DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, July 03, 2013
More Travelers Are Packing
Not just their clothes. The Transportation Security Administration isn't sure why more passengers are entering airport security lines with guns this year. But screeners found 894 firearms in the first six months of 2013. That's a 30 percent increase in the number of guns found this year than during the same time period in 2012. The TSA says it's a trend that's been steadily on the rise during the past few years.
Poll: Obama Approval Craters To Record Low
According to the latest IBD/TIPP Presdential Leadership Index, Obama's approval rating is at a record low. The Presidential Leadership Index dropped to 43% from 49% a month ago. "The 11.7% slide was the worst since Obama took office. For the fourth straight month, the reading stood below 50, signaling disapproval." The survey was conducted by TechnoMetrica and took place June 24-29 among 857 adults.
"Each day that passes there's a new mention of these things," TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence President Raghavan Mayur said of the NSA, IRS and other scandals. "They seem to kind of fester. They don't seem to go away."
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"Each day that passes there's a new mention of these things," TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence President Raghavan Mayur said of the NSA, IRS and other scandals. "They seem to kind of fester. They don't seem to go away."
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The Fed Is Paying Banks Not To Lend
Did you know that U.S. banks have more than 1.8 trillion dollars parked at the Federal Reserve and that the Fed is actually paying them not to lend that money to us? We were always told that the goal of quantitative easing was to "help the economy", but the truth is that the vast majority of the money that the Fed has created through quantitative easing has not even gotten into the system. Instead, most of it is sitting at the Fed slowly earning interest for the bankers.
Back in October 2008, just as the last financial crisis was starting, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced that the Federal Reserve would start paying interest on the reserves that banks keep at the Fed. This caused an absolute explosion in the size of these reserves. Back in 2008, U.S. banks had less than 2 billion dollars of excess reserves parked at the Fed. Today, they have more than 1.8 trillion. In less than five years, the pile of excess reserves has gotten nearly 1,000 times larger. This is utter insanity, and it will have very serious consequences down the road.
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Back in October 2008, just as the last financial crisis was starting, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced that the Federal Reserve would start paying interest on the reserves that banks keep at the Fed. This caused an absolute explosion in the size of these reserves. Back in 2008, U.S. banks had less than 2 billion dollars of excess reserves parked at the Fed. Today, they have more than 1.8 trillion. In less than five years, the pile of excess reserves has gotten nearly 1,000 times larger. This is utter insanity, and it will have very serious consequences down the road.
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The Newest Additions To Maryland's Zoo... Four Piglets
According to zookeepers, the warthog pair, Kumari and Kijani, welcomed the four common warthog piglets Saturday morning. The newborns were found later by the Zoo’s animal department staff who had been keeping a close eye on Kumari during her pregnancy.
This is the third litter for 8-year-old female warthog, Kumari, Zoo general curator Mike McClure says.
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Fireworks TONIGHT In Willards
Salisbury News will be present and we encourage you to join us in a very Family Friendly environment.
We're told the Daily Times, (once again) has refused to promote this event.
Talking Cigarette Packs?
First they tried warning labels, then they tried graphic pictures, but these efforts didn't do much to keep people from smoking. Well, now researchers in the U.K. are trying a new tactic – talking cigarette packs. No, really... Researchers at Stirling University are taking the technology used in "talking" greeting cards, and using it to record warning messages that play each time a smoker opens the pack. one has to wonder how long it will take before New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg tries using the recordings on 16-ounce beverages in his city.
Curfew Considered After Massive Brawl In Downtown Greensboro
GREENSBORO, N.C. — A massive fight in downtown Greensboro Saturday night has some city leaders taking a hard look at bringing back the teen curfew.
Nearly 400 people were involved in the several fights that happened along Elm Street.
Greensboro police arrested 11 people ranging in age from 16 to 20-years-old. Officers had to use pepper spray and a stun gun to try to get the crowd under control. Greensboro Police Department had to call UNCG Police and Guilford County for extra help.
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Nearly 400 people were involved in the several fights that happened along Elm Street.
Greensboro police arrested 11 people ranging in age from 16 to 20-years-old. Officers had to use pepper spray and a stun gun to try to get the crowd under control. Greensboro Police Department had to call UNCG Police and Guilford County for extra help.
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If Your Illegal, Just Marry A Gay Person And Get Your Green Card
It's official – same-sex married couples will be treated just like opposite-sex married couples for the purposes of immigration. After last week's historic DOMA ruling, the Department of Homeland Security has announced that gay and lesbian spouses of American citizens are eligible for green cards. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano released a statement, saying, "Effective immediately, I have directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to review immigration visa petitions filed on behalf of a same-sex spouses in the same manner as those filed on behalf of an opposite-sex spouse." Already, at least one legally-married gay couple in Florida was pleasantly surprised by a notification from immigration officials. More notifications are going out around our nation. Apparently, "effective immediately" is the new favorite phrase of the equality movement.
O'Malley Picking First Woman Chief Justice
Judge Robert Bell said Tuesday night in an interview with The Associated Press that the governor had informed him of the selection earlier in the day.
O'Malley declined to comment while leaving an event at the Maryland State House recognizing attorneys who do pro bono legal work, an event Bell also attended. O'Malley said he would have more to say on Wednesday, when a news conference was scheduled to make an announcement on judicial appointments.
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Wal-Mart Is Getting Dumped
Dutch pension administrator PGGM announced yesterday that it would no longer invest any of its $180 billion dollars in the low-price retailer because of poor labor conditions – and PGGM's concerns included the working conditions stores in the US. According to Reuters, PGGM repeatedly asked Wal-Mart about labor practices, bribery, and other scandals but "these questions were left unanswered." So, PGGM, which is focused on employee pensions, national healthcare, and social work, will be taking their money elsewhere. As of March, the pension fund held 2.76 million shares of Wal-Mart stock, worth over $200 million dollars. It appears PGGM will now be trading in those shares for more stock in companies like Costco, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target, whose practices don't raise concerns. Despite protests, strikes, and public-relations nightmares, few things have pushed Wal-Mart to improve their labor practices. But, perhaps $200 million dollars will get their attention, and finally get Wal-Mart to clean up their act.
400 Black People Riot In Downtown Greensboro
These are just some of the hundreds of examples of racial violence and lawlessness in more than 80 cities around the country as documented in my book: White Girl Bleed a Lot: The return of racial violence to America.
Thomas Sowell said : ”Reading Colin Flaherty’s book made painfully clear to me that the magnitude of this problem is greater than I had discovered from my own research. He documents both the race riots and the media and political evasions in dozens of cities.” – National Review.
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Thomas Sowell said : ”Reading Colin Flaherty’s book made painfully clear to me that the magnitude of this problem is greater than I had discovered from my own research. He documents both the race riots and the media and political evasions in dozens of cities.” – National Review.
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Predator Drone Update
U.S. predator drones could soon get a few upgrades. Customs and Border Protection says it has plans to add what it calls "non-lethal weapons designed to immobilize targets of interest." That's according to a 2010 agency document obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. A fact sheet detailing the capabilities of U.S. drones shows they aren't currently equipped with non-lethal weapons.
ABC Arrest Of Water-Toting U.Va. Student Prompts Flood Of Calls
CHARLOTTESVILLE — The arrest of a University of Virginia student by state alcohol agents who mistook her bottled water for beer has sparked a public outcry.
The Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control's headquarters in Richmond was besieged on Monday with phone calls and emails from the public questioning the way the incident was handled, agency spokeswoman Maureen Haney told The Daily Progress.
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The Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control's headquarters in Richmond was besieged on Monday with phone calls and emails from the public questioning the way the incident was handled, agency spokeswoman Maureen Haney told The Daily Progress.
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Preston Man Sentenced For Thefts From Goddard Space Flight Center
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) -- A Caroline County man has been sentenced to a year in prison for stealing tools and aluminum scaffolding from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt.
Twenty-eight-year-old Brandon Scott Gauss of Preston was also ordered to pay restitution to the U.S. government and a pawn shop at sentencing Tuesday in federal court in Greenbelt.
According to his plea agreement, Gauss, a contract employee at NASA, was an engineering technician at Goddard. Prosecutors say he stole tools and aluminum and sold them to pawn shops.
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Twenty-eight-year-old Brandon Scott Gauss of Preston was also ordered to pay restitution to the U.S. government and a pawn shop at sentencing Tuesday in federal court in Greenbelt.
According to his plea agreement, Gauss, a contract employee at NASA, was an engineering technician at Goddard. Prosecutors say he stole tools and aluminum and sold them to pawn shops.
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New Rules To Require Financial Aid Recipients To Do Community Work
Able-bodied people who have not found employment after three months on financial assistance would be required to do up to 15 hours of community service weekly under new rules approved by MPs last night.
The change is part of a planned overhaul of the financial assistance system, weighed down by soaring costs as numbers of people applying for aid had increased every quarter over the last two years on an “unsustainable trajectory”, Community Development Minister Wayne Scott told MPs.
Amendments to financial assistance rules approved in the House of Assembly also include requiring recipients to attend specified life skills programmes, such as money management courses or parenting skills courses.
And case workers will also be empowered to refer clients to the Bermuda Assessment and Referral Centre for drug abuse assessment if deemed necessary.
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The change is part of a planned overhaul of the financial assistance system, weighed down by soaring costs as numbers of people applying for aid had increased every quarter over the last two years on an “unsustainable trajectory”, Community Development Minister Wayne Scott told MPs.
Amendments to financial assistance rules approved in the House of Assembly also include requiring recipients to attend specified life skills programmes, such as money management courses or parenting skills courses.
And case workers will also be empowered to refer clients to the Bermuda Assessment and Referral Centre for drug abuse assessment if deemed necessary.
More
Top 5 Reasons I Stopped Caring About Politics
When I was young, I felt a need to understand politics, and I spent time studying. But as time progressed, I received diminishing returns on that investment. And in the past few years, I have given it up altogether.
These days, my concern with politics is limited to things like these:
Who is making war, and where?
Where is the crime occurring in my area?
Are there laws that will force me to move my businesses offshore?
Beyond that, I’m really not interested. I see the headlines, but I seldom read the stories. And I’m very happy saying, “I haven’t looked into it,” when people ask my opinion on the day’s ‘news.’
Here’s why:
#5: It eats up a horrifying amount of time and energy
Seriously, start counting the number of hours you spend on this stuff. How many hours listening to political radio, watching political TV, and reading political newspapers?
Then start thinking about the intense energy you spend on it. We all have limited reserves of energy; do you really believe that politics is the highest and best use for yours? What about using your energy to build your business? Or to nurture your children? Or to help a neighbor? There must be a
dozen things that are more important than obsessing over the votes of congressmen or Supreme Court judges.
More
These days, my concern with politics is limited to things like these:
Who is making war, and where?
Where is the crime occurring in my area?
Are there laws that will force me to move my businesses offshore?
Beyond that, I’m really not interested. I see the headlines, but I seldom read the stories. And I’m very happy saying, “I haven’t looked into it,” when people ask my opinion on the day’s ‘news.’
Here’s why:
#5: It eats up a horrifying amount of time and energy
Seriously, start counting the number of hours you spend on this stuff. How many hours listening to political radio, watching political TV, and reading political newspapers?
Then start thinking about the intense energy you spend on it. We all have limited reserves of energy; do you really believe that politics is the highest and best use for yours? What about using your energy to build your business? Or to nurture your children? Or to help a neighbor? There must be a
dozen things that are more important than obsessing over the votes of congressmen or Supreme Court judges.
More
Defendant Sentenced In Capitol Hill Beating, Robbery
Tommy Branch, 22, of Fort Washington was sentenced to 24 years and six months for the brutal beating of T.C. Maslin and a second robbery that occurred in Adams Morgan later the same night.
A brief video presentation shown in court depicted scenes of Maslin's recovery and the Maslins' home life, including images of their 2-year-old son, Jack, with his injured dad.
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LOCAL VIEWING EVENTS ALLOW KOREAN WAR VETS TO EXPERIENCE NATIONAL COMMEMORATION CEREMONY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On July 27th, 2013 there will be a national ceremony at the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C. to honor all those who served in the Korean War, and to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Armistice which ended hostilities. The Department of Defense 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Committee is taking extra steps to ensure veterans who cannot make it to the national ceremony will be able to watch the televised event at their local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Posts, surrounded by their families, fellow veterans and members of their community.
"While age and distance, unfortunately, will prevent many Korean War veterans and their families from attending the event in Washington, they can take part in, 'Pancakes for Patriots' viewing events at their local VFW Posts," said Joe Davis, Director of Public Affairs for the national Veterans of Foreign Wars. "This is a great opportunity to educate local communities about the service and sacrifices made by so many of our Korean War veterans and their families."
The national ceremony titled, "Heroes Remembered," will be broadcast live at all of the, "Pancakes for Patriots," events. The broadcast will feature a special salute to Korean War Veterans, recognition of UN Allies, a ceremonial wreath laying and a symbolic silencing of the guns both in D.C. and Seoul, South Korea.
For decades, the Korean War was known as the "Forgotten War" and the men and women who served on the Korean Peninsula may have believed their sacrifices were unnoticed. To the contrary, the Department of Defense recognizes that the Korean War was a significant event during the Cold War. This has become even more apparent over time with the emergence of the Republic of Korea as a great power and US ally.
"Korean War veterans are now in their 80's and fought in a war deemed Forgotten," said Colonel David J. Clark Director, Foreign Intelligence, Army DCS G-2 and Director of the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Commemoration Committee. "This could be one of the last chances we have to recognize these veterans and show them that their sacrifice is important."
Those interested in attending, "Pancakes for Patriots," do not have to be VFW members. Please contact your local participating VFW Post or visit www.koreanwar60.com.
"While age and distance, unfortunately, will prevent many Korean War veterans and their families from attending the event in Washington, they can take part in, 'Pancakes for Patriots' viewing events at their local VFW Posts," said Joe Davis, Director of Public Affairs for the national Veterans of Foreign Wars. "This is a great opportunity to educate local communities about the service and sacrifices made by so many of our Korean War veterans and their families."
The national ceremony titled, "Heroes Remembered," will be broadcast live at all of the, "Pancakes for Patriots," events. The broadcast will feature a special salute to Korean War Veterans, recognition of UN Allies, a ceremonial wreath laying and a symbolic silencing of the guns both in D.C. and Seoul, South Korea.
For decades, the Korean War was known as the "Forgotten War" and the men and women who served on the Korean Peninsula may have believed their sacrifices were unnoticed. To the contrary, the Department of Defense recognizes that the Korean War was a significant event during the Cold War. This has become even more apparent over time with the emergence of the Republic of Korea as a great power and US ally.
"Korean War veterans are now in their 80's and fought in a war deemed Forgotten," said Colonel David J. Clark Director, Foreign Intelligence, Army DCS G-2 and Director of the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Commemoration Committee. "This could be one of the last chances we have to recognize these veterans and show them that their sacrifice is important."
Those interested in attending, "Pancakes for Patriots," do not have to be VFW members. Please contact your local participating VFW Post or visit www.koreanwar60.com.
Worcester County Bureau Of Investigation Press Release 7-2-13
Vilkas
DATE: July 2, 2013CBI Case #: 13-0092
LOCATION: 9800 Block Harbor Master Blvd.
CRIME: Burglary 1st Degree
Theft $1,000 to $10,000
SUSPECT: Nicholas Richard Vilkas
W/M, 23 yoa
Hebron, Maryland
NARRATIVE: On March 28, 2013, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a burglary to a residence on the 9800 Block Harbor Master Blvd, Ocean City, Worcester County, Maryland. The suspect entered the residence and removed jewelry belonging to the victim. On April 4, 2013, the victim again contacted the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office to report additional jewelry missing. The case was forwarded to the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation.
During the investigation, investigators were able to identify Nicholas Richard Vilkas as a person of interest. A check of local pawn records found that Vilkas had sold all of the jewelry that was reported stolen by the victim, as well as additional jewelry that the victim had not realized had been stolen during the initial reports.
An arrest warrant for Vilkas was obtained, and investigators, with the assistance of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, later located Vilkas at a residence in Salisbury, Maryland, where he was taken into custody. Vilkas was later interviewed and confessed to have committed the burglary and theft.
Vilkas was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on $15,000 unsecured bond pending trail.
LOCATION: 9800 Block Harbor Master Blvd.
CRIME: Burglary 1st Degree
Theft $1,000 to $10,000
SUSPECT: Nicholas Richard Vilkas
W/M, 23 yoa
Hebron, Maryland
NARRATIVE: On March 28, 2013, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a burglary to a residence on the 9800 Block Harbor Master Blvd, Ocean City, Worcester County, Maryland. The suspect entered the residence and removed jewelry belonging to the victim. On April 4, 2013, the victim again contacted the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office to report additional jewelry missing. The case was forwarded to the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation.
During the investigation, investigators were able to identify Nicholas Richard Vilkas as a person of interest. A check of local pawn records found that Vilkas had sold all of the jewelry that was reported stolen by the victim, as well as additional jewelry that the victim had not realized had been stolen during the initial reports.
An arrest warrant for Vilkas was obtained, and investigators, with the assistance of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, later located Vilkas at a residence in Salisbury, Maryland, where he was taken into custody. Vilkas was later interviewed and confessed to have committed the burglary and theft.
Vilkas was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was released on $15,000 unsecured bond pending trail.
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