DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
5 Steps to Cutting the Parental Welfare Cord
Are you among the almost 80% of parents who provide some financial support to adult children? The amount is a mind-blowing $500 BILLION a year, which is twice what parents put away for retirement.
In other words, you may be placing your kids’ interest ahead of your own. And that makes it one the biggest threats to your retirement.
Plus it could rob them of the experience of learning what it means to struggle and become financially independent.
So what’s behind this trend of boomer and Gen X parents supporting their adult kids?
More
In other words, you may be placing your kids’ interest ahead of your own. And that makes it one the biggest threats to your retirement.
Plus it could rob them of the experience of learning what it means to struggle and become financially independent.
So what’s behind this trend of boomer and Gen X parents supporting their adult kids?
More
Oh, Brother: Broward's Biggest Coward, Suspended Sheriff Scott Israel, May Have A New Gig
Suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has come under fire for his leadership – or lack thereof – during the shooting in Parkland, Florida last year. It was revealed that Israel's team showed up at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School but failed to go into the school while the gunman opened fire. When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) took office at the beginning of the year, he suspended Israel. The Sheriff said he's fight to get his job back one way or another.
Now it looks as though he's cashing in on that promise. Israel may have another top law enforcement position, this time as the Police Chief in Opa-locka.
According to the Miami Herald, the move is unsurprising:
Now it looks as though he's cashing in on that promise. Israel may have another top law enforcement position, this time as the Police Chief in Opa-locka.
According to the Miami Herald, the move is unsurprising:
He’s also hedging his bets: In a power play of his own one county south, Israel has emerged as one commissioner’s favorite candidate for police chief in Opa-locka.
More
It’s a would-be marriage that links Broward’s most controversial politician with Miami-Dade’s most chaotic and dysfunctional city. And it has politicians and observers on both sides of the county line reaching for the popcorn.
Man accused of stealing from Kmart days after buying $8 million private island
A Florida man was arrested on Saturday for shoplifting at a Kmart, just days after he purchased a multi-million-dollar private island off Key West.
Andrew Lippi, 59, was accused of stealing about $300 worth of household goods from a Kmart in Key West, where police said he purchased various items between March 30 and April 4, replaced them with cheaper items and returned them for a refund.
Lippi made headlines last week when he purchased Thompson Island, a private estate formerly owned by the philanthropist and developer Edward B. Knight, for $8 million, according to ABC Miami affiliate WPLG.
More
Andrew Lippi, 59, was accused of stealing about $300 worth of household goods from a Kmart in Key West, where police said he purchased various items between March 30 and April 4, replaced them with cheaper items and returned them for a refund.
Lippi made headlines last week when he purchased Thompson Island, a private estate formerly owned by the philanthropist and developer Edward B. Knight, for $8 million, according to ABC Miami affiliate WPLG.
More
40 Facts That Prove That America’s Moral Collapse Is Spinning Wildly Out Of Control
According to a brand new survey that was just conducted by the Pew Research Center, 77 percent of all Americans are either “very worried” or “fairly worried” about America’s moral health. Of course the truth is that we should all be deeply concerned, because we can see evidence of the cancerous moral decay that is eating away at the foundations of our society all around us. In life, each one of us gets to make choices, and some of those choices can lead to very bad outcomes. We all have old friends that “got on the wrong path”, and their lives ended up becoming cautionary tales. Well, the same principle applies to nations as a whole. America has been given very clear choices between good and evil, life and death, blessings and curses over and over again, and we have consistently made the wrong choices. If we stay on this road, there is only one result that will be possible.
As long as we are drawing breath, there is always an opportunity to turn things around. That is true for individuals, and it is also true for our entire nation. But if we continue running toward evil, it is only a matter of time before exceedingly painful consequences overtake us.
The following are 40 facts that prove that America’s moral collapse is spinning wildly out of control…
More
As long as we are drawing breath, there is always an opportunity to turn things around. That is true for individuals, and it is also true for our entire nation. But if we continue running toward evil, it is only a matter of time before exceedingly painful consequences overtake us.
The following are 40 facts that prove that America’s moral collapse is spinning wildly out of control…
More
Troopers Arrest Laurel Man on Drug Charges-Laurel
The incident occurred on April 9, 2019 at approximately 6:39 a.m., when Troopers were dispatched to Fire Tower Road in the area of the Cool Branch Development for a report of suspicious person standing in the development entrance where there is a school bus pickup. Upon arrival, Troopers located a subject matching the description that was provided. Contact was made with the subject who advised that he was “abandoned” there and needed to get back to the limits of Seaford. The subject was identified as 21-year-old Horell G. Haynes. Haynes was found in possession of approximately 313.26 grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
Haynes was taken into custody without incident and transported back to Troop 5 where he was charged with the following:
Haynes was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $60,200.00 secured bond.
- Possession of a controlled substance in a Tier 5 quantity
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Hundreds of migrants form caravan in Honduras to head for the US
Almost 1,000 people gathered Tuesday night in the town of San Pedro Sula in northern Honduras to form a new caravan to reach the United States, police said.
"There are more than 800, almost a thousand," a police official told AFP, with the Red Cross reporting the same number.
The caravan, which followed a call on social media, took the authorities by surprise after similar appeals since February failed to muster numbers.
Many families with children were among those gathered, and some have already started their journeys in crowded minibuses.
Alexis Perez, 27, said: "We are done with this government, there is no work."
Since October 13, when the first caravan of 2,000 set off, three other similar convoys of migrants have left Honduras for the US in search of work or fleeing drug-traffickers.
More
"There are more than 800, almost a thousand," a police official told AFP, with the Red Cross reporting the same number.
The caravan, which followed a call on social media, took the authorities by surprise after similar appeals since February failed to muster numbers.
Many families with children were among those gathered, and some have already started their journeys in crowded minibuses.
Alexis Perez, 27, said: "We are done with this government, there is no work."
Since October 13, when the first caravan of 2,000 set off, three other similar convoys of migrants have left Honduras for the US in search of work or fleeing drug-traffickers.
More
Smart Meters Could Be Over-billing You by a Whopping 582%!
Most people understand that utility bills are a necessary evil if they want to live in the modern world – even if utility bills eat up a large portion of monthly income. That said, few are willing to pay more than they should be paying, and yet, according to a stunning new report, some people arepaying more than they should. A lot more.
As reported by web site Boing Boing, a research team from the University of Twente in Enschende, Netherlands, and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences documented billing inaccuracies in a paper that reviewed the efficacy of so-called “smart” electric meters, ranging from -32 percent to +582 percent of the actual power consumed in a month’s period.
The paper also noted that, ironically, the overbilling is mostly due to older power-saving features because they introduce line noise that interferes with the wireless signal and thereby ‘confuses’ the meters.
“Static, or electronic, energy meters are replacing the conventional electromechanical meters. Consumers are sometimes complaining about higher energy readings and billing after the change to a static meter, but there is not a clear common or root cause at present,” an abstract of the findings states. “Electromagnetic interference has been observed between active infeed converters as used in photo-voltaic systems and static meters. Reducing the interference levels eliminated inaccurate reading in static meters.”
More
As reported by web site Boing Boing, a research team from the University of Twente in Enschende, Netherlands, and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences documented billing inaccuracies in a paper that reviewed the efficacy of so-called “smart” electric meters, ranging from -32 percent to +582 percent of the actual power consumed in a month’s period.
The paper also noted that, ironically, the overbilling is mostly due to older power-saving features because they introduce line noise that interferes with the wireless signal and thereby ‘confuses’ the meters.
“Static, or electronic, energy meters are replacing the conventional electromechanical meters. Consumers are sometimes complaining about higher energy readings and billing after the change to a static meter, but there is not a clear common or root cause at present,” an abstract of the findings states. “Electromagnetic interference has been observed between active infeed converters as used in photo-voltaic systems and static meters. Reducing the interference levels eliminated inaccurate reading in static meters.”
More
Florida Will Now Generously Allow Homeowners To Garden In Their Own Yards
If you live in Florida and want the freedom to plant food on your own property, I have great news for you.
Late last month, the Florida Senate affirmed the right of self-reliant people statewide to grow vegetable gardens in their front yards.
Here are some details on the bill from the Miami Herald:
Late last month, the Florida Senate affirmed the right of self-reliant people statewide to grow vegetable gardens in their front yards.
Here are some details on the bill from the Miami Herald:
The 40-member Senate vote was 35-5.More
Sen. Rob Bradley’s SB 82 prohibits a county or municipality from regulating vegetable gardens on residential properties, voiding any current regulations regarding the produce patches.
Local governments, however, can still adopt a local ordinance or regulation that doesn’t specifically target vegetable gardens, like regulating water during drought conditions, limiting fertilizer use or controlling invasive species.
WARNING: Netflix prices are increasing yet again in May
WASHINGTON (SBG) -- After streaming service Netflix increased pricing for customers back in January, the company is now warning customers they are set to do so again beginning in May.
If you're a subscriber to Netflix's standard plan, your bill will go up from $10.99 to $12.99. Subscribers to the premium plan will face an increase from $13.99 to $15.99. Variety reports subscribers of Netflix's basic plan will also see increases in pricing for the first time. The subscription will go up to $8.99 from the current price of $7.99.
These announcements come as other streaming services are set to launch soon. Disney's version of Netflix, known as Disney+, is expected to launch in late 2019 (at the same time Disney content leaves Netflix) and will feature content from Star Wars and Marvel. It is unknown how much the service is expected to cost.
More
If you're a subscriber to Netflix's standard plan, your bill will go up from $10.99 to $12.99. Subscribers to the premium plan will face an increase from $13.99 to $15.99. Variety reports subscribers of Netflix's basic plan will also see increases in pricing for the first time. The subscription will go up to $8.99 from the current price of $7.99.
These announcements come as other streaming services are set to launch soon. Disney's version of Netflix, known as Disney+, is expected to launch in late 2019 (at the same time Disney content leaves Netflix) and will feature content from Star Wars and Marvel. It is unknown how much the service is expected to cost.
More
*UPDATE- Subject Located* Gold Alert Canceled for Missing Delmar Teenager
Delmar- The Delaware State Police are issuing a Gold Alert for 17-year-old Tackoma Toomey of Delmar who was reported missing on April 10, 2019 and last seen at approximately 11:00 a.m. at Delmar High School.
Tackoma is 5’02” tall, 110 lbs., with blue eyes and brown hair.
Attempts to locate Tackoma have been unsuccessful and there is a true concern for her safety and welfare.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Troop 5 at 302-337-8253 or by calling 911. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com
Thiru Vignarajah announces 2020 run for Mayor of Baltimore
BALTIMORE —Maryland’s former Deputy Attorney General Thiru Vignarajah announced Wednesday he will run for Mayor of Baltimore in 2020.
Democrat Vignarajah is the first person to officially announce a run for the mayor's position following the Healthy Holly book scandal.
“What we have endured in Baltimore is heartbreaking and humiliating. From our street corners to City Hall, I am running to put an end to crime and corruption,” Vignarajah said in a statement. “We all know Baltimore is a city of resilience and unfilled promise. With ideas and integrity, we can forge the Baltimore our parents dreamed of, the city we have promised to our children, a city of safe streets, good jobs, and great schools, no matter where you live or who you are.”
More
Democrat Vignarajah is the first person to officially announce a run for the mayor's position following the Healthy Holly book scandal.
“What we have endured in Baltimore is heartbreaking and humiliating. From our street corners to City Hall, I am running to put an end to crime and corruption,” Vignarajah said in a statement. “We all know Baltimore is a city of resilience and unfilled promise. With ideas and integrity, we can forge the Baltimore our parents dreamed of, the city we have promised to our children, a city of safe streets, good jobs, and great schools, no matter where you live or who you are.”
More
Washington Post urges court to toss Covington student’s $250M libel suit
The Washington Post is seeking to have a Covington Catholic student’s $250 million libel lawsuit thrown out, arguing in court filings that the paper’s coverage of Nicholas Sandmann’s chaotic viral encounter at the Lincoln Memorial in January with American Indian activist Nathan Philips did not defame him.
Sandmann, through his parents, sued The Washington Post in February over his depiction in specific articles about the incident.
“He and others who were present may well have been embarrassed by the attention — and hurt by the criticism — they received,” the paper’s documents argue. “But Sandmann does not have a cause of action for libel against The Washington Post.”
The motion was filed in U.S. District Court in Covington, Kentucky.
Lawyers for the student alleged in their suit that The Post had engaged in “targeting and bullying” and modern “McCarthyism.”
More
Sandmann, through his parents, sued The Washington Post in February over his depiction in specific articles about the incident.
“He and others who were present may well have been embarrassed by the attention — and hurt by the criticism — they received,” the paper’s documents argue. “But Sandmann does not have a cause of action for libel against The Washington Post.”
The motion was filed in U.S. District Court in Covington, Kentucky.
Lawyers for the student alleged in their suit that The Post had engaged in “targeting and bullying” and modern “McCarthyism.”
More
Leaked Google Memos Reveal Aggressive "News Blacklist" Used Against Conservative Sites
Leaked internal documents reveal that Google maintains a blacklist preventing certain news outlets from appearing in search results for news or other specific sections, according to the Daily Caller's J. Arthur Bloom.
What this means is that while search results from blacklisted outlets will still appear in the generic "ten blue links" portion of search results - targeted sites will not be allowed in sections such as "top news" or "videos," according to the report.
"The purpose of the blacklist will be to bar the sites from surfacing in any Search feature or news product. It will not cause a demotion in the organic search results or de-index them altogether," reads the policy document.
Of note, Zero Hedge was removed from Google's News category after the 2016 US election.
According to the Caller, the blacklist includes several conservative websites, including Gateway Pundit, Conservative Tribune (a subsidiary of the Western Journal), American Spectator and more, for violating the search giant's "misrepresentation policy" and "good neighbor policy."
What this means is that while search results from blacklisted outlets will still appear in the generic "ten blue links" portion of search results - targeted sites will not be allowed in sections such as "top news" or "videos," according to the report.
"The purpose of the blacklist will be to bar the sites from surfacing in any Search feature or news product. It will not cause a demotion in the organic search results or de-index them altogether," reads the policy document.
Of note, Zero Hedge was removed from Google's News category after the 2016 US election.
According to the Caller, the blacklist includes several conservative websites, including Gateway Pundit, Conservative Tribune (a subsidiary of the Western Journal), American Spectator and more, for violating the search giant's "misrepresentation policy" and "good neighbor policy."
Two official policies dubbed the “misrepresentation policy” and the “good neighbor policy” inform the company’s “XPA news blacklist,” which is maintained by Google’s Trust & Safety team. “T&S will be in charge of updating the blacklist as when there is a demand,” reads one of the documents shared with The Daily Caller.
More
“The deceptive_news domain blacklist is going to be used by many search features to filter problematic sites that violate the good neighbor and misrepresentation policies,” the policy document says. -Daily Caller
"Payroll Tsunami": Small Businesses Layoff Workers To Comply With Minimum Wage Law
In what has become just one more example of government intervention going the exact opposite of what socialists intend,minimum wage laws are driving a “payroll tsunami.”
Small businesses are being forced to lay off workers in order to comply with a law demanding an increase in wages.
This isn’t all that surprising. Economists, small business owners, and other analysts have said that the net result of higher wages is a loss of jobs. And small businesses, who don’t have the capital or return that large corporations do, are feeling the proverbial pinch. According to Fox News, several mom-and-pop coffee shops and restaurants, are responding by cutting hours, eliminating jobs or closing down entirely because they can’t keep up with rising wages under the law.
Similar effects were seen after employers were dictated to comply with the Obamacare law. Instead of giving full-time employees health insurance paid for by the company, many workers were simply cut to part-time.
More
Small businesses are being forced to lay off workers in order to comply with a law demanding an increase in wages.
This isn’t all that surprising. Economists, small business owners, and other analysts have said that the net result of higher wages is a loss of jobs. And small businesses, who don’t have the capital or return that large corporations do, are feeling the proverbial pinch. According to Fox News, several mom-and-pop coffee shops and restaurants, are responding by cutting hours, eliminating jobs or closing down entirely because they can’t keep up with rising wages under the law.
Similar effects were seen after employers were dictated to comply with the Obamacare law. Instead of giving full-time employees health insurance paid for by the company, many workers were simply cut to part-time.
More
Whalen: Trump Is Right To Blow Up The Fed"
The Federal Reserve is out of control, acting in ways and with powers that were never explicitly granted by Congress...
Last week, President Donald Trump set the economics community aflame by suggesting that he will appoint businessman and presidential aspirant Herman Cain to the Federal Reserve Board. Even more than political economist Stephen Moore, the critics maintain, Cain represents a threat to the cabal that has controlled the central bank for decades.
Why? Because Cain is a successful executive who founded a real business, took risks, and created jobs, things most academic economists will never ever do.
Media outlets and other allied constituencies have howled with rage at the prospect of President Trump “packing the Fed,” a distant reference to attempts by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to pack the Supreme Court in the 1930s. Those worried about the independence of the Federal Reserve Board should reconsider. Independence from what exactly?
More
Last week, President Donald Trump set the economics community aflame by suggesting that he will appoint businessman and presidential aspirant Herman Cain to the Federal Reserve Board. Even more than political economist Stephen Moore, the critics maintain, Cain represents a threat to the cabal that has controlled the central bank for decades.
Why? Because Cain is a successful executive who founded a real business, took risks, and created jobs, things most academic economists will never ever do.
Media outlets and other allied constituencies have howled with rage at the prospect of President Trump “packing the Fed,” a distant reference to attempts by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to pack the Supreme Court in the 1930s. Those worried about the independence of the Federal Reserve Board should reconsider. Independence from what exactly?
More
Good Samaritan fatally shot after paying for meals, handing out $20 bills at Waffle House
A good Samaritan handing out $20 bills to customers was fatally shot inside a Waffle House in Florida this past weekend after an altercation with a disgruntled woman, authorities said.
Ezekiel Hicks, 25, was charged with murder Sunday in the death of 41-year-old Craig Brewer, who was shot and killed at a restaurant in Gainesville, just a few miles from the University of Florida.
Brewer, who was passing out cash and offering to pay for meals, got into a dispute with Hicks after arguing with the suspect’s female acquaintance, who was reportedly upset Brewer didn’t pay for her food.
More
https://www.foxnews.com/us/good-samaritan-fatally-shot-after-paying-for-meals-handing-out-20-bills-at-waffle-house
Ezekiel Hicks, 25, was charged with murder Sunday in the death of 41-year-old Craig Brewer, who was shot and killed at a restaurant in Gainesville, just a few miles from the University of Florida.
Brewer, who was passing out cash and offering to pay for meals, got into a dispute with Hicks after arguing with the suspect’s female acquaintance, who was reportedly upset Brewer didn’t pay for her food.
More
https://www.foxnews.com/us/good-samaritan-fatally-shot-after-paying-for-meals-handing-out-20-bills-at-waffle-house
JORDAN RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT CUMMINGS’S PARTISAN FOIA INVESTIGATION
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Interior Acting Secretary David Bernhardt noting concerns with Chairman Elijah Cummings’s (D-MD) partisan investigation of compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Committee has traditionally conducted bipartisan oversight of FOIA compliance.
Excerpt from the letter:
“FOIA compliance is a good-government issue that both Republicans and Democrats support. To achieve effective oversight of the executive branch, the work of the Committee must be fair and inclusive of all the facts. I hope that Chairman Cummings will join me in pursuing responsible and bipartisan FOIA oversight.”
Full text of the letters can be found here.
Excerpt from the letter:
“FOIA compliance is a good-government issue that both Republicans and Democrats support. To achieve effective oversight of the executive branch, the work of the Committee must be fair and inclusive of all the facts. I hope that Chairman Cummings will join me in pursuing responsible and bipartisan FOIA oversight.”
Full text of the letters can be found here.
US GOVERNMENT’S NET WORTH: NEGATIVE $21.5 TRILLION
The net worth of the US comes in at negative $21.5 trillion.
This according to the Financial Report of the United States Government recently released by the Treasury Department.
The report is a summary of the financial condition of the United States. In a nutshell, it’s less than ideal.
Total net worth — the country’s assets minus its liabilities — is just one of many disturbing data points you will find in the report.
The US government owns $3.8 trillion in assets. The largest asset is $1.4 trillion in “net loans receivable.” These are primarily government-backed student loans totaling $1.08 trillion. In an article published by Sovereign Man, Simon Black it neatly into perspective.
“In other words, the government’s #1 asset is the debt owed to it by young people across America. That’s pretty sad.”
More
This according to the Financial Report of the United States Government recently released by the Treasury Department.
The report is a summary of the financial condition of the United States. In a nutshell, it’s less than ideal.
Total net worth — the country’s assets minus its liabilities — is just one of many disturbing data points you will find in the report.
The US government owns $3.8 trillion in assets. The largest asset is $1.4 trillion in “net loans receivable.” These are primarily government-backed student loans totaling $1.08 trillion. In an article published by Sovereign Man, Simon Black it neatly into perspective.
“In other words, the government’s #1 asset is the debt owed to it by young people across America. That’s pretty sad.”
More
OC Committee Recommends Helping Taxi Companies ‘To Keep These People In Business’
OCEAN CITY – Highlighting the need to support local taxi companies, a resort committee this week agreed to forward a favorable recommendation to decrease annual medallion and inspection fees.
On Monday, the Ocean City Police Commission made a favorable recommendation to lower the cost of annual medallion renewals and inspection fees in an effort to improve the business climate for local taxi companies.
“They are asking for adjustments because of Uber and Lyft being out there and increasing competition …,” committee chair and Council President Lloyd Martin said. “They were hoping for us to look at this a little harder, a little deeper, to figure out how we can tweak these fees that they incur.”
Currently, taxi companies pay $300 in annual business license fees, $500 in annual renewal fees for each medallion and between $150 and $450 in annual inspection fees to the town.
More
On Monday, the Ocean City Police Commission made a favorable recommendation to lower the cost of annual medallion renewals and inspection fees in an effort to improve the business climate for local taxi companies.
“They are asking for adjustments because of Uber and Lyft being out there and increasing competition …,” committee chair and Council President Lloyd Martin said. “They were hoping for us to look at this a little harder, a little deeper, to figure out how we can tweak these fees that they incur.”
Currently, taxi companies pay $300 in annual business license fees, $500 in annual renewal fees for each medallion and between $150 and $450 in annual inspection fees to the town.
More
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)