More Record Achievement

Today, a new report out from the Harvard Kennedy School confirmed what we already know: Maryland students continue to lead the nation.

According to its report, Maryland led the country in the growth in student achievement between 1992 and 2011.

Maryland’s economy is an Innovation Economy and we know that investments that improve the education of our children are investments that expand economic opportunities for our entire State. That’s why even as we’ve made record spending cuts, we have chosen together to make record investments in public education and school construction.
We’ve made real progress together:

For the past four years in a row, Education Week has named Maryland’s public schools #1 in the nation.

This year, we achieved the highest-ever MSA scores in elementary reading and math.

This year, we achieved the highest-ever middle school math scores.

Today, more than 76% of our middle school students score proficient in math—up from 39% in 2003.

Our high school students continue to lead the nation with the highest Advanced Placement Scores.

Working together, since 2007, we’ve closed the achievement gaps between African-American and white students by 23% and between Hispanic and white students by 38%.

Thank you to all of the educators, parents, administrators, support staff and faculty who work every day to help our children succeed and become the leaders of tomorrow.
And of course, a special thank you to all of our students who continue to make us proud!

Denver Company That Pays Employees $7,500 To Go On Vacation Needs Workers

Bart Lorang calls it a "paid, paid vacation."

The CEO and co-founder of Denver-based software provider company FullContact is offering his employees a $7,500 bonus to go on vacation, on top of their normal vacation pay.

So what's the catch? There's three, as Lorang describes in a blog on the company's website.

First, employees must completely go off the technology grid,  meaning no e-mail, texting or phone calls. In conjunction with the first rule, employees are not allowed to do any work while on their trip.

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Co-Sleeping Research Looks At Breathing Risks For Baby

Researchers have new information about the possible health risks of infant co-sleeping, finding that it can increase the number of times the babies' oxygen level drops in the night and can cause them to rebreathe air they've already exhaled.

But most of the babies in the small study were able to cope with those changes.

"The bed-share infants experienced more desaturation events and were more often exposed to rebreathing," said Sally Baddock, an associate professor of midwifery at Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand. "But these infants, [who were] at low risk of SIDS [sudden infant death syndrome], appeared to be able to respond effectively and remain safe."

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Tim Geithner's Libor Recommendations Came Straight From Banks, Documents Show

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has so far escaped responsibility for the spreading Libor fixing scandal by releasing documents showing that when he became aware of the problem in 2008, as head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, he made recommendations to address it.

"The New York Fed analysis culminated in a set of recommendations to reform LIBOR, which was finalized in late May. On June 1, 2008, Mr. Geithner emailed Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, a report, entitled 'Recommendations for Enhancing the Credibility of LIBOR,'" a Fed statement released Friday reads. "As is clear from the work culminating in the report to Mr. King of the Bank of England, the New York Fed helped to identify problems related to LIBOR and press the relevant authorities in the UK to reform this London-based rate."

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Rep. Ryan: Obama is "Dividing," "Distracting" The Country

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., said President Obama's attacks on Mitt Romney's tenure at Bain Capital is not important to voters, and that the president is ignoring issues Americans really care about.

"I'm sitting here in Janesville, Wisconsin; people are not worried about the details as to when Mitt Romney left Bain Capital to save the Olympics or the details about his assets, which are managed by a blind trust for Pete's sake," Ryan told Bob Schieffer. "They're worried about their jobs and their family's future.

"Barack Obama, he doesn't want to talk about that," the top Republican on the House Budget committee added. "He has a terrible jobs result, he has a terrible record to run on, so since he cannot run on his record he has now gone to dividing the country in order to distract the country and try to win this election."

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Democrat Suggests Jews Behind 9/11 Attacks

During a radio interview today, M.D. Alam, a Democrat activist running for Missouri secretary of state, defended his reported claim that 9/11 was a Jewish holiday and his questioning of why no Jews were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Sept. 11, 2001, however, was not a Jewish holiday, and estimates conclude at least 200 to 400 Jews, including five Israelis, died in the World Trade Center attacks.

In the interview, Alam also defended “Loose Change,” a series of online videos arguing the 9/11 attacks were planned and conducted by elements within the U.S. government.

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Lawmakers Criticize the FDA for Surveillance Operation

Two members of Congress, one Republican and one Democrat, expressed concern over the news that the Food and Drug Administration monitored the communication of five scientists after they raised concerns about medical imaging devices.

The surveillance campaign, according to The New York Times, gathered more than 80,000 pages of documents of communication between five scientists and journalists, members of Congress, lawyers and President Obama.

"The extent to which the FDA spied on employees' personal email is shocking. The more we learn, the more disturbing it is," Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said. "The FDA's actions raise serious implications for the right of any agency employee to make protected disclosures about waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement, or public safety to Congress or anyone else."

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Sheriff Joe Responds to Smutty Comic

PHOENIX, Ariz. – In response to a vicious verbal assault by comic George Lopez on Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Mitt Romney during a live HBO special, Arpaio has issued a challenge he doubts Lopez will accept.

After joking Romney was a closeted Latino because his father was born in Mexico, Lopez ripped into Arpaio with a string of obscenities and insults.

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Language Warning.

Dog Found On Eastern Shore Drive

Hey Joe,

I found a lost dog today at work and didn't know if you could post something on your blog about it in case someone's looking for her. She's a brown/black (looks like) long-haired chihuahua mix. If could that would be awesome! Please contact me at 443-493-0069.

Syria Thought to Be Moving Chemical Weapons

The United States believes Syria has moved "some" chemical weapons in recent days, a U.S. official said.

The stockpile is believed to be is under the control of regime forces, the source said.

The official, who would only speak anonymously because the source was speaking about intelligence matters, said the reason behind the movement is unclear. The source could not say what types of chemical stockpiles were involved or how much was moved.

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Canada Swooped in to Freeze Billions in Arab Spring Assets: Documents

Canadian authorities red-pencilled almost $4.3 billion in suspect assets belonging to dictators, allegedly corrupt officials and others in response to the Arab Spring uprisings, newly disclosed documents say.


An RCMP briefing note says the national police force's federal policing branch worked with the Foreign Affairs Department, Public Safety, security intelligence agencies and Canadian banks to "identify and freeze" the assets.

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Remember Them?

I'm sure everyone saw the movie these two were in when they were younger. Do you recognize them now that they are older?

To see more Then and Now click HERE

New Ethanol-Blend Fuel Approved by EPA Can Damage Car Engines, Group Warns

A new blend of gasoline comprising 15 percent ethanol, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency last month and now available in Kansas, could damage automobile engines, the Kansas Petroleum Council is warning.

“We don’t have a problem with ethanol,” council director Ken Peterson told CNSNews.com. “We use it virtually in every gallon of gasoline that’s produced for sale in this country, but the E15 is kind of a different animal in that both the petroleum industry and the car manufacturers have raised concerns about potential damage from the use of E15 fuel in a misfueling situation [putting the wrong type of fuel in your vehicle by mistake].

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Washington DC Plagued By Scandal And Bad News

Washington - Residents of the nation’s capital may have thought they’d outgrown the scourge of a crack-using mayor and high murder rates, of exploding manhole covers and crumbling schools. But an embarrassing corruption scandal further threatens to tarnish the city’s burnished image and could topple its new leadership.

A federal probe into Mayor Vincent Gray’s 2010 campaign has snared three of his aides, and news that some close advisers helped orchestrate an illegal shadow campaign could force him from office. Three city council members have called on Gray to step down.

The city already is reeling from leadership changes. One council member, Harry Thomas Jr., just began a three-year prison term for stealing $353,000 in taxpayer money slated for poor kids. And, in an entirely separate corruption probe, the council president, Kwame Brown, stepped down last month after pleading guilty to federal charges of falsifying mortgage documents.

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Economists Less Bullish as Early 2012 Gains Wither

Economists say the sales and profit gains of early this year are disappearing, and they are increasingly pessimistic about short-term growth.

They also are gloomy because of the potential impact in the U.S. from Europe's financial crisis, the possible expiration of the Bush tax cuts in December, and the prospect of major cuts in federal spending.

A survey by the National Association for Business Economics released Monday also found less evidence of hiring, confirming the trend in recent monthly jobs reports from the government.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY 7-16-12

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement. We pay for a single fighter with a half-million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. . . . This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower – April 1953

Are Greg Bassett & The Daily Times Out Of Their Mind

This weekend Greg Bassett wrote an editorial that really threw me for a loop and I'm sure those of you who read it felt the same way.

Here we have a business sharing their alleged wisdom towards what is right and wrong about Downtown Salisbury. Let's just take a look at the Daily Times involvement in this matter.

First of all, they sold their Downtown building. Not only did they sell it, they sold it to PRMC who no longer pays taxes on that property.

Mr. Bassett goes on to rag on Debbie, Terry & Tim, the Council of no's. Well Greg, you, (the DT's) DID endorse them this last go around. You make no mention of subsidized housing units Downtown nor did you mention that the former City Council's for the last 30 years rejected this idea as well.

Mr. Bassett goes on to IMPLY that these ideas should be up to the Council. He said, "That was pretty surprising to me, because I wasn't exactly aware that the council majority actually possessed any plans, viewpoints, goals, wishes, dreams, ideals, notions and hopes for Downtown Salisbury."

No Greg, the Council is the LEGISLATIVE body. Their responsibility is to accept or deny and again, the past 30 years worth of Council's DENIED such Downtown ideas as well, yet we're just not hearing personal attacks on those Council Members.

Mr. Bassett continues by saying, "And I guess I'm wrong for thinking this, but it seems to me that even if the council does have downtown-grandization (I made up that word) ideas swimming in their brains, these same folks have no ability, true determination or public support to get to any of those ideas implemented -- nonexistent though they are."

You are wrong for thinking that. IF any of the Council Members wanted to run for Mayor, I'd say they'd have a LOT more citizen support than you would ever have Mr. Bassett. So I'd say their support is a whole lot greater than you attempt to imply. The ONLY difference is, YOU wouldn't publish those better ideas even if they sent them in to you AND they were great ideas. The Daily Times only agenda is THEIR agenda.

Mr. Bassett then said, "Let's try this in words anyone can understand: Don't politicize Downtown Salisbury -- come together and fix it."

And just what exactly are YOU doing Mr. Bassett? This coming from a guy who has watched the company he works for go from 200+ employees down to what now, 12?

"Leaders are generally known to throw out a list of goals, and then seek public consensus on which goals should be addressed in which order. Leaders are measured by their ability to lead the completion of these goals. It's a leadership thing."

And the local MSM goal seems to be the same as the Mayors, throw a FIT and write nasty things about people implying this is actually the Council's job and not the Mayor's. The Council said NO to affordable, subsidized section 8 housing on waterfront parking lots Greg. It was a PACKAGE and it was turned down because of this.

"The epitome of indecision is the current state of the Downtown Plaza. Is it a plaza, is it Main Street? -- It's half dead and half alive."

You know what Greg, maybe you should get off your lazy corporate butt, (I'm being nice) and actually come down to the Plaza and see that it's actually 80%, (if not more, seriously) full/occupied. Once again the Daily Times tries to lead people into believing whatever they say is true when in fact it is not.

"Salisbury's leaders have a job to do on downtown. They're not doing it. Things will only stay that way, it seems, until the public makes them."

As did 30 years worth of past Council's Mr. Bassett. Just because someone comes up with a plan he "stole" from 30 years ago to current doesn't mean it is the right plan. Again, you removed your business from Downtown. You have reduced your employees by 90% and as a FAILING business now attracting other newspapers to compete I seriously doubt ANYTHING you have to say would hold any real weight to it.

So, that being said Mr. Bassett, in all your years of wisdom, why didn't YOU take that opportunity to offer your suggestions for Downtown? You sit on the outside criticizing people of some pretty horrible things, yet you offer no solution, other than to abandon Downtown yourself.

You make absolutely no mention whatsoever of my plans/ideas/proposal for Downtown. Instead you act as if Jim Ireton's "stolen" plan is the best ever. Mr. Ireton's plan removes property from the tax roll. His plan would decrease ALL property value even lower than it already is Downtown. His plan eliminates most of the parking Downtown that will be vital once the Downtown is revitalized.

I also did not read a solution from Mr. Bassett on how we're supposed to unite the Council. I guess Mr. Bassett still feels the Daily Times has some power left in them to influence this Council into doing what Mayor Ireton wants. Perhaps Mr. Bassett is trying to make good on the recent alleged phone scandal and is simply putting out there what the Mayor wants the public to see. Desperate people do some pretty desperate things.

Now let me say this. I believe we would ALL enjoy seeing Downtown full of foot traffic and people spending money. I believe that this can be accomplished with a lot of hard work. I believe we need to visit successful Downtown areas and learn from their decisions. Using the easy out by selling off parking lots and bringing in grant money is the wrong avenue. Yeah, I've already heard from some local developers bitching because the Council said NO. While I respect these developers, I disagree with them simply because THEY are the ONLY ones who would benefit from Mayor Ireton's proposal.

Again, I want ALL of you to think about the following. How many student housing units, affordable housing and section 8 housing units have been built in the last 6 years. The answer is, A LOT! Now, how many new homes have been built in Salisbury in the last 6 years. The answer, NOT MANY. Are we now in the market majority of entitlement housing?

Mr. Bassett and Mr. Ireton, this is Salisbury, Maryland. It is not Harlem. I do NOT believe the citizens want to see an inner city built here in Salisbury. I also don't think ANYONE has forgotten what happened to Crisfield, Maryland. We already have an abandoned high rise on Fitzwater that reminds us of what Crisfield looked like only a few years ago. Their answer was all section 8 housing. Our economy has NOT turned around. I will NOT allow any such project to be proposed to this Council or ANY other Council. If we ever want to climb out of this depression we'll need to do so utilizing the WATER FRONT PROPERTY we now own to our ADVANTAGE, if we ever choose to go that route.

AND, IF you don't like it, DON'T vote for me.

Tacks On Road Cause About 30 Punctures During Tour de France 14th stage

Tour de France officials are asking police to investigate the presence of tacks on the route — causing around 30 riders to encounter punctures during the 14th stage.

Speaking on French TV, race director Jean-Francois Pecheux has also credited the Sky Team — whose leader, Bradley Wiggins, is in the yellow jersey — for encouraging the pack to not speed ahead or take advantage of the mishaps of the affected riders, including defending champion Cadel Evans.

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Higher Taxes Cost Maryland $1.7 Billion In Tax Revenue

GO HERE to view video.

Nation Becoming 'Killing Fields' as Islamists Declare, 'Convert or Die'

Fifty members of a northern Nigerian church were burned to death in their pastor’s house.

The attack by armed gunmen was only the first in a 12-village spree of violence that left over 100 dead in northern Nigeria’s Plateau State, a region that had previously been outside Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram’s operational area and is the homeland of the largely Muslim Fulani tribesmen.

Yet Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks and threatened even more violence.

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