Week 12: Delegate McDermott's Field Notes

Field Notes

Observations and Reflections on Legislative Activities

By Delegate Michael A. McDermott

Week 12 March 21-25, 2014

Wednesday Morning Voting Session: Bills on Third Reader

Thursday Morning Voting Session: Bills on Third Reader

This week the House debated the budget (SB-170) and transgender rights (SB-212) for two entire days, and I saw nothing that reflected on the nature or scope of these bills. The reporters wrap up for the week did not even mention it! So allow me to provide a few details that apparently were not “fit to print”.

BUDGET

Overall, the proposed budget, SB-170, will increase total spending by over 4%. Unfortunately, our revenues will only increase, optimistically, by 1%. They had to get the money from somewhere, so they robbed the Teachers and Employee Retirement Trust Fund of another $200 million this year with another $200 million to be taken next year (along with $700 million in the next few additional years out). This gamble will cost us a boatload of money. Delegate Conway told us they would replace the money in the coming 20 years, but this includes a $600 million balloon payment. Now tell me this, if we are a state that cannot even stick to a plan for 12-months to return $100 million…what odds would you give me on us replacing $600 million?

They also raided all of the other, so called, “trust funds” in order to balance out their spending increases to the tune of $4.5 billion transfers. This included the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Transportation Trust Fund and a host of lesser funds collected for a variety of set aside issues. The Republicans take exception to the robbing of these established funds and diversion to non-specified purposes. When the government takes money from the public for a specific issue, it is a violation of trust not to use those funds for their stated and intended purpose.  I co-sponsored bills to keep this from happening, but the ruling party simply cannot live with access to the kitty on every account.

Further, we do not return the Highway User Money to local governments. Instead, we are totally funding the Red and Purple Transit Lines that are used by only 6% of our population. 94% of our people rely on roads and bridges and pay fuel taxes to cover their upkeep and maintenance, and yet they fail to direct funding back to those who pay the bill. In a word, shameful!

The budget increase in spending since O’Malley took office will come close to 40% this year. It would be easy to blame the governor for his part in this reckless package, but he finds willful accomplices in the Democrat controlled General Assembly. On the lower shore both Senator Mathias and Delegate Conway voted in favor of the budget and spending bill.

Republicans offered 15 Floor Amendments aimed at controlling spending or doing away with funding for non-existent program areas which were all rejected. For the fourth year in a row, we also offered up an alternative budget that would have eliminated the pension theft and restored some financial integrity to the budget, but they would have none of it. (there were a few of us who refused to even vote for this increase on principle).

TRANSGENDER RIGHTS (aka “The Bathroom Bill”)

Granting specified “Civil Rights” to those who are physically one sex but believe themselves to be another is something we could debate. For instance, John Hopkins University Hospital has discontinued sex change surgery following years of many of their patients wanting to be changed back…and then back again. The American Medical Association classifies these individuals as “mentally ill.” Having said that, if the debate were simply about fair housing or not being denied service at a business, most would probably not stand in the way of adopting these changes; however, “public accommodations” goes a lot further.

Senate President Miller made it clear that SB-212 had to pass with no amendments or it would die in the Senate. Sadly, the House leadership acquiesced to these demands. We went from a deliberative body to a rubber stamp for the Senate in short order. That did not stop the Republicans from offering some great amendments; they were amendments that the bill desperately needed to even have a chance of being operationally effective. All attempts at change were rejected, even when glaring problems were pointed out.

When the governor signs this nonsense, here is what you could face or will face in the future:

·         By definition of law, a person is a “transgender” if they simply feel or desire to be of the opposite sex. There are no precursors and somebody who has never dressed differently or expressed themselves in such a way in the past could simply decide, “today, I am a woman” and have the power of law to allow them full access to facilities dedicated as a women’s bathroom.

·         By definition, the same is true for any private facilities such as YMCA, spa, or gym facilities that have separate locker rooms for men and women. There are simply no barriers and the action revolves around the state of someone’s mind and how they see themselves today.

·         There is an exception when it comes to bathroom and private facilities: if the owner/operator provide facilities that are substantially equivalent to those available to women or men, those who consider themselves to be transgender could be required to utilize those facilities. (How long before we hear the “separate but equal” argument on this legislation?)

We fought this bill for hours, but the Democrats prevailed. The costs to the business community could be significant if they elect to put in a separate facility. Most simply cannot afford to do so which assures us that somewhere along the way, there will be a conflict. I think I summed it up best in my closing remarks on the floor: “We are in serious trouble when a confused state offers up confused legislation on behalf of some very confused individuals.”

WH Report: Chronic Marijuana Users Up 84% in 10 Years

The number of chronic marijuana users--defined as those who used it on four or more days in the past month--increased 84.3% between 2000 to 2010, according to a RAND Corporation report commissioned by the White House.

“In January 2012, the U.S. White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) asked RAND to generate national estimates of the total number of users, total expenditures, and total consumption for four illicit drugs from 2000 to 2010: cocaine (including crack), heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine (or meth),” says the report, What America’s Users Spend on Illicit Drugs: 2000-2010. (See Spend on Illegal Drugs 2000-10.pdf)

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Common Core Assignment Asks Kids to Choose Two Amendments to Remove From Bill of Rights

Common Core is an Agenda 21 (U.N.) based curriculum that teaches sustainable development, zero-population philosophies and the dangers of humans impacting the environment. Over the course of a citizens educational years it will teach children what kind of action should be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups. In order to adopt a global-type-thinking, an individual must be trained to give up their personal sovereignty and adopt phrases like “for the good of the whole”. A key step is to disregard the whole importance of basic human rights held in the Bill of Rights. A current Common Core assignment has Constitutionalists concerned for the blatant brainwashing against Bill of Rights.

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Kudos to Mary Ashanti and the NAACP

At last night’s meeting of the Wicomico County Council, Mr. Culver praised the NAACP’s forum for candidates last week, for which he noted his appreciation and thanked Ms. Ashanti for her effort and work on behalf of that group. We agree.

Hypersensitive Liberals on Twitter Try to #CancelColbert

You’d think every American would love free speech. Wrong. Some ultra sensitive liberals oppose free speech even when applied to their favorite TV hosts—as illustrated by the recent Twitter protest of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report.

Last Thursday night, Twitter began blowing up with the hashtag #CancelColbert. The online protest started when the Twitter account attached to The Colbert Report posted a tweet that at first glance seemed insensitive to Asians.

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FIFTEEN Days Later The Daily Times Finally Reports On Sheriff's Pay Increase

"Wicomico sheriff may get pay raise after council revote"

Can someone please tell me why people pay good hard earned money for this Newspaper? FIFTEEN days later they finally expose something that was voted on TWO weeks ago.

In the twelve o'clock hour we will have an article going up about the Navy Seal Team Six Father who came all the way to Salisbury, Maryland to share his heart warming story about the death of his Son. Was the Daily Times there, WBOC or WMDT? NO! 

I just don't get it Ladies & Gentlemen. Even after getting rid of Joe Carmean and Greg Bassett, that paper continues to go down hill. They can claim their budget doesn't allow them to afford to go to this and that event. However, this BLOG with VOLUNTEERS and incredible dedication delivers breaking news and stories WEEKS in advance.

Oh, referencing a portion of their article they quote John Hall on Sheriff Lewis' pay raise as saying, “Everybody I talked to said this is the right thing to do,” Hall said. See, it's CONVENIENT to quote these elected officials with LIES because it's not the Daily Times lying.

I can tell you this, I personally spoke with John Hall and flat out told him why the Council should say no. Many other Council Members said they had received numerous calls from people stating they supported the pay raise. Well, DUH, Lewis simply had people calling Council Members stating they supported the pay raise. What a bunch of Idiots. 

Tent City Residents Leaving

The future of a tent city that has been home to about a dozen homeless residents is in jeopardy – some have lived in the camp off of Route 1 near Midway Presbyterian for nearly two years.

Delaware State Police Cpl. Matthew Blakeman, who has checked on the residents over the past two years, said he is helping make arrangements to move the residents off the property by Saturday, April 5.

“I was contacted by the troop that the landowner sent a letter saying he wanted everyone off his property because he received a letter stating he was in violation of county code,” Blakeman said.
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CIA officer confirmed no protests before misleading Benghazi account given

Information on ground rejects protest account

Before the Obama administration gave an inaccurate narrative on national television that the Benghazi attacks grew from an anti-American protest, the CIA’s station chief in Libya pointedly told his superiors in Washington that no such demonstration occurred, documents and interviews with current and former intelligence officials show.

The attack was “not an escalation of protests,” the station chief wrote to then-Deputy CIA Director Michael J. Morell in an email dated Sept. 15, 2012 — a full day before the White House sent Susan E. Rice to several Sunday talk shows to disseminate talking points claiming that the Benghazi attack began as a protest over an anti-Islam video.

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BREAKING NEWS: Overall limits on campaign contributions struck down

Supreme Court, in 5-4 decision, strikes down cap on total contributions individuals can make to candidates, PACs and parties.

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The Problem Is Liberalism, Not Racism

When Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif, went off on Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis, for his remarks that “We have got a tailspin of culture, in our inner cities in particular, of men not working and just generations of men not even thinking about working or learning the value and the culture of work,” the wrong part what she had to say got all the attention.

The big buzz that Congressional Black Caucus member Lee generated was her accusation that Ryan’s remarks were a “thinly veiled racial attack.”

But the part of her remarks I found most interesting was “…Mr. Ryan should step up and produce some legitimate proposals on how to tackle poverty and racial discrimination in America.”

Paul Ryan has been one of the most creative and courageous policy thinkers in Washington in recent years.

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GOVERNOR O'MALLEY, LT. GOVERNOR BROWN ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE BOARD VOTE

Annapolis, Md. (April 1, 2014) -- Governor O'Malley and Lt. Governor Brown issued the following joint statement on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Board's recommendation to upgrade the exchange's IT system:

"Thanks to the incredible hard work and commitment of hundreds of consumer assistance workers, brokers, carriers, Exchange staff, and many other stakeholders -- Maryland exceeded our goal and has so far enrolled more than 295,000 people during this first open enrollment period. That means a lot to these families who have the security and peace-of-mind that comes with having quality, affordable health care. And it means a lot for the long-term affordability of our healthcare system.

The hard work of getting so many Marylanders enrolled was made even tougher because Maryland’s health exchange website did not meet expectations -- a source of great frustration, especially for those who were trying to obtain healthcare for the very first time.

Our Administration has not succeeded at every first try, but we have never given up. We learn from both success and failure. The vendors we hired failed to build us the platform they promised. So now that the first open enrollment period has ended, we’ve decided to upgrade our website.

The Health Exchange Board selected a partner with a proven track record to upgrade our website using a platform that has an established record of success. We’re confident that this partner will have the website upgraded by the time the next open enrollment period begins in November.

The Maryland Health Exchange is much more than a website. It’s the board, policies, connector entities, call center, other consumer assistance networks, staff, and many other aspects that have allowed the state to exceed its enrollment goal despite the IT challenges. All of this will all remain in place. The website is one piece of the Exchange, and that piece is being upgraded."

Cleveland Clinic CEO: Three-Quarters Of ObamaCare Signups Have Higher Premiums

House Rejects Bid To Block Pay Raises

Democrats in the House of Delegates sidetracked a Republican attempt Tuesday to force a vote on a 16 percent pay raise for lawmakers – virtually assuring the pay hike will take effect without a vote.

The House voted 87-48 to defeat a procedural move by Del. Cathleen M. Vitale, an Anne Arundel County Republican, to bring her resolution blocking the raise to the floor. The motion required 94 votes to pass. Only a handful of Democratic delegates, including gubernatorial candidate Heather R. Mizeur, joined a united Republican caucus in supporting the move.

By sending Vitale's resolution of disapproval to the Rules Committee — which is under the control of House Speaker Michael E. Busch — the Democrats can prevent the measure from coming up for a vote.
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U.S. Navy Seals Elite Parachute Team to jump at OC Air Show

Ocean City will be one of the only shows in the nation with all DoD branches participating

OCEAN CITY, Md. – The U.S. Navy Seals elite parachute team, the Leap Frogs have announced they will perform at the 2014 OC Air Show June 14-15, 2014.

The 7th annual edition of the event will be the only air show of the year in the mid-Atlantic region to feature the Leap Frogs. With the addition of this elite Navy parachute team every branch of the Department of Defense will be participating in the 2014 event The Marine Corps will feature an AV-8B Harrier Demo, the Army Silver Wings Parachute Team will also perform and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will headline the event.

The OC Air show has also just unveiled the Performer Page on the official website www.ocairshow.com. Several civilian performers have been announced including the first ever B-25 Mitchell flight. The addition of the World War II era bomber “Panchito” is sure to delight veterans and history buffs alike. The GEICO Skytypers will be returning in their World War II era SNJ-2 naval training aircraft as well.

“This year’s line up is looking to be one of the best in OC Air Show history ” said Bryan Lilley, President of the OC Air Show. “We’ve got a great variety with the military demos, warbirds, parachute teams, formation flight teams and we’re not done announcing performers yet.”

FDA Proposes Burdensome, Costly, Unnecessary Rules For Beer Makers

Why would they do this? In Government World, why not? They have nothing better to do

(Fox News) Beer brewers are objecting to a proposed federal rule that would make it harder for breweries to sell leftover grains as animal feed instead of throwing them away.

The Food and Drug Administration rule change would mean brewers would have to meet the same standards as livestock and pet-food manufacturers, imposing new sanitary handling procedures, record keeping and other food safety processes on brewers.

Beer makers complain that the new rules, if adopted, would force them to dump millions of tons of “spent grains,” which are left over after barley, wheat and other grains are steeped in hot water.

Bear Republic brewmaster Rich Norgrove says the rules would be costly and force brewers to dump the grains, instead of the more sustainable practice of feeding them to livestock.

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Some stuff just doesn't like being shot a

Senate Votes 20% Pay Raise For Top State Officials

The Senate voted Tuesday to provide a 20% salary increase over the next four years to the attorney general, comptroller, state treasurer and secretary of state.

The attorney general, comptroller and treasurer each earn $125,000 annually. The secretary of state makes $87,500 annually.

Under the bill, which Senate members approved 36-10, the attorney general, comptroller and treasurer would earn $149,500 in 2018, and the secretary of state would earn $109,500.

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Obama, O'Malley, Pollitt & Ireton Hold A Press Conference (yawn)

Budget Conference Approves Alternative Approach To Rain Tax

House and Senate conferees working on the state budget tentatively approved an alternative to the contentious stormwater remediation fee dubbed the “rain tax” by opponents.

The surprise move offered by Sen. James Ed DeGrange of Anne Arundel County appears to be an end-run around environmentalists and the House Environmental Matters Committee, which has blocked any changes to the requirement that nine counties and Baltimore City impose a separate tax to clean up stormwater polluting the bay.

Following a contentious back-and-forth between the Carroll County government and state officials, the Maryland Department of the Environment allowed Carroll County to allot a portion of its property taxes to fund the county’s stormwater management program.
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The 7 Reasons America Became A Great Power

My latest Townhall column is called, The 7 Reasons America Became A Great Power. Here’s an excerpt from the column.

“In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle: There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, ‘I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.’ To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: ‘If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.’” — G.K. Chesterton

We hear a great deal about how America needs to be “changed” by people who don’t seem to know America’s history, understand our country’s uniqueness, or appreciate how good we’ve had it as a people. Until you understand what made America a great nation to begin with, you have no business suggesting any changes to the policies, tradition, and culture that made us so uniquely successful. It’s not an accident that America became a great power. It’s because of these seven reasons.

1) Judeo-Christian Ethics: When people call America a “Christian nation,” they’re referring to the Judeo-Christian morals that shaped our country. Our strong sense of right and wrong kept corruption to a minimum, our Protestant work ethic caused Americans to be productive, and our belief in rights given by God, not government shaped our national philosophy. Respect for Christian values is a part of the fabric of our country that goes right back to our founding. Even if many people wouldn’t realize it until it is too late, an America where Christianity isn’t an important part of everyday life would no longer be America in any meaningful sense.

Once again, you can read it all here.

America the Beautiful? - Willie Nelson

You Don’t Have To Go Home, But You Can’t Stay At Walmart Drinking Beer For 2 Days

Back in the wilder days of my college youth, we knew the fun was over when the bar powers that be came on over the loudspeaker, saying “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.” Perhaps a New York Walmart could’ve used such a reminder for a woman accused of trespassing at the store for two days, just chilling out and drinking some beer.

Police say the woman was first spotted in the store Thursday night taking cans of beer from the store and drinking them where she stood, reports the Albany Times-Union.

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Eggstravaganza Returns to Pemberton Park on Sunday, April 13

Salisbury, Md. – The Easter Bunny is laying eggs all over Pemberton Park! Hop on over to Wicomico Recreation’s Annual Eggstravaganza on Sunday, April 13 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. for a family-friendly afternoon filled with Easter fun.

Four egg hunts will take place during the afternoon for children 12 & under. (Please bring your own basket.) The whole family can take part in egg dyeing, crafts, the bunny hop, games and more! The fee for ages 3 & under is $2.00 and ages 4 & up is $4.00. Admission will be accepted at the event, advanced registration is not required. Pemberton Park is located at 5561 Plantation Lane in Salisbury.

For more information, visit www.WicomicoRecandParks.org or contact Katie Addis, Program Director atkaddis@wicomicocounty.org or 410-548-4900 ext. 109.

The Federal Reserve Has No Integrity

As we documented in previous articles, the gold price is driven down in the paper futures market by naked short selling by the Fed’s dependent bullion banks. Some people have a hard time accepting this fact even though it is known that the big banks have manipulated the LIBOR (London Interbank Overnight Rate – London’s equivalent of the Fed Funds rate) interest rate and the twice-daily

Almost every week it is possible to illustrate the appearance of a large number of contracts shorting gold at times of day when trading is thin. The short-selling triggers stop-loss orders and margin calls and hammers down the gold price.

The Fed has resorted to this practice in order to protect the value of the US dollar from Quantitative Easing.

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Washington, DC Decriminalizes Marijuana

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray on Monday signed a bill that decriminalizes possession of up to an ounce (28 grams) of marijuana in the U.S. capital, a spokeswoman said.

The law makes possession a civil violation with a penalty of $25, lower than most city parking tickets. Possession had been a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

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[Shanghai World Expo Closing Ceremony Concert

Betcha

Meet Grandma Betty

The IPCC's Latest Report Deliberately Excludes And Misrepresents Important Climate Science

This week, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is releasing its latest report, the “Working Group II Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report.” Like its past reports, this one predicts apocalyptic consequences if mankind fails to give the UN the power to tax and regulate fossil fuels and subsidize and mandate the use of alternative fuels. But happily, an international group of scientists I have been privileged to work with has conducted an independent review of IPCC’s past and new reports, along with the climate science they deliberately exclude or misrepresent.

Our group, called the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC), was founded in 2003 by a distinguished atmospheric physicist, S. Fred Singer, and has produced five hefty reports to date, the latest being released today (March 31).

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To The Fatty On The Track This Afternoon

NYC has country’s most segregated public schools: report

New York state has the most segregated public schools in the nation, UCLA researchers said Wednesday.

And within the state, New York City schools are among the most segregated.

Nearly 30 percent of the state’s public schools had minority enrollments of 90 percent or more, even though 51 percent of the state’s students were white in the 2010-2011 school year covered by the report.

In New York City, the percentage of white students dropped from 21.3 percent in 1989-90 to 14.5 percent in 2010-11, the researchers said.

In 19 of the city’s 32 community school districts, minorities comprised at least 90 percent of the student population.

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Daylight saving time linked to heart attacks, study shows

Switching over to daylight saving time, and losing one hour of sleep, raised the risk of having a heart attack the following Monday by 25 percent, compared to other Mondays during the year, according to a new U.S. study released on Saturday.

By contrast, heart attack risk fell 21 percent later in the year, on the Tuesday after the clock was returned to standard time, and people got an extra hour's sleep.

The not-so-subtle impact of moving the clock forward and backward was seen in a comparison of hospital admissions from a database of non-federal Michigan hospitals. It examined admissions before the start of daylight saving time and the Monday immediately after, for four consecutive years.

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GOP Hawks Worry Rand Paul Has Too Much Ron

Republican donors wary of his more noninterventionist foreign policy views are promising a countercampaign to keep the Kentucky Senator and Tea Party star from securing the nomination if he rises too high for their tastes
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is hard at work laying the groundwork for an almost certain presidential campaign in 2016, but as he broadens his support among libertarian and younger voters, there’s a budding countercampaign to take him down if he becomes a threat to actually win the nomination.

At the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) meeting in Las Vegas this weekend, Paul was nowhere to be found, but his presence was felt in the form of a straw man — and frequent worry. Speaker after speaker, from former Florida governor Jeb Bush to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, laid into Paul’s more isolationist views on foreign policy. They never mentioned the lawmaker by name, but the message came across loud and clear.

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Deadline for 'Big Event' Community Signups Extended to Apr. 3

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University students unite to help the community during the 10th annual Big Event community cleanup day, sponsored by the Student Government Association Saturday, April 12.

During the community service project, some 600 SU students help campus neighbors with household chores such as raking leaves, cleaning attics and painting. Properties surrounding SU are eligible. The deadline for applications has been extended to Wednesday, April 3.

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Eminent domain often leaves broken communities behind

Weeds and rubble cover 90 acres along Long Island Sound. A room with cinder-block walls sits locked in an empty in Brooklyn basement. And a gleaming industrial palace has failed to bring jobs to the banks of Ohio's Mahoning River.

These are monuments to failed central planning. Eminent domain, state and local subsides, and federal-corporate partnerships have yielded these lifeless fruits, failing to deliver the rebirth, community benefits and jobs they promise — but succeeding in delivering profits to the companies that lobby for them.

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Disillusioned Hispanics Could Cost Dems in Midterm Elections

Latinos are increasingly disenchanted with President Barack Obama’s actions on immigration, worrying Democrats already vulnerable in this year’s midterm elections, according to The New York Times.

Since 2009, the Obama administration has deported about 396,000 immigrants each year, more than during the leadership of Republican President George W. Bush, who averaged 252,000 a year, according to the Pew Research Center.

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Navy Pressed To End Tobacco Sales At Sea

Sailors could be stuck at sea without being able to buy cigarettes if anti-smoking lawmakers get their way.

The Navy is under pressure to enact a ban on tobacco sales aboard Navy ships and at bases from Democratic senators who want the military out of the cigarette business.

A group of five Democratic senators sent Navy Secretary Ray Mabus a letter, released publicly on Monday, that urged him to follow through with the proposed ban under consideration by the service.

“We commend your efforts and hope that you will move forward with this initiative, which will renew emphasis on the health of our dedicated sailors and Marines as well as provide for increased combat readiness,” Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Jack Reed (R.I.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio) wrote.
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"You have to be kidding me" Tow Truck Fail Original Video

Year Of The Faith Film: Movies That Tell Stories Of Religion Doing Well At The Box Office

Forget buddy flicks, slasher movies and rom-coms.

This year is shaping up to be the year of the faith film, as Hollywood releases a variety of religious-themed movies with hopes of attracting believers and appealing to secular audiences.

“This year, in a sense, is a test of the genre,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak, which measures television and movie viewing statistics. “This year is going to decide, determine, the fate of the faith-based movie. I think it’s the last untapped genre to go mainstream.”
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Worst U.S. cities for spring allergies

(CNN) — If you’re cursing Mother Nature right now, we understand. The official start of spring was March 20, and yet signs of winter abound.

There’s snow on the ground in the North, and the South is being tossed between 40-degree and 70-degree weather like a pingpong ball.

Yet “even in the throes of what feels like a 2014 Ice Age, millions of Americans have begun showing up in doctors’ offices with the tell-tale signs of allergies,” the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says.

Fantastic.

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WCSO Press Release 4-1-14

Press Releases April 1,2014 #2

Incident: WCSO Activity 31 March 2014

Location: Wicomico County

• On 31 March 2014 at 2:19 PM a deputy arrested Charles Darnell Quailes Sr., 47 of Salisbury, on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant. The warrant was issued after Quailes violated the terms of his probation following a conviction in an Assault 2^nd Degree case. Quailes was detained without bond.

Quailes, Charles D

• On 31 March 2014 at 10:30 PM a deputy arrested Irving Daniel Diggs, 35, of Salisbury, on a Circuit Court Arrest Warrant that was uncovered during a traffic stop. The warrant was issued in a CDS case. Diggs was detained without bond.

Diggs, Irving D

U.S. To Require Rearview Cameras In New Vehicles

The Transportation Department issued a rule Monday that will require rearview technology in many new vehicles — an effort to reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by backup accidents.

The final rule issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will require new vehicles under 10,000 pounds and built beginning May 1, 2018, to meet the new rear-visibility standards. The rule includes buses and trucks; motorcycles and trailers are exempt.

The rearview cameras must give drivers a field of vision measuring at least 10 by 20 feet directly behind the vehicle.

The system must also meet other requirements, including dashboard image size, lighting conditions and display time.
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2014: A Brave New Dystopian "1984" World

While many have pointed out that the Middle-East/Far-East are drifting to a more "Orwellian" world and the West is a more "Huxleyan" environ, the merger of the two dystopias is seemingly growing each day. As The Guardian previously noted, Huxley's dystopia is a totalitarian society, ruled by a supposedly benevolent dictatorship whose subjects have been programmed to enjoy their subjugation through conditioning and the use of a narcotic drug - the rulers of Brave New World have solved the problem of making people love their servitude. On the Orwellian front, we are doing rather well – as the revelations of Edward Snowden have recently underlined. We have constructed an architecture of state surveillance that would make Orwell gasp.

The most striking parallel of course is that both men foresaw the future as totalitarian rather than democratic and free.

Both Big Brother’s world and the Brave New World are ruled by authoritarian elites of a basically socialist/communist nature, whose only real purpose is the maintenance of their own power and privileges.

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Some Navy Bases Prohibit Access For Delivery Drivers Convicted Of Felonies

An on-base shooting that left one sailor dead last week has prompted the Navy to begin prohibiting delivery drivers who have a felony conviction in the past 10 years from coming onto any of its bases from North Carolina to Maine, officials said Monday.

The Navy has said a civilian truck driver who was a convicted felon managed to get onto Naval Station Norfolk, walk onto a guided-missile destroyer and disarm one sailor and use her gun to shoot and kill another sailor who rushed to her defense.

Killed in the shooting was 24-year-old Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Mayo, of Hagerstown. Navy officials have said there's no indication the attack was planned or had any link to terrorism.
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Sheriff Joe Arpaio: New Criminal Evidence About To Be Released

Md. Police Seize Dozens Of Guns At Cecil Co. Home

Maryland State Police say troopers are investigating whether more than 50 guns seized at a Cecil County home were part of scheme to sell stolen goods.

The investigation began last week when an Elkton man reported three guns stolen from a locker in his home. Police say his daughter, 24-year-old Alyssa Schneider, has been charged with theft. Investigators say the guns were sold to 63-year-old Stephen Molitor for $500.
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New report details racial gap among US children

NEW YORK (AP) — In every region of America, white and Asian children are far better positioned for success than black, Latino and American Indian children, according to a new report appealing for urgent action to bridge this racial gap.

Titled "Race for Results," the report is being released Tuesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which for decades has worked to improve child well-being in the United States.

The foundation also produces annual "Kids Count" reports, with reams of state-specific data, but these generally have not focused on race. The new report tackles the topic head-on, with charts and ratings that convey dramatic racial discrepancies.

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Classical Liberalism and the Quest for World Peace

For almost a century, since the end of the First World War in 1918, mankind has been in search of international order and global peace through the political method of international organization. However, instead of peace among men, the last one hundred years has seen almost unending wars, great and small. Maybe it is because men have looked for peace from government rather than from a rebirth of the philosophy of individualism and classical liberalism.

Failed Attempts for World Peace

In the immediate aftermath of the First World War, the League of Nations was seen as the great hope for world peace and security. Its failure in the years between the two world wars (1919-1939) was taken as proof that a better and stronger organization was needed if yet a third world war was to be prevented.

Out of the ashes of World War II emerged the United Nations. Once again were heard the heralds proclaiming that world peace and security were in man's reach. And, once more, mankind's hopes were dashed during the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.

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BUILDING THE MACHINE - The Common Core Documentary

Famous Dave's Gives Thanks

Thank you, Salisbury.

We've enjoyed our time here.

We recently made the decision to close our restaurant in Salisbury. We will be transferring all of Salisbury's P.I.G. Club members to our Annapolis restaurant located at 181 Jennifer Road.

If you prefer one of our other 180+ locations nationwide (including a number in MD), you can update your profile by clicking the button at the bottom of this email.

We've truly enjoyed serving our guests in Salisbury and the community has supported us Famously over many great years!

We hope you will come in to visit us at one of our other 180+ restaurants nationwide.
Click here for locations.

Thank 'que for 6 Famous years in Salisbury!

Budget Negotiators Push Back Debate On Film Tax Credit

Lawmakers tasked with reconciling the House and Senate budgets have approved a first round of minor compromises. They are saving the toughest decisions for later this week.

Representatives of both chambers gave way Monday afternoon in budget areas where the other side objected to cuts.

For instance, the committee decided to keep intact grants offered by the Maryland Tourism Development Board and funds for the child care subsidy program.
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Falcon

I’ve received many remarkable nature photographs over the years but this photo of a nesting Falcon is perhaps the most remarkable Nature shot that I’ve ever seen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Nature is truly breath-taking!

GO HERE

Tucson cop in riot gear brutally attacks innocent girl

In a YouTube video uncovered by the Arizona Daily Independent, Tucson police can be seen brutally pummeling a female student who was walking innocuously just off the campus of the University of Arizona.

The video was taken on Saturday. Tucson police had deployed in full, terrifying pseudo-military riot gear in case students and fans damaged any property after the Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball team lost an overtime thriller to the Wisconsin Badgers.

The scene of the police brutality was a vibrant area of bars and restaurants.

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South Dakota Enacts Most Sweeping Photo Ticket Ban In US

Sixteen states ban the use of red light cameras and speed cameras by statute or state court rulings (view list), but none of these prohibitions are anywhere near as sweeping as a pair of bills signed into law last week by South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard (R). Not only are South Dakotans protected from red light camera tickets within state borders, as of July 1 they will be immune to automated citations issued in most other states.

Lawmakers in Pierre overwhelmingly favored a straightforward ban on the use of red light cameras. Earlier this month, the state Senate voted 26 to 9 on the ban that had cleared the state House in February by a 69 to 1 margin.

"No state, county, municipal, or township authority may contract with any private corporation to provide for the use of any photo monitoring device to detect any red light violation," the new law, House Bill 1100, states.

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Martin Armstrong Warns This Is The Age Of Civil Unrest

All governments had better open their eyes for we are on the brink of a major convergence between both the Cycle of Civil Unrest, Civil War & Revolution and International War. Both of these models converge and as I pointed out at the Cycles of War Conference, this is the first time we have seen this convergence since the 1700s.

This is no plain modern event with civil unrest erupting because of an interconnected world. These are grassroots uprisings cross-fertilized perhaps from a world contagion yet they often have similarities – corrupt governments. Turkey, Ukraine, Thailand, Venezuela and Bosnia-Herzegovina are all middle-income democracies with elected leaders besieged by people angry at misgovernment, corruption and economic sclerosis.These days it is no longer just dictators who have something to fear from the crowd. This is the promise of Marxism that centralized planning and false promises are coming home and governments are too corrupt and incompetent to deliver what they have claimed for decades.

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Connecticut Residents’ Gun Rights Change Dramatically on April 1 — and It’s No April Fools

Connecticut State Police are reminding firearms owners that state regulations on long guns will change Tuesday.

Troopers say that beginning April 1, long guns cannot be sold or transferred without one of the following documents: a permit to carry pistols or revolvers, an eligibility certificate for pistols or revolvers or a long gun eligibility certificate.

State police say those documents also will allow people to buy ammunition. Anyone who wants to buy ammunition and not additional firearms will only be required to obtain an ammunition certificate.
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WCSO Press Release 4-1-14

Incident: WCSO Activity 28-30 March 2014

Location: Wicomico County

1. On 28 March 2014 at 10:32 AM a deputy extradited Christopher Michael Wolcott, 24 of Delmar, DE, from Delaware back to Wicomico County where he was arrested on two District Court Bench Warrants. One was issued in a theft case and the other in a CDS case, both after Wolcott failed to appear. The District Court Commissioner released Wolcott on Personal Recognizance.

Christopher Wolcott

2. On 29 March 2014 at 12:30 AM a deputy arrested Edward Stephen Murphy, 43 of Baltimore, on an open Circuit Court Body Attachment for Child Support. Wilson was detained on a bond of $500.00.

Edward Murphy

Premium Increases, Possible Repeal, Next Crises for Obamacare

The deadline for Obamacare enrollment arrived Monday, heralding a new set of problems for Democrats supporting the troubled healthcare law, including premium increases for 2015 and the possibility of ultimate repeal if the GOP takes control of the Senate in November.

In the final weekend of enrollment, chaos ensued in the rush by late-comers to get coverage in time. HealthCare.gov was marred with major technological problems potentially affecting as many as the 2 million people who visited, while other consumers were thwarted due to severe shortages of support staff and long waits through the call centers and at enrollment offices, The Wall Street Journal reported.

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OCPD REMINDING CITIZENS TO PARK THE PHONE WHILE ON THE ROAD

The Ocean City Police Department is joining the U.S. Department of Transportation in the effort to stop distracted driving by celebrating Distracted Driving Awareness Month.  The initiative, which takes place during the month of April, reminds citizens to park the phone while on the road.

“Ocean City citizens need to know that we are serious about stopping this dangerous behavior of texting and driving,” commented Chief Ross Buzzuro. “When you text while driving, you take your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel and mind off the task of driving putting yourself and others at risk.”

In 2012, there were 3,328 people killed and 421,000 injured nationwide in distraction-affected crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute reports that a quarter of teens nationwide respond to a text message once or more every time they drive. The Institute also reports that 20 percent of teens and 10 percent of parents admit that they have extended multi-message text conversations while driving.

The Ocean City Police Department reminds citizens that One Text Could Wreck It All. When drivers engage in distracted driving behaviors, they are not only a danger to themselves but to other motorists on the road as well.

For more information about distracted driving and to take the pledge to drive phone free, visitwww.distraction.gov.

Revealed: Millionaire du Pont family heir was spared jail for raping his three-year-old daughter & infant son because judge decided he wouldn’t ‘fare well’ in prison

Shocking details have emerged of how a multimillionaire heir to the du Pont chemical business was convicted of raping his three-year-old daughter but escaped serving prison time after a Delaware Superior Court judge ruled he would ‘not fare well’.

Robert H. Richards IV was charged with fourth-degree rape in 2009 after he admitted that he had raped his daughter almost a decade ago. Richards is a scion of two prominent Delaware families – the du Pont family who built the chemical empire and the Richards family who co-founded the prestigious corporate law firm Richards Layton & Finger.

News of the shocking leniency shown to Richards, 46, only emerged on Tuesday in the details of a lawsuit filed against him by his ex-wife Tracy. In her lawsuit, Tracy Richards charges that he penetrated his daughter with his fingers while masturbating, and subsequently also assaulted his toddler son as well.

Robert Richards is an unemployed heir living off his trust fund. He is the great grandson of du Pont family patriarch Irenee du Pont, a chemical baron.

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GOVERNOR O’MALLEY APPLAUDS SENATE ACTION ON PRE-TRIAL REFORM IN MARYLAND

Annapolis, Md. -- Governor O'Malley released the following statement after a 3rd-reader majority vote in the state Senate on SB 973, which establishes a path to long-term pre-trial reform in Maryland:

"I commend President Miller, Chairman Frosh, and the overwhelming majority of the Maryland Senate for advancing Senate Bill 973, a bill that would bring the State into compliance with the Richmonddecision while also streamlining and modernizing our pre-trial system. Using an evidence-based, objective screening tool to assess risk of failure to appear or risk to public safety, it will speed the release of low-risk offenders and improve the quality of decision-making during the pre-trial process. I look forward to working with the House of Delegates in the days ahead as we continue our effort to reach consensus on the need for reform."

Obamacare Registers California Couple to Vote--as Democrats

A local couple in La Mesa, California were shocked to receive completed voter registration forms from Covered California with their party registration listed as "Democrat" after they enrolled in Obamacare. Channel 10, the San Diego affiliate of ABC, reportedSunday that the couple has "lived in La Mesa for years and they have always been registered to vote Republican." They received no response from the state when they tried to complain.

Last week, Breitbart News and other outlets reported that Covered California was sending voter registration forms to four million California voters, after the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups threatened to sue under the 1993 National Voter Registration Act. It is not clear that the law applies to state Obamacare exchanges. Critics have long charged that registrations through Obamacare would harm ballot integrity.

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260,000 graduates in minimum wage jobs

If you thought paying tens of thousands of dollars for a college education guaranteed a high-paying job, think again.

About 260,000 people who had a college or professional degree made at or below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Judge wants back on bench after insanity ruling

Can a suspended Cook County judge return to the bench after being declared legally insane at the time she shoved a sheriff’s deputy in 2012?

For the first time in Illinois, attorneys on the case say, a judicial disciplinary panel has begun tackling the question of whether a judge whose psychotic episodes can apparently be controlled through medication should be allowed to return to the bench.

Judge Cynthia Brim, 55, testified before the Illinois Courts Commission for more than two hours on Friday in a bid to save her $182,000-a-year job. The seven-member panel – made up of judges from outside of Cook County as well as two citizens – will later issue a written decision.

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Senate Approves Bail Reform Bill

In Annapolis Monday night, the Maryland Senate approved a bill supporters believe will comply with an order form the Maryland Court of Appeals to provide attorneys for poor defendants at bail hearings.

The vote was 37-9, on a bill that faces an uncertain future in the House of Delegates.

It would replace bail commissioners, who conduct the initial hearing, with an automated system, and police, and corrections officials could order a person held based on a person's criminal history.
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1,892 US Veterans Are Thought To Have Committed Suicide Since January 1, 2014

Nearly 1,900 military veterans are thought to have taken their own lives in just 2014 alone, according to an estimate from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, ABC reports.

Extrapolating from a 2012 VA report that found 22 veterans took their lives each day in 2009 and 2010, IAVA members planted 1,892 flags on the National Mall Thursday to commemorate the staggering figure.

"We are losing too many of our brothers and sisters nationwide. And we’re storming the hill to change history and transform a landscape so that America will truly take care of its own who have shouldered the burdens of war,” said IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff in a statement to Business Insider.

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How Did We Ever Survive Childhood?

This video hits it right on the head. This will probably make you think twice about how things have changed.

I can't believe we made it this far.

What are your thoughts?

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LOST DOG 4-1-14

95 pound Rottweiler-Tasmanian Devil-American Staffordshire Terrier Mix

Last seen near Salisbury Zoo, eyeing the American Bison exhibit.

Used to answer to "Dentyne". 

Now answers to No One. 

Seen here greeting Grandma at the 2013 family picnic.

May still be trailing a 30 pound steel chain and 4 foot iron stake.

If seen, try to remain calm and absolutely still. Do not make eye 

contact or the slightest sound. Do not reach for or display a cellphone.

(He has a thing about those.)

If, by some remote chance, he comes to you smiling and with

tail wagging, take him home with you. He's yours. 

He hasn't worked out for us and needs a loving home.

Remember the cellphone thing.

50 Amazingly Epic Pranks

There is nothing more satisfying than successfully pranking someone. Whether it's your co-workers, classmates, family or friends, the look on their faces makes every minute spent planning worth it. Maybe not the wasted office supplies, but that's beside the point.

Sometimes a photo of the prank itself is just as great as the person's reaction. It's especially important if you can't witness their reaction — like when you cover your boss's office with scans of his headshot.

In honor of the biggest troll holiday of the year, we've selected 50 of the greatest, most epic pranks, large and small. Gather some April Fools' Day inspiration with these tricks, and share your best prank in the comments below.
 
1. The Pimp My Ride Trick

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Citizens Pile Up To Support Republican Candidates At Anderton Fundraiser

Maryland State Delegate Candidate Carl Anderton and many of his supporters and Republican Friends gathered last Friday for a kickoff fundraiser in support of his run against Norm Conway.

As you can see from the lineup, Republicans are standing side by side to support their fellow candidates in numerous and different challenges, all more than qualified to represent us locally and in the state. 

At one point the Staff at EVO were having a difficult time maneuvering around and through the room, it was that busy. 

OFFICE of the SHERIFF for QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY PRESS RELEASES 4-1-14

If you have information on any of the cases below you are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (410) 758-0770 or email at sheriff-info@qac.org

INCIDENT: Theft
DATE / TIME: 03/19/2014 @ 2002 Hours
LOCATION: 115 Blue Jay Court, Stevensville
VICTIM: Cracker Barrel

NARRATIVE: Store Manager reported three white males were observed taking several items valued at $278 including two women’s shirts and a purse and leaving the store without paying. The three men were all described as late 50’s to early 60’s with grey hair driving a late 2000’s Chevrolet Trail Blazer with noticeable damage to the passenger side door and side panel.

DEPUTY: Deputy Charles Harris
CASE: 14-08407

And Big Government Just Keeps Getting Bigger

The Pentagon will triple its cyber staff to defend against attacks that threaten national security. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says 6,000 cyber warriors will be on the payroll by 2016. There are fewer than 2,000 now. Hagel spoke at a ceremony for Gen. Keith Alexander. He retired Friday as head of both Cyber Command and the National Security Agency. The President has nominated Vice Adm. Mike Rogers to take over. He awaits Senate confirmation. In the meantime, two deputies are in charge of the agencies.

Don't Get Fooled Today!

What is the best April Fool prank you ever played on someone or someone played on you?

People In Alaska Are The Best Tippers, People In Delaware The Worst

Sure, Internet comment threads seem to be evenly split between generous tippers and people who resent the practice, but what about the population at large? Credit card payment service Square analyzed their transaction data and found some interesting patterns in tipping by state. We don’t want to draw any wider conclusions, but we’re also giving Delaware a sidelong glance.

You might associate Square with only small businesses, since it’s an app-based payment service that allows pretty much anyone to accept credit cards. Businesses like taxis, repair services, food trucks, and restaurants that all might receive tips all use Square for payments. They calculated which states’ transactions have the largest proportion that include tips at all, and also the average tip percentage by state.

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SPD Press Release 4-1-14

Don’t Put Your Bread In The Fridge & Other Important Food Storage Tips

We’ve all got a somewhat innate sense of where to store the foods we eat in our modern cultures — you’re not going to stick your ice cream in the pantry and expect it to stay frozen, or freeze your fresh apples. But what about butter — countertop or refrigerator? Should I really use that “eggs” slot on the inside of my fridge door? Answer us, oh kitchen gods!

Julia Collin Davison is an executive food editor for the book division of America’s Test Kitchenand is an on-screen test cook for America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen. And she was also kind enough to chat with Consumerist about some of the foods we think people might be storing incorrectly.

Today, we’ll focus on some of the more perishable (and debated-about) items in your kitchen: Dairy, eggs, and bread

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Senior Humor

Caption This Photo 4-1-14

O'Malley Visits Eastern Shore

BE PREPARED TODAY

Reflections of Boca Del Mar, shooting involving off-duty deputy

A man is in critical condition at Delray Medical Center after an deputy-involved shooting in West Boca Raton.

An off-duty deputy who lives in Reflections of Boca Del Mar, West Boca Raton, entered the pool area of the complex and encountered a male and female engaged in sexual activity.

The off-duty deputy advised the couple that he is a deputy and asked the couple, who does not live in the area, to leave the premises.

They did so reluctantly, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

A short time later the couple returned.

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