A faulty seal is being blamed for Volkswagen's decision to stop sale of 25,000 Passats, Beetles and Jettas that came with a particular turbocharged engine.
The seal, called an o-ring, connects to the automatic transmission cooler. It can spring a leak, leading to the possibility the oil could catch on fire in vehicles that came with 1.8-liter turbocharged engines. But Volkswagen says in a statement that no accidents, fires or injuries have resulted from the glitch so far.
All the cars involved in the issue were made since Feb. 1.
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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
Friday, April 11, 2014
US Government Supports Freedom Abroad but Tyranny at Home
Yesterday the United States was accused of having contractors from the security company Greystone Ltd. on the ground in Ukraine. Today they are accused of supplying Syrian rebels with advanced weaponry. It makes you wonder what type of US interference is going to make the news tomorrow.
From RT:
Rebels embattled against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad have reportedly come into possession of high-powered anti-tank weaponry, the likes of which may have been supplied by the United States.
Images of rebels equipped with heavy arms have begun to circulate in recent days, and at least one news site has claimed that the source responsible is the US government.
On Monday, Israel’s Debkafile website reported that two moderate Syrian rebel militias — the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian Revolutionary Front — have been supplied with advanced US weapons, including armor-piercing, optically-guided BGM-71 TOW missiles, thanks to the Pentagon.
According to Debkafile’s report, US Gen. Martin Dempsey — the chairman of the Joint Chiefs — asked officials in Israel last week to help get Saudi Arabian fighter jets stationed at the kingdom’s Faisal Air Base at Tabuk near Jordan positioned in a manner that would provide air cover as American forces moved the weapons into southern Syria. Debkafile attributed the claims to unnamed military sources.
Late last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that US President Barack Obama and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah “appeared to narrow their disagreement on assisting Syrian rebels” amidst a meeting between the two. According to the Journal’s report, Obama administration officials said the meeting ended with the White House agreeing to increase its level of assistance to Syrian rebels.
“Senior US officials said their goal is to provide assistance to moderate Syrian rebels not just as a ‘counterweight’ to the Assad regime, but also to extremist elements of the opposition,” Carol Lee and Ellen Knickmeyer wrote for the paper.
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From RT:
Rebels embattled against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad have reportedly come into possession of high-powered anti-tank weaponry, the likes of which may have been supplied by the United States.
Images of rebels equipped with heavy arms have begun to circulate in recent days, and at least one news site has claimed that the source responsible is the US government.
On Monday, Israel’s Debkafile website reported that two moderate Syrian rebel militias — the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian Revolutionary Front — have been supplied with advanced US weapons, including armor-piercing, optically-guided BGM-71 TOW missiles, thanks to the Pentagon.
According to Debkafile’s report, US Gen. Martin Dempsey — the chairman of the Joint Chiefs — asked officials in Israel last week to help get Saudi Arabian fighter jets stationed at the kingdom’s Faisal Air Base at Tabuk near Jordan positioned in a manner that would provide air cover as American forces moved the weapons into southern Syria. Debkafile attributed the claims to unnamed military sources.
Late last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that US President Barack Obama and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah “appeared to narrow their disagreement on assisting Syrian rebels” amidst a meeting between the two. According to the Journal’s report, Obama administration officials said the meeting ended with the White House agreeing to increase its level of assistance to Syrian rebels.
“Senior US officials said their goal is to provide assistance to moderate Syrian rebels not just as a ‘counterweight’ to the Assad regime, but also to extremist elements of the opposition,” Carol Lee and Ellen Knickmeyer wrote for the paper.
More
More Restaurants Adopting No-Tipping Policy
Are we headed for the end of restaurant tipping? Yet another eatery is opening up to great fanfare, mostly because it has decided to do away with tips.
The Brand 158 restaurant in Glendale, Calif., has adopted the no-tipping policy because owner Gabriel Frem said he wanted to discourage competition between his employees. And he isn't including a service charge or upping his prices to make up for it, either.
The Brand 158 restaurant in Glendale, Calif., has adopted the no-tipping policy because owner Gabriel Frem said he wanted to discourage competition between his employees. And he isn't including a service charge or upping his prices to make up for it, either.
ANOTHER DAILY TIMES REPORTER BITES THE DUST TODAY
Jennifer Shutt
GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Call For New Ideas At Hopkins Debate
At the Johns Hopkins University campus Thursday evening, the GOP gubernatorial candidates were posed questions along that line of thought: Could you work with the other side of the aisle? How do you persuade Democrats to join your line of thinking, and the Republican party?
More pertinently: Can you win?
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Report: 85% of Pensions Could Fail in 30 Years
You might have thought your public pension was on shaky ground, but you’re likely still being too kind.
Influential and well-regarded hedge fund Bridgewater Associates Wednesday warns public pensions are likely to achieve 4% returns on their assets, or worse. If Bridgewater is right, that means 85% of public pension funds will be going bankrupt in three decades.
Bridgewater came to these conclusions by stress testing the nation’s public pension plans, much the way banks need to be evaluated on what could happen given a wide range out outcomes.
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Influential and well-regarded hedge fund Bridgewater Associates Wednesday warns public pensions are likely to achieve 4% returns on their assets, or worse. If Bridgewater is right, that means 85% of public pension funds will be going bankrupt in three decades.
Bridgewater came to these conclusions by stress testing the nation’s public pension plans, much the way banks need to be evaluated on what could happen given a wide range out outcomes.
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1% Of US Doctors Account For Over $10 Billion Of Medicare Billings
The top 1% of 825,000 individual medical providers accounted for 14% of the $77 billion in medicare billing in 2012, according to new federal data reported by the WSJ. The data shows a very small number of doctors and medical providers account for a huge amount of the costs for treating the elderly and, as WSJ notes, suggest in some cases, may be enriching themselves in the process. As Bloomberg notes, one doctor, who treats degenerative eye disease in seniors, was paid $21 million (twice the 2nd highest paid doctor on the list) with some top earners making 100 times the average for their respective fields. One researcher summed it up, "There's all sorts of services that are low-value for patients, high-revenue to providers," and leaves us wondering, once again, how the government will manage as Obamacare's "success" washes ashore.
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A Letter To The Editor: An interesting encounter
Yesterday I called Social Security Administration to check on a Medicare Application I had made, March 15. I did this on line and had not received a confirmation as of yesterday. In the meantime, I’m attempting to apply to receive Social Security benefits which I, and my employers, have paid into for over 45 years. I am told, by multiple representatives and their superiors, that….until my Medicare application is processed I cannot apply for my retirement fund through Social Security!
I expressed to this lady that, if private businesses worked that way, they would not last a year. She stated, and I quote, … “Mr. ____ this is not a private business you are talking go, we are the Social Security Administration!
I expressed to this lady that, if private businesses worked that way, they would not last a year. She stated, and I quote, … “Mr. ____ this is not a private business you are talking go, we are the Social Security Administration!
Why I'm too scared to do my taxes
It's tax time. I'm too scared to do my taxes. I'm sure I'll get something wrong and my enemies in government will persecute -- no, I mean prosecute -- me. So I hired Bob.
Bob's my accountant. I like Bob, but I don't like that I have to have an accountant. I don't want to spend time keeping records and talking to Bob about boring things I don't understand, and I really don't want to pay Bob. But I have to.
What a waste. Once, I calculated what I could do with the money I give Bob. I could have a fancy dinner out 200 times. I could buy a motorcycle. I could take a cruise ship all the way from New York to Venice, Italy, and back.
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Bob's my accountant. I like Bob, but I don't like that I have to have an accountant. I don't want to spend time keeping records and talking to Bob about boring things I don't understand, and I really don't want to pay Bob. But I have to.
What a waste. Once, I calculated what I could do with the money I give Bob. I could have a fancy dinner out 200 times. I could buy a motorcycle. I could take a cruise ship all the way from New York to Venice, Italy, and back.
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Yard Sales 4-12-14
806 Waverly Dr Salisbury for this coming Saturday the 12th.
"Moving Sale Saturday April 12th, 6am until. Appliances, furniture, household goods, formal gowns, men's and women's clothing sizes 6-3x, outdoor furniture. All reasonable offers will be considered. 912 Hanover Street *indoors*"
Obamas’ jaunt to Ireland cost $7.9 million
'Abused the perk of official trip for luxury European vacation'
(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) The White House spent $7.9 million flying the first family to the 2013 G-8 summit in northern Ireland, a venture that included a sightseeing tour of Dublin by first lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters that cost $251,161, according to new documents.
The first lady’s entourage spent $125,859 just for hotel rooms, including the spacious Princess Grace Suite at the five-star Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Department of Homeland Security documents provided to taxpayer watchdog Judicial Watch also revealed a $114,721 tab for the first lady’s fleet of cars and a $3,370 charge for a copier.
The cache of expenses is the latest from Judicial Watch which has spent years charting the costs of presidential trips. As before, it took a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to shake the documents out of Homeland Security and the Air Force.
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(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) The White House spent $7.9 million flying the first family to the 2013 G-8 summit in northern Ireland, a venture that included a sightseeing tour of Dublin by first lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters that cost $251,161, according to new documents.
The first lady’s entourage spent $125,859 just for hotel rooms, including the spacious Princess Grace Suite at the five-star Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. Department of Homeland Security documents provided to taxpayer watchdog Judicial Watch also revealed a $114,721 tab for the first lady’s fleet of cars and a $3,370 charge for a copier.
The cache of expenses is the latest from Judicial Watch which has spent years charting the costs of presidential trips. As before, it took a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to shake the documents out of Homeland Security and the Air Force.
More
The new Washington war machine
Sometimes the news is just so drearily awful that you have to sit back and almost appreciate the pure comedy induced by it.
Take this item from Washington, Iowa, where the local police have recently acquired an MRAP vehicle (short for Mine Resistance Ambush Protected) through a Defense Department program that donates excess vehicles originally produced for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to local police departments across the United States, including other Iowa towns such as Mason City and Storm Lake.
The MRAP weighs an impressive 49,000 pounds, stands 10-feet tall, and possesses a whopping six-wheel drive. Originally designed to resist landmines and IEDs, it sure seems like the MRAP will come in handy for the notorious war zone otherwise known as Washington County, Iowa.
If you’re having a bad day, I highly recommend watching a video produced by the Des Moines Register in which Washington police officials try to justify the possession of a vehicle it clearly has no use for. The excuses range from school shootings (which are an actual concern but an MRAP seems like overkill) to a terrorist attack happening in central Iowa (because if there’s any place that seems ripe for a high-profile terrorist attack it’s Washington, Iowa, population 7,000).
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Take this item from Washington, Iowa, where the local police have recently acquired an MRAP vehicle (short for Mine Resistance Ambush Protected) through a Defense Department program that donates excess vehicles originally produced for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to local police departments across the United States, including other Iowa towns such as Mason City and Storm Lake.
The MRAP weighs an impressive 49,000 pounds, stands 10-feet tall, and possesses a whopping six-wheel drive. Originally designed to resist landmines and IEDs, it sure seems like the MRAP will come in handy for the notorious war zone otherwise known as Washington County, Iowa.
If you’re having a bad day, I highly recommend watching a video produced by the Des Moines Register in which Washington police officials try to justify the possession of a vehicle it clearly has no use for. The excuses range from school shootings (which are an actual concern but an MRAP seems like overkill) to a terrorist attack happening in central Iowa (because if there’s any place that seems ripe for a high-profile terrorist attack it’s Washington, Iowa, population 7,000).
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New Store On The Downtown Plaza Coming Soon
DR. ROGER MERRILL RECOGNIZED AS 2014 OUTSTANDING PUBLIC HEALTH LEADER
Dr. Merrill was recognized for implementing a corporate Health Improvement Program at Perdue Farms facilities and corporate offices. Starting with a baseline risk appraisal, associates regularly receive attention from Health Coaches and are also encouraged to engage with primary medical care. Dr. Merrill’s program has attained improved outcomes and patient satisfaction, and has gone far beyond the third goal of ‘bending the cost curve.’ He managed to reduce company medical costs while improving patient outcomes. “The Health Improvement Program that Dr. Merrill helped Perdue develop embodies principles which public health and other medical system leaders have been trying to implement for years,” said Lori Brewster, Health Officer for Wicomico County. “His successes are a model for the current efforts at managing population health on a broader scale.” Dr. Merrill is to be commended for his efforts to significantly improve the health of Perdue Farms staff and for his accomplishment on being recognized as Wicomico County's 2014 Outstanding Public Health Leader.
EASTER IN SNOW HILL
The Town of Snow Hill welcomes everyone to join them for “Easter in Snow Hill” on Saturday, April 12, 2014. The day will begin with a “Little Peeps” Scavenger Hunt at 10:00am at the Julia A. Purnell Museum. Kids can have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny!
After the hunt, you will need to stroll downtown for the rest of the fun! Hop on over to Sturgis park for the Easter Egg Hunt at 11:00am. There will be 3 ages for participants.
You will notice many activities going on downtown. There will be an Easter Bonnet contest; Easter egg painting; sidewalk art; and special treats given out at some of the eateries.
Make sure you don’t miss “The Three Not-So-Little Pigs Meet the Easter Bunny” puppet show in the old Firehouse on Green Street! The show starts at 1:30pm and is sponsored by the Berlin/Ocean City Optimist Club. Admission is FREE!
Please join us for a fun-filled family event!
After the hunt, you will need to stroll downtown for the rest of the fun! Hop on over to Sturgis park for the Easter Egg Hunt at 11:00am. There will be 3 ages for participants.
You will notice many activities going on downtown. There will be an Easter Bonnet contest; Easter egg painting; sidewalk art; and special treats given out at some of the eateries.
Make sure you don’t miss “The Three Not-So-Little Pigs Meet the Easter Bunny” puppet show in the old Firehouse on Green Street! The show starts at 1:30pm and is sponsored by the Berlin/Ocean City Optimist Club. Admission is FREE!
Please join us for a fun-filled family event!
So papa, how do you like the iPad we got you?
This clip is spoken in German but it's totally understandable in any language.
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