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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Clarence Thomas Catches Hate After SCOTUS’ Affirmative Action Ruling


 As Twitchy reported, the Supreme Court voted 6 to 2 today (Justice Kagan did not participate) to uphold Michigan’s right to prohibit affirmative action in college admissions. SCOTUS was castigated by plenty of angry liberals, but Justice Clarence Thomas was singled out for particularly nasty treatment:

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EDITORS NOTE: The language and content may be offensive to some people

As Putin Marches, Echoes of the Past

Is Andranik Migranyan right?

The head of a think tank associated with Vladimir Putin wrote the following in response to critics who liken the Russian president to Adolf Hitler and what he did so long ago: "One must distinguish between Hitler before 1939 and Hitler after 1939. The thing is that Hitler collected [German] lands. If he had become famous only for uniting without a drop of blood Germany with Austria, Sudetenland and Memel, in fact completing what Bismarck failed to do, and if he had stopped there, then he would have remained a politician of the highest class."

Migranyan's comment, published in a Russian newspaper, has received quite a bit of attention, both because of his position and for its chilling content. There is no doubt that Hitler crossed a line in September 1939 when he invaded Poland, and Britain and France were finally forced to go to war. (Maybe Migranyan remembers that the Soviet Union also invaded Poland.) Up to then, Hitler had mostly satisfied himself with collecting the lands of German-speaking peoples -- Austria, the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia, etc. -- although Poland also had a substantial German minority.

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Let It Go - Mom Parody

Dem Congressman on Obamacare: The Worst Is Yet to Come, It’s ‘Going to Hit the Fan’

Massachusetts representative Stephen Lynch isn’t just worried about the negative impact Obamacare will have on his party’s performance this fall — he also thinks its worst effects on our health-care system are still to come. Lynch, who voted against the Affordable Care Act in 2010, warned that the situation is “going to hit the fan” when the law’s delayed provisions go into effect down the road.

“There are parts of Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act, that were postponed because they are unpalatable,” he told Boston Herald Radio. The Cadillac tax that goes into effect in a few years, he said, will be “the first time in this country’s history that we have actually taxed health care.”

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CARSON: When Government Looks More Like Foe Than Friend

The Bundy case in Nevada provides many insights into the state of our nation with respect to the relationship between the people and the government.

The Bundys appear to be honorable American citizens without adequate legal counsel to help resolve a federal land issue about which they disagree with the Bureau of Land Management. Without question, they violated some of the innumerable laws and regulations that continue to entangle every aspect of American life.

Their violations could certainly have been handled through a multitude of less brutal means than those employed by our federal government, which through the mouthpiece of Sen. Harry Reid emphasizes how important it is for the government to enforce its laws.
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Rand Paul: Bundy Siege is Why Americans Are Getting Angry With Federal Government

The American Middle Class Is No Longer the World’s Richest

The American middle class, long the most affluent in the world, has lost that distinction.

While the wealthiest Americans are outpacing many of their global peers, a New York Times analysis shows that across the lower- and middle-income tiers, citizens of other advanced countries have received considerably larger raises over the last three decades.

After-tax middle-class incomes in Canada — substantially behind in 2000 — now appear to be higher than in the United States. The poor in much of Europe earn more than poor Americans.
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Tom Cotton Ad: "At Ease"

A Baffling Balloon Behavior

Vanishing Ocean City With Bunk Mann

The Dispatch

Vanishing Ocean City With Bunk Mann
Much of the bayside was still undeveloped in this aerial view of 53rd to 54th streets in the mid-1970s.
Boulden’s Marina -- today the site of Beach World, Chauncey’s Surf-O-Rama and Bayside Rentals -- is in the center of the photo while the large grassy area is now occupied by the San Remo Condominium.
The small island in the background is today part of Macky’s Bayside Bar and Grill, which features a white sandy beach with open air dining. The Candy Kitchen has remained on 53rd Street for over 40 years.
Photo courtesy of Bruce Boulden

Democrat Governor Candidate In Maryland Slurs Veteran Opponent

It’s not the first time a Democrat has insulted military members and veterans, and it certainly won’t be the last. Democrats, not all of them, mind you, but a goodly chunk show a disdain for the military. What is interesting is that a) this is Blue on Blue, and b) how the attack is phrased.

(WBAL-TV) A veterans group is demanding an apology from Attorney General Doug Gansler, a Democratic candidate for governor.

The group says Gansler made a disparaging remark about Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown’s service in Iraq.

Gansler said he doesn’t consider what Col. Anthony Brown did in Iraq a “real job.” Gansler made the remarks during a candidates forum Monday in Bethesda before the Tech Council of Maryland, the state’s largest technology and life science trade association.

In reference to Brown, without directly mentioning his name, Gansler said, “You know, I’m running against somebody who has never managed anybody, never run anything. You know his ads are about how he was a lawyer in Iraq, and that’s all fine and good but this is a real job.”

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Analysis: New Poll Confirms No One Cares About Race For Md. Governor

The inaugural Maryland Poll from St. Mary’s College of Maryland surveyed the political landscape heading into the 2014 primary election and found that most Marylanders have absolutely no preference when it comes to the candidates for governor.

The poll is in line with prior polls for Gonzales Research, The Baltimore Sun, and The Washington Post. Much like those polls, the Maryland Poll finds a very unsettled race for the GOP nomination and a Democratic race where the favorite, the sitting two term lieutenant governor, is being beaten by “No Preference” by a 2 to 1 margin.

The 2014 primary is two months away and yet most voters appear to have no firm commitments to the candidates.
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Overdue Mercy for Low-Level Drug Offenders

When Barack Obama ran for the White House in 2008, federal inmates and their families believed that if he won, miracles would follow. They were convinced that the former law professor and critic of federal mandatory minimum sentences would be liberal with his unfettered constitutional power to free low-level and nonviolent offenders sentenced to decades, even life without parole, behind bars.

Then, for the next five years, criminal lawyers and reformers stood around scratching their heads, wondering why Obama held the worst pardon record of any modern president. He commuted one sentence in his first term. When Obama was re-elected in 2012, they hoped he would open the gates. In December, a small door opened. The president commuted the sentences of eight crack offenders, all of whom had served at least 15 years.

On Monday, Attorney General Eric Holder made the announcement that promises big change. Holder said the Department of Justice will adopt a “new and improved” approach with a bigger team “committed to recommending as many qualified applicants as possible for reduced sentences.” Expect the new team to seek out nonviolent, low-level drug offenders with clean prison records.

Sam Morison, a former staffer in the pardon attorney’s office, fears that the new clemency project will be a “technical exercise that only an expert in the federal sentencing guidelines can appreciate.”

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Bonuses Given To IRS Employes Who Owed Back Taxes

While some taxpayers are worried about getting steep fines for fudging on their tax returns, a new government watchdog’s report found that the Internal Revenue Service paid $1 million in bonuses to employees who owed back taxes.

In addition, the IRS’s inspector general found that the tax agency had been granting cash and time-off rewards to employees who had faced disciplinary action in the past.

All told, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) survey found that between October 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012, more than 2,800 employees with recent documented “conduct issues resulting in disciplinary action” received more than $2.8 million in monetary bonuses and more than 27,000 hours in time-off awards. More than 1,100 IRS employees with federal “tax compliance problems” received more than $1 million in cash awards and more than 10,000 hours in time-off awards.
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U.S. Marshal Fatally Shoots Defendant In Utah Courtroom

An alleged gang member appearing in court in Utah was shot dead by a U.S. marshal on Monday after he reportedly lunged at a witness.

Deseret News says 25-year-old Siale Angilau, aka "C-Down," was on trial in federal court in Salt Lake City when the fatal shooting took place.

"During the trial this morning, the defendant went after, engaged the witness stand, and when he engaged the witness at the witness stand, he was shot by the U.S. Marshals Service," Mark Dressen, the FBI's assistant special agent-in-charge for the Utah bureau, was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

"From what I understand, the defendant may have grabbed a pen or a pencil and charged the witness stand at that time," he said.

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Made In The USA: Childless Chinese Turn To American Surrogates

Chinese couples who are unable to have children are turning to a surprising place for help these days: America. By hiring American surrogates, Chinese couples get around a ban on surrogacy in China, as well as the country's birth limits.

It also guarantees their children something many wealthy Chinese want these days: a U.S. passport.

Tony Jiang and his wife, Cherry, live in Shanghai and couldn't have children naturally. First, they turned to underground hospitals in China for surrogacy.

It didn't go well.

Jiang says one of the surrogates ran away.

"It was almost Chinese New Year's break. She became so homesick so she flew back home," he says. "My wife was just two or three days away from embryo transfer. That was really ridiculous and disappointing."

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Help End The Violence


Supreme Court Will Hear Challenge To Ohio Ban On Campaign Lies

The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments Tuesday testing whether states can make it a crime to lie about candidates during an election campaign.

At issue is an Ohio law that imposes potential jail time or a fine for the first offense, and possibly loss of the right to vote for anyone convicted twice. The case before the court, however, involves not a person, but an organization.

During the 2010 midterm elections, the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List wanted to put up a billboard ad targeting then-Rep. Steven Driehaus, D-Ohio, for his vote on the Affordable Care Act.

The ad said, "Shame on Steve Driehaus! Driehaus voted FOR taxpayer-funded abortion."

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SFD Calls For Service 4-22-14

  • Tuesday April, 22 2014 @ 23:16:26Nature: Pro Qa EmsCity: Salisbury
  • Tuesday April, 22 2014 @ 21:29:38Nature: Pro Qa EmsCity: Salisbury
  • Tuesday April, 22 2014 @ 20:44:19Nature: Medical AlarmCity: Salisbury
  • Tuesday April, 22 2014 @ 19:28:38Nature: Difficulty BreathingCity: Salisbury
  • Tuesday April, 22 2014 @ 19:17:46Nature: Sick SubjectCity: Salisbury
  • Tuesday April, 22 2014 @ 18:27:55Nature: Diabetic DifficultyCity: Salisbury
  • Tuesday April, 22 2014 @ 17:33:21Nature: Gas LeakAddress: 1207 Brittingham St Salisbury, MD 21801

FINDING HUMOR IN THE MIDST OF PARTISANSHIP

Annapolis, Md. – Ron George, Republican candidate for Governor of Maryland, has released the following statement:

“Governor O'Malley invited legislators on the final day of session to a reception at the Governor's House. So, never missing an opportunity to invoke humor in the midst of what could be an awkward moment, I brought a tape measurer and began measuring the curtains. When the Governor came over asking what I was doing, I asked him if he would not mind holding the other end. I thanked him for seeing the humor in the situation. The whole room burst into laughter. The two pictures below tell the story.”


"No Knock Raid" by Lindy: This Is the American Police State

Editor’s Note: I’m posting this because I worry that people do not realize how late the hour is in our country. That, and this video brought tears to my eyes. This is the police state in all it’s ugly, brutal reality. Please read the description to understand what you are about to see.

This is America.

Note: This video contains graphic images of violence and mature language. Viewer discretion is advised.

From Reason TV:

“No Knock Raid,” written and performed by Toronto-based musician Lindy, is a searing indictment of one of the most aggressive, ubiquitous, and mistaken tactics in the War on Drugs.

Consider only the most recent raid to cause a national outrage: On May 5, 2011, 26-year-old Jose Guerena, who survived two tours in the Iraq War, was shot and killed during a raid on his house by a Pima County, Arizona SWAT team that fired dozens of bullets through his front door. Guerena, married and a father of two, had just finished a 12-hour shift at a local mine. Law enforcement sources claim he was involved in narco-trafficking but have yet to produce any evidence supporting that claim. Officers involved in the death have been cleared of wrongdoing.

Guerena’s death is not an isolated incident. As USA Today reports, an astonishing 70,000 to 80,000 militarized police raids take place on a annual basis in America, many of them on mistaken suspects and many of them ending with injury or death for police and citizens alike.

As Reason Contributing Editor Radley Balko and others have documented, the militarization of standard police practice is a direct consequence of the modern-day War on Drugs, started 40 years ago by President Richard Nixon – and perpetuated by every administration since. (For a comprehensive report on the failure of the drug war to achieve any of its stated goals, read “Ending the Drug War: A Dream Deferred,” by Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.)

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The Yeshiva Boys Choir - "Daddy Come Home"

On the Wicomico River, The Last Stand for Maryland’s Nutria

WICOMICO RIVER – On the wall of the nutria eradication team’s drab office at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, there’s a large whiteboard with names and numbers on it. They’re bets for a long-running pool: How many nutria will the team find in the marshes of the Wicomico River?

“The people that guessed 90, 70, 120, they’ve already lost,” says Stephen Kendrot as he drives along a Wicomico County backroad.

It’s an overcast April afternoon with a long-awaited bit of warmth in the air. The nutria project leader is coming back from a site in Quantico, where four of his trappers are roaming the Wicomico River in jon boats. They’ve killed about 120 nutria there so far and found a few more this morning.

The river is the site of the final battle in the long-running quest to eradicate the beaver-like rodents (“nutria” means “otter” in Spanish) that have destroyed thousands of acres of the state’s wetlands over the past 40 years. It has taken longer than expected — news articles profiled the waning fight in 2011 — but finally, the state is almost free of the invasive rodents.

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Existing Home Sales Drop To Lowest Since July 2012; All-Cash Buyers, Investors Are 50% Of March Transactions

Another month, another drop in existing home sales, which in March declined once again from 4.60MM units to 4.59MM. While the good news was that this number did beat the consensus estimate of 4.56MM (based on a a range of 4.50MM to 4.85MM from 75 economist surveyed), the bad news was that once again, a near majority of the upside was once again due to investors and other all-cash buyers, who accounted for 50% of all sales. That and that like last time, of course, this was the worst existing home sales number since July 2012.

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Reid: ‘Something Will Happen’ To Stop Nevada Rancher Cliven Bundy

BUNKERVILLE, Nev. (CBS Las Vegas/AP) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says “something is going to happen” to get Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy to stop letting his cattle graze on federal land.

“It’s obvious that you can’t just walk away from this. And we can speculate all we want to speculate to what’s going to happen next,” Reid told KSNV-TV. “But I don’t think it’s going to be tomorrow that something is going to happen, but something will happen. We are a nation of laws, not of men and women.”

Reid called militias staying at Bundy’s Bunkerville ranch “domestic violent terrorist-wannabes.”

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Researchers Use Twitter to Predict Assaults, Other Crimes

Hidden in the Twittersphere are nuggets of information that could prove useful to crime fighters -- even before a crime has been committed.

Researchers at the University of Virginia demonstrated tweets could predict certain kinds of crimes if the correct analysis is applied.

A research paper published in the scientific journal Decision Support Systems last month said the analysis of geo-tagged tweets can be useful in predicting 19 to 25 kinds of crimes, especially for offenses such as stalking, thefts and certain kinds of assault.

The results are surprising, especially when one considers that people rarely tweet about crimes directly, said lead researcher Matthew Gerber of the university's Predictive Technology Lab.

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Man Who Avoided Prison For 13 Years Seeks Release

A St. Louis man who avoided prison because of a clerical error and led a law-abiding life for more than a decade before he was locked up last year is asking a Missouri judge to set him free.

A petition filed by Cornealious Michael Anderson in Mississippi County Circuit Court on Tuesday seeks to require the Missouri Department of Corrections to credit the 13 years he was technically at large after a May 2000 armed robbery conviction in suburban St. Louis.

It's a legal option previously suggested by Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, who at the same time defended the state's decision to imprison Anderson. Anderson's Florida-based attorney had previously said he was skeptical of that strategy.
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EXPECT TRAFFIC DELAYS DURING THE OCEAN CITY ISLAND 2 ISLAND HALF MARATHON & 5K

Click photo to enlarge. Photo provided
by race organizers.
The Ocean City Police Department is reminding citizens to expect traffic delays the morning of Saturday, April 26, during the 10th Annual Ocean City Island 2 Island Half Marathon and 5K. This year, half marathon runners will begin the race at Assateague Island and make their way to the finish line at the Inlet Lot. Runners participating in the 5K event will remain on the Boardwalk and will not affect traffic. 

Upon reaching Ocean City, runners will travel east on Route 50 in the far right lane and cross the Harry W. Kelley Memorial Bridge before crossing Philadelphia and Baltimore Avenues to reach the boardwalk. Drivers should expect delays in the downtown area beginning at approximately 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Traffic on Baltimore and Philadelphia Avenues will be intermittently stopped in advance of runners reaching the intersections and may at times be stopped for several minutes to accommodate runners without delay.

Event participants and spectators are urged to use crosswalks while crossing roadways and motorists should be extremely vigilant in the downtown area during this event. Finally, the Ocean City Police Department wishes the best of luck to all runners participating in Saturday’s races!

BREAKING NEWS: DOJ to expand number of people eligible for clemency

New Justice Department guidelines to allow certain prisoners who already have served at least 10 years in prison to apply for release.

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Boy Scouts Revoke Seattle Church's Charter Over Gay Scout Leader

The Boy Scouts of America has severed ties with a Seattle church that has insisted on allowing a gay man to remain as a troop leader, the youth organization said on Monday.

It was likely the first time the national organization has severed ties with a scout troop since a landmark vote last year allowed gay scouts but kept a ban on gay adult leaders.

The decision to revoke the Rainier Beach United Methodist Church's charter comes as the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) faces pressure from social conservatives over the rule change, as well as from gay rights groups who say it did not go far enough.

"Because the church no longer agrees to the terms of the BSA chartered organization agreement, which includes following BSA policies, it is no longer authorized to offer the Scouting program," said Boy Scouts spokesman Deron Smith in a statement. "We are saddened by this development."

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Homeland Security to Purchase 25 Million Shotgun Rounds

DHS likely gearing up for mass panic in America with perpetual ammo purchases

Yesterday the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is seeking an ammunition dealer who can provide 25 million shotgun rounds to the agency over a five year period, adding to its already enormous arsenal of ammo.

The solicitation posted on FBO.gov states that U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a department under DHS, is seeking “shotgun ammunition for use by all applicable agencies in the Department of Homeland Security,” more specifically three million rounds of shotgun slugs per year and two million rounds of buckshot per year for five years.

“The ammunition will be used as appropriate at all Department of Homeland Security (DHS or department) component locations nationwide and outside the CONUS [continental United States,]” the notice reads.

This is an excessive amount that not only reveals the vast scope of the emerging police state but also fuels fears that DHS is preparing for large-scale mass panic in America.

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EASTERN SHORE REGIONAL LIBRARY RELOCATES TO THE TRI-COUNTY BUILDING

The Eastern Shore Regional Library, Inc. is moving from their current location in the Wicomico Public Library to its new home in the Tri-County Building at 31901 Tri-County Way, Salisbury, MD 21804. ESRL expects to be in the new location by July 1, 2014.

“My staff and I are excited about relocating to the Tri-County building. We are grateful to the Wicomico Public Library for hosting us for our first 50 years and look forward to many more serving them and our other member libraries on the Eastern Shore." says Eastern Shore Regional Library Administrator, John Venditta.

The state-supported not-for-profit serves as the regional resource center for the public libraries in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties. ESRL’s services include daily materials delivery, information and reference services, technology support and consultation, consortial purchasing, staff training, marketing and graphic design, as well as a variety of other services through mutual cooperation with the eight county library systems.

Common Questions On Common Core Part 2: New Requirements And Tests In Md.

In a major shift in public education, states across the nation have been implementing a new set of standards known as the Common Core. Common Core appears as a subject in national and local news media and is a constant subject of debate, particularly in conservative circles.

Despite all this attention, Common Core still remains a confusing topic for many people. In this three-part series MarylandReporter.com answers some basic questions about Common Core.

Part 1 focused on Common Core itself and how it was developed.

Part 2 looks at what the new standards mean for Maryland public school systems and their limited options in implementing them.
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76% of Released Inmates Arrested Again Within 5 Years

More than three quarters of prisoners released from state prisons were arrested for a new crime or parole violation within five years of their release, according to a new report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

The study released Tuesday called "Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 30 States in 2005: Patterns from 2005 to 2010" tracked a random sampling of 69,279 released prisoners for five years and found a majority of state prisoners were arrested by the end of their first year of freedom.

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This Is Why Harry Reid Used The Term “Domestic Terrorists”

We have already established Harry Reid’s Communist connections to the Bundy Ranch. I also posted the missing BLM documents (that someone paid a lot of money to have deleted from google cache) that link the cattle on the Bundy Farm to holding up or impairing the Solar Project.

It seems that the US Senator instead of stepping down and doing the honorable thing, will double down with Hitler / Stalin style Authoritarianism by using the Patriot Act.

Reid was quoted saying this about the NON VIOLENT Civil disobedience (like Rosa Parks):
“Those people who hold themselves out to be patriots are not. They’re nothing more than domestic terrorists,”

If classified as Domestic Terrorists, these people will be subject to the provisions of the Patriot Act.
SEC. 802. DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

`(5) the term `domestic terrorism’ means activities that–

`(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;

`(B) appear to be intended–

`(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;

`(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or

`(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and

`(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.’.

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Many Credit Card Users Paying Through the Nose

Credit is cheap these days, unless you're talking about credit cards.

The average credit card interest rate for people with fair credit is a whopping 21 percent, according to financial research firm CardHub. That was almost 4.5 percent higher than a year earlier.

While interest rates for other types of loans, such as mortgages and auto loans, remain near historic lows, consumers haven't seen the same type of benefit when it comes to their credit cards. The reason? For one, credit card debt is unsecured, meaning there's no asset to claim if a borrower can't pay, which raises a lender's risk and pushes up rates.

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SHARE THE ROAD WITH MOTORCYCLISTS THIS WEEKEND

This weekend thousands of motorcyclists are anticipated to visit Ocean City and the surrounding area as the Bikes to the Beach Spring Rally is scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 24. In correlation with Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which begins May 1, the Ocean City Police Department is reminding motorists and motorcyclists to “share the road” and be extra alert to keep motorcyclists safe.

“Motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any motor vehicle on the roadway,” commented Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro. “Motorists should perform visual checks for motorcyclists by checking mirrors and blind spots before they enter or exit a lane of traffic. Pedestrians should also get into the habit of scanning for motorcyclists who might be hidden by other traffic.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are much more vulnerable than a passenger vehicle occupant in the event of a crash. Motorcyclists should remain alert to other drivers, never ride impaired or distracted and always wear a helmet and other protective gear.

In order to help keep motorcyclists safe in Ocean City, the Ocean City Police Department would like to offer the following tips:
  • Always allow a motorcyclist the full lane width—never try to share a lane.
  • Perform a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or exiting a lane of traffic, and at intersections.
  • Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
  • Allow more following distance – three or four seconds – when behind a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.
  • Never tailgate. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.
In addition, motorcyclists should follow these tips to remain safe:
  • Avoid riding in poor weather conditions.
  • Wear brightly colored protective gear and a DOT-compliant helmet.
  • Combine hand signals and turn signals to draw more attention.
  • Use reflective tape and stickers to increase visibility.
  • Never drive while impaired or distracted.
In hopes of a safe and successful “Bikes to the Beach” event and Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, the Ocean City Police Department reminds all drivers and motorcyclists to help share in the responsibility of keeping all road users safe, and do your part by safely “sharing the road.”

Netflix Plans to Raise Prices for New Customers

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Video streaming service Netflix Inc said it intends to raise the monthly subscription price for new customers by $1 or $2 a month to help the company buy more movies and TV shows and improve service for its 48 million global subscribers.

Investors welcomed the announcement by Netflix, which had suffered from a consumer exodus and stock plunge after it announced an unpopular price increase in July 2011. The company's shares jumped 6.7 percent in after-hours trading to $371.97, after the company released plans for a price hike and posted a rise in first-quarter profit that beat Wall Street expectations.

Chief Executive Reed Hastings said Netflix had improved its selection of TV shows and movies and added original series like critically acclaimed Kevin Spacey thriller "House of Cards."

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Grads Hit with Defaults, When Co-Signers Die, Go Bankrupt

Student loan borrowers are suddenly being thrown into default when the co-signer on their loan -- often a parent or grandparent -- dies or files for bankruptcy.

Even if they are current on their payments, some borrowers are immediately being placed in default and told to repay the loan in full because their co-signer can no longer back them financially, according to a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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One Killed, One Injured in Crash Near Millsboro

Location: Banks Road at Friendship Drive, Millsboro, DE

Date of Occurrence: Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at 9:07 p.m.

Vehicles and Operators:

Operator 1: Frances Baskwill, 75, of Millsboro, DE (transported to Beebe Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries)
Vehicle 1: 2004 Toyota Matrix
Passenger: Patricia Murphy, 77, of Millsboro, DE (deceased)

Operator 2: John Albright, 38, of Millsboro, DE (not injured)
Vehicle 2: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu

Resume:
Millsboro- A Millsboro woman was killed in a crash on Banks Road yesterday evening.

The crash occurred at 9:07 p.m. as Frances Baskwill, 75, of Millsboro, drove a 2004 Toyota Matrix south on Banks Road. Baskwill began to turn left towards Friendship drive, and the front of her vehicle collided with the front of a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, which was traveling north on Banks Road.

Shielding Immigrants From Deportation

Senior officials are considering a policy change for immigrants who don't have serious criminal records. It would shield them from deportation. The possible change follows a review ordered by President Obama. The former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement supports the move, but Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has yet to weigh in on the possible change. With sweeping immigration reform stalled in the House of Representatives, President Obama is under pressure to curb deportations. Administration officials say they will seek near-term goals because comprehensive reform is only possible with congressional action.

FDA To Regulate "E-Cigs"

The Food and Drug administration will soon decide how it plans to regulate the rapidly growing industry of popular electronic cigarette devices known as "E-Cigs." The device uses nicotine infused vapor that looks like smoke but doesn't have the chemicals or tar. The FDA has a difficult task ahead. Some call the new devices "the first disruptive technology" toward getting rid of cigarette use, and others worry that they are just another gateway to getting children hooked on nicotine. Public health groups say the marketing campaigns and amount of candy-like flavors target young people, and urge the FDA to quickly set standards.

NWS Issued Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
358 AM EDT WED APR 23 2014

MDZ021>025-231600-
/O.UPG.KAKQ.FW.A.0003.140423T1600Z-140424T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KAKQ.FW.W.0002.140423T1600Z-140424T0000Z/
DORCHESTER-WICOMICO-SOMERSET-INLAND WORCESTER-MARYLAND BEACHES-
358 AM EDT WED APR 23 2014

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE LOWER MARYLAND SHORE...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH
IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 26 PERCENT.

* FUEL MOISTURE...LESS THAN 8 PERCENT

* IMPACTS...THE COMBINATION OF DRYING VEGETATION...LOW RELATIVE
  HUMIDITY...AND GUSTY WINDS WILL CREATE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR
  THE DEVELOPMENT AND SPREAD OF WILDFIRES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

USPS Having Sellers Remorse

The Postal Service may not have realized what it was losing when it sold 22 historic properties over three recent years. The inspector general says the cash-strapped agency did not know how many historic properties it owned or what it cost to preserve them. It did not report historic New Deal artwork to the National Museum of American Art, as required by agency rules. It's largely a data problem: facilities personnel failed to catalog historic properties as such in their computer system. Post offices included those in the Bronx, and, at the other end of the country, La Jolla, Calif. The Postal Service is trying to offload costly older buildings to save money and reduce its footprint.

"The Captains Are A Problem"

The Army will have to force out thousands of young officers over the next year or so. It projects 1,500 captains and 550 majors will have to leave. Evaluation boards will decide who stays and who goes. The Army is shrinking to 490,000 by October 2015. That's a loss of about 32,000 soldiers between now and then. Minus the voluntary retirements and decreased enlistments, the Army estimates it will ask a total of 3,000 officers to leave. Without 20 years in the service, they will not be eligible for retirement benefits. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno tells the Associated Press, "the captains are a problem."

Pass The Butter ... Please. This is interesting

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow colouring and sold it to people to use in place of butter.
How do you like that? They have come out with some clever new flavourings....

DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter?

Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.

Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to 5 grams for margarine..

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.

Butter has many nutritional benefits whereas margarine has a few and only because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavours of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries whereas margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

And now, for Margarine..

Very High in Trans fatty acids.

Triples risk of coronary heart disease ...

Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five times..

Lowers quality of breast milk

Decreases Immune Response.

Decreases Insulin Response..

And here's the most disturbing fact... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC... and shares 27 ingredients with PAINT. These facts alone were enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated!!!! (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

Open a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will notice a couple of things:

* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)

* it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value ; NOTHING will grow on it; even those teeny weeny micro-organisms will not find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic .
Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

Chinese Proverb:

When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.

Pass the BUTTER PLEASE

5 steps to protect your smart phone from theft or loss

One day, someone you don't know may end up holding your phone. Maybe you'll forget it in a taxi, or it will be snatched out of your hand—smart phone thefts are on the rise. And you're going to be concerned because that phone holds a pocket-sized summary of your digital life. It has photos of the places you've been and people in your life. It also has a record of what you posted on Facebook or bought from Amazon, where you bank, and which restaurants you like.

Here's how you can keep strangers from accessing your personal information, safely back up and retrieve the photos and videos you've stored in the device, and, with a little luck, increase your chances of recovering your phone.

Before your smart phone is gone
Step 1: Use a strong screen lock


This is your first and strongest line of defense. Skip the easy 4-digit PIN and instead create a strong password that contains a string of at least 8 characters that include some combination of letters, numbers, and special characters that don't form recognizable words or phrases—especially those that could be associated with you. For instance, Fred1969 is a weak password, but F!ed9691 could be much harder to crack. While typing a nontrivial password may feel cumbersome at first, it should get much easier with practice.

The iPhone 5S's Touch ID fingerprint reader, built into its Home button, is designed to do away with this drudgery. We found it faster than typing a PIN. (Even with Touch ID enabled, you should still use a strong passcode.) We were able to go from a sleeping screen to the desktop in about a second. Password protection comes with another safeguard: After several unsuccessful tries to enter a passcode, typically 10, some phones will automatically erase all of your personal data. If your phone provides this option, activate it.