Obama Cranks Up Currency Heat On China As Gold, Oil Prices Soar

On a day when the price of gold soared past $1,400 an ounce and oil hit high for the year, President Obama found himself in India Monday on the defensive over the Federal Reserve's decision last week to print more money so it can buy up $600 billion in government bonds -- a move Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke insists will stimulate an economy stuck in neutral.

While the White House traditionally steers clear of commenting directly on Fed actions, Obama insisted that "the Fed's mandate -- my mandate -- is to grow our economy. And that's not just good for the United States, that's good for the world as a whole."

Obama's comments came in the face of stepped up criticism from China, Russia and Germany over the Fed's decision and just days ahead of the all-important G-20 meeting of the world's leading economic powers. The summit has been pitched as a chance for leaders of the countries that account for 85 percent of world output to prevent a currency fight that could endanger the global economic recovery.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble lashed out at U.S. pressure on Berlin to rein in the country's surging exports, accusing Washington of hypocrisy and telling Der Spiegel magazine in an interview that ran over the weekend, "the American growth model … is stuck in a deep crisis," Reuters reported.

"It doesn't add up when the Americans accuse the Chinese of currency manipulation and then, with the help of their central bank's printing presses, artificially lower the value of the dollar," he told Reuters.

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Gold Sets Record High Amid Economic Fears

Investors looking for safer places to stow their assets pushed gold to a record price above $1,400 an ounce Monday as they become more worried about the global economy.

A combination of issues have created fresh worry among investors: Ireland's debt difficulties and two key global summits where leaders of major industrial and developing nations are discussing currencies, free trade and ways to help the world economy.

Also in the back of investors' minds is the prospect of inflation stemming the Federal Reserve's multi-billion bond-buying program.

"People are really concerned again and so I think we're seeing safe-haven buying," IG Markets Inc. CEO Dan Cook said.

"Whether you're holding dollars or euros or whatever you're holding, gold is that one kind of go-to product, a commodity as well as a currency type of trade," he said. "Nobody seems to be that willing to sell out of it."

Gold for December delivery added $5.50 to settle at a record high of $1,403.20 an ounce. Some analysts believe gold could go climb as high as $1,500 an ounce by year end.

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BREAKING NEWS

Killer of mom, 2 daughters gets death sentence

Jury doesn't buy defense that he was just drug addict thief and that  partner was to blame

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Connecticut man was condemned to death Monday for a night of terror inside a suburban home in which a woman was strangled and her two daughters tied to their beds, doused in gasoline and left to die in a fire.

Jurors in New Haven Superior Court voted unanimously to send Steven Hayes to death row after deliberating over the span of four days. The judge will impose the sentence.

GO HERE to read more.

Matt Maciarello Sworn In To The States Attorney's Office This Morning EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS

At 8:30 AM this morning Matt Maciarello was sworn in as a part time Deputy States Attorney by the honorable Judge Beckstead. 

Matt Maciarello and Davis Ruark want to tackle things head on, right away. Many do not understand just how complicated this position is, especially during a transition such as this.

One way they can help each other is by making this move so one can concentrate on the cases at hand and the other can work on managing the finances and case load.

Davis Ruark has proven to be a complete gentleman in the election process and now in the transition process. Most others would leave the office in spite but Davis is a class act and wants to make sure, (especially for his Staff) that all goes well and Matt knows what he's up against.

Matt stated at this moment the most important thing he needs to do is to concentrate on his partnership in his Law Firm for this transition. He will work nights and weekends for the States Attorneys Office.

The Court Room was completely filled with Law Enforcement Officers, Lawyers, friends and family as well as concerned citizens. Tommy & Jennifer Foxwell were also in attendance to congratulate Matt. It was a very pleasant event.

Stolen Bobcats / Skid-Steers & Trailers

Worcester County Bureau of Investigation
13070 St. Martins Neck Road     Post Office Box 199         Bishopville, Maryland 21813
Office: 410-352-3476                  
Fax: 410-352-3053         
Out of Area Toll Free: 1-800-811-8396

NEWS RELEASE
Date & Time:  Mid-Late October    Late Night/Early Morning           Case
#:10-0232
Location Occurred:  Berlin and West Ocean City, Worcester County, Maryland
Crime or Violation:  Theft of Construction Equipment
Victim:  N/A
Accused:  Unknown
Narrative:   
During the final two weeks of October, investigators with the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation have been investigating numerous thefts of bobcats, skid-steers, and trailers from the Berlin and West Ocean City area. 
The unknown suspects have been removing the trailers containing the construction equipment from small storage lots in the late night/early morning hours. 
Investigators are asking the public’s assistance in helping identify the suspects and/or the vehicle involved.   If anyone has information regarding the theft or has seen anything suspicious with this type of equipment, contact the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation at 410-352-3476 or Trooper First Class
Clark at 443-783-0444.

No Bull, Cows Love Pumpkins

If you've ever wondered what Farmers do with their pumpkins once the season is over, now you know. I, (for one) have never seen such a scene before but it is what it is. Welcome to the Eastern Shore.

69 Child Prostitutes, 99 Pimps Caught In Major Bust, FBI Says

WASHINGTON -- The FBI says it has found 69 child prostitutes across the country during a crackdown on the sexual exploitation of children over the last three days.

Federal, state and local authorities in 40 cities also arrested 884 people, including 99 suspected pimps, on a variety of charges.

The children were found during Operation Cross Country V, a three-day roundup targeting child traffickers and pimps.

GO HERE to read more.

Vendors Catch A Break On Sunday

If you happened to be a vendor yesterday at the Park & Flea in Salisbury you got an unusual break. It was windy and cold so Michael Day decided it was too cold to charge anyone for setting up a booth.

If you're looking for a way to unload those items clogging up you home, garage or building you can set up a booth for only $10.00 on Saturday and $5.00 on Sunday.

Fruitland Police Department Press Releases

Incident: Possession of CDS
Date & Time: November 5, 2010 @ 5:14 p.m.
Location: Fruitland, Maryland
Accused: DERELL LAMONT COTTMAN B/M dob: 2/19/1989
Fruitland, Maryland
Charges: Possession of CDS

Resume: On the above date and time at Poplar Street and Elizabeth Avenue, Fruitland,
Md., officers initiated a traffic stop on a 1997 Honda Accord. Upon approaching the vehicle officers detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana eminating from the vehicle. A subsequent search of the operator identified as Derell Lemont Cottman and the vehicle revealed the presence of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance believed to be Oxycodone Hydrochloride for which the accused did not a prescription for. The accused was arrested and transported to WCDC where he was remanded to the custody of Central Booking.

Incident: Driving under the influence
Date & Time: November 7, 2010 @ 1:58 a.m.
Location: S/B Rt. 13 and Broadway
Accused: Wilson Sain-Vilus B/M dob: 11/8/1977
Salisbury, Maryland
Charges: Driving M/V on highway without required license
Negligent driving – contributed to accident
Driving M/V under the influence of alcohol – conbtributed to accident
Driving M/V while impaired by alcohol – contributed to accident
Driving M/V impaired by drugs or drugs and alcohol –contributed to accident
Unsafe backing of M/V – contrubuted to accident

Resume: On the above date and time S/B on Rt. 13, officers observed a 2003 Mazda weave from the travel portion of the roadway onto the right shoulder several times. The vehicle was also traveling 20 to 25 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. Upon officers activating emergency equipment, the operator of the Mazda initially stopped the vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway, then continued s/b onto the right shoulder, narrowly avoiding running completely off the shoulder into the adjacent ditch. Officers ordered the operator to place the vehicle in park at which time the Mazda began traveling backward and collided with the officers’ patrol vehicle. When contact was made with the operator who was consequently identified as Wilson Sain Vilus, his appearance and behaviour was observed to be consistant with one who was under the influence of alcohol and or drugs.

He was unable to perform field sobriety tests. The accused was arrested and transported to WCDC where he was released to the custody of Central Booking

House GOP Vows Open Vote On Raising Debt Ceiling

For the first time in years, House lawmakers will soon have the chance to vote on a standalone measure to increase the federal debt limit next year under the new Republican majority — a vote that's shaping up as the first early test of the GOP's commitment to spending restraint.

The House Republican leader, Rep. John A. Boehner of Ohio, will give lawmakers a chance for a direct vote on raising the debt limit, spokesman Michael Steel told the Washington Times.

That would be a break with the recent tactic of burying the debt limit increase in parliamentary maneuvers — a way to shield vulnerable lawmakers from having to take the unpopular vote — and would instantly give leverage to those in Congress hoping to impose immediate spending cuts.

Sen. Jim DeMint, South Carolina Republican, was asked Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" whether he would vote to raise the debt ceiling, and said, "No, I won't."

"Not unless this debt ceiling is combined with some path to balancing our budget, returning to 2008 spending levels, repealing Obamacare. We have got to demonstrate that we have the resolve to cut spending … we cannot allow that to go through the Congress without showing the American people that we are going to balance the budget, and we're not going to continue to raise the debt in America," he said.     

More here

Lobbyist Paid $15K To Rep. Waters' Husband

A lobbyist known as one of California's most successful power brokers while serving as a legislative leader in that state paid Rep. Maxine Waters' husband $15,000 in consulting fees at a time she was co-sponsoring legislation that would help save the real-estate finance business of one of the lobbyist's best-paying clients, records show.

Ms. Waters' husband, Sidney Williams, a former pro football player and ambassador to the Bahamas, was a paid consultant on a Los Angeles lobbying project for Mike Roos, who served with Ms. Waters in the California State Assembly. During Mr. Roos' 14-year tenure, he held the posts of majority floor leader and speaker pro tempore.

In 2007, Mr. Roos expanded his successful California lobbying business to Washington, D.C., after Democrats took control of the House and Ms. Waters became chairman of the House Financial Services housing and community opportunity subcommittee, where she played a key role in housing legislation.

Mr. Roos sought her assistance for a California client that specialized in homeownership and asset development.

According to federal lobbying records, Mr. Roos was paid $430,000 by the Nehemiah Corp. of America, a Sacramento, Calif.-based nonprofit that acted as a middleman to help sellers finance down payments for homebuyers to qualify for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). He lobbied members of Congress and federal agencies on behalf of the firm.

One of those lobbied was Ms. Waters, a California Democrat and key Nehemiah ally, who held a hearing on down-payment assistance in June 2007 and persuaded federal housing officials to delay for 30 days efforts to impose a ban on the program. She also co-sponsored legislation in 2008 and 2009 that would have kept Nehemiah's assistance program viable.     

More

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY ON FEDERAL CROP DISASTER DESIGNATION

ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 8, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley issued this statement following U.S. Department of Agriculture designation of 22 counties in Maryland as natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought and excessive heat that occurred June 1 through Aug. 31, 2010. The counties are Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worchester.  Harford County and Baltimore City were issued contiguous designations.

"Late last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved our request for a disaster designation for crop losses suffered by Maryland farmers due to drought and excessive heat during the 2010 growing season.  I want to thank Secretary Vilsack for granting our request.  This designation recognizes crop losses of 30 percent or more in 22 counties.  It is our hope that the designation will provide relief to the farmers who need it and help them prepare for the upcoming growing season. 

“This designation makes farm operators in all Maryland counties and Baltimore City eligible for assistance from USDA Farm Service Agency.  This assistance includes Farm Service Agency emergency loans and other assistance.  Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers and ranchers with additional information.  The O'Malley-Brown Administration is doing all we can to help keep agriculture profitable and preserve open, productive farmland in our state."

Finally, Some Honesty In Big Buck Hunting Stories...

Here's a picture of the new world record whitetail.

It was taken by the cousin of a co-worker's sister's, uncle's, best friend's, son-in-law's, niece's hairdresser's, neighbor's ex-boyfriend's oldest nephew. Reportedly it will score 2603-1/8 by B&C standard and was shot in West Texas on a really windy day, 85 degrees downhill, around a curve at 900 yards with a .22 cal. rifle.

Supposedly, this deer had killed a Brahma bull, two Land Rovers and six Jehovah's Witnesses in the last two weeks alone. They said it was winning a fight with Bigfoot when it was shot. It had also been confirmed that the buck had been seen drinking discharge water from a nuclear power plant.

This has been checked on Snopes who confirmed it.

Honest!!!

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

Corn Maze For Blondes

Found on Rt 30 between Hellam & Wrightsville PA

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES MAJOR STEPS FORWARD IN OFFSHORE WIND EFFORTS

Potential one gigawatt wind farm could generate thousands of jobs

ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 8, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Energy Administration today joined the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) in announcing a significant step forward in bringing offshore wind power generation to Maryland’s coast. The federal government, which controls the Outer Continental Shelf, has accepted the planning recommendations of the Maryland Offshore Wind Task Force and today issued both a Request for Interest (RFI) and a map of an offshore wind leasing area in federal waters adjacent to Maryland's Atlantic Coast.  Today’s announcement makes Maryland only the second state in the nation to reach this point in the process.

“Today's announcement marks another step forward for Maryland's new economy,” said Governor Martin O'Malley. “By harnessing the outstanding wind resources off of Maryland's coast, we can create thousands of green collar jobs, reduce harmful air pollution, and bring much needed, additional clean energy to Maryland.”

Governor O'Malley has made offshore wind a priority in Maryland's efforts generate 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2022, citing the potential for job creation and the abundant wind resources available. A one gigawatt offshore wind farm off of the Maryland coast could create as many as 4,000 jobs in manufacturing and construction during the five year development period, with an additional 800 permanent jobs once the turbines are spinning.

This announcement represents the culmination of nearly two years of planning. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources worked with the Maryland Energy Administration, the Maryland Offshore Wind Task Force, and other outside partners like the University of Maryland's Center for Integrative and Environmental Research, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the various environmental and stakeholder concerns that would impact any proposed offshore wind development. The result was a draft marine spatial planning area that represented the collective input of federal, state, and local stakeholders and formed the basis for the map released today by BOEMRE.

The western edge of the RFI area for proposed wind generation is located approximately 10 nautical miles from the Ocean Citycoast and the eastern edge is approximately 27 nautical miles from the Ocean City coast.  A map of the area of interest as well as the electronic copy of the RFI can be found here.

By becoming only the second state in the nation to navigate this initial planning process with the U.S. Department of the Interior's BOEMRE, Maryland has cemented its position as a leader in the emerging clean energy economy. Due to its proximity to planned wind farms in the Mid-Atlantic, as well as the deep water port and manufacturing infrastructure in Baltimore, Maryland is well positioned to be a leader not only in offshore wind energy generation, but also in ongoing construction and maintenance.

This summer, Governor O’Malley and Delaware Governor Jack Markell wrote to President Obama proposing a federal-state partnership for the development of a power purchase agreement for offshore wind energy. The development of one gigawatt of wind energy in the mid-Atlantic region could lead to the creation of thousands of clean energy jobs.

Also this summer, Governor O’Malley formally entered Maryland into a formal partnership in the newly formed Atlantic Offshore Wind Consortium. The group, comprised of states along the Atlantic coastline and the United States Department of the Interior, will work to coordinate regionally prominent issues surrounding the development of off shore wind along the Atlantic outer continental shelf.

"Thanks to Governor O'Malley's leadership Maryland is exceptionally well positioned to become leader in the emerging offshore wind industry, which has the potential to create or secure thousands of jobs and keep Maryland Smart, Green, and Growing," said Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration.

The Request for Interest will be published in the November 9, 2010 Federal Register. A map of the area of interest as well as the electronic copy of the RFI can be found here.

For more information, visit the Maryland Energy Administration.

Microsoft CEO Sells $1.3 Billion Of Company Stock

Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer sold $1.3 billion worth of shares in the company, cutting his stake by about 12 percent, but said his first stock sale in seven years should not be taken as a lack of confidence in the world's largest software firm.

Ballmer said he will sell more shares by the end of the year, in a move to diversify his investments and plan for taxes, but the company sought to allay talk that the 54-year old executive, who has been CEO since 2000, may be preparing an exit from the company.

"Even though this is a personal financial matter, I want to be clear about this to avoid any confusion," Ballmer said in a statement on the company's Website. "I am excited about our new products and the potential for our technology to change people's lives, and I remain fully committed to Microsoft and its success."

Ballmer, who was the first business manager at Microsoft when he joined in 1980, has not shown any interest in stepping down or leaving the company, despite some criticism from Wall Street over the company's lagging shares, which are trading at the same level as 2002.

According to a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Friday, Ballmer sold 49.3 million Microsoft shares in the last three days, at prices just above and below $27 per share.

Ballmer said he plans to sell up to 75 million shares by the end of this year. If he does sell that many shares, that would mean a 18 percent cut in Ballmer's stake, based on the 408 million shares he held before the sales in the last few days.

As of Friday, Ballmer still holds about 359 million Microsoft shares, or 4.2 percent of the company, worth about $9.6 billion. That makes him the second largest shareholder behind Chairman and co-founder Bill Gates, according to Thomson Reuters data.

More

Robbers Steal New 'Call of Duty' Video Game In Md.

BEL AIR, Md. –  Authorities in northeast Maryland say robbers have stolen more than 100 copies of the highly anticipated "Call of Duty: Black Ops" video game, which doesn't go on sale until Tuesday.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office says at least two men were involved in the robbery, which was timed for when the GameStop in Bel Air was about to close Saturday night.

The men, who were armed with guns, stole four cases full of the "Black Ops" game, which is the latest in the popular "Call of Duty" series. Cash and video game systems were also taken.

Sheriff's office spokeswoman Monica Worrell says anyone who has the game before Tuesday shouldn't have it and asked residents to call authorities if they're offered copies of the game before it's released.

Source

GOP To Use Debt Cap To Push Spending Cuts

Republicans are planning to demand major spending cuts next year before they would agree to raise the amount of federal debt that can be issued, setting up a clash between the Obama administration and a Congress stocked with lawmakers who campaigned as deficit hawks.

The U.S. can't accrue debt above a certain ceiling set by lawmakers. In the most extreme scenario, the government would default on certain debts if the cap doesn't move.

Republican lawmakers, including South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, and congressional aides have said major spending cuts are the primary demand they will make going into the discussions over whether to raise the limit.

It isn't clear whether the White House would agree to significant cuts so quickly, though, and Obama administration officials could try to portray the GOP as playing political games with the country's ability to borrow.

The U.S. currently has $13.7 trillion of debt outstanding, just shy of the $14.3 trillion limit Congress set in February. Barring big changes in federal spending, taxes or the economy, the government is expected to hit the ceiling by May, and administration officials have already said it will have to be raised by then.More here

The Progressive Mouse Trap

During his post-election press conference last week, the President was asked if he was concerned about exit polls showing 50% support for repeal of his health-care legislation.  He replied:

“Well, it also means one out of two voters think it was the right thing to do. And obviously this is an issue that has been contentious. But as I said, I think what's going to be useful is for us to go through the issues that Republicans have issues on—not sort of talking generally, but let’s talk specifics. Does this particular provision—when it comes to preexisting conditions, is this something you’re for or you’re against? Helping seniors get their prescription drugs—does that make sense or not?  And if we take that approach—which is different from campaigning—I mean, this is now governing—then I think that we can continue to make some progress and find some common ground. ...”

Here is the essence of the “progressive” mousetrap in a nutshell.  The President and his party seized a vast amount of un-Constitutional power over the private sector with the health-care bill.  The bill is an absolute disaster, destroying jobs and driving up insurance costs, as the astonished members of the AARP just learned.  Its cost projections have already been revealed as transparent frauds, pushing us closer to discovering what happens when the dying red star of our federal deficit collapses into a black hole … but all of that doesn’t matter, according to the President, as long as half the population isn’t clamoring for its repeal yet.

Note this doesn’t even mean half of voters energetically support the bill.  Energetic support  is no longer necessary.  In fact, it wasn’t necessary when the bill was passed in the first place, as polls demonstrated firm opposition from the public.  As it turned out, the only poll Democrats were interested in was the one that gave them the White House.  No one who voted for Barack Obama’s messianic promises of health-care reform would have supported the corrupt, misshapen mess that crawled from the back rooms of the Senate, devouring opportunity and leaving puddles of poverty in its wake.  But the Democrats had the power to force their agenda through, and since the people could not stop them, the people’s opinions were no longer relevant.

Asked about the sleazy payoffs and special exemptions required to pass his legislation, the President said, “I think that making sure that families had security and were on a trajectory to lower health-care costs was absolutely critical for this country. But you are absolutely right that when you are navigating through a House and a Senate in this kind of pretty partisan environment that it’s an ugly mess when it comes to process.”  The progressive relies heavily on the gullibility and short memory of his audience.  Republicans weren’t the ones getting Cornhusker Kickbacks last winter.  Much of ObamaCare’s staggering cost comes from purchasing the votes of reluctant Democrats.More

NPR, Juan Williams, And Sharia Law

NPR’s sacking of Juan Williams was more than the politically correct act du jour.  It was the latest in a series of media and political capitulations to Sharia law.

A central provision of Sharia law is its prohibition against speech that can be construed as “defaming” Islam or the prophet Mohammed.  Where Sharia is practiced and enforced, such “defamation” is a criminal offense that can be punished by death.

In other words, what we in America take for granted as free speech is a capital crime in some areas of the Muslim world.

Islamists around the world are seeking to impose Sharia’s muzzling of free speech on free societies.  The Organization of the Islamic Conference, composed of 56 Islamic states, has won passage of a United Nations resolution calling on countries to criminalize speech that “defames” religion—clearly referring to Islam.  After all, does anyone really expect countries like Saudi Arabia to criminalize speech that “defames” Judaism?

Criminalizing speech that is deemed “defamation” of Islam is tantamount to a backdoor enactment of Sharia law.  The law may have a different name or description, such as prohibiting “hate speech,” but the effect on speech is the same as if Sharia law were in place.Read more here