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Tuesday, March 05, 2013

WHITE HOUSE EMAIL: THE SEQUESTER NEEDS TO BE AS PAINFUL AS WE SAID IT WOULD BE

 If any observers thought the White House was bluffing in its dire, even sadistic predictions about the outcome of the sequester, they may be disappointed. A new internal email discovered by the Washington Times suggests that, even if the negative effects of the budget cuts known as “sequestration” can be blunted, the White House has precisely no interest in doing so, most likely because it would undermine their bargaining position with Congress.

The Washington Times reports:

In the email sent Monday by Charles Brown, an official with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service office in Raleigh, N.C., Mr. Brown asked “if there was any latitude” in how to spread the sequester cuts across the region to lessen the impacts on fish inspections.

He said he was discouraged by officials in Washington, who gave him this reply: “We have gone on record with a notification to Congress and whoever else that ‘APHIS would eliminate assistance to producers in 24 states in managing wildlife damage to the aquaculture industry, unless they provide funding to cover the costs.’ So it is our opinion that however you manage that reduction, you need to make sure you are not contradicting what we said the impact would be.”
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When Gun Confiscation Starts. How Will a Rebellion Play Out Nationwide?

It is hard to say what will happen. County Sheriffs and police chiefs vowed to stand down and not give material support or help to the federal agencies involved trying to disarm the American people. Many in the US Military will stand down like the East German Military shortly before the Berlin Wall came down. Soon after communism collapsed in Russia and eastern Europe.

It is hard to say if it will bloodless or a blood bath in the streets if the US government tries to come after the guns. It is my hope the US Government collapse flinching when the US Military and Federal Agents hesitate when ordered to disarm to the American people, most of all disarm the veterans.

Blogger Bob Owens written” What Will You Seen in the Rebellion” a likely scenario how a revolt against the US government will possibly unfold. Here is the beginning of the blog and you can read the rest.

Let me explain, gun grabbers, how your confiscatory fantasy plays out. Let us imagine for a moment that a sweeping gun control bill similar to the one currently suggested is passed by the House and Senate, and signed into law by a contemptuous President.

The Rest…HERE

THE AWESOME STORY ABOUT A GROUP OF MEN WHO HAVE BEEN PLAYING A SINGLE GAME OF TAG FOR 23 YEARS

Constantly looking over your shoulder, glancing under your car to see if there’s a body under there feels, as one person said, “like you’re in a Cold War epic.” Except, it’s much more benign than that — it’s an extreme, month-long game of tag that a group of men have been playing for the past 23 years.
 

The tag among the 10 men, now in their 40s living in the Pacific Northwest according to ESPN, started when they attended Gonzaga Preparatory School. It was resurrected when they graduated as a way to keep in touch. It even has a formal “tag participation agreement.”

There are three rules added into the agreement to the traditional play of tag, according to Patrick “Patty” Schultheis.

  1. The game will only take place during the month of February.
  2. There are no tag backs (retagging the person who just tagged you).
  3. If you are asked if you’re it, you have to answer truthfully. 
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Female Kicker Out To Make History With NFL Tryout

THIEF SHOT AND KILLED WITH AR-15 AFTER BURGLARIZING OREGON HOME — BUT YOU WON’T BELIEVE HOW IT HAPPENED

Police in Polk County, Ore. found a suspected burglar dead inside a stolen truck Sunday morning. They say he burglarized a home twice the night before, stealing several items, including two guns.

In a statement, investigators said 19-year-old Genaro Hernandez Mendoza of West Salem, Ore. was heading to his family’s farm when he broke into a home on Independence Highway and stole several items. He then returned to the farm and hid the stolen items behind a barn.

Police say he then stole a pickup truck and returned to the same home he had already burglarized to steal more items, including a shotgun and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

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Monster Says There’s No Proof Caffeine Killed Teen Girl

Last year, a woman in Maryland sued Monster Beverage, alleging that the energy drink caused her 14-year-old daughter to die of caffeine toxicity. However, the Monster folks claim this allegation can’t be proven because the medical examiner did not test the teen’s blood.
The lawsuit states that the teenager went into cardiac arrest after drinking two, 24-ounce cans of Monster during one 24-hour period. But alawyer for the beverage company tells the APthat physicians hired to review the medical records say the young woman died of natural causes brought on by pre-existing heart conditions, and that the caffeine toxicity claim on the autopsy was based on statements made by the girl’s mother.

Distinct Illegal Immigrant Licenses Irk N.C. Democrats

North Carolina's plan to grant specially marked driver's licenses to qualifying illegal immigrants later this month is discriminatory and reinforces attitudes that Latino residents are second-class residents, critics said Monday.

Lawmakers, clergy and Hispanic young adults benefiting from a new Obama administration program to grant federal work permits to immigrants condemned the state Department of Transportation's decision last month to issue licenses with bright pink stripes and the words "NO LAWFUL STATUS" on them.

"I do feel discriminated against," said Jose Rico, 23, of Raleigh, who has lived in North Carolina for 10 years and has been issued a work permit under the program. "Now they have given us the driver's licenses, but with a scarlet letter — with a pink stripe."

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Court Says Begging Is Protected Speech, Allows Challenge To Anti-Panhandling Law

The city of Charlottesville, VA, (home to the awesomest University on the planet) currently has a law on the books that forbids panhandling in and around the city’s Downtown Mall area. A group of homeless men tried to fight the ban in court, but a District Court judge dismissed the case. However, a federal appeals panel has said the lower court was too hasty in tossing the case out. [via CourthouseNews.com]

Another Mistrial Declared In Warrantless-GPS Case

A federal judge declared a mistrial Monday in the case of a D.C. nightclub owner charged with drug conspiracy — 2 ½ years after his previous conviction was tossed out because police used a global positioning device to track him without a warrant.

U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle declared the mistrial when jurors could not reach a verdict for Antoine Jones after more than seven days of deliberations.

This was actually the third trial for Jones. His first trial, in 2007, also ended in a mistrial. He was convicted in a second trial and sentenced to life, but a federal appeals court reversed. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the reversal last year in a major decision that has prompted police to seek search warrants more often before they use GPS tracking devices.

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United Holds Connecting Flight So Passenger Can Get To Dying Mother

Given the current state of the airline industry and the nature of the stories that people send to us, it’s nice to hear the occasional account of airline staffers going to extra lengths to help a passenger out.
Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott has the story of a San Francisco man who had to make an unexpected trip Lubbock, TX, (via Houston) to see his mother before she passed away.

Aging Demographics Highlight Need For Affordable Senior Care

Facing a $1 million cut, the Maryland Department of Aging is focusing on providing more at-home services to keep the elderly out of costly nursing homes.

Coming on the heels of last year’s $4 million budget cuts, the $1 million cut in the governor’s fiscal 2014 budget is 2% of the department’s overall budget. At the same time, the department is confronting the needs of the rapidly-aging Baby Boomer generation.

“The shift from a younger America to an older one will affect us all,” said Gloria Lawlah, secretary of Aging. “By 2040, the number of Americans over age 65 will more than double to 88 million. Put in another way, one in five Americans will be 65 years of age or older. One in five.”

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White House Says It Should Be Legal To Unlock Cellphones

The White House said Monday that it should be legal for consumers to unlock their cellphones to work with multiple wireless networks without carrier permission.

The administration made its comments in response to a proposal submitted to its “We the People” petition Web site, which earned 114,322 signatures since it first appeared Jan. 24.

In October 2012, the Library of Congress created an exemption to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, allowing consumers to unlock their phones. That rule expired Jan. 26. The White House’s telecommunications policy arm, the National Telecommunications Information Administration, had advised the Library of Congress to renew its policy to allow unlocking. Still, the Library of Congress decided to discontinue the exemption.


Dan Bongino at Lawyers Mall


Dan Bongino at Lawyers Mall. Turn it up because Dan didn't have a microphone. Volume is low.

SAFE STREETS PROSECUTION KEITH ALEXANDER HARMON SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR ASSAULT

March 5, 2013, a Wicomico County Jury found Keith Alexander Harmon guilty of First Degree Assault, Second Degree Assault, and Reckless Endangerment.

On September 22, 2012, Keith Harmon was arrested in the area of Claiborne Street and Lake Street after the Salisbury Police responded to a call for an Assault. Ofc. Soldatelli of the Salisbury Police Department quickly located the victim who was bleeding profusely from her head. Trial testimony revealed that Harmon smashed a liquor bottle over the victim’s head and later punched her in the face, while a rescuer attempted to carry the victim to a place of safety.

Immediately after the verdict was announced, Harmon was sentenced to serve a twenty (20) year active sentence in the Division of Corrections.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Salisbury Police Department, the Salisbury University Police Department, and Officer Evan Soldatelli for their excellent teamwork in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Mr. Maciarello also thanked Safe Streets Prosecutor, Richard J. Brueckner Jr., who prosecuted this case.

Ban Maryland


‘MURDER IN PROGRESS’ EXPERIMENT TERRIFIES NEW YORKERS

A New York City-based marketing firm horrified New Yorkers by staging a “murder in progress” to help promote Niels Arden Oplev’s upcoming crime film “Dead Man Down.” While it is being described as an “experiment” to see how people would react if they walked in on a murder in progress, it seems more like a horrifying prank.

The agency set up hidden cameras inside and outside New York City elevator and filmed people’s reactions as they discovered a man trying to strangle another man to death with an extension chord.

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Delmarva Power Prepared for Approaching Winter Storm

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Utility Asks Customers to Prepare for Possible Outages
SALISBURY, Md. – Delmarva Power is closely monitoring a wintry mix of hazardous weather that is expected to reach our region this evening. The National Weather Service is predicting that the Delmarva Peninsula will experience rain, high winds and snow into Thursday. Storms can bring down tree limbs onto power lines, causing power outages. Delmarva Power will schedule and adjust its workforce to respond to any outages that may occur.
Delmarva Power urges customers to stay safe and offers the following preparation and safety tips.
Preparation Tips
· Have adequate prescription medicines or infant supplies on hand.
· If you or someone you know uses life-support equipment that requires electricity to operate, identify a location with emergency power capabilities and make plans to go there during a prolonged outage.
· Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special needs items, an insulated cooler and a list of important and emergency phone numbers.
· Keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water and have a hand-operated can opener available.
· Have a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and won't work if there is an outage.
· Protect your electronic equipment. Unplug sensitive electronics or plug computers and other sensitive equipment into surge suppressors, and consider a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for temporary battery backup power.
· Turn off power to flood-prone basement appliances if it is safe to do so. However, if you have an electrically operated sump pump, you should not turn off your power.
· Fill your gas tank so you can run your automobile to charge mobile devices. In order to operate the vehicle safely, be sure to open garage doors, using manual door controls if your power goes out.
Safety Tips
· Tune in to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and emergency information.
· Follow the advice of your local emergency management officials.
· If you need to use a portable generator, follow the manufacturer's instructions and use only when necessary. Don't overload it and turn it off at night while you sleep and when you are away from home.
· Take cover if necessary.
· Customers are asked to call Delmarva Power to report a power outage, a gas emergency and/or if they see a downed or damaged power line. Stay away from downed wires. Assume any downed wire is energized. The numbers to call are:
· Delaware: New Castle County: 1-800-898-8042, Kent and Sussex counties: 1-800-898-8045.
· Maryland: Cecil and Harford counties: 1-800-898-8042; Eastern Shore: 1-800-898-8045.
· To report a Delmarva Power natural gas emergency in New Castle County, call 302-454-0317.
For more information and updates, visit www.delmarva.com and follow Delmarva Power at http://twitter.com/DelmarvaConnect.

Weather Update

Weather Event Informational Bulletin Update
4:30 p.m. March 5, 2013
Wicomico County Department of Emergency Services

Weather Forecast

The Wicomico County Department of Emergency Services participated in a weather conference call at 4 p.m. with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service. The National Weather service advised the following information:

Tuesday night into late Wednesday afternoon the system will begin as rain and begin changing over to snow late Wednesday afternoon. Winds will gradually increase Wednesday morning to sustained speeds of 20-30 m.p.h. 

From sunset Wednesday to early morning hours Thursday, wet heavy snow with accumulations of 1-2 inches is expected. The snowfall is expected to end prior to sunrise on Thursday morning. Winds Wednesday evening in to Thursday morning will have gusts from 30-40 m.p.h. Tidal anomalies of 1 foot and minor flooding are possible. 

The DES is continuing to monitor the situation in conjunction with MEMA and the National Weather Service. Additional Informational Bulletins will be issued if necessary.

Flights Cancled

Hundreds of flights canceled at Reagan National, Dulles International and Baltimore-Washington International Marshall airports Wednesday

Source Washington Post

Surge In Farmers Markets Outstripping Supply?

The popularity of farm-fresh produce has brought about a boom in farmers markets in Anne Arundel and elsewhere in Maryland — but that success has problems of its own.

“There just doesn’t seem to be enough farmers out there to satisfy the demand that consumers have for these markets,” said Pat McMillan, assistant secretary for the Maryland Department of Agriculture.


About 150 farmers, vendors and market managers met Thursday at the Maryland Farmers Market Conference where the MDA and other agencies discussed food safety regulations, licensing and federal nutrition benefits programs.