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Thursday, February 09, 2012

Unleaded Fuel hits this years high today

Unleaded fuel is currently trading at $3.01 a gallon right now at the NYSE. That means you add the combined federal and Maryland state tax of 42.9 cents a gal. AND the profit of 3 cents a gal for the merchant, AND the cost to ship it. That means...hold on to your wallets when you get near the fuel pumps. $4.00 a gal gasoline is very close. And you all think things are expensive now......

Pepsico To Cut 8,700 Jobs; 4Q Net Rises

Pepsico will cut 8,700 jobs in cost-cutting move; 4th-quarter net income rises

NEW YORK (AP)
-- PepsiCo is trying to put some fizz back into its business. The food and drinks maker announced a restructuring on Thursday that includes cutting 8,700 jobs globally and plowing money into advertising drinks like Pepsi and Mountain Dew in North America.

Pepsi announced its cost-cutting plan Thursday as it reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit, but also forecast a decline in adjusted 2012 earnings. On the mixed news, the company's shares fell nearly 4 percent.

In a media briefing, CEO Indra Nooyi said 2012 will be a "transitional year" as economic uncertainty persists.

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Female Rockville Teacher Arrested For Having Sex With Student

WASHINGTON - A Pennsylvania woman has been arrested for having a sexual relationship with a male student at Montrose Christian School in Rockville.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department arrested Ashley Jean Campbell, 27, of Cochranville, Penn. Thursday morning. She has been charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of committing a fourth-degree sex offense.

The abuse allegedly took place between the fall of 2010 through January 2012, police say.

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Dorchester Humane Society Announces Employee Of The Quarter Award

Cambridge, MD - The Dorchester Humane Society recently implemented an employee recognition program and Susan Sexton has been chosen as the recipient of the first Employee Of The Quarter Award. Susan has held the position of Animal Care Supervisor with the society since 2009. “Susan has all of the attributes you want in a stellar employee,” said Suzette Stitely executive director for the society. “Her animal handling and customer service skills are outstanding. We’re so proud to have her on our team.” The Dorchester Humane Society is located at 4930 Bucktown Rd. and online at www.dorchesterhumane.org.

Momentum Growing For Sales Taxes On Online Purchases

Light green: Enacted online tax laws or rules; Dark green:Pending online tax legislation.

Note: Online tax laws have been enacted in California and Vermont, but are not yet in force. Four states also have website notification requirements: Colorado, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Vermont.

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CNN Suspends Roland Martin For 'Offensive' Remarks

Critics Say Tweets During Super Bowl Were Homophobic

CNN)
-- CNN said Wednesday it has suspended political analyst Roland Martin for "regrettable and offensive" Tweets written during the Super Bowl that critics said appeared to call for violence against gays.

"Roland Martin's Tweets were regrettable and offensive," the network said in a statement. "Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being." The statement did not specify how long Roland would be suspended.

"If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! #superbowl," one of the Tweets said. "Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass," said another.

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Virginia Adopts 'Tim Tebow Law' For Athletes

Creates way for homeschoolers to play on teams

Supporters of a bill dubbed the “Tim Tebow law” have reason to celebrate in Virginia, as H.B. 947 – which would give homeschool students access to public school athletic activities – passed today 59-39 in the Virginia House of Delegates.

The bill sponsored by Virginia Delegate Rob Bell is based on a similar law in Florida that allowed a homeschooled boy to excel in football, move on to win a Heisman Trophy in college and then become a famed NFL quarterback for the Denver Broncos: Tim Tebow.

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More Men Taking Their Wife's Last Name!

If your man pops the question this Valentine's Day, or if you're one of the 2 million people who will get hitched this year, listen up-- some of the traditonal aspects of marriage are starting to change. First we told you how a growing number of men are starting to wear "mangagement rings" (male engagement rings.) Now we've learned there's a new trend on the rise: Men in the US are taking their wife's last name, or hyphenating it with their own.

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7-Year-Old Fights Off Kidnapper In Georgia

Girl escapes abduction attempt in Walmart

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New Scented Jeans Smell Like Raspberries When Scratched

If you don't mind shelling out $150 for a pair of raspberry-scented jeans, you can at least save some of that hard-earned cash by skipping regular trips to the laundry mat.

The Mirror reports that Naked and Famous Denim is now selling a line of "scratch-n-sniff" men's jeans that can mask the odor of repeated wearings. As the company's website states: "Yes, these jeans actually smell like raspberry candy when scratched. The effect is created by coating the denim fabric with a special coating that contains mini microcapsules."

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Armed Houston Mom Confronts Burglars

A couple of burglars chose the wrong woman to pick on.

They came sneaking into her house and she sent them running out. Perhaps they didn't count on the woman fighting back, but that's just what she did.

The mother of two was getting her 10-year-old son ready for school when the two bad guys broke in. She grabbed a gun and came face-to-face with not one but two intruders inside her Huffman home.

"It was scary," she said.

She's still shaken up, so she doesn't want her identity revealed.

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Congressional Panel Wades Into Union Dues Battle

A congressional committee on Wednesday took up what it calls an issue of economic freedom -- one that pits unions against a number of governors and even some fellow workers.

The issue is simple: should workers, in private industry or government, have union dues automatically subtracted from their salaries -- whether they like it or not?

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Peppers View - The Bug Out Bag

When the SHTF, the response plan for many will be to leave the area. For some that may be the only option for a variety of reasons. For example you may live in an apartment building that would be difficult if not impossible to defend. Or it may be that the impending disaster is natural and may be catastrophic in proportion requiring you to "Bug Out". Whatever your reasons, the decision to bug out should be made using predetermined triggers and the bug out plan should be established well in advance. Like now.

Before some of you go off the deep end on the criticism train and start calling me an extremist, the Federal Government recognizes the need for disaster preparedness and has published a booklet entitled "Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness". Yes, even the government recognizes that they can't take care of you in circumstances such as these. You are responsible for your own well being. A novel concept to many. But I digress. Any plan must include one ready to go bag per person containing supplies necessary to provide food, water, sanitary needs, etc. In Prepper circles it is commonly referred to as the "Bug Out Bag". (FEMA calls it the Basic Disaster Supplies Kit)

A bug out bag can contain almost anything you want but most preppers and FEMA recommend some basics.

72 hours worth of non-perishable food
3 days supply of water based on a gal. per day (or the ability to purify a sufficient amount)
portable radio with extra batteries
Flashlight and batteries
Moist towelette/toilet paper
Waterproof matches
extra clothing whistle (? whatever FEMA)
eating utensils such as a camping mess set - including a can opener
Identification
Cash and credit cards
Personal health needs, glasses, contacts, cleaning solution
Special needs such as infant formula/cereal/food
First aid kit including tylenol or ibuprofen and an anti-histamine
Bug spray

In cold climates you may need sleeping bags, blankets, gloves, etc.

Keep in mind that non-perishable can include canned goods but they can be heavy. MRE's are available at your local military surplus store and can be purchased on-line. Many stores locally have dried foods by "Mountain House" that are re-constituted by adding boiling water. They are very, very good. AND they are very light to carry. Do your homework.

That is the extent of the "Kit" as described by the government. Go figure.

My kit carries a few more goodies.
a hatchet
a tent
k-bar survival knife (official knife of the USMC)
a folding shovel
100 feet of 550 parachute cord (use to lash branches when making a shelter or a snare for small animals - again, do your homework)
large canister of pepper spray - a fogger
Multi tool
Water purification tablets
Fire starter packs - flares also work well
Hand and feet warmers
350 rounds of ammo for my personal defense weapon (yes I will be carrying my weapon because none of this would do any good if you can't defend it and your family)

We would like to know what you would add to your bug out bag that isn't included in the list above.

It should suffice to say that any comprehensive bug out plan will include a bug out destination. That destination needs to include food and shelter that will be available to you and yours when you get there (hotel, restaurant, family, friends, whatever).

S&P's Chambers Warns: US Faces Another Downgrade Without Budget Plan

But wait. The economy is getting better. Things are looking up. We are getting our fiscal affairs in order. Hail Obama. All Hail.

The U.S., lacking a plan to contain $1 trillion deficits, faces the prospect of another rating cut in six to 24 months depending on the outcome of November elections, according to John Chambers of Standard & Poor’s.

America has had an AA-plus rating with a negative outlook since Aug. 5 when the New York-based unit of McGraw-Hill Cos. stripped the nation of its AAA ranking for the first time, citing the government’s failure to agree on a path to reduce deficits. The U.S. has a one-in-three chance of another downgrade, Chamber said during a recent S&P sponsored Webcast.

Read more: S&P's Chambers Warns: US Faces Another Downgrade Without Budget Plan

Dejavu all over again

Really? Seriously?

WASHINGTON — The prospect of conflict with Iran has eclipsed Afghanistan as the key national security issue with head-spinning speed. After years of bad blood and an international impasse over Iran's disputed nuclear program, why does the threat of war seem so suddenly upon us?

The short answer is that Iran has used the years of deadlock over whether it was pursuing a bomb to get within roughly 12 months of being able to build one. Iran claims its nuclear program is not aimed at building a bomb, but it has refused to drop suspect elements of the program.
Time is running short for Iran to back down without a fight........

See link below for more.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20120209/US.Iran.Why.Now/?cid=hero_media

Statement From Governor Martin O’Malley On NEARLY $1 BILLION MORTGAGE SETTLEMENT FOR MARYLAND HOMEOWNERS

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 9, 2012) – Governor Martin O’Malley today issued the following statement on the announcement of a nearly $1 billion settlement for Maryland homeowners facing foreclosure:

“There is no more powerful place in our State than a family’s home, and there is nothing more important for a family’s security and future than a job. Today’s announcement of a nearly $1 billion settlement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers is welcome news to the thousands of Marylanders who have faced or are facing the risk of losing their home.

“I applaud the hard work and commitment of Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation Mark Kaufman - one of only two banking regulators nationwide who served on the Executive Committee – who led this nationwide effort to develop strong new standards to address the servicing practices that led to this crisis. Thanks to our federal partners at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and at the U.S. Department of Justice, we have reached this unprecedented settlement, which not only provides significant relief to Maryland homeowners, but puts an end to practices that contributed to the foreclosure crisis across the country.

“I encourage all Marylanders struggling to keep their home to call the Maryland HOPE HOTLINE at 1-877-462-7555 to talk to a housing counselor or visit www.mdhope.org to seek necessary help.”

Additional information regarding the multi-state foreclosure settlement can be found at:

www.governor.maryland.gov/mortgagesettlementfaq.pdf
www.HUD.gov
www.DOJ.gov

The Blogosphere Loses A Good Friend Mrs. Loretta Williams

Loretta P. Willilams, 81, of Salisbury, died Friday, February 3, 2012, in Salisbury. Born in White Plains, MD, she was the daughter of the late Harry Pickeral and Alice Hurtt Pickeral.

Loretta was known as a "fashion forward" and "stylish" woman. She was also the first woman cashier of the Waldorf Bank and then the first woman vice president of the Citizens Bank of MD. She worked for 18 years for Charles County Government, retiring in 1992 from management. In retirement she supported her sons and daughter-in-law in their businesses, Advance Security, Advanced Property Rental, AlarmGuard, Cathy’s Pet Salon and Hometown Builders. Her favorite charities included; Goodwill and Wicomico County Humane Society.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, James “Moe” Herman Williams; three sons, Donnie Williams, Pat Williams & his wife, Cathy Jo, all of Salisbury and David Williams of Montclair, VA; two grandchildren, Christi Jo Williams and Cassandra J. Williams, both of Salisbury; great granddaughter, Tristen T. Williams of Salisbury; and a sister, Doris Willett of Irvington, VA. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Harry Leonard Pickeral.

There will be a visitation on Saturday, February 11, 2012, from 10:00 – 11:00 am at the Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury. A graveside service will be held Monday, February 13, 2012, 11:00 am at the Shad Point Cemetery in Salisbury with Rev. Thomas C. Bunting officiating.

Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, 501 Snow Hill Rd. Salisbury, Maryland 21804.To send condolences to the family visit www.hollowayfh.com.

Publishers Notes: To the entire Williams Family, our sincere condolences. Loretta truly enjoyed the Blogs and never held back from speaking her mind. God Bless Her.

Sick Day?

Good Evening Everyone,

This day has to be one of the most difficult days I can ever recall, work wise. As much as I needed to get into the Office today I was just too sick to go. As much as I wanted to participate in the Fundraiser for Eric Ludwig the Barber, I've been too sick to go.

Nevertheless, I have that nasty bug that's going around and quite frankly it has been horrible. I was so stuffed up last night I couldn't sleep and I ended up getting up at 3 AM. Trying to find the energy to keep Posts going all day has not been fun, or easy. However, it's done.

I'm not so sure what tomorrow will bring but if I have any luck this thing will finally start to pass overnight. So if you were wondering why you haven't seen comments getting published regularly, now you know why.

Hopefully none of you are experiencing this nasty crud but I hear it's been going around and quite a few people have had to take sick leave. I don't seem to enjoy that luxury. I should be back into full swing very soon and thanks for understanding.

The Welfare States Of America - Data That Even Blew My Mind

I’ve known we’ve been turning into a welfare state ever since I started digesting, well, anything other than the mainstream media outlets. But the latest report out of the Heritage Foundation shows just how staggering the situation has become. It’s not just the current state that is alarming – but where we’re headed.

Half Of America Pays No Federal Income Taxes
This one always gets under the skin of liberals who claim, “well, they DO pay state/local taxes, payroll taxes, etc”. Sure, but those are completely different programs funding, well, things they get back in some way – related to STATE and LOCAL spending. So, state/local taxes are used for their local schools, roads, state welfare programs, etc. and payroll taxes go into the Social Security fund of which they will someday be a recipient (what’s left of it). However, fully half the country doesn’t pay a dime in Federal Income taxes (of which all Americans derive benefit as well) yet they are the loudest proponents of increasing taxes on the rich. How can one possibly complain about the tax rate of wealthy Americans when they don’t pay a dime themselves? This is lunacy

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Truck Sideswipes A School Bus North Of Georgetown

Location: Wilson Hill Road east of Hunting Club Road, Georgetown, DE

Date of Occurrence: Thursday February 9, 2012 at 7:15 a.m.

Operators/Vehicles:
Operator #1 – Ronald L. Brittingham, 47, of Millsboro, DE
Vehicle #1 – 2005 Blue Bird School Bus
8 passengers on board

Operator #2 – Jacob B. Goins, 21, of Georgetown, DE
Vehicle #2 – 1984 Dodge Ram

Resume:
Georgetown, DE- State Troopers responded to a report of a crash between a truck and a school bus early this morning.

Two students were sent to Nanticoke Hospital after the school bus they were passengers on was sideswiped by a truck. The incident occurred at approximately 7:15 a.m. as a 2005 Blue Bird school bus, operated by Ronald L. Brittingham, 47, was traveling westbound on Wilson Hill Road east of Hunting Club Road carrying seven students to Carver School. A 1984 Dodge Ram, operated by Jacob B. Goins, 21, was eastbound on Wilson Hill Road when he lost control of his vehicle in a curve and side swiped the left side of the school bus. Both operators were able to safely bring their vehicles to a stop in the roadway after the impact.

A 17 year old and 16 year old passenger on the bus were transported to Nanticoke Hospital as a precautionary measure due to non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the bus and the pickup truck were not injured in the crash.

Goins was cited for careless driving.

Romney not eligible to be president!!

If what MSNBC is reporting is accurate, Romney isn't eligible to be President of the United States. It appears that in the early 1900's Romney's great-grandfather fled into mexico. While there, Mitt Romnry's grandfather was born there and lived his entire life there. Mitt Romney father, George, was born a second generation Mexican national. While Mitt was born here, his father George was a Mexican citizen. Under the U.S. Supreme Court case "Minor v. Happerset" http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/88/162/case.html, in order to be a natural born citizen, both parents have to be citizens of the U.S.

It is clear by the language that Romney isn't eligible for the U.S. Presidency but perhaps more significant is that Obama isn't legally the president of the United States since he doesn't meet the Constitutional requirement of being Natural Born.

Romney should step aside now. He is not eligible and we've already had a bite of that apple. We may not have realized we were wrong when Obama was sworn in but now we do. We can't continue in a manner we know to be unconstitutional.

To see more of the MSNBC article go here:
http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/06/10005266-mitt-romneys-family-in-mexico-reveals-candidates-heritage-south-of-border?threadId=3313381&commentId=61324271#c61324271

House Passes Insider Trading Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has passed a bill to ban members of Congress and executive branch officials from insider trading. But critics from both parties accuse House Republican leaders of caving in to investment firms by eliminating a proposal to regulate people who try to pry financial information from Congress.

The 417-2 vote Thursday will likely send the bill to a House-Senate conference to reconcile differences with a Senate-passed version of the bill.

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Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 2-9-12

On 02/07/2012 at approximately 1855 hours, members of the Worcester County Sheriff's Office arrested Shawn Anthony Moore, B/M, age 23, of Berlin, Maryland on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant for CDS-Possession and CDS-Possession with intent to distribute. A search incident to arrest lead to additional charges for CDS-Possession not marijuana. Moore was later taken before a District Court Commissioner and held at Worcester County Jail on $25,000 bond.

Robosigning Is Now History - US Announces $26 Billion Foreclosure Settlement

As reported yesterday [4], the cost of terminal abrogation of contractual rights in the US is, drumroll, $26 billion. Bloomberg notes:

•$26 BILLION FORECLOSURE SETTLEMENT ANNOUNCED IN WASHINGTON
•FORECLOSURE ACCORD RESOLVES 16-MONTH ROBO-SIGNING INVESTIGATION
•FORECLOSURE ACCORD IS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY FEDERAL JUDGE
•FORECLOSURE DEAL PRESERVES U.S., STATE RIGHTS TO OTHER CLAIMS
•FORECLOSURE ACCORD COULD CLIMB TO $40 BLN IF 14 SERVICERS JOIN
And a whole lot of corner offices for America's Attorneys General. As for what the market thinks of this "severe" settlement: BAC +1.2%, WFC +0.6%, JPM +0.4%, C -0.1%. For those who don't understand what just happened, US banks just funded Obama's re-election campaign to the tune of $26-$40 billion.

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Update On Press Release

Many have asked if the Salisbury Police Department would be providing a Press Release on Alex Guerrero. The answer is, no. The SPD stated that the WCSO put out a Press Release and they felt there was no need to provide one of their own.

Do Catholics Have Too Many Babies?

When we were colonists and fought a war against the king and Parliament so that we could secede from the British Empire and be independent of it, we also fought for the value of personal freedom. That is the idea that in matters of personal choice, the government should play no role. The king only cared about the colonists' personal choices if he could control or tax them.

One of the taxes he imposed was to support the Church of England. The Church of England that the colonists' tax dollars supported was, of course, in England; it was not here. So, among the hateful taxes that impelled the colonists to revolt was this tax to support the king's church.

When the Constitution was written, religious freedom was a principal matter for discussion and debate among the Framers. They addressed this in the first clause of the First Amendment. Before the Constitution even protects the freedom of speech, it protects the natural right to worship or not to worship, free from the government. Here is what it says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

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Dollar: Going, Going ...

The dollar has been the world reserve currency since 1944 and the Keynesian Fabian socialist economic palaver in New Hampshire's White Mountains. They all should have paid more attention to Lord Keynes.

The situation is now gradually getting desperate, which is proven by America's attempt to isolate Iran financially. An effort by Hillary Clinton to choke Iran's economy by financial blackmail has failed miserably. Iran has concluded trade agreements with India to deal in gold, with Russia to deal in rubles and with China to deal in yuan. Those three, by the way, are Iran's largest by volume trading partners. Other nations that are avoiding the dollar are Venezuela, Cuba and any number of additional South American states.

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Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 2-9-12

On Saturday February 04, 2012, at about 1253 Hrs. a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy stopped a vehicle for speed on Rt. 12 in the area of Rt. 366 in Stockton Md. The driver was identified as Relford Marshall Matthews 55 years of age from Greenbackville Va.

A license and wanted check was conducted and Mr. Matthews was found to be wanted in Wicomico County for failure to appear on a suspended license, and his driver’s license was reported as suspended. Mr. Matthews was arrested and charged with driving while suspended, speeding. The warrant was served on Mr. Matthews and he was turned over and held in Wicomico County pending trial.

US To Settle Fraudclosure For $25 Billion Even As It Channels Fake Tough Guy In Meaningless Lawsuit Against Very Same Banks

Remember robosigning and the whole fraudclosure scandal? In a few days you can forget it. Because in America, the cost of contractual rights was just announced, and it is $25 billion: this is the amount of money that banks will pay to settle the fact that for years mortgages were issued and re-issued without proper title and liens on the underlying paper, courtesy of Linda Green et al. Why is this happening? Because staunch hold outs for equitable justice (at least until this point), the AGs of NY and California folded like cheap lawn chairs (we can't wait to find what corner office of Bank of America they end up in), but not before the one and only intervened. From the WSJ [19]: "The Obama administration made a full-court press over the past four days to secure the support of key state attorneys general, including those from Florida, California and New York." Nothing like a little presidential persuasion to help one with overcoming one's conscience. Because in America the push to abrogate the very foundation of contractual agreements comes from the very top. But wait, there's more - just to wash its hands of the guilt associated with this settlement which shows once and for all that the Democratic administration panders as much if not more to the banking syndicate as any republican administration, as it announces one settlement with one hand, with the other the US will sue banks over the mortgage reps and warranties issue covered extensively here, in the most glaringly obtuse way to distract that it is gifting trillions worth of contingent liabilities right back to the banks, not to mention discarding the whole concept of justice. From the WSJ [20]: "Federal securities regulators plan to warn several major banks that they intend to sue them over mortgage-related actions linked to the financial crisis, according to people familiar with the matter. The move would mark a stepped-up regulatory effort to hold Wall Street accountable for its sale of bonds linked to subprime mortgages in 2007 and 2008. At issue is whether the banks misrepresented the poor quality of loan pools they bundled and sold to investors, the people said." Wait, let us guess -that particular lawsuit will end up in a... settlement? Ding ding ding. We have a winner. All today's news succeed in doing is finally wrapping up any and all legal loose ends, so that banks can finally wrap all outstanding litigation overhangs at pennies on the dollar. And if at the end of the day, they find themselves cash strapped, why the US will simply loan them more cash of course.

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The Day I Bought $15,000

Late last year, my computer was dying and I was upset. Sure, it was 7 years old and heavily worn, but at the time I was trying to save enough money to quit my job and the thought of shelling out more of my hard earned cash to buy a new one was making me grumpy.

At the same time, I was remembering a little trick I’d been reading about on some internet forums where travelers were buying coins from the US Mint in order to rack up airline miles. Here’s how the scheme worked:

Buy a bunch of coins from the US Mint on your credit card.
Deposit the coins into your checking account.
Wait for the deposit to clear and use the funds to pay off the credit card purchase.
Use the airline miles gained from the transaction to go somewhere exotic and have a lot of fun.

Repeat until you’re tired of traveling/carrying really heavy coins.
Bingo. I wasn’t planning to go anywhere, but I did have a credit card with a high limit and a cash back rewards program. All it took was some quick math to realize I could make $300 to help pay for my new computer for what seemed like very little work. I’d have to cross my fingers a little and try something new, but I liked the idea.

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Roger Williams For Congress - The Donkey Whisperer

Mardela Middle And High School Is proud To Present


Show Times:
Friday March 2nd at 7:00pm
Saturday March 3rd at 7:00pm
Sunday March 4th Dinner Show
Dinner at 2:00pm Show starts at 3:00pm

Tickets: $7 for Adults $4 for Children
Dinner Show tickets $20.00 per person

Tickets are available for pre-sale at the Mardela Middle and High School office.
If you would like to advertise your business in our play bill
¼ page ad $25
½ page ad $40
whole page ad $60

All Art and funds for ads must be turned in by Monday Feb. 13th
Please contact John Maybury @ jmaybury@wcboe.org for more information.

A Pie Chart Breaking Down Reasons People Want To Be Liberal

Cornel West Scolds Al Sharpton: 'Tell The Truth About The White House'


Princeton professor and civil rights activist Cornel West, in an interview with Diverse magazine, had some harsh words for MSNBC's Al Sharpton.

"Tell the truth about the White House":

“Whoever thought that Brother Al wouldn’t be protesting any administration?” asks West, who served as an adviser to Sharpton’s 2004 presidential campaign. “You watch his show on MSNBC and you want to say, ‘Brother Al, you come out of the Black prophetic tradition like me. Tell the truth about the White House,’ but he won’t say a mumbling word.”

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AFSCME Backs More Changes To Judges Pensions Than Commission Recommends

The Judicial Compensation Commission is recommending practically no changes to judges’ pensions, except for an increase in contributions by new judges. But the largest state employees union asked the Senate budget committee Wednesday to consider broader changes to judicial retirement benefits to bring them more in line with retirement benefits for the average state worker.

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Delegates Show Scarce Sympathy For Judges Seeking $29,000 Pay Raise

A proposal to raise judges’ salaries by $29,000 got a cool response from members of the House Appropriations Committee, who must vote on it or let the raises take effect automatically in 50 days.

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Express Scripts Gets $2.4 Billion Contract For Employees’ Prescriptions

A complex and contentious $2.4 billion contract for state employees’ prescription drugs was awarded to St. Louis-based Express Scripts on Wednesday, over the protests of Comptroller Peter Franchot and the Maryland company holding the old contract.

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5 Reasons To Care About New FAA Law

(CNN) -- Did you hear that? It's a door busting open in Washington, unblocking a huge backlog of airline issues that will directly affect America's millions of air travelers.

For the first time since 2007, after 23 extensions, Congress has finally passed a long-term funding bill for the FAA. It costs $63 billion and will last through 2015. President Obama is expected to sign it into law.

For the millions who fly commercial airlines yearly in the United States, here are five reasons why you should care:

1. Airline tarmac delay rules to be the law of the land

Many of the tarmac delay rules for commercial airlines -- like reporting flight delays and cancellations and providing passengers with adequate food, water and ventilation in planes stuck on the tarmac -- will be more than just rules. They'll be the law of the land, backed with the full enforcement and authority of the federal government.

Somehow, not included in the legislation is the three-hour limit on the amount of time planes can remain on the tarmac before they must return to the gate. It's still a regulation. "There's a concern it might lead to more flight cancellations or delays, so it may need more study before it becomes law," said Charlie Leocha of the nonprofit Consumer Travel Alliance.

Consumer advocate group FlyersRights.org blames the exclusion on politics. "House Republicans, in the end, sided with their friends the airlines by forcing removal of the [three-hour tarmac delay limit] in the newly codified law for airline passengers, with total disregard for what's best for the flying public," wrote executive director Kate Hanni in an email to CNN.

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New Nuclear Reactors Set To Be OK'd For Georgia

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is expected to approve licenses to build two new nuclear reactors Thursday, the first approvals in over 30 years.

The reactors are being built in Georgia by a consortium of utilities led by Southern Co. They will be sited at the Vogtle nuclear power plant complex, about 170 miles east of Atlanta. The plant already houses two older reactors.

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California High School Teacher To Be Fired For Calling Student 'Jew Boy'

LA CANADA, Calif. – A teacher in California will be fired after she was accused of calling a student "Jew Boy."

Gabrielle Leko, a high school math teacher from La Canada, north of Los Angeles, also ridiculed a special education student's speech impediment, KTLA-TV reported.

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Many Docs Tell White Lies, Study Finds

A new study finds 11 percent of doctors say that they have told a patient or a child's guardian something that was not true in the past year, and about 20 percent say they have not fully disclosed a mistake to a patient because they were afraid of being sued.
The results also show 34 percent of doctors surveyed did not "completely agree" that physicians should disclose all significant medical errors to affected patients. Instead, these doctors said they only somewhat agreed, or disagreed.

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Official: 10 States Given Waiver On No Child Left Behind Learning Laws

President Obama will free 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind laws on education standards.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Thursday will free 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, giving leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students, The Associated Press has learned.

The first 10 states to receive the waivers are Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee. NBC News confirmed the report.

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Another Proposal To Cut Federal Retirement Benefits

There's yet another proposal on Capitol Hill to cut federal retirement benefits. This one would use the money the government saves to fund highway programs. The House Republican plan was posted online yesterday. It's designed to bridge the gap between federal gas tax revenues and the $260 billion the GOP wants to spend on highway construction programs over the next five years. Federal employees retirement contributions to their pensions would increase by 1.5 percent over three years. And new federal employees would have their retirements calculated based on their highest five years of earnings instead of the highest three. Revenue from the 18.4-cent-a-gallon federal gas tax is declining, and it no longer provides enough money to cover federal highway spending

Pentagon Wants Congree To Remove Women From Combat

The Pentagon will recommend Congress today to formally change the rules regarding women in combat. Defense officials tell the Associated Press the new rules will continue the longstanding prohibition on women serving as infantry, armor and special operations forces. But they will formally allow women to serve in other jobs at the battalion level, which have been off limits until now, at least on paper. In reality though, women have been serving on the front lines over the last 10 years of war, often as medics, military police or intelligence officers.

Md. AG: Area Homeowners Get $1.4B In Mortgage Settlement

WASHINGTON -- Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia homeowners will receive more than a billion dollars in the soon-to-be announced settlement between U.S. states and the five banks targeted for deceptive mortgage lending practices.

Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler tells WTOP Maryland homeowners will get $959 million, Virginia $479 million and D.C. $45 million when the settlement is announced, perhaps as early as Thursday.

"The behavior of the soulless, heartless national banks directly and significantly contributed to the housing foreclosure crisis in America, and the economic recession that followed," Gansler said.

The five banks involved in the settlement are Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank and Ally Financial Inc.

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Md. County Revives Plan To Charge Jail Inmate Fees

FREDERICK, Md. - State lawmakers from Frederick County are reviving a proposal to charge jail inmates for intake processing and education.

The Frederick News-Post reports that Republican Delegate Michael Hough presented the bill Tuesday to the House Judiciary Committee (http://bit.ly/xXZG73).

It would set a $10 intake fee for processing new inmates and a one-time fee of $25 for participating in the GED program.

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Man Dies After Being Crushed By Own Truck

WASHINGTON - A contractor was killed by his own truck Wednesday afternoon after the vehicle rolled down the street and pinned him against a retaining wall.

Neighbors say the man appeared to be running alongside the truck as it took off down the steep hill. He had been working on a house nearby.

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LIVE

Purse snatcher at Doctors Office 550 Riverside Drive. Black male wearing blue hat with white writing. Last seen running towards BB&T Bank.

Today's Fill In The Blank 2-9-12

I get around _____ e-mail messages a day.

Md. Clergy Issue Video Supporting Gay Marriage, ReligiousLleaders To Offer Testimony Friday

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Some Maryland religious leaders are advocating for a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

A coalition of gay rights groups, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, released an ad featuring the testimony of clergy members Wednesday afternoon.

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Lost Dog


Good morning Joe,

I was told to e-mail you...We have lost our boxer Max..He is 3 years old..Tan/White with a docked tail and natural ears with a broad white chest..My 8 yr. old niece was walking him and he pulled out of his collar..We are heart broken..We are from Greenwood De..Can you advertise him?..Thank you for your time..Lora butler Contact # 302-542-3330 or 302-398-9355

Salisbury News Is In Possession Of Smoking Gun Letter To Wicomico Board Of Education

As I have mentioned in the past, Salisbury News is in possession of a multitude of damaging documents supporting ALL of the claims we have already published.

HOWEVER, we are now in possession of what will likely be THE letter that forced the administrative leave and the ultimate termination of the WiHi Football Coach and let me tell you, it is NOT pretty!

The alleged bullying by this Coach and other Staff is just remarkable, according to the letter. One quote I'll provide, so the BOE knows I'm for real, "In light of the recent Penn State incident I have to look at certain behaviors of this coach and ask myself if any lines are being crossed between him and students."

We're talking about students spending the night with a Coach. We're talking massages behind closed doors, including the groin area. We're talking about a Coach taking certain kids to breakfast and buying them gifts. Remember, these are High School students. Again, all claimes mentioned in this letter.

The Board, according to the letter, had been made aware of this problem last year but didn't take action until this letter was produced. A termination hadn't been done until AFTER it was exposed on Salisbury News. The Coach had been on paid administrative leave.

I have yet ANOTHER story coming in the near future that relates to the horrible rumor of one Teacher stealing from a Non Profit organization, yet it wasn't even a Non Profit and the BOE had NO RIGHT interfering. It begs to question, does Fredericksen have any clue what he's doing? Another lawsuit that will come back and bite them in the rear end.

Obviously there are numerous people coming forward who have been wrongfully terminated and or parents who are fed up that Dr. Fredericksen would IGNORE pleas from parents begging the BOE to investigate a Coach and some students involved in improper behavior.


More to come.
While the time is near for the Board to make their decision as to whether or not Fredericksen should stay on board, Salisbury News feels it is very important for YOU the public to know and or be aware of the multiple cover ups within the Wicomico BOE.




New Posts to fall below.

Former Annapolis Mayor Callahan Dies At 70

Former Annapolis Mayor Dennis Callahan has died of a heart attack.His death Wednesday morning was confirmed by the Anne Arundel County government, where Callahan served as the chief administrative officer.Callahan, who served as mayor from 1985 to 1989, was 70.

Derrick Neumer, Prince George's County Police Officer, Arrested For DUI In Leonardtown, Md.

LEONARDTOWN, Md. (WUSA) -- A Prince George's County Police officer was pulled over and arrested on DUI charges, Tuesday night, police said.

Derrick Neumer, a Prince George's County officer, was driving his car 71 mph in a 55 mph zone when he got pulled over at around 10:30 p.m., on Route 5 and Mechanicsville Road, police said.

"Upon contact with the driver, the trooper detected signs that indicated he may have been driving under the influence," Maryland State Police said in a news release.

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Please Help Support This Fundraiser TODAY

Today's Survey Question 2-9-12

Should Your Driving Record Impact Your Homeowner's Insurance?

Delegate Wants To Ban Arsenic In Chicken Feed

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A Maryland lawmaker said Wednesday that poultry feed containing a known carcinogen should be banned from Maryland farms even though its maker has already stopped selling it voluntarily.

Delegate Tom Hucker, D-Montgomery, told a panel of his colleagues Wednesday that even though Pfizer Inc. has voluntarily suspended the sale of roxarsone, a chemical often put in chicken feed to help the birds grow and fight parasites, he wants the chemical banned here.

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Franchot Blasts O'Malley's Gasoline Sales Tax Proposal

Putting a sales tax on gasoline will be a nightmare for station operators and a "shot to the gut" for consumers, state Comptroller Peter Franchot and tax analysts and petroleum industry representatives said yesterday.

Franchot and the panel blasted the proposal by Gov. Martin O'Malley and lamented the governor's failure to draft a bill for them to examine.

A spokeswoman for the governor said the bill likely will be presented to the General Assembly this week.

Franchot said O'Malley should abandon the idea of a sales tax on gasoline and find another way to balance the budget.

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NEW VIDEO: ONE MAN’S STORY ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA’S COMMITMENT TO END IRAQ WAR


Watch the video here


ANNAPOLIS (February 8, 2012) – A new video released by Obama for America tells the unique story of how one man was there at every key point as President Obama kept his promise to responsibly end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home.

Bob Howard, a civil rights lawyer from Chicago, was there when Obama spoke out against the Iraq War in 2002. Five years later, Bob was there when Senator Obama outlined his plan to the end the war. Last December, Howard watched as President Obama welcomed home the last troops from Iraq.

At every step of the way and in the voting booth in 2008, Bob Howard was wearing his lucky purple shirt.

Like millions of Americans across the country, Howard understood that the President was taking a principled yet politically perilous stand to ensure the United States was safer, stronger and focused on the right priorities.

“President Obama has the guts to come out and say no, this is the wrong thing to do,” said Howard. “Ending the war is one of the many reasons why I know I chose the right candidate. It makes him a strong president and trustworthy.”

“Voters want to support a strong and decisive leader who stands for their values,” said Maryland Democratic Party Chair Yvette Lewis. “Whether it is putting people back to work, reforming Wall Street, passing historic healthcare reform, or ending the war in Iraq, President Obama has kept his promises to the American people. He has proven to be a bold leader who is willing to make the hard decisions. This is in direct contrast to Mitt Romney and the other GOP presidential candidates, who lack core convictions and will say anything to get elected.”

Globalist Campaign Calls For Abolishment of Constitution

The global elite will not rest until they have revoked the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. Over the last few years, they have engaged in a concerted attack on our founding documents and time-honored ideals. On Tuesday, the New York Times continued this trend with an article on the front page of its print edition.

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Bill Clears Path For 30,000 Surveillance Drones Over US In Next Ten Years

Once signed by president Obama, the FAA Reauthorization Act allows for the FAA to permit the use of drones and develop regulations for testing and licensing by 2015.

The bill will exponentially speed up and streamline the process by which the FAA authorizes the use of drones by federal, state and local police and other government agencies. Currently, the FAA issues a certificate on a case by case basis.

The legislation represents the result of a huge push by the military industrial complex to open up US skies to what will become a multi-million dollar business.

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States Prepare Brakes On Citizen-Detention Option

State and local officials in surging numbers are telling Washington they simply won’t cooperate with any plans to detain Americans the federal government may choose to describe as “belligerents.”

The issue centers on provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, signed by President Obama, for the indefinite and rights-free detention of those Washington cites as belligerents, whether American citizens or not.

WND reported when Rep. Daniel P. Gordon Jr. immediately drafted a resolution in the Rhode Island legislature to express opposition to the sections of the NDAA “that suspend habeas corpus and civil liberties.”

Now the Tenth Amendment Center confirms that the resistance to the federal bureaucracy is catching on.

“Sources close to the Tenth Amendment Center say as many as 10 states will consider legislation or resolutions in response to the detention provisions in section 1021 and 1022 of the NDAA,” the organization is reporting. “Lawmakers in Rhode Island and Washington will likely introduce resolutions authored by the Rhode Island Liberty Coalition within the next week. Additionally, local governments, including Fremont County, Colo. and El Paso County, Colo., have passed resolution condemning the detention provisions.”

Tenth Amendment Center executive director Michael Boldin commented that “federal politicians never seem to repeal federal law.”

“It’s going to take ‘We the People’ in our states to stand up and say, ‘No!’ to this unconstitutional monster,” he said.

The center’s report noted that the provisions in the law “may allow” for the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens, depending on exactly how it is interpreted.

Already, Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall, R-Manassas, has introduced HB1160, which would prevent “any agency, political subdivision, employee, or member of the military of Virginia from assisting an agency or the armed forces of the United States in the investigation, prosecution, or detainment of a United States citizen in violation of the Constitution of Virginia.”

The center already has developed model legislation that addresses the issue.

More here

Maryland Senate Bill 236 & House Bill 445

Dear Fellow Rural Maryland's,

As many of you already know, in December just before the opening of this years legislative session Governor O'Malley enacted PlanMaryland over the protest of Senator Pipkin. It was a first step in moving the governance of land use from local County authorities to Annapolis. The second step is contained in these two bills. Everyone who has tried to read them has found them to be extremely complex, maybe intentionally so. Maryland Associations of Counties offers this interpretation.

http://marylandassociationofcounties.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/summary-of-septics-legislation-2012-01-25-maco.pdf

My personal concerns are many. In fact, I had already taken the time this past summer and fall to attend all of the Septic Task Force meetings. I can assure you that the ecological benefits of this approach have been grossly exaggerated and the cost and complexities tremendously understated. This is nothing but a State wide downzoning bill!

Two of the individuals who testified on the potential impact on values were truly clueless. Sometime I wonder how is it that legislators are irresponsible enough to let unqualified individuals have an opinion of the impact this bill will have on the life savings of Maryland farm families and the loan portfolios of all Maryland banks, when by MD appraisal laws their experts are not allowed to have an opinion on the value of a single residential lot.

In a nut shell, what I understand about the bill is it establishes four different septic zones which will overlay current zoning. From a complexity standpoint consider this, Maryland has 24 counties, each one has several different zoning districts. Although I personally doubt that each one will be impacted by all four of the septic tiers, for argument sake lets say it is only five. By my calculations that is 480 different combinations. Now how is that going to impact land value? In my opinion that is very hard to say, actually impossible, since no one knows which Septic Tier your property will eventually fall into. I do know that 1 dwelling unit per 25 acres scares the hell out of me. I also know is that it won't be $0 as both UM's Agro-Ecology and MDP contend, especially if the market ever comes back. Some day I hope to succeed in educating the experts at Agro-Ecology that a farm that can yield $50,000,000 worth of lots is worth more than a farm that can only yield $500,000. But if you take a look at the peer review's opinion of their work (attached), you will see its an up hill battle. Sometimes I wonder if maybe the problem is that they can't even read!

From what I can see the hearing for SB 236 is scheduled for February 14 @ 1:00. Judging from the number of bills to be heard that afternoon, it doesn't look as if they are expecting much testimony, even at only 2 minutes apiece. Personally, I would like to see a packed house. It is my understanding that it is Maryland Farm Bureau Day in Annapolis, that should help.

Our group has lost over $250,000 as a direct result of downzoning. But some farm families have lost considerably more. At just $500 per acre, that's $175,000 for the average farm family. I some cases it is probably 3 to 5 times the much.

Did you realize that if all Maryland families, not just farm families, shared that same $175,000, it would be less than 10 cents each? Somehow the whole thing just doesn't seem fair.

Unfortunately, this could very well be the last time we have a say in what can be done with our properties. I certainly hope to see you there. If not, maybe you could share this email, send in an email (if acceptable) or letter.

Thanks for you help,

David Cadell

Statement From Governor Martin O’Malley On WASHINGTON’S PASSAGE OF A MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley tonight issued this statement following Washington’s passage of a marriage equality bill:

“Tonight’s passage of a marriage equality bill in Washington marks yet another step forward for equal protection under the law for all Americans.

“It is time for Maryland to do the same.”

Alaskan Fishing Sign

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 2-9-12

January 24, 31st and February 2nd 2012,Members of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office conducted alcohol compliance checks at several locations throughout Worcester County. The Deputies checked 58 stores and restaurants that sell Alcohol in Worcester County. 47 of those establishments did not sell alcohol to a minor during the compliance check. 11 of the establishments did sell alcohol to a minor.

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind businesses in the County that have liquor licenses to check everyone’s identification thoroughly and if you are not sure if someone is over the age of 21 do not sell them alcohol. For training or more information please contact the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners for Alcoholic beverage licenses, The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office or your local Law Enforcement.

Below is a list of the establishments that DID NOT SELL alcohol to a minor.

Establishments that DID NOT SELL: on 1-24-2012
7-11 Ocean Pines 11055 Racetrack Rd. Berlin Md.

Barley Hops and Grapes 10441 Racetrack Rd. Berlin Md.

C.W. Cheers 9923 Old Ocean City Blvd Berlin Md.

Friendship Food Mart 10709 Grays Corner Rd. Berlin Md.

Noble Grape 11073 Cathell Rd #104 Berlin Md.

Pizza Hut 11002 Nicholas Lane Berlin Md.

Raceway Citgo 11247 Ocean Gateway Berlin Md.

Ritas World of Wine 11007 Manklin Creek Rd. Berlin Md.

Shop Kwik 10140 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin Md.

Southside Deli 11021 Nicholas Lane Unit 17 Berlin Md.

Whiskers Bar and Grill 11070 Cathell Rd #17 Berlin Md.

Your Store 10137 Old Ocean City Blvd berlin Md.

Newark Station 7167 Worcester Highway Newark Md.

7-11 106 N. Division St. Ocean City Md.

7-11 139th St. & Coastal Highway Ocean City Md.

7-11 2611 Philadelphia Ave. Ocean City Md.

7-11 11911 Coastal Highway Ocean City Md.

7-11 5809 Coastal Highway Ocean City Md.

85th Street Sunoco 8501 Coastal Highway Ocean City Md.

Wine Rack 12827 Ocean Gateway West Ocean City Md.

Duck Inn II 5610 Market St. Pocomoke Md.

Town Market Basket 308 East Market St Unit 1 Snow Hill Md.

Establishments that DID NOT SELL on 1-31-2012

Town Basket Snow Hill Md.
Super Soda Snow Hill Md.
Oasis Bar Whaleyville Md.
7-11 on Rt. 589 Berlin Md.
Raceway Citgo Berlin Md.
Marlin Market West Ocean City Md.
Mikes Shell West Ocean City Md.
Winerack West Ocean City Md.

Applebees West Ocean City Md.
Shop Kwik Berlin Md.

Establishments that DID NOT SELL on 2-2-2012
C.W. Cheers 9923 Old Ocean City Blvd Berlin Md.

Shop Kwik 10140 Old Ocean City Blvd Berlin Md.

Taylors Neighborhood Bar Village Square Shopping Center Berlin Md.

Your Store 10137 Old Ocean City Blvd Berlin Md.

Mikes Shell 12523 Ocean Gateway West Ocean City Md.

Outback Steakhouse 12741 Ocean Gateway West Ocean City Md.

Peppers Tavern 12507 Sunset Ave Units 19,20 West Ocean City Md.

Plaza Tapatia 12534 Ocean Gateway West Ocean City Md.

Sakura Japanese 12741 Ocean Gateway Suite 603 West Ocean City Md.

Wine Rack 12827 Ocean Gateway West Ocean City Md.

Dons Seafood 1344 Ocean Highway Pocomoke Md.

Duck In 607 Lynnhaven Drive Pocomoke Md.

Market Street Deli 1206 Market St. Pocomoke Md.

Pocomoke Goose Creek 2322 Stockton Rd Pocomoke Md.

Upper Deck Restaurant 1245 Ocean Gateway Pocomoke Md.

Below is a list of establishments that DID SELL alcohol to a minor.

Establishments that DID SELL on 1-24-2012
Super Soda Center 5318 Snow Hill Rd Snow Hill Md.

Steer Inn 10514 Racetrack Rd Berlin Md.

7-11 9404 Coastal Highway Ocean City Md.

Royal Farms 8307 Coastal Highway Ocean City Md.


Establishments that DID SELL on 1-31-2012

Bucks Assateague Rd Berlin Md.
Smiths Market. Worcester Hwy Showell Md.

Pizza Tugos Stephen Decatur hwy. West Ocean City Md.
Outback Ocean Gateway West Ocean City Md.

Establishments that DID SELL on 2-2-2012

Ruby Tuesday 145 Newtowne Blvd Pocomoke Md.

Plaza Tapatia 1621 Ocean Gateway West Ocean City Md.

Pizza Tugos 9935 Stephen Decatur Highway West Ocean City Md.

Marlin Market 9636 Stephen Decatur Highway West Ocean City Md.

Letter To The Editor - PrePaid Legal Scheme/Scam In Our Area

Dear Mr. Albero,

I am writing to warn your readers about the PrePaid Legal Network Marketing scheme/scam that has been spreading throughout the Eastern Shore. I know of many people who lost several hundreds of dollars and wasted several hours and days of valuable time on this scheme/scam, myself included. In my opinion, it is comparable to a Ponzi Scheme and I highly recommend against anyone joining it. As in a Ponzi Scheme, the members who joined the Pre-Paid scheme early make a huge profit. The people they lure in to join this network, usually remain at the bottom of the "pyramid" and waste a lot of their time and hard-earned money. This waste of money goes to the scrupulous "elite" schemers/scammers at the top of the pyramid.

One of the "elite" that introduced this scheme/scam was to the Eastern Shore was a realtor named Nancy Britt who resides in Ocean City. Now a fellow named Nathan Bourne often holds events at the Market Street Inn in Salisbury. I have witnessed both of these people present their network in a hyped-up fashion. It is all an act and they are phony actors. Do not be fooled. As the adage goes, "If it's too good to be true, it usually is" and for those who do decide to go to these hyped-up "acts", I highly recommend that they trust their instincts before they FOREVER part ways with their hard-earned cash.

Sincerely,
Former Pre-Paid Legal Member who was a...SUCKER

Caption This Photo 2-9-12



Ringling’s Baby Elephant “Training”


Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailey circus is coming to Salisbury’s Wicomico Youth and Civic Center Feb. 9th. Ringling Brothers has an appalling track record of animal abuse. The mistreatment of animals performing in their shows has been well documented over the years by reputable organizations. This past November, the USDA fined Ringling Brothers $270,000 for violating the Animal Welfare Act – the largest amount ever assessed against animal exhibitors. They have received numerous fines for animal welfare violations prior to this most recent one.

Representatives from the circus visited two schools in Wicomico County recently-Pemberton Elementary and North Salisbury Elementary. Both schools hosted supposed “curriculum-based” assemblies. Ringling Brothers aggressively markets its show to school age children because children are a captive audience. They use schools to target students as unwitting customers- the ulterior motive is to sell tickets. These reading or science “shows” are a feel-good strategy of getting into the schools. Children naturally love animals and Ringling Brothers knows this. If children in Wicomico County knew how Ringling Brothers treated animals, you couldn’t drag most of them to a circus. It is no longer a secret what abuses occur in the training of circus animals, and what they endure during their lives. This information is readily available, from multiple sources; Wicomico County School District, as well as anyone else, can research Ringling Brothers’ practices and reputation.

Elephants and other circus animals suffer daily physical and psychological abuse. No elephant or other animal willingly stands on its head or performs humiliating tricks. They do this because they are afraid of being hurt if they don’t perform a stunt. Before animals perform in front of audiences, abuses have already taken place, including: confining living conditions - sometimes only allowing a few feet of space in which to move, being chained or restrained when not performing, cramped traveling conditions over long distances and questionable medical care. Feeding practices are sometimes unsanitary, and some animals are forced to perform even though they are unfit or injured.

Animals suffer beatings, whippings, electric-shock punishment and jabbings with bull hooks (instruments of torture resembling fireplace pokers). Baby elephants are taken away from their mothers at a young age, sometimes while still nursing, and are victims of brutal training (see photo). In addition to physical abuse, animals such as elephants are denied their natural instincts to form relationships or socialize with other elephants. It is a horrific existence.

Elephants can live up to 60 years or longer in the wild. Just in the past few weeks, a 30-year-old male elephant, retiring to a PAWS (Performing Animals Welfare Society) sanctuary in California, had to be euthanized after only 14 months of freedom. He performed for 28 years for Ringling Brothers. He couldn't get up from the ground and there was nothing the veterinarians in the sanctuary could do for him. He suffered from severe arthritis-the condition either occurred from or was aggravated by all the years of mistreatment and abuse in a Ringling Brothers circus.

Those seeking more information about animal abuse in circuses can visit multiple websites for information. Below are three of them: Born Free-an animal advocacy group, Wildlife Advocacy Project, and the Animal Welfare Institute - (left side of their homepage has Asian Elephant info, including case media, which documents all the legal cases against circuses-the fine mentioned previously by USDA against Ringling being the most recent).

The circus isn’t fun, educational, or “conservation.” We should teach children to respect animals. Please don’t attend any circus that uses animal acts.

Thank you,
Animal Advocates of the Eastern Shore
http://www.aaotes.org/

Wicomico Recreation’s Happy Timers Program Celebrates 50th Anniversary

On March 5, 1962, a group of men and women, ages 50+ gathered at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center for the first meeting of Wicomico Recreation’s Happy Timers Club. Fifty years later, the Happy Timers still meet twice a week at the Civic Center to enjoy socializing, walking, line dancing, exercising and playing games like bridge, pinochle and bingo. The club also takes trips with local and long distance travel.

To celebrate their golden anniversary, the Happy Timers will hold a 50th Anniversary Celebration in the Midway Room of the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on March 5, 1pm – 3pm. Those involved with Happy Timers, past and present, are invited to attend. There is no charge to attend, but please RSVP with count by February 17, 2012 to Sharon Engster, Program Director at 410-548-4900, ext. 118 or sengster@wicomicocounty.org. Desserts will be served.

SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

FEBRUARY 13, 2012 6:00 p.m.
Government Office Building Room 301

Times shown for agenda items are estimates only.

6:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER

6:01 p.m. WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:06 p.m. INVOCATION/MEDITATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

6:08 p.m. ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

6:10 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA – City Clerk Brenda Colegrove
January 13, 2012 work session minutes 1a
January 17, 2012 work session minutes 1b
January 23, 2012 regular meeting minutes 1c
January 23, 2012 closed session minutes separate envelope
January 30, 2012 work session minutes 1d
January 30, 2012 closed session minutes #1 separate envelope
January 30, 2012 closed session minutes #2 separate envelope
February 2, 2012 closed session minutes separate envelope
February 6, 2012 special meeting minutes 1e
Resolution No. 2142 - approving appointments of Heather Calloway and 1f
Debbie Davis to the Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion Board of Directors
Resolution No. 2143 - approving appointment of R. Scott Saxman to the 1g
Historic District Commission
Resolution No. 2144 - approving reappointment of Jane Ellen Mengason 1h
to the Marina Committee
Resolution No. 2145 - authorizing the mayor to sign a lease with the 1i
Tri-County Council for the Lower Shore of Maryland for the use of a grass
strip on Calvert Street and fourteen parking spaces in lot #10 as a Shore
Transit bus stop and transfer station
Resolution No. 2146 - authorizing the mayor to sign a renewal lease with 1j
the Tri-County Council for the Lower Shore of Maryland for the use of a
grass strip and the sidewalk parallel thereto on Circle Avenue between the
corner of Division and the entrance to parking lot #1 as a Shore Transit bus
stop

6:20 p.m. RESOLUTION – City Administrator John Pick
Resolution No. 2147 - adoption of FY2013 – FY2017 Capital Improvement 2
Plan

6:40 p.m. ORDINANCES – City Attorney Mark Tilghman
Ordinance No. 2188 - 2nd reading - to repeal Chapter 5.64 as amended by 3a
Ordinance No. 2185 – Towing Companies of the Salisbury Municipal Code
in its entirety and to reenact Chapter 5.64 - Towing Companies to clarify
ambiguity regarding licensing requirements; towing and storage lot operation requirements; authorizing fees for towing and storage; and penalties for
violation of Chapter 5.64
Ordinance No. 2189 - 2nd reading – to repeal Ordinance No. 2186 and to re- 3b
Establish a schedule of fees and charges applicable to vehicles towed as
Dispatched by the Police Department and to clarify ambiguity
Ordinance No. 2190 - 1st reading - FY12 budget amendment to appropriate 3c
funds received from the Local Government Insurance Trust for damage
incurred by a lightning strike to the police radio tower on Marine Road
Ordinance No. 2191 - 1st reading - FY12 budget amendment to appropriate 3d
the funds received from the recovery and recycling of brass shell casings
at the Salisbury Police Range to purchase service weapons
Ordinance No. 2192 - 1st reading - FY12 budget amendment to appropriate 3e
additional funds to pay the projected cost of lighting facilities maintenance
Ordinance No. 2193 - 1st reading - FY12 budget amendment to provide for 3f
the deposit of a Local Government Insurance Trust claims check for the
replacement of the traffic control cabinet for the traffic signal at S. Division
and Milford Street intersection

7:30 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS

7:45 p.m. ADJOURNMENT

Pemberton Students Add Color To Community Through Artwork On DisplayAat Wicomico Library

Students in Megan Franco’s second-grade class at Pemberton Elementary, inspired by the tale of “Jamaica Louise James,” a girl who used her artistic talents to brighten the drab world around her, have created colorful pictures of their own that are now on display in the Wicomico County Library.

In the story by Amy Hest, Jamaica has a cool idea to use her artistic talents to create pictures of people and places around her to be hung in the local subway. The pictures were placed in the subway to add color to the drab tiled walls and to lift the spirits of those who traveled through the station day in and day out.

After reading the story, the Pemberton students thought it would be a cool idea to hang kid- created pictures of our community to bring more color to and brighten the day of members of our own community. Through the collaboration of Mrs. Franco and Karen Apolenis, Technology Coach, the students used technology to connect to their real world surroundings by exploring places around Salisbury through Google Maps. Then the students used a kid friendly graphic design program called Pixie to create an image of a place in their community. Once the pictures were edited and complete, we were fortunate to have Wicomico Public Library serve as a gallery for these pictures. A daily log provides a place for people to comment once they’ve seen the pictures.

Wake Up!



Picking Up The Pieces From Military Sexual Assault

"The Battlefield and the Barracks: Two War Fronts for Women Soldiers."

Nearly 90 percent of soldiers wounded in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq - some 35,000 - survived battle injuries, thanks to breakthroughs in US state-of-the art military medicine, among them, surgical techniques, regenerative medicine and prosthetics. Neither the Department of Defense (DoD) nor the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), though, was prepared with the same cutting-edge treatment for the one in three women soldiers in those same wars - an estimated 70,000 - who were sexually assaulted by fellow soldiers.

The VHA is the agency within the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) responsible for picking up the pieces of lives injured and shattered by combat, war trauma and military sexual assault. It will be faced, over the next months and years, with a tsunami of severe injury and illness from the DoD's largely feckless sexual assault prevention programs.

Health Services

Following the first Persian Gulf War, a series of Congressional hearings on women veterans' issues in 1992 led to authorizing the VA to provide outreach and counseling for women veterans who had suffered military sexual assault, services that were extended to male veterans soon after. By 1999, the VA put in place a universal screening program for military sexual trauma (MST) for all veterans using their services. Since 2004, those who have screened positive for MST are eligible for free medical treatment for any MST-related illness, injury or mental health condition. Each VA facility has assigned a MST coordinator to supervise the screening and treatment referral process and provide education and training for clinicians.

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Is Kohl's Marking Up Prices Before It Puts Items On Sale?

When you see a sale advertising "40% off" an item, what exactly does that mean? Is it 40% off the price it was selling for last week? 40% off the MSRP? There's a gray area in retail pricing that has some shoppers accusing Kohl's of inflating prices so that an "on sale" item looks to be a better deal than it actually is.


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