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Monday, April 25, 2011

Another Survey Question

Do you support the removal of "The Lord's Prayer"at Salisbury City Council Meetings as proposed by Council Women Lora Mitchell and Shanie Shields?

Craig Huey On Running For Office As A Libertarian Republican And Salvaging The American Dream

The editors of The Daily Bell are pleased to present an exclusive interview with entrepreneur and free-market thinker Craig Huey (left).

Introduction: Craig Huey is a successful small business owner not a career politician. A nationally recognized political commentator and marketing consultant, Huey has appeared on national news outlets such as Fox Business Channel. Huey is also a frequent radio talk-show guest-speaker on KKLA, KBRT, KIEV, KWVE and KABC. Over the years Huey has earned an international reputation as a business consultant to a variety of clients, embracing all facets of our economy. A 72-time award-winner, Huey is known for his skill in leading nationwide business seminars, as well as creating business initiatives for his clients resulting in multimillion-dollar successes. Craig Huey has served on the Republican Central Committee and has long been involved in South Bay politics. Huey is a long-time resident of the 36th District and is now running in a special election to represent the District in Washington DC. You can learn more about Craig Huey's political platform by watching this video on the Daily Bell website: Craig Huey for Congress 2011.

Daily Bell: You're running for Congress in the 36th District in California, and apparently you're doing fairly well, despite the force arrayed against you. Tell us a bit about your background. You consider yourself to be libertarian more than a Republican don't you?

Craig Huey: I'm not a career politician. I'm a small business owner running for a special congressional office on May 17th, just a few weeks away. But I've had an interest in freedom and the free market for a long time. In high school I was introduced to Frederic Bastiat and his classic The Law, the writings of Ludwig Von Mises, Frederic Hayek, Milton Friedman and other great libertarian thinkers and economists.

In college I became very active in libertarian and conservative groups. Also during this time I discovered the Foundation for Economic Education and Young Americans for Freedom had a strong libertarian faction. This interest in politics has carried on so that today I speak at investment, business, and political events such as the World Economic Summit and Freedom Fest. I'm on radio and TV. I have a free-market newsletter for evangelical Christians. And I run 3 political websites including http://www.judgevoterguide.com/.

Daily Bell: Tell us a bit about the business end of things and how you built your company.

Craig Huey: Out of college I started a direct response agency that worked on political and religious fund raising. At the time, Jimmy Carter's Keynesian economic policies had created high inflation and economic turmoil.
This sparked a whole movement of young newsletter writers, authors and entrepreneurs warning investors about the economy based on free market principles. In this environment I was able to help market people like Howard Ruff, Doug Casey, Harry Schultz, the late Jim Blanchard, Jim McKeaver, Harry Browne and many more. I helped build their newsletters and fortunes by applying advanced direct marketing techniques and strategies with powerful direct response copy. Mixing geopolitics and economics from the late 1970s to today has been my specialty.

Today, I speak internationally on marketing. I have clients worldwide helping them to grow their business with powerful direct marketing strategies. I develop marketing programs for all kinds of companies using direct marketing media such as direct mail, TV, email, microsites and more. And I still help market "cause" projects.

Daily Bell: You worked closely with Ronald Reagan. Tell us about that and what he was like.

Craig Huey: Ronald Reagan was incredible in being able to articulate free market principles and a vision of change. His ideas were his own, not a handler or speechwriter. He was hands on. He made free market principles respectable and he made an intelligent defense of individual freedom. On my wall in my office is one of the fundraising letters I did for Reagan. From the thousands of personal responses to this campaign I learned how the average American responded to a consistent message of freedom and hope.

Daily Bell: Are you concerned about America today and the way that society is headed?

Craig Huey: America today is in trouble. Deep trouble. Our country is at a crossroads. The policies of Republicans and Democrats has centralized power in Washington, created a bloated bureaucracy, created imposed regulatory agencies that destroy business and entrepreneurship and the economic policies have set us up for stagflation and another economic crisis. But I'm also optimistic that this can be changed. More and more Americans are recognizing the need to turn to freedom and turn away from collectivism. That's why I'm running for this special election.

Daily Bell: Ron Paul seems to be making a lot of progress as a Republican Congressman in advancing important issues, whether or not he actually gets elected. Certainly the bar of consciousness is being raised in many people's minds. Is this why you decided to run as a Republican as well?

Craig Huey: I've worked with Ron Paul on projects and he has done an incredible job of leading the change that is now happening. I see his success, the success of his son Rand and others and it gives me great hope. What we need are people who understand the problem, have a solution and can communicate it to the voters and media and are consistent and principled. I'm not a career politician. I'm a businessman who has seen the harm of government. I'm a communicator who can help spark change. That's what we need.

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MSP Press Release

MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION

DATE & TIME: 04/25/2011 @ 1213 HRS. C C. CARD NUMBER: 11-54-002901

LOCATION: West Bound Rt. 50 @ on-ramp to Rt. 50 Bypass, Salisbury, Maryland 21801

Driver Veh. #1 : Edward K Gleason 74 Year old male, Preston, Ct
2004 Mercury Van
No apparent injuries

Driver Veh. #2: Jordan Conner Watson, 20 Year old male, Salisbury, Maryland
2008 Suzuki motorcycle
Injured- Transported to PRMC by Salisbury City EMS


BRIEF RESUME:
On 04-25-2011 @ 1222 Hours, Troopers responded for a Motor Vehicle Accident involving a van and a motorcycle, on W/B Rt. 50 at the on-ramp to Rt. 50 Bypass, in Salisbury Wicomico County MD.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a motorcycle traveling in lane 2 W/B Rt/ 50 struck a van, as the van was attempting to cross W/B Rt. 50 onto the on-ramp to Rt. 50 Bypass. Vehicle 1 was struck on the right side by the front of vehicle 2. The driver of vehicle 1 was un-injured. The motorcycle operator suffered minor injuries and was transported by Salisbury City EMS to PRMC.
Charges are currently pending further investigation.

A Message From US Congressman John Carney

More than 100 days have passed since I was sworn in as Delaware’s lone voice in the House of Representatives. During that time, Congress has debated dozens of important issues, and I’ve learned that bringing Democrats and Republicans together is more challenging than I expected. But I’ve begun to forge relationships with members on both sides of the aisle -- and I’m committed to working with Democrats and Republicans to find solutions to the challenges we face as a nation.

I want to take this opportunity to fill you in on some of the highlights from my time so far in Congress:

  • My main focus is on job creation. I co-sponsored the Build America Bonds bill which will put people to work by making it easier for states and municipalities to build roads and bridges and other infrastructure projects. I’m also fighting for a portion of $2.4 billion in high-speed rail funding that was allocated in 2009 for the Northeast Corridor. Upgrading our rail infrastructure will create jobs in our area and relieve congestion on I-95. In addition, I co-sponsored legislation to repeal the onerous 1099 reporting requirement included in the Affordable Health Care Act. I’m proud to say the President has signed the repeal into law, which will remove a burden for small businesses.
  • I’m using my position on the House Financial Services Committee to work to strengthen Delaware's financial and corporate services industries and to protect consumers and investors through smarter, more efficient regulatory reforms. A better regulated Wall Street will mean stronger and more reliable job creation on Main Street while protecting the retirement accounts of investors across the country.
  • Addressing the budget deficit and rising national debt is critically important for the future of our country and long term strength of the nation's economy. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had also called it the biggest threat to our national security. The federal budget is also a reflection of the nation’s priorities and values. My approach has been to support smart spending cuts that don’t undermine our long-term economic growth. In our ongoing budget debate, I have supported numerous measures that cut federal spending by tens of billions of dollars. I also introduced a bill that would force an up-or-down vote on $20 billion in cuts to programs that have been determined to be duplicative or ineffective. With a $1.7 trillion deficit this year alone, it’s all the more important than ever that both parties work together to address it – especially because both Democrats and Republicans are responsible for the situation we’re in.
  • Finally, I’m meeting with Delawareans every day. Over the past 100 days, my office has held more than 250 meetings with businesses, non-profit organizations and veterans groups. In addition, my office is committed to responding to every constituent who reaches out to my office by letter, phone or email. Please feel free to contact my office if we can assist you in any way.
I believe that we've made some progress over the past three months -- but there is still so much more work to do. I will continue to work hard each day to meet these challenges to help create jobs and get our budget deficits under control.

Thank you for your interest and involvement. I hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

John Carney
Member of Congress

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO ATTEND BAYSTAT MEETING


ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 25, 2011) –TOMORROW, Governor O’Malley will attend BayStat – a monthly meeting created by Executive Order in February 2007 as a statewide tool designed to assess, coordinate and target Maryland’s Bay restoration programs, and to inform Maryland citizens about progress on the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

Each month, the BayStat team meets - the Secretaries of the Maryland Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources and Planning, scientists from the University of Maryland and other key staff - to make sure Bay restoration work is on track. These sessions provide a regular opportunity for the team to assess progress, evaluate what’s working and what’s not, and adapt efforts accordingly.

BayStat allows Maryland state agencies to work smarter by:
  • coordinating efforts and programs;
  • basing decisions on the best available science;
  • targeting resources to get the biggest bang for the buck; and
  • being more open and accountable to Maryland citizens.

Woman Charged In Transgender Beating At McDonald's

Attack at Md. fast-food restaurant was captured on video by restaurant employee

An 18-year-old woman has been charged in an attack on a transgender woman over using a McDonald's restroom in a Baltimore suburb —an incident captured on video by a McDonald's employee.

Police announced Monday that Teonna Monae Brown was arrested Friday and charged with first- and second-degree assault.

A video of the April 18 fight posted online shows two young women kicking and punching 22-year-old Chrissy Lee Polis in the head until she appears to have a seizure.

Polis told The Baltimore Sun that before she was attacked she heard a teen say she was a man using the women's restroom. According to charging documents, a 14-year-old girl who also faces charges as a juvenile in the case told police that she and Brown fought with Polis over using the restroom.

"They kicked me in my face. They really hurt me really bad and I’m just afraid to go outside now because of stuff like this," Polis said.

FDA To Regulate E-Cigs As Tobacco Products

RICHMOND, Va. - The Food and Drug Administration plans to regulate smokeless electronic cigarettes as tobacco products and won't try to regulate them under stricter rules for drug-delivery devices.

The federal agency says it intends to propose rule changes to treat e-cigarettes the same traditional cigarettes.

E-cigarettes are plastic and metal devices that heat a liquid nicotine solution and produce vapor instead of smoke.

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OCEAN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT CHARGE NINE WITH ASSAULT

On Sunday, April 24, 2011, at approximately 1:15 a.m., Ocean City Police responded to the area of Somerset Street and Atlantic Avenue for a fight in progress. They located two men who told officers that they had been the victims of an assault. According to the victims, they had been approached and then attacked by a group of men. One of the suspects also stole a wallet and cell phone from one of the victims.

After receiving a description from the victims, Ocean City Police located six of the suspects in two vehicles in the area of 54th Street and Coastal Highway. Officers stopped the vehicles and identified the suspects as:

• Robert Algernon Hill, 20, of Camden, DE
• Jamera Ebon Fisher, 19, of Dover, DE
• Julian Dominique Freeman, 22, of Dover, DE
• D’Andrew Jamar Chandler, 18, of Dover, DE
• Duante Markes Morrison, 18, of Magnolia, DE
• Craig Tyrone Powell, 25, of Dover, DE

The victims positively identified Hill, Fisher, Freeman, Chandler, Morrison and Powell as the same individuals who had attacked them. In addition, during the traffic stop Ocean City Police located a handgun and marijuana in the vehicle. Hill, Fisher, Freeman, Chandler, Morrison and Powell were arrested and transported to the Public Safety Building.

At approximately 3:39 a.m., Ocean City Police located a third vehicle carrying three additional suspects in the assault. Officers stopped the vehicle at 21st Street and Baltimore Avenue and identified the suspects as:

• Randall Eugene Harris, 18, of Dover, DE
• Keontre Lamar Hynson, 18, of Dover, DE
• Zamale Razeek Ameer Bull, 19, of Harrington, DE

After being positively identified by the victims, Harris, Hynson and Bull were arrested and transported to the Public Safety Building.

In all, nine men were arrested and charged with two counts of assault in the first degree and two counts of assault in the second degree. In addition to the assault charges, Chandler was charged with possession of a firearm, handgun in a vehicle, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, and Morrison was charged with handgun on person and handgun
in vehicle. Hill was also charged with robbery, one count of theft less than $1,000 and two counts of theft less than $100.
\
After being seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner, all nine suspects were transferred to Worcester County Jail on the following bonds:

• Robert Algeron Hill held on a $25,000 bond
• Jamera Ebon Fisher held on a $20,000 bond
• Julian Dominique Freeman held on a $20,000 bond
• D’Andrew Jamar Chandler held on a $25,000 bond
• Duante Markes Morrison held on a $25,000 bond
• Craig Tyrone Powell held without bond
• Randall Eugene Harris held on a $20,000 bond
• Keontre Lamar Hynson held on a $20,000 bond
• Zamale Razeek Ameer Bull held without bond

EPA Rules Force Shell To Abandon Oil Drilling Plans

Shell Oil Company has announced it must scrap efforts to drill for oil this summer in the Arctic Ocean off the northern coast of Alaska. The decision comes following a ruling by the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board to withhold critical air permits. The move has angered some in Congress and triggered a flurry of legislation aimed at stripping the EPA of its oil drilling oversight.

Shell has spent five years and nearly $4 billion dollars on plans to explore for oil in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. The leases alone cost $2.2 billion. Shell Vice President Pete Slaiby says obtaining similar air permits for a drilling operation in the Gulf of Mexico would take about 45 days. He’s especially frustrated over the appeal board’s suggestion that the Arctic drill would somehow be hazardous for the people who live in the area. “We think the issues were really not major,” Slaiby said, “and clearly not impactful for the communities we work in.”

The closest village to where Shell proposed to drill is Kaktovik, Alaska. It is one of the most remote places in the United States. According to the latest census, the population is 245 and nearly all of the residents are Alaska natives. The village, which is 1 square mile, sits right along the shores of the Beaufort Sea, 70 miles away from the proposed off-shore drill site.

Today's Survey Question

Will You Be Watching The Royal Wedding?

BREAKING NEWS: Supreme Court Won't Fast Track Va. Challenge To Health Law

The Supreme Court has rejected a request from the state of Virginia to take up a challenge to the Obama health care law on a fast track.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli asked the court to let the state bypass the normal federal appeals process and take the case directly to the justices. While the court's rules allow for this, such a rapid review is granted only very rarely. The Justice Department opposed the request to put the case on a fast track.

The court's decision means the issue will continue working its way through the federal appeals courts. Several cases are pending, including challenges to the law from Virginia, Florida, and 25 other states.

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Should Walmart Pay Its Workers $12 An Hour?

Retail giant could easily pay its employees more, UC Berkeley report says

Walmart is plowing through its global responsibility goals, cutting down on plastic waste, improving energy efficiency in factories, and reshaping the crop diversity of entire U.S. regions. But it's doing a less-than-stellar job when it comes to doing right by its workers. According to a new report (.pdf file) from the University of California, Berkeley, Walmart could significantly raise the wages of its employees without affecting its low prices. Chronically underpaid people around the country could benefit.

When Walmart inevitably moves into cities like New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco (all places where it wants to expand this year), its cheapskate policies could actually lower the local average wages. And since the costs of living a comfortable life march inexorably upward (especially in big cities), this is a problem for all of us.

AT&T Provides Cellular Antennas For Disaster Areas

Government disaster relief efforts may soon be getting a boost from some new technology. AT&T is selling portable cellular antennas that can provide temporary wireless coverage in a disaster area. The Remote Mobility Zone has a half-mile range, can support fourteen simultaneous phone calls and provide limited wireless internet. Currently, cell phone companies deploy trucks equipped with the same technology to serve as mobile cell towers, but this would allow first responders to provide the same coverage.The units range from $15,000 to $45,000.

The Conflict Of Interest

Google chairman Eric Schmidt is on the short list to become the next commerce secretary, CNN Money reports. But he's got a small problem: nine million shares of Google worth about $5 billion at today's stock price. It's a conflict of interest if a federal official sets policy on a matter from which he or she might benefit. Schmidt would need to sell his shares. He's been a favorite of the administration when it comes to consulting on internet and broadband technology.

Debunking The Birther Claim

Washington (CNN) – Developer and reality show host Donald Trump has been pushing the claim that President Obama was not born in the U.S. - a myth that has dogged the president since he took office.
CNN has investigated these claims and here are the key points:

Certificate of live birth
The Obama team and the state of Hawaii released a certification of live birth, which documents the president’s birth on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu. This is not the original birth certificate. In Hawaii and other states, original birth certificates are not released when requested later.
CNN has seen a copy of the document and verified that it is official.
The certificate, officials say, allows a person born in Hawaii to get a driver's license, purchase land and obtain a U.S. passport.

What about the signature?
The so-called “birthers” say there's no signature or raised seal on the live birth certificate. But the group FactCheck.org, which viewed the original document, took a picture of the back of it and found there is a stamped signature and a raised seal.

Where’s the original birth certificate?
Dr. Chiyome Fukino, the former director of Hawaii's Department of Health, says she has personally viewed the president's original vital records and verified that he was born in Hawaii.
Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican, has been quoted as saying, "I had my health director, who is a physician by background, go personally view the birth certificate in the birth records at the Department of Health. We issued a news release at the time saying the president was, in fact, born at Kapi'olani Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. And that is just a fact."

Newspaper birth announcement
The announcement of Obama's birth appeared in the Honolulu Advertiser on August 13, 1961, and a day later in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin: “Mr. And Mrs. Barack H. Obama, 6085 Kalanianaole Hwy., son, Aug. 4.”

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Orlando Gas Station Charges $5.69 A Gallon

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Gas prices are on the rise nationwide, but one filling station in Florida has earned the dubious distinction of having the highest prices in the country.

Suncoast Energys, located near the Orlando International Airport, was charging $5.69 a gallon for regular gasoline on Friday. That's the highest of any gas retailer in the nation, according to price tracker gasbuddy.com.

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Obama Fires Up His Campaign Cash Machine

With the GOP eager to exploit relaxed spending restrictions, the President is asking top "bundlers" to raise far more than they did for 2008

When President Barack Obama visited California in February, he had a private dinner with Apple (AAPL) Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, and other technology chieftains. The stated purpose of the meal was to solicit job-growth ideas.

The President returned to the Golden State on Apr. 20 with something different on the menu: campaign cash. Facing a 2012 re-election bid at a time when Republican fundraisers are eager to take advantage of relaxed campaign spending restrictions, Obama is on an early tour of his most important money markets, from Chicago to Silicon Valley to Hollywood to Wall Street. While his campaign is downplaying speculation that it could be the first to raise $1 billion, it's nonetheless building up a cash stockpile as the GOP, with the field wide open, gets off to a slow start. Former governors Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts are the only two major Republican candidates who have announced exploratory committees, even as Obama's campaign prepares to open offices in battleground states.

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Victim Of McDonald's Beating Speaks Out

Transgender woman calls attack 'hate crime,' has been afraid to be seen in public



A transgender woman beaten at a Baltimore County McDonald's spoke out on Saturday, saying that the attack was "definitely a hate crime" and that she's been afraid to go out in public ever since.

"They said, 'That's a dude, that's a dude and she's in the female bathroom,' " said Chrissy Lee Polis, 22, who said she stopped at the Rosedale restaurant to use the restroom. "They spit in my face."

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Stand Up AGAINST Hate!


Mr. Albero:
I would like to cordially invite you and your readers to attend the Stand Up AGAINST Hate Rally located on the public sidewalks at McDonalds at 6315 Kenwood Avenue in Rosedale, Maryland.   As you you will recall a transgendered woman was brutally beaten after she attempted to use a female restroom and turning down sexual advances at a McDonalds.  The video is vile but I encourage you and your readers to watch the video to see what the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community is up against.  We face evil everyday from in tolerate bigots.
Joe, I am a Salisbury native and I currently live in Wicomico County, I have joined forces with a Baltimore native in organizing this event.  I also organized a candle light vigil in Wilmington, Delaware where over 300 people attended including, Senator Chris Coons, Attorney General Beau Biden, and several clergy members.
I will close with this, what happened at that McDonalds is unacceptable behavior.  We as a human race cannot stand for such violence and hate.  I look forward to meeting with you.
Many thanks,
Ryan Stevenson

The Mini-Casino Next Door

Slot machines have snuck into U.S. shopping malls, along with money laundering, bribery, shootouts, and billions in profits

side a one-story building on the edge of a strip mall in Central Florida, Joy Baker calculates the sum total of her morning bets. It's almost noon, and she's down $5. Not bad. Her husband, Tony, sits a few feet away. "This is the most fun we've had in 20 years," says Joy, who is 78 and retired. "At our age, we can't hike. You can't pay him to go to the movies. This gives us a reason to get up in the morning."

Tony concurs. "We enjoy this," he says. "We will be very bitter if the politicians take this away from us. I will take it personally."

It's a Wednesday morning in mid-March, and the Bakers are sitting inside Jacks, a new type of neighborhood business that is flourishing in shopping malls throughout Florida—and across America. Jacks bills itself as a "Business Center and Internet Cafe," but it looks more like a pop-up casino.

Jacks is about the size of a neighborhood deli. There is a bar next door and a convenience store around the corner. Inside, jumbo playing cards decorate the walls. The room is filled with about 30 desktop computers. Here and there, men and women sit in office chairs and tap at the computers. They are playing "sweepstakes" games that mimic the look and feel of traditional slot machines. Rows of symbols—cherries, lucky sevens, four-leaf clovers—tumble with every click of the mouse.

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Adult Kickball

Come Out and have a Ball with Wicomico’s Social Recreation Adult Kickball
Registration is now open April 9 - May 21 2011

(Salisbury, MD) Wicomico Recreation, Parks and Tourism have opened their Adult Kickball registration for the summer of 2011. This is a social recreation event that is all about having a great time and enjoying the company of others not just who won or lost the game.

Join in on the fun that nearly 200 people came out to enjoy last year. Adults 18 years or older may sign up to play Adult Kickball as an individual, group or team (12-15 players). The cost per individual is $22 and teams are $300. Businesses, school staff and other groups are encouraged to join. Registration forms and team packets are available at the Civic Center box office now through May 21st. You may also register online at www.wicomicorecandparks.org under Recreation Programs. Games are played in the evening beginning Wednesday June 1st through July at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex (711 Naylor Mill Rd, Salisbury, MD). The season ends with a cookout and Round-Robin Tournament where every team gets a chance to play.

The Wicomico’s social recreation Adult Kickball is on a mission to bring people together. Socializing is strongly encouraged before and after the game whether it is on the field or at a local designated restaurant. During the games, family and friends may come out to cheer and show as much support as they would like.

For more information contact Andy Kitzrow at 410-548-4900 ext. 109 or akritzrow@wicomicocounty.org.

Chuck Campbell Returns Home To The Eastern Shore For Easter

It's been seven weeks since Chuck Campbell had a double lung transplant and now he is sitting at home for the weekend sleeping in his own bed and enjoying life.

While it will be short lived, Chuck will return to Virginia for the next few weeks to finish his rehab and allow doctors to keep a close eye on his recovery. Then he'll return to Delaware for good.

This has been nothing short of a miracle. Not only did they find a perfect match for Chuck, modern technology and advancements are giving people like Chuck a second chance at life.

Let's not forget that a lot of what Chuck is experiencing is because of the strong fellowship here on the Eastern Shore. The goal of raising a million dollars to make this happen rests on so many of you who were so giving, even in such a challenging economy.

Welcome Home Chuck!

How Viagra Can Mess Up Your Marriage

Sure, men are thrilled to have a two-hour erection, but ... are their wives?

Be careful what you wish for, I think as my husband reaches again for his new toy. Tragically, it's not a Ferrari or the latest Mac laptop —  it's his Penis 2.0—the new, pharmaceutically enhanced model.

I married an older man, and lucky for us both, the only part on him that's given out is his knees. But since I was writing about erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs, I wanted him to help me out. Would he try one? The little blue pill enables older men to sexually respond like 18-year-olds. "Wouldn't that be interesting," I asked him, "journalistically speaking?"

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US Is Still The King Of Making The Worst Cars

The worst cars on the road — be wary of domestic rides

All but three of the vehicles on Forbes' list are made by American companies

By all accounts, Detroit's Big Three automakers have begun producing better-made, longer lasting, more efficient vehicles. It's a distinct change from the 1990s and early 2000s, when they fell behind their European and Asian counterparts in each category.

"This change is not even a gradual thing," says Christine Overstreet, an automotive consultant and director of Heels and Wheels. "It's like they've said, 'OK, we really want to step it up, we really want to compete, we're ready.' After past years of being so bad, they've really stepped up their game."

But with three exceptions — the Mercedes-Benz S550, Smart Fortwo and Nissan Titan — all of the cars on this year's list of the Worst Cars on the Road are (still) made by domestic companies. That includes the Dodge Dakota, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and Chrysler Town & Country. The only American car company with zero vehicles on the list? Ford.

Obama Knows Political Fortunes Tied To Gas Prices

With gas prices climbing and little relief in sight, President Barack Obama is scrambling to get ahead of the latest potential obstacle to his re-election bid, even as Republicans are making plans to exploit the issue.

No one seems more aware of the electoral peril than Obama himself.

"My poll numbers go up and down depending on the latest crisis, and right now gas prices are weighing heavily on people," he told Democratic donors in Los Angeles this past week.

In fact, Obama raised the issue unsolicited in a series of town meetings in Virginia, California and Nevada that were ostensibly about his deficit-reduction plan. And he made the gas spike the subject of his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday.

"It's just another burden when things were already pretty tough," he said.

Spring Brings Fundraising Frenzy For GOP Hopefuls

With the 2012 campaign starting several months later than it did four years ago, the contenders are under intense pressure to demonstrate their ability to bring in the dough before the slower summer season begins.

Mitt Romney is organizing a phone bank fundraiser in Las Vegas next month. Tim Pawlenty is holding regular "friendraising" meetings in big-money California and elsewhere. Haley Barbour hunkers down soon with finance operatives in cash-rich New York and other lucrative places.

Republican presidential hopefuls are in the midst of a fundraising frenzy as they seek to raise mounds of campaign cash and assemble influential donor networks. With the 2012 campaign starting several months later than it did four years ago, the contenders are under intense pressure to demonstrate their ability to bring in the dough before the slower summer season begins.

"Money is hardly the only indication of a candidate's potential, but it's an important indication," said Lew Eisenberg, a top Romney fundraiser who was finance chairman for Arizona Sen. John McCain, the party's 2008 nominee.

So Your Phone Is Tracking You? You Asked For It

Smartphone users have to balance privacy vs. convenience in wake of revelations

If you're worried about privacy, you can turn off the function on your smartphone that tracks where you go. But that means giving up the services that probably made you want a smartphone in the first place. After all, how smart is an iPhone or an Android if you can't use it to map your car trip or scan reviews of nearby restaurants?

The debate over digital privacy flamed higher last week with news that Apple's popular iPhones and iPads store users' GPS coordinates for a year or more. Phones that run Google's Android software also store users' location data. And not only is the data stored — allowing anyone who can get their hands on the device to piece together a chillingly accurate profile of where you've been — but it's also transmitted back to the companies to use for their own research.

Man Tries To Hijack, Divert Plane To Libya

'Clearly agitated passenger' allegedly attacks flight attendant on Rome-bound flight

A man with a knife tried to hijack an Alitalia flight from Paris to Rome Sunday night, demanding it be flown to Libya, but was quickly overpowered and arrested when the plane landed, officials and witnesses said.

"A clearly agitated passenger attacked a flight attendant, asking that the flight be diverted to Tripoli," the airline said in a statement.

"Thanks to the prompt intervention of attendants, the aggressor was immobilized and (kept) in his seat, and the flight continued on to Rome," where it landed at 9:55 p.m. (3:55 p.m. ET) as scheduled, the airline said.

Witnesses said the man put a small knife to the throat of a female flight attendant and held her for a few minutes.

Mannequin Head Drop Prank

Doctor Accused Of Performing Unnecessary Surgeries Defends Himself

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The medical license of an embattled Maryland doctor accused of performing unnecessary surgeries hangs in the balance.  On Wednesday, Dr. Mark Midei will go before state regulators to fight for his career.  Adam May reports Sunday, he defended himself in our media partner, The Baltimore Sun.

A once-highly respected cardiologist stands accused of performing more than 500 stent surgeries on patients who did not have clogged arteries.  Now Dr. Mark Midei fires back in an editorial printed in the Baltimore Sun.

Maryland Court Considering Same-Sex Spousal Privilege

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- A court in Hagerstown is poised to consider whether a woman who legally married her lesbian partner in another jurisdiction can assert the spousal privilege of refusing to testify against her in Maryland, where same-sex marriage isn't allowed.

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When Students Don't Go To School, Parents Go To Jail

More than 400 Baltimore parents cited this year in what some call a flawed process of getting students back to school

Barbara Gaskins says she took her 15-year-old son to his bus stop every morning at 7:30, well in time for his 9 a.m. homeroom bell at Patterson Park High School. She obtained as many medical excuses as the doctor would allow when her son suffered from a series of stomach viruses. And she has taught her children that they have to "get an education to get somewhere in life."

But Gaskins was recently jailed for 10 days — one of the dozen parents of Baltimore City students to receive a sentence this year — after failing to send her child to school 103 of 130 days.

More than 400 parents have received notification this school year that they would face a District Court judge as a result of charges filed by the school system's Office of Attendance and Truancy.
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Broader Sales Tax A Good Idea To Fix Deficit,

Senate Budget chairman says, and O’Malley likely to propose tax hike to fund transportation

Widening Maryland’s sales tax to include more services is “the place to go” in fixing the state’s persistent structural deficit, the chairman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee said Thursday. Sen. Edward Kasemeyer, D-Howard, also said, “I’m assuming some kind of revenue increase” will be part of a transportation package Gov. Martin O’Malley will sponsor in the fall special session of the legislature that he will call to deal with congressional redistricting.

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Advocates Plan Rally To Condemn McDonald's Attack

ROSEDALE, Md. (AP) - Advocates for transgender rights plan to rally outside a McDonald's restaurant in Maryland, where an attack caught on video took place.

The victim, 22-year-old Chrissy Lee Polis, a transgender woman, says she is the victim of a hate crime.

The video posted online shows a woman being attacked and apparently having a seizure. Baltimore County police say a 14-year-old girl has been charged as a juvenile and an 18-year-old woman faces an assault charge in the case.

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Be Aware Of The Pitfalls Of Self-Employment

Just as cubicle drones envy their freelancer friends who make their own hours and seemingly take vacations at will, self-employed folks sometimes long for the regular paycheck and built-in benefits of a day job.

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How Much Should Parents Help Adult Children?

No matter how old their children get, some parents feel responsible for doing everything they can to help them succeed. This can lead to parents treating their grown kids as though they are teenagers, and it's tough to discern whether they're helping or holding their children back.

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McDonald's Fight Video Goes Viral: Hate Crime?

A woman suffers seizures after a severe beating at a McDonald's. The video, taken by an employee, has now gone viral.

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

U.S. Dollar Reaches Three-Year Low

The U.S. dollar continues to decline in value as it reaches a three week low against yen--and a three-year low against other currencies.

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

Long Term Care For You And Your Tax Forms

It's the end of tax season, the middle of Long Term Care Open Season and the height of spring cleaning season.

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Another Ron Paul Son All But Rules Out Senate Bid

Denton - Dr. Robert Paul doesn't think he's ready to join the crowded race to replace Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate.

One week after saying he was considering a bid for the office, Paul -- son of Rep. Ron Paul and brother of Sen. Rand Paul -- told students at the University of North Texas that he has all but ruled out a bid for political office.

For now.

"I'm honored that people think I'm ready to run, but I think they want me to run because I'm related to Ron Paul," said Paul, who has a family medical practice in Benbrook and lives in Fort Worth. "I think the biggest thing I have that's similar to my dad is that I'm honest.

"I'm never going to say I won't ever run for office, but I think running for Senate probably is not going to happen this time."

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Surprise, Surprise: Iraq War Was About Oil

Afghanistan may be the graveyard of empires, but Iraq is home to a graveyard sense of humor. Iraqis wonder aloud whether the U.S. and Britain would have invaded Iraq if its main export had been cabbages instead of oil.

However obvious the answer, a remarkable array of American pundits and pseudo-savants have resisted giving the oil factor any pride of place among the motives behind the U.S./U.K. decision to invade Iraq in 2003.

To this day, the Fawning Corporate Media (FCM) continues to play its accustomed role as government accomplice suppressing unwelcome news.

So, if you don’t tune in to Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now or read the British press, you would have missed the latest documentary evidence showing that Great Britain’s Lords and Ladies lied about how big oil companies, like BP, lusted after Iraqi oil in the months leading up to the attack on Iraq.

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Enhanced Drone-Strike Accuracy Makes Accidents Look That Much More Suspicious

"When the US began drone strikes in Pakistan in 2006, drone attacks were notoriously inaccurate," wrote retired Pakistani military officer Shaukat Qadir at Counterpunch in an article about the release of CIA contractor Raymond Davis.

Their kill ratio was approximately 2 militants to 8-10 'collateral damage'. . . . However, from about March/April 2008, they became increasingly accurate, probably due to more accurate HUMINT [intelligence on the ground]. In recent times, the kill ratio swung dramatically; 8-10 militants to 2 in collateral damage.

Then Qadir explained

About a month ago, some helicopter-borne snipers killed nine children in Afghanistan who were out gathering firewood. An ex-marine turned journalist accused the snipers of deliberate murder. He argued that, with the technology available, it was impossible not to be able to differentiate between children aged nine to thirteen, carrying sticks, and armed militants.

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