NASA to Launch Two Rockets from Wallops Island

NASA is planning a pair of upcoming rocket launches from its Wallops Island Flight Facility.

On Thursday morning, 17 educational experiments will be launched aboard a suborbital rocket. The experiments were built by university instructors, teachers, and students from across the country.

A Defense Department satellite will be carried aboard a U.S. Air Force rocket that's scheduled for launch on June 28.

Target Store Votes Against Unionization

Workers at a Target store in Valley Stream, N.Y. voted against unionization, but the union has vowed to try again, alleging the retailer illegally intimidated workers.

The United Food and Commercial Workers filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations board saying that Target had banned workers from wearing buttons in support of the union and from talking about the working conditions at the store on online sites. They also said Target threatened employees with getting fired if they talked about the union.

In meetings leading up to the vote and in fliers they passed out, Target told workers that the union couldn't guarantee higher wages and that the union just wanted their due money. The store also said there was no certainty the store would stay open after it was unionized.

"Target believes we have followed all laws as outlined by the National Labor Relations Board," a company rep told NYT.

N.Y. Target workers say no to union [Star-Tribune]
Losing Vote at a Target in New York, Union Vows to Try Again [NYT]

from Ben Popken @ The Consumerist

Ocean City Announces 2011 “Arts Alive!” Winners

Nine artists were recipients of awards presented during Ocean City’s 11th Annual Art’s Alive held June 18-19 at Northside Park.

This year’s Art’s Alive featured approximately 100 artists competing in the two-day juried fine arts show with artists competing in several categories.

The Mayor’s Choice Award was presented for “Val d’oz Chapel” by Elisabeth Bard of Newark, DE, in the category of photography.

The Judge’s Choice Awards were presented for: “Saggar Vase” by Robert Johnson, Salisbury, ceramics; “Tropical Crane” by Tina Marie Feldi, Emmaus, PA, glass;  “Rocking at the Red House” by Anthony Krysinsky, Pensacola, FL, mixed media; “4 Play” by Lynn Kavanaugh Cebula, Palm Harbor FL, sculpture; “Rising Plant” by Jefferey Auxer, Berlin, glass and “Renaissance Vase” by Joan E. Scheckel, Warminster, PA, mixed media.

The Best in Show Award was presented for “Enchanted Interlude” by Debby Sosnowski, Union Bridge, MD, in the jewelry category.

The People’s Choice Award was presented to Gretchen Williams, Fernandina Beach, FL, in the painting category.

Pay $400 to Play With Bulldozers in Las Vegas

If you're looking for something different to do on vacation this summer, how about playing in a giant sandbox driving bulldozers and earth movers? That's the idea behind "Dig This," a "construction theme park" opening in Las Vegas this summer.

It's a 5 acre dirt park with two Caterpillar D5 track-type bulldozers and three Caterpillar 315CL hydraulic excavators. A 3 hour-package for $400 gets you a half-hour of safety and handling instruction and then you're free to let it rip. Build a 10 foot deep trench, pile a mound, or pick and move 2-ton tires and snag basketballs from safety cones.

"Once we get our model finalized, we could move to Atlanta and New York as well as Tokyo and Australia," the developer told Engineering News-Record.

You could also recreate this experience at home by getting a job in construction. Not only is it cheaper, they'll actually pay you to do it.

DigThis.info [Official Site]
Heavy-Duty Playground Opens in Las Vegas [ENR]

from Ben Popken @ The Consumerist

BREAKING NEWS: Greek PM Papandreou Survives No Confidence Vote

Greece’s Parliament gave embattled Prime Minister George Papandreou a vote of confidence – a key milestone in convincing European authorities to approve an emergency bailout.

BREAKING NEWS: Panetta Confirmed As Defense Secretary

Senate confirms CIA Director Leon Panetta to replace Robert Gates as secretary of defense in 100-0 vote.

Revenue Still Down, Gannett Lays Off 700 Employees

Gannett confirmed on Tuesday what many newspaper publishers and employees across the country have feared since the recession officially ended two years ago: that the lagging economic recovery will force more downsizing.

Gannett said it would let go 700 people in its Community Publishing division, or 3 percent of its employees across newspapers like The Courier-Journal of Louisville, The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Indianapolis Star.

The company’s flagship paper, USA Today, just went through a round of cuts last summer and will not be affected by the layoffs. Employees who lost their jobs were notified on Tuesday.

Robert J. Dickey, president of the Community Publishing division, said that as the company looked at its disappointing mid-year advertising figures, it was left with little choice.

“As we reach the mid-point of the year, the economic recovery is not happening as quickly or favorably as we had hoped and continues to impact our U.S. community media organizations,” Mr. Dickey wrote in a memo to Gannett employees. “With many of our local advertisers reducing their overall budgets, we need to take further steps to align our costs with the current revenue trends.”

Many of the advertising categories that collapsed during the recession continued to lag at Gannett papers. Real estate, help wanted and even auto ads, which had rebounded somewhat, remain depressed.

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One In 30 Marylanders Has Gambling Problem, State Study Finds

About 150,000 Maryland adults — or 1 in 30 — have a gambling problem, a state-mandated study by the University of Maryland Baltimore County found. The study by the university's Institute for Policy Analysis and Research predicted that the numbers would likely rise in the near term.

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Why Summer Begins Tuesday

The steamy temperatures would make it seem summer had already begun, but according to the astronomical calendar summer officially begins Tuesday.

The summer solstice occurs at 1:16 p.m. EDT (17:16 UTC), when the sun will be as high in the sky as possible, and it will be up a fraction of a second longer than the day prior or the day after. Though it's the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the length of the full day, including night, doesn't change, of course. 

Here's how it works: Earth is tilted on its axis 23.5 degrees, so it leans one way as it spins around its axis while orbiting the sun. On June 21 this year (some years it's June 20), the North Pole is pointing toward the sun as much as is possible. (The winter solstice occurs when the top half of our planet, everything north of the equator, faces directly away from the sun, leaving the North Pole in complete darkness.)

Tuesday may mark the sun's peak, but it doesn't typically mark summer's peak heat. That's because the oceans take time to heat up (or cool down). By mid-June the oceans of the Northern Hemisphere are still cool from winter's chill, delaying the peak air temperatures by a month and a half, according to NASA. [Image Gallery: Sunrise and Sunsets]

Earth is actually farther away from the sun during the summer than it is during the winter months, because our planet's orbit is elliptical, a squished circle of sorts. The difference is about 3 million miles (5 million kilometers), and it makes a difference in radiant heat received by the entire Earth of nearly 7 percent. But the difference is more than made up for by the longer days in the Northern Hemisphere summer with the sun higher in the sky.

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Congressional Reform Act of 2011

It is time. If you agree send it to 20 people good and true. If you disagree, please delete it. Thanks.
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified!  Why?  Simple!  The people demanded it.  That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure..
I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message.  This is one idea that really should be passed around.
 

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. Term Limits.
12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2.  No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office. 
3.  Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately.  All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. 
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.  Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

How To Take A Bone From A Dog

Most people, provided they have a minimum of experience, know that taking a bone from a dog is a risky proposition. In terms of political power, few dogs are bigger than the American voting public. Taking away, or even threatening to take away, the major entitlements to which they have become accustomed could expose politicians to a mauling at election time. As the American leadership begins to grapple with very large issues of entitlement reform in "sacred" programs such as Medicare and Social Security, many may recoil from the task once the fangs begin flashing.

According to polls, 77% of Americans feel the U.S. Government must cut spending. But when it comes to specifics, the support melts away very fast. Until recently, the strongly Republican 26th District of upstate New York had elected only three Democrats since the Civil War. But in a special election held this month (to replace the resigned Republican Chris Lee) the district fell to the Democratic column for the fourth time in 150 years. Many have theorized that the political upset was based on fears that the budget plan put forward by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan would restrict entitlements, particularly Medicare.

If there is any truth to this, it shows how difficult the process may be for politicians who want to seriously trim the Federal budget. But any glance at the enormity of the problem should provide the necessary courage. This assumes, of course, that there is any courage at all left in Washington.

Currently the U.S. Treasury has public debts of some $14.3 trillion and is pleading, and in fact coercing, Congress for a debt limit increase. But given are already abysmal situation, additional debts should not be considered.

According to the U.S. National Debt Clock, unfunded obligations such as Social Security and Medicare etc., total some $114 trillion – or more than eight times the size of the annual Gross Domestic Product of the entire nation. Divide this figure by the number of households, approximately 115 million, and you come to the startling realization that each American household is liable for nearly $1 million. Add in another $54.9 trillion, which is the total debt held by all levels of government in addition to all business and household debt, and you begin to get an idea of why the future looks bleak.

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The Chinese Government Is Buying Up Economic Assets And Huge Tracts Of Land All Over The United States

In 2011, America is for sale and the communist Chinese are eager buyers.  The Chinese government is using sovereign wealth funds and Chinese state-owned enterprises to buy up economic assets and huge tracts of land all over the United States.  Many of our politicians hail all of this "foreign investment" as something that is "good for America", while many others see something much more sinister going on here.  In any event, this is a trend that is rapidly accelerating and that is causing great concern among patriotic Americans.

In my recent article entitled "China Wants To Construct A 50 Square Mile Self-Sustaining City South Of Boise, Idaho", I examined a potential deal that Sinomach (a company controlled by the Chinese government) wants to do with the government of Idaho.  There will be more on this deal in a minute.

But first it is important to note that this is a phenomenon that is happening all across the United States.

For example, a Chinese investment group is buying up a very large chunk of real estate in Toledo, Ohio.  The following is a brief excerpt from an article in the Toledo Blade on May 26th, 2011....

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Science Of The Silver Fox: Why Hair Goes Gray

Exactly why hair turns gray remains one of life's little mysteries. But an important new discovery may help untangle the secrets behind the silvery strands.

Scientists may have found the root cause of what makes hair go gray. For the first time, researchers have identified the signaling protein that coordinates the process between hair follicle stem cells, which produce hair, and color-supplying stem cells, or melanocytes.

"We have shown that one specific molecular pathway is necessary in the regulation of melanocyte stem cells -- the Wnt pathway," says Mayumi Ito, PhD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center in New York, and the study's lead researcher.

As Ito explains it, when the Wnt pathway is activated, melanocytes can produce pigments that color hair. When inactivate, melanocytes lose the ability to produce color, resulting in gray hair.

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Presenting Obama's Latest $50,000 Non-Recourse, Interest-Free Gift To "Troubled" Homeowners

Today the Obama administration launched its latest $1 billion "stimulus" in the form of the Emergency Homeowner's Loan Program (EHLP), certainly not to be confused with Homeowner Emergency something something, which would be abbreviated HELP (and would be way too cute). The formal reason for the program is to provide emergency loans to 'homeowners' facing foreclosure, or basically all of them, to help tide them over "a temporary financial crisis", the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced. The informal reason is to provide thousands of Americans with a $50,000 recourse and interest-free loan for up to two years (money which will go down to paying down equity an underwater mortgage, and will thus never be repaid), so that earned income, instead of being used to make mortgage payments, will be rerouted into such far more critical capital needs as the latest iPad or buying share ot LNKD at $122. But don't think for a moment that everyone will be able to access this money: "the program is available to homeowners who have seen their incomes fall and who could lose their homes to foreclosure due to circumstances beyond their control, including involuntary unemployment, underemployment, economic conditions or an illness" which, actually in retrospect, is all of them. Well, the effort of getting off one's couch and actually picking up the forms may be unavoidable. Of course, that process in itself may well limit 80% of the eligible participants.

More on this latest centrally-planned expansion [1]into Obamanism:

The program is a counterpart to the $7.6 billion Hardest Hit Fund and is available only to homeowners in states not covered by that program. The Hardest Hit Fund provides foreclosure avoidance assistance to homeowners in states that have been most seriously affected by the declining housing market and economic downturn.

The new initiative is expected to provide assistance to up to 30,000 homeowners, with loans averaging $35,000 each. Loans may be used to pay a portion of monthly mortgage bills, including missed mortgage payments or past due charges including principal, interest, taxes, insurances, and attorney fees.

Homeowners seeking assistance must complete a pre-application screening workshop by July 22 in order to be considered for the program. As demand is expected to exceed the amount of funding available, qualifying homeowners will be chosen at random to complete the application process.

States served by the program are Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. EHLP is also offered in Puerto Rico.
So what about all those who lived within their means and actually do not need yet another bailout? They get the privilege of funding all of the above.

Source

PROMISES, PROMISES: White House Solar Panels Are No-Shows

WASHINGTON (AP) - Last October, the Obama administration announced plans to install solar panels on the roof of the White House by the spring of this year, returning the power of the sun to the pinnacle of prominence a quarter-century after Jimmy Carter's pioneering system was taken down.

Spring has come and gone, and the promised panels have yet to see the light of day.

Administration officials blame the complexities of the contracting process, and say the solar project is still an active one. But they can't say when it'll be complete.

Environmental groups say the symbolism is telling _ and disappointing.

"On we'll go," sighed Bill McKibben, founder of the climate activist group 350.org. "One more summer of beautiful, strong sunlight going to waste, just bouncing off the White House roof."

McKibben and other environmentalists say the failure to meet its own deadline reflects an administration that's been long on green rhetoric but sometimes disappointingly short on practical accomplishments.

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Navy Stealth Ship Headed To Scrap Heap

A super stealth, James-bond style Navy ship is headed to the scrap heap. The Sea Shadow was built in 1985 by DARPA and Lockheed Martin. It was the Navy's first experimental stealth ship. The Navy had planned to salvage the ship by selling it or putting it on display, but after five years and millions of dollars spent there weren't any viable takers. It's now slated for dismatling and recycling, reports Yahoo!News. The ship was the inspiration for the stealth ship in the 1997 James Bond film, "Tomorrow Never Dies."

The Director Of The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms And Explosives To Resign

The acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is expected to resign, reports CNN. Kenneth Melson has come under fire recently because of a mishandled weapons operation. Three ATF agents blew the whistle on the program, called "Fast and Furious." They told a Congressional committee hearing last week that ATF tracked the purchase of weapons and then let them "walk" across the U.S. border into Mexico. It was meant to follow weapons traffickers, but two of those weapons were used in the murder of border patrol agent Brian Terry last year. Melson may resign in the next day or two.

Prince George's Begins Fireworks Amnesty Program

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (WUSA) -- The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department is reminding county residents that possession of any kind of fireworks is illegal in the county. However, it's giving you a way to get rid of those fireworks without facing any legal penalties.

The Fire/EMS Department launched its annual fireworks amnesty program Monday. It runs through July 20.
Anyone who wants to turn in illegal fireworks may call the Fire/EMS Operations Center at 301-583-2200.

A member of the department will come to your home or business to take the fireworks. You will not face any kind of citation, fine, or arrest.

The phone number may also be used to report the illegal use of fireworks anywhere within Prince George's County.

Penalties for possession and use of illegal fireworks in the county include a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail.

Source

Publishers Notes: So why is it allowed in some Counties and not in others?

STOP In The Name Of The Taxpayers!

Many of the projects presented to the taxpayers by former Mayor Barrie Tilghman may be coming to an end. Well, it was a nice thought for a second there, wasn't it.

Oh, I haven't forgotten about the $1.2 million dollar lift station at Marley Manor. You'll never see your money back on that. Then there's Sassafras Meadows sewer line that cost us taxpayers more than $2 million dollars. Oh, wait, how about the Old Mall TIF and the Aydelotte Farm TIF for the N.E. Collector Road. I almost forgot the Robins Ave Lift Station.

The taxpayers have been through quite a bit and finally sensible Council Members have finally been able to fight back for the taxpayers and do the right thing by dumping the Bricks project.

If you think you're out of danger, you're not! While its only a rumor, former Council President Mike Dunn sold his home in the County and has purchased another home in the City and has already relocated to that new home. The rumor is that Mike Dunn will try to run against Mayor Jim Ireton and try to make a Dream Team comeback.

The ball is in the taxpayers court now. The big question I'd like answered right here and now is;

WOULD YOU GIVE MIKE DUNN YOUR VOTE FOR MAYOR OF SALISBURY?

Americans Gave $291 Billion To Charity In 2010

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. donations to charity rose to $291 billion last year, a study found on Monday, but it was still more than 6 percent below a 2007 record as the nation struggles to recover from its worst recession in decades.

Americans gave nearly 4 percent more in 2010 compared to 2009, the Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University said, perking up after the recession sparked the biggest giving slump in four decades.
Revised estimates by the study, which started in 1956, showed that during the financial crisis giving fell more than $10 billion in 2008 to $299.8 billion and then dropped more than 6 percent in 2009 to $280.3 billion.

Patrick Rooney, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, said that giving in 2010 grew by 2.1 percent after adjusting for inflation.

"But the sobering reality is that many nonprofits are still hurting, and if giving continues to grow at that rate, it will take five to six more years just to return to the level of giving we saw before the Great Recession," he said.
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