Chesapeake Losing Its Working Waterfronts

Harold Robinson has made his living out of Wingate Harbor in Dorchester County for all of his good years. He knows every piece of the bottom in the waters he works near Hearns Cove on Chesapeake Bay. At 64, Robinson is one of the last working oystermen around these parts. And he knows his days on the water are numbered. Not for nothing has he called his boat Limited — a reference to the restrictions the state has placed on what and when watermen can harvest.

“They get you back to the wall, where it’s just so hard to make a living,” Robinson said as he stopped in the marina’s office to get a part for his boat. “Some winters, we didn’t even work at all.”

The ranks of oystermen in Maryland have long been dwindling. But now the harbors and marinas that once housed their boats are going, too.
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Gun Owners: Should We Listen To Bob Costas Or Jesus Christ?

As most of you know, during a football game last week Bob Costas lectured us po’ goofy Americans about the evils of a “gun culture” and how we need to evolve away from being obsessed with firearms. As soon as I heard that drivel roll off Mr. C’s tongue I ordered another 30/06, a sweet Walther PPK and a custom .416 Rigby turnbolt. Cowabunga, Bob. Thanks for reminding me to buy more guns.
First off, let me help you, Robert: Guns do not kill people. Dads with daughters do. Oh, and BTW, Planned Parenthood kills a lot of people … like real innocent babies … like the most vulnerable form of all humanity. Why don’t you piss and moan about PP, Roberto? What’s that I hear? Crickets? Yep, crickets from Costas on the evils of the abortion mills. I would’ve thought that crime would have made Bobby incensed. Oh, well.
Another thing I thought was weird was Bob launching into an anti-gun diatribe during a football game. A football game, BC? Look, I know he was trying to be relevant in his commentary as it related to Belcher’s murder/suicide, but whizzing on guns to a football crowd is like pooh-poohing pasta and red wine to Italians. You should have saved that lecture for a figure skating event where the male contestants are sashaying to Spandau Ballet, doing pirouettes and floating around in unitards with glitter in their hair. You could have come on during a gentle moment and said, “Don’t you think we have too many guns? You do? Me too.”
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Today's Survey Question 12-11-12

Does Suspending Students Work?

October US Exports Plunge By Most Since January 2009 As Trade Deficit With China Hits Record

The boost to GDP from the declining US trade deficit is over. While the September trade deficit number was revised further lower, to $40.3 billion from $41.5 previously, October saw a pick up to $42.2 billion, slightly less than the expected $42.7 billion, but a headwind to Q4 GDP already. As a result, expect a modest boost to Q3 GDP in its final revision, even as Q4 GDP continues to contract below its consensus of sub stall-speed ~1%. The reason for the decline: a 3.6% decline in exports of goods and services. This was the biggest percent drop in exports since January 2009 as the traditional US import partners are all wrapped in a major recession. What helped, however, was the offsetting drop in imports by 2.1%, the lowest since April 2011, as US businesses are likewise consumed by a concerns about the global economy. And without global trade, whose nexus just happens to be Europe, there can be no global or even regional recovery. So far, all hopes of a pick up in global economy have been largely dashed. Yet one country benefits from the ongoing US slump is China: imports from China - consisting primarily of computers and toys, games, and sporting goods- jumped 6.4% to a record $40.3 billion, offset be a modest rise in exports - primarily soybeans - to $10.8 billion, bring the China deficit to a record $29.5 billion from $29.1 billion in September. Of course, one wouldn't get that impression looking at the Chinese side of the ledger: the Chinese Customs department, reported a September and October trade surplus with the US amounting to $21.1 and $21.7 billion. One wonders, somewhat, where the over $16 billion difference has gone.

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The Obama-Phone Is Back - But This Time It's Real

While some saw the clip of the lady [2] implying 'victory for Obama means phones for everyone' as perhaps exaggerated out-of-context right-wing propaganda [3] - as that would be preposterous right? - it appears San Francisco took it a little more serious. As SFGate reports [4], the California Public Utilities Commission is expected to approve (within a couple of weeks) a plan to offer homeless and other poor people in California 'virtually free cell phones and service'. The plan is funded through the federal LifeLine program and is designed to enable these individuals to 'keep in touch with family, potential employers and others crucial to improving their lives'. "This is great - it is transformative for homeless and low-income people," said San Francisco's head of homeless initiatives, adding that, fundamentally, to be in the mainstream of our society you have to have a phone." Setting up the program in California has been no easy task, officials said. "I would prefer it to be free..." said Dufty, and said he would explore other funding sources. Perhaps worth remembering the cost of kidding ourselves once again.
Homeless and other poor people in California are on track to soon get virtually free cell phones and service so they can keep in touch with family, potential employers and others crucial to improving their lives.

The cell phones would be handed out through a federally funded Lifeline program - already operated by service provider Assurance Wireless in 36 other states - that is likely to win final approval in the next couple of weeks from the California Public Utilities Commission.

State PUC officials have been reviewing the Lifeline proposal from Assurance Wireless for three years. Word came Thursday that all but a minor detail had been approved, ending years of effort by advocates for homeless people.

"This is great - it is transformative for homeless and low-income people," said Bevan Dufty, San Francisco's head of homeless initiatives,

"Fundamentally, to be in the mainstream of our society you have to have a phone," he said. "And really, for the homeless population, you need a cell phone because they don't have a home to hard-wire one into. We really need this plan."

The state's decades-old Lifeline program, like those all over the country, pays for all but a few dollars of the monthly phone bill for poor people, generally meaning those whose annual income is below $14,702. Butuntil now, California's PUC rules only authorized Lifeline service for "wireline" phones, meaning traditional phones wired into residences - and those rules didn't authorize anything for free.

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Interior Secretary Moves To Tighten Rules Over Sale Of Wild Horses

Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar says he will tighten regulations of the federal government's wild horse program, restricting the number of horses people can buy and making it easier for the government to prosecute buyers who sell mustangs to slaughter.
Salazar laid out the plan in an interview Thursday with The Gazette in his Washington, D.C., office, saying the changes were in response to a ProPublica investigation published in September that questioned the fate of animals sold to Tom Davis, a San Luis Valley livestock hauler who has bought more than 1,700 horses through the program since 2009, 70 percent of those sold in that time.

Davis maintains he has found the animals "good homes." Wild horse advocates fear they ended up in Mexican slaughterhouses. Davis subsequently told Colorado officials that he shipped some horses out of state in violation of brand inspection laws. The Colorado Department of Agriculture has turned the case over to the district attorney in Alamosa for prosecution.

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Fla. Man Sues Ex-Elmo Puppeteer, Claims Sex Abuse

Another man on Monday sued the former Elmo puppeteer who resigned amid sex abuse allegations, claiming the voice actor befriended him in Miami and promised to be a father figure before flying the teen to New York to have sex with him.

The alleged victim is now the fourth to accuse Kevin Clash, who resigned from "Sesame Street" last month after 28 years. The three legal actions filed so far have been civil cases seeking financial compensation.

But the incident with the latest victim, referred to only as S.M., could involve criminal charges because the lawsuit claims Clash transported him across state lines for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
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M&M Christmas Story

Author: by Pam Ridenour

As you hold these candies in your hand,

And turn them you will see

The M becomes a W, and E and then a 3

They tell the Christmas story,

It's one I'm sure you know

It took place in a stable a long, long time ago

The E is for the East, where the star shone so bright

The M is for the manger where Baby Jesus slept that night

The 3 is for the wisemen, bearing gifts they say they came

W is for Worship, Hallelujah, Praise His Name

So as you eat these candies or share them with a friend

Remember the meaning of Christmas it's a Love Story that never ends

State Official Wants Speed Camera Program Suspended

State Sen. Jim Brochin of Baltimore County said he has no faith in the speed cameras and he doesn't think anyone should have.

Sen. Brochin told Maryland's Morning News that "my dream would be to suspend the program."

He also said the legislation needs to be tightened up in light of recent revelations that the cameras can be inaccurate, and, that, some counties, such as Baltimore County, do not provide time stamps that can be used to prove or disprove actual speed.
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Latest Job Numbers Show Why Job-Creation Must Take Precedence Over Deficit Reduction

This month’s jobs report shows an economy that’s still moving in the right direction but way too slowly, which is why Washington’s continuing obsession with the federal budget deficit is insane. Jobs and growth must come first.

The cost of borrowing is so low — the yield on the ten-year Treasury is near historic lows — and the need for more jobs and better wages so high, and our infrastructure so neglected, that a reasonable government would borrow more to put more Americans to work rebuilding the nation.

Yes, unemployment is down slightly and 146,000 new jobs were created in November. That’s some progress. But don’t be overwhelmed by the hype coming out of Wall Street and the White House, both of which would like the public to believe things are going quite well.

The fact is some 350,000 more people stopped looking for jobs in November, and the percent of the working-age population currently employed continues to drop — now at 63.6%, almost the lowest in 30 years. Meanwhile, the average workweek is stuck at 34.4 hours.
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Home Depot Employee’s Insider Tips On Price-Matching And Discounts

After seeing this 2010 post about a Home Depot customer who had to resort to the “I’m going to Lowe’s” threat in order to get the store to price-match its own website, Consumerist reader and Depot employee Dave wrote in to share his experiences with the company’s price-matching and discounting policies.
Dave says that Home Depot does now price-match its own website, and that price-matching HomeDepot.com is part of the training for new employees.

“I have does this countless times myself for customers,” he tells Consumerist.

When it comes to matching a competitor’s website, Dave says the key is that it must for the exact same item sold by Home Depot. “Similar items will not be price matched,” he explains, “only exact same models.”

He says that Home Depot will actually beat local competitors’ prices by up to 10%.

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Electronic Border Fence On Hold

Customs and Border Protection has delayed by nine months the awarding of a contract for an electronic border fence. The original award date was supposed to be this Jan. 1. Now it won't be until October. NextGov reports, that's because the agency has received more good-looking bids than it expected. It plans to conduct technology fly-offs between January and April. The expected contract replaces an earlier project the agency canceled in 2011. The goal is to have a fence on the Mexico border made of sensors and cameras rather than a physical wall.

Md. Gets Conditional Approval For Health Exchange

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland has received conditional approval by the federal government to operate a state-based health insurance exchange in 2014, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown announced Monday.

Maryland is among the first six states to get the approval. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has certified the Maryland Health Connection to operate for the first plan year in 2014. The agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for overseeing the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the nation's largest health insurance programs.

"Our progress has been the result of insurance producers, carriers, third- party administrators, health care providers, advocates, and consumers coming together to build a marketplace that will best meet the needs of individuals and small businesses throughout Maryland," Brown said.
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What About Crisfield?

The White House has put a price tag on the federal response to Hurricane Sandy. It is requesting $60.4 billion from Congress for disaster relief. In a letter to Congressional leaders, the administration said the money will fund recovery and mitigation efforts too. It's more money than what the White House had first suggested but less than what states had asked for. It said Sandy is either the second or third most-costly natural disaster in U.S. History, behind Hurricane Katrina and close to Hurricane Andrew.

Rural America Has Lost Too Much Political Clout

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack thinks he knows why no farm bill passed during an election year. He says rural America has lost too much political clout. The former Iowa governor said rural interests should stop arguing with one another and present a more unified face to Congress. Agriculture Department figures show the population in 50 percent of rural counties has dropped in the last four years. Yet rural America is where most of the food and energy is produced. At a Farm Journal conference, Vilsack urged farmers to appeal more to urban consumers who eat what farmers produce.

TO ALL HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS

THERE WILL BE A MEETING THIS FRIDAY AT THE SALISBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT 10:00 AM.

PEPCO AND DELMARVA POWER WILL BE PRESENT TO SIT DOWN WITH EVERY SINGLE VICTIM WHO HAS HAD APPLIANCES AND HVAC SYSTEMS DESTROYED BY THE STORM.

THESE POWER COMPANIES WILL WALK YOU THROUGH A QUICK PROCESS AND FILL OUT THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK TO GET UP TO A 30% REIMBURSEMENT  ON EACH PIECE OF EQUIPMENT YOU LOST.

YOUR PAPERWORK MUST BE TURNED IN BY THE 17TH TO QUALIFY.

UPDATE: WE ARE TOLD THIS IS FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ONLY, NOT RESIDENTIAL.

Homelessness Among Veterans Dropped By 7 Percent

New figures show homelessness among veterans dropped by 7 percent this year. More than 62,000 veterans are on the streets. The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development have been working to end homelessness among vets by 2015. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said they are on the right track. But advocates are skeptical that the government can meet its goal at this pace. Nonetheless, veterans are doing better than the rest of the country. The overall rate held steady this year, with a slight increase in homelessness among families.

Hidden Fee In Obamacare Will Cost Businesses

Your medical plan is facing an unexpected expense, so you probably are, too. It’s a new, $63-per-head fee to cushion the cost of covering people with pre-existing conditions under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

The charge, buried in a recent regulation, works out to tens of millions of dollars for the largest companies, employers say. Most of that is likely to be passed on to workers.

Employee benefits lawyer Chantel Sheaks calls it a “sleeper issue” with significant financial consequences, particularly for large employers.
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Senior Managers At Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Are Paid Wel

An Federal Housing Finance Agency's inspector general report due out today shows employees at the vice president level have a median salary of $388,000. Director level employees have a median income of $205,000. The Wall Street Journal reports, it's the first look at employee pay at below the executive level. It shows salaries on par with the private sector housing finance industry, but more than most senior federal workers earn. The government took over Fannie and Freddie in 2009. The pair have cost taxpayers $187 billion.

Maryland Senators Call For Increased Fed Heating Aid

Maryland's U.S. Senators are among a group of 40 senators who are calling on the Obama Administration to increase federal heating aid.

Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin announced Monday that they have signed and sent a letter to the president asking him to restore funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to at least the $4.7 billion authorized in fiscal year 2011. 
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