Thursday, November 01, 2012

Hurricane Sandy Buckles N.C. 12 On Hatteras Island

HATTERAS ISLAND, N.C.

Hurricane Sandy left N.C. 12 rippled and bubbled, transforming portions of the highway north of Rodanthe into a curling ribbon of asphalt sliced open between its yellow lines.

The highway was Hurricane Sandy's casualty just as it was Irene's in 2011. Though Sandy spared much of the Outer Banks the costly wind and flood damage of previous storms, it cleaved Hatteras islanders' only roadway to the mainland.

Emergency ferries from Rodanthe to Stumpy Point were to begin regular runs today.

New York Aquarium Goes On Life Support

The New York Aquarium may have to evacuate its 12,000 water-dependent creatures—from hulking walruses and sharks to turtles and teeny fish—if power isn't restored to the Coney Island, Brooklyn, facility soon.

"We are at a very critical period," said a spokeswoman for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the institution. However, she said there was no definite timetable for making the decision.

She added that she was unsure if any of the animals died because of the serious flood damage the institution sustained during Superstorm Sandy, when sea water broke over the boardwalk. Press reports said that Mitik, a 236-pound walrus pup that recently came to live at the aquarium survived the storm. He is one of three walruses at the facility; the two others are adults weighing between 400 and 500 pounds each. The aquarium also has five sharks that would presumably be difficult to relocate. It's also home to otters, penguins, turtles and sea lions.

A small group of servers huddle around the bar inside R.J. Bentley’s. It’s Halloween night, and hordes of costumed students will soon pour into the “filling station.”

But when they do, they are less likely to go for a beer than their out-of-state peers, according to a report released last month by The Beer Institute, a lobbying group that has been tracking beer consumption data for nearly a decade. The organization ranked this state 47th in beer consumption in 2011, the most recent data available, stating of-age residents imbibe 23.3 gallons of beer per year. According to several Bentley’s servers, the data isn’t far off from what they see on a regular basis.

“Here at Maryland in general, the bars are more popular than house parties, which is where people consume more beer,” said sophomore government and politics major Kate Scruggs.

But the low ranking shocked other employees, such as sophomore kinesiology major Carly Solow, who wondered how Maryland compared to other states.

A man suspected in two bombings in Stafford County and one in Fredericksburg, Va., Tuesday morning was arrested Thursday in Montana.

Laurence Alan Stewart II, 25, is accused of explosions at the homes of an ex-girlfriend, a Stafford County Sheriff's deputy and another law enforcement official, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Sources told News4 that when police attemtped to stop Stewart, he threw two pipe bombs at them before leading them on a chase. Police arrested him in Belt, Mont., near Great Falls.

The pipe bombs thrown at police did explode, but there's no word of injuries.

HOW DID THEY KNOW?

SOMETHING IN THE UNIVERSE THAT IS MUCH GREATER AND DEEPER THAN HUMAN INTELLIGENCE.
THE ELEPHANT'S JOURNEY TO PAY RESPECT, BUT HOW DID THEY KNOW? cid:002601cda2b3$aea5ce80$390109c8@CapewellSprings.local

cid:002601cda2b3$aea5ce80$390109c8@CapewellSprings.local

Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including
the bestseller The Elephant Whisperer, bravely rescued wildlife and
rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including
the courageous rescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during US invasion in 2003.. On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died.
He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons and numerous elephants.
Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs.
Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved man-friend.
A total of 31 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his
South African House. cid:002701cda2b3$aea5ce80$390109c8@CapewellSprings.local

cid:002701cda2b3$aea5ce80$390109c8@CapewellSprings.local

Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe not only because of the
supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed about Lawrence 's
passing, but also because of the profound memory and emotion the beloved animals
evoked in such an organized way:
Walking slowly - for days - Making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their
habitat to his house.

Lawrence's wife, Francoise, was especially touched, knowing that the elephants
had not been to his house prior to that day for well over 3 years!
But yet they knew where they were going.

The elephants obviously wanted to pay their deep respects, honoring their friend
who'd saved their lives - so much respect that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights without eating anything..
Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back home............

Kellogg’s Recalls Mini-Wheats Due To Metal Pieces

Kellogg’s has issued a voluntary recall of some of its Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite Size Original and Mini-Wheats Unfrosted Bite Size products due to the possibility of flexible metal mesh fragments in the food.

Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite Size Original and Mini-Wheats Unfrosted Bite Size products with the letters KB, AP or FK before or after the Best If Used Before date are part of the recall. The products vary in size from single-serve bowls to large 70-ounce cartons. Use by dates range from April 1, 2013 to Sept. 21, 2013.

A complete list of products and affected UPC codes can be found on the FDA website.

African-American Students Show Most Gains In Graduation Rates, Md. Report Card Finds

A new report indicates students are receiving diplomas at the highest rate in recent history, Maryland education leaders said Wednesday.

Graduation among four-year students from 2010 to last year increased almost a full percentage point from 81.97 to 82.82 percent. The group of students who complete their diploma in five years improved from 84.57 to 85.51.

Graduation rates for African-American, Asian and Caucasian students improved between the same time period, and graduation of African-Americans rose the most of any subgroup -- more than 2 percentage points, from 74.02 percent to 76.09 percent.

Of Eggs, Banks And FDIC Rules

Some of the folks in this story appear to have their brains scrambled. And the man at the center of it has decided not to go over easy.

Yeah, it’s sort of about eggs, but mostly it’s about governmental and corporate bureaucracy combining to fry an individual. (Couldn’t resist one more.)

Paul Boudwin was fired from his job as an investment banker with Bank of America in Houston because of a 14-year-old mix-up at a Denny’s. He’s suing the bank.

One Year Later - Santelli Rips Apart

There remains more than $1.6 billion of customer funds unaccounted for and whether you believe PwC (as Forbes notes [4]) were duped or not, one year on from MFGlobal, one thing is for sure - there is no more hated character in the pits of Chicago than Jon Corzine. CNBC's Rick Santelli says it all in this blockbuster rant against the incredible reality that this 'connected' individual has got away with monetary murder. Must watch - but beware your blood pressure... as he concludes "we haven't heard the end of this - Chicago will find the answers!"

More

Maryland Pro Wins World Series of Poker, $8.53M

A Maryland poker professional won the World Series of Poker main event, outlasting his final opponents in a marathon card session of nearly 12 hours for the $8.53 million title on Wednesday.

Greg Merson emerged with the title before dawn in Las Vegas after a session that proved a showcase for his skills amid the unpredictability of tournament no-limit Texas Hold `em.

On the last hand, Merson put Las Vegas card pro Jesse Sylvia all-in with a king high. Sylvia thought hard, then called with a suited queen-jack.

Taxation is nothing more than theft. It is a claim by one person/group that part or all of your property is in fact theirs. Government legitimizes “theft” by annointing it a “tax” and claiming it is legal. They are nothing but a clan of shysters and criminals that have tricked people into thinking the criminal acts they commit are honorable and necessary.

More

Cities Exposed To Rising Sea Levels

What Hurricane

Sandy did to New York could be nothing compared to future storms.

An OECD report from a few years ago warned that by 2070, assuming rising sea levels, bigger storms, and continued coastal development, New York City will have $2.1 trillion in assets and nearly 3 million people exposed to major flooding.

And New York City isn't even the most at-risk city—that would be Miami, Florida. Big cities in China, India, and around the world are also extremely exposed.

The report recommend significant investment

in flood and storm protection for all coastal cities.

Click here to see the most exposed cities >

Socialism, A Path Paved To Serfdom

It is of dire importance that the American people fully understand how the Republic came to be hijacked by a financially empowered oligarchy in order to institute political measures to counteract the nefarious path chosen for US by those who clearly do not hold the best interests of We the People at heart.

“Give me control of a nation’s money and I care not who makes it’s laws”

— Mayer Amschel Bauer Rothschild

More

Today's Fill In The Blank 11-1-12

The more I _____, the better I feel.

HUNGER GAMES - NYC VERSION

Water that had risen six feet high hadn’t completely drained away from the streets of Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y., yet looters had already rifled through the remains of vulnerable shops on Mermaid Avenue.

At about 8 a.m. on Tuesday, workers arrived at Mega Aid Pharmacy to find that not only had Hurricane Sandy obliterated the building’s interior the night before, but thieves had broken in and gone through more than 10,000 pharmaceutical items. Most of the stolen goods were prescription meds.

“The water went away and these people started walking down the streets and just robbed stores,” a frustrated worker at the pharmacy, who wished to remain anonymous, told HuffPost Crime.

Pill bottles were scattered — and others stolen — after looting at this pharmacy on Mermaid Avenue near 32nd St. in Brooklyn, Tuesday, Oct. 30. The crime came just hours after Hurricane Sandy struck the New York City area, devastating Coney Island and many other neighborhoods.

POST HURRICANE SANDY INFORMATION FOR WICOMICO COUNTY CITIZENS

Salisbury, MD – Wicomico County officials are requesting homeowners, mobile homeowners and business owners who suffered property damage from Hurricane Sandy to report it by calling 211. Information will be used to document the damage and help local emergency management agencies assess the overall damage in the county.

When filing a claim:

Please note that insurance companies may request a copy of the Governor’s Declaration of Emergency. That Declaration can be downloaded via the following web site http://www.governor.maryland.gov/documents.asp under Executive Orders click on Hurricane Sandy.

Restaurants/Food Service Facilities/Wells:

· Restaurants and Food Service facilities that suffered power outages cannot reopen until authorized by the Health Department

· Wells on individual properties contaminated by flood waters should not be used until approved by the Health Department

For more information please contact the Wicomico County Health Department at 410-546-4446.

Wicomico County Department of Public Works (DPW) Updates:

· Dams/Bridges: All dams and bridges have been inspected and cleared with no major damage to report

· Temporary Road Closure: A pipe failure has caused a road washout on Hobbs Rd near Shavox Rd. The temporary road closing should be lifted tomorrow Thursday, November 1^st

· Private Stormwater Facilities: DPW is recommending owners of privately-held stormwater management facilities to self-inspect their property. Please notify DPW of any damage by calling 410-548-4872

· Ferry Operations: Remember to dial the Ferry Hotline to find out when the Upper Ferry and Whitehaven Ferry will reopen – 410-543-2765

· Landfill/Transfer Stations are operating under normal hours. The transfer stations that accept brush are Bivalve, Sharptown, Newland Park and Parsonsburg

A Comment Worthy Of A Post 11-1-12

Put this in perspective. The riverkeepers, self- proclaimed watchdogs of the Bay, have just spent three years and tens-of-thousands of dollars arguing the bay pollution comes from manure carried in the dust exhausted from poultry houses; not the piles of cow manure that the dust is flying over, not the huge uncovered pile of Ocean City sludge that brought them to the farm in the first place and not the millions of gallons of sewage discharged during WWTP overflows! No calling attention to that would make our beloved Governor look like an uncaring, incompetent fool.

Frankly, it is total hogwash and the riverkeepers need to be run out of town, just like the other snake oil salesmen of the late 1800s, early 1900s.

Today's Advertiser Of The Day 11-1-12

Obama Vs. Romney Rasmussen Poll: November 1 Results

Republican nominee Mitt Romney kept a slim, 2-point national advantage over President Barack Obama in today's Rasmussen daily tracking poll. The 49 to 47 percent lead mirrors Romney's edge from Wednesday.

Obama's approval rating in the poll stood at 49 percent, below the "safe" level of 50 percent that typically precludes an incumbent's re-election.

Rasmussen's polling is based on a three-day rolling average, so results from Monday through Wednesday are included in this sample.

In other tracking poll news, Gallup will begin polling again today, but its final election results won't come until Monday.

Blaze At Site Of Derailment In Ky. To Keep Burning

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A chemical fire at the site of a train derailment in Kentucky that forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes is expected to continue burning all day Thursday.

Emergency officials said they were given inaccurate information about how much of the flammable chemical, butadiene, remained in an overturned tanker car. Authorities initially estimated the fire would burn itself out within two hours, but now they’re having to reassess how much of the chemical is left, said Doug Hamilton with Metro Louisville Emergency Management.

It wasn’t immediately clear exactly how long the fire would continue burning, flames shooting out of the car and spewing thick, black smoke.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday considered curbing police use of drug-sniffing dogs as lawyers argued that using a dog’s hypersensitive nose outside a home to indicate the possibility of illegal substances inside amounts to an unconstitutional breach of privacy.

Justices also are considering making states prove in court how well-trained and effective those drug-sniffing dogs are before prosecutors can use evidence turned up by the dog — something police departments say could put a crimp in their use of canines in law enforcement. It “puts the dog on trial,” said lawyer Gregory Garre, who represented the state of Florida in both cases.

More

Cocky Fighter Pays The Price!

This boxer paid the price for showboating. He thought he could take any punch his opponent could throw, but a quick left cross sent him sprawling.

GO HERE

Today's Survey Question 11-1-12

Do you prefer well, city or bottled water?

O'Malley To Tour Garrett County After Superstorm

OAKLAND, Md. (AP) - Gov. Martin O'Malley will visit residents and emergency management officials in Garrett County dealing with the lingering effects of Superstorm Sandy.

O'Malley will visit the Southern Garrett Rescue Squad shelter in Oakland and will meet with emergency officials Thursday.

Marissa Albero 10-31-12

Punkin Chunkin 2012

"The 2012 Punkin Chunkin event is NOT canceled!! We will be delayed by one day, Friday will be a set up day for the event to recover from Sandy but Saturday and Sunday are still planned to go on without delay.Vendors will be setting up Friday and we will have live music on the stage Friday afternoon if you wish to come out and watch the teams set up there will be no charge. Advanced Ticket holders for Friday will be honored on either Saturday or Sunday. We look forward to seeing you there! John Huber, President WCPCA"

Punkin Chunkin Website

Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts Today In Crisfield Maryland

Today we head to Crisfield, Maryland to help those in need. We will have Posts going up throughout the entire day and evening, as usual. One of us will stay behind to moderate comments and Post additional articles above and beyond our regularly scheduled Posts.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help, please meet today (Thursday) at Crisfield City Hall at 1 p.m.

Mikulski To Tour Red Cross Superstorm Center

BALTIMORE (AP) - Sen. Barbara Mikulski is scheduled to tour the Red Cross Superstorm Sandy disaster operations center.

The Maryland senator also will meet with workers and volunteers on Thursday in Baltimore

EPA Grants 16 States Clean Gas Waivers After Sandy

The Obama administration is temporarily waiving some Clean Air Act requirements in 16 states and the District of Columbia to reduce fuel disruptions from Superstorm Sandy.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson says in a letter to governors that extreme circumstances related to Sandy will prevent enough gasoline from reaching consumers.

Joe, 

After mucking out our house in Marion, we went to Ruby Tuesdays in Pocomoke for 
some dinner.  Just as we were seated, the next party of 40 came in.  They were 
from Alabama.  They all drove their trucks and equipment here to help Delmarva 
Power get us reconnected.  It tok them 2 days to get here.  What a wonderful 
bunch of guys.  Most of the folks in the restaurant, chatted with them, and 
thanked them profusely, for coming and helping us!  They were very friendly, and 
very humble, just part of their jobs!  I am sure they all volunteered for the 
assignment.  They worked under very difficult conditions, in unfamiliar 
surroundings!  -- Just a shout out to them for helping us!!

Rescheduled Meetings In Delmar

The meetings which were canceled due to the hurricane have been rescheduled for Monday the 5th. Public Works Commission will be held at 6, Utility Commission at 6:30, and the Joint Council at 7. The Oaths of Office for the newly elected Delmar, Delaware officials will still be held at 8. We'd would love to see you there!

Crisfield Flooding Called Worst Since 1985; 2 Caskets Rise From Graves

Residents say that they haven't seen flooding like this since Hurricane Gloria in 1985. Jessica Kartalija reports.

GO HERE to view.

Delaware Employers Could Face 40 Percent Workman’s Comp Hike

DOVER — A proposed 40 percent increase in workman’s compensation rates has raised a backlash from the Delaware business community. Delaware Department of Insurance has scheduled a series of public information sessions to inform and educate residents about the proposed change.

The Insurance Department will hold one public information session in each of Delaware’s three counties. An October public information session was rescheduled because of Hurricane Sandy, and it will now be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Delaware Technical and Community College in Georgetown.

A public hearing will be held Tuesday, Nov. 20. If the rate increase were approved, it would go into effect Saturday, Dec. 1.

Report an Issue

Use this form or download the mobile app to report non-emergency issues.

Use this to Report an Issue

Through the generous donation of SeeClickFix.com, you can use your smart phone to report a Hurricane Sandy related issue using your smartphone. Using one of these apps, you can take a photograph of the issue and your phone's GPS will pinpoint the location and collect more information from you. The app is free and you can start reporting issues today.

As a community, Crisfield is coming together to help everyone rebuild from Hurricane Sandy. If you or someone you know have a need that cannot be met by insurance or your own resources, we are organizing volunteers to help meet the needs of the community. Some of the things we hope to do, include:

Patching holes in roofs (but not replacing your roof)

Clearing branches to make your home accessible.

Removing limbs and trees from homes and cars

Cleaning debris out of flood damaged homes.

To do this, we need to hear from you. And we need volunteers. This webpage aims to gather both a list of projects and to coordinate the volunteer effort to rebuild Crisfield.

Our town has overcome a lot and we will get through this disaster.

GO HERE to learn more.

Did JPMorgan Chase Really Take A "Ten Billion Dollar Hit" For Uncle Sam?

Even in these tempestuous times, some things are still predictable. Bank CEOs still plead poverty after receiving billion-dollar favors from the government. And there are apparently still reporters who take their word for it.

Recently a lawsuit was filed against JPMorgan Chase which details massive investor fraud at Bear Stearns, the firm it acquired at the government’s request - and at considerable public expense - during the 2008 crisis. And right on time, JPM CEO Jamie Dimon ran to reporters to claim that his bank really lost money on that extraordinarily cushy deal.

Constitution Loses

Illegal government surveillance is the issue once again before the Supreme Court. In the case of Clapper v. Amnesty International, several lawyers, human rights activists, and journalists allege that federal government illegally wiretapped their communications with foreign contacts.

The problem is – these plaintiffs have to prove that they were indeed harmed by the government's surveillance in order to have "standing" in front of the court. But thanks to laws passed by Congress in 2008 that amended the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act – the government doesn't have to reveal anything about it's post-9/11 surveillance programs and which Americans were spied on. That means the plaintiffs in this case – just like many previous cases – will have a difficult time proving that any crimes were actually committed. Once again, the surveillance state wins – and our Constitution loses.

New poll: Too Little Spending On Schools, Not Enough Taxes From High Earners

Almost two-thirds of Maryland residents (65%) feel Maryland spends “too little” on public schools despite a rising trend in state and local government education spending, a new Goucher College poll found.

The poll also found that 60% of Maryland residents feel that high-income earners don’t pay enough taxes, despite a state income tax increase in May that forces over 300,000 Marylanders earning six figures to pay a higher tax rate.

Nearly two-thirds of residents feel large businesses and corporations don’t pay enough in taxes, as well. Meanwhile, 41% said that small businesses pay “too much” in taxes and another 41% feel small businesses pay a “fair share.”

More

Update On Hurricane Sandy & Washington D.C.

Hurricane Sandy felled some trees on the National Mall, but The National Park Service said monuments and memorials appear to be just fine. A spokesperson said the World War II Memorial may have some minor flooding, which it's built to withstand. She said the Mall's flood-protection system can protect it from crests of 17 feet or higher. The Park Service is giving the Mall a much-anticipated makeover. It includes new walls to protect the monuments from flooding, better drainage and new storm sewer catch basins.

Army Corps Finds Beach Fared ‘Better Than Expected’

OCEAN CITY – The sea wall on the Boardwalk, along with other storm protection measures, did better in Ocean City than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ expected.

On Tuesday Baltimore District commander Col. Trey Jordan visited Ocean City to conduct a preliminary assessment of the Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project, or beach replenishment, following Hurricane Sandy.

“The Corp of Engineers is interested in public safety and all of our projects like this are designed to protect the public and I am very happy that it designed better than designed,” Jordan said.

More

VETERAN’S DAY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12th

THERE WILL BE NO BULK,

CARDBOARD OR YARD DEBRIS

PICK UP ON MONDAY, NOV 12TH

THE NEXT PICK UP WILL BE

MONDAY, NOV 19TH

TO SCHEDULE A PICK UP, PLEASE

CALL THE SERVICE CENTER AT

410-548-3177 BEFORE 6 a.m. ON

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH

Md. Student, 15, Killed While Crossing Road To School

WASHINGTON - A 15-year-old student was killed Wednesday morning after she was hit by a vehicle when attempting to cross Route 118. It is believed she was on her way to school, Montgomery County police say.

The victim, Christina Morris-Ward, of Germantown, Md., was a sophomore at Seneca Valley High School. Morris-Ward was hit by a 2010 Ford Fusion traveling in the northbound lanes just before 7 a.m.

Morris-Ward was transported to a local hospital where she died.

Authorities say four people have been shot and wounded during a Halloween party on the University of Southern California campus.

Capt. David Carlisle of the USC Department of Public Safety says two people were detained following the shooting shortly before midnight Wednesday.

Los Angeles police say the four victims were rushed to hospitals after the shooting at Tutor Campus Center. There was no immediate word on their conditions.

FOX NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Cable Warned Of Threat Of Consulate Attack

The US Mission in Benghazi convened an 'emergency meeting' less than a month before the assault that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, because the consulate could not defend against a 'coordinated attack,' according to a classified cable reviewed by Fox News.

Attention

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Residents say that they haven't seen flooding like this since Hurricane Gloria in 1985. Jessica Kartalija reports.

Report an Issue

Use this to Report an Issue

Wednesday, October 31, 2012