as an overall force for good — and a key reason for American exceptionalism, the notion that the country stands above and apart.
Talk about rewriting history.
Stories like this make me angry. Is our goal really to become the dumbest country on the planet? Perhaps we should rethink the Texas secession thing… especially given their influence over the textbook market.
The Texas Board of Education, which recently approved new science standards that made room for creationist critiques of evolution, is revising the state’s social studies curriculum. In early recommendations from outside experts appointed by the board, a divide has opened over how central religious theology should be to the teaching of history.
Three reviewers, appointed by social conservatives, have recommended revamping the K-12 curriculum to emphasize the roles of the Bible, the Christian faith and the civic virtue of religion in the study of American history. Two of them want to remove or de-emphasize references to several historical figures who have become liberal icons, such as César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall.
Christianists like to whine about the war against their faith, but if they keep shoving this nonsense down everyone’s throat they might find themselves creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. I have always been a live and let live sort of person, but this sort of indoctrination of our school children is where I draw the line.
And look at who’s on the committee and what they think (and I use the word think loosely):
The three reviewers appointed by the moderate and liberal board members are all professors of history or education at Texas universities, including Mr. de la Teja, a former state historian. The reviewers appointed by conservatives include two who run conservative Christian organizations: David Barton, founder of WallBuilders, a group that promotes America’s Christian heritage; and Rev. Marshall, who preaches that Watergate, the Vietnam War and Hurricane Katrina were God’s judgments on the nation’s sexual immorality. The third is Daniel Dreisbach, a professor of public affairs at American University.
The conservative reviewers say they believe that children must learn that America’s founding principles are biblical. For instance, they say the separation of powers set forth in the Constitution stems from a scriptural understanding of man’s fall and inherent sinfulness, or “radical depravity,” which means he can be governed only by an intricate system of checks and balances.
The curriculum, they say, should clearly present Christianity as an overall force for good — and a key reason for American exceptionalism, the notion that the country stands above and apart.
Talk about rewriting history.
Ah, empathy.
Justice Sam Alito on empathy and judging
“When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account.”
Flashback: Alito Knows A Thing Or Two About Empathy Also
A key part of the transcript of Justice Samuel Alito's 2006 confirmation hearing suggests that, just three and a half years ago, Republicans thought empathy was a pretty righteous quality in a Supreme Court nominee. Well, we've dug up the footage of that portion of the hearing and, as it turns out, he sells the empathy pretty well.
Flashback: George H.W. Bush On Clarence Thomas' 'Great Empathy'
"I have followed this man's career for some time," said President George H.W. Bush of Clarence Thomas in July 1991. "He is a delightful and warm, intelligent person who has great empathy and a wonderful sense of humor."
“When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account.”
Flashback: Alito Knows A Thing Or Two About Empathy Also
A key part of the transcript of Justice Samuel Alito's 2006 confirmation hearing suggests that, just three and a half years ago, Republicans thought empathy was a pretty righteous quality in a Supreme Court nominee. Well, we've dug up the footage of that portion of the hearing and, as it turns out, he sells the empathy pretty well.
Flashback: George H.W. Bush On Clarence Thomas' 'Great Empathy'
"I have followed this man's career for some time," said President George H.W. Bush of Clarence Thomas in July 1991. "He is a delightful and warm, intelligent person who has great empathy and a wonderful sense of humor."
House Democrats Vow Healthcare Plan By August
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama's plans to overhaul the $2.5 trillion healthcare industry got a boost on Tuesday in the House of Representatives where Democrats predicted passage on schedule by August.
House leaders from Obama's Democratic party were set to release the final proposal in the afternoon with a planned tax on the wealthy to raise an expected $540 billion over 10 years to help pay for expanded care.
Health insurance is a top priority for Obama, who took office in January. Millions of Americans are without health insurance, even though the country spends more on healthcare per capita than anywhere else.
"The president made it very clear that this was his Number One priority," and wanted it done prior to the congressional August break, House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer told a weekly news conference.
"We believe this can be done," he said.
GO HERE to read more.
House leaders from Obama's Democratic party were set to release the final proposal in the afternoon with a planned tax on the wealthy to raise an expected $540 billion over 10 years to help pay for expanded care.
Health insurance is a top priority for Obama, who took office in January. Millions of Americans are without health insurance, even though the country spends more on healthcare per capita than anywhere else.
"The president made it very clear that this was his Number One priority," and wanted it done prior to the congressional August break, House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer told a weekly news conference.
"We believe this can be done," he said.
GO HERE to read more.
Obama's Rosy Scenario Turns Thorny
President Barack Obama’s economic forecasts for long-term growth are too optimistic, many economists warn, a miscalculation that would mean budget deficits will be much higher than the administration is now acknowledging.
The White House will be forced to confront the disconnect between its original, upbeat predictions and the mainstream consensus about how the economy is likely to perform in a new budget forecast to be unveiled next month.
Christina Romer, chairwoman of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, said in a POLITICO interview that the administration — like many independent economists — did not fully anticipate the severity and pace of this recession. She said the White House will be updating its official forecasts.
The new numbers will come as part of a semiannual review that, under ordinary circumstances, is the kind of earnest-but-dull document that causes many Washington eyes to glaze over.
This time, however, the new forecasts — if they are anything like what many outside economists expect — could send a jolt through Capitol Hill, where even the administration’s current debt projections already are prompting deep concerns on political and substantive grounds.
GO HERE to read more.
Founding Fathers Got It Wrong?
The Treaty of Tripoli (1797), signed by President John Adams, and passed unanimously in the Senate explicitly states in Article 11:
"The United States is in not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion".
Verify it here or here.
So, by virtue of our founding fathers, a valid United States treaty, and history itself, Obama is correct. We are a secular nation, with a secular government, and freedom for all to worship however they please.
"The United States is in not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion".
Verify it here or here.
So, by virtue of our founding fathers, a valid United States treaty, and history itself, Obama is correct. We are a secular nation, with a secular government, and freedom for all to worship however they please.
Questions From Two Sentz
Why does the Eastern Shore have so many racists and why do they feel the need to display there ignorant attitudes here on this blog? And when they proudly engage in such racism, why do they always cry foul (reverse racism) when the tables are turned on them? Please explain your views, anonymous racist commenters.
Obama's Car czar Steve Rattner Leaves: High Note Or Trouble Ahead?
Steve Rattner, the Democratic Party fund raiser extraordinaire (with whom I have worked) will leave his job as car czar at a good time. When President Obama visits Martha's Vineyard this summer, Rattner will be able to entertain Obama at his 15,500 square foot estate there and not have to worry about sucking up to the boss -- because Rattner will be out of Washington.
Rattner may be leaving because Tim Geithner is secure as Treasury Secretary -- a position Rattner would no doubt savor -- or it could be to take care of some legal problems.
Since Rattner announced he would join the administration in February, he's gotten credit for helping to bail out Chrysler and GM, both of which filed for bankruptcy and appear well on their way to some form of rebirth, depending on the skill of their new CEOs. But Ron Bloom, who will take over from Rattner, may have done much of the work. Lou Gerstner, the former CEO of International Business Machines (IBM), about whom I posted last week has criticized Rattner for his lack of industrial experience. I hope Gerstner ends up running GM.
GO HERE to read more.
Alleged KKK Member Arrested In Israel
By Jeffrey Heller, Reuters
JERUSALEM (July 14) - When Micky Mayon fled the United States, where he faced firearms charges, the alleged member of an anti-Semitic white supremacist group chose what he might have seen as a perfect hideout -- the Jewish state.
Mayon, 32, of Steelton, Pa., was arrested in Tel Aviv on Monday by an Israeli law enforcement unit that searches for illegal migrants. He had been on the run for two years.
GO HERE to read more.
YOU Decide
Two men, two tales. Click on these videos and then YOU decide.
Please let me know what you think.
God Bless America
DELAWARE VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY WINS 4 NATIONAL AWARDS
Watermark Productions, a Milford, DE based video production company, recently won 4 awards in two separate video competitions.
The 29th Annual Telly Awards honors the finest video and film projects in the United States. Watermark Productions won a Telly for the design and production of an interactive demo DVD for Alfano Communications. The entry won in the Use of Animation category. Watermark also collected a Telly award for its own interactive DVD in the Production Company/Ad Agency Demo Reel category.
Watermark Productions also was awarded two Videographer Awards. Judged by the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals, Watermark was cited for having ‘talent that exceeds a higher standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry’.
The top award, Award of Excellence, was presented to Watermark Productions for its 30-second TV commercial for Dover International Speedway entitled “Big Wheels of NASCAR”. The spot aired nationally on Fox and ABC to promote the 2009 NASCAR series at Dover. An Award of Distinction was also given to Watermark for a marketing video produced for Monster Racing, Inc. of Dover. Monster Racing provides a fantasy NASCAR driving experience to guests at Dover International Speedway.
Watermark Productions is owned and operated by Bill & Josh Sammons, a father-son team who are natives of Milton, DE. They provide script to screen video production services to ad agencies, companies, and non-profit organizations. Watermark recently acquired high definition equipment and offers both standard & high definition production to its clients.
The award winning video projects, and other work, can be viewed online at http://www.watermark-productions.com.
The 29th Annual Telly Awards honors the finest video and film projects in the United States. Watermark Productions won a Telly for the design and production of an interactive demo DVD for Alfano Communications. The entry won in the Use of Animation category. Watermark also collected a Telly award for its own interactive DVD in the Production Company/Ad Agency Demo Reel category.
Watermark Productions also was awarded two Videographer Awards. Judged by the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals, Watermark was cited for having ‘talent that exceeds a higher standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry’.
The top award, Award of Excellence, was presented to Watermark Productions for its 30-second TV commercial for Dover International Speedway entitled “Big Wheels of NASCAR”. The spot aired nationally on Fox and ABC to promote the 2009 NASCAR series at Dover. An Award of Distinction was also given to Watermark for a marketing video produced for Monster Racing, Inc. of Dover. Monster Racing provides a fantasy NASCAR driving experience to guests at Dover International Speedway.
Watermark Productions is owned and operated by Bill & Josh Sammons, a father-son team who are natives of Milton, DE. They provide script to screen video production services to ad agencies, companies, and non-profit organizations. Watermark recently acquired high definition equipment and offers both standard & high definition production to its clients.
The award winning video projects, and other work, can be viewed online at http://www.watermark-productions.com.
9/12 Mania: Massive Tea Party Storms D.C.
Patriots take fight for America directly to Capitol Hill
By Chelsea Schilling© 2009 WorldNetDaily
Thousands of taxpayers from across the nation are planning to descend on Washington, D.C., to take their fight against excessive spending, bailouts, growth of big government and soaring deficits to the front door of the U.S. Capitol – and they say lawmakers can't hide from their loud and clear message.
Fox News' Glenn Beck has been promoting the 9-12 Project to bring citizens back "to the place we were on September 12, 2001."
"The day after America was attacked we were not obsessed with Red States, Blue States or political parties," the 9-12 Project website states. "We were united as Americans, standing together to protect the values and principles of the greatest nation ever created."
GO HERE to read more.
Salisbury Police Department Press Releases
On July 10, 2009 at approximately 10:05 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on a warrant obtained by Salisbury detectives for a theft that occurred in June of this year. During that time the suspect took electronic equipment and a debit card from a vehicle on Ohio Avenue. The suspect then used the debit card at a store on South Salisbury Boulevard.
ARRESTED: Randy Darnell Cooper, 34 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES:
Theft (under $ 500) – 2 counts
Credit card offenses (5 counts)
Rogue and vagabond
Fraud – identity theft
Theft (under $ 100)
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200900024143
On July 10, 2009 at approximately 1:42 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department arrested the below listed suspect on a warrant obtained for an assault that occurred the previous day. On July 9, officers met with a female victim at a residence on the eleven-hundred (1100) block of Parsons Road. The victim had been assaulted by the suspect who was known to her during a domestic type argument. During the assault the victim was struck in the facial area.
ARRESTED: Robert Martin Parker, 40 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Second degree assault
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200900021171
On July 11, 2009 at approximately 12:31 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on a warrant obtained for an investigation that began in 2008. During that time the suspect was found to be in possession of suspected “fake” crack/cocaine.
ARRESTED: Shawn Lakeith Franklin, 20 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES:
Possession of fake CDS w/intent to distribute
Possession of a noncontrolled CDS as a cont. sub.
Possession of CDS/paraphernalia
Obstructing and hindering an investigation
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200800033684
On July 11, 2009 at approximately 3:41 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the seven hundred (700) block of Camden Avenue for the report of an assault. Upon arrival the officers found that the below listed suspect had assaulted a female victim during an argument. The suspect was located and taken into custody. The female was not injured.
ARRESTED: Dale Edward Wilson, 27 years of age Seaford, Delaware
CHARGES: Second degree assault
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200900024273
On July 11, 2009 at approximately 7:27 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Food Lion Store on Nanticoke Road for the report of a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officers met with a store employee who advised the officers that the below listed suspect had been observed by employees taking food from the business without making any attempts at payment before leaving the area. The officers located the suspect and recovered the food, which was returned to the store.
ARRESTED: Sandra Anne Foreman, 43 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Theft (under $ 100)
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200900024354
On July 12, 2009 at approximately 5:26 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to a residence on the four hundred (400) block of Harden Court for the report of an assault. Upon arrival, the officers met with a female victim who advised that she had been assaulted by the below listed suspect who was known to her. The victim advised that during a domestic-type argument, the suspect struck the victim on the leg with a baseball bat. The victim did not require medical attention.
ARRESTED: Patrick (nmn) Dennis, Sr., 40 years of age Millsboro, Delaware
CHARGES:
First degree assault
Second degree assault
Reckless endangerment
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200900024405
AMAZING
I just received a nice letter from the HCEA (Harford County Education Association).
In this polite, well written, appeal I am informed that the HCEA has just formed a "New Teacher Store".
The purpose of This "New Teacher Store" is to supply "New Teachers" with school supplies....you know - poster paints, poster board, rubber bands, 12 inch rulers, staplers and etc. so that they can teach our children. Seems that teachers are finding it necessary to purchase these items out of their own personal funds. The letter goes on to ask local businesses to donate dollars to the "New Teachers Store" so that new teachers do not get frustrated and quit..
This truly amazes me. While the well heeled Councilman Mr. Dion Guthrie strives mightily to push, promote and insist on $87,000 Astro Turf Fields so our kids do not get muddy when playing ball (is this a campaign to eliminate washing machines???), our teachers go wanting and find it necessary to supply School Supplies out of their own pockets.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?? From reading this I conclude that the Education priorities in Harford County are way off base.
First: You would think that the HCEA, a powerful well funded union, could pony up the necessary supplies. Instead they beg them from the overtaxed local businesses that are already forced to support a bloated (with frivolous, ill thought out spending) school budgets.
Second: You would think that the local school boards would include these supplies in their budgets. I ask you, "How many rubber bands and etc. can you buy with the funds, $87,000.00, for just one Astro Turf field Mr. Dion Guthrie???". You make many so appeals for increased capital spending yet nary a rubber band in sight.
Third: Instead of refurbishing the Bel Air school for $15, 000,000.00, the School Board and Mr. Dion Guthrie, insist on building a new school for $85,000,000.00. Instead of building "Temporary Class Rooms" for around $10,000,000.00 to reduce potential over crowding, the School Board and Mr. Dion Guthrie insist on building new $85,000.000.00 schools. Harford County is groaning under a Capita Budget of millions and millions of dollars adding MILLIONS AND MILLIONS to our tax burden, YET, OUR TEACHERS MUST BUY SCHOOL SUPPLIES OUT OF PERSONAL FUNDS.
My humble observations:
Mr. Dion Guthrie's priorities are misguided. He would rather build new schools and cover ball fields with Astro turf, AND INCREASE OUR TAXES, while our teachers pay for school supplies out of their own pockets.
Our School Board would rather increase their Capital Budgets, increasing OUR TAXES, while our teachers are forced to pay for school supplies.
I could be polite and say "That there are many egregious errors in judgment affecting our Education Budget" or I could say it in plain English "THERE ARE TOO MANY STUPID PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OUR TAX DOLLARS." Come election day, use the power of the people and throw the stupid fools out of office before they spend us into the "Poor House"..
Sincerely,
Tony Passaro
Bel Air Tea Party Coalition
In this polite, well written, appeal I am informed that the HCEA has just formed a "New Teacher Store".
The purpose of This "New Teacher Store" is to supply "New Teachers" with school supplies....you know - poster paints, poster board, rubber bands, 12 inch rulers, staplers and etc. so that they can teach our children. Seems that teachers are finding it necessary to purchase these items out of their own personal funds. The letter goes on to ask local businesses to donate dollars to the "New Teachers Store" so that new teachers do not get frustrated and quit..
This truly amazes me. While the well heeled Councilman Mr. Dion Guthrie strives mightily to push, promote and insist on $87,000 Astro Turf Fields so our kids do not get muddy when playing ball (is this a campaign to eliminate washing machines???), our teachers go wanting and find it necessary to supply School Supplies out of their own pockets.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?? From reading this I conclude that the Education priorities in Harford County are way off base.
First: You would think that the HCEA, a powerful well funded union, could pony up the necessary supplies. Instead they beg them from the overtaxed local businesses that are already forced to support a bloated (with frivolous, ill thought out spending) school budgets.
Second: You would think that the local school boards would include these supplies in their budgets. I ask you, "How many rubber bands and etc. can you buy with the funds, $87,000.00, for just one Astro Turf field Mr. Dion Guthrie???". You make many so appeals for increased capital spending yet nary a rubber band in sight.
Third: Instead of refurbishing the Bel Air school for $15, 000,000.00, the School Board and Mr. Dion Guthrie, insist on building a new school for $85,000,000.00. Instead of building "Temporary Class Rooms" for around $10,000,000.00 to reduce potential over crowding, the School Board and Mr. Dion Guthrie insist on building new $85,000.000.00 schools. Harford County is groaning under a Capita Budget of millions and millions of dollars adding MILLIONS AND MILLIONS to our tax burden, YET, OUR TEACHERS MUST BUY SCHOOL SUPPLIES OUT OF PERSONAL FUNDS.
My humble observations:
Mr. Dion Guthrie's priorities are misguided. He would rather build new schools and cover ball fields with Astro turf, AND INCREASE OUR TAXES, while our teachers pay for school supplies out of their own pockets.
Our School Board would rather increase their Capital Budgets, increasing OUR TAXES, while our teachers are forced to pay for school supplies.
I could be polite and say "That there are many egregious errors in judgment affecting our Education Budget" or I could say it in plain English "THERE ARE TOO MANY STUPID PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OUR TAX DOLLARS." Come election day, use the power of the people and throw the stupid fools out of office before they spend us into the "Poor House"..
Sincerely,
Tony Passaro
Bel Air Tea Party Coalition
Stella Awards
Stella Awards
It's time again for the annual 'Stella Awards'! For those unfamiliar with these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck, who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's in New Mexico where she purchased coffee. You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving. Who would ever think one could get burned doing that, right? That's right; these are awards for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts in the U.S. You know, the kinds of cases that make you scratch your head. So keep your head scratcher handy. Here are the Stella's for the past year:
* FIFTH PLACE *
Goes to Terrence Dickson, of Bristol , Pennsylvania , who was leaving a house he had just burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Dickson, the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house, because the door connecting the garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled it shut. Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT days, and survive on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food, he sued the homeowner's insurance company, claiming undue mental anguish. Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Dickson $500,000 for his anguish. We should all have this kind of anguish.
Keep scratching. There are more.
Double hand scratching after this one..
* FOURTH PLACE *
Jerry Williams, of Little Rock, Arkansas, garnered 4th Place in the Stella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. Williams did not get as much as he asked for, because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite, because Williams had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.
Pick a new spot to scratch, you're getting a bald spot..
* THIRD PLACE *
Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania wins, because a jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone. The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms .. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions?
Only two more, so ease up on the scratching....
*SECOND PLACE*
Kara Walton, of Claymont , Delaware sued the owner of a night club in a nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth. Even though Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000....oh, yeah, plus dental expenses. Go figure.
OK. Here we go!!!!!
* FIRST PLACE
This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was: Mrs. Merv Grazinski, of Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , who purchased a new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home, from an OU football game, having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back20of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, are you sitting down?
$1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home. Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.
Are we, as a society, getting more stupid.... or are more members of Congress serving on juries these days?
It's time again for the annual 'Stella Awards'! For those unfamiliar with these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck, who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's in New Mexico where she purchased coffee. You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving. Who would ever think one could get burned doing that, right? That's right; these are awards for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts in the U.S. You know, the kinds of cases that make you scratch your head. So keep your head scratcher handy. Here are the Stella's for the past year:
* FIFTH PLACE *
Goes to Terrence Dickson, of Bristol , Pennsylvania , who was leaving a house he had just burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Dickson, the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house, because the door connecting the garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled it shut. Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT days, and survive on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food, he sued the homeowner's insurance company, claiming undue mental anguish. Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Dickson $500,000 for his anguish. We should all have this kind of anguish.
Keep scratching. There are more.
Double hand scratching after this one..
* FOURTH PLACE *
Jerry Williams, of Little Rock, Arkansas, garnered 4th Place in the Stella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. Williams did not get as much as he asked for, because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite, because Williams had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.
Pick a new spot to scratch, you're getting a bald spot..
* THIRD PLACE *
Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania wins, because a jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone. The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms .. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions?
Only two more, so ease up on the scratching....
*SECOND PLACE*
Kara Walton, of Claymont , Delaware sued the owner of a night club in a nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth. Even though Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000....oh, yeah, plus dental expenses. Go figure.
OK. Here we go!!!!!
* FIRST PLACE
This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was: Mrs. Merv Grazinski, of Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , who purchased a new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home, from an OU football game, having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back20of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, are you sitting down?
$1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home. Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.
Are we, as a society, getting more stupid.... or are more members of Congress serving on juries these days?
Chicago Cubs Consider Bankruptcy Filing
As the Tribune Co. looks to sell its Chicago Cubs baseball team, with the Ricketts family looking like the most likely buyer, the company is reportedly considering putting the team into bankruptcy to speed up the process.
A Chicago Cubs bankruptcy would make it the first team to file since the Seattle Pilots in 1970; the team played one season (1969) and then filed for bankruptcy. It was then sold to future Commissioner Bud Selig who moved the team to Milwaukee and changed the name to the Brewers.
An unnamed source told Fox Business that a bankruptcy filing "is an option that is under consideration. It amounts to what would be a potential way of clearing the team from any other liabilities and claims. It could be a relatively short process."
Putting the team in bankruptcy would help extricate it from Tribune's own bankruptcy woes, and allow for a cleaner, quicker sale to the Ricketts family.
GO HERE to read more.
A True Welcome Home To A HERO
A true Welcome Home to a HERO.
Killed in action the week before, the body of Staff Sergeant First Class John C. Beale was returned to Falcon Field in Peachtree City , Georgia , just south of Atlanta , on June 11, 2009 .
The Henry County Police Department escorted the procession to the funeral home in McDonough , Georgia . A simple notice in local papers indicated the road route to be taken and the approximate time.
Nowadays one can be led to believe that America no longer respects honor and no longer honors sacrifice outside the military. Be it known that there are many places in this land where people still recognize the courage and impact of total self-sacrifice. Georgia remains one of those graceful places. The link below is a short travelogue of that day's remarkable and painful journey. But only watch this if you wish to have some of your faith in people restored.
Click below for the video. Turn up your speakers !!!
"Hung"
On Saturday afternoon, I was sitting in my lawn chair; drinking beer and watching my wife mow the lawn. The neighbor lady from across the street was so outraged that she came over and shouted at me, "You should be hung!"
I took a drink from my can of Budweiser, wiped the cold foam from my lips, lifted my darkened Ray Ban sunglasses, stared directly into the eyes of this nosy ass neighbor, and then calmly replied, "I am! That is why she cuts the grass."
I took a drink from my can of Budweiser, wiped the cold foam from my lips, lifted my darkened Ray Ban sunglasses, stared directly into the eyes of this nosy ass neighbor, and then calmly replied, "I am! That is why she cuts the grass."
Remote Security Locks
I locked my car --- as I walked away I heard my car door unlock I went back and locked my car again three times. I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car in the fire lane next to the store. When I looked straight at them they did not unlock my car again.
How to lock your car safely -
While traveling, my son stopped at a roadside park. He came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later and found someone had gotten into his car, and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator briefcase.....you name it...
He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into - the police told him that there is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain locking device..
They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and have a few minutes to steal and run. The police officer said to manually lock your car door-by hitting the lock button inside the car, that way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim it will not be you.
When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting...it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your key chain - it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be stolen. Something totally new to us...and real.
Be aware of this and please pass this note on...look how many times we all lock our doors with our remote...just to be sure we remembered to lock them....and bingo someone has our code...and whatever was in the car...can be stolen.
How to lock your car safely -
While traveling, my son stopped at a roadside park. He came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later and found someone had gotten into his car, and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator briefcase.....you name it...
He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into - the police told him that there is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain locking device..
They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and have a few minutes to steal and run. The police officer said to manually lock your car door-by hitting the lock button inside the car, that way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim it will not be you.
When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting...it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your key chain - it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be stolen. Something totally new to us...and real.
Be aware of this and please pass this note on...look how many times we all lock our doors with our remote...just to be sure we remembered to lock them....and bingo someone has our code...and whatever was in the car...can be stolen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)