Salisbury News

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Public To Get First Glimpse Of King Memorial

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tourists and Washingtonians were about to get their first up-close look Monday at the memorial to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

The site was set to open without fanfare around 11 a.m. to kick off a week of celebrations ahead of Sunday's official dedication.

The memorial sits on the National Mall near the Tidal Basin, between memorials honoring Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. It includes a 30-foot-tall sculpture of King and a 450-foot-long granite wall inscribed with 14 quotations from the civil rights leader.

White House Set To Ax Hundreds Of Regs

(VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass.) — The White House is revealing plans to save businesses $10 billion by scrapping hundreds of government regulations found to be outdated, unfair or unnecessary.

Administration officials say the savings will be realized over a five-year period. The plan was described Tuesday by Cass Sunstein, administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, in a column in the Wall Street Journal in advance of a formal announcement as President Barack Obama vacations at Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

Two Nuclear Reactors Taken Offline Near Quake Site In Virginia

DEVELOPING: An unusually strong magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Virginia Tuesday afternoon, sending tremors along the East Coast of the United States.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was a half a mile deep and struck near Mineral, Va., a city in central Virginia about 83 miles from Washington, D.C. The area is known for its seismic activity, but does not generally produce large earthquakes.

Each year I am able to break away from Salisbury News and take a mini vacation. Last week we did just that.

This go around we took 4 days to visit Family in Virginia Beach and two long days at Bush Gardens.

I have to be truthful. I haven't been to Bush Gardens for more than 30 years, so I knew it would be a good time. Talk about a complete turn around, (ride wise). There wasn't a single ride I/we didn't enjoy. Rides have become far more comfortable and the thrill of the new rides far exceeds amusement rides of the past.

The image above was taken on the Bay Bridge Tunnel. No other vacation pictures will be posted, I'm sure you know why.

The Relevancy Of Ron Paul vs. The Coming Irrelevancy Of The Status-Quo

On the heels of the Ames Straw Poll results, we find the media doing almost exactly that which Neil Cavuto proposed as a hypothetical situation during his interview with Dr. Paul from the Straw Poll grounds. Namely – what if you do well, and no one reports it? As expected by everyone with even a partial brain, Ron Paul did fantastically well in the Straw Poll. His message of individual liberty, sound money and free trade with all – minus the financial and military entanglements that have helped bring us to the brink of ruin – is resounding so strongly with people everywhere that the two candidates best thought by many to represent the popular freedom message, were able to capture over 9000 votes between them. That they did so in the very heartland of America is an implacable declaration of what people are looking for in their next president. Granted, Ms. Bachman can’t really pass muster as a liberty candidate in most of her actions and votes, but she initially sounds good trying and the media were ecstatic, touting her first place victory from the highest media mountaintops. Ron Paul finished by capturing such a close second place win that 153 more votes would have put him in the lead. Even crickets would have been astounded at the total silence that accompanied Dr. Paul’s achievement. None of the grassroots were too surprised, however. We’ve been watching the media play the same disgusting marginalization games since 2007. We predicted it would happen too, but didn’t waste breath on the idea that it might be “hypothetical”. Regardless, I salute Mr. Cavuto for actually pointing out the possibility that not only might the emperor be waltzing about buck-naked on the morrow, but he’d likely be stinking drunk as well. It’s about time. The media has been complicit in the slow erosion of liberty and the disintegration of our Republic for far, far too long.

More

QUOTE OF THE DAY 8-23-11

“He who fights with monsters might take care lest he himself becomes a monster. If you gaze long enough into the abyss, sometimes the abyss gazes back.”

Friedrich Nietzsche

Bernanke May Have To Go For 'Shock And Awe'

"If the Fed really is going to go down the route of another round of unconventional policy making, I think they've got to go in for, what I called, shock and awe," Russell Jones, Global Head of Fixed Income Strategy at Westpac Institutional Bank told CNBC on Monday....The recent stock market rout has already wiped out more than 10 percent from major indices. ... "If we really are in trouble at the end of the week, I think they'll have to respond," Jones said. ... Frankly, Bernanke and the Fed are desperately trying to keep a big secret from the American people. The US has been in a depression since 2009 with the collapse in real estate and the dollar. Only their manipulation of the stock market has kept the American people from seeing, in their portfolio and retirement plan statements, how bad the situation really is. – CNBC

Wall Street Aristocracy Got $1.2 Trillion From The FED

Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke's unprecedented effort to keep the economy from plunging into depression included lending banks and other companies as much as $1.2 trillion of public money, about the same amount U.S. homeowners currently owe on 6.5 million delinquent and foreclosed mortgages. ... according to a Bloomberg News compilation of data obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, months of litigation and an act of Congress. "These are all whopping numbers," said Robert Litan, a former Justice Department official who in the 1990s served on a commission probing the causes of the savings and loan crisis. "You're talking about the aristocracy of American finance going down the tubes without the federal money." – Bloomberg

This Just In

A reader from Caroline County just called to say they had an earthquake there as well.

Salisbury Maryland Earthquake?

The courthouse is being evacuated right now. Our Downtown Office just shook like crazy. We'll keep you posted.

The Political Flow Chart

When top level guys look down,

they see only sh!theads;

When bottom level guys look up,

they see only a-holes.

I have never seen a Flow Chart described so clearly.

Founder Of Beads Of Courage Organization To Visit Salisbury August 27

Jean Baruch, a pediatric oncology nurse, was good at hanging IV bags and checking vital signs, but she had a harder time helping her young patients deal with the emotional effects of having cancer. "I wanted to encourage them to express their pain and fear, but I didn't know how," she says. "It was very frustrating."
She discovered a solution while working at one of Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang summer camps.

The camp, which hosts children and families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses, gave Baruch unique insight into how kids play. She noticed that campers of all ages love beading. They spend hours making necklaces and bracelets, then trade or share them with friends and family. "The kids wear the beads for days at a time, even in the shower," she notes. "It seems to make them feel good."

Hoping that beads could cheer up young cancer patients in hospitals the same way they do at camp, Baruch founded Beads of Courage in 2004.

Children who participate in the program receive colored beads that represent milestones, procedures, and acts of bravery. For instance, they get a yellow bead for an overnight hospital stay, a white one for chemotherapy, and a glow-in-the-dark bead for radiation treatment. It's not uncommon for children to amass 10, 20 -- even 35 -- feet of beads. It helps young patients track and celebrate their progress, but it also gives them a way to get through upcoming procedures.

Today the nonprofit organization supports more than 15,000 children in more than 90 hospitals in the United States, Japan, and New Zealand and is funded exclusively by private donations. With the help of participating hospitals, Beads of Courage is also constantly evolving. Baruch and her team have expanded the program to include many conditions and diseases. They also focus on other ways the arts can help families dealing with a serious illness. There is only one participating hospital in MD (Johns Hopkins) and one in Delaware (AI duPont Hospital for Children).

Baruch will be a keynote speaker on Salisbury August 27 at The Holiday Inn for the Salisbury Beads of Courage event (6:30 pm, Aug 27) to support this program and the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Oncology Department. For event information call Steven Rumney (Hill Street Productions) at 410-251-2804.

Denny’s Helps Dominick

Fundraiser supports student’s trip to DC

Salisbury, MD (Aug. 17, 2011) – Denny’s restaurant recently held a community fundraiser for Dominick Jackson to raise money so he can attend the National Young Reader’s conference in Washington D.C. on Sept. 17.

The total amount needed for the sixth grader at Wicomico Middle School was more than $2,000. Denny’s is happy to report they brought in $200 from generous diners.

Dominick was chosen to attend the conference because of his outstanding academic school career. He formerly attended Pinehurst Elementary School and was nominated for the leadership council trip by its school counselors.

Dominick also had the top reading and math scores in his class while at Pinehurst. He was a member of the Chess Club and the Math Club, where he competed in a county-wide event. His elementary school tied with another for first place. He also plays trumpet in the band.

In order for Dominick to receive proceeds of 20 percent of a donor’s food check at Denny’s, he distributed flyers to businesses, friends and family to come out to the restaurant and have a meal.

“We greeted everyone at the door with a smile and asked them to join us for the fundraiser to help him out,” says Julie Stewart, Community Events Coordinator for Rommel’s Holdings in Fruitland. “He was so cute and polite, and I know that all paid off because he ended up receiving $200!

Dominick is the son of Jennifer Jackson, who is quite proud of his accomplishments. “We raised all of the money,” she says. “But any additional monies he can raise will go toward spending money and other items at the conference.”

Any additional donations to help with Dominick’s trip can be made by calling 443-614-9814.

The Illusion Of Safety

Recent incidents of violence in Norway and London have made us understandably uncomfortable here at home, as many fear that a worsening economy will lead to violence and unrest in American cities. This is why Congress must view the economy as its first priority and a matter of national security: unless and until we get our fiscal house in order to foster economic growth, civil society will continue to deteriorate.

The fundamental lesson every American should learn from these incidents is that government cannot protect us. No matter how many laws we pass, no matter how many police or federal agents we put on the streets, a determined individual or group can still cause great harm. Both Norway and England have strict gun control laws, and London in particular has security cameras monitoring nearly all public areas. But laws and spy cameras are useless in the face of lawless mobs or sick mass killers. Only private individuals on the scene could have prevented or lessened these tragedies. And we should remember that theft, arson, and property damage were not the only criminal acts in London – innocent bystanders were assaulted and killed as well. In those instances deadly force used in self-defense would have been fully justified.

Perhaps the only good that can come from these terrible events is a reinforced understanding that we as individuals are responsible for our safety and the safety of our families. This means, frankly, that we must safely own and use firearms to deter or prevent criminal assaults on our homes and persons. It is absurd to think police or government agents can protect 310 million Americans around the clock.

More

Enjoy S’mores, Fishing And Night Hikes At Pemberton Park This September

Summer may be ending as school goes back into session, but the outdoor adventures will continue at Pemberton Historical Park this September. Three family–friendly programs are on tap next month including a Back to School Campfire, Cane Poles Program and a Full Moon Hike. Those with a passion for cycling can also ride through 300 years of history this month during the West Wicomico Heritage Ride.

On Friday, September 2 at 7:30 P.M., Pemberton Historical Park will hold a Back to School Campfire. Families can re-live the summer with stories, jokes, skits, games and sticky s’mores. Everyone is invited back to the park on Saturday, September 3 at 1:00 P.M. for a Cane Poles Program. During this program, a Park Naturalist will teach attendees how to make their own bamboo cane fishing poles. Afterwards, families can take their finished poles down to the pond to try it out on several species of freshwater fish. Participants will also learn how to spot a great fishing hole, what bait works best and where the fish hide out. On Monday, September 12 the park will host a Full Moon Hike at 9:00 P.M. The moon will be full and high for a hike through the park’s beautiful nature trails. Guests can take a stroll and search for nocturnal animals such as foxes and flying squirrels on their way! Advanced registration is not required for any of the above programs. Each program is $6 per person or $18 for a family of four and is free to members of the park.

September will also see the return of the Annual West Wicomico Heritage Bike Tour, which will take place on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 7:30 A.M. This bike tour of western Wicomico County takes riders across 300 years of Maryland History. Riders begin their day at Pemberton Historical Park where Common Grounds Coffee Shop will have breakfast items available for purchase. From there, participants explore such towns as the scenic riverfront community of Whitehaven, Hebron and Quantico, as well as Bivalve’s beautiful Cedar Hill Marina. Folks will end their ride back at Pemberton Historical Park with a picnic complete with food, live music from Alex and Shiloh and beer sales (valid ID required). All proceeds go to support the Whitehaven Heritage Association and Pemberton Historical Park. The registration fee is $40 for adults and $15 for children 8-18. To register, please visit www.pembertonpark.org.

Visualizing How Bank Of America's Reserve Accounting Errors Are One Giant "Subprime CDO "

About a month ago we penned an article titled (and asking) "Is Brian Lin The Next Incarnation Of Joe Cassano [10]?" in which we sought to demonstrate just on what flimsy ground Bank of America has based its litigation reserve assumptions: a topic that since then has become the biggest sticking point in the BAC bull thesis. Considering that since then, Bank of America default risk has exploded by over 150% and the stock price has plummeted by half, at least some have grasped the severity of a situation when incremental flawed assumptions are magnified level after level, until we finally get what, as Manal Mehta terms it, is a Bank of America "Subprime CDO." Since this issue is extremely important to the future of the financial system (a bankruptcy of Bank of America would be hundreds of times more severe than Lehman's), below we present in visual, and thus easy to comprehend, format what we previously explaining in a narrative [10] and which once again brings us to our question: will the man behind the BAC litigation reserve fraud be responsible for the next iteration of an AIG-type implosion?
Here is what we said a month ago:

“As an example, even if just the last assumption were changed from Countrywide and Bank of America having to repurchase all, rather than just 40%, of loans that were both in default and breached Countrywide's representations and warranties, then Mr. Lin's estimate of a reasonable settlement would rise from a range of $8.8 to $11 billion to a range of $22 to $27.5 billion. Modifying any of his other three assumptions would cause that range to rise much more."”

Number Of Delinquent Mortgages Sneaks Back Up

After several quarters of decreasing mortgage delinquency rates, that number saw a slight uptick in the second quarter of 2011, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's latest survey data.

More »

Anti-Tax Governors Are OK With Commuter Toll Hikes

Starting next month, thousands of commuters who use the EZ Pass system to cross the bridges and tunnels between New Jersey and New York will pay 19 percent more in tolls, or an additional $1.50 for each trip, the governors of the two states have announced.

Further fare increases will be phased in over time, eventually costing EZ Pass users an extra $4.50 for each trip, a 56-percent increase over five years.

Those who pay in cash, meanwhile, will face an immediate 50-percent hike under the plan, as The New York Times reports. For commuters entering Manhattan via the Holland or Lincoln tunnels, that amounts to $12 for each trip instead of the current $8.

The governors' proposal, which is likely to be ratified today (August 19) by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is less costly for commuters than the one the transit agency originally proposed. But it nevertheless represents significant toll hikes for drivers and rail passengers, and it underscores the nuanced positions that the two states' chief executives, Republican Chris Christie of New Jersey and Democrat Andrew Cuomo of New York, have taken when it comes to revenues.

More

'Weird Laws' In Maryland

GO HERE

Schools Impose New Immigration Checks

IMMIGRATION RULES HIT THE CLASSROOM: A new immigration policy at Georgia’s five most competitive colleges has so far resulted in only one illegal immigrant being turned away after being accepted. A policy adopted by Georgia’s Board of Regents last October requires that students prove legal immigration status before they can enroll at any state college that turned away qualified candidates in the past two years, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. That currently includes the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, Georgia College and State University and Georgia Health Sciences University. Georgia State turned away one student who had been preliminarily accepted, while Georgia Tech canceled the applications for three academically qualified applicants when it learned they were illegal immigrants.

In Alabama, meanwhile, a new immigration law requiring public schools to document the immigration status of their students hasn’t led to reduced Hispanic enrollment, school officials tell the Associated Press. The law doesn’t bar illegal immigrants from attending schools, but requires school districts to keep track of how many illegal immigrants are enrolled so the state can estimate the cost of educating them. Schools code students differently, based on their immigration status, Education Week previously reported.
More

Radio Shack's Hassle-Free Replacement Plan Full Of Hassles, Doesn't Replace Item

While buying headsets at Radio Shack,Orlando let himself be talked into buying the Shack's replacement plan for the item. There's no hassle to using the plan, the salesperson assured him, but he probably should have realized that there is no such thing as "no hassle" at Radio Shack. While the plan replaced a broken headset, there was plenty of hassle, and the plan didn't fully replace the item.

More »

Fill In The Blank 8-23-11

Mama always told me to_____.

Wicomico County Watershed Implementation Plan Phase II -- Stakeholder Meeting

This is the EPA's latest scam to save the Bay -- TMDL allocations, etc. -- joyously embraced by WET and it cohorts.

link: http://www.wicomicocounty.org/news/2011_news/PhaseIIWIP_Flier_08302011.pdf

Police Stop Man Attempting To Ignite Fireworks From Jeep At National Mall

A Florida man is under arrest after police say he intended to ignite a large amount of fireworks at the National Mall in Washington, MyFoxDC.com reported Tuesday.

The arrested was made Monday night at the Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda, Md.

BREAKING NEWS: Judge Dismisses Charges Against DSK

A New York Judge has dismissed criminal sexual assault charges against former IMF leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

From Fox News

How To Ease Post-Sunburn Discomfort

Nothing makes you regret spending too much time outside more than waking up the next day with torched, irritated skin from a sunburn. When you're suffering from the condition, there are home remedies aplenty to soothe the pain and help your skin recover quickly.

More »

Virginia GOP Knocks Maryland’s O’Malley

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) and Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) mostly played nice with one another during a joint appearance on a Sunday talk show. On Monday, the Virginia Republican Party was not similarly restrained.

In a press release, the party quoted a blog item from the National Review Online that contrasted McDonnell’s recently announced $544 million budget surplus in Virginia with O’Malley’s acknowledgment Saturday that Maryland might have to raise taxes to help close a $1 billion budget shortfall.

More

A National Institutes of Health Employee Pled Guilty To Using Government Credit Cards For Personal Use

The Justice Department said Jihan Cover, a purchasing agent at the National Cancer Institute, used her government-issued cards to make more than 250 purchases including toys, books and clothes she bought on Amazon. She then had them delivered to her home. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250-thousand dollar fine.

New Posts Will Fall Below This One For A Few Hours

DOES THE DATA SHOW THAT MARYLAND’S LOWER SHORE IS GOING BUST?

The ongoing recession has impacted the four "lower shore" counties in Maryland to a much greater extent than the rest of the state, and even the counties in the western part of the State that are partly in the depressed Appalachia region. The counties in the central part of the State and in Southern Maryland have not been hit nearly as hard, thanks to the presence of highly paid federal and state employees and defense contractors. In fact, the so-called "metro" counties and those in Southern Maryland have somewhat less unemployment than the statewide average (7.1%), whereas those in Western Maryland and the lower shore average more than 10% with Worcester County having the highest (13.5%) during the first half of 2011.
Some business and economic "experts" such as SU’s Memo Diriker speculate that this is normal – that the lower shore lags behind the general economic trend – but perhaps they should reconsider why things may really be different and much worse this time because of certain longer term trends that are not clearly reflected in the data.

Including Allen Family Foods there now are only five poultry processors on the Delmarva Peninsula, whereas 35 years ago there were more than one dozen. And during that period look at the manufacturing firms that have abandoned Salisbury alone – Dresser-Wayne, Campbells, Comtec, Linens of the Week, to name a few. The effect of this exodus of employers may have been masked until recently by a boom in commercial, institutional and residential construction that has created a glut of unsold and vacant space of all kinds. Unless there is a major change in the broader economy, that condition (and very low growth and development) may continue for longer than just the foreseeable future, especially with the anti-development zoning and other regulations that are planned and being issued by the so-called environmental protectors – EPA, Maryland’s Departments of Planning, Environment, Natural Resources, etc. – and promoted by their acolytes, such as the Wicomico Environmental Trust, that will make future development very costly or impossible to do.

For some years now the poultry industry has been shifting away from Delmarva and expanding in states to the south and west (along with the population). Not only has the consumer market moved, but those who raise or process poultry elsewhere have lower costs of production – and guess who loses every time around in that scenario – as well as much friendlier state regulatory agencies. None of the lower shore counties is among the top twenty producers in the US – Somerset is now the biggest (at 25th) followed by Worcester (26th), Wicomico (36th) and Dorchester (63rd) according to data on DPI’s website. As recently as 1997, Wicomico – then the State’s leader in broilers – was in the top 10 counties in the country, and in 2002, three of the four lower shore counties were among the top 25 in the country. In short, the area is fading fast in its share of the national market and that trend appears irreversible. Were it not for the somewhat greater broiler production in Delaware, primarily Sussex County, there would probably be only a couple poultry processors on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Then there’s the reality that things – taxes, costs, etc. – are better in the states just a few miles away. Even "local" firms like Perdue are now locating/relocating offices in Delaware. In short, Maryland is significantly less attractive as a place to live or to have a business than the neighboring states – another trend that seems irreversible – so the short term picture as well as the longer one is not promising.

Because of special circumstances the central part of Maryland probably will continue to prosper in the long run largely because of its very well-paid governmental work force (state and federal) and quasi governmental employees (defense contractors, major hospitals, etc.) that are a source of greater wealth and growth. Indeed, that aspect of the economy can be seen on the lower shore. The unemployment rate in Wicomico County (8.6%), which has by far the largest governmental presence with both Salisbury University, regional state offices, and some federal offices, as well as the largest health care community, is significantly lower than in Dorchester (10.7%) Somerset (10.3% and Worcester (13.5%) – data from January-June, 2011. Unfortunately, however, the situation in the lower shore counties may be more pervasive and permanent than "experts" such as Dr. Diriker – himself a government employee – would have us believe, especially if government spending by the state is further curtailed. We may have entered uncharted waters – and better sound the foghorn.

How To Talk To Your Landlord

Considering that nearly 35 percent of Americans currently reside in approximately 40 million rental units throughout the country, it’s surprising that few people give much thought to how they communicate with their property manager or landlord. Nearly every one of these landlord-tenant relationships last a minimum of one year and some last many years, even decades.

The relationship that you have with your landlord can directly impact your lifestyle, comfort, image, and financial standing. Establishing a positive and healthy relationship with your landlord can go a long way in helping you live in the best conditions possible, getting you the fastest responses to maintenance requests, as well as keeping your rental rates reasonable. Here are some quick tips to help to maintain and improve landlord-tenant relations:

During your Rental Search
1. Know your expectations before searching for a property. If your requirements aren’t offered at a particular property, then move on. Don’t expect a landlord to add an unreasonable amount of amenities or upgrades to an existing rental. Find another other unit to meet your needs.

2. Submit completely accurate rental applications regardless of your shortcomings. Do not overstate your income or lie about credit problems. Landlords are increasingly open to working with challenged credit, especially if you are able to provide a clear explanation as to why your credit has suffered and expressing your desire to improve the situation. It’s recommended to send a pre-written letter with this information along with the rental application as it shows that some planning and thought went into your process. Lying on an application is almost always grounds for denial or later termination of a lease.

3. Ask good questions. These questions are the ones most important to you. In many cases landlords or agents are not required to disclose information that may be important to you so do your part and ask as many questions as necessary to get a good understanding of the property. It doesn’t help to be shy when searching for a home to rent!

4. Get it in writing. If a landlord has promised repairs, new carpet, new appliances, or anything else that will be done as a condition of your lease, be absolutely sure to get it in writing, preferably on the lease document itself. Anything less opens up the chance for miscommunication and leaves an opening for problems.
Promises don’t get things done. Written agreements do.

5. Read through the lease completely. This is a critical process. You are making legally binding guarantees regarding payments, upkeep, repairs, etc so read it thoroughly before you sign it. If possible ask for a copy the day before signing the lease so that you have enough time to read and think about any potential questions you may have.

More

Rural America To Get $103 Million For Broadband Access

Feds are helping rural America get better access to broadband. Telecommunications companies in 16 states will share more than $103 million in federal dollars to help expand broadband Internet access to underserved areas. The Agriculture Department, along with public interest groups, telecom companies and policymakers, hope to bridge the digital divide by providing broadband to the most remote pockets of the U.S. Jonathan Adelstein, USDA's rural utilities service administrator, said part of the challenge is creating a future for young people growing up in those rural communities. He said many feel there's no reason for them to stay if there's no access to broadband Internet services.

A Letter To The Editor 8-23-11

Could O'Malley's latest Growth Plan Imposed on Counties Possibly Spur Secession Move?

Taxation without representation - is at the core issue in O'Malley's latest growth plan.

People are skeptical of O'Malley - and for good reason. If the State imposes its will over Counties right to self-determination - Counties have right to secede.

This could very well be the impetus needed to drive such move as the individual Counties have no 'stake at the table' in determining their future.

Defense Secretary Said Military Cuts Won't Impact Current Service Members

No decisions have been made yet. But Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said if any changes come to the military retirement system, they won't impact current service members. The Defense Business Board's draft proposal would replace the current military retirement system with a 401-K-style plan. Veterans would also have to wait until normal retirement age to collect. The plan saves $250 billion over 20 years. It would require Congressional approval. While Panetta said he will not break faith with the current members of the service and retirees, that doesn't mean changes won't come later, for future service members. The Pentagon has said it is looking into the proposal.

Living Well, A Retired War Monger Speaks

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld talked at his ranch on the Big Hole River outside of Twin Bridges, Montana, with the Montana Standard.

Among his words of wisdom, he told the Standard:

Throughout history you’ll find that every time there is a retrenchment in funding for the military, the United States becomes involved in a war.

Maryland Authorizes Internationally Recognized Green Construction Code

Starting next year, jurisdictions in the state can choose to adopt an internationally accepted green building code for private and public construction. “This will make it easier and cheaper to build green,” said Stuart Kaplow, president of the U.S. Green Building Council of Maryland. The General Assembly passed House Bill 972 this spring, making Maryland the first state in the nation to authorize the voluntary use of the International Green Construction Code.

Continue Reading...

Today's Survey Question 8-23-11

Should American Taxpayers stand for the President and his Family flying to the same location 3 hours apart, using two jets, two security details, etc.?

Caption This Photo

The Fed Cannot Stave Off The Inevitable Market Revaluation

The Fed has yet to learn that you can't fool Mother Nature for very long, but it's about to get a punishing lesson.

Did the Federal Reserve's QE2 program last year simply push the inevitable stock market decline forward a few months? It would seem so. In Remind Us Again Why Anyone Should Own Stocks For the Next Two Years (August 3, 2011) and The Junkie in the Pool and False Idols: Faith in Wall Street and The Fed Has Has Eroded (August 10, 2011) I included a chart of the current S&P 500 plotted against the two Great Bear Markets of last century, the Great Depression-era Dow Jones Industrial Average (1929 crash) and the Nikkei stock market from 1989.

It certainly looked like all the Fed accomplished with its $600 billion QE2 was stave off the inevitable by a few months:

More

Social Security Disability Payments Could Dry Up In 2017

The Social Security disability fund may not be able to make payments come 2017, according to a new analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

More »

BREAKING NEWS: Rebels Reportedly Enter Qaddafi Compound

Libyan rebels enter Muammar Qaddafi's Tripoli compound, Sky News reports.

From Fox News

Man Gets 5 Life Terms For Md. Police Shootout

BALTIMORE - A Baltimore judge has sentenced a 37-year-old Catonsville man to five life terms, plus 80 years in prison for firing on police officers during a traffic stop.

Judge Edward R.K. Hargadon sentenced Bradrick Green on Monday to five life terms plus 80 years to be served consecutively and six life terms plus 38 years to be served concurrently. The first 65 years are to be served without the possibility of parole.

Back-Door Amnesty Backfires: Obama’s Approval Hits New Low Of 44% With Hispanics

(CNSNews.com) - In the same week that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that her department was going to review the cases of 300,000 illegal aliens in deportation proceedings and allow “low priority” cases to stay in the country and receive work permits—a move House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith called a “back door amnesty”—President Barack Obama’s approval dropped to an all-time low of 44 percent among Hispanics, according to Gallup polling data released today.

That is a drop of 41 points from the spring of 2009, when Obama’s approval among Hispanic Americans peaked at 85 percent (in the weeks that ended April 26, 2009 and May 17, 2009).

More

Murder-For-Hire Trial Begins In Killing Of Blind, Disabled Man

Brothers accused of carrying out killing orchestrated by pastor

Opening statements could come as early as Tuesday in the trial of two brothers accused of carrying out a murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by Baltimore pastor Kevin Pushia, who pleaded guilty to ordering the death of a legally blind and mentally disabled man to fraudulently collect $1.4 million in life insurance.

Brothers James Omar Clea III and Kareem Jamal Clea (pronounced "klee") are each charged with conspiring to kill Lemuel Wallace, a 37-year-old group-home resident who was shot in the head on Feb. 4, 2009, and left to die in a bathroom stall at Leakin Park.

Prosecutors claim that James Clea, 33, introduced Pushia to his brother, who was then paid $50,000 in church funds by the pastor to execute Wallace. Kareem Clea, who turns 28 on Thursday, is also charged with murder and various handgun violations.

BREAKING NEWS: New Home Sales Drop 0.7% In July

The Commerce Department reported sales of single-family homes dropped 0.7% to an annual-unit rate of 298,000 last month, missing expectations of 310,000 annual rate.

From Fox News

New Warning About Muslim Brotherhood’s Influence On White House From…Liberal Marxist Muslim

You‘ll never guess who’s now warning about a Muslim Brotherhood influence at the White House. Newt Gingrich? Nope. John Bolton? Not exactly.
Instead, it’s Canadian political activist, devout Muslim and self-described liberal Marxist, Tarek Fatah. Surprised?

Back in June, Fatah appeared at Ideacity, Canada’s “Premier meeting of the minds” to share his shocking viewpoints on both mainstream and radical Islam (including the Muslim Brotherhood). During his fascinating talk, Fatah said that “the religion of Islam is being used as a tool by a fascist force.” It is important to note that Fatah is also a Muslim. Perhaps most shocking, though, were his words about the Muslim Brotherhood and its relation to the American presidency. He said:

“Instead of bringing victory over the fascist forces of the Muslim Brotherhood, we now recognize that their infiltration is right up to the American White House, but we can’t say that.”

Watch these shocking words, below:

More

Underage Google Users And The 30-Cent Lies Parents Tell To Keep Their Kids Wired

On July 2, Alex Sutherland thought he'd hit the jackpot. The tech-savvy 10-year-old was able to log onto Google+ and set up his profile on Google's newly minted, and still very exclusive, social network, adding his parents to his Family Circle.

This is a boy who, according to a blog post by his father Martin, a Web developer and consultant in the Netherlands, can type 50 words per minute, is PowerPoint proficient and has had a Gmail account for almost two years. Snagging a Google+ account was monumental.

Addicted To Caffeine? Here's How To Wean Yourself

Once you've gotten to the point where you need caffeine to transform into a semblance of a normal person each day, it's probably a good idea to try to distance yourself from the drug.

More »

New Loan Limits Will Mean More Expensive Homes

WASHINGTON -- Looking for a more expensive house? Better get moving. An upcoming deadline will mean higher prices.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy most mortgages, but they won't buy home loans above certain dollar amounts. It's known as the conforming loan limit and those limits will be reduced Sept. 30.

Right now, the upper limit for a conventional loan is $729,750, meaning Fannie or Freddie can't back a loan above that amount. As of Sept. 30, the amount will be reduced to $625,500.

Congress voted to increase the loan limit in 2008 in response to the housing crisis to spur the sales of more expensive homes.

So why does the change matter? It's all about the interest rates.

Steve Cohen of First Place Bank says jumbo loans -- above the conforming loan limit -- carry higher interest rates compared to conventional loans since private investors handle them.

More

French Firefighters In Salisbury

The Salisbury Fire Department will be hosting a group of firefighters from France today and tomorrow as they finish a tour of the eastern United States. The representatives were in Salisbury many years ago and have renewed their interest in learning and sharing ideas that transcend the fire and emergency management challenges globally.

You are more than welcome to meet with them and please let me know if you have an interest.

Yours in service,

Jeff

Chief Jeff Simpson, MPA

Key Questions On Libya’s Coming Transition

Will Qaddafi and his cohorts be brought to justice?

It's likely that some of them will be tried, but it's not clear by whom. The international community seems to want one thing, but the rebels want another.

The International Criminal Court, the global war crimes court, is currently negotiating with rebels to get them to hand over Qaddafi's son [3] Seif al-Islam, whom the rebels appear to have captured yesterday. The court issued arrest warrants [4] earlier this year for Muammar Qaddafi, his son Seif al-Islam Qaddafi, and intelligence chief Abdullah Al Sanousi, having found "reasonable grounds to believe" that the three men had committed crimes against humanity in the form of murder and prosecution. (Read the decision [5] [PDF].)

The rebels have insisted on trying Qaddafi at home. A rebel spokesman told Sky News today: "We want to see him be tried in Libya and not in any other place in the world [6]." They have promised to give him a fair trial [7].

It's worth noting that it's not clear whether Libya is actually obligated to hand over Qaddafi. Along with the United States [8], Libya is one of a few countries that hasn't signed on to the ICC's founding treaty. But ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has said [9] that as a member of the United Nations, Libya and "any future government" in Libya is obligated to execute the warrants and turn over Qaddafi.

If the rebels do execute the warrants, an ICC trial would shield Qaddafi and his cohorts from the death penalty, which a trial in Libya would not.

Nonetheless, the United States and other countries cheered the news of the warrants when they were issued. It was the first time the United States had voted to refer an issue to the war crimes court, and as we noted, the United States only did so after including a carve-out that would shield Americans from investigation or prosecution by the court [10].

How much help have the United States and allies been giving the rebels?

More

Irate Football Dad Arrested After Biting 2 Cops

(CBS/AP)

INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis man upset at a youth football game bit two police officers.

Indianapolis Metro police say 27-year-old Dejuan Wells faces two felony counts each of battery and resisting arrest and misdemeanor counts of trespassing and disorderly conduct after his arrest Saturday on the city's southeast side.

WXIN reported that Wells, a parent of one of the players, was upset by the game-winning touchdown, yelling at the officials who allowed the play.

Standard & Poor's And The Bilderbergers: All Part Of The Plan?

What just happened in the stock market? Earlier this month, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose or fell by at least 400 points for four straight days, a stock market first.

The worst drop was on Monday, August 8, 2011, when the Dow plunged 624 points. Monday was the first day of trading after US Treasury bonds were downgraded from AAA to AA+ by Standard & Poor's (S&P).

But the roller coaster actually began on Tuesday, August 2, 2011, the day after the last-minute deal to raise the US debt ceiling - a deal that was supposed to avoid the downgrade that happened anyway five days later. The Dow changed directions for eight consecutive trading sessions after that, another first.

The volatility was unprecedented, leaving analysts at a loss to explain it. High-frequency program trading no doubt added to the wild swings, but why the daily reversals? Why didn't the market head down and just keep going, as it did in September 2008?

The plunge on August 8, 2011, was the worst since 2008 and the sixth-largest stock market crash ever. According to Der Spiegel, one of the most widely read periodicals in Europe:

Many economists have been pointing out that last week's panic resembled the fear that swept financial markets after the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers in September 2008.

Then as now, banks stopped lending each other money. Then as now, banks' cash deposits at the central bank doubled within days.

On Tuesday, August 9, however, the market gained more points from its low than it lost on Monday. Why? A tug of war seemed to be going on between two titanic forces, one bent on crashing the market, the other on propping it up.

More

Andy Harris Town Hall Meeting In Salisbury Tonight

Public Schedule for Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. – Tuesday, August 23, 2011

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Town Hall Meeting with residents of Wicomico County.

Adams Ribs

219 North Fruitland Boulevard

Fruitland, Maryland 21826

America Has A Secret Weapon

GO HERE

Jerry Leiber, "Hound Dog" Songwriter, Dead At 78

(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - Jerry Leiber, the rock `n' roll songwriter who crafted lyrics for such hits as "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock," has died.

Publicist Bobbi Marcus says Leiber died Monday. He was 78.

Entertainment Weekly reports that the songwriter died of cardiopulmonary failure.

See Any Gray Hair?

See any gray or white hair or any older retired folks amongst the crowd..????

Social Security Office In Austin , TX

A friend went to the social security office this week to file for Medicare because it is the only way to keep medical insurance when you turn 65. He took a picture of the waiting room. Please tell me if you can find a retired person in the place!!!! It's called "disability" insurance!!!! You no longer have to wonder why SS is broke!!! These people do not pay into the system, nor are they disabled!!! Please spread this picture to everyone you know. Our country is going broke on this fraud!!! Go down to your SS office and check it out.

Goldman CEO Blankfein Hires Defense Attorney

Shares of Goldman Sachs (GS) fell off a cliff in late trading Monday after a Reuters report that CEO Lloyd Blankfein has hired the same high-powered Washington defense attorney who defended Enron’s accounting officer.

Goldman shares were flat to lower all day at around $112, and then right before the close dropped to $106.

More

Mystery Of Qaddafi's Whereabouts Looms Large In Conflict's Endgame

He has exalted himself as the “brother leader” of Libya, the dean of Arab rulers and the king of kings of Africa. On Monday, though, he was the autocrat who could not be found.

For all his bluster and bombast over the past four decades as Libya’s quirky ruler, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi was mysteriously and conspicuously absent as forces of the six-month-old Libya rebellion encircled what they believed to be his ultimate Tripoli hideout, the Bab al-Azizya compound.

Even the leader of the rebel movement, Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, admitted he did not know if Colonel Qaddafi was holed up inside — or somewhere else in Libya, or another country. He is wanted not only by the rebels but by the International Criminal Court, which in June issued a warrant for his arrest.

Colonel Qaddafi, 69, has not been seen in public for more than two months. His once prolonged televised diatribes have stopped. The only indications that he may be in the compound have been the arrests of three of his sons in Tripoli as well as a series of fuzzy audio recordings — the most recent of them Sunday night — promising he will not leave Libya and exhorting Libyans to spill their blood for him to the end.

Rumors have swirled in Libya and elsewhere that he may have secretly slipped out of Tripoli before the rebel movement’s surprisingly speedy invasion of the city over the weekend.

More

Virginia Man Pleads Guilty To Sex Trafficking Of Teen Girls

A Fairfax County man pleaded guilty Monday to prostituting teen girls in a business that served clients across the region, authorities said.

Alonso Bruno Cornejo, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of children.

Cornejo admitted to recruiting female runaways and enticing them into prostitution as part of a business he started in 2009, authorities said.

Why Is President Obama So Anxious To Cut Social Security?

On his tour of the Midwest last week, President Obama again indicated his interest in cutting Social Security. He repeated a proposal that his administration first put forward in the debt ceiling negotiations: he wants to cut the annual cost of living adjustment by 0.3 percentage points.

This cut may sound small, but it adds up over time. A person in their 70s who had been getting benefits for ten years would see a reduction of 3 percent. By the time they were in their 80s, the cut would be 6 percent. And if they lived into their 90s, their benefit would be more than 9 percent lower as a result of President Obama's proposal.

For an average retiree who can expect to get benefits for 20 years, President Obama's plan would cut their lifetime Social Security benefits by roughly 3 percent. By comparison, his much feared tax increases on the rich would reduce the after-tax income of someone earning $300,000 a year by just 0.5 percent. In this case, a beneficiary who will be mostly dependent on their Social Security income in retirement will take about six times as large a hit relative to their income under President Obama's plan to cut Social Security than a couple earning $300,000 would from his plan to raise their taxes.

This cut to Social Security seems especially inappropriate since the near retirees who would feel the full impact of this cut have just seen most of their wealth destroyed by the collapse of the housing bubble and the plunge in the stock market. The typical near retiree (ages 55-64) has just $170,000 in net wealth, including the equity in their home.

This means that if they used every last penny in their 401(k) and other savings, they would have just about enough money to pay off the mortgage on a typical home. This would leave them 100 percent dependent on Social Security for their income. And of course, half of near retirees have less than this amount, meaning that they will not even be able to pay off the mortgage on a typical home. But apparently President Obama feels that these people need to make greater sacrifices.

The determination to cut Social Security is especially strange given the finances of the program. Under the law, Social Security is financed by the designated Social Security tax. It does not contribute to the deficit, since the law prohibits payments from being made if there is not money in the Social Security trust fund. That means that if the trust fund were drained, rather than contributing to the deficit, full benefits would not be paid.

Florida AG: Anthony Shouldn't Skirt 'Supervised Release' From Jail

(CNN) -- Florida's attorney general argued Monday against a motion by Casey Anthony's attorneys that she shouldn't have to serve probation on check-fraud charges, saying a "clerical error" should not prevent her from abiding by a judge's verbal order.

Anthony has been in seclusion since her July acquittal on murder charges in the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, and her subsequent release from jail. Orange County Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. ruled earlier this month that Anthony has to report for probation on the bad-check charge by Friday.

Err

Meaning-- a time measurement of 60 minutes

Back-To-School Road Safety Tips From The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office

The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone that schools are opening, so please drive safely. In Wicomico County, schools open on Monday, Aug. 29, returning buses, parent transportation, and walkers to Wicomico streets and sidewalks.

Every year in Maryland, an average of two school-aged pedestrians are killed during school arrival and dismissal times, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration. The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting School Bus Enforcement and watch for drivers who pass and tailgate School Buses. They will also patrol School Zones to ensure the safety of Wicomico County’s children.

To reduce the risk of accidents and injuries, drivers should remember to:

• Plan ahead to allow for the extra school bus traffic that will be on the road. Leave a few minutes early for work so that you are not frustrated by delays.

• Stay a safe distance back from school buses, which stop frequently. Do not tailgate school buses. Remember, they are carrying precious cargo.

• Wait until the lights and other safety equipment on a stopped school bus indicate that it’s safe to continue driving. Do not pass a school bus with its red lights flashing. Not only do you risk a fine of up to $500, you risk hitting a child.

• Slow down in school zones and watch for children crossing the street. Obey the Crossing Guard when he or she signals for you to stop. Maryland Law states that you must stop for a pedestrian who has entered a crosswalk. The fine for violations is $90 and 1 Point on your Maryland driver’s License.

Students can support safer transportation – by bus, car or on foot -- by:

• Getting up in plenty of time to get to the bus stop safely.

• Wearing bright clothes so they can easily be seen by the bus driver and other drivers on the road.

• Staying a safe distance from the road while waiting for the bus, and not play around near cars.

• For young children, standing at the bus stop with an adult, and having an adult meet them when they get off the bus.

• Waiting until the bus fully stops before starting to get on or off.

• Using crosswalks when walking or riding a bicycle to school.

• Wearing a helmet to prevent head injury whenever riding a bike or skateboard. Maryland law states that children up to age 16 are required to wear helmets while riding a bicycle.

Today's Weather- 08/23/11

Salisbury,Maryland

Today

High
82°F

Precip
0%

Tonight

Overnight Low
62°F

Precip
10%

The Weather Channel

Fairfax Virginia Man Pleads Guilty To Sex Trafficking Teen Runaways

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA) -- A Fairfax man pleaded guilty Monday morning to sex trafficking teenage runaways.

Federal authorities say 22-year-old Alonso Bruno Cornejo, also known as "Casper," used teenage runaways to work in his juvenile prostitution business in Northern Virginia (including Falls Church, Annandale and Arlington), Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Earlier court records show that at least one of the girls was 15 years old when she became a prostitute.

Sun analysis finds 465 vacants getting credits worth $325,000

Property tax breaks meant to encourage homeownership have been awarded to 465 vacant houses in Baltimore, depriving the city of uncollected revenue in a difficult budget year and calling into question past promises from city officials to crack down on tax scofflaws, a Baltimore Sun analysis has found.

Owners of the vacant homes received a total of $325,000 in tax breaks. That's enough money to run municipal swimming pools for more than two weeks, one of the many services that had been on the chopping block — stoking the ire of residents — as the city slashed its budget to address a $65 million shortfall. In the end, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake opened the pools on a staggered schedule to save money.

Thousands of vacant homes, a longtime scourge in the city, have contributed to creeping blight and sinking property values. To combat the problem, the city has levied fines against owners and tried many strategies to promote the rehabilitation of such properties. The fact that hundreds of those owners are getting undeserved tax breaks incenses homeowners and critics.

More

Would-Be Robber Beat Up At Annapolis Grocery Store

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WUSA) --The robbery of a grocery store in Annapolis had a surprise ending for the would-be robber.

According to the Capital of Annapolis, 26-year-old Darius Cameron of Glen Burnie went to Anita's Spanish Grocery at about 9:20 p.m. Friday and pointed a gun at a clerk, demanding money. The clerk was able to hit the panic alarm before, police say, Cameron climbed over the counter, pointed the gun at the clerk and pulled the trigger.

The gun didn't fire. Annapolis police said he then tried to jump to the other side of the counter and he ended up dropping the gun.

Child Psychologist Pleads Guilty To Sex Abuse

BEL AIR, Md. (AP) -- The Harford County State's Attorney's office says a child psychologist has pleaded guilty to charges of abusing three young patients.

David Schrumpf entered the pleas Monday, admitting guilt to one count of child sex abuse and two counts of second degree assault.

More

BREAKING NEWS: Standard & Poor’s President Reportedly Resigns

Deven Sharma, president of the credit-rating firm, is reportedly leaving and is set to be replaced by the chief operating officer of Citigroup Inc.’s Citibank unit.

From Fox News

Attention

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Brothers accused of carrying out killing orchestrated by pastor

Sun analysis finds 465 vacants getting credits worth $325,000