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Monday, December 03, 2012

Politics At Its Worst

What do you do when you have several state politicians who break their backs trying to help the Eastern Shore like our representatives have done since Hurricane Sandy and the Feds simply shut us down.

Thousands of people in Somerset County have lost most everything. Governor O'Malley spent the last year traveling all over the state and country pimping President Obama like a puppet and no matter what is said on this issue, Governor O'Malley failed to come through to help the residents of Somerset County.

The proof in the end will be, will Governor O'Malley finally criticize President Obama and the Feds for ignoring so many people in need? 

I want to thank Senator Jim Mathias, Delegate Norm Conway, Delegate Mike McDermott, Delegate Charles Otto and Congressman Andy Harris. These people pulled every string and called in every favor they had to help Somerset County. I know this personally and first hand.

All that aside, what do we do now. I'll tell you what we do. THIS IS THE EASTERN SHORE! We need to "Pay It Forward" and come together as ONE. 

Many people have come forward and said, I'm 70 years old. I can't do physical work but there's got to be something I can do. Do what I have done and many other friends of mine. I just went out and bought a new dishwasher and a dryer. I upgraded my appliances so I could donate the ones I replaced. 

If you can physically help, there is so much that is needed and they'll need help for a good year. If you have building supplies lying around, 2x4's, plywood, insulation, nails, drywall screws, paint, donate it. Every little bit will help. We can always come up with a drop off location locally and deliver these supplies on a weekly basis. 

Christmas is just 22 days away. Adopt a Family by buying 2 sheets of drywall. 

Somerset County is loaded with self reliant people. That doesn't mean we can't lend a hand in so many different ways.

Tonight's announcement is a kick in the teeth. So we've been knock down but by God we're not out. O'Malley and Obama have proven they have forgotten where they came from. 

The next time O'Malley and Obama want crabs or seafood, tell them to go pound sand. 

CHRISTIANS FIND ‘CREATIVE’ LOOPHOLE IN ATHEIST-INSPIRED SANTA MONICA NATIVITY BAN & SECURE PERMIT FOR ‘LIVE’ DISPLAY

For the past year, atheists and Christians have been battling over the presence of nativity displays in public parks in Santa Monica, California. In an effort to temper the bickering, the city inevitably implemented a ban on all religious speech in local parks, thus ending a nearly-60-year tradition of having a display in Palisades Park. Just when all hope for Christians who wished to see the nativity tradition continued was lost, local believers found a loophole — one that will allow them to, once again, host a nativity.

According to a press release, Santa Monica’s atheist-inspired ban on nativity displays only applies to those which are “unattended.” This essentially means that displays which are not “live” and involve figurines may not be utilized, however there is no provision or ban on religious displays that are “attended” (displays that involve human beings).

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RICH PAID MORE REVENUE UNDER BUSH TAX CUTS

While progressives attack the Bush tax cuts and President Barack Obama wants to let them expire for families making over $250,000, figures released by the IRS show the wealthiest 1% actually paid more in taxes after the Bush tax cuts were passed, and the bottom half of taxpayers actually paid less in income taxes.

According to IRS data, the “richest 1% paid $84 billion more in taxes in 2007 than they had in 2000,” a 23% increase. In addition, their “share of the overall income tax burden grew, climbing from 37% in 2000 to 40% in 2007.” All this occurred even though their rates went down. 

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SHOULD BOYS BE ADDED TO THE EASY-BAKE OVEN COMMERCIALS? THIS ONE THINKS SO

McKenna Pope claims that her 4-year-old brother loves to cook and he wants an Easy-Bake Oven for Christmas (he also wants a dinosaur). However, the company that makes Easy-Bake Ovens appears to be marketing their toy ovens only to girls. McKenna claims that the marketing is making the young boy feel bad about his desire to become a chef.

Male role models for young chefs are everywhere. Chef Gordon Ramsay has a handful of shows on the Fox Network, Bravo’s Top Chef is of full talented men (and women), and the Food Network– an entire channel devoted to cooking – has a long history of promoting men who cook.

So, the 13-year-old New Jersey girl is petitioning Hasbro Toys to change the marketing of its iconic the Easy-Bake Oven.
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BOB COSTAS EXPLOITS NFL MURDER/SUICIDE TO TAKE OUR GUNS


We saw it after that terrible movie theatre shooting in Coloradoback in July, and now we're seeing it with the tragic murder/suicide involving Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher. Damn logic, damn facts, damn waiting for a little something known as an investigation -- we have a tragedy, we have a gun, and now we have yet another opportunity to push an agenda meant to strip Americans of their God-given Second Amendment rights.

Last night during NBC's NFL telecast, Bob Costas did something the NFL has always been very good about avoiding -- inserting politics into what Americans of all political stripes see as one of the few remaining escapes from the divisive partisanship that seems to infect everything these days. Taking advantage of a captive halftime audience, Costas sucker punched millions with a left-wing sermon about gun control. The fact that Costas does this while God Bless America can be heard in the background is not an irony that should be lost on anyone:
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Ron Paul’s Middle East Delusion

In an op-ed at Counterpunch.org last week, former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul addressed what he calls “the tragic-comedy of US foreign policy” and explained “How to End the Gaza Tragedy.” The real tragicomedy is that Paul continues to cling to his dangerously naïve foreign policy perspective.

In his article, Paul asserts his usual stance that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will never end as long as the United States continues to support Israel. He quotes journalist Glenn Greenwald, who wrote that “For years now, US financial, military and diplomatic support of Israel has been the central enabling force driving this endless conflict.” Like Greenwald, Paul doesn’t hold Palestinian terrorists accountable for initiating and perpetuating the violence; he only paints a picture of American and Israeli collusion to oppress Palestinians in what Paul calls the “Gaza tragedy.”

Of the most recent Middle East conflagration, Paul writes in his op-ed that “it feels like 2009 all over again, which is the last time this kind of violence broke out in Gaza.” Note the convenient passivity of that phrasing, “violence broke out,” which enables Paul to avoid placing responsibility where it belongs. That violence wasn’t a nonhuman natural phenomenon like a thunderstorm; it didn’t just spontaneously “break out.” That violence, like the more recent one, was the result of relentless rocket attacks and terrorist activity by Palestinians, which necessitated a too-patient Israel to move in and put a stop to it. But that doesn’t fit Paul’s anti-Israel narrative.

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Sandy's Rainfall Floods Lewes Wastewater Plant

Two million gallons of untreated wastewater from the City of Lewes treatment plant flowed into local waterways following superstorm Sandy, but state and local officials say bacteria levels were heavily diluted by rainfall so the overflow should have no lasting effects on waterlife.

"We are confident that there was no harm done to life or environment from our operations of the wastewater treatment plant during the Sandy Hurricane," said Darrin Gordon, general manager for Lewes Board of Public Works.

The overflow is defined as raw sewage because it is untreated wastewater, Gordon said. About 2.2 million gallons overflowed Lewes' Howard Seymour wastewater treatment plant's capacity early morning Oct. 30, following a mandatory evacuation of Lewes Oct. 29, he said.

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Maryland Gas Prices For 2012 To Set All-Time High For Yearly Average

Average retail gasoline prices in Maryland have fallen 2.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.36 per gallon Sunday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 3.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.39 per gallon, according to gasoline price website MarylandGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Maryland during the past week, prices yesterday were 13.8 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 14.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 11.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 10.0 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

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State GOP To Focus On Gaining Legislative Seats

Tony O’Donnell, House of Delegates Republican leader, kicked off his report to the Maryland Republican Convention in Ellicott City Saturday with the advice to “go see the movie Lincoln,” which made him proud to be a Republican.

I took his advice, as I had planned to do anyway, and skipped the debate on convention resolutions, reported by Michael Dresser in the Sun andBrian Griffiths in Red Maryland. The most interesting item was the attack on the new Cecil County executive, Tari Moore. She ran and won as a Republican, but left the party on Friday in an unusual political maneuver that might not be as traitorous as it appears.

There was not a peep of displeasure among the more than 200 members of the central committee on the floor about Party Chairman Alex Mooney – no protest, no resolution of no-confidence. The pique over the big election losses had apparently spent themselves before the convention began.

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Md. Families Would see 'Huge' Tax Increase Without Deal

Marylanders would be the nation's hardest hit if Congress and the White House fail to come to an agreement on taxes to keep the nation from falling off the proverbial fiscal cliff.

"Maryland is really the No. 1 affected state in the nation when it comes to paying higher taxes if we go off the cliff," says Scott Hodge, president of the Tax Foundation, a non-partisan tax research group that crunched the numbers.

Hodge says a family of four making the median income in Maryland would see a tax increase of $7,194.

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Maryland Struggles With Reducing Pedestrian Deaths

Maryland transportation officials lowered the bar when they set new goals for reducing pedestrian fatalities after the number of deaths continued to climb despite a nearly $50 million effort to make roads more walker-friendly.

The Maryland Strategic Highway Safety Plan set five-year goals in 2006 for reducing injuries and fatalities on Maryland roads to a maximum of 85 by 2010. There were 93 such deaths in 2006. In 2010, there were 101.

So last year, a new plan included a less ambitious pedestrian fatality goal for the state. Maryland officials now hope to reduce pedestrian fatalities to 92 by 2015.

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How To Keep Your Christmas Tree Healthy

Whether you buy a Christmas tree at the store, or cut one down yourself, keeping it healthy in your home during the holidays requires maintenance.

"You're going to cut about an inch off the stump, and you're going to immediately put into hot water, about 100-degree water," says Frank Gouin, horticulturist and former University of Maryland professor.

Gouin has grown, raised and maintained Christmas trees at his UpaKrik Farm in Deale, Md. for 18 years.

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BREAKING NEWS: FEMA DENIES INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FOR SOMERSET COUNTY

Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied individual assistance for Somerset County.

More to follow...

Cat And Dolphins Playing Together

Pelosi Warns ‘Clock Is Ticking,’ Threatens House Vote On Tax Rates

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) on Sunday repeated threats to file a “discharge petition” and force a House vote to extend current tax rates for households making under $250,000 a year.

The Senate has already approved extending those rates, but the House GOP objects to the measure, instead calling for all of the expiring Bush-era tax rates to be extended across-the-board.

In order to bypass the House majority party's right to schedule floor votes, the California Democrat would need to garner 218 signatures, including more than 20 Republicans, to overcome the legislative hurdle. 

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GIRL BITTEN WHILE FEEDING DOLPHIN AT SEAWORLD — DAD CATCHES IT ON CAMERA

An 8-year-old girl was bitten by a dolphin she was feeding at SeaWorld in a frightening moment caught on camera by her father.

The incident occurred during a Nov. 21 visit to SeaWorld Orlando. Jillian Thomas was feeding the dolphins fish when she held up her paper tray and said it was empty. That’s when a dolphin lunged out of the water and sank its teeth into Jillian’s arm, pulling her toward the pool before letting go.

Her father, Jamie Thomas, uploaded the footage to YouTube on Saturday, posting, “We wanted to share this video so others can make an informed decision about whether or not the risks to yourself or your child are worth the experience.” 

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Salisbury Airport

Joe,  I am not sure if you are aware of the changes in traffic pattern at the Salisbury Airport.  I took my daughter in for a flight out on Thursday and there are cement barriers up to prevent cars and passengers from getting close to the doors.  There are also red signs on the outer lane threatening tickets and towing away for any unoccupied vehicles.  My guess is that this in not a safety issue since in my many trips to the terminal parking under the roof and near the doors has never been a problem.  What I suspect is they want us, even for the short time it takes to pick up or drop off a passenger, to park in the lot and pay the fee.  If I am correct, it is another fee that is just a tax.  We are over-taxed, over-legislated, and over-regulated.  Now we are also over inconvenienced, again!!!!! 

Virginia, Maryland Competing For New FBI HQ

Virginia and Maryland are ramping up to fight over a development project that would be an economic boon to the state that lands it: the new headquarters of the FBI.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has outgrown its home of four decades, the J. Edgar Hoover Building along Pennsylvania Avenue in the District. Renovating the Hoover building would take 14 years and cost nearly $2 billion, government estimates show. So the FBI is shopping for a site in the D.C. suburbs for a 2-million-square-foot facility that would allow the agency to consolidate all of its Washington-area operations under one roof.

And with the promise of nearly 12,000 new jobs and a share of the agency's $8 billion annual budget, officials in Maryland and Virginia said they intend to fight hard for the project.

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Very Interesting

I want to share this with you.  It was written by an Arab lady who is a believer.   What an outlook SHE has having grown up being victimized for her beliefs.   This is her take on the post- election blues many have experienced.   Focus on the paragraph where she says she's 'not afraid….'   What she IS afraid of is more important!

 
FTR – I did not grow up in a nation that called itself Christian. Nor a home with a leader that called himself Christian.
 
I have lived as a believer outnumbered, oppressed, victimized, shushed and shadowed – before.
 
No election dethrones a mighty God.  Our nation is not full of like minded believers.  Nor is our world.  To seek power from gathering numbers of us together has a certain sense of an OT census to me.
Scripture tells us we are not of the world.  Why would we expect our votes then to be like theirs?
Scripture tells us we will be outnumbered.  Why would we expect to overpower?
Scripture tells us in the end we will only want to hear what tickles our ears.  Why does the media surprise us?
 
This election, my community and my country only confirm the words God has already spoken.
Which only makes Him bigger and stronger and greater in my eyes.
He knew. 
 
I’m not afraid of living in a non-Christian, pleasure seeking country.
I’m afraid of living in one and having no impact.
 
The smaller we are the more our light must shine,
until He sounds the trumpet anyway…………..

State Police Spent Close to $100,000 Traveling With O’Malley Outside Maryland

The Maryland State Police spent nearly $100,000 on out-of-state travel to provide executive protection services for the politically ambitious Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) during the first nine months of the year, according to state officials.

The 26 trips included many in which O’Malley traveled in his capacity as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association or to raise out-of-state money for Maryland ballot measures on same-sex sex marriage and immigrant tuition rates.

While other organizations typically picked up the cost of O’Malley’s travel when he wasn’t on state business, most of the expenses incurred by the troopers were paid for by the state in keeping with a long-standing policy in Maryland, aides said. 

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Obama’s Now Borrowed More Than All Presidents from Washington to W

The federal government has now borrowed more money during Barack Obama’s time as president than it did in the period lasting from the time President George Washington took the oath office until July 2, 2001, more than five months into the first term of President George W. Bush.

At the close of business on Jan. 20, 2009, when President Barack Obama was inaugurated, the national debt stood at $10,626,877,048,913.08, according to the Treasury. At the close of business this Thursday, it stood at $16,323,083,449,604.98.

That means the debt has increased $5,696,206,400,691.90 during Obama’s presidency.

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Delmar Christmas Parade Was A Huge Success

Last Saturday Salisbury News participated in the Delmar Christmas Parade. I can't even tell you how many people lined Rt. 54 but I can say we gave out over 1,000 pieces of candy along the way to the kids.

My Toyota pickup truck has a plug outlet in the bed of the truck which allowed up to put this really cool inflatable Santa on a recliner. His head turned from left to right and one hand moved to wave to the crowd. The kids loved it.

Thanks for a great time Delmar.

Happy Holidays From T-Mobile

Skiing Santas Hit The Slopes In Maine

A bunch of Santas have hit the slopes at a Maine ski resort.

Nearly 300 skiers and snowboarders decked out in red and white were gathering at the Sunday River resort for the annual "Santa Sunday" event. Spokeswoman Darcy Morse says 292 of them pre-registered.

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Gun Logic


Coast Guardsman Dies When Boat Rammed Off Calif

A suspected smuggling vessel rammed a U.S. Coast Guard chase boat during a counter-drug operation off the California coast, killing one Coast Guardsman and injuring another, authorities said.

Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne III, 34, of Redondo Beach, was pronounced dead Sunday after he was brought ashore at Port Hueneme, said James Baroni, Ventura County chief deputy medical examiner.

Horne suffered a traumatic head injury in the crash near the Channel Islands west of Malibu, Coast Guard officials said.

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Susan Rice Keystone XL Attacks Put White House In A Bind

When Susan Rice's potential nomination to the post of secretary of state hit another snag this past week, the White House found itself in a quandary.

On Wednesday, a publication affiliated with the Natural Resources Defense Council dug into the ambassador to the United Nations' financial disclosures, and discovered that she and her husband were heavily invested in several oil companies in western Canada including one, Transcanada, that currently has a project under review at the State Department.

As secretary of state, Rice would have to oversee the review of that project, the Keystone XL pipeline, which has dragged on for several controversial and tortured years.

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Salisbury Is Going To Be A Mess This Week

If there's ever a time you don't want to have a fire or need an ambulance in Salisbury, this is the week.

Two east bound lanes are closed on the draw bridge as well as Isabella Street in both directions.

Cars are backed up for miles trying to get through the City. Whomever came up with this game plan in the Mayor's Office or agreed to such a thing is a fool.

God Forbid something serious were to happen, the Police and Fire Department are going to take forever to get to you.

Mitt Romney Gets Back to Work, Rejoins Marriott (MAR) Board

After losing the Presidential election on November 6, Mitt Romney has been laying low. However, today it was revealed that the Republican nominee rejoined the board of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR).

"We are delighted that Gov. Romney has agreed to rejoin our board, on which he has served with distinction twice before," commented Marriott's executive chairman J.W. Marriott, Jr.." We will benefit from his tremendous energy and capability to guide long-term success in an increasingly complex business environment. We look forward to working closely with him again as a member of our strong, talented and diverse board."

Gov. Romney said, "It is an honor to once again be able to serve in the company of leaders like Bill Marriott and Arne Sorenson and to support the work of the tens of thousands of Marriott associates who make Marriott International the renowned success that it is."

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Feldman's Footage You'll Not See Anywhere Else

It was an exciting day in Downtown Salisbury. FELDMAN'S IS GONE. The portions of that location Gillis/Gilkerson wanted torn down is now done.

It was a really cool thing to watch from day one to today. Now they are working on the final pieces and clean up will begin to remove the debris this week.

While many of you sit in your Offices, Salisbury News stood around most of the day today taking incredible pictures for you to enjoy.

More Proof The Daily Times Is Failing

When a Gannett publication starts illegally dumping large bundles of newspapers into private dumpsters, there's a problem.

A friend of mine who owns a local business called me to tell me the dumpster they pay for at their local business is experiencing the Daily Times illegally dumping large bundles of their local paper into their dumpster.

I rode over there to see for myself and there they were. First of all you'd think they'd recycle whatever they didn't distribute, not the Daily Times.

The Daily Times is very lucky this local businessman didn't file charges against them as illegal dumping like this is against the law and they know better.

There's something to be said about printing trash and distributing it to a dumpster.

You Have No Privacy, Conduct Yourself Accordingly

Walmart's New Health Care Policy Shifts Burden To Medicaid, Obamacare

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, plans to begin denying health insurance to newly hired employees who work fewer than 30 hours a week, according to a copy of the company’s policy obtained by The Huffington Post.

Under the policy, slated to take effect in January, Walmart also reserves the right to eliminate health care coverage for certain workers if their average workweek dips below 30 hours -- something that happens with regularity and at the direction of company managers.

Walmart declined to disclose how many of its roughly 1.4 million U.S. workers are vulnerable to losing medical insurance under its new policy. In an emailed statement, company spokesman David Tovar said Walmart had “made a business decision” not to respond to questions from The Huffington Post and accused the publication of unfair coverage.

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HOMELESS MAN BEHIND VIRAL NYPD PHOTO NOW SHOELESS AGAIN, DEMANDING ‘PIECE OF THE PIE’


NEW YORK (The Blaze/AP) — The New York City homeless man – whose gift of boots from an NYPD police officer became an online sensation – is back on the streets with no shoes.
The New York Times found him Sunday night wandering barefoot in Manhattan. The paper identified him as Jeffrey Hillman, formerly of South Plainfield, N.J.
Asked about the $100 all-weather boots Officer Larry DePrimo gave him on Nov. 14, Hillman says he’s hidden them because “they are worth a lot of money.”
He says he’s grateful for the gift, but he wants “a piece of the pie” because the photo was posted online “without permission.”
“I was put on YouTube, I was put on everything without permission,” he added. “What do I get?”
Still, he was grateful.

Feds Propose Fee On Health Insurers In New Market

Health insurance companies will have to pay to play in new health insurance markets coming under President Barack Obama’s health care law, according to a regulatory notice issued by the administration.

The Health and Human Services department is proposing a user fee amounting to 3.5 percent of premiums for health insurers who want to offer policies in new federal exchanges coming in 2014. The fee is to cover administrative costs of the new markets, which were designed to be self-supporting.

Exchanges are new online markets where consumers will be able to buy individual private policies and apply for government subsidies to help pay their premiums. About half of the 30 million people expected to gain coverage under the law will get policies in the new exchanges, and the other half will be covered under Medicaid. Washington will run the exchanges in states that decline to do so themselves.

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Mikulski Articles The #1 Spam On The Internet

I'm not exactly sure why but the Barbara Mikulski articles we have produced here on Salisbury News have been inundated with massive spam, (50+ a day).

My guess, her Office will do anything to become so bothersome that they'll spam the heck out of those articles in the hopes each Blogger will simply remove the article all together.

Sorry Babs, you're here to stay, learn to live with it.

TOP 3 TV SHOWS SUPPORTING CHRISTIANS, CONSERVATIVES AND CAPITALISTS!

For over a decade now, Americans have had to settle for television shows that are utterly and wholly depraved. Every TV show that I can think of has the token gay guy, illicit sex, crude humor and more. It’s enough to make you want to shut your cable off for good.

However, there are a few series that have popped up in recent years that give some hope that good television may still exist.

If you aren’t already a fan of these shows, it’s my hope that I can convince you to tune in and support these worthy programs. Maybe, just maybe, we can get some of these networks to run more quality family programming.

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Defense Department Cut By 5% Over 5 Years

The Senate has moved forward with a plan to cut the Defense Department civilian workforce by 5 percent over the next five years. A measure striking that provision was defeated. The measure was offered by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), who called the cuts a second sequestration. Cardin said that now, the 2013 Defense Authorization bill would mean the loss of 36,000 civilian jobs, plus more in the Defense industry. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) put the cuts into the bill. He thinks cuts in uniformed ranks should be accompanied by a civilian force reduction. The White House has threatened to veto the Senate bill in its current form.

5 States To Increase Class Time In Some Schools

Open your notebooks and sharpen your pencils. School for thousands of public school students is about to get quite a bit longer.

Five states were to announce Monday that they will add at least 300 hours of learning time to the calendar in some schools starting in 2013. Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Tennessee will take part in the initiative, which is intended to boost student achievement and make U.S. schools more competitive on a global level.

The three-year pilot program will affect almost 20,000 students in 40 schools, with long-term hopes of expanding the program to include additional schools - especially those that serve low-income communities. Schools, working in concert with districts, parents and teachers, will decide whether to make the school day longer, add more days to the school year or both.

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Wicomico County Board of Education Inundated With Lawsuits


Hi Joe
 
I do not know if you are aware - but Wicomico Co. is inundated with lawsuits stemming from alleged sexual abuse to negligence - in the case of the Joseph Tilghman incident.  
 
I noticed in today's Daily Times article whereby Tracy Sahler said;
 
If the Kiggins lawsuit is decided against the BOE at any level, Wicomico County public schools Public Information Officer Tracy Sahler, said the school would not have to pay out of its operating budget.'
 
Problem is - the liability insurance is being paid as a line item of the BOE budget - thus the taxpayers end up footing these bills - including legal.

It is the same as car insurance - the more accidents you have - the higher the premiums.  If you have to many accidents - evenutally you will not be able to obtain an affordable insurance policy - if any insuance at all.  It is all about customer ratings - and liability exposure.
 
Bottom line - I just hope the taxpayers of Wicomico are aware of the taxing ramifications as ultimately they will included in the upcoming operating budget request for Wicomico County. 

FEMA

One month after Hurricane Sandy, FEMA is running 34 disaster recovery centers in New York, and it plans to open more. Residents can get face-to-face help there. In a blog post, Federal Coordinating Officer for New York Mike Byrne described a federal response that is far from over. He said many homes lack power even though the streets have it. FEMA is working on temporary patches to bring power into homes so residents can return, and, he said, FEMA staff are offering tips on rebuilding to shoppers at local Home Depot stores. 

Prince William and Kate Expecting A Baby

Palace officials announced Monday that Prince William and Kate are expecting their first child.

"Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby," the announcement said. "The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news."

The announcement added that Kate was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London on Monday with a severe form of morning sickness. William is at his wife's side. The palace said that since the pregnancy is in its "very early stages," the 30-year-old duchess is expected to stay in the hospital for several days and will require a period of rest afterward.

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A Letter To The Editor 12-3-12

I’ve been watching this demolition project off and on during the week, and noticed that all on the air conditioning units were left in place and demolished right along with everything else instead of being professionally emptied of their refrigerants, tagged as such, and disposed of separately as required by law. You know, the law that you and I have to abide by when we throw out an air conditioner or refrigerator at the Wicomico landfill. What were there, some 40 to 50 units in the building? All those CFC’S into the Ozone layer. I guess we’ll all have to pay another tax at the gas pump having to take the blame for this pollution that must have come out of our tailpipes.

Today's Fill In The Blank 12-3-12

My favorite Christmas movie is ____.

Ticket Sales For Decorating Delmarva Help Support Many Wicomico Schools


Decorating Delmarva, at the Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, is a 36-night event with six major destinations on a 2-mile drive through an animated tour of the North Pole, including holiday lights and community built displays. The tour will conclude in an area recognized as Santa’s Village. In Santa’s Village there will be nightly festival events in an activity area for children of all ages.  The events will include Mr. & Mrs. Claus, holiday music, fire pits and nightly entertainment. 

This charity event will support numerous groups on the peninsula including these Wicomico County Public Schools:

Wicomico High, Bennett Middle, Salisbury Middle, Mardela Middle, Pittsville Middle, Wicomico Middle Chorus, and all elementary schools

Visit this page to purchase tickets ($15, with $5 of the price going to the chosen organization) to benefit the school of your choice:


The show will operate every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening Nov. 15-Dec. 23. On Dec. 25-Jan. 5, the event will be open every night. Gates will open weeknights at 6 p.m. and close at 10 p.m. On Friday and Saturday evenings, gates will open at 6 p.m. and close at 11 p.m. On Dec. 31, there will be an outdoor New Year’s Eve party with the gates opening at 6 p.m. and closing at 1 a.m. 

Snow Globe


CLICK ON THE SITE BELOW,
PUT IN YOUR ADDRESS and ZIP CODE
Then click the "Shake" button

Nor Political Opponents


Today's Advertiser Of The Day 12-3-12


HOW TO START A FIGHT


One year, I decided to buy my mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift. The next year, I didn't buy her a gift.
 
When she asked me why, I replied, "Well, you still haven't used the gift I bought you last year!"
And that's how the fight started.....
________________________________
My wife and I were watching Who Wants To Be A Millionaire while we were in bed. I turned to her and said,
 
'Do you want to have Sex?'
 
'No,' she answered..I then said, 'Is that your final answer?'
 
She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying, 'Yes..'
 
So I said, "Then I'd like to phone a friend."
 
And that's when the fight started...
________________________________
I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first. "I'll have the rump steak, rare, please."

He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?"
"Nah, she can order for herself."
And that's when the fight started....
_______________________________
My wife and I were sitting at a table at her high school reunion, and she kept staring at a drunken man swigging his drink                                       as he sat alone at a nearby table.

I asked her, "Do you know him?"
"Yes", she sighed, "He's my old boyfriend. I understand he took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and                                    I hear he hasn't been sober since."
 
"My God!" I said, "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"
 
And then the fight started...
________________________________
When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had
something else to take care of first, the shed, the boat, making beer.. Always something more important to me. Finally she thought
of a clever way to make her point.

When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched
silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush.
I said, "When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway.."
 
The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.
______________________________
My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels. She asked, "What's on TV?"
 
I said, "Dust."
 
And then the fight started...
________________________________
 
Saturday morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my lunch, and slipped quietly into the garage. I hooked the boat up to the                     van and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour. The wind was blowing at 50 mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned                 on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day.

I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. I cuddled up to my wife's back; now with a different anticipation,    and whispered, "The weather out there is terrible.."
My loving wife of 5 years replied, "And, can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?"
 
And that's how the fight started...
_______________________________
My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.

She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds."
 
I bought her a bathroom scale.

And then the fight started...
______________________________
After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security. The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver's
license to verify my age. I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home. I told the woman that I was very sorry, but
I would have to go home and come back later.

The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'. 
So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair.

She said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' and she processed my Social Security application.

When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.
 
She said, 'You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability too.'
 
And then the fight started...
________________________________
My wife was standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror. She was not happy with what she saw and said to me, "I feel horrible;
I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.'

I replied, "Your eyesight's damn near perfect."
 
And then the fight started...
________________________________
I rear-ended a car this morning...the start of a REALLY bad day!

The driver got out of the other car, and he was a DWARF!!

He looked up at me and said 'I am NOT Happy!'

So I said, 'Well, which one ARE you then?'

That's how the fight started.

How To Tell If A Loved One Needs Help To Stay At Home Safely

Are you home for the holidays? In addition to celebrating, take a moment to make sure family members are still capable of managing their daily lives on their own. Often older adults need some help to stay safe and healthy, but don’t like to admit it.

To help determine if loved ones are safe at home, Visiting Angels, the nation’s leading provider of compassionate home care, has developed this simple checklist:

Check their appearance: Are their clothes clean? Are they wearing appropriate clothing? Is there any inappropriate body odor that could indicate difficulty bathing, washing their hair or brushing their teeth? Have they made any drastic changes to their appearance - wearing more or less makeup, not wearing dentures, etc? Appearance is an immediate clue that the activities of daily living may be becoming more difficult. It’s also a potential indicator of deteriorating vision and possibly changes in mental acuity.

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Governor O’Malley’s Blog] The People Behind The Policies


Together, we’ve made significant progress over the years. Our schools are number one in the country. we’ve driven down violent crime to its lowest level in over 30 years and we’ve decreased infant mortality deaths 16.3% since 2007.  All of these achievements relate to our 15 strategic goals.
But often when sharing these statistics, it’s easy to lose sight of what they actually mean.
Crime is not the weather. It does not go up and down by itself. It is driven down by the hard work of our law enforcement and through effective policies. Our schools aren’t number one because of an arbitrary set of factors.  The homicide rate going down is a great statistic but what it really means is that more moms don’t have to stand over a child’s casket.
We set these goals because the things that get measured are the things that get done. And the reason they get done is because of people. There are thousands of people working on these goals and millions more who are affected by them.
As we close the year and reflect on the progress we’ve made together, we wanted to share the stories of the people behind the policies. We’ll start with a touching story about a young woman who finally got the help she needed after years of substance abuse.
“I am Worthy”
My name is Audralina and I’ve been a resident of Montgomery County for about thiry years. When I was fourteen years old, a light switch flicked on and my life changed.
My mind began to move faster and colors looked brighter than ever before. Everything in my life was amplified to a degree that I was experiencing both moments of clarity and pure chaos.  The once introverted child was now living on the edge and struggling to make sense of it all.
When I entered middle school I began to act out. My parents got help for me but at that time the psychiatrist classified me as being rebellious. (I was later diagnosed with Bipolar disorder) As time went on my situation became worse and shortly after being assessed by the doctor, I tried to commit suicide. My parents found me.
When I was in my last year of high school I decided to drop out and live on the streets with my boyfriend. My life was out of control and I could not hear anyone. Soon after, I became pregnant with my son. His father and I both decided to get jobs and life seemed to be going fine until one day something changed – his father became physically abusive. He had always been abusive but I overlooked it because I had a problem with loving myself. I thought that he was the only one that would love me. At 19, we broke up.
I returned back home to my family who supported me and my son. Then I got a job where I was introduced to cocaine. It became my best friend. I kept it a secret for a while because it seemed fun but the fun periods became shorter and the painful times became longer. I used for over twenty years and was disconnected from my family for most of that time. I was running from myself the whole time; I was afraid of who I would find once I began to look inside of myself.
One day, I decided to get help.
Today I am different because I participate in my wellness program. I know how to ask for help, and I’m now helping others with addition.
I am not existing today – I am living, and life has offered many solutions.
My family has been supporting me since I began this journey when I was a teenager. I have been blessed along the way to have an extended support network.
The women’s outpatient program that I still attend has been a steady support system for me. I will never forget all of the programs that I attended and utilized in Montgomery County that always let me come back and never gave up on me.
I recently celebrated two years of recovery and it is truly a blessing and I know that did not do it alone. Loving myself was something that I thought I was not worthy of, but now I know that I am worthy.

Today's Survey Question 12-3-12

What is your favorite Christmas song?

Mark Bowen’s Office Gets Clean Bill Of Health From State Auditor


Below is a link to the Office of Legislative Audits’ report dated November 14, 2012 covering the audit of the Office of the Clerk of Circuit Court - Wicomico County, Maryland.  This report is available to the public on November 30, 2012.

Chain Restaurants To Increase Food Prices Or Cut Employee Hours To Comply With Impending Health Care Law

Several restaurant chains with local branches will likely cut employee hours or increase food prices as a response to Affordable Care Act policies requiring companies to provide their workers with health insurance.

CEOs and franchisees of local eateries — including Applebee’s and Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches — said mandates outlined in the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare,” will impose an excessive burden on their businesses. While some students expressed disdain with companies bringing politics into their businesses, restaurant representatives said the act will force them to modify employee schedules and raise food prices for their businesses to survive.

Zane Tankel, CEO of Apple-Metro, the New York metropolitan area franchisee for Applebee’s, said in an interview with Fox Business that he would not hire any more workers and was considering cutting the hours of current employees. Jimmy John Liautaud, CEO and founder of Jimmy John’s, also said in a Fox News interview his company will need to cut employees’ hours rather than provide them with health insurance.

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Greece Shows What Happens When The Welfare Ponzi Ends


When no more money flows in, to fund outflows, then the jig is up for the pension fund ponzi. This, as evidenced by the 'punching, kicking, and tearing at clothes' that a Greek pension fund manager endured recently, is exactly what has begun in Greece. As Reuters reports [7], the fund manager "enraged" here audience when she asked the Greek journalists to 'double their contributions' to their social security fund, and spent the night in hospital for her efforts to keep the ponzi alive. It was a brutal sign of the fury many Greeks feel at the way the country's debt crisis has dashed hopes of a comfortable old age. As New Democracy's leader noted: "From July 2010 it was obvious that a debt restructuring would be inevitable. While foreign banks were unloading their Greek government bonds, no one moved to tell Greek pension funds to do something, that a haircut was coming."Under a law passed in 1997 and refined in 2007, pension funds have to place 77% of any surplus cash in a pool of 'common capital' which must be invested only in Greek government bonds or Treasury bills (T-bills). So the PSI saved German and French banks but crushed Greek pensioners...

Via Reuters [7]:
...

For hours the leader of the Greek journalists' social security fund had been chairing a meeting about disastrous losses on retirement savings caused by the country's economic collapse. "She tried to present herself as the fund's savior and asked (members) to double contributions to 6 percent of salaries," said one of those present that night at the Titania hotel. Spanopoulou, 58, did not succeed.

When she rose to leave around midnight, enraged fund members first swore, then waded in punching, kicking and tearing at her clothes, according to witnesses. A bodyguard managed to bustle her out of the room, but another group caught her just outside the hotel and gave her a second beating. She spent the night in hospital.

It was a brutal sign of the fury many Greeks feel at the way the country's debt crisis has dashed hopes of a comfortable old age. Greece's pension funds - patchily run in the first place, say unionists and some politicians - have been savaged by austerity and the terms of the international bailout keeping the country afloat.

...

Many savers blame the debacle on the Bank of Greece, the country's central bank, which administers three-quarters of pension funds' surplus cash.

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