Rand Paul Returns $500K In Office Budget To Treasury

Freshman Sen. Rand Paul is making good on his promise to cut federal spending. The Kentucky Republican and tea-party favorite said Thursday he’s returning $500,000 to the U.S. Treasury — money from his operating budget that his office never spent.

The half million dollars represents about 16 percent of Paul’s annual budget. He contended no senator had returned as much to taxpayers, though at least two senators disputed that claim. An aide to Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said his office returned $636,036 in unspent money to the Treasury in Fiscal Year 2010 and another $503,161 in 2011.

“I ran to stop the reckless spending. And I ran to end the damaging process of elected officials acting as errand boys, competing to see who could bring back the biggest check and the most amount of pork,” Paul said at a news conference in Louisville, where he presented taxpayers with a massive mock check for $500,000.

More

NATIONAL AMBER ALERT AWARENESS DAY

(Pikesville, MD) - Today, the nation recognizes National AMBER Alert Awareness Day. Since the program’s inception, 554 abducted children across the country have been safely recovered as a direct result of AMBER Alerts.

While there are 120 plans across the country, there is one official AMBER Alert plan in Maryland and that plan is administered by the Maryland State Police, in cooperation with Maryland broadcasters. This statewide plan is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Since the inception of the Maryland plan in August of 2002, there have been only twenty-nine activations. In all but the first case, the children were successfully recovered.

As a founding member of the Maryland AMBER Alert Advisory Board, MSP Colonel Marcus L. Brown emphasizes the importance of partnerships, “The success of the Maryland AMBER Alert Plan can be directly credited to the growing number and commitment of national and state partnerships. We will continue to work very closely with public and private entities to ensure as many ‘eyes and ears’ receive an AMBER Alert message in order to quickly and safely locate an abducted child.”

While technology is one of the greatest assets to the program, it is also one of the greatest hindrances. Nationwide, the “AMBER Alert” name has been the subject of various hoax texts and emails. A well-intentioned public often forwards misguided, phony, or outdated texts, emails and/or messages via social networks which refer to AMBER Alerts. We strongly urge the public to react only to AMBER Alerts from authorized sources, such as: the Maryland State Police website (AMBER Alert is located on the home page), wireless AMBER Alerts, Missingkids.com/National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The furtherance of such phony, misguided, or outdated “alerts” jeopardizes the integrity of the AMBER Alert plan and, potentially, a child’s life. To receive AMBER Alerts, the public may sign-up to receive free text messages via www.wirelessamberalerts.org. Those who sign-up will also receive the AMBER Alert cancellation message when the alert is no longer required.

The Maryland State Police strictly adheres to the AMBER Alert criteria, as recommended by the Department of Justice: the abducted child must be aged 17 or younger, the child must be in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, and there must be enough descriptive information about the abducted child, suspect and vehicle in order to make an AMBER Alert activation viable. The Maryland AMBER Alert plan is not intended for runaways or for the majority of parental abductions, except in rare circumstances.

Justice Dept. Sides With Man Suing Baltimore Police In Recording Suit

BALTIMORE (WJZ)– Baltimore police delete video of a controversial arrest at the Preakness from a man’s cell phone. Now, he’s suing and he’s got a powerful new ally.

Meghan McCorkell explains what could be a deciding factor in this case.

More

Theft Arrest- Deer Run

DATE: January 12, 2011
CBI Case # 11-0245
LOCATION: Deer Run Golf Club
8804 Logtown Road
Berlin, MD
CHARGES: Theft – Scheme $500.00 plus
Theft – Scheme $10,000 to $100,000
ACCUSED: Amanda Carol LUBINIECKI W/F 27yoa
Laurel, Delaware

NARRATIVE: On October 13, 2011 a Trooper from the Maryland State Police – Berlin Barrack took an initial report of a Theft from the management of Deer Run Golf Club, Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland. From their internal audit they identified that multiple checks had been written to LUBINIECKI from their Operations Account dating back to July 2009.

As a result the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation was contacted and asked to take the lead and continue the investigation. During the next two months Subpoenas for related bank records were requested and ultimately nearly 3000 documents were obtained. These documents were reviewed and seventy-four (74) checks were identified being paid to LUBINIECKI that totaled $45,182.56.

During an interview with LUBINIECKI after being advised of her Miranda Rights she ultimately gave a full confession. She has been charged with the above crimes and a Preliminary Inquiry is schedule for the first week of February 2012. Final disposition of these charges are pending through the Maryland Court System.

Palin Advises Romney On Bain

The Romney campaign's "Bain problem," which is also now the Republican party's problem, doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon. Sure, Republicans are figuring out that this is not a winning issue for them. Thus they've circled their wagons around Romney, and even tried to get Newt to turn it down a couple of notches. Even the funder who gave Newt the money to green-light "When Mitt Romney Came To Down" is having second thoughts.

But never mind all that. The story has now gotten big enough to draw Sarah Palin out of an extended break from her bus tour, to advise Romney to open up the books on his tenure at Bain.

More

Business, Manufacturing Groups Send Letter To Obama On Keystone Pipeline

A group of 100 business and manufacturing groups has sent a letter to President Obama urging him to quickly approve the Keystone XL pipeline, saying it would be “irresponsible” for the president to halt the job-creating project.

“With your approval, this shovel-ready project will provide 20,000 jobs in construction and manufacturing in the next two years, and add tens of thousands of additional jobs throughout the economy in other sectors including service, retail and distribution,” the Jan. 11 letter said.

“With our nation’s stubbornly high unemployment, it would be irresponsible to let such good-paying jobs slip away.”

The letter, signed by such groups as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Business Roundtable, urges the president to approve the pipeline project quickly, saying that a myriad of industries would see new jobs created.

Citing a provision in the recently passed payroll tax holiday that directs the president to make a decision on the pipeline within the next few weeks, the letter said that environmental concerns should not stop the pipeline from being built.

“The State Department’s announcement that it was delaying a decision on Keystone XL cited a need to study an alternative route in Nebraska around the Sandhills region. The federal payroll tax legislation recently passed with strong bipartisan support and signed into law allows the State Department and Nebraska as much time as necessary to identify and review a new route, while allowing construction to begin elsewhere along the pipeline route,” the letter states.

More here

Scarlet Fever Outbreak At Southwest Baltimore School; 3 Students Confirmed Sick

BALTIMORE (WJZ)– A warning from the Baltimore City Health Department about a confirmed outbreak of scarlet fever at one city school. Doctors say it’s extremely contagious in kids.

Kai Jackson explains what health officials are doing about it.

More

Murder In Wicomico County Last Night

INCIDENT: DATE: LOCATION: NARRATIVE:

PRESS RELEASE

Murder
January 13, 2012
East Road, Salisbury, Wicomico County, MD

On January 12, 2012 at approximately 2345 hours, Wicomico County Sheriffs Deputies responded to the area of West Road Apartments on East Road, Salisbury, Wicomico County, MD in reference to a report of shots fired. Deputies located the body of Arnold Fagans Jr. in the parking lot of West Road Apartments Salisbury, Wicomico County, MD. The investigation into the person(s) responsible for this murder is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact WBI at 410-548-4898 or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776. Crime Solvers is offering a reward of up to 1000.00 dollars for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the person(s) involved.

Chamber To Obama: You ‘Missed The Biggest In-Sourcing Opportunity’ --Keystone Pipeline

While President Barack Obama has been touting the importance of “in-sourcing” jobs into the United States (as opposed to outsourcing jobs overseas), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reminded America on Thursday that Obama recently rejected one of the most prominent and beneficial in-sourced opportunities: the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry tar sand oil through middle America to refineries on the Gulf Coast and create at least 20,000 jobs.

The 1,700-mile Keystone pipeline, which starts in Canada and would end on the Texas coast, has been under review by the Obama administration’s State Department for several years. While a green light from the State Department for the project was expected last fall, the department, under pressure from environmentalists, decided in November to delay its decision until 2013.

On Thursday, at a press conference following the annual State of American Business 2012, Bruce Josten, vice president of government affairs with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, cited Obama’s announcement on Wednesday that he would “reward” businesses that bring jobs to the United States through tax credits. Josten, however, added, “The president missed the biggest in-sourcing opportunity yesterday and it’s called the Keystone Pipeline.”

“The smart thing to do would be to approve it,” Josten said, noting that the pipeline has cleared a three-year environmental review and that now politics are standing in the way of the project moving forward.

More

U.S. Warns Iran Leader Of Another "Red Line"

The United States government has reportedly conveyed a direct message to the supreme leader of Iran, warning him that any move by the Islamic Republic's elite Revolutionary Guard to cut off shipping traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz would evoke a swift response from the world's most powerful military.

The message, conveyed by a secret, mysterious "channel of communication," according to a report in The New York Times - if it was actually communicated to Ayatollah Ail Khamenei - is evidence of just how serious the U.S. is taking Iran's lingering threat to close the Strait if the world stops buying their oil.

More

U.S. Sends Top Iranian Leader A Warning On Strait Threat

The Obama administration is relying on a secret channel of communication to warn Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that closing the Strait of Hormuz is a “red line” that would provoke an American response, according to United States government officials.

he officials declined to describe the unusual contact between the two governments, and whether there had been an Iranian reply. Senior Obama administration officials have said publicly that Iran would cross a “red line” if it made good on recent threats to close the strait, a strategically crucial waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, where 16 million barrels of oil — about a fifth of the world’s daily oil trade — flow through every day.

Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said this past weekend that the United States would “take action and reopen the strait,” which could be accomplished only by military means, including minesweepers, warship escorts and potentially airstrikes.

More

Man From Princess Anne Co. Sentenced To 10 Years In Murder

SALISBURY, Md. (AP) — A Princess Anne man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the strangulation of a Salisbury woman in 2007.

Forty-seven-year-old Warren Ballard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 51-year-old Shirley Smith. He was sentenced on Wednesday.

More

Fruitland Police Department Press Releases 1-13-12

DATE & TIME: Thursday January 9, 2012 @ 2100 hours

INCIDENT: Shoplifting

LOCATION: Walmart (N. Fruitland Blvd.)

CASE NO.: 2012-0042

PERSON CHARGED: Timothy R. Johnson

AGE: 40

ADDRESS: Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Theft under $100.00

DISPOSITION: Released to custody of Central Booking at WCDC

SYNOPSIS: On the above date and time Fruitland officers responded to the Walmart store located at 409 N. Fruitland Blvd for a shoplifter. Upon arrival, officers learned that the above named suspect had concealed numerous items in a device that he had fashioned for that purpose. Officers located several items, belonging to Walmart that the suspect had attempted to exit the store without paying for. The suspect was arrested and transported to WCDC and released to Central Booking without further incident.

DATE & TIME: Thursday January 12, 2012 @1900 hours

INCIDENT: Burglary

LOCATION: 500 Block of Hayward Avenue

CASE NO.: 2012-0052

PERSON CHARGED: Kenneth W. Watson

AGE: 49

ADDRESS: Pocomoke, Maryland

CHARGES: Burglary
Trespassing
Malicious Destruction of Property

DISPOSITION: Released to custody of Central Booking at WCDC

SYNOPSIS: On the above date and time Fruitland officers responded to the 500 Block of Hayward Avenue for a Burglary. Upon arrival Officers observed that numerous items from the residence and shed were scattered throughout the yard. Throughout the course of the investigation a suspect was developed and he was located nearby. The above named suspect was learned to have forced entry through a window and proceeded to destroy property inside of the residence. Other evidence was present linking the suspect to the crime and he was arrested and transported to WCDC and released to Central Booking without incident.

Obama Seeks Power To Merge Six Agencies

(WASHINGTON) — President Barack Obama will ask Congress on Friday for greater power to shrink the federal government, and his first idea is merging six sprawling trade and commerce agencies whose overlapping programs can be baffling to businesses, a senior administration official told The Associated Press.

Read More

President Obama’s Got Sons?

Breaking news!

President Obama, speaking last night in Chicago at a fundraiser at a private home, unloaded this bombshell:

Obama, according to the White House transcript, talked about “The first bill I signed — a bill that said that we’re going to have equal pay for equal work because I want my daughters treated the same way as my sons.”

More

Maryland Session Opens With Focus On Tax Hikes

Wide-ranging session kicks off with O'Malley suggesting 1 cent sales tax increase

Even before the Maryland General Assembly convened Wednesday, Gov. Martin O'Malley plunged lawmakers into the issue of tax increases by floating the idea of a penny increase in the sales tax.

In a pre-session radio interview, he said raising the tax from 6 cents on the dollar to 7 cents would close the projected $1.1 billion budget shortfall.

"Frankly, if I had my druthers, I'd rather do the one penny on the sales tax," the Democrat said. "It gives us flexibility - have that address our operating needs and then transition that into the sort of revenue stream that then allows us to do greater bonding capacity for the transportation. That's what I'd like to do."

O'Malley made the remarks during an interview with WEAA-FM's Marc Steiner in Annapolis.

In 2007, at O'Malley's insistence, the General Assembly raised the tax from 5 cents to 6 cents.

More

The True Believer

Last May, Ron Paul filed his financial disclosure form, and The Wall Street Journal enlisted financial analyst William Bernstein to scrutinize his investments.

"Paul's portfolio isn't merely different," said an astonished Journal, "it's shockingly different."

Twenty-one percent of his $2.4 to $5.5 million was in real estate, 14 percent in cash. He owns no bonds. Only 0.1 percent is invested in stocks, and Paul bought these "short," betting the price will plunge. Every other nickel is sunk into gold and silver mining companies.

More

BREAKING NEWS: 4th Grade Student From Pemberton Passed Away Last Night

A 4th grade female student from Pemberton passed away from natural causes in her sleep last night. I'm leaving all additional details out of this announcement.

What can you say at times like this. I'm speechless.

Boy, 6, Gets A Ticket, After Toy Motorcycle Hits SUV

(CBS/AP) CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico - We can probably all agree that 6 is too young to be driving.

But what if it's just a toy motorcycle?

Police in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez ticketed a 6-year-old boy for reckless driving, driving without a license and not having his toy motorcycle registered, after he crashed it into an SUV.

More

The Hidden Dark Agenda Of Public Education

“An alien collectivist (socialist) philosophy, much of which came from Europe, crashed onto the shores of our nation, bringing with it radical changes in economics, politics, and education, funded - surprisingly enough - by several wealthy American families and their tax-exempt foundations. The goal of these wealthy families and their foundations - a seamless non-competitive global system for commerce and trade - when stripped of flowery expressions of concern for minorities, the less fortunate, etc., represented the initial stage of what this author now refers to as the deliberate dumbing down of America. Seventy years later, the carefully laid plans to change America from a sovereign, constitutional republic with a free enterprise economic base to just one of many nations in an international socialist (collectivist) system (New World Order) are apparent. Only a dumbed down population, with no memory of America’s roots as a prideful nation, could be expected to willingly succumb to the global workforce training planned by the Carnegie Corporation and the John D. Rockefellers, I and II.”

- US Department of Education Senior Policy Advisor Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt

“An alien collectivist (socialist) philosophy, much of which came from Europe, crashed onto the shores of our nation, bringing with it radical changes in economics, politics, and education, funded - surprisingly enough - by several wealthy American families and their tax-exempt foundations. The goal of these wealthy families and their foundations - a seamless non-competitive global system for commerce and trade - when stripped of flowery expressions of concern for minorities, the less fortunate, etc., represented the initial stage of what this author now refers to as the deliberate dumbing down of America. Seventy years later, the carefully laid plans to change America from a sovereign, constitutional republic with a free enterprise economic base to just one of many nations in an international socialist (collectivist) system (New World Order) are apparent. Only a dumbed down population, with no memory of America’s roots as a prideful nation, could be expected to willingly succumb to the global workforce training planned by the Carnegie Corporation and the John D. Rockefellers, I and II.”

More

Wicomico County Sheriff's Department Press Releases 1-13-12

Incident: Wear and Carry Handgun
Date of Incident: 11 January 2012
Location: Athol Road Hebron, MD
Suspect: Kevin W. Green, 49, Hebron, MD

Narrative: On 11 January 2012, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a traffic accident at Athol Road and Cherry Walk Road in Hebron. During that investigation another vehicle approached the accident scene at a high rate of speed and nearly struck the deputy’s patrol car.

The deputy approached that vehicle and the driver was identified as the suspect, Kevin W. Green. The deputy observed a handgun in a holster next to Green. Green was detained, and the handgun which was loaded, was recovered. Green was placed under arrest, and charged with the below offenses.

The deputy transported Green to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Green on personal recognizance.

Charges: Wear/Carry a handgun in a vehicle
Wear/Carry a dangerous and deadly weapon

Incident: Theft
Date of Incident: 11 January 2012
Location: Ocean Gateway Mardela Springs, MD
Suspect: Timothy L. Spicer Jr., 44, Mardela Springs, MD

Narrative: On 11 January 2012, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into a theft of a Maryland registration plate that occurred on Bridge Street in Mardela Springs. The ensuing investigation led to the location and arrest of the suspect, Timothy L. Spicer Jr., as well as the recovery of the stolen registration plate.

The deputy transported Spicer to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner placed a $10,000 bond on Spicer.

Charges: Theft
Operating an unregistered vehicle
Driving while suspended

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES NEARLY $23 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR STATE PARK IMPROVEMENTS

Green projects, capital improvements will support nearly 300 jobs

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 13, 2012) – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced nearly $23 million in the proposed FY2013 capital budget for State Park and other public land projects that will support nearly 300 jobs, help restore our environment, reduce energy usage and improve services to visitors and citizens.

Governor O’Malley made the announcement at Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis, one of the State’s busiest parks where energy efficient upgrades, stormwater management improvements, better natural play areas for children, and sustainable trails for families will be part of the State’s investment.

“Today, we’re proposing to invest $22.7 million from our capital budget to make much-needed improvements to our State Parks – an investment that will support nearly 300 jobs in our State, help us make our parks more sustainable, and support our thriving tourism industry,” said Governor O’Malley. “Our State Parks are tremendous economic engines in our State with a $650 million annual impact in on our local economies, a great resource for Maryland families, and a big part of why our tourism industry remains so strong even in tough times.”

The funding includes more than $14 million in enhancements from the Governor’s capital budget, in addition to $8.7 million derived from the Department of Natural Resources annual transfer tax allocation for a diverse set of projects to improve infrastructure, green the State’s parks and protect the Bay.

“I applaud Governor O’Malley for making this critical investment in our public lands, during these difficult financial times,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “This improvement effort recalls the days of the Civilian Conservation Corps, which built many of Maryland’s State Parks, creating jobs, ‘greening’ public lands as conservation models and inspiring millions of visitors with better places to enjoy our State’s natural beauty and unique heritage.”

Under the leadership of Governor O’Malley, the Maryland Park Service has embarked on a system-wide commitment to “green” its 66 state parks – which host more than 10 million visitors each year –as models of sustainability and conservation best practices. Strategic actions to date have focused on energy improvements, new state-of-the-art green building design and construction, sustainable trails and recycling, as well as environmental restoration including reforestation and stormwater management improvements to help the Bay.

In addition to providing unparalleled recreation opportunities for citizens and visitors, State Parks provide summer employment and green jobs training for at risk youth through the Governor’s Conservation Jobs Corps, which has graduated 820 young people since 2008. In 2010 their work on maintenance, landscaping and construction jobs saved the State an estimated $2.7 million dollars.

Looking ahead, the State’s parks will also serve as outdoor classrooms for the State’s new environmental literacy requirements.

“State Parks are the epitome of affordable getaways for families, models for living in harmony with nature, and a vital tonic for the mind, body and spirit,” said Tim Casey, Chair of the Governor’s State Park Advisory Commission. “These strategic investments will benefit millions of Marylanders, increasing access to the outdoors, creating jobs and restoring the environment for today and future generations.”

The Maryland State Parks Economic Impact and Visitor Study is available online here.

Poll: 43 Percent Of People Think Tebow’s Success Is Due To Divine Intervention … Including 54 Percent Of Republicans

So it’s come to our attention that you’ve been taking this Tebow-divine intervention thing seriously all this time? Sigh.

Noticing a Tebowing craze that’s swept the world and the fact that the Broncos are still alive in the playoffs, the folks at the survey company Poll Position decided to find out exactly how many folks thinkthat Tebow’s success is indeed due to the Lord’s intervention. Their findings.

More

MARYLAND DEMOCRATIC PARTY MAINTAINS STRONG FUNDRAISING LEAD

ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Democratic Party raised more than $1 million in 2011, and will begin 2012 with more than $700,000 in the bank. Maryland Democrats clearly have the momentum heading into a critical election year.

The Maryland Democratic Party will capitalize on our financial advantage and run a strong campaign to elect more Democrats across our state and do our part to reelect President Barack Obama this fall. The enthusiastic support we continue to receive is a compelling signal that Marylanders recognize our party remains in line with the principles of inclusion, diversity and opportunity that we all share, and our elected leaders work to advance.

Our fundraising momentum stands in stark contrast to the debt-ridden and out-of-touch Maryland GOP. The resources of Maryland Democrats completely overshadow the Maryland Republican Party, who is once again significantly in debt and has had to abandon their Annapolis headquarters.

Test

A terrific test. And it shows results in a number of ways. It surely indicates that the majority of

Americans don't know what's going on.

Interesting and simple test. It's astonishing that so many people got less than half right.

These results say that 80% of the (voting) public doesn't have a clue - and that's pretty scary.

There are no tricks here - just a simple test to see if you are current on your information.

This is quite good and the results are interesting.

Test your knowledge with 13 questions, then be ready to shudder when you see how others did.

Click here: Test Your News IQ - Pew Research Center

~DEATH~

WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN IT ..

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to

Leave the examination room and said,

'Doctor, I am afraid to die.

Tell me what lies on the other side.'

Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know..'

You don't know? You're, a Christian man,

And don't know what's on the other side?'

The doctor was holding the handle of the door;

On the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,

And as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room

And leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said,

'Did you notice my dog?

He's never been in this room before.

He didn't know what was inside.

He knew nothing except that his master was here,

And when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.

I know little of what is on the other side of death,

But I do know one thing...

I know my Master is there and that is enough.'

Fill In The Blank 01/13/12

If the Presidential Elections were today,______ would absolutely get MY vote.

BREAKING NEWS: Joran van der Sloot Sentenced For Murder In Peru

Joran van der Sloot, suspected in the disappearance of American teen Natalee Holloway, is sentenced to 28 years for the murder of Stephany Flores in Peru.

From Fox News

Jenny Craig And Purina Team Up To Slim Down Your Pudgy Pet

Has your pooch just been longing to fit back into her skinny leash? Or perhaps your cat is well, too fat for your lap. Jenny Craig and Purina don't want your furry friend to languish in chubbiness, which is why they've teamed up help you slim down your pet.

More

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT ON INVESTMENT IN STATE PARKS

ANNAPOLIS, MD Governor Martin O’Malley will make an announcement regarding additional investments in Maryland State Parks.

In addition to providing unlimited recreational opportunities for Maryland families and visitors, Maryland’s 66 State parks have a $650 million annual impact– supporting jobs and local economies, providing green jobs skills training for at risk youth, and providing an outdoor classroom for environmental learning.

It's All Been Done Before

One of the downsides of having government education camps (the school system) "educate" most of us slaves is that most of us have no clue what occured prior to our own lifetimes. And what we think we know is incorrect or never happened.

Everything that is currently going on in the US... government "stimulus", massive deficits, pending bankruptcy and the use of the crisis to institute more government controls and blame the "free market" has already happened twice in the last century in the US. The following cartoon with the outline of the grand plan was printed in the Chicago Tribune in 1934, just after the first bankruptcy of the US Government in 1933.

Sound like a familiar plan?

The US Government, after installing the communist-fashioned Federal Reserve system in 1913, and the subsequent war it enabled, World War I, just a few months later, had already bankrupted itself by 1933. That was when the US Government had to confiscate gold and then devalue the US dollar in order to survive. That was US bankruptcy #1.

Then after bankrupting itself during World War II and the Vietnam War, the US was again bankrupt and the only way to salvage itself was to remove all gold backing from the Federal Reserve Note and go to an unbacked fiat currency on August 15, 1971. That was US bankruptcy #2.

Mostly through the use of force and the deceit of inflation, and on the backs of a population of the world's most productive people, the US Government managed to keep the latest iteration of the Government and the dollar alive until now.

More

Today's Help Wanted 1-13-12

Businesses looking to fill positions can put their information in comments for FREE.

TREND IS NOT YOUR FRIEND

The price of gas at the station near my house was $3.53 this morning. That is up about $0.20 in the last two weeks. Prices are 10% higher than last January. They are 24% higher than they were in January 2010. They are 97% higher than they were in January 2009. I’m sure glad Bernanke assures us that inflationary pressures are non-existant. If you don’t believe my figures, check it out yourself:

http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx?time=24

More

Coons: DE Small Biz Owners "Cautiously Optimistic"

Senator Coons says small business owners in Delaware feel "cautiously optimistic" about their economic future.

The Democrat tells WDEL News he's been traveling up and down the state getting input from business owners on what can be done to improve the state's business climate.

More

Bain Capital Owns Clear Channel (Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, Etc.)

Wouldn’t it be great if a Republican presidential candidate could just buy the support of just about every major conservative talk show host in America? Well, it may not be as far-fetched as you may think.

Clear Channel owns more radio stations (850) than anyone else in the United States. They also own Premiere Radio Networks, the company that syndicates the radio shows of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck, among others. Needless to say, Clear Channel basically owns conservative talk radio in the United States. So who owns Clear Channel? Well, it turns out that Bain Capital is one of the primary owners of Clear Channel. Yes, you read that correctly. The company that Mitt Romney ran for so long is one of the “big bosses” over virtually all conservative talk radio in America. Of course Mitt Romney is not running Bain Capital anymore. He is a “retired partner”, but he still has a huge financial stake in Bain Capital. We’re talking about millions upon millions of dollars. If you doubt this, just check out page 34 of this public financial disclosure report. So if you have been wondering why so many conservative talk show hosts are being so incredibly kind to Mitt Romney, this just might be the answer.

In the media world, there is a clear understanding that you simply do not bite the hand that feeds you. Some of the most prominent conservative talk radio hosts are earning tens of millions of dollars a year.

More

DE Senators Unanimously Approve The Ban On “Bath Salts”

The state Senate has approved by as vote of 21 to 0, the sole piece of legislation before it today – Senate Bill 160 – which relates to the Uniform Controlled Substances Act – and would make bath salts illegal – and clarifies the definition of ‘designer drugs.’  The bill, which is sponsored by Senator Bethany Hall-Long, makes permanent an emergency action put in place by Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock last September.  If passed by the state House – a person convicted of having the drug could face up to 25 years in prison.


More

US Chamber: Obama Should OK Keystone Oil Pipeline Now

President Obama should green-light the Keystone pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf Coast without delay, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Thursday.

"There is no legitimate reason, none at all, to subject it to further delay," Donohue said in his annual address on the state of business and the economy.

Republicans and industry groups have pummeled Obama in recent months over the proposed pipeline, which would carry Canadian oil sands crude from Alberta to refineries along the Gulf Coast. They say the pipeline would create thousands of jobs and reduce U.S. dependency on oil from unstable countries overseas, but green groups warn it could be an environmental disaster.

Under a provision included in the payroll tax cut package, Obama has 60 days to make a final decision on the pipeline. The deadline has set off an aggressive lobbying campaign by environmentalists and business groups that underscores the politically thorny decision facing the president.

Obama had sought to delay a final decision on the pipeline until after the 2012 election, but the payroll tax package provision requires a final verdict by Feb. 21.

More

[The Canadians made it clear they plan to sell the oil to China if the US doesn't commit to the pipeline soon. --Editor]

Bill To Be Submitted Next Week To Increase Delaware’s Minimum Wage

State Sen. Robert Marshall of Wilmington will introduce a bill next week that will increase Delaware’s minimum wage by 50 cents each of the next two years, from $7.25 an hour (the current federal minimum wage, which Delaware has followed since 2009) up to $8.25 an hour by 2014. Marshall and fellow Democrat Rep. Michael Mulrooney of Penwood say that increasing the minimum wage will benefit low-income workers, who need it the most.


More

Obama Czar Proposed Infiltrating Social Network Sites

Just prior to his appointment as President Obama’s so-called regulatory czar, Cass Sunstein wrote a lengthy academic paper suggesting the government should “infiltrate” social network websites, chat rooms and message boards.Such “cognitive infiltration,” Sunstein argued, should be used to enforce a U.S. government ban on “conspiracy theorizing.”

Among the beliefs Sunstein classified as a “conspiracy theory” is advocating that the theory of global warming is a deliberate fraud.

The find comes after a report of a government document indicating that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s command center routinely monitors dozens of popular websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Hulu, WikiLeaks and news sites such as the Huffington Post and Drudge Report.

Reuters reported that a “privacy compliance review” issued by DHS last November confirms that since at least June 2010, the department’s national operations center has been operating a “Social Networking/Media Capability” which involves regular monitoring of “publicly available online forums, blogs, public websites and message boards.”

The government document states that such monitoring is meant to “collect information used in providing situational awareness and establishing a common operating picture” to help manage national or international emergency events.

While the DHS may be monitoring websites for security reasons, Sunstein advocated such actions with another goal in mind.

Sunstein’s official title is administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

As WND was first to report, in a 2008 Harvard law paper, “Conspiracy Theories,” Sunstein and co-author Adrian Vermeule, a Harvard law professor, ask, “What can government do about conspiracy theories?”

“We can readily imagine a series of possible responses. (1) Government might ban conspiracy theorizing. (2) Government might impose some kind of tax, financial or otherwise, on those who disseminate such theories.”

In the 30-page paper – obtained and reviewed by WND – Sunstein argues the best government response to “conspiracy theories” is “cognitive infiltration of extremist groups.”

More here

Today's Survey Question 1-13-12

Do you believe Michelle Obama is an "angry black woman"?

If yes, why.

Market Street Inn Holds Fundraiser For Ravens Joe Flacco's Charity

Cathy with her fanstache!!!!

Many have already stopped in today to the Market Street Inn to make donations towards Joe Flacco's Charity, (the Living Classrooms Foundation) all in support of the Ravens. City of Salisbury Employees also stopped in this morning to make a donation, thank you.

YOUR $1 TRILLION PROBLEM

I’ve believed for quite awhile that the main reason foreclosure sales have slowed to a crawl over the last two years is because the banks simply do not want to acknowledge the losses on these loans. If you don’t complete the foreclosure, the loan stays on your books at 100%, per the FASB. The criminal Wall Street banks have been reducing their loan loss reserves, creating tremendous profits out of thin air. Well Michael Olenick just let the air out of their balloon in this thorough detailed analysis of what is really happening in the home loan world. The next time you hear or see a housing recovery story, think back to this article. There are 9.8 million mortgages which will need to be written off in the next couple years.

Someone will be on the hook for $1 trillion of losses. Those who made the loans SHOULD be on the hook for the losses. These happen to be the biggest Wall Street banks. Do you think they will be taking the losses? Not bloody likely. Here’s how it will go down. Your friends at the Federal Reserve will print billions and buy up hundreds of billions in toxic worthless mortgages. The wards of the State – Fannie & Freddie – will be used by the government drones to buy up the rest of the bad loans. Wall Street banks will get off scot free because they own the Federal Reserve and the politicians in Washington.

Here is the loser – YOU!!!!

Federal Reserve created inflation will further impoverish you as the money printing will further debase the USD and make food and energy prices go up.

Fannie and Freddie are owned by you. They have already lost $180 billion of your tax dollars in the last three years. Whatever convoluted scheme Obama and his minions dream up will cost you hundreds of billions. Their debt is your debt.

Once again, the Wall Street banks will get away with murder while YOU bear the burden of their criminal actions. America the Great.

More

Deputy Allegedly Smuggled Heroin Burrito Into Jail

One ingredient did not belong in the burrito that Deputy Henry Marin allegedly agreed to deliver inside the Los Angeles jail: heroin.

The 27-year-old, who worked at the Airport Branch Courthouse in Los Angeles, has pleaded not guilty to two felonies: bringing drugs into a jail and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Marin conspired with three people, one whose identity is still unknown, to bring heroin into the Airport Courthouse in February 2010, according to the indictment.

More

BREAKING NEWS: Van Der Sloot to Be Sentenced

Watch Live: Natalee Holloway suspect Joran Van der Sloot to be sentenced in Peru for woman's murder


Fox News

The West Blinks - Iran Embargo Likely To Be Delayed By Six Months

UPDATE: Oil Sub $100.

And so the escalation ends, if only for the time being, as Iran chalks a (Pyrrhic?) victory.

EU IRAN OIL EMBARGO SAID TO BE LIKELY DELAYED BY SIX MONTHS

Why? Because the world slowly realized that the potential surge in oil prices would tip a world already on the verge of a recession even deeper into economic contraction. Not rocket science, but certainly something the US president apparently has been unable to comprehend, especially if hoping that he would merely transfer exports from Iran to his close ally Saudi Arabia which would cement its European market monopoly even further. Or, perhaps, someone just explained to Obama that Embargo in January + QE3 in March = No Reelection...

In other news, crude is now dumping.



More

Stephen Colbert Leads Jon Huntsman In South Carolina Poll

As if Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman needed more bad news after his third-place finish in New Hampshire, he now trails comedian Stephen Colbert in South Carolina, the next state to vote on Jan. 21, the Atlantic Wire reports.

The count, by Public Policy Polling (PPP), puts the Comedy Central anchor and non-candidate at 5%, while the former ambassador to China currently musters just 4%. “Even if Huntsman finishes second in New Hampshire tonight it doesn’t speak well for his prospects down the line that he’s running behind Stephen Colbert,” the pollsters wrote in a massive understatement of a press release.

Read More

A Comment Worthy Of A Post 1-13-12

Well lets take a hard look at this, when one breaks out their independance card to buy something do you really think they care about how much tax they are paying? it's all free! As long as baltimore city/county, PG county vote for the demoncrats there is no reason to change anything!

What Recovery?

If we add 200,000 jobs a month, will recovery take 7 years or 12 years? ... On Friday, we got the December jobs number: +200,000. That's good, but not good enough. I posted a graph from the Hamilton Project showing that, at that rate, the labor market wouldn't recover till 2024. But perhaps that's too pessimistic. The Economic Policy Institute took a look at the same numbers and concluded that a growth rate of 200,000 jobs per month would lead to a full recovery in seven years or so. That's nothing to celebrate, but it's better than the Hamilton Project's estimate of 12 years. It's also a bit odd: Isn't this a simple matter of taking job losses and dividing by monthly job gains? Well, no. The date of our eventual recovery depends on some crucial unknowables about the future of the American labor force. – WonkBlog Washington Post

Dominant Social Theme: This was a bad recession but it'll be all right soon.

Free-Market Analysis: We have learned that the US recession is over and that the only reason Europe is in trouble is because Southern European countries like Greece won't rein in their spendthrift ways. But as an alternative news site, we have never subscribed to the idea that what has occurred in the early 2000s is a merely a normal business cycle event.

In fact, we are on record numerous times as explaining that what has occurred in the 2000s is the END of the dollar-reserve economic system. If the cycle itself is left to run its course, gold looks (possibly) to finish above US$3,000 or US$4,000 (maybe US$5,000) and Western-style paper-money economies cannot stand that sort of strain, in our view.

More

Insurance Study: Women Are Better Drivers Than Men

In the proverbial battle of the sexes, women are better drivers than men. Or so says a new study by an online auto insurance group that hopes to dispel the long-standing notion that women are bad drivers.

Some 80 percent of all fatal and serious car crashes are caused by male drivers, the study says. It says women are 27 percent less likely than men to cause auto accidents. In 2007, statistics reveal men were involved in 6.1 million car accidents while women were involved in 4.4 million.

Male drivers outnumber females 3 to 1 for DUI violations, according to the study.

More

Compassion Cannot Be Forced

The great moral argument of the left is that the government policies they advocate create a fairer and more compassionate world. Everything they advocate flows from the overt assumption that if you want a fair and compassionate society, their policies of forced fairness and compassion are for you; and, conversely, if you don't support their policies, then you by that fact itself cannot want a fair and compassionate society.

That is the logic they present us with, and many on the left go to great lengths to prevent anybody from looking into whether or not those policies actually deliver on their stated goals.

We who value our founding principles of individual liberty often focus on the policies themselves and the people who support them, attacking the communists, the socialists, the fascists, the leftists, the progressives, or the liberals because their policies serve to undermine our freedom.

But doing this just plays right into their established story line – because to them, by our very argument we are obviously more concerned with ourselves, our own petty freedom than we are concerned about the needs of the less well-off, the needs of the poor, the needs of those without health insurance, or the greater needs of humanity.

I want to suggest that we start questioning, without apology, their fundamental assumption: The truth is, their policies do not lead to greater fairness or greater compassion (nor do they lead to greater prosperity, but this is an argument that the left has largely abandoned, like the fearsome warnings of global cooling a few decades ago).

More

Bullard Construction Company

Military Wives Choir

Toddler Lily Will Drop F-Bomb On Upcoming Episode Of 'Modern Family'

Cover your kids' eyes and ears! One of the most popular shows on TV is preparing to an air an episode in which a two-and-a-half year old toddler drops the F-bomb.

Steve Levitan, the executive producer of the ABC hit "Modern Family," revealed during a Television Critics Association winter press tour panel on Tuesday that the show's 2 1/2 year old character, Lily, uses the profanity, much to the horror of her parents, Cam and Mitchell, who are concerned that she might let it out again during a forthcoming wedding. 

Read More

SALISBURY-OCEAN CITY-WICOMICO REGIONAL AIRPORT SETS 2011 RECORDS FOR PASSENGER TRAFFIC AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS

Salisbury, MD -- January 11, 2012 Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt is pleased to announce that the Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Regional Airport established two new records during 2011. Wicomico County based Piedmont Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of US Airways Group Inc., established a new all-time annual airline passenger record by flying 143,736 passengers through the airport in 2011. The previous record of 142,391 passengers was established in 1998.

The period between 2000 and 2010 was challenging with annual airline passenger activity plummeting to 105,553 passengers during 2002. Airline passenger activity remained relatively flat until 2009 with 117,829 passengers and in 2010 with 129,341 passengers. Contributing factors to the passenger increase include competitive airfares by US Airways originating out of Salisbury and the introduction of a third daily US Airways non-stop flight between Salisbury and Charlotte, NC.

“The passenger activity increases at the Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Airport are certainly a positive economic indicator for the area,” said Pollitt, “And now with the addition of new service to Orlando, Florida by Allegiant Air we expect the surge of activity in our airport to continue.” Pollitt and the Wicomico County Airport Commission congratulate Wicomico County based Piedmont Airlines and their employees for establishing this new annual passenger traffic record.

In addition, Midwest Air Traffic Control Services (the FAA’s SBY Federal Contract Tower operator) recorded a new all-time annual number of 12,840 Military aircraft operations during 2011. Overall, the combined numbers of aircraft operations (air carrier, air taxi, general aviation, and military) recorded in 2011 totaled 47,675 aircraft operations. The combined numbers of 54,507 annual aircraft operations recorded in 2002 remains the airport’s record. Proximity to numerous US Air Force and Navy Air bases results in a higher volume of military aircraft operations for the airport.

Novartis To Cut Nearly 2,000 U.S. Jobs

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The Swiss drugmaker Novartis is cutting nearly 2,000 jobs in the United States, anticipating the impending loss of patent protection on its blockbuster drug Diovan.

Novartis (NVS) said it is reducing its "field force" by 1,630 positions and cutting an additional 330 jobs at its headquarters. Though the company did not specify where exactly these job cuts would take place, its U.S. headquarters is in East Hanover, N.J., and it also has facilities in Massachusetts and California.

More

Thank God Its Friday 1-13-12

What will you be doing this weekend?

Casey Anthony Claimed She Got Pregnant While Passed Out, Says Psychiatrist

(CBS/AP) - ORLANDO, Fla. - Casey Anthony told a psychiatrist that she didn't know who her daughter Caylee's father was because she became pregnant after passing out at a party when she was 18, according to newly released depositions.


More

Caption This Photo 1-13-12

Texting A Police Officer Leads To Arrests

Sometimes when you send a text, you send it to the wrong person; we’ve all done it right? Well, in this case, sending a text to a police officer asking where to buy Percocet pills has landed two Dover residents in trouble.

An officer from the Harrington PD says he began receiving texts on Wednesday from an unknown phone number; the officer began texting back and set up a meeting at the Harrington Moose Lodge on Route 13.

When officers got to the Lodge, they arrested 19-year-old Alisha West and 33-year-old Jesse Pittman; there was also a 3-month-old baby in the car.

More

When Celebs Auction Their Stuff For Charity, They Often Keep Most Of The Profits

Stars give up their personal items in charity-related auctions all the time, and often they make a big deal in the press about their resulting charitable contributions. But how much of what these auctions rake in do the stars actually give to their causes?

“Many times the public assumes that all the proceeds go to charity and not the celebrity,” Glenn Selig, President/CEO of Selig Multimedia, told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column. “But that is often not the case. The public should never assume that 100 percent goes to charity.”

Read More

Montana Upholds Ban On Corporate Electioneering, Leads Growing National Revolt

On December 30, the Montana Supreme Court issued a stunning ruling, rejecting arguments that the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Citizens United vs. FEC applied to Montana’s century-old ban on direct corporate election spending. The 5-2 ruling overturned a lower court and reinstated Montana's Corrupt Practices Act, a citizen initiative passed to confront some of the most overt corporate corruption in American history.


More

N.H. Widow Shocked By Ploy At Polls

A grieving New Hampshire widow said she was stunned to learn her beloved husband’s identity was used for a political gotcha — just 10 days after his death.

“That’s awful,” Rachel Groux said. “Why should they use his name? They shouldn’t use anybody’s name — alive or deceased.”

Activist filmmaker James O’Keefe secretly recorded video showing his operative using Roger Groux’s name and address to obtain a Republican ballot at Manchester polls Tuesday. The U.S. Navy veteran died Dec. 31 at an assisted living home. His family held funeral services Monday, his widow said. “Oh my God, I know what he would say, ‘Call the cops, call the police,’ ” Rachel Groux said.

More

Super PACs Play A Leading Role In Republican Air War

Republican presidential candidates and outside groups which support them have spent $38.7 million on political advertising since last fall, according to data acquired by TIME.

In the political mud pit of South Carolina, whose Jan. 21 primary is next on the calendar, candidates and their Super PACs have already dropped more than $9 million so far this cycle. The top three spenders in South Carolina have all been super PACs, led by Restore Our Future, a Mitt Romney-allied group, at $2.1 million. Texas Governor Rick Perry’s super PAC, Make Us Great Again, has pumped $1.77 million into the Palmetto State so far, and Winning our Future PAC, which backs Newt Gingrich, trails close behind at $1.6 million. Those sums are poised to swell quickly, with both Perry and Gingrich planning to savage Romney in South Carolina in an effort to stymie the front-runner’s momentum.

Read More

Government - Deadbeat Fiscal Plan?

Open your eye's doubters. What you are witnessing are the death throes of our economy. Keynesian economics is a fundamental failure. You cannot borrow money to pay bills and expect to fix the economyAND payback the debt - plus interest. The economy would have to grow at a rate never before experienced - an unachievable rate with substantial inflation - in order to pay back the federal reserve bank and every other "lender". The economy is so large that war can't even keep it going. It will collapse. It is a mathmatical certainty. The numbers don't lie.

After stepping back and looking at this entire fiasco we call an economy from a different perspective it became painfully clear. Allow me if you will. The world won't end because the economy collapses. Agreed? People will still survive and government will flex it's ever increasing muscle to assure that it stays in power regardless of the circumstances - even if it means suspending the constitution and individual property rights. Now let me pose a question. Do you really think the government is concerned about paying back borrowed money? Why would they be? Think about it. What is the last thing that many people do just before they file bankruptcy? They run up their credit cards like crazy! They buy new cars! They eat out every night! Why not? They know they will never have to pay it back. Our government knows a fiscal calamity is inevitable. When it comes, they won't have to pay back anything. Federal, State, AND local. Yes local. Imagine for a moment a brand new school that would rival the Taj Majal that no one would ever have to pay for. Ok we commit a few token millions of dollars, go to bond for several million more, and the state commits tax dollars to pay for the rest.....then the economy collapses. Local governments will rush for protection under bankruptcy laws and all or portions of debt will be forgiven. BUT..they will still own the building. That means they have collateral when the new economy kicks off. Collateral to secure new loans that pave the way back to another round of government irresponsibility.

Ocean City Police Department Request $16,000 To Replace Retired K-9 Unit

GO HERE to see agenda.

Found Dog

Hi Joe, this dog jumped in my car tonight when I got home. Looks like a long hair chihuahua. The dog is a girl. Has a collar and is very friendly. I live off of Beaglin Park Drive...owner can reach me at 410-430-6908.

Today's Weather 01/13/12

Today

High
43.0°

Precip
10%

Tonight

Overnight Low
29.0°

Precip
10%

The Weather Channel

Homeland Security Worries About New "Zeus" Virus

Homeland Security's Computer Emergency Response Team is warning government agencies about a new variant of the keystroke-logging "Zeus" virus. This one comes in emails that target accounts belonging to federal, state and local government employees. But there's an added wrinkle: The emails are disguised to make them look like they come from U.S. CERT itself. The real U.S. CERT says the emails are coming from a botnet that's controlled by computers in Russia.