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Friday, July 22, 2011

357 Dead Sharks Found On Boat Inside Galapagos Park

Some 30 fishermen caught with 357 dead sharks aboard their rundown vessel inside Galapagos National Park now face criminal charges, park officials said.

A patrol by park rangers and an Ecuador navy ship detained the vessel Monday night as it fished 20 miles inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve, the park said in a statement.

Shark fishing, as well as any commercial-scale fishing, is illegal inside the park and its marine reserve.

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Cruise Ship Passenger Who Drunkenly Dropped Ship's Anchor "Guilty Of Felony Stupidity"

If you were lurking around the Consumerist pages last November, you may remember the tale of a drunken cruise line passenger who thought it would be hilarious to release the anchor (it wasn't). Now that the issue has come before the courts, the passenger's lawyer is pulling the honesty card and calling his client out for being a rich moron.

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BALTIMORE MAN WANTED FOR ATT. MURDER AFTER PUSHING GIRLFRIEND FROM MOVING VEHICLE

WANTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

DANTE A. WILLIAMS


(LINTHICUM, MD) -- Maryland State Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a man known to frequent Baltimore City who is wanted for the attempted murder of his girlfriend, whom he allegedly assaulted and threw out of a moving vehicle while traveling on Interstate 95 in Baltimore County earlier this week.

The accused is identified as Dante A. Williams, 36, who is known to reside at various locations throughout the Baltimore, Brooklyn, and Catonsville areas. He is described as an African American male, who is 6’5” tall and weighs 200 pounds. Maryland State Police have a warrant charging Williams with attempted first degree murder, was well as first and second degree assault. He is believed to be armed with at least a knife and should be considered dangerous.

Shortly after 6:00 p.m. on July 19, 2011, Williams was in a borrowed Ford Explorer traveling south on I-95 toward I-195. In the vehicle with him were his 27-year-old girlfriend from Baltimore and his 14-month-old son from another relationship. Apparently, Williams and his girlfriend began arguing. According to the victim, Williams struck her in the eye and threatened to stab her with a knife he displayed.

The victim said she pleaded with Williams to pull over and let her out, but he refused. She said she unlatched her seat belt and opened the door, continuing to ask Williams to pull over. The victim said Williams grabbed her and pushed her out of the door of the moving SUV.

A witness who was driving nearby saw the victim as she was ejected from the SUV. The witness said the suspect’s vehicle was traveling at about 60 mph at the time the victim was pushed out. The witness said the victim’s body bounced on the road several times before the victim was able to crawl off the interstate.

The victim sustained serious injuries and was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. She is expected to recover.

Anyone with information about the location of Dante Williams is urged to contact Maryland State Police immediately at 410-780-2700, or call 911. State Police have issued a lookout for Williams to other police departments throughout the region.

15 From Missing Boat Found On Micronesian Island

APRA HARBOR, Guam  -- Six children and nine adults are safe after their overdue boat was spotted on an uninhabited island in the Federated States of Micronesia.

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RON PAUL – “DEFAULT NOW”

Debate over the debt ceiling has reached a fever pitch in recent weeks, with each side trying to outdo the other in a game of political chicken. If you believe some of the things that are being written, the world will come to an end if the U.S. defaults on even the tiniest portion of its debt.

In strict terms, the default being discussed will occur if the U.S. fails to meet its debt obligations, through failure to pay either interest or principal due a bondholder. Proponents of raising the debt ceiling claim that a default on Aug. 2 is unprecedented and will result in calamity (never mind that this is simply an arbitrary date, easily changed, marking a congressional recess). My expectations of such a scenario are more sanguine.
The U.S. government defaulted at least three times on its obligations during the 20th century.

– In 1934, the government banned ownership of gold and eliminated the right to exchange gold certificates for gold coins. It then immediately revalued gold from $20.67 per troy ounce to $35, thus devaluing the dollar holdings of all Americans by 40 percent.

– From 1934 to 1968, the federal government continued to issue and redeem silver certificates, notes that circulated as legal tender that could be redeemed for silver coins or silver bars. In 1968, Congress unilaterally reneged on this obligation, too.

– From 1934 to 1971, foreign governments were permitted by the U.S. government to exchange their dollars for gold through the gold window. In 1971, President Richard Nixon severed this final link between the dollar and gold by closing the gold window, thus in effect defaulting once again on a debt obligation of the U.S. government.

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3 Ordered To Quit After Body In Pool Went Undetected For Days

(CNN) -- Two pool employees and their supervisor were forced to resign on Wednesday after a woman's body went undetected in a public Massachusetts pool for four days in June until her body floated to the top.

The Vietnam Veteran's Swimming Pool manager and assistant manager -- as well as the Southeast Regional Director of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, have resigned -- according to a statement released by Edward Lambert, the agency's commissioner.

Lambert requested they leave their posts because of "poor decision making and failure to follow (department) pool protocols."
 

Breaking News-Norway Youth Camp Shooting

Police Say At Least 80 Killed in Norway Youth Camp Shooting.

Source Fox News

TOO WEAK TO SURVIVE

This interview was done in 1994, when Bill Clinton was promoting free trade and multinationalism, but had not yet made a deal with China to allow them to devalue their currency and then receive favored nation status.

You can decide for yourself, with the benefit of retrospect, the value of the arguments presented.
“Free trade” as defined by neo-liberal policies is a leveling tool that creates a few big winners and many more big losers, and reduces the middle class to the lowest common denominator of indentured servitude.

The goal of multinationalism is to destroy local government, choice, and sovereignty, through financial and military means.   The will to power cuts across diverse forms of government, because of its attitude of the power of the few and the worth of the many.  It defines what is ‘human’ to suit its needs of the moment.

The primary problem with unregulated trade, not considered within the context of overall social and public policy,  is that it becomes a natural weapon for oligarchies and multinationals to use against local and regional government and public policy decisions, taxation, environmental laws, human rights.  It is a major stepping stone to world government. There is a recurring movement among the powerful to bring the world under their control. It is the natural extension of their greed for power. There is never ‘enough.’  Sociopathic greed is a disease, and it sows the seeds of its own destruction.  Always.

Trade *could* be used to uplift the developing world, if it was accompanied by local reforms and progressive public policy, but in practice is most often used to create a huge social divide in the developed countries, and promote a return to a feudalistic political structure. Rather than uplift, it reduces the world to the least common denominator of quality of life and freedom.

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Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

On July 18, 2011 a broadcast was given regarding a motor vehicle that had just left court in Snow Hill, and had struck A Snow Hill Police vehicle causing damage.

A Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy observed the vehicle traveling north on US Route 113 just south of Newark. The vehicle was stopped and the operator, identified as Brittney Jessica Brown, age 19 of Salisbury Maryland. Ms. Brown admitted to hitting the police vehicle however, she stated that she was going to be late for work, so she left the scene. A K-9 scan was performed which resulted in a subsequent seizure of multiple smoking devices and a small amount of Marihuana.

Ms. Brown was placed under arrest and charged with leaving the scene of an accident and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. She was released on her own recognizance pending trial.

Obama Speech @ Camp David (Without Teleprompter)

A Phony EU Crisis

Europe's leaders have grasped the nettle. Faced with a spiraling bond crisis in Italy and Spain and the greatest threat to the EU project for 50 years, they have ripped up their bail-out strategy and taken a large stride towards a "liability union." – UK Telegraph

Dominant Social Theme: Oh, it is the end of the world. The EU is dead. Oh, it is not the end. Long live the EU and the great men and women who saved it ... History is being made ... etc. ... etc. ...

Free-Market Analysis: We have watched the unraveling of Europe for over a year now and can say with some shock and dismay, as the final act grows near, that what we have been treated to is probably nothing more than an elaborately scripted farce. Or call it a dominant social theme (the EU is in trouble and needs rescue by the great statesmen of Brussels).


Now a deal has been struck to “save” Greece (though it is the banks that are being saved yet again, not Greece). The Germans won’t like it as Merkel seems now to have committed them to guarantee, at least informally, hundreds of billions of euros in PIGS assets. But apparently whether the “little people” like something or not doesn’t matter now in this “new” world.

The only danger is over-reach. The crisis, long expected, may still spin out of control or prove insoluble. But there is no doubt the Eurocrats expected this crisis and planned for it. The idea was to use its chaos to create a closer European federation and that is just what they're trying to do. Out of chaos, order ...

The elites that stand behind the EU are trying to build a one-world order, and they will stop at nothing to get it. The same thing is going on in the US with the debt crisis. An orchestrated agenda. The Americans will eventually get European-style austerity. They simply don't understand the ramifications yet.

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Woodland Ferry Resumes Limited Service Starting July 25

Delays, Schedule Changes Possible as Department Evaluates Performance

Seaford -- The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) today announced that the Woodland Ferry will begin limited service on Monday, July 25, 2011. However, travelers are advised that DelDOT will continue to evaluate vessel performance during actual operation, and delays and schedule changes are possible. For this reason, DelDOT suggests that the ferry be used only by those with flexible schedules at this time.

The ferry Tina Fallon will be accepting vehicles for crossing of the Nanticoke River from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., seven days a week, unless vessel captains and on-site project engineers deem it necessary to delay operations to conduct inspections. Further, the ferry will not conduct crossings during periods of excessively high and low tides. Tides at the Woodland Ferry crossing on the Nanticoke River can vary by as much as four feet at certain times of the year. DelDOT hopes to be able to make an announcement about returning the Tina Fallon to full service soon.

Please note that the advance electronic warning signs will be used at critical detour points in the event of ferry closures in order to provide the opportunity for motorists to take alternate routes.

The Woodland Ferry successfully completed a U.S. Coast Guard inspection on June 24, 2011, and since that time has been repeatedly tested in a loaded condition to ensure safe operation.

5 Tips To Make Sure Your Sunscreen Works

1. Use sunscreen every day, rain or shine.

2. Don’t skimp. The average-size body requires at least a shot glass worth to achieve maximum coverage.

3. Don’t dig to the bottom of your beach bag for last year’s sunscreen. Sun protection expires after 12 months.

4. While at the beach or other sun-drenched locations, re-applying your sunscreen at least every two hours is crucial to staying protected. Immediately re-apply after swimming or sweating.

5. Double up on safety by using a 20 percent concentration of topical Vitamin C under your sunscreen to boost the immune defense of your skin cells against UV damage. It will also reduce the appearance of brown spots.

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'Gay' Hotel Coming To NYC This Fall

We've heard about boutique hotels, but this new one in New York City takes the cake. Opening in the fall, THE OUT NYC in Hells Kitchen will be the first hotel and entertainment complex targeted specifically at attracting the LGBT tourist and local community.

"This is an idea whose time has come. What makes THE OUT NYC a gay hotel is the comfort level and tailored amenities for the community," said Ian Reisner, managing partner of Parkview Developers, the firm behind the concept. "THE OUT NYC will become a 'can't-miss' for gay tourists as well as the epicenter of gay life for LGBT New Yorkers. With New York's recent legislation, we look forward not only to hosting countless gay couples, but marrying them as well."

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GOVERNOR O’MALLEY STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S VISIT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

COLLEGE PARK, MD (July 22, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley today issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s visit to the University of Maryland at College Park:

“America’s jobs recovery depends on the balanced approach President Obama discussed in College Park this morning.  We were honored to host him once again at the University of Maryland. 

“As the President said, Americans ‘didn’t choose a dysfunctional government.’  As a nation, we must pay our bills on time, and we must find a fiscally responsible way forward that balances revenues and cuts, so that we can continue to create jobs and compete to win in the new global economy. 

“To create jobs a modern economy requires modern investments. We can retire the Bush-deficit and accelerate the jobs recovery, but we need a balanced approach that allows America to pay its bills and create jobs at the same time.

“This is the balanced approach that President Obama is rightfully calling for in his negotiations with Congress. We thank President Obama for visiting Maryland and for his leadership.”

A Fireman’s Pact With God

Here’s what it says about the Gear Up Foundation on the back of founder Vincent “Vinny” Forras’ business card:

A Living Tribute To All Who Perished On 911 And The Brave Responders Who Continue To Join Them

“There’s a much bigger group that died that day and didn’t know it,” Forras told me in our recent interview.

The Gear Up Foundation, which Forras co-founded with his wife Monica, donates “firefighting equipment, training and hope” to firemen in the U.S. and around the globe. A meaningful, worthy mission, but made all the more so with the help of a back story; this fine organization was born in dust and light and driven by a pact with God.

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Connecticut Mom Charged With Forcing Cocaine, On Children

A Connecticut mother is charged with forcing her 4-year-old son to drink beer and giving beer and cocaine to her 10-month-old daughter.
 
The Connecticut Post reports that 29-year-old Juliette Dunn was arrested on June 28 after a neighbor flagged down police and told them the woman was feeding beer to her children at the Success Village playground in Bridgeport.
 
Dunn and a 33-year-old companion, Lisa Jefferson, were arrested and charged with assault and risk of injury to a minor.
 
Witnesses told police that Dunn gave a 40-ounce bottle of beer to the boy and ordered him to chug it down. Both children tested positive for alcohol at a local hospital and the 10-month old tested positive for cocaine.

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Drivers Are Dangerously Distracted By Their Dogs

Overall, nearly six in 10 respondents (56%) reported driving with their dogs at least once in the past month, and more alarmingly, nearly one in five drivers (19%) have taken a hand off the wheel to keep their pet from jumping into the front seat. Other doting drivers confessed to letting their dogs sit on their laps (17%), feeding them treats (13%), or snapping photos of them (3%). (If you own a dog as cute as Boo, the Facebook sensation, then how can you resist, right?)
Man's best friend may not be the best driving companion.
 


Unrestrained dogs can be a dangerous distraction to drivers and increase the risk of accidents, according to a survey conducted by AAA and Kurgo, a manufacturer of pet travel products.  The AAA/Kurgo online poll sampled 1,000 dog owners who had driven with their pets in the last year.

A New Meningitis Vaccine On The Horizon

Bacterial meningitis is a nasty thing to catch. The disease may hit only about 1,500 Americans per year, but those who fall victim may suffer brain damage, learning disabilities, limb loss or death.

The good news is that many strains of meningitis are preventable with bacterial vaccines that fight the various types of bugs that cause the disease. There are currently three such vaccines available in the United States: the Hib, for children younger than five; the MCV4, for people between two and 55 years of age; and the MPSV4, for those older than 55. All of these vaccines can inoculate us against most strains of the most common meningitis-causing bacteria circulating in the U.S.

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Russians: 'It's Our Space Age Now'

Russian space officials are hailing the end of the space shuttle era as the beginning of the "Soyuz epoch." For at least the next few years, Russian Soyuz craft will serve as the only way to get back and forth from the International Space Station, and NASA will be paying up to $63 million a seat for the ride.

Russian cosmonauts will also make up half of the space station's crews from here on out, even though NASA has paid most of the estimated $100 billion cost of construction.

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500 Million Debt-Serfs: The European Union Is A Neo-Feudal Kleptocracy

The banks of Europe are the new Feudal Manors and Masters. All Europeans now serve them as debt-serfs in one way or another.
If we knock down all the flimsy screens of artifice and obscuring complexity, what we see in Europe is a continent of debt-serfs, indentured to the banks under the whip of the European Union and its secular religion, the euro.
I know this isn't the pretty picture presented by the EU Overlords, of a prosperity built not just on debt, but on resolving the problem of debt with more debt, but it is the reality behind the eurozone's phony facade of economic "freedom."

What else can we call the stark domination of the big banks other than Neo-Feudalism? In one way or another, every one of the 27-member nations' citizens are indentured to the big international banks at risk in Europe, most of which are based in Europe.

Amidst the confusing overlay of voices and agendas, there is really only one agenda item: save the big European banks. Everything else is just mechanics. The banks are the new feudal manor houses, the bankers are the new feudal lords, and the politicians of the EU and its influential member nations are the servile vassals who enforce the "rule of law" on the serfs.

Here is the fundamental fact: there are trillions of euros of debt which can never be paid back. In a non-feudal system, one in which the banks were not the Masters, then this fact would be recognized and acted upon: something like 50% of the debt would be written off in one fell swoop, all the banks whose assets had just been wiped out would be declared insolvent and liquidated, the remaining debt would be sized to the economic surplus of each debtor nation, and a new, decentralized banking sector of dozens of strictly limited, smaller banks would be established.

To the degree that is "impossible," Europe is nothing but a Neo-Feudal Kleptocracy serving its Banker Lords.

The Greek worker whose pay has been slashed in the "austerity" demanded by the banks serves the Banker Lords, as does the German worker who will be paying higher taxes to bail out Germany and France's Banker Lords. Though the German is constantly told he is bailing out Greece, the truth is Greece is just the conduit: he's actually bailing out the EU's Banker Lords.

We can clear up much of the purposeful obfuscation by asking: exactly what tragedy befalls Europe if all the sovereign debt in the EU was wiped off the books? The one and only "tragedy" would be the destruction of the "too big to fail" banks, not just in Europe but around the world. As the big European banks imploded, then their inability to service their counterparty obligations on various derivatives to other big banks would topple those lenders.

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How To Win More At Rock-Paper-Scissors (According To Science)

There are a few time-honored methods for settling disputes: Good ol' fashion fisticuffs are a fairly noble method, but you get all hurt and bruisy and that's usually not a wise career move. Then there's always coin flipping, but that usually requires the presence of a coin, which can be annoying to carry around. And aside from arm wrestling, thumb wrestling, pulling straws, picking numbers, six-sided dice, twelve-sided dice, smartphone apps, foot races, video games, or—you know—talking it out, the only real way to settle a modern day quarrel is to play a respectable game of rock-paper-scissors.
 
In theory, if you're better at rock-paper-scissors than anyone else, you get your way more. And getting your way is usually a good thing. So, if you're interested in getting your way more, a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B might be of use to you.

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Drunken Driving, Traffic Crime Way Up

(WASHINGTON) — Huge increases in deportations of people after they were arrested for breaking traffic or immigration laws or driving drunk helped the Obama administration set a record last year for the number of criminal immigrants forced to leave the country, documents show.
The U.S. deported nearly 393,000 people in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, half of whom were considered criminals. Of those, 27,635 had been arrested for drunken driving, more than double the 10,851 deported after drunken driving arrests in 2008, the last full year of the Bush administration, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement data provided to The Associated Press.

What's The Right Age To Give Kids A Cellphone?

With back-to-school buying just around the corner, smartphones cornering the teen-age market and word circulating that children may be learning to operate cellphones before they learn to tie their shoes, parents are facing an ever more complex decision:

What's the right age to give kids a cellphone?

Below, we'll ask you to share your policy, but first, here's a brief look at what some experts think.

In response to other stories we've run on msnbc.com, plenty of parents say they keep phones out of their kids' hands until they can drive or until they get to college.  Perhaps.  But study after study tells a different story. Here's one: Research firm IDC says seven out of 10 kids aged 10 to 14 have phones. Here's another:

Pew says one out of three 12-year-olds frequently text their friends, while only one out of four frequently talk face to face.

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GOVERNOR O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF STATE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT SHERIDAN

MDTA Police Chief Brown to Serve as MSP Superintendent

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 22, 2011) - Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the retirement of Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan.  Colonel Sheridan was appointed Superintendent by Governor O’Malley in June, 2007.  During a law enforcement career that began with the Maryland State Police and then Chief of the Baltimore County Police Department, before becoming Superintendent, Colonel Sheridan has served the citizens of Maryland for 46 years.  Ensuring a smooth transition in leadership, Governor O’Malley announced that Marcus L. Brown, currently chief of the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police, will replace Colonel Sheridan as MSP Superintendent effective August 1st.

“There is no more important responsibility of our state, local or municipal governments than that of public safety,” Governor O’Malley said.  “Colonel Sheridan has done a tremendous job leading the more than 2,500 employees of the Maryland State Police.  With 46 years of law enforcement experience, Colonel Sheridan helped strengthened our relationship with local, state and federal law enforcement to improve public safety and homeland security.” 

“It has been a great honor and privilege to lead the dedicated hard working men and women of the Maryland State Police,” said Colonel Sheridan.  “Working with our federal, state and local partners, we have made important strides in improving public safety during these challenging times.  I look forward to spending more time with my family and pursuing other career opportunities.”

“I am humbled by Governor O’Malley’s decision to allow me to lead the men and women of the Maryland State Police,” said Chief Brown.  “Colonel Sheridan has made significant achievements over the last several years and I look forward to building on those accomplishments and continuing to serve the citizens of Maryland with professionalism.”

Prior to becoming Superintendent, Sheridan served as Chief of the Baltimore County Police Department, a position he held for more than 11 years.  Before leading Baltimore County’s police force, Sheridan worked in the Baltimore County Public School System as the Executive Assistant for Student Safety.  Before that, Sheridan served for 30 years with the Maryland State Police, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Chief of the Bureau of Drug Enforcement.  In his career, Sheridan worked in patrol, internal affairs with the Maryland State Police and Division of Corrections, special operations, criminal intelligence and criminal investigations.

BREAKING NEWS: Boehner Pulls Out Of Talks With Obama

House Speaker John Boehner pulled out of talks with President Obama for a deal on the debt ceiling.

House Speaker John Boehner has broken off debt ceiling talks with the White House, saying he will negotiate directly with Senate leaders instead.

From Fox News

Salisbury Police Department Press Releases

On July 20, 2011 at approximately 1:05 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant received by Salisbury Detectives in 2009. In September of 2009, Salisbury Officers met with representatives of a local bank in reference to a female suspect forging and cashing a stolen check. The investigation of the incident resulted in the identification of the below listed suspect as the female that forged and cashed one stolen check and attempted to cash a second forged check. The suspect was arrested in Pennsylvania and was returned to Maryland for prosecution.

ARRESTED: Ashley Marie Barker, 24 years of age
Plymouth, Pennsylvania
CHARGES: Forgery-private documents (4 counts)
Issuing false documents (2 counts)
Theft (over $ 500)
Attempted theft

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 200900032877

On July 20, 2011 at approximately 3:27 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Wicomico Co. Public Library for the report of a subject trespassing. Upon arrival the officers met with library staff who advised that the below listed suspect had returned to library property after receiving a trespassing notice on a previous date. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.

ARRESTED: Timothy Raynard Mitchell, 33 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Trespassing
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100028310

On July 20, 2011 at approximately 6:50 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant obtained by Salisbury Officers for an incident that occurred in May of this year. On May 21, 2011, Officers of the Salisbury Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by the below listed suspect. During the traffic stop it was found that the suspect was driving on a suspended license and was in possession of a smoking device containing suspected "crack"/cocaine. The device was submitted to the Maryland State Police Laboratory who verified the substance in the smoking device.

ARRESTED: Glenn Henry Ettz, 48 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Possession of cocaine
Driving a motor vehicle on a suspended license
Driving without a license
Possession of a suspended license
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100019574

On July 20, 2011 at approximately 8:30 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant charging the suspect with giving a false statement. In November of 2010, Salisbury Officers were involved in the investigation of a shoplifting at the Giant Food Store on South Salisbury Boulevard and interviewed the below listed suspect. During the interview, the suspect gave the officers false identification information.

ARRESTED: Brittany Marie Jones, 22 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: False statement to an officer
Obstructing and hindering an investigation
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201000045592

Want Happiness? Don’t Buy More Stuff — Go On Vacation


Given that it’s vacation season for many folks, we thought it a good time to devote this Mind Over Money post to a brief discussion of what personal finance is ultimately all about. Some people, of course, really enjoy counting their money, deriving great satisfaction simply from watching their bottom line grow, often quite removed from any thought of what they might do with their riches.

But for most of us, money is just a token for what we can do with it — pay the mortgage or rent, send kids to college, buy a TV or travel to Italy. And for nearly all of us, money is finite; there isn’t enough to do all we want, so we must be selective. That raises a crucial question: If we want to maximize the happiness or satisfaction we get from our money, how should we spend it?
 

Bail

When a country works reasonably well – when the schools teach algebra and not governmentally mandated Appropriate Values, when the police are scarce and courteous, when government is remote and minds its business and works more for the benefit of the country than for looters and special interests, then pledging to it a degree of allegiance isn't foolish. Decades back America was such a country, imperfect as all countries are, but good enough to cherish.

As decline begins, and government becomes oppressive, self-righteous, and ruthless yet incompetent, as official spying flourishes, as corruption sets in hard, and institutions rot, it is time to disengage. Loyalty to a country is a choice, not an obligation. In other times people have loved family, friends, common decency, tribe, regiment, or church instead of country. In an age of national collapse, this is wise.


A fruitful field of disengagement might be called domestic expatriation – the recognition that living in a country makes you a resident, not a subscriber. It is one thing to be loyal to a government that is loyal to you, another thing entirely to continue that loyalty when the Brown Shirts march and the government rejects everything that you believe in. While the phrase has become unbearably pretentious, it is possible to regard oneself as a citizen of the world rather than of the Reich.


Home schooling is an admirable form of disengagement for those who cannot physically expatriate. The primary schools once taught enough of reading and arithmetic, and little enough of medioccritizing propaganda, as to render them other than pernicious. Today, no. Here it is worth reflecting, contrary to governmental insistence, that schools are needless, at least for bright children. An intelligent child quickly reads several years ahead of his grade level, at which point school becomes only an obstacle. He will be savagely bored, regard his teachers as imbeciles, and learn nothing that justifies his being there but much that justifies being somewhere else. In the deepening twilight, home-schooling becomes almost a responsibility, a parallel to medieval monks copying Greek manuscripts.


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Wicomico County Cooling Station Today

At 2 PM this afternoon there were only four (4) people seeking relief at the Wicomico County Cooling Station. Up to that time, only nine (9) persons total had sought shelter from today’s oppressive heat. Regardless of how many had come in, it was good to know that Wicomico citizens had a place to go if they were unable to be in an air conditioned space.
Danny Drew, Emergency Preparedness Program Supervisor for the Wicomico County Health Department, asked that we continue to inform our readers about the availability of the Cooling Station AND to add some more information to our previous post.
For all of those seeking relief from the heat, please be advised that there is no entertainment available at the Cooling Station except for one television. Especially if you have kids, you will probably want to bring books, playing cards, or board games to keep you and yours occupied while at the cooling station. Also remember to bring any snacks that you may want. Bottle water is available at the Cooling Station, but no food.
The cooling center is in the Flanders Room of Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury. The Flanders Room faces Glen Avenue. You can park in the WY&CC lot or across Glen Avenue in the old mall lot.
Hours are 10 AM to 8 PM today and tomorrow.

Maryland Pension System Gained $6 Billion; 20% Return

Thanks to an improving national economy and careful portfolio management, the State Retirement and Pension System blew past its estimates and gained $6 billion in fiscal 2011, a 20% rate of return.

The performance was nearly three times the benchmark rate of return of 7.75%, set by the system’s board of trustees.

Retirement and Pension System spokesman Michael Golden said that the system’s success is through much of its diversification.

“It’s a combination of excellent management provided by our investment division and the turnabout of the economy,” he said.

The system made most of its money through private equity investments, which make up 47% of the entire portfolio, and had a rate of return of nearly 39%. Private equity and real estate also posted high rates of return – 24% for private equity, and 23% for real estate – but the system had invested substantially less in those areas.

There is no estimate of how this helps the pension system’s long-term unfunded liability because investment income is amortized over several years. However, Golden said, coupled with the legislative changes to contributions and future annuities that passed the General Assembly this year, it should make a significant difference. The most recent figures indicate that the pension system has funding for 64% of the pensions it has promised.

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STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY ON JUNE JOBS REPORT

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 22, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley today issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Labor’s release of jobs data for the month of June.  Maryland’s employers shed 300 jobs, while the state’s unemployment rate remained well below the national average of 9.2 percent at 7.0 percent:

“The jobs report released today shows little change in the job level from May, but we continue to see signs that Maryland is better positioned than most states.  There are now 21,000 more Marylanders who are employed than at the start of the year and our unemployment rate remains significantly below the national level.  Just last month, the US Chamber of Commerce rated Maryland one of the top five ‘Enterprising States’ for job, income and economic growth.

“This report underscores that we must continue to work to create and save jobs in Maryland.  This is why last month we launched FastTrack to help speed up the jobs recovery by making it easier for businesses to grow and create jobs in our state. 

“What we cannot do is to allow partisan politics to undermine the jobs recovery.  Congress must act now to achieve a balanced, bi-partisan solution to the debt crisis so that we’re not driven needlessly into default, killing the recovery.  The data shows how precarious the jobs recovery is around the country.  For instance, 29 states’ unemployment rates increased.  To move forward, we must remain focused on job creation, not political gamesmanship.” 

Small Sentenced to Death

GEORGETOWN, DE — A former taxi driver convicted of murdering a 78-year-old Lewes woman was sentenced July 22 to death by lethal injection in Sussex County Superior Courthouse.

Leslie Small, 53, stood calm and silent as Judge Richard F. Stokes handed down a sentence that included capital punishment for two counts of first-degree murder and life imprisonment for five other criminal charges. “There will be no more victims for Leslie Small,” Stokes said.

On April 5, a Sussex County jury unanimously found Small guilty of murdering June McCarson in her Lewes home. On April 14, the jury unanimously recommended the death penalty for Small.

About 10 people listened in the gallery as Stokes recalled the events of Nov. 11, 2009. Small had been a cabdriver for Comfort Ride Express, a Lewes-area cab company; McCarson had been one of his regular customers.

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Heat Indexes Climb Above 120 In Region

The D.C. region continues to be smothered by incredible heat and humidity, and it is only going to get worse throughout the afternoon.

At 2 p.m., the temperature in the District had climbed to 102 degrees with a heat index over 116. Last summer, if you recall, was the hottest on record in D.C., yet the heat index never got above 110.

At 3 p.m., the temperature reached 106 in Warrenton, Va., according to News4 meteorologist Tom Kierein. And, get this, the heat index was 133. After talking with officials, however, it's not clear if that weather station is calibrated correctly, but the heat index should still be in the 120s.

Through 1 p.m. Friday, many areas recorded heat indexes over 115, and more than a few areas were over 120, according to News4 chief meteorologist Doug Kammerer.

And guess what? It's only going to get worse as the afternoon wears on. The heat should be at its worst from 4-7 p.m., Kammerer said. Just in time for the evening rush!

Chestertown Approves College Acquiring Armory

CHESTERTOWN - Washington College is on track to take over the Sgt. John H. Newnam Armory.

The armory, built in the early 1930s, was declared surplus in 2005, and its fate was debated intensely for several months until the town decided to take control of the property. Monday's town council meeting showed that not all the fire has gone out of the debate.


Mayor Margo Bailey said the college's properties have been "beautifully and successfully" developed, and she expected the same to be true of the armory, sited on a 3.5-acre waterfront lot on Cross Street extended/Quaker Neck Road.

She said the college agreed to cover all costs of the transfer, including environmental studies the town paid for when it began considering buying the property. The college also would pay off about $500,000 of remaining debt for repairs to the building the Army made in the 1990s.

Bailey said concerns over the college's tax-free status are misplaced.

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BREAKING NEWS: Obama Certifies End To Military's Gay Ban

President Obama certifies repeal of military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, paving way for gays to serve openly within 60 days.

From Fox News

Liberals Salivate

Could This Be The End of
Rupert Murdoch and FOXNews?

The liberal activist group MoveOn.org says it is launching a campaign “to build unavoidable public pressure for full investigations” into Rupert Murdoch’s U.S. news outlets – including Fox News, a favorite target of liberals.

“Could this be the end of Rupert Murdoch and Fox News?” the group asked in a July 21 email message to supporters.

According to MoveOn.org, “the key is to find out how far Fox and rest of Murdoch’s news outlets went here in the U.S. If they’ve been as corrupt and criminal here as it looks like they’ve been in the U.K., then we might just see Murdoch’s media empire crumble.”

Murdoch and his media empire have come under fire in Britain, following reports that employees at Murdoch’s News Corporation hacked into the phone of a 13-year-old murder victim and bribed police and government officials for information leading to tabloid scoops.

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Black Voter Turnout in 2012 May Slide

President Barack Obama will likely lose his re-election bid without a high turnout in African-American communities, but that turnout is being threatened by the economic pain suffered in urban communities during Obama’s administration.


This critical issue helps explain Obama’s meeting Thursday with two leading organizers in the African-American community, Marc Morial of the National Urban League and Benjamin Jealous of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

It “remains to be seen” if African-American voter turnout will be reduced by the sour economy, Jealous said in an interview outside the White House. But he added: “What we learned from 2010 is when you stay home, you lose.”

The president listened to several job-creation proposals and will focus on jobs once the debt-ceiling debate is wrapped up, said Morial. The country faces a “great crisis in jobs … [and] we remain committed to a strong relationship with the president and his administration,” said Morial, who declined to discuss the economy’s impact on Election Day turnout.

READ MORE …

I thought that Obama and Biden had been concentrating on jobs since January of 2009???? – Ed.

Posts Every 15 Minutes Until Midnight


In case you hadn't noticed, we have been providing Posts every 15 minutes almost 24 hours a day. Salisbury News is providing a one stop shop when it comes to news and information.

We will provide this service Monday through Friday to keep you informed on all kinds of issues.

Dog Found In Going Nuts Cafe Parking Lot

This pet is on its way to the Humane Society, so if you are the owner or know who the owner might be you can find him/her there.

Four In Ten Students Fail Delaware State Proficiency Standards

Around four in ten Delaware public school students failed to meet new state proficiency standards in both reading and math during the 2010-11 school year, according to results from an overhauled testing system, released on Thursday.


In science, fewer than half the students met higher standards set by the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS), while around 60 percent made the grade in social studies.

Proficiency levels from the first full year of DCAS testing had been expected to drop sharply from those recorded by the old Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) which set lower standards.

But officials said the score decline was not as great as predicted.

“The previous standards may have indicated a higher percentage of students meeting expectations but that was because the bar was lower,” the state Department of Education said in a statement.

“The new expectations better measure how children need to be prepared to succeed when competing with students around the nation and around the world,” the department said.




To see the full results of the 2011 Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS) tests click here

READ MORE …

U.S. Lost $14B On Auto Bailout... Excellent!

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Including the $1.3 billion loss on its Chrysler investment, announced Thursday, the United States government has lost about $14 billion on the auto industry bail-out. All in all, it was a bargain.

That $14 billion figure is far less than than the $40 billion bath the Congressional Budget Office expected U.S. taxpayers to take in the total auto industry bailout.

More

Are You Spending Too Much Money On These Household Products?

Look at you! You're practically leaking money from your pockets, spending all that dough on name-brand medications, paper towels and toothbrushes. Check out a few common household items you could be paying too much for and stop that cash leakage.

Forbes.com knows where we're hitting our pockets the hardest, and highlights a few items consumers could either cut back on or find a cheaper alternative for, in order to save some big bucks.

Name-brand medications: The recipes for aspirin and other pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are pretty basic, and buying a name brand version can be up to 40% more than generic. That's just silly. Compare labels and active ingredients when making your choice of over-the-counter meds.

Buy refills for replaceable products: Is your liquid soap out? Don't buy a whole new bottle and pay for that packaging — grab a big refill of your favorite detergents, soaps and cleaners and fill the dispenser back up.

READ MORE …

Town Intends to Purchase Chestertown Marina

CHESTERTOWN - The town has begun negotiations to purchase the Chestertown Marina.


At a closed session of the Mayor and Council June 20, the council voted 4-1 to make an offer for the marina and two connected pieces of property, all of which are owned by Roy Kirby, Jr. In addition to the marina, the offer includes the adjacent parking lot and a strip of land on the south side of Front Street, between Cannon Street and Wilmer Park.

The Fish Whistle restaurant, which Kirby also owns, is not included in the property the town is offering to buy.

The town's non-binding letter of intent, dated June 22, makes an initial offer of $2,070,000. The offer matches the property's appraised value as determined by the Greenlee Group, an Easton real estate appraisal firm specializing in waterfront property.

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President Obama Extends Unemployment Benefits

President Obama Re-authorizes Federal Unemployment Extension for 2012 Due To Continuously High Unemployment Numbers

In the darkness of unemployment, there is still a glimmer of hope for 13.7 million Americans currently collecting unemployment shown on Unemployment-Extension.Org (as of May 2011).

President Obama has reauthorized the federal unemployment extension benefits for another 13 months. That means eligible unemployed workers will still be able to collect maximum benefits while trying to secure a new job.

The unemployment extension is sorely needed otherwise the state agencies will not be able to cope with the catastrophe. Imagine the millions of homeless, angry and desperate people who have nobody to turn to. They have no check. No income. An extension would be a life line for these people until more jobs open up to Americans. Unemployment-Extension.Org trends show there are currently four times more people looking for jobs than there are jobs available.

The problem of joblessness is heating up like a nuclear plant - it could well blow up into a national emergency if it is not resolved soon enough. Most wonder if the news media has given sufficient coverage to the problems of the unemployed. It would not be a popular subject until the November election. Neither is it visual enough for the television camera - there are no dead bodies in the street or oil-covered birds or floods in the street.
 

Bail Set For California Woman Charged With Cutting Off Husband's Penis

Westminster, California (CNN) -- The arraignment of Catherine Kieu Becker, the Southern California woman accused of cutting off her husband's penis and throwing it into a garbage disposal, was continued Friday to September 23 at the request of her public defender
.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Debra Carrillo also set bail at $1 million for Becker, 48, who had been held without bail since her arrest this month. Becker is charged with torture and aggravated mayhem.

The judge also rejected her attorney's request to bar cameras from the courtroom. Orange County Deputy Public Defender Frank Bittar unsuccessfully argued that the intense media coverage would jeopardize Becker's ability to get a fair trial.
 

Police Still Searching for Shooter

This is an UPDATE from Wednesday’s post.

ST. MICHAELS - Clifton Levante Morton, 36, of St. Michaels, who is wanted for first-degree assault, remains at-large after he allegedly shot another man in the leg Monday night in St. Michaels.

Morton, of 111 Mitchell St., is wanted on charges of first- and second-degree assault, possession of a handgun and reckless endangerment. Morton is black, 5 feet, 11 inches tall, 215 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

According to St. Michaels police, officers responded at 10:15 p.m. to Morton's home for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, police said a man identified as Christopher Carroll allegedly hit Antwan Johnson in the face. During the fight, police allege Johnson was shot in the leg by Morton and Morton left the home on foot.

READ MORE …




http://sbynews.blogspot.com/2011/07/police-search-for-shooter.html

BREAKING NEWS: Eyewitness Reportedly Sees Up to 25 Bodies at Norwegian Youth Camp

Eyewitness tells Norwegian broadcaster NRK he saw up to 25 bodies at the Norwegian youth camp where gunman opened fire, AP reports.

From Fox News

O'Malley / Brown to Sponsor Same-Sex Marriage Bill in 2012 Session

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 22, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown today released the following statements regarding the Governor’s decision to sponsor same sex marriage legislation in the 2012 legislative session. Last year, same sex marriage legislation was proposed and sponsored by Senator Rob Garagiola, Delegate Kumar Barve and Delegate Ben Barnes:

Governor O’Malley:

“Marylanders of all walks of life want their children to live in a loving, stable, committed home – protected under the law. As a free and diverse people of many faiths, we choose to be governed under the law by certain fundamental principles or beliefs, among them “equal protection of the law” for every individual and the “free exercise” of religion without government intervention. Other states have found a way to protect both these rights. So should Maryland. The legislation we plan to introduce in the 2012 legislative session will protect religious freedom and equality of marital rights under the law.”

Lt. Governor Brown:

“All Marylanders deserve to be treated equally under the law, and I look forward to joining Governor O’Malley in working with the General Assembly to pass a Marriage Equality bill that will provide the same opportunity for all who wish to marry while fully protecting religious freedoms and views. Every member of our community should enjoy the same freedoms and share the same responsibilities.”

Ft. Monroe Residential Units to Be Up For Grabs

For almost 200 years, occupancy of these stately homes - shaded by live oak trees, with sweeping views of the Chesapeake Bay - has been limited to an august circle of Army brass and their families.

You needed at least a couple of stars on your Army uniform and a prestigious assignment to Fort Monroe to live on what's known as Generals' Row.

Not anymore. With the Army about to pull up stakes and move to Fort Eustis in Newport News, scores of homes previously occupied by soldiers and their families are now available to the public.

"We've got great product available, and we're open for business," Jerry Moore, real estate director for the Fort Monroe Authority, said Thursday after a board meeting.

The authority, which will manage the 570-acre property when the Army departs in September, has been leasing more than 100 of the fort's 272 residential units to military members and civilian defense workers. The bulk of them are in crumbling buildings from the 1950s.

As of Aug. 1, the coveted residences inside the stone fort, on Generals' Row and in a Victorian-era village are available for lease to the general public. Most of them are brick, some date to the 1830s, and one was occupied by Robert E. Lee as a young Army officer.

Rents will range from $1,350 to $4,500 a month, plus utilities.

READ MORE …

Wal-Mart Coming to Denton

DENTON - The news most everyone in Caroline County has been waiting for has finally been confirmed. Wal-Mart is coming to Denton!

The mega-merchandiser made it official, issuing a press release earlier this week that groundbreaking will begin on a Supercenter during the week of Sept. 19.

"Wal-Mart is excited to begin the construction of this Supercenter site in an effort to bring greater development to Caroline County, offer quality jobs with good benefits and a variety of goods at our everyday low prices to those in the community," said Mary Wilson, Maryland Market manager of Wal-Mart, in a press release. "We look forward to partnering with elected officials, community leaders and surrounding businesses to help address the needs of the local community."


The Supercenter is set to open next summer at 610 Legion Road, Denton, near state Route 404.

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“Too Big To Fail” Law Seen As Too Weak to Work

A year after the enactment of a sweeping Wall Street reform law, evidence is growing that it failed in its main mission of ending taxpayer bailouts of global banks considered “too big to fail.”

Despite an outright ban on bailouts written into the legislation, Wall Street investors and credit agencies remain skeptical that the government will not step in again to prevent any downfall of major banks such as Bank of America, Citigroup or JP Morgan. Those financial goliaths have only grown in size and power, making it more certain that they would bring down much of the financial system with them.

The most concrete sign that the banks still enjoy an implicit guarantee from the government is that none of the top banks has been downgraded since the legislation was enacted, even though their high credit ratings for years have been based on the expectation that the government would prevent any catastrophic failure of the bank that would harm the bank’s creditors.

Standard & Poor’s Corp. last week pointedly disputed the often-stated claim on Capitol Hill that the legislation had put an end to “too big to fail” and the era of federal bailouts.

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Another Town to Give Up Lord’s Prayer

Tradition continues to fall here on DelMarVa. One more symptom of the cultural decline of our great nation. It appears that Rock Hall will be joining Salisbury and Sussex County in jettisoning the Lord’s Prayer from its council meetings:



Thursday night, Mayor Bob Willis announced as the meeting started that the recitation might be the last: "We need to give this a good hard look, see what our options are, and where we want to go with this, with opening up the town meeting with the Lord's Prayer."

Town resident Gren Whitman contacted Willis by letter June 10, asking the council to pick an alternative to the Lord's Prayer, which he said is specifically denominational.

If prayers at government meetings endorse one religious group, they are unconstitutional.

At the beginning of the meeting, Whitman joined everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance, and sat down during the prayer.


There is a big difference between Rock Hall, Sussex County and Salisbury. In Rock Hall’s case, Whitman was man enough to stand up and object. In Sussex County they were threatened with a lawsuit. In Salisbury, our city council, sans councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Shanie Shields, thought that somebody MIGHT be offended.

Sussex should have waited UNTIL a law suit was actually filed. Salisbury should have not done anything. While we commend Mr. Whitman for his gumption, Rock Hall should also stand firm; at least until (or IF) a lawsuit is filed.

For all of you naysayers out there – I can’t wait until the Pledge of Allegiance goes as well. One more tradition gone. One more step down the ladder of cultural decline.

Texas Man Convicted of Resisting Arrest - Mistaken for Burglar in Own Home

A jury on Wednesday found a Lufkin man guilty of resisting arrest in his home after police mistook him for a burglar. A judge then sentenced the man to serve 30 days in jail and pay a $500 fine.

Marco Sauceda, 30, entered Angelina County Court-at-Law No. 2 Judge Derek Flournoy’s courtroom Wednesday morning wearing a tan button-down shirt and navy dress slacks, but by the end of the day found himself in county orange.

Following a one-day trial and four-hour deliberation, a six-person Angelina County jury concluded Sauceda was guilty of resisting arrest on March 15, 2009, while being pepper-sprayed, shot with a pepper ball gun and wrestled to the ground by Lufkin Police officers in his living room, according to testimony.

READ MORE …

I wonder if President Obama will invite Mr. Sauceda and the police who arrested him to another BEER SUMMIT?


H/T – Daily Caller

Ingraham vs. Cultural Blight

by L. Brent Bozell, III

Laura Ingraham calls her newest book, "Of Thee I Zing," a “comedic intervention” on the sorry state of our popular culture. It begins with a declaration of independence from the moral soup in which we swim: “When in a coarse state of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the bonds between themselves and the cultural blight degrading the Republic...they should declare the causes that impel their separation.”

Ingraham's willingness to mix it up on the culture is refreshing and was apparent during her book interview on NBC's “Today,” where she underlined to Matt Lauer that Today's "own" Summer Concert Series included vile artists like woman-battering singer Chris Brown and F-bomb-dropping “artists” Enrique Iglesias and Cee-Lo.

How big are these cultural icons? Ingraham and her collaborator on the book, Catholic TV journalist Raymond Arroyo, were amazed at what they thought must be the new homelessness on the streets of New York, but then realized people were camping out two nights early to acquire a choice spot to witness Chris Brown perform on NBC.   

Brown is vile. His "music" includes usage of all the mandatory filthy language along with the N word, which vile "musicians" like Brown can use with impunity. There is also the perfunctory misogyny in some of his top songs like “Look at Me Now.” Here’s a little sampler, which requires a lot of bleeping: “Lil n---a bigger than gorilla / ‘Cause I’m killing every n---a that try to be on my s--- / Better cuff your chick if you with her, I can get her / And she accidentally slip and fall on my d--k.”

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Campus Ministry Drops ‘Christ’ From Name

One of the nation’s most prominent Christian ministries has decided to take Christ out of its name – a move that has generated cries of political correctness from within the evangelical community.

Campus Crusade for Christ International announced this week that it will change the name of its U.S. Operations to “Cru” in early 2012.

“We felt like our name was getting in the way of accomplishing our mission,” said Steve Sellers, the vice president for Campus Crusade, noting that the ministry will still be committed to “proclaiming Christ around the world.”

Sellers said researchers found that 9 percent of Christians and 20 percent of non-Christians were alienated by the name Campus Crusade for Christ.

The organization was founded in 1951 by Bill and Vonette Bright and today has 25,000 staff members serving in 191 countries. Bright died in 2003, but his widow offered support for the name change in a video posted online.

“When Bill Bright started the organization, he told his wife that someday they would have to change the name,” Sellers said. “As early as the late '70s and '80s he was looking at making the name change.”

Sellers said several factors were involved in the name change – including overseas sensitivities.

“Our name was becoming more and more of a hindrance,” he told Fox News Radio. He specifically mentioned the word crusade.

“It’s reverted back to some of its meaning related to the Middle Ages – forcing Christianity on different parts of the world,” he said.

As for removing Christ from their name, the Campus Crusade for Christ website states:

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Romney, Perry, Bachmann Top 2012 GOP Picks

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney still leads the race for the Republican nomination -- but just barely, according to a Fox News poll released Thursday.
Romney’s support among GOP primary voters has dropped 6 percentage points in recent weeks, from 23 percent in early June to 17 percent in the new poll, which asked about announced and potential candidates.
Close behind Romney is undeclared candidate Texas Governor Rick Perry at 14 percent. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann comes in at 10 percent -- up from 4 percent in early June.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Texas Rep. Ron Paul all receive 9 percent. Giuliani and Palin have not declared their candidacy.
Businessman Herman Cain comes in at 5 percent. All others receive less than 5 percent.
READ MORE …

Sen. Jim DeMint on Cut, Cap, and Balance

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, a favorite of Tea Party-leaning Republicans, is urging wary Senate Democrats to seriously consider supporting the House-approved Cut, Cap, Balance Act as a conclusion to the nation’s debt ceiling debate.

“I hope that Senate Democrats will realize — if they want to solve this problem before Aug. 2, there’s only one plan on the table that will do that,” DeMint said in an interview with The DC’s Ginni Thomas. “If they vote it down, we’re out of time.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat, has scheduled a “motion to table” vote on Friday for the Cut, Cap, Balance Act. If 51 senators vote for the motion, the bill will be scrapped — something Reid clearly wants. DeMint warns strongly against choosing that course.

“The president gives us a lot of words,” DeMint said. ”But there’s not one proposal from the president, there’s not one proposal from Democrats, and Republicans have unfortunately been over here negotiating with ourselves.”

“But now we have a position,” DeMint added, “and I hope Republicans will stick with it.”

from Ginni Thomas @ the Daily Caller

Labor Steps Up To Help Homeless Female Vets

The Labor Department is taking new steps to help thousands of homeless people - female veterans. An estimated 10,000 female vets received shelter during a 12 month period in 2008 and 2009. Now Labor has put together a "Trauma Guide" to address the psychological and mental health needs of female veterans. Sara Manzano-Diaz leads the Labor Department's Women's Bureau. She joined the Federal Drive to explain why her office believes the guide is necessary.
Source

Will The FAA Shut Down?

The Federal Aviation Administration could be looking at a partial shutdown. The agency's latest temporary funding bill - its 20th since 2007 - expires today. And the House and Senate versions of bill no. 21 are different enough that an agreement may not be reached in time. That means as many as 4,000 FAA employees could be furloughed. Former FAA administrator Marion Blakey tells Federal News Radio how the FAA authorization process is different from other agencies and why the agency has operated for so long under temporary extensions.

The Beltway Industry Full-Time Employment Act

by Michelle Malkin

Dodd-Frank, the 2,300-page financial "reform" monstrosity spearheaded by Capitol Hill corruptocrats, turned 1 this week. It made too-big banks bigger. It made too-risky incentives riskier. It made a lousy economy lousier.

Billed as a "consumer protection" act, Dodd-Frank has succeeded phenomenally -- in protecting and stimulating the business-stifling business of government.

Dodd-Frank is a tyrannical triumph of rule-makers, lobbyists and other non-elected spongers over taxpayers. If you don't want an unseemly glimpse into the self-serving, sausage-making process that feeds the insatiable Beltway industry, read no further. The law's implementation process is so far-reaching and Byzantine that every member of Congress should be suffering migraines from it.

READ MORE …

The National Treasury Employees Union Wants To Boost Public Image

One federal union is launching a campaign to boost the public image of federal workers and all public servants. The National Treasury Employees Union say it wants to counter "unwarranted and harmful attacks" on feds. The campaign features radio and TV spots that will run on 200 television stations and 600 radio stations across the country. They've also launched a new Web site called theyworkforus.org. It features videos, a message from NTEU president Colleen Kelly, and an 'Agency of the Week'. NTEU hopes it will show the public not only what feds do, but why it's important to fight measures that target federal pay and benefits.

Do Women Need Their Own Brand Of Beer?

Ahhh, beer!  While it welcomes all who’d care to bask in its golden glow, beer is still widely perceived to be the beverage of choice for men, be they sweaty, knuckle-dragging cro-magnons, pompous hops-huffing hobbyists or pop-collared frat brothers. Whether that belief is actually founded or not is questionable. I, for one, know plenty of ladies who fancy a pint. But Molson Coors is aiming at attracting more females to the keg party by launching a new line of brews tailored specifically to women.

According to the UK’s Marketing Magazine, Molson Coors’ Animee will be a “less gassy and lighter tasting” alternative to conventional beers. After two-and-a-half years of researching “women’s relationship with beer,” the American brewery will be releasing Animee – which will come in three versions (standard, rose and citrus) – in the UK later this summer.

What say you, ladies? Would you be more inclined to drink a beer that appealed to your feminine sensibilities? Or is the notion that a beer has to be girlified before a woman will consider it insulting?

Belly up to the bar and weigh in.

GO HERE to vote.

Apple Considering Purchase of Video Site “Hulu”

Apple could be considering a purchase of popular online video service Hulu, according to “two people who weren’t authorized to speak publicly.”
The two sources spoke with Bloomberg, calling the negotiations “early talks that may lead to an offer for Hulu.”
The Hulu rumor mill was already heating up over the past few days — we reported about a bidding war for Hulu, which is shopping itself around to potential acquirers after deciding not to go through with a $2 billion IPO.
Sweetening the deal is a promise of five years of programming for Hulu’s highest bidder, including two years of exclusivity for the programming on Hulu, consisting of content from the Walt Disney Company, News Corp. and Comcast’s NBC Universal.
While Microsoft is reportedly not interested in a second round of bidding for the online video company, Yahoo is still in play. Business Insider reported on Tuesday that the price for the premium online service could reach $2 billion.
http://mashable.com/2011/07/21/apple-to-buy-hulu/

HEALTH OFFICIALS URGE RESIDENTS TO STAY INDOORS

            (Salisbury, MD) In response to extreme temperatures, Wicomico County health officials are urging residents to remain indoors in air conditioned environments. A heat warning is in effect for the entire state of Maryland until Saturday at 8PM, until which time, the combined heat and humidity create a hazard that could lead to potential loss of life.
            “Until temperatures return to normal, we are asking residents to avoid all outside activities, drink lots of water, stay cool, and check on neighbors. If air conditioning is not available, residents should consider visiting the local mall or cooling center. It is important during times like these to look after one another, and help ensure each other’s safety.” said Brandy Wink, Deputy Health Officer for Wicomico County.
      Yesterday, government officials in Wicomico County announced the opening of a cooling center which will be opened today, Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 from 10AM to 8PM. The cooling center is located at Wicomico County Youth and Civic Center, 500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury.  Anyone coming to the cooling center should bring all their own medications and snacks.  Bottled water will be provided.  No pets will be permitted.
            For local and updated cooling center information, facts on heat related illness, or additional tips on how to stay cool, visit the Wicomico County Health Department's website at www.wicomicohealth.org.