'Fuel-Saver' Devices Will Not Save You Fuel

Forget studies and testimonials — to save money, keep up car and slow down

Like the sun rising in the east or Donald Trump embarrassing himself, rising gas pricesinevitably bring out a clutch of hucksters selling gizmos that magically boost fuel efficiency. They're scams, yet people still get suckered by the bushel.

Whether they plug into your cigarette lighteror wrap around your fuel line, black-magic gas sipping devices always involve the same trope of some secret piece of technology withheld by auto execs after a pleasurable evening under satin sheets with Big Oil. The real professionals include not just studies showing how effective their product can be, but several testimonials from people who gave them a try, and gosh darn if it didn't save so much gas they'd recommended it to all their spouse-cousins.

The current leading purveyor in this field is Fuel Doctor, a California company that's hawking its $59.99 dongle in Best Buy stores and sponsors a NASCAR truck team. The FD-47 supposedly "conditions" electrical current from an older vehicle's cigarette lighter, smoothing the flow, something something unicorns and bingo — fuel saved. Or in its own words:

Conditioned and clean power allows the vehicle's electronic control unit (ECU), fuel injection and engine timing equipment to operate more efficiently. When the vehicle's engine runs more efficiently it will require less fuel, produce more power and have reduced exhaust emissions (reduced CO2).

Science-y. And Fuel Doctor's own site has the requisite testimonials and studies to show how effective it is. As far as this field goes, actually posting the reports from the independent labs counts as a welcome step forward.

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Live Blog Event – Monday, June 6th – Salisbury Budget

Join us Monday, June 6th (that’s right, D-Day), as SbyNEWS hosts another LIVE BLOG EVENT.

Time:  6PM

Place:  A computer near you.

What:  Salisbury City Council’s 2nd Budget Public Hearing followed by the debate, amendment, and adoption of the FY 2012 Salisbury City Budget.

This event will prove to be either a snoozer or full of fireworks.  If you can’t come out to the hearing, tune in on PAC-14 and follow the hearing and meeting with our always insightful play by play.

Don’t forget; you get to participate as well.  Comments are live.  Just remember, the same rules apply.

Live Blogging software courtesy of CoverItLive.com

Come Have Lunch Courtesy of “Salisbury News”

Come on down to Panni Pit Pizza on Tuesday, June 7th between 11AM – 1PM.  SbyNEWS will be giving away free slices of pizza

Take a break.  Come on down to Panni and enjoy some great pizza and meet some of your neighbors.

Panni Pit Pizza is located at 2657 N. Salisbury Blvd.  It’s in the same shopping center as Old Navy and Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  Just a couple of doors down from Coldstone Creamery

First come, first served.  So don’t miss out.

DeLuca Employment Records Demanded

Senate President Pro Tem Anthony DeLuca is facing pressure from talk-show hosts, open-government advocates and fellow Democrats to voluntarily release attendance records for his second state job at the Department of Labor.

The Progressive Democrats for Delaware and the Delaware Coalition for Open Government distributed a letter signed by 83 taxpayers this week, demanding DeLuca and the 10 other legislators who collect second checks in state agencies, schools and universities release their attendance records.

A state law forbids them from being paid for both jobs for the same time period.

"We request that Senator DeLuca and any similarly situated Senator or Representative voluntarily release that information, and waive the supposed protections a merit-based employee receives under the law," the letter reads. "Failing that, they should resign one of their positions. Because, quite simply, if we can't have the records and the doors of government are being shut to the people, then Delaware's legislators must be prohibited from having two state jobs."

Asked about the statement this week, DeLuca said he had "no comment." The Varlano Democrat represents the 11th District in central New Castle County.

READ MORE …

Dog Found In Camden: UPDATE: This Dog Has Been Adopted

UPDATE: His new name is Spud.

Mr. Albero,

We have found a young, black male, pedigreed pup in the vicinity of Camden & Pa. Aves. I am holding the dog inside my fence awaiting a call from humane society "back door". I offered my name & number for them to call, but I personally would rather you posted this on your blog. I don't know what to do except wait to hear from them.

    

Thank you for any help. Call me at 410-742-1303 for any info you might need.

     

Pat B.

Final Exam Schedule For 2010-11

Final exams for students in grades 9 through 11 will be administered as follows:

June 8 – (early dismissal day) exam schedule for classes 1, 2, 3 and 4; followed by dismissal from period 5; last day for ATEX and CTE I

June 9 – (early dismissal day) exam schedule for classes 5, 6 and 7; followed by periods 4 and 1 (dismissal) for JMB, PHS, WHS; followed by periods 4 and 5 (dismissal) for MMHS

June 10 – (early dismissal day) make‐up exam schedule

Final Day for All Wicomico Students – June 10

BREAKING NEWS: Former Secretary of State Eagleburger Dies

Former Secretary of State under President George H.W. Bush and career diplomat, Lawrence Eagleburger, dies at 80.

Today's Survey Question

IN TODAY'S TIGHT ECONOMY, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT, FAVORITE FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT?

Lobbyist Accompanying O’Malley on Asia Trip

Tucked among the 68 “business leaders, educators, and state officials” accompanying Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on this current Asia junket is one lobbyist – Hannah Powers of the firm Alexander & Cleaver.  Her firm didn’t shrink from promoting the fact either.  In an email blast, her firm touted:

“As far as we know, Hannah is the only registered lobbyist on the trip and we are extraordinary pleased that she has a chance to represent our client and our firm,” the chief operating officer of the government relations division at Alexander & Cleaver wrote to clients.

“If you have any important messages that you want her to deliver to the Governor, please contact her before Sunday!”

Of course, now that the e-mail has been made public her firm is claiming that we are all reading too much into it.  The governor’s office calls the email “unfortunate”.  And as far as we know, Ms. Powers is still part of the trip.

Ocean City Elks, Legion Begin Playing Slots

Worcester County’s service groups officially gained the right to operate slot machines on Wednesday, when Gov. Martin O’Malley put his signiture on a bill passed by the General Assembly in this year’s session.

Celebrating that occasion in Ocean City were the American Legion and the Elks Lodge, with Sen. James Mathias (D- 38) making the first ceremonial slot machine pull at the Elks Lodge after the games were installed.

The events represented the finish line for Sarge Garlitz, commander of American Legion Post 166 and Jim Flaig, treasurer of the Ocean City Elks, after years of lobbying to get the law changed. Mathias worked with Delegate Norm Conway (D- 38B) for three years in the House of Delegates and finally succeeded passing legislation by sponsoring a companion bill during his first year in the state Senate.

Flaig and Garlitz were present when O’Malley signed House Bill 39 into law, which gives their organizations the same right that other Eastern Shore counties have enjoyed since 1987. The two service organizations also hustled to install their five allotted machines as soon as it was legal.

READ MORE …

HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER

General Amos W. W. Woodcock

One of the more notable past residents of Salisbury was Amos W. W. Woodcock. His father was a jeweler who opened his business in Salisbury in 1853. That business is still in operation and is now Kuhn’s Jewelers, the sixth oldest continually operating jewelry store in the United States.

         

Amos Woodcock was born on October 29, 1883 to Amos Wilson and Julia Ann Harris (Wright) Woodcock. He went to all the local schools and, upon completing his secondary education at Wicomico High School; he entered St. John’s College. He graduated in 1903 at the head of his class with a Bachelor of Arts degree. His Bachelor of Laws degree was obtained at the University of Maryland in 1910. Harvard University granted him the degree of Master of Arts in 1912. He also received two honorary Doctor of Laws degrees in his lifetime – one from Washington University in 1932 and one from St. John’s College in 1937.

         

When he graduated from Harvard in 1912, he returned to Salisbury and began the practice of law in the law firm of Woodcock and Webb.

         

Having joined the National Guard as an enlisted man in 1904, he had achieved the rank of Captain by 1916 and served on the Mexican border prior to World War I. During the war he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the 115^th Infantry Regiment serving with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. Since December 1, 1936, he attained the rank of Brigadier General commanding the 58^th Brigade of the Maryland National Guard. During World War II, he saw active duty from February 3, 1941 to August 25, 1942. After the termination of hostilities, from December 1, 1945 to March 31, 1946, he was engaged as an attorney in the prosecution of Japanese war criminals, resigning on the latter date.

         

Along the way, he was quite active in civilian life. He was assistant attorney general of the state of Maryland from 1920 to 1922, and United States Attorney for the District of Maryland from 1922 to 1930. Between 1930 and 1933, he was the United States Bureau of Prohibition. He was appointed assistant to the Attorney General of the United States on April 1, 1933.

         

He was president of St. John’s College from 1934 to 1937. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Salisbury National Bank.

         

 Rumor has it that during high school he made a pact with his sister, Elizabeth (Wilsie) Woodcock, that neither of them would ever marry. She was a teacher all her life and many old timers remember her well. I think Amos must have helped her out financially, as in her biography by him published in 1947; he recounted much about her twelve trips to Europe in her lifetime. Neither of them ever married and Salisbury probably is not better off for the lack of the progeny of two such outstanding people.

Wicomico Council to Cut County Exec’s Budget

As reported yesterday morning, the Wicomico County Council has agreed to cut $100,000 from the salary category of the Wicomico County Executive’s budget for FY 2012. The cuts will be recommended to go into the “contingency” account so that the council can later approve County Executive Rick Pollitt’s re-organization plan without having to impose additional cuts on already strapped departments.

On Wednesday, councilman Joe Holloway proposed cutting $100,000 from Pollitt’s budget. It was rejected with only council members (Joe) Holloway (R-5), Bob Culver (R – At-Large), and Stevie Prettyman (R-2) supporting the measure. Council members Gail Bartkovich (R-3), Bob Caldwell (R-4), (Matt) Holloway (R – At-Large), and Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-1) all voted against the measure.

Apparently, the Republican members who opposed (Joe) Holloway’s Wednesday motion had a change of heart over the ensuing two days. On Friday, Culver proposed essentially the same motion as (Joe) Holloway’s Wednesday proposal. All four Republicans who opposed on Wednesday decided to support the plan at Friday’s meeting.

Voters should remember that this is not final. Nothing is set in stone until the actual budget bill passes. Pollitt may balk at putting the funds in contingency. At that point the council can either reduce the tax rate by a small amount or cave in to Pollitt once again.

As I posted Wednesday, Pollitt’s proposal has merit. Unfortunately, Pollitt’s reasons for wanting this proposal are not the same as the one’s that make this a good proposal. Pollitt claims that he wants to spend “more time in the community” and to “be out promoting Wicomico County”.
For most of four years Pollitt was out and about plenty. His goal had little to do with promoting the county, but was time spent attempting to build grassroots support for the repeal of the revenue cap.

In addition, council has the opportunity to extract multiple concessions from Pollitt. For starters, they could demand that Pollitt me with them in open session – something he refuses to do UNLESS HE WANTS SOMETHING!

Council is expected to vote on a finalized budget on June 14th.

CNN NH GOP Presidential Debate Snubs Candidates

June 3, 2011. Manchester, NH. CNN announced the line-up today for the first major debate of Republican Presidential candidates for the 2012 GOP nomination. The list contained seven people, some not even candidates for the office yet. Immediately, there was outcry from many of the large names appearing to be left out. While the Iowa caucus is technically first on the calendar, New Hampshire has the proud distinction of hosting the nation’s first primary.

While no less than four debate invitees have a cable TV show, not all candidates running for the Republican Presidential nomination are as lucky. Some were counting on the primary election’s campaign season, and the debates, to introduce themselves a little more to New Hampshire voters. That won’t be the case however according to NH debate sponsors CNN, WMUR and the NH Union Leader.

“This morning, we learned along with the rest of the world that CNN and the other debate sponsors have decided to exclude Governor Johnson from sharing your voice in the debate” said a statement from the Gary Johnson for President campaign, “Apparently, the powers that be in the mainstream media do not want America to hear from the man who has been called ‘the most dangerous politician in America’.”

Johnson, who was Governor of New Mexico for nearly a decade from 1994-2003, is considered a member of the libertarian wing of the GOP. The former Governor believes the US is too dependent on China, he supports civil unions and an end to the Patriot Act, cutting military spending, reigning in the Federal Reserve, decriminalizing medical marijuana and withdrawing American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. While he would redeploy the troops to protect America’s borders, he’s in favor of a more regulated, but open-door immigration policy. While those positions aren’t out of line for the GOP’s Constitutional and compassionate wing, they don’t go over well with the billionaire elite wing.

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F-35 Systems

No wonder the F-35 is expensive !

 

And this is only what they are telling us about...  

This is an electronic shield around an aircraft that alerts and protects... Right out of star wars.

 

Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (EO DAS) for the F-35

Check out Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (EO DAS) for the F-35.

 

 

http://www.es.northropgrumman.com/solutions/f35targeting/assets/eodasvideo.html

Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Arrest

Location: I-95 southbound .75 miles south of DE Rt. 141, Newport, DE

 

Date of Occurrence: Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.

 

Defendant:

 

-Derrick O. Stewart, 41, Waterbury, CT

 

Charges: 

 

-Trafficking in Marijuana

-Maintaining a Vehicle for Keeping Drugs

-Speeding

 

Resume:  

Newport- A 41 year old Connecticut man has been arrested by Delaware State Police after he was found to be in possession of over 45 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop early yesterday afternoon.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 1:00 p.m. yesterday, June 2, after a trooper on routine patrol observed a Chevrolet Impala speeding as it traveled on southbound I-95 south of Newport. The trooper conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and then made contact with the driver, later identified as Derrick O. Stewart. The trooper became suspicious of Stewart after questioning him and asked for assistance from of a drug trained K-9. Upon arriving at the scene of the car stop, the K-9 alerted on the trunk area of the vehicle. A search of the car was then conducted at which time a large black duffel bag containing a black plastic trash bag was located in the trunk. The troopers then located two separate packages containing a total of 45.4 pounds of marijuana inside of the plastic trash bag.

 

Derrick O. Stewart was arrested and charged with the above list of crimes. He was then arraigned at the New Castle County Court of Common Pleas and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Facility for lack of $50,001.00 bond.

 

A mug shot is not available for Derrick Stewart at this time.

Stossel: Government Against Blacks

The other day, I went to Times Square to ask people what government should do to help poor people. Most everyone agreed on the answer: "more social programs and a higher minimum wage."
 
It's intuitive to think that way. I used to think that, too. When President Johnson declared a "war on poverty," he said "compassionate government" was the road to prosperity for poor people. That made sense to me. At Princeton, I was taught that government's central planners had the solution to poverty.
  
But then I watched them work. Government spent trillions of dollars on poverty programs, and the poverty level stayed stuck at about 12 percent of the population. It's stayed there for about 40 years.
 
Now I understand that that government poverty programs encourage people to stay dependent. There's money in it. They policymakers would have known this 25 years ago had they read "The State Against Blacks." The author, an economist, said poverty programs destroy the natural mechanisms that have always enabled poor people to lift themselves out of poverty.
 
That author is Walter Williams of George Mason University. Williams, who is black, says "there's a huge segment of the black population for whom upward mobility is elusive, and it's because of the welfare state -- [AZ2]because of government."
 
Williams elaborates in a new book, "Race and Economics." A chief culprit, he insists, is the minimum wage.
 
"Let's not look at the intentions behind minimum wage," he said. "We have to ask, what are the effects? Put yourself in the place of an employer who must pay $7.25 no matter whom you hire. Will that employer hire a person who can only add $3 or $4 of value per hour?"
 
He will not. And so fewer young people get hired and "get their feet on the bottom rung of the economic ladder." This hurts all young people, but black teens most, he says, because "many of them get a fraudulent education in the public school system. So a law that discriminates against low-skill people has a doubly negative effect on black teenagers. The unemployment rate among black teens today is unprecedented in U.S. history. In the '40s, black teenage unemployment was less than white teenage unemployment."
 
And yet a Pew survey says 83 percent of Americans support raising the minimum wage.

"People have the misguided notion that the minimum wage is an antipoverty tool."
   
Economists understand the truth. A survey of the American Economic Association found that 90 percent of economists say the minimum wage increases unemployment.
   
Williams says the minimum wage law has also been a tool of racism.


More here

A Note to Our Readers and Commenters

I have been forced to dump several comments already this morning.  Usually I wouldn’t care because the comments are typically so blatant that they have to be dumped.  However, this morning I have deleted several comments that were great comments EXCEPT for the language.

I have no desire to be a censor.  Part of what makes SbyNEWS so successful is YOUR participation.  I would suggest that you visit our Comments and Opinion page to see our comment guidelines.  They are pretty straight forward and I don’t want to delete ANY comment unless I have to.

Agree with me.  Disagree.  Criticize us.  Argue your point of view.  Just ask yourself if you would want your daughter to read what you have to say, with your name attached to it.

Thanks,

G. A. Harrison

Friskies Games for Cats

Just when you thought you had seen it all:

H/T – Laura Northrup @ The Consumerist

Police Union Chief Threatens MoCo Council

Long before she was elected president of the Montgomery County Council, Valerie Ervin encountered her share of tough-talking union leaders. She was one herself, after all, having worked to organize smelter workers in Oregon and catfish cleaners in the Mississippi Delta.

But there was a line, Ervin says, and in the run-up to a contentious budget vote last month, she thinks a top police union official crossed it.

According to Ervin, Walt Bader, a police officer and a longtime leader of the Montgomery police union, said the council’s moves to cut spending would turn Montgomery into the “Wild West.”

“He basically started making these threats: ‘You obviously don’t want to have labor peace, and it’s not a pretty sight to have,’ ” Ervin said.

Bader added, according to Ervin, “ ‘I’m sure you don’t want you and your neighbors to see cops with guns on the street with picket signs,’ or something to that effect . . . like we should be afraid of the people who had taken an oath to protect the public.”

Ervin said she was unsettled by Bader’s remarks. “He’s a bully, and there’s potential that the guy’s dangerous,” she said.

READ MORE …

Ben Is Soooo Hip

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) is so hip.  He has finally buckled to pressure and set up a Facebook page.

Now Ben can explain to all of the young folks how their future is dimmer because he and his free-spending buddies simply can’t get a grip on federal spending.

He can post on his wall which federal programs he doesn’t like (NONE).

He can even post photos of himself receiving big checks from his pals in Big Labor.

H/T – The Baltimore Sun