An American television network has apologised after pop star M.I.A. extended her middle finger during Sunday night's Super Bowl halftime show. What does the gesture mean, and when did it become offensive?
A public intellectual, expressing his contempt for a gas-bag politician, reaches for a familiar gesture. He extends his middle finger and declares: "This is the great demagogue."
The episode occurred not on a chat show nor in the salons of New York or London, but in 4th Century BC Athens, when the philosopher Diogenes told a group of visitors exactly what he thought about the orator Demosthenes, according to a later Greek historian.
The middle finger, extended with the other fingers held beneath the thumb, is thus documented to have expressed insult and belittlement for more than two millennia.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Bernanke Lies To Congress & The Rule Of 72
Making breakfast and had to turn the live internet stream [LINK] of C-Span off. Not one Ás kloun in Congress could call him out on his lie that the Fed has been doing well with its dual Congressional mandate of stable prices and stable employment. Unemployment is 23% and inflation is, well see chart below. Core Inflation that Bernanke uses is meaningless – unless you can back out energy and food from your overhead.
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SAFE KIDS LOWER SHORE MARYLAND FREE CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK
WHO: Safe Kids Lower Shore Maryland
WHAT: FREE CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK
Have a certified child safety seat technician inspect your child’s safety seat for free!
WHEN: Friday, February 10, 2012
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
WHERE: Fruitland Volunteer Fire Department
104 East Main Street
Fruitland, Maryland 21826
Rain or shine!
WHY: While 96 percent of parents and caregivers believe their child safety seats are installed correctly, research shows that seven out of ten children are improperly restrained.
Safe Kids Lower Shore Maryland is part of SAFE KIDS Worldwide, the first and only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury – the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. Three hundred state and local SAFE KIDS coalitions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico comprise the Campaign. Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. is chairman of the Campaign.
WHAT: FREE CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK
Have a certified child safety seat technician inspect your child’s safety seat for free!
WHEN: Friday, February 10, 2012
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
WHERE: Fruitland Volunteer Fire Department
104 East Main Street
Fruitland, Maryland 21826
Rain or shine!
WHY: While 96 percent of parents and caregivers believe their child safety seats are installed correctly, research shows that seven out of ten children are improperly restrained.
Safe Kids Lower Shore Maryland is part of SAFE KIDS Worldwide, the first and only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury – the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. Three hundred state and local SAFE KIDS coalitions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico comprise the Campaign. Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. is chairman of the Campaign.
Spiegel: "It's Time To End The Greek Rescue Farce"
Back in July of 2011, when we first predicted [19]the demise of the second Greek bailout package, even before the details were fully known in "The Fatal Flaw In Europe's Second "Bazooka" Bailout: 82 Million Soon To Be Very Angry Germans, Or How Euro Bailout #2 Could Cost Up To 56% Of German GDP" we asked, "what happens tomorrow when every German (in a population of 82 very efficient million) wakes up to newspaper headlines screaming that their country is now on the hook to 32% of its GDP in order to keep insolvent Greece, with its 50-some year old retirement age, not to mention Ireland, Portugal, and soon Italy and Spain, as part of the Eurozone? What happens when these same 82 million realize that they are on the hook to sacrificing hundreds of years of welfare state entitlements (recall that Otto von Bismark was the original welfare state progentior) just so a few peripheral national can continue to lie about their deficits (the 6 month Greek deficit already is missing Its full year benchmark target by about 20%) and enjoy generous socialist benefits up to an including guaranteed pensions? What happens when an already mortally wounded in the polls Angela Merkel finds herself in the next general election and experiences an epic electoral loss? We will find out very, very shortly." Alas, it has not been all that very "shortly", as once again we underestimated people's stupidity and willingness to pay the piper of a crumbling economic and monetary system. But our prediction is finally starting to come true. Spiegel has just released an article, which encapsulates what well over 50% of Germans think, who say that the time to let Greece loose, has come.
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Romneycare Required Anti-Catholic Regulations Like Obamacare's
Mitt Romney is vociferously attacking a provision in Obamacare requiring religious employers to cover birth control in employee health plans — but the healthcare bill he enacted as governor of Massachusetts also contained that requirement.
C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, told the Boston Globe that Romney’s criticism of President Obama is hypocritical because as governor he did not lift the state-level requirement of contraception coverage.
“The initial injury to Catholic religious freedom came not from the Obama administration, but from the Romney administration,” Doyle said.
“President Obama’s plan certainly constitutes an assault on the constitutional rights of Catholics, but I’m not sure Gov. Romney is in a position to assert that, given his own very mixed record on this.”
On a presidential campaign swing in Colorado, Romney told a crowd on Monday night that the Obama administration “said that the churches and institutions they run such as schools and adoptions agencies, hospitals, that they have to provide for their employees free of charge contraceptives, morning after pills, in other words abortive pills, and the like, at no cost.
“Think what that does to people who are in faiths that do not share those views. This is a violation of conscience.”
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C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, told the Boston Globe that Romney’s criticism of President Obama is hypocritical because as governor he did not lift the state-level requirement of contraception coverage.
“The initial injury to Catholic religious freedom came not from the Obama administration, but from the Romney administration,” Doyle said.
“President Obama’s plan certainly constitutes an assault on the constitutional rights of Catholics, but I’m not sure Gov. Romney is in a position to assert that, given his own very mixed record on this.”
On a presidential campaign swing in Colorado, Romney told a crowd on Monday night that the Obama administration “said that the churches and institutions they run such as schools and adoptions agencies, hospitals, that they have to provide for their employees free of charge contraceptives, morning after pills, in other words abortive pills, and the like, at no cost.
“Think what that does to people who are in faiths that do not share those views. This is a violation of conscience.”
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Prop 8 Reversal: On To Supreme Court For Gay Marriage?
The ruling Tuesday, Feb. 7, striking down California's ban on gay marriage marks the first time a federal appellate court has squarely rejected a state decision to limit marriage to straight couples.
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Navy SEAL Commander Advised To 'Get The Hell Out Of The Media'
A retired general today assailed the commander of the Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden for drawing too much media attention to operations that he argued should be kept under wraps.
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Iran Calls New US Sanctions 'Psychological War'
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's foreign ministry has dismissed the new U.S. sanctions on Tehran, saying they are part of a "psychological war" meant to sow discontent among Iranians.
Ramin Mehmanparast, the foreign ministry spokesman, says Iran's central bank has no financial transactions with the United States and would not be affected by the measures.
He told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday that the penalties are just "propaganda."
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Ramin Mehmanparast, the foreign ministry spokesman, says Iran's central bank has no financial transactions with the United States and would not be affected by the measures.
He told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday that the penalties are just "propaganda."
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Aide Charged With Making Child Porn In NYC School
NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City teacher's aide already accused of possessing child pornography was jailed Tuesday after prosecutors brought new allegations that he videotaped himself spanking one naked child and fondling another in a public elementary school classroom.
FBI agents arrested Taleek Brooks, 40, at his Brooklyn apartment on Monday night after an investigation uncovered the videos on a computer seized last month from the home, authorities said.
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FBI agents arrested Taleek Brooks, 40, at his Brooklyn apartment on Monday night after an investigation uncovered the videos on a computer seized last month from the home, authorities said.
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Davidsonville Man Sentenced To Prison In $2.8 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Two co-defendants will be sentenced later this month
A Davidsonville man was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison Tuesday for wire fraud stemming from a plot to defraud lenders and a title insurance company of $2.8 million, Maryland's U.S. Attorney's Office announced in a statement.
The sentence offers Stephen J. Troese Sr., 72, the opportunity to have time knocked off his sentence for good behavior. Troese, who pleaded guilty in October, has also been given three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
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A Davidsonville man was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison Tuesday for wire fraud stemming from a plot to defraud lenders and a title insurance company of $2.8 million, Maryland's U.S. Attorney's Office announced in a statement.
The sentence offers Stephen J. Troese Sr., 72, the opportunity to have time knocked off his sentence for good behavior. Troese, who pleaded guilty in October, has also been given three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
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Baltimore Raven And Author Michael Oher Visits Prince Street Friday
Michael Oher, Baltimore Raven and author of "I Beat the Odds," is coming to Prince Street Elementary School on Friday, Feb. 10 to take questions and sign books for students, staff, and the community.
Oher's visit Friday will focus on students during the day, followed by a public event at 7 p.m. for those with tickets. (Free tickets to the evening public event were given out on Feb. 4.) At both times, Oher will make brief comments, respond to questions submitted in advance, and sign paperback copies of his book. At the evening event, copies of the book will be available for $16, cash only. For anyone purchasing five copies of the book, he will sign one piece of memorabilia.
Among those excited about Oher’s visit to Prince Street is Oher himself. On Monday, he taped an interview with Fox News for its “Beyond the Dream” segment that airs on Saturdays. He spoke about what he is doing at Prince Street School and how humbled he is that students are using him as an example to grow and succeed. A Fox News crew will be coming on Friday to tape at the school assembly. Oher’s interview will air in two parts, with one part airing this coming Saturday, and a second part airing later in February with a focus on Black History Month.
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Oher's visit Friday will focus on students during the day, followed by a public event at 7 p.m. for those with tickets. (Free tickets to the evening public event were given out on Feb. 4.) At both times, Oher will make brief comments, respond to questions submitted in advance, and sign paperback copies of his book. At the evening event, copies of the book will be available for $16, cash only. For anyone purchasing five copies of the book, he will sign one piece of memorabilia.
Among those excited about Oher’s visit to Prince Street is Oher himself. On Monday, he taped an interview with Fox News for its “Beyond the Dream” segment that airs on Saturdays. He spoke about what he is doing at Prince Street School and how humbled he is that students are using him as an example to grow and succeed. A Fox News crew will be coming on Friday to tape at the school assembly. Oher’s interview will air in two parts, with one part airing this coming Saturday, and a second part airing later in February with a focus on Black History Month.
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Firefighters Protest Ban On Highway Signs
LITTLE ORLEANS, Md. (AP) — A volunteer fire company in western Maryland says its survival is threatened by a crackdown on illegal signs along state highways.
The Cumberland Times-News reported Monday that the Orleans Volunteer Fire Company in Little Orleans has historically advertised its chicken barbecues by placing temporary signs along Interstate 68.
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The Cumberland Times-News reported Monday that the Orleans Volunteer Fire Company in Little Orleans has historically advertised its chicken barbecues by placing temporary signs along Interstate 68.
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Former Pastor Pleads Guilty To Child Sex Abuse
FREDERICK, Md. -- The former pastor of a Montgomery County church has pleaded guilty in Frederick to second-degree sex offense involving a 10-year-old girl.
Joe Ivey, 74, of Walkersville, entered into the plea deal Tuesday. Frederick County prosecutors dropped charges of second-degree assault and sexual abuse of a minor.
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Joe Ivey, 74, of Walkersville, entered into the plea deal Tuesday. Frederick County prosecutors dropped charges of second-degree assault and sexual abuse of a minor.
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MVA Hopes To Cut Mailings, Save Money With Email
BALTIMORE -- Even if you're driving a gas guzzler, Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration has a way for you to be a little more green when renewing your vehicle registration.
The MVA said motorists can opt to receive registration renewal notices by email instead of paper mail.
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The MVA said motorists can opt to receive registration renewal notices by email instead of paper mail.
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Why Hasn’t The Report Received Media Coverage?
Why hasn’t the Arab League report received any press, given that it provides a much more reassuring and less apocalyptic picture of what is going on in Syria?
Pepe Escobar reports in the Asia Times:
When the over 160 monitors, after one month of enquiries, issued their report … surprise! The report did not follow the official GCC [i.e Arab League] line – which is that the “evil” Bashar al-Assad government is indiscriminately, and unilaterally, killing its own people, and so regime change is in order.
The Arab League’s Ministerial Committee had approved the report, with four votes in favor (Algeria, Egypt, Sudan and GCC member Oman) and only one against; guess who, Qatar – which is now presiding the Arab League because the emirate bought their (rotating) turn from the Palestinian Authority.
So the report was either ignored (by Western corporate media) or mercilessly destroyed – by Arab media, virtually all of it financed by either the House of Saud or Qatar. It was not even discussed – because it was prevented by the GCC from being translated from Arabic into English and published in the Arab League’s website.
Until it was leaked.
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Pepe Escobar reports in the Asia Times:
When the over 160 monitors, after one month of enquiries, issued their report … surprise! The report did not follow the official GCC [i.e Arab League] line – which is that the “evil” Bashar al-Assad government is indiscriminately, and unilaterally, killing its own people, and so regime change is in order.
The Arab League’s Ministerial Committee had approved the report, with four votes in favor (Algeria, Egypt, Sudan and GCC member Oman) and only one against; guess who, Qatar – which is now presiding the Arab League because the emirate bought their (rotating) turn from the Palestinian Authority.
So the report was either ignored (by Western corporate media) or mercilessly destroyed – by Arab media, virtually all of it financed by either the House of Saud or Qatar. It was not even discussed – because it was prevented by the GCC from being translated from Arabic into English and published in the Arab League’s website.
Until it was leaked.
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Madness: Former Obama Adviser Calls For Hike In Minimum Wage
As if there wasn't enough unemployment in the country, Jared Bernstein, wh was the Chief Economist and Economic Adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, executive director of the White House Task Force on the Middle Class, and a member of President Obama’s economic team, is calling for a hike in the minimum wage from it's current federal level of $7.25 to the $9.00 to $10.00 range.
Here's Milton Friedman on minimum wage laws:
Here's Milton Friedman on minimum wage laws:
Better Living Expo Returns To Wicomico Youth & Civic Center February 24-26
The Better Living Expo & Craft Show, presented by the Optimist Club of Salisbury, will return to the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Friday, February 24 through Sunday, February 26, 2012. Spend the day gathering ideas and information while perusing a multitude of booths displaying the newest home and garden innovations. The expo will also include a full room devoted to arts and crafts featuring vendors offering unique home décor.
Show hours are Friday from 4:00pm-8:00pm, Saturday from 10:00am-8:00pm and Sunday from 11:00am-4:00pm. Tickets to the event are $4 and are good for the entire weekend. Children under 12 will be admitted for free. Kids will enjoy jugglers, clowns and animals from the Salisbury Zoo making scheduled appearances during the expo.
Proceeds from the expo are used to support the Optimist Club’s youth-focused local activities.
For more information about the Better Living Expo & Craft Show and the Optimist Club of Salisbury, please visit www.SalisburyOptimist.org.
Show hours are Friday from 4:00pm-8:00pm, Saturday from 10:00am-8:00pm and Sunday from 11:00am-4:00pm. Tickets to the event are $4 and are good for the entire weekend. Children under 12 will be admitted for free. Kids will enjoy jugglers, clowns and animals from the Salisbury Zoo making scheduled appearances during the expo.
Proceeds from the expo are used to support the Optimist Club’s youth-focused local activities.
For more information about the Better Living Expo & Craft Show and the Optimist Club of Salisbury, please visit www.SalisburyOptimist.org.
Santorum Wins Minnesota Caucuses
Rick Santorum projected to win Minnesota GOP presidential caucuses after taking Missouri primary, AP reports.
From Fox News
From Fox News
Colleges Are Selling Bathroom Stall Naming Rights
For decades, names affixed to college bathrooms have adhered to the time-honored tradition of vindictive dudes etching names and numbers of their exes on stall walls. Now the institutions are making the bathroom naming thing part of official fundraising efforts by affixing monikers of donors to the places where some of the deepest thought on campus takes place.
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