The long reach of last summer's devastating U.S. drought has reversed the flow of the mighty Mississippi River — for corn, at least, with grain-laden barges beginning the rare movement north to Midwest ethanol plants from southern farms.
The shipments come as the U.S. faces a 17-year low in corn supplies by the end of the month due to the historic drought, which slashed harvests and sent grain prices to record highs a year ago.
The tight supply is upending the country's tradition-bound agricultural economy, which is holding its breath in the weeks before an expected record harvest begins some time next month following a wet spring and summer.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Ron Paul: "Authorized" Spying Is The Real Problem
Thanks to more documents leaked by Edward Snowden, this time to the Washington Post, we learned last week that a secret May 2012 internal audit by the National Security Agency (NSA) revealed 2,776 incidents of “unauthorized” collection of information on American citizens over the previous twelve months. They are routinely breaking their own rules and covering it up.
The Post article quotes an NSA spokesman assuring the paper that the NSA attempts to identify such problems “at the earliest possible moment.” But what happened to all those communications intercepted improperly in the meantime? The answer is, they were logged and stored anyway.
We also learned that the NSA routinely intercepts information from Americans while actually targeting foreigners, and that this is not even considered a violation. These intercepts are not deleted once discovered, even though they violate the government’s own standards. As the article reports, “once added to its databases, absent other restrictions, the communications of Americans may be searched freely.”
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The Post article quotes an NSA spokesman assuring the paper that the NSA attempts to identify such problems “at the earliest possible moment.” But what happened to all those communications intercepted improperly in the meantime? The answer is, they were logged and stored anyway.
We also learned that the NSA routinely intercepts information from Americans while actually targeting foreigners, and that this is not even considered a violation. These intercepts are not deleted once discovered, even though they violate the government’s own standards. As the article reports, “once added to its databases, absent other restrictions, the communications of Americans may be searched freely.”
More
Another Obama Lie: The Secret FISA Court Admits it isn’t Capable of Oversight
This program, by the way, is fully overseen not just by Congress, but by the FISA Court — a court specially put together to evaluate classified programs to make sure that the executive branch, or government generally, is not abusing them, and that it’s being carried out consistent with the Constitution and rule of law.
- President Barack Obama on June 7, 2013 (transcript here)
The leader of the secret court that is supposed to provide critical oversight of the government’s vast spying programs said that its ability to do so is limited and that it must trust the government to report when it improperly spies on Americans.
- Washington Post article: Court: Ability to police U.S. spying program limited
I originally used the very top quote in my piece a month ago titled: Meet the Secret Supreme Court of the United States. In it, I pointed out how entirely ridiculous it is for Obama to tell us to rest assured there is oversight on the NSA spying as a result of the FISA Court, a secret court with secret “classified” rulings. Well now we find out that it is even more ridiculous than that, as the leader of the secret court itself admits it is incapable of doing its job. So is Barack Obama just completely clueless, or is he a pathological liar? You know what I think. From theWashington Post:
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- President Barack Obama on June 7, 2013 (transcript here)
The leader of the secret court that is supposed to provide critical oversight of the government’s vast spying programs said that its ability to do so is limited and that it must trust the government to report when it improperly spies on Americans.
- Washington Post article: Court: Ability to police U.S. spying program limited
I originally used the very top quote in my piece a month ago titled: Meet the Secret Supreme Court of the United States. In it, I pointed out how entirely ridiculous it is for Obama to tell us to rest assured there is oversight on the NSA spying as a result of the FISA Court, a secret court with secret “classified” rulings. Well now we find out that it is even more ridiculous than that, as the leader of the secret court itself admits it is incapable of doing its job. So is Barack Obama just completely clueless, or is he a pathological liar? You know what I think. From theWashington Post:
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WHY WAS A GROUP OF TEXANS OPENLY CARRYING THEIR RIFLES WHILE MARCHING DOWN A LOCAL STREET THIS WEEKEND?
“Right now, Texas is one of seven states that do not allow open carry with a pistol,” 30-year-old Daniel Wood told the Arlington Voice. “Every one of us out here would much rather open carry our pistol than open carry our rifle.”
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STAGGERING: MICH. FAMILY VIOLENTLY TARGETED AFTER STANDING AGAINST TEACHER WHO MOLESTED THEIR 8TH GRADE SON
“Neal has plead (sic) guilty for his one criminal offense but he is not a predator,” Harriet Coe reportedly wrote. “This was an isolated incident. He understands the severity of his action and is sincere in his desire to make amends…”
John Janczewski, the father of the victim, spoke on the Glenn Beck radio program Monday about all that has happened to his family since the horrific molestation by now-former Rose City Middle School teacher Neal Erickson came to light. He said he and his wife have been threatened and attacked for speaking out against the teachers.
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Ron Paul Explains Why The 2,776 NSA Violations Are No Big Deal
Thanks to more documents leaked by Edward Snowden, this time to the Washington Post, we learned last week that a secret May 2012 internal audit by the NSA revealed 2,776 incidents of “unauthorized” collection of information on American citizens over the previous 12 months. They are routinely breaking their own rules and covering it up.
The Post article quotes an NSA spokesman assuring the paper that the NSA attempts to identify such problems “at the earliest possible moment.” But what happened to all those communications intercepted improperly in the meantime? The answer is, they were logged and stored anyway.
We also learned that the NSA routinely intercepts information from Americans while actually targeting foreigners, and that this is not even considered a violation. These intercepts are not deleted once discovered, even though they violate the government’s own standards. As the article reports, “once added to its databases, absent other restrictions, the communications of Americans may be searched freely.”
The Post article quotes an NSA official explaining that the thousands of unauthorized communications intercepts yearly are relatively insignificant. “You can look at it as a percentage of our total activity that occurs each day. You look at a number in absolute terms that looks big, and when you look at it in relative terms, it looks a little different.”
So although the numbers of Americans who have had their information intercepted in violation of NSA’s own rules seems large, it is actually miniscule compared to the huge volume of our communications they intercept in total!
More
The Post article quotes an NSA spokesman assuring the paper that the NSA attempts to identify such problems “at the earliest possible moment.” But what happened to all those communications intercepted improperly in the meantime? The answer is, they were logged and stored anyway.
We also learned that the NSA routinely intercepts information from Americans while actually targeting foreigners, and that this is not even considered a violation. These intercepts are not deleted once discovered, even though they violate the government’s own standards. As the article reports, “once added to its databases, absent other restrictions, the communications of Americans may be searched freely.”
The Post article quotes an NSA official explaining that the thousands of unauthorized communications intercepts yearly are relatively insignificant. “You can look at it as a percentage of our total activity that occurs each day. You look at a number in absolute terms that looks big, and when you look at it in relative terms, it looks a little different.”
So although the numbers of Americans who have had their information intercepted in violation of NSA’s own rules seems large, it is actually miniscule compared to the huge volume of our communications they intercept in total!
More
State’s Jobless Figure Matches National Rate Of 7.4%
Delaware’s July unemployment rate ended up matching the national jobless figure of 7.4 %.That was according to Delaware Department of Labor figures released on Friday.
At the same time, however, figures showed job growth was advancing at a faster pace than the national rate.
The department noted that two years ago, the national unemployment rate for July was 9 %; last July it was 8.2%, and last month it was 7.4%. The rate for the First State has barely moved, going from 7.6% to 7.3% and now 7.4% during the three months.- More
At the same time, however, figures showed job growth was advancing at a faster pace than the national rate.
The department noted that two years ago, the national unemployment rate for July was 9 %; last July it was 8.2%, and last month it was 7.4%. The rate for the First State has barely moved, going from 7.6% to 7.3% and now 7.4% during the three months.- More
DOJ Picks Up Where FERC Left Off: Begins Investigation Of JPMorgan's "Enronesque" Energy Market Manipulation
On July 30, when FERC announced that it had agreed to resolve it allegations of JPMorgan manipulation of the energy market for a $410 million fine, with the bank neither admitting nor denying guilt, we posited that the only question on Jamie Dimon's mind was whether to pay the fine from petty cash or just to charge it on his corporate Amex. Three weeks later he may have some other questions swirling in his head, such as "whose Christmas lobbying stocking did I not fill with campaign donations?" after the WSJ reported that it is no longer FERC, but the DOJ itself, led by Preet Bharara, which is investigating whether JPM manipulated energy markets.
Ironically, this is a deja vu of the SAC take down by the same Bharara, when a few months after SAC settled with the SEC it was shocked to be crushed by the Department of Justice which pulled an "Arthur Anderson" on it and for all intents and purposes shut it down (although with nobody sent to prison). It remains to be seen if Bharara will have the balls to take this prosecution to the next level and whether after he made SAC into Arthur Anderson, he will make JPMorgan into the New Normal's Enron and whether Jamie Dimon or Blythe Masters will be the next Lay and/or Skilling. One can hope.
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Ironically, this is a deja vu of the SAC take down by the same Bharara, when a few months after SAC settled with the SEC it was shocked to be crushed by the Department of Justice which pulled an "Arthur Anderson" on it and for all intents and purposes shut it down (although with nobody sent to prison). It remains to be seen if Bharara will have the balls to take this prosecution to the next level and whether after he made SAC into Arthur Anderson, he will make JPMorgan into the New Normal's Enron and whether Jamie Dimon or Blythe Masters will be the next Lay and/or Skilling. One can hope.
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Superstorm Sandy Task Force Urges Coastal Towns To Plan Ahead
Mary Bubala has more on the response from Maryland Emergency Management Agency leaders.
Superstorm Sandy goes down as the deadliest and most destructive storm of 2012′s hurricane season.
Maryland was spared the brunt of the storm, but winds clocked in at more than 90 mph on the Bay Bridge.
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GOP Rep: Americans Not Told Truth On NSA
Rep. Justin Amash on CNN's "State of the Union" said that "the records of every American in the United States are being collected without suspicion,"
"Americans were assured that there were no mistakes, that there was significant judicial oversight and that the NSA was not collecting personal information -- none of which turned out to be true"
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"Americans were assured that there were no mistakes, that there was significant judicial oversight and that the NSA was not collecting personal information -- none of which turned out to be true"
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Hogan Blasts Falsehoods in O’Malley’s MACO Convention Speech
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley gave his 7th consecutive annual address to the Maryland Association of Counties Convention in Ocean City which focused on a litany of what the governor touted as his economic successes and achievements. Business Leader Larry Hogan took aim at the falsehoods in O’Malley’s speech. “He was not just stretching the truth, it’s worse than that. Nearly everything he said in his speech today was blatantly false, much of what he said was actually the complete opposite of the truth.”
Hogan, a former Maryland Cabinet Secretary said, “The governor is entitled to his own opinions but he can’t just make up his own facts and pretend that they are true.” Change Maryland recently showed that unemployment has nearly doubled under O’Malley from 3.6% to 7%, and the actual number of Marylanders unemployed grew from 108,000 to 218,000 people under O’Malley. “You can’t say you are most proud of your success in job creation, and say you recovered 99% of all the jobs lost, when you actually doubled the unemployment rate and lost 110,000 more jobs, more than any governor in history,” said Hogan, who founded the group Change Maryland.-
See more
Hogan, a former Maryland Cabinet Secretary said, “The governor is entitled to his own opinions but he can’t just make up his own facts and pretend that they are true.” Change Maryland recently showed that unemployment has nearly doubled under O’Malley from 3.6% to 7%, and the actual number of Marylanders unemployed grew from 108,000 to 218,000 people under O’Malley. “You can’t say you are most proud of your success in job creation, and say you recovered 99% of all the jobs lost, when you actually doubled the unemployment rate and lost 110,000 more jobs, more than any governor in history,” said Hogan, who founded the group Change Maryland.-
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Troopers Warn Public About Lawnmower Thefts In Sussex County
Location: Central and western Sussex County
Date of Occurrence: April 25, 2013, through August 17, 2013
Suspects: No suspect information available.
Resume: Sussex County – Troopers are warning residents of Sussex County about a rash of lawnmower thefts over the past few months.
Since late April, Troopers have investigated over thirty thefts of lawnmowers in central and western Sussex County. The stolen lawnmowers are the commercial grade, zero turn type. Most lawnmowers that were stolen were left outside, unsecured. In several instances the owner left the lawnmower on a trailer, and the trailer and the lawnmower were stolen together.
Troopers remind the public to secure all lawn mowing equipment inside of a locked building when it is not in use. Do not assume commercial grade lawn equipment is too heavy and cumbersome to steal. Thieves have been stealing these large pieces of equipment and trailers holding lawnmowers.
If anyone has any information in reference to these thefts, they are asked to contact Troop 4 at 302-856-5850, extension 206 or 209, or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at:http://www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."
Date of Occurrence: April 25, 2013, through August 17, 2013
Suspects: No suspect information available.
Resume: Sussex County – Troopers are warning residents of Sussex County about a rash of lawnmower thefts over the past few months.
Since late April, Troopers have investigated over thirty thefts of lawnmowers in central and western Sussex County. The stolen lawnmowers are the commercial grade, zero turn type. Most lawnmowers that were stolen were left outside, unsecured. In several instances the owner left the lawnmower on a trailer, and the trailer and the lawnmower were stolen together.
Troopers remind the public to secure all lawn mowing equipment inside of a locked building when it is not in use. Do not assume commercial grade lawn equipment is too heavy and cumbersome to steal. Thieves have been stealing these large pieces of equipment and trailers holding lawnmowers.
If anyone has any information in reference to these thefts, they are asked to contact Troop 4 at 302-856-5850, extension 206 or 209, or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at:http://www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."
Transportation Funds To Create About 1,900 Jobs For The Eastern Shore
According to a state news release, these projects were made possible by the Transportation Act of 2013 and include investing $50 million to begin construction next year on a new high-level, fixed-span bridge to replace the Dover Bridge.
"Maryland is delivering for the Eastern Shore. By investing in these projects, we improve safety, relieve congestion, and make Maryland an even more attractive place for companies to invest," said O'Malley in a statement. "Together, with the support of our local partners, we made the better choices to invest in the future of Maryland's transportation network, allowing us to create more than 57,200 jobs for our hardworking families and rebuild our state's infrastructure."
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Bank Of America To Dissolve Merrill Lynch
Over four years ago, the federal government forced Bank of America to acquire Merrill Lynch. Last week, Bank of America signaled it will dissolve Merrill Lynch.
In 2009, Bank of America chief Kenneth Lewis testified that the federal government threatened to strip Bank of America board members if the bank reneged on acquiring Merrill Lynch. "What gave me concern is that they gave that threat to a bank in good standing," said Lewis.
Emails between bank employees revealed that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned that "management is gone" if Bank of America failed to go through with the deal and needed future financial assistance.
Bank of America went along with the Merrill Lynch deal and received $45 billion from TARP.
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In 2009, Bank of America chief Kenneth Lewis testified that the federal government threatened to strip Bank of America board members if the bank reneged on acquiring Merrill Lynch. "What gave me concern is that they gave that threat to a bank in good standing," said Lewis.
Emails between bank employees revealed that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned that "management is gone" if Bank of America failed to go through with the deal and needed future financial assistance.
Bank of America went along with the Merrill Lynch deal and received $45 billion from TARP.
More
Maryland Loses 9,200 Jobs In July; Unemployment Rate Rises
The unemployment rate in Maryland rose from 7 percent in June to 7.1 percent in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Monday.
Maryland’s number of jobs lost in the month was the third highest in the U.S., trailing only New Jersey — 11,800 jobs lost — and Nevada — 10,200 — jobs lost.
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Senate Prez Calls Kittleman Seat ‘Winnable’ For Democrat
“Didn’t you draw this to be a Republican district?” asked MarylandReporter.com afterward.
With a straight face, Miller said, “We don’t draw districts for Democrats or Republicans.” But District 9, which includes all of western Howard County, most of Ellicott City, a sliver of Carroll County and a slice of Columbia, is about as reliably Republican as they come, home to Sen. Allan Kittleman, now running for Howard County executive, and Republican Del. Gail Bates who hopes to succeed him.
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Maureen Dowd: Clintons Think 'They're Entitled To Everyone's Money'
On the heels of the exposé on waste and abuse of funds endemic in Bill and Hillary Clinton's charity organization, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd writes the former first couple are needy, think too much of themselves, and imagine they are "entitled to everyone's money."
The exposé, published in Times on August 13, revealed the Clinton Foundation has consistently run multi-million dollar deficits and is little else but a money machine to pay off Clinton cronies. It is this article that sparked Dowd's memory of the undercurrent of avarice and arrogance that has always flowed just under the Clintons' shiny exterior.
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The exposé, published in Times on August 13, revealed the Clinton Foundation has consistently run multi-million dollar deficits and is little else but a money machine to pay off Clinton cronies. It is this article that sparked Dowd's memory of the undercurrent of avarice and arrogance that has always flowed just under the Clintons' shiny exterior.
More
IT’S THE FAMILY STUPID
Liberals despise the traditional family. It provides all of the things they want government to do. Its destruction is their number one priority. Just watch MSNBC for five minutes.
Why ‘The Family’ Matters in Economics
posted in Economics and Business on August 13, 2013 by Michael Hendrix
http://mereorthodoxy.com/why-the-family-matters-in-economics/#sthash.655gBlST.dpuf
Nick Schulz is frustrated. He’s frustrated that economists talk about the role of institutions in the American economy, yet ignore the most fundamental one of them all: the family. With a career built on writing about the roots of economic growth, Schulz has realized that you can’t understand today’s economy—from the need for human capital to rising inequality— without considering the platoons of moms, dads, and children that form the backbone of American society.
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Why ‘The Family’ Matters in Economics
posted in Economics and Business on August 13, 2013 by Michael Hendrix
http://mereorthodoxy.com/why-the-family-matters-in-economics/#sthash.655gBlST.dpuf
Nick Schulz is frustrated. He’s frustrated that economists talk about the role of institutions in the American economy, yet ignore the most fundamental one of them all: the family. With a career built on writing about the roots of economic growth, Schulz has realized that you can’t understand today’s economy—from the need for human capital to rising inequality— without considering the platoons of moms, dads, and children that form the backbone of American society.
More
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