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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
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Chart Of The Day: From Pervasive Cheap Credit To Hyperinflation
The topic of the student loan bubble is not new: having crossed $1 trillion recently, student debt is now the biggest consumer debt category, greater even than US credit card debt. We have extensively discussed the implications of the parabolic curve representing outstanding student debt before, and it is no surprise that the issue of student loans has become of one of the key topics of debate in the ongoing presidential mudslinging campaign. As is also known, an increasing portion of student debt is funded by the government at an ever lower rate of interest: after all it is critical to allow the bubble to keep growing with as little interest expense diverting the stream of cash from the end borrower - wide eyed students who increasingly realize they are stuck with tens of thousands in loans and no jobs available to allow them to repay this debt, in effect making an entire generation debt slaves. Finally, as should be known, student debt is non-dischargeable, meaning once a person becomes indentured, they are so for life, and filing bankruptcy will do nothing to resolve debt claims against the individual. After all there is no other collateral by definition that can be confiscated by the creditor - the only thing the debtor "acquires" in exchange for this debt is a skillset, which sadly in the New Normal is increasingly redundant. But there has always been one question outstanding: just what does all this easily accessible and now pervasive student debt fund? The chart below, courtesy of Bloomberg, provides the answer: in the past 3 decades there has been no other cost that comes even remotely close to matching the near hyperinflationary surge in college tuition and costs.
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Md. Cider Maker Celebrates 1st Press Of Season
Apples have a cherished place in American values. From
Johnny Appleseed to apple pie, the United States wouldn't seem the same if apples
had not appeared on the plates and in the cups of our forebears.
Patty Power, co-owner of Distillery Lane Ciderworks in Burkittsville, said American pioneers didn't grow apples for food.
"Originally, apples were grown to drink. They weren't grown with the expectation of just eating them," Power said. "When they kept the cider long enough, it would turn, and they would drink hard cider."
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Patty Power, co-owner of Distillery Lane Ciderworks in Burkittsville, said American pioneers didn't grow apples for food.
"Originally, apples were grown to drink. They weren't grown with the expectation of just eating them," Power said. "When they kept the cider long enough, it would turn, and they would drink hard cider."
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Breaking News: Federal Court Rules Against Texas Voter ID Law
Three-judge panel rules against Texas law that would require voters to present photo IDs before casting ballots, saying the law imposes ‘strict, unforgiving burdens on the poor.’
From Fox News
When We Wake Up November 7th... Nothing Will Have Changed
Writing is often cathartic for the writer. Indeed, it is often what causes the pen to move, although few writers will admit creating material for publication as an outlet for the pain they suffer. I confess at the outset that what follows is more for me than for you. I need to write this to deal with the angst associated with debating, or trying to debate, those who, for no good or apparent reason, are ready to sacrifice their credibility on the altars of the campaign rhetoric of mainstream candidates. What they are apparently not willing to sacrifice is the time it takes to read anything substantive on the history and stated policies of the Bobbsey twins, Obama and Romney.
My latest frustration began with a post on Facebook and the soliloquy that followed (name changed to protect a friendship):
Jim: Voting is the illusion of influence in exchange for the loss of freedom.
John: So, what would be the alternative to voting for what a person feels will improve the situation in their arena?
Jim: Traditional thought that assumes a large parliamentary democracy is the only alternative, one that has failed, would necessitate a revolution of some kind with a view to beginning again, which ultimately would fail again due to the dynamic of the tyranny of the majority. To wit, no document or contract can (over the longer term) stop the majority from becoming the dictator in a large democracy. But there are alternatives. "Democracy is by definition a collectivist system. It"s socialism through the backdoor. The basic idea behind it is that it is desirable and right that all important decisions about the physical, social and economic organization of society are taken by the collective, the people. And the people authorize their representatives in parliament - in other words, the State - to take these decisions for them. In other words, in a democracy the whole fabric of society is geared towards the State. Clearly then it is misleading to claim that democracy is, somehow, the inevitable climax of the political evolution of mankind. That"s just propaganda to disguise that democracy represents a very specific political orientation, for which there are indeed plenty of reasonable alternatives." Take a look at Beyond Democracy by Karel Beckman and Frank Karsten. It is available as a book or an e-book at amazon.com.
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My latest frustration began with a post on Facebook and the soliloquy that followed (name changed to protect a friendship):
Jim: Voting is the illusion of influence in exchange for the loss of freedom.
John: So, what would be the alternative to voting for what a person feels will improve the situation in their arena?
Jim: Traditional thought that assumes a large parliamentary democracy is the only alternative, one that has failed, would necessitate a revolution of some kind with a view to beginning again, which ultimately would fail again due to the dynamic of the tyranny of the majority. To wit, no document or contract can (over the longer term) stop the majority from becoming the dictator in a large democracy. But there are alternatives. "Democracy is by definition a collectivist system. It"s socialism through the backdoor. The basic idea behind it is that it is desirable and right that all important decisions about the physical, social and economic organization of society are taken by the collective, the people. And the people authorize their representatives in parliament - in other words, the State - to take these decisions for them. In other words, in a democracy the whole fabric of society is geared towards the State. Clearly then it is misleading to claim that democracy is, somehow, the inevitable climax of the political evolution of mankind. That"s just propaganda to disguise that democracy represents a very specific political orientation, for which there are indeed plenty of reasonable alternatives." Take a look at Beyond Democracy by Karel Beckman and Frank Karsten. It is available as a book or an e-book at amazon.com.
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350 Million Indian Families Starve As Politicians Loot $14.5 BIllion In Food
While The Brits are about to tax their Super-Rich, it appears one of the old colonies remains in full anti-Robin-Hood mode. Nothing surprises us much anymore but this note from Bloomberg [5] too the proverbial biscuit. In the "most mean-spirited, ruthlessly executed corruption," India's politicians and their criminal syndicates have looted as much as $14.5bn in food from one province alone. 57,000 tons of food meant for the devastatingly poor of the Uttar Pradesh region is sat in a government storage facility five football fields long. The 'theft' has blunted the nation's only weapon against mass starvation and as Supreme Court commissioner Naresh Saxena notes: "What I find even more shocking is the lack of willingness in trying to stop it," as the Minister for Food, who stands charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and electoral fraud, has diverted more than 80 percent of the food. "Who is a person who holds a below poverty line ration card? A person of no influence; you can just tell him to buzz off." But there is growing tension "We could just storm the place, and every one of us could get a bag of rice each. Who would stop us?"
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Join Cat Country’s St. Jude Kids Motorcycle Ride
October 13 event benefits Memphis hospital
SALISBURY, – What better way than to spend a beautiful day outside, doing a wonderful deed? Join the 3rd Annual Cat Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Motorcycle Ride sponsored by Custom Mechanical and benefitting St. Jude Children’s Hospital on Friday, Oct. 13.
Registration is at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The $25 per motorcycle fee includes a commemorative T-shirt, pin, lunch and a chance to enter the grand prize drawing of a weekend at the Clarion Resort in Ocean City. Visit catcountrytadio.com to register prior to ride day.
The escorted outing will take bikers though the beautiful back roads of Delmarva to Irish Eyes on the water for lunch in Lewes, DE, raffles, 50/50 and the drawing of the weekend getaway.
This event is a part of the Country Cares program at the WKTT-FM 97.5. Last year’s motorcycle ride raised $4,000. Through various fundraisers such as the annual Cat Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radio-thon, Cat has raised $503,000 for the children’s hospital in Memphis, TN.
Cat Country, WKTT-FM 97.5 is located in Salisbury/Ocean City, MD. Information: 410-219-3500.
U.S. Admits To Cyber Attacks: The Future Of Conflict
The U.S. is one of the most advanced countries from a cyber warfare perspective, we have read a lot on its capabilities and its offensive power, as exemplified by the plan-X project and the development of the cyber weapon Stuxnet.
We all imagine that the U.S. is really active in cyberspace, working on the cyber espionage front and also conducting powerful offensives.
We know that the country, like many others, is faced with a global economic crisis that has also impacted the military sector as budgets have been reduced, but the high alert level on the possibility of a cyber attack makes investments in cyber warfare necessary.
News recently is that the U.S. military has been launching cyber attacks against its opponents in Afghanistan, according the declaration of the senior officer Marine Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills.
The official has explained during a conference in Baltimore that the U.S. conducts highly strategic oversight of cyberspace, giving great importance to the study and implementation of new cyber weapons. That is the new way to fight and it is fundamental to be prepared for a cyber warfare scenario.
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We all imagine that the U.S. is really active in cyberspace, working on the cyber espionage front and also conducting powerful offensives.
We know that the country, like many others, is faced with a global economic crisis that has also impacted the military sector as budgets have been reduced, but the high alert level on the possibility of a cyber attack makes investments in cyber warfare necessary.
News recently is that the U.S. military has been launching cyber attacks against its opponents in Afghanistan, according the declaration of the senior officer Marine Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills.
The official has explained during a conference in Baltimore that the U.S. conducts highly strategic oversight of cyberspace, giving great importance to the study and implementation of new cyber weapons. That is the new way to fight and it is fundamental to be prepared for a cyber warfare scenario.
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GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES HISTORIC REDUCTIONS IN CRIME
Maryland’s total incidents of crime and total crime rate lowest since 1975
Violent crime, homicides and property crime driven down to the lowest levels since 1975
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that 2011 year-end crime data compiled by the Maryland State Police and submitted to the FBI for use in the national crime statistics report shows that violent crime, homicides and property crime in Maryland have been driven down to the lowest levels since 1975. Total crime has been driven down 4.6 percent with 9,399 fewer crimes reported compared to 2010. This marks the lowest number of total crimes and total crime rate ever reported in Maryland since the Uniform Crime Reporting program was adopted in 1975.
“Our most solemn obligation is to protect the public’s safety,” said Governor O’Malley. “Working together with our local, state, and federal partners in law enforcement and community and neighborhood leaders across the State, we’ve driven down crime to its lowest levels since 1975. But there is still more work to do as just one life lost to violence is one too many. It takes all of us to make Maryland a safer place for our families and children.”
In 2011, together with the hardworking members of Maryland’s law enforcement, the State drove down the number of homicides by 6.6 percent; incidents of rape by 2.6 percent; robberies by 6.5 percent; aggravated assaults by 10.8 percent; incidents of breaking and entering by 2.5 percent; larceny/theft by 3.1 percent; and motor vehicle thefts by 10.9 percent. Fifteen jurisdictions drove down total crime while 18 jurisdictions drove down specific violent crime categories such as homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Thirteen jurisdictions drove down property crimes such as breaking and entering, larceny/theft, and motor vehicle theft.
The O’Malley-Brown Administration has set strategic goals to reduce crime in Maryland. From 2006 to 2011, Maryland drove down violent crime 24.4 percent –exceeding the Administration’s goal to drive down violent crime by 20 percent by end of 2012. The Administration also set a goal to reduce crimes against women and children by 25 percent by 2012. As of 2011, Maryland has driven down juvenile homicides 36 percent and homicides against women 11.8 percent. Law enforcement officers and public safety professionals throughout Maryland continue to work together to achieve this goal.
“The dramatic reduction in Maryland’s violent crime rate demonstrates the value of a coordinated effort by state, local and federal law enforcement agencies to identify dangerous career criminals and remove them from our community,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Sending armed felons and violent repeat offenders to prison prevents them from committing crimes, deters others from following in their footsteps and builds public confidence in law enforcement.”
"The 2011 UCR statistics are encouraging and indicative of an ongoing state, local and federal law enforcement partnership which the men and women of the Maryland State Police are proud to be a part of,” said Colonel Marcus Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. “We continue to benefit from the strong support of the O’Malley-Brown Administration in areas including DNA technology, cross-border information sharing, and interoperable communication that enable Maryland law enforcement to more effectively combat violent crime and make our state safer."
The Administration remains committed to continuing these historic reductions in crime with seamless coordination and consistent information sharing; advances in technology; more effective warrant service, continued focus on violent repeat offenders; and improved supervision of offenders on probation and parole through the Violence Prevention Initiative. Maryland’s inter-state partnerships with public safety counterparts in the District of Columbia, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York continue to prove effective in tracking and monitoring violent offenders who move across jurisdictional boundaries. Other tools such as License Plate Readers, automated pawnshop reporting, and the state’s Criminal Justice Dashboard have been instrumental in supporting efforts to fight crime.
Violent crime, homicides and property crime driven down to the lowest levels since 1975
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that 2011 year-end crime data compiled by the Maryland State Police and submitted to the FBI for use in the national crime statistics report shows that violent crime, homicides and property crime in Maryland have been driven down to the lowest levels since 1975. Total crime has been driven down 4.6 percent with 9,399 fewer crimes reported compared to 2010. This marks the lowest number of total crimes and total crime rate ever reported in Maryland since the Uniform Crime Reporting program was adopted in 1975.
“Our most solemn obligation is to protect the public’s safety,” said Governor O’Malley. “Working together with our local, state, and federal partners in law enforcement and community and neighborhood leaders across the State, we’ve driven down crime to its lowest levels since 1975. But there is still more work to do as just one life lost to violence is one too many. It takes all of us to make Maryland a safer place for our families and children.”
In 2011, together with the hardworking members of Maryland’s law enforcement, the State drove down the number of homicides by 6.6 percent; incidents of rape by 2.6 percent; robberies by 6.5 percent; aggravated assaults by 10.8 percent; incidents of breaking and entering by 2.5 percent; larceny/theft by 3.1 percent; and motor vehicle thefts by 10.9 percent. Fifteen jurisdictions drove down total crime while 18 jurisdictions drove down specific violent crime categories such as homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Thirteen jurisdictions drove down property crimes such as breaking and entering, larceny/theft, and motor vehicle theft.
The O’Malley-Brown Administration has set strategic goals to reduce crime in Maryland. From 2006 to 2011, Maryland drove down violent crime 24.4 percent –exceeding the Administration’s goal to drive down violent crime by 20 percent by end of 2012. The Administration also set a goal to reduce crimes against women and children by 25 percent by 2012. As of 2011, Maryland has driven down juvenile homicides 36 percent and homicides against women 11.8 percent. Law enforcement officers and public safety professionals throughout Maryland continue to work together to achieve this goal.
“The dramatic reduction in Maryland’s violent crime rate demonstrates the value of a coordinated effort by state, local and federal law enforcement agencies to identify dangerous career criminals and remove them from our community,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Sending armed felons and violent repeat offenders to prison prevents them from committing crimes, deters others from following in their footsteps and builds public confidence in law enforcement.”
"The 2011 UCR statistics are encouraging and indicative of an ongoing state, local and federal law enforcement partnership which the men and women of the Maryland State Police are proud to be a part of,” said Colonel Marcus Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. “We continue to benefit from the strong support of the O’Malley-Brown Administration in areas including DNA technology, cross-border information sharing, and interoperable communication that enable Maryland law enforcement to more effectively combat violent crime and make our state safer."
The Administration remains committed to continuing these historic reductions in crime with seamless coordination and consistent information sharing; advances in technology; more effective warrant service, continued focus on violent repeat offenders; and improved supervision of offenders on probation and parole through the Violence Prevention Initiative. Maryland’s inter-state partnerships with public safety counterparts in the District of Columbia, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York continue to prove effective in tracking and monitoring violent offenders who move across jurisdictional boundaries. Other tools such as License Plate Readers, automated pawnshop reporting, and the state’s Criminal Justice Dashboard have been instrumental in supporting efforts to fight crime.
SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA SEPTEMBER 4, 2012
CONFERENCE ROOM 306
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING
1:30 p.m. Easement area (PRMC) – Teresa Gardner
1:45 p.m. FY13 budget amendment to provide for funds to pay for additional mosquito spraying – Teresa Gardner
2:00 p.m. FY13 budget amendment to pay administrative costs for the retirement system – Gerri Moore/John Pick
2:15 p.m. Vote to convene in closed session for consultation and legal advice with legal counsel
and staff on a contractual matter and on a personnel matter (director of Internal Services
position)in accordance with the Annotated Code of Maryland §10-508(a)(7)(8) and
§10-508(a)(1)(i), respectively
4:30 p.m. Return to Open Work Session
4:30 p.m. River’s Edge revised presentation – Brian Lopez/Andrew Hanson
5:15 p.m. Thrift Travel Inn demolition – Tom Stevenson
5:45 p.m. Dinner Break
6:15 p.m. Police staffing – Chief Duncan/Matt Macciarello
7:00 p.m. City Park Committee gift policy – John Pick
7:15 p.m. Amending Council Regulations and Rules of Order
8:00 p.m. General Discussion/Upcoming Agendas
Adjournment
Former Wi Hi Football Coach Reindicted On Charges of Child Sex Abuse
The Child Advocacy Center launched an investigation against Nettles last November after police received reports that an incident had occurred between August 1997 and June 2001; a second incident is alleged to have occurred between January 1998 and December 1998.
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Social Security’s Woes Are Worse Than You Think
While the Romney and Obama camps have made increasingly bitter accusations about each other’s plans for Medicare, a bipartisan consensus on entitlements has emerged in the past few years. Too bad that consensus is wrong.
On both left and right, the politicians and the experts are saying the U.S. needs to fix Medicare -- and have made fixing Social Security an afterthought. President Barack Obama has signed changes to Medicare into law, but has done nothing about Social Security. For two years in a row, Republicans in Congress have supported budgets that rein in the growth of Medicare spending but leave Social Security alone. Expect to hear a lot more about Medicare than Social Security at the Republican convention this week.
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On both left and right, the politicians and the experts are saying the U.S. needs to fix Medicare -- and have made fixing Social Security an afterthought. President Barack Obama has signed changes to Medicare into law, but has done nothing about Social Security. For two years in a row, Republicans in Congress have supported budgets that rein in the growth of Medicare spending but leave Social Security alone. Expect to hear a lot more about Medicare than Social Security at the Republican convention this week.
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Ravens Roost Of Salisbury
What: The Ravens Roost of Salisbury Opening Day 2012
When: Monday September 10th 2012 7:00pm-til
Where: The Lagoon Bar - 1800 Sweetbay Dr Salisbury, MD 21804
Description:
Come out and celebrate the Baltimore Ravens first game of the season at the Lagoon Bar in Salisbury. The Ravens Roost of Salisbury, is a not for profit organization. It is made up of a group of people who have a passion for the Baltimore Ravens and like to give back to their community. Rather if you want to enjoy the game each week with people who share the same enthusiasm for the Ravens as you do or if you would like to participate in the several Ravens themed events in the area or if you are passionate about your community and want to be a part of an organization that gives back, then come on out and join us. If you would like to get more information on the Ravens Roost of Salisbury, please contact Jessica Weber at JessicaSbyRavensRoost@gmail.com and 443-880-6946 or Robert Weber at Salisburyravensroost@yahoo.com and 443-397-2001.
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