Budget Cut Woes Leave Military, Families Uncertain

With family members waving from a pier, sailors aboard a Navy destroyer left for an overseas mission with more uncertainty than ever about their homecoming as potentially massive budget cuts reshape military plans.

The political hick-hack in Congress over the budget is having real-life consequences for service members in the Navy and maybe soon in other branches. It comes at a time when some military families were getting used to deployments coming back down to normal lengths after more than a decade of two wars, when the Pentagon routinely extended the time forces stayed in the field.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Barry headed out Thursday for what was supposed to be a six-month deployment in Europe as part of a NATO plan to provide a ballistic-missile shield for the continent. The Navy has warned that tours like this one could be extended for unspecified periods after billions of dollars in automatic spending cuts known as sequestration take place March 1, unless Congress acts to avert them.
More 

3rd Friday: Art & Entertainment In Downtown Salisbury

Salisbury, MD – Why not fall back in love with Downtown Salisbury this Friday? February 15th, 2013, is another 3rd Friday in Downtown Salisbury! It’s the perfect time to rekindle your love for our city’s gorgeous downtown. There will be plenty of stops to make, from special events, gallery openings, poetry readings, amazing restaurant specials; and more!

The Powell Building, on the Plaza, will again serve as 3rd Friday’s headquarters. In addition to fine art displays, handmade items and local crafters, 3rd Friday is pleased to welcome children’s book author, Eleanor Vernice Siyon, for a special book signing for her latest work Sylvia Visits the Land of Angels! This story is truly unique, as it combines the book’s rich illustrations, with an accompanying CD, where the story is beautifully sung and narrated over original music. “Rich expressive illustrations set the tone for a fun-filled spiritual adventure and poetic verse flows freely as feelings of peace and happiness are imparted by the original music” says Ms. Siyon. Eleanor Vernice Siyon is an educator, author and playwright whose primary focus is enhancing the spiritual development of children from all faiths and spiritual persuasions. Also on the Plaza, Sushi de Kanpai, Plaza Deli and Main Roots Coffee will all be open with amazing 3rd Friday specials, so stop in for a bite or a drink before you venture on!

Sure to warm your heart, The Art Institute and Gallery opening reception of its 15th annual Blooming Artist Youth Show, will be held from 5 – 7pm and is a must see! With over 250 works submitted from children age 4 – 18, you will be dazzled by works from precious to down-right professional! Awards will be given in Preschool, Elementary, Middle and High School divisions. The Foyer Gallery will feature artwork from the 2012 High School Division winner, Katie Engberg!

The Wicomico County Public Library is also having a special after hours event: The Murder of Abraham Lincoln! The program is from 7pm – 9pm, hosted by Mr. Roger Arthur, and is part of the "Making Sense of the American Civil War" series. The program will explore the many theories that have emerged about this most famous of assassinations.

On the West End of East Main Street, Seasons Best will be celebrating and keeping this sweet, with a cupcake bonanza as well as having tons of special sales! Their huge inventory or unique one-of-a-kind items, makes it the perfect place to pick up a gift for your special someone. Then head upstairs to SWAC, for “The Art of Love” poetry reading from 6-8pm. Poets and writers are welcome to share up to 2 poems each, followed by group discussion, as well as the authors’ commentary. Stay the whole night or just stop in to enjoy some wine, cheese, and a reading or two. Then stop by Mojo’s for a drink to top it all off!

3F is an all-volunteer effort, a downtown economic development initiative and a project of the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District Committee. There is no charge for local artists to set up, only registration is required. For more information: 3rdFridaySby@gmail.com or Visit http://www.3rdfridaysby.com

HANDICAPPED WOMAN REFUSES SMART METER — HAS POWER CUT IN THE DEAD OF WINTER

A handicapped woman in western Ohio has to battle the freezing winter weather this weekend because she refused to allow the local power company to install a “smart meter” on her property.

Brenda Hawk has a pacemaker for her heart and because her brain was injured in a car accident, she requires a breathing machine in order to sleep at night. She does not want the new radio-frequency emitting meter because of the health problems these devices have been said to cause. But American Electric Power AEP-Ohio, the local power company, has persisted in their push to swap out Hawk’s analog meter and replace it with the new one.

TheBlaze spoke with Hawk on Saturday. At the time, she was using a kerosene heater to stay warm in the freezing weather. Hawk gave us a basic timeline on the story.
 More

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY AND LT. GOVERNOR BROWN HIGHLIGHT INITIATIVES TO CREATE JOBS FOR MORE MARYLANDERS

Governor testifies on EARN bill; Governor and Lt. Governor testify on Veterans Full Employment Act
Governor also accepts recommendations from the Federal Facilities Advisory Board to drive innovation and create jobs in Maryland 

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown highlighted initiatives to create jobs for more Marylanders, testifying on the Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) initiative and the Veterans Full Employment Act of 2013 - two components of the Administration’s jobs agenda for the 2013 legislative session.

“The greatest assets we have are the talents and skills of our people. Maryland has built up one of the most highly-skilled workforces in the nation, but together we can do more to ensure that every Marylander has the opportunity to learn and earn,” said Governor O’Malley. “That’s why this session, we are fighting to pass the EARN bill to allow us to partner with businesses to equip more workers with the skills they need to fill the jobs in highest demand, and the Veterans Full Employment Act so we can remove barriers to employment for our veterans and their spouses.”
A joint effort with Senate President Miller and House Speaker Busch, Governor O’Malley’s proposed FY 2014 budget includes a $2.5 million investment to create a competitive grant process to bridge the gap between specific employer workforce needs and the skills of Maryland’s workers. The grant will be managed by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to encourage regional workforce training collaborations among businesses, non-profits, institutions of higher education, community college, local workforce investment boards, local governments, and various types of workforce training providers. These employer-driven partnerships will serve to identify common workforce needs for high-demand occupations within a target industry such as construction, traditional and advanced manufacturing, cyber security, and health care; and develop and implement education or training strategies to address those shortages. 
The Veterans Full Employment Act removes certain barriers to employment that service members often face when making the transition from military service to the civilian workforce. The bill also expedites the occupational and professional licensing process for military spouses when a military family moves to Maryland.

“As a Veteran, I believe we have a sacred obligation to honor the service and sacrifice made by our veterans, active-duty military, and their families. This legislation is an important step forward in meeting that goal,” said Lt. Governor Brown, a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and the nation's highest ranking elected official to have served a tour of duty in Iraq. “With this bill, we have a chance to ensure that veterans have every opportunity to enjoy the benefits they've earned, and make it easier for military spouses to find work when their families are transferred to Maryland.”

Earlier, the Governor also accepted the recommendations from the Federal Facilities Advisory Board - a strategic plan that outlines 25 actions the State can take to better leverage the potential of government labs, military installations and other federal facilities to drive innovation and create jobs in Maryland. The board’s strategic plan covers six broad priorities: aligning state resources with federal priorities; promoting cyber security business and innovation growth; positioning federal contractors for sustainability and growth; expediting infrastructure improvements that impact federal facilities; developing a pipeline of highly-qualified workers to fill the federal workforce; and deploying technology transfer and commercialization resources to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship.

“I want to thank the Board members for their hard work to help us develop a sustainable plan to leverage crucial federal assets and take full advantage of their job-creating potential,” the Governor said.

Steven Seagal, Sheriff Train Arizonans To Guard Schools

The self-proclaimed "America's Toughest Sheriff" joined forces this weekend with action movie star Steven Seagal to train volunteer armed posse members to defend Phoenix-area schools against gunmen.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced the controversial plan in the wake of the December Newtown, Conn., school shooting that left 27 people dead, including the gunman and 20 first-graders.

The exercise took place Saturday at a closed school site in suburban Fountain Hills, outside Phoenix, where sheriff's SWAT members acted as shooters and teenagers played the part of students during mock scenarios involving up to three gunmen.
More 

STATE PRISON INMATE DEATH UNDER INVESTIGATION

(CUMBERLAND, MD) – Maryland State Police and Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services investigators are continuing their investigation into the apparent homicide of an inmate that occurred early this morning at a state prison in Allegany County.
The victim is identified as Ricky Bailey, 51, who was an inmate at the North Branch Correctional Institution. According to prison officials, Bailey was serving a sentence of life without parole. 

A suspect has been identified and is an inmate at the same correctional facility. Charges against him are pending. He will be identified publicly when charges are filed.

Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators were summoned to the North Branch Correctional Institution by prison officials this morning to conduct the investigation. They are being assisted by investigators from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Internal Investigations Unit.

The preliminary investigation indicates that shortly after 4:00 a.m. today, inmates in the housing unit were having breakfast delivered to their cells. An inmate told correctional officers that his cell mate needed to be removed from the cell. Officers entered the cell and found Bailey seated at the rear of the cell, leaning on the lower bunk.

Officers determined Bailey was unresponsive and appeared to have sustained injuries to his head, neck and extremities. Prison medical staff responded and began resuscitation efforts. An ambulance was summoned and responded to the prison from Cumberland. Bailey was pronounced deceased at the scene.

State Police crime scene technicians responded to the scene and processed the cell for evidence. Investigators are continuing to interview correctional officers and inmates. A specific cause of death is not known at this time. The victim’s body will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy to determine a cause and manner of death.

The investigation is continuing.

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

February11, 6: 00 p.m.
Government Office Building ` Room 301
Times shown for agenda items are

6: 00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER

6: 01 p.m. WELGOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS

6; 06 p.m. INVOCATION/MEDITATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

6:08 p:m. ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

6: 10 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA—City Clerk Kim Nichols

January 22, 2013 work session minutes.

January 22, 2013 closed session minutes separate envelope)

January 28, 2013 regular meeting minutes

Resolution No. 2254- approving the reappointments of Keith Cordrey, Gregory Johnson, Kimberly R: Nichols, and John R. Pick to GASB 45 Trust

6: 15 p.m. AWARD OF BIDS—Assistant Internal Services Director-Procurement

Catrice Parsons

Award of RFP 06- 13 Pay & Classification Study

Change Order# 7 to Contract A-7- 09 R2

6: 30 pm. RESOLUTTONS— Ci'ty Administrator John Pick

Resolution No. 2251—amending the Salisbury City Council Regulations and

Rules of Order

Resolution No. 2255 —accepting funds awarded through a grant from the Department of Housing & Community Development, Emergency Solutions Grant

7: 00 p.m. ORDINANCES— City Attorney Mark Tilghman

Ordinance No. 2230—reading— amending False Alarm Fees and designating certain reoccurring false alarms within the same calendar year at the same property location as municipal infractions

Ordinance No. 2231 —2°a reading— to eliminate fourteen parking spaces and provide three bus parking spaces on the east side of Wayne Street adjacent to the Salisbury University Stadium

Ordinance No. 2232— reading - approving an amendment of the FY 13' General Fund and Water and Sewer Fund Budgets to appropriate funds to cover the City' s cost for a pay arid classification study 
7:45 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS

8: 00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT

Gun Show In Virginia Hikes Admission Fee To Fight Obama's Gun Control Push

CHANTILLY, Va. — The largest gun show in the D.C. area has raised its admission fee to help bankroll its fight against President Obama’s push for tighter firearm restrictions.

Thousands of gun enthusiasts are descending upon the “Nation’s Gun Show” at the Dulles Expo Center this weekend and, for the first time in five years, are being greeted with a higher cost of entry as the gun rights community wages a tough, and costly, campaign to stop Obama and Congress from stiffening certain gun laws.

“Admission has gone up because we are using the money to fight so you can keep and bear your guns,” read the sign on the front doors to the gun show.

“We have already spent $25,000 this year to stop impending legislation by hiring lawyers, lobbyists, and writing bills.”
More 

Greek Tax Hikes Backfire As Tax Revenues Plunge 16%

There was some hope that Greece, which for the past few months was desperately trying to show it has a primary surplus when in fact it was merely shoving unpaid bills under the rug, was at least getting its runaway deficit situation under control. This, despite what many sensible people pointed out was the return of nearly daily strikes, which meant zero government revenue as zero taxes could be levied on zero wages. Turns out the sensible people were again right, and the Greek and European propaganda machine has failed once more as the Greek Finance Ministry just reported that despite big tax hikes demanded as part of austerity measures by international lenders, tax revenues fell precipitously in January, with the Greek Finance Ministry reporting a 16 percent decrease from a year earlier, and a loss of 775 million euros, or $1.05 billion in one month.

This means that the government took in only €4.05 billion ($5.47 billion) in tax revenues in January, far short of its target of €4.36 billion ($5.89 billion), a $420 million shortfall in one month, which also came during an annual holiday sales period for shops who are bleeding customers and shutting down by the thousands.

It is all downhill from here as the feedback loop of more spending cuts is activated to offset declining revenues, leading to even less revenue, and culminating with the complete collapse of Greek society.

More

Lawmakers Seek To Slash Their Salaries

House and Senate lawmakers are seeking to slash their salaries with bills seeking cuts ranging from 10 percent to all of their pay.

The bipartisan efforts come at a time when congressional approval ratings are near record lows.

In a little more than one month since the 113th Congress convened, at least 16 bills have been introduced to downsize members’ paychecks.

The belt-tightening measures range in scope.
More 

Maryland And Other Northeast States’ Plan Deeper Cuts In Power Plant Pollution

Stronger Regional Program Will Reduce Global Warming Emissions

Power plant pollution in the Northeast would decline by more than 20 percent in the next decade under a plan announced today by Maryland’s and other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states’ environmental and energy officials.

“We applaud Governor O’Malley and his environmental team headed by Department of Environment Secretary Robert Summers for leading the way in tackling the pollution that contributes to global warming. Strengthening RGGI is one of the best ways we can lower the emissions that cause global warming. We look forward to working with Maryland officials to ensure these improvements are adopted,” said Tommy Landers, director of Environment Maryland.

O’Malley Administration officials announced improvements to a regional cap on carbon emissions, following a year-long review of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation’s first cap on carbon from power plants.

The proposal announced today would cap emissions from power plants in the region at current annual emission levels (91 million tons). The cap would take effect in 2014 and tighten, requiring emission reductions of 2.5 percent per year.

There was broad support from a broad range of stakeholder for strengthening the program. Last year, a coalition of more than 300 environmental and public health organizations, consumer advocates, and clean energy and mainstream businesses sent a letter to the states’ governors. The letter highlighted RGGI’s success to date and called for strengthening the program’s pollution reduction targets, and increasing investment in clean energy and energy efficiency measures that benefit the climate, the economy, public health and energy consumers.

“Even before Superstorm Sandy, public concern about extreme weather fueled by global warming was on the rise,” said Landers. “Now, it is even more urgent that Maryland and the other states in our region do all they can to tackle global warming and ensure that RGGI substantially reduces carbon pollution.”

Gun Control Foes From Around The World Flood Lawmakers' In-Boxes

A Linthicum delegate received thousands of emails about the Firearms Safety Act.

A Pasadena senator took 400 phone calls on the governor’s proposal.

Correspondence arrived from Texas, Florida, Arizona, Colorado — even Australia.

“Yanks, don’t let them take your guns,” encouraged one Aussie.

Legislators are being flooded with emails, phone calls and letters opposing Gov. Martin O’Malley’s bill to ban assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition clips. Still, legislators said only a minority of the correspondence is from Anne Arundel County voters.
 More

CNN: Bad Government Is YOUR Fault Not Ours

It's your fault: How our 'tribes' help create gridlock in Congress ... If Congress has danced at the most perilous edges of brinkmanship, we the people helped push them there. We did it by voting lawmakers out of office when they work with the other party to craft legislation but then claiming we want Congress to compromise and seek bipartisan solutions. We're doing it by sending to office those who promise to toe the line and continue the partisanship we say we despise ... "We the people do bear responsibility," said CNN senior political analyst David Gergen. "It's often been said we get the government we deserve. The polarization has come in part because the middle has fallen away and engagement has been left to the far right and far left." – CNN

Dominant Social Theme: It is up to you individually to change the direction of the US Empire – with your vote.

Free-Market Analysis: This is one of those definitive articles – a lengthy one – that is obviously meant as a positioning statement for propounding an increasingly important elite dominant social theme having to do with why government CAN work if people are responsible citizens.

The government in question, of course, is the US$3 trillion US Leviathan – as much an empire as a government and run, from our perspective, out of the City of London and elsewhere by a tiny top power elite that could give less than a damn about participative democracy. We'll get to that in a moment.

More

God Made A Liberal

Santelli On The Hypocrisy Of The Elites: "No One Will Ever Take Away The Punchbowl"

The infamous Bob Rubin appeared on CNBC this morning - extolling the "nobody could have seen this crisis coming" meme - and Rick Santelli went after the hypocrisy of these so-called elites and what they did and didn't know. The glaring hypocrisy of claiming that S&P knew that everything they rated was a P.O.S. and yet no-one else could have seen the crisis coming. The crony capitalism of Geithner's proximity to Rubin's Citi during the dark days - especially considering the increasing evidence in book after book - prompts Santelli to suggest we "draw our own conclusions." From saving the GSEs to Maxine Waters ignorance and Barney Frank's slamming of any pessimists, Santelli covers a lot of ground fast but notes, with venom, that none of these 'elites' ever want to be the naysayer (due to the implications) and they will never "take away the punchbowl," and while he proclaims that if S&P goes down then everyone should suffer clawbacks, he reminds us all, "you can't fight City Hall."
More

Gun Show Draws Crowds, Protesters

As Neil Kravitz manned his table at the Annapolis Gun Show on Saturday, a sea of camouflage surrounded him.

Men, women and children strolled up the aisles, their eyes passing over the merchandise. There were shotguns and handguns and rifles, along with ammunition, holsters and cases.

Some vendors sold hunting gear, while others offered knives, handcuffs and throwing stars. A handful of protesters held signs outside, their anti-gun messages drawing acid comments from patrons.
 More

GET 'EM WHILE THEY'RE YOUNG

Texas Students Asked To Design Flag for New Communist Nation

As America becomes more liberal, there are still a few states that stand as beacons of conservatism and good ole American values. One of those states is Texas.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott ran ads in Albany and New York City telling New York gun owners to move to Texas to get away from the strictest state gun laws in the nation. Hunting and gun ownership means as much to most Texans as owning a driver’s license or having a job is to others. It’s more than a right, it’s a way of life that they will guard with their lives.

The Texas state legislature, with the endorsement of Abbott and Gov. Rick Perry, passed a law that forbids any abortion provider in the state from receiving taxpayer funds. This hit Planned Parenthood facilities in the state hard and has helped cut down the number of abortions.

But when it comes to the education of their children, Texas has become almost as liberal as California or New York. A new curriculum infiltrating Texas schools has re-written history to make patriotism look more like terrorism. School kids are being taught that the Boston Tea Party was an act of terrorism, not patriotism. They are also being taught that Allah is God Almighty.

Now, the same curriculum, produced by CSCOPE, is asking 6th graders to design a flag for a new communist country. The lesson plan reads:

More

Kids Rewarded For Good Manners At Wash. Restaurant

SEATTLE (AP) -- To Laura King, her three children were acting normal while enjoying dinner at an Italian restaurant in their hometown in Washington state.

But staffers of the restaurant Sogno di Vino in Poulsbo were so impressed with her children's table manners during their Feb. 1 dinner that they thanked her kids and gave the family of five a bowl of ice cream.

It wasn't until King got home that that she noticed a $4 "well behaved kids" discount on her receipt to cover the dessert. A friend posted a picture of the receipt on the website Reddit, and the story took off.

"The server said staff didn't even know there were kids at the table," said King, whose children are 2, 3, and 8 years old.
 More

Panetta Warns Of Becoming A 'Second-Rate Power'

Taliban Offers To Bring Peacekeepers To Chicago

As negotiations for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan have once again come to a halt , the Taliban Supreme Council has offered to level the playing field by sending a group of 400 battle-hardened Taliban peacekeepers to the U.S. city of Chicago, to help pacify one of the most violent regions in the Great Plains area of the North American continent.

With many years of combat experience in violent areas of their own country and having fought rebels, insurgents, villagers, urban militias, rival drug lords, as well as Soviet and American occupying forces on foot, horses, camels, donkeys, and trucks, they may be just what the Chicago city officials need to pacify their own population and bring the recently publicized murder rate under control.

Details as to the logistical challenges have yet to be worked out, but already many US officials are expressing support for the idea. 
More 

Why Higher Education Must Be Part Of Immigration Reform

Last week, President Obama and a bipartisan group of senators outlined a plan for comprehensive immigration reform. Like the DREAM Act that has stalled for years in Congress, the proposal’s outline hints at an expedited pathway to citizenship for young people who came to the U.S. as children if they attend college or serve in the military. As the details are worked out in the coming weeks, it is critical that legislation include provisions that make it easier for undocumented high schoolers to go to college. Education is the gateway to the American Dream. But today our immigration laws make higher education — a virtual requirement for financial security — out of reach for more than one million undocumented students.

More

A Doubly Trying Tax Season for Same-Sex Couples

FOR Colette Hayward and Margaret Selby, the problem is this: Maryland recognizes their 2009 marriage, but the federal government does not.

The ramifications are maddeningly complex, no more so than when they deal with the Internal Revenue Service. Two years after taking legal action to assert their rights as a married couple, they are paying a price when they pay their taxes.

For Ms. Hayward, 47, a lawyer who owns two construction businesses, and Ms. Selby, 48, a Baltimore County police officer, a big issue involves insurance benefits they fought to achieve. They are paying taxes on those benefits, even though such benefits for spouses normally are not taxed.
More 

The Secret To Super Sperm? Less TV

Even healthy men could improve their sperm quality by spending less time in front of the tube.

Studies show that the quality of sperm, measured in concentration of sperm and sperm count, is declining in Western countries, with some suggesting a drop of up to 38% in concentration. Numerous factors could explain the trend, from lower levels of physical activity to exposure to environmental chemicals. But the downward dip in sperm quality matches up with increased TV viewing, so researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) decided to investigate the relationship between TV viewing, physical activity and semen quality.

The scientists analyzed the semen quality of 189 relatively healthy New York men aged 18 to 22, who were asked about how often and how intensely they exercised, as well as the amount of time they spent watching TV, videos or DVDs. The men were all normal weight and height, and the majority did not smoke.

More

Md. GOP Chairman Resigns

Maryland Republican Party Chairman Alex Mooney is resigning.

In a letter that was distributed to central committee members on Saturday, Mooney said that after 12 years as state Senator and two years as party chairman, it was time to “pursue other ventures.”

Mooney says that his resignation will become effective March 1, allowing for the election of a new chairman on April 20. He lists putting the party on strong footing as an accomplishment along with having party grassroots activism at an all-time high.
More 

Wicomico Recreation And Tall Tales Brewery Introduce Mudapalooza & Mud Run

Registration Now Open for Mud Run – Register Early & Save $20
(Salisbury, MD) Join Wicomico Recreation and Tall Tales Brewery for Mudapalooza, April 12-14, 2013. The three-day celebration of athleticism, teamwork and mud will take place at the Tall Tales Brewery in Parsonsburg, MD and will feature a two-mile Mud Run and plenty of opportunities to celebrate with live music and food & drink specials.

Mudapalooza will begin on Friday evening at Tall Tales Brewery where runners are encouraged to stop by for team check-in and stay for Paul Bunyon's Pre-Party at 6:00pm. Teams are invited to gear up for the weekend's race with live music and food & drink specials. On Saturday, it's time to get down and dirty in the Mud Run - a 2 mile course with 16 obstacles. Celebrate your team's accomplishment at Tall Tales' post-race mud party, "Get Mucked Up at Tall Tales" Saturday evening at 6:00pm. The mud party will be free to all and include live music and food & drink specials. Special race awards will be handed out during the party.

The Mud Run will be a team event; runners should register as a team of four. Teams will be split in to three divisions; adults (ages 18+), high school (ages 14-18) and family & youth sports team (youth ages 12+, one adult 25+). The adult and high school divisions will run on Saturday, March 13 and the family & youth sports team division will run an abbreviated version of the course on Sunday, March 14. Participants will receive a t-shirt, medal and before & after team photos (via web link). The registration fees are as follows: adults: $180.00 per team, high school: $140.00 per team, family & youth sports team: $120.00 per team.

Registration for the Mud Run is open now online at www.WicomicoRecandParks.org and in person at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804; Monday-Friday, 8:00am-6:00pm). Teams registering by March 1 will receive a $20 discount on their registration fee. For more information, visit www.WicomicoRecandParks.org or contact Ashley Desjardins, Event Coordinator, 410-548-4900 x113 or ashdesjardins@gmail.com.

ARMED CHURCHGOER PREVENTS SLAUGHTER

Charl Van Wyk, who carried a gun to a church service, shot back at terrorists bent on mass slaughter and ultimately was credited with saving hundreds of lives, says politicians should rise above the “politically correct” and do what’s right to save the lives of children and teachers.

Weighing in on the current debate in America over the public’s access to self-defense, he told WND that only in a “sheer utopian fantasy” would people expect that “homicidal maniacs” would follow gun laws.


“In Israel teachers and parents, serving as school aides, are armed at all times on school grounds, with semi-automatic weapons. Since this policy was adopted in the 1970s, attacks by gunmen at schools in Israel have ceased,” he said.
More 

Maryland Officials Probe Possible Abortion Link In Woman’s Death

The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Montgomery County Police Department are investigating the death of a woman who died at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital on Thursday — days after she was believed to have started an abortion procedure at a controversial clinic in Germantown.

The facility has become a touchstone for the abortion debate nationwide. Those who oppose abortion have launched regular demonstrations near the facility, saying its leader, Dr. LeRoy Carhart, regularly performs late-term and dangerous abortions. Abortion-rights advocates say that Carhart courageously performs procedures that other physicians have backed away from.

In this case, the 29-year-old woman, who has not been identified, died Thursday after being taken to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, according to local and state officials. 
More 

NRA Endorsement

If you're a Member of Congress – you might want to think twice about vying for that "prized" NRA endorsement. A new Public Policy Polling survey found that an NRA endorsement will actually hurt most political candidates.
The poll surveyed voters around the nation – asking them if an NRA endorsement would make them more or less likely to support a particular candidate. According to the results, 26% of voters said the NRA's endorsement makes them more likely to support a candidate. BUT, a much higher 39% said it would make them less likely to support a candidate. Among independents, 41% said an NRA endorsement will diminish their support for a candidate. Remember, this is the same organization that spent millions in 2012, to elect pro-gun lawmakers – yet fewer than 1% of its contributions went to winning candidates. This is not an organization to be feared. If anything, it should be put in a museum.

Sprinklers Save Child Playing With Matches

A four-year-old playing with matches Saturday morning was saved by an automatic sprinkler system and working smoke detectors, fire officials said.

Authorities said fire crews were called to the 200 block of Winterborn Lane in Salisbury just before 8:30 a.m. for a report of a fire in a two-story five unit apartment building. When firefighters from the Salisbury Fire Department and the Fruitland Volunteer Fire Company arrived they found the fire was already extinguished in the child’s bedroom.

Fire Marshals investigating the scene concluded that the child had been playing with matches and set a bed on fire. Working smoke alarms alerted the parents to the blaze and they were able to escape with the child and warn neighbors. A sprinkler in the child’s bedroom put out the fire.
More 

National Nurses United To Fight Pipeline

Those battling the Keystone XL pipeline just received some much-needed reinforcements. The nation's largest nurses union – National Nurses United – has joined the fight against that toxic pipeline. As people who understand first-hand the health effects of a hotter, more polluted planet, National Nurses United is in a unique position to highlight health concerns related to the pipeline. National Nurses United Co-President Deborah Burger said, "Nurses care for patients every day who struggle with health crises aggravated by environmental pollution in its many forms... As a society, we need to reduce the effects of environmental factors, including climate change, that are making people sick, and endangering the future for our children. That's why we oppose the Keystone XL pipeline." As with any fight against entrenched, well-funded special interests like Big Oil – organized people need as much help as they can get to take on organized money. Kudos to National Nurses United for getting involved in the fight to save the planet.

WHICH REP. SAYS NIXING SATURDAY MAIL DELIVERY WILL HURT MINORITIES AND SINGLE MOTHERS?

After the United States Postal Service announced that it intends to stop delivering mail on Saturdays in an effort to cut costs beginning this August, many praised it as a relatively straightforward way to save roughly $2 billion a year.

Some lamented the inconvenience of the change and others were alarmed at what that means for post office employees. Not many, though, tied the matter to race or gender.

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) was apparently one of them.
 More

Obama Wants Congress To Put Off Trillion Dollar Cuts

On Tuesday, President Obama urged Congress to put off the looming sequester of nearly a trillion dollars in spending cuts. But if he wants to find a suitable replacement to reduce the deficit and stimulate the economy – he should look to the left-wing of his own party: the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
On Tuesday, the Progressive Caucus announced it will introduce legislation known at the "Balancing Act", that will scrap the sequester – raise new revenue from the rich who aren't paying their fair share – and make critical investments in our economy and infrastructure. To begin with, the Progressive Caucus' proposal will raise $960 billion in revenue to replace the sequester, by closing tax loopholes for the billionaire hedge fund managers, closing loopholes for corporations that ship American jobs overseas, and by cutting off billions in taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil. The plan also cuts our war budget by $300 billion. With the extra revenue, the Caucus proposes new investments in education, in infrastructure, and in the middle class, with new tax cuts that actually help working people. Altogether – the proposal will slash the deficit by $3.3 trillion – and at the same time create more than a million jobs. Voters spoke loud and clear last November, when they re-elected President Obama, and elected a more progressive Congress. Now it's time to give the American people what they want: policies that revive the middle class, and make the rich and corporate American pay their fair share in taxes again. Call your Member of Congress and tell them to support the Congressional Progressive Caucus' Balancing Act.

PELOSI TO BRING NEWTOWN STUDENT TO STATE OF THE UNION

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced Friday that she will bring a fourth-grade girl from Newtown, CT to be her guest at the coming State of the Union Address.

The mother of the fourth-grader will also attend.

This particular child is not a student from Sandy Hook Elementary, but Pelosi chose her because of a letter she wrote asking government officials to "ban semi-automatic weapons."
More 

A Punishment For Being Here Illegally

….then it’s impossible to ever stop illegal immigration. It’s like having a “keep off the grass” sign win a heavily trafficked area without putting any penalties in place for walking on the grass. We’re doing the same thing with illegal immigration. Obviously, we’re not going to shoot anyone coming into the country illegally and if we’re allowing them to stay here, even if they’re caught, we’re putting a huge incentive in place that will ensure a perpetual flood of illegal immigrants into our country.

That’s why the McCain/Rubio amnesty plan is bad policy and will guarantee not just one amnesty, but many amnesties. Of course, they’re claiming that’s not going to happen as Mickey Kaus explains.

More

Stella! Ornery Dog Leads To $1M Idaho Lottery Win

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A group of blue collar University of Utah workers will split $1 million in lottery winnings thanks to a set of keys left in a truck and an ornery little dog named "Stella."

Thirteen years after playing the same set of numbers every month in the Idaho lottery, the group of 33 workers who work on heating and cooling university buildings hit pay dirt when Steve Hughes left his truck running to keep his dog "Stella" warm while he went inside to a gas station near Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, on Jan. 6. Utah has no lottery.

When he returned to his truck, his miniature pinscher had locked him out by putting her paw on the manual lock. Hughes, 29, planned to buy the ticket elsewhere, but instead he had his girlfriend buy it there while he tried to open the door with a slim jim.
More 

The Republicans’ Primary Problem

Having just lost an election, many Republicans are anxious to remake our party in the image of Democrats. The theory seems to be that whatever we’re doing isn’t working, so we better change everything.

But in fact, whatever Republicans did in 2012 — other than an overly long primary fight — worked amazingly well, given the circumstances.
In a detailed analysis of the 2012 election, William A. Galston, a fellow with the liberal Brookings Institution, makes a number of fascinating observations that Republicans would do well to consider before embracing amnesty, abortion, gay marriage and Beyonce.

In my analysis of his analysis, the single most important factor in the election was simply that Obama was an incumbent. As Galston notes, beating an incumbent president is a feat that has happened only five times since the turn of the last century. Republicans have done it only once.

On closer examination, in all these cases the incumbent president faced a primary challenge. In three of the five, the incumbent also had a third-party challenger in the general election.

More

McIntosh Files Bill For Bottle And Can Deposit

Maryland consumers would be charged a 5 cent refundable deposit on bottles and cans under a bill introduced in the House of Delegates.

House Bill 1085 would make Maryland the 10th state in the U.S. to charge a deposit.

Del. Maggie McIntosh, D-Baltimore, the bill’s primary sponsor, has lined up 16 co-sponsors for the bill. It is scheduled for a first reading Friday before the House Environmental Matters and Economic Matters committees.
More 

Here’s Why It Never Hurts To Give Your Soda Can A Rinse

If you’re the type to drink from a soda can straight out of a store cooler or right from a vending machine, you might want to consider giving it a rinse or a wipe down with a wet napkin first.
The folks at CBS 11 in Fort Worth decided to have a lab take swabs of the tops of cans purchased at various stores and machines in the area. And to anyone who has studied basic microbiology, it’s probably not a surprise that there was a bunch of unpleasant stuff hanging around.

Among several other fun things, the lab found stenotrophomonas maltophilia, pseudomonas luteola, enterobacter cloacae, yeast, and staphylococcus on the can tops.

More

Power Company Blames Faulty Relay For Outage

The failure of a device meant to protect the power supply to the Superdome caused the Super Bowl blackout, the stadium's power company said Friday as it took the blame for the outage that brought the game to a halt for more than a half-hour.

Officials of Entergy New Orleans, a subsidiary of New Orleans-based Entergy Corp., said the device, called a relay, had been installed to protect the Superdome from a cable failure between the company's incoming power line and lines that run into the stadium.

Company officials said the device performed without problem during January's Sugar Bowl and other earlier events.
More 

Is Virginia Really Trying To Mint Its Own Money?

Earlier this week, the Virginia legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill that would fund a study to investigate “whether the Commonwealth should adopt an alternate medium of commerce or currency to serve as an alternative” to the dollar “in the event of a major breakdown of the Federal Reserve System.”
The study, which would cost an estimated $17,440 to Virginia taxpayers, would create a 10-member commission to study “the need, means, and schedule for establishing a metallic-based monetary unit” in the event of “hyperinflation, depression, or other economic calamity related to the breakdown of the Federal Reserve System, for which the Commonwealth is not prepared.

More

Mastiff Found: UPDATE

Hi Joe. This morning this gorgeous Mastiff showed up at my house. He is very well mannered but he has no name or tag on his collar. Could you please post this on your blog so he can find his human. My number is 410-430-6943. Thank you

Tri-county Agencies Offer Assistance To Homeless

Financial assistance is available for eligible people to get birth certificates or state identification cards through the “Homeless ID Project.”

The Core Service Agencies of Worcester, Somerset and Wicomico counties provide assistance to people at risk of being homeless, and who have a mental illness or substance abuse disorder.

Another program, SSI/SSDI Outreach Access and Recovery speeds up disability social security claims. The program is designed to have a decision for disability claims within 90 days.
More 

Book Returned To New York Public Library Almost 55 Years Overdue

It may disappoint fans of the TV program “Seinfeld,” but the New York Public Library doesn’t really have its own detectives who track down biblio-scofflaws with severely overdue books. If it did, it would have long ago tracked down the patron who checked out a copy of Fire of Francis Xavier in 1958 and didn’t return it until this week.

Today, many libraries send substantial missing or overdue book accounts off to a collection agency, which people find a lot more menacing than a humble letter on library stationery.NYPL does this now, in fact, but didn’t go back retroactively and try to track down people who checked out books during the Eisenhower administration.

More

Two Dozen Delegates Seek Repeal Of Septic System Limits

Residents of the Eastern Shore and other parts of rural Maryland are up in arms to defend their land rights which they believe are under threat as a result of last year’s environmental legislation commonly referred to as the Septic Bill.

Dozens of farmers and Maryland-natives rallied behind Del. Michael McDermott, R-Worcester, at a hearing Wednesday in the House Environmental Matters Committee on McDermott’s proposal to repeal the controversial bill. The bill has 24 co-sponsors, all of them Republicans.

“It amounts to nothing more than a confiscation of our private property,” said Jerry Miller, a farmer who had come to the hearing with his son to support the repeal. “Our city cousins don’t seem to understand. Our land is as much a home as our house is.”
More 

Yard Sale Proves Fruitful For Man Who Found First Dated Baseball Card In Photo Album

Anyone who’s ever picked through a garage sale, yard sale or antique store can relate to the thrill of finding something unexpected and desirable amid the heaps of broken old toys and worthless junk. And sometimes, the best finds of all stay hidden even after the transaction has been made. That was the case for an antique picker in Maine who found what could be the first dated baseball card tucked away in a photo album.

That man is probably pretty pleased with himself for finding and purchasing the album, some old Coca-Cola bottles and a few oak chairs for less than $100 at a rural yard sale in Maine, reports the Associated Press.

The card is headed for auction but it’s so rare, experts can’t say how much it’ll fetch — anywhere between $50,000 and $500,000. The highest-selling baseball card of all time is a 1909 Honus Wagner card which fetched $2.8 million at auction in 2007.

A good investment at any of those prices, to be sure.

More

Anti-Drone Blimps To Fly Over APG

Not the Goodyear blimp. Not the Met-Life airship.

The Army is bringing two huge blimps of its own brand to Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Or far above the APG, more accurately.

The military calls them aerostats. Each one is about 80 yards long - nearly as big as a football field.
More 

USPS Update

Saturday stamped mail won't be the only thing disappearing from the Postal Service under its new cost-cutting plan. So will millions of man hours. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says ending Saturday first class will reduce USPS' man-hour requirements by the equivalent of 22,500 people. But, Donahoe says, most of that will come by cutting overtime and part-time work. In all, the decision to end Saturday first class mail will save USPS $2 billion a year. But the Postal Service may have a fight on its hands. Two House members are already questioning USPS management's authority to make the change.

Drug Treatment Advocates Protest Funding Cuts To Md. Rehab Centers

Drug treatment advocates and addiction counselors testified at a budget hearing Wednesday to protest a proposed $4.5 million cut to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration budget, which they said would have a devastating impact on Maryland’s cash-strapped drug treatment programs.

Leaders of these programs told the House Appropriations Health and Human Resources Subcommittee that they provided a vital service to the state’s most vulnerable citizens and that they would be unable to serve all the drug addicts that asked for help if their funding was cut in fiscal year 2014.

Current levels of funding are insufficient already, they said, explaining that many of their organizations were on the verge of bankruptcy.
 More

House Bill To Extend On Vets

A new House bill would extend a veterans education benefit for a year beyond its scheduled expiration date. It was introduced by Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.). The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program, or VRAP, currently gives middle-aged, unemployed vets money for career training. It expires March 31. Miller's bill would extend the benefits to June 2014. Miller says that would give vets enrolled in career education more time to finish. The bill would also require VA to report to Congress on how effective VRAP is at getting vets into jobs.

Three People Charged With Theft From Wal-Mart

BERLIN -- Three Salisbury residents were arrested on theft and theft scheme charges this week after local law enforcement officials were able to connect them to a series of thefts of flat-screen televisions, computers and other electronics from the Wal-Mart in Berlin totaling thousands of dollars.

On Jan. 26, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into the theft of numerous laptop computers, desktop computers, televisions, home surveillance equipment and Blu-Ray DVDs from the Wal-Mart in Berlin. Surveillance camera evidence revealed three suspects entered the store and worked together to steal computers and televisions. The investigation revealed the three suspects returned later the same day and stole several more laptop computers.

On Monday, Feb. 4, the three suspects, identified as Jaquell Murray, Wanda Murray and Richard Kelly, all of Salisbury, returned to the Berlin Wal-Mart and stole two more flat-screen televisions, a desktop computer and two home surveillance kits. The net value of those stolen items came to $5,000.
More 

Governor O'Malley Posted This On His Facebook Page

Received this important message from 4-year-old Samuel in Cheverly.

 Governor O'Malley
Thanks you for pushing gun control to protect kids
Samuel 4yrs old Cheverly, MD
Facebook Page 

LONG-TIME EMPLOYEE PURCHASES JIFFY LUBE SERVICE CENTER IN SALISBURY

HOUSTON, TX – Jiffy Lube® International, the company that pioneered the fast oil change industry, announces that long-time Jiffy Lube employee, Chris Ryan, along with his wife, Laura, are shifting gears to own and operate the existing Jiffy Lube service center located at 900 S. Salisbury Blvd. The first-time franchisees plan to be hands-on, working closely with staff to ensure continued operational excellence and top quality service for their customers.
"My wife and I are grateful for this opportunity to continue serving Salisbury residents,” said Chris Ryan, Jiffy Lube franchisee. “As part of the Jiffy Lube family, we pride ourselves on providing quality automotive maintenance services to our customers and are grateful for the community’s incredible support over the years.”
Chris has been a part of the Jiffy Lube family for 13 years, serving as store manager of the Salisbury location for the past 12 years. Under his management, the Salisbury Jiffy Lube service center has consistently performed in the top 10 percent of customer satisfaction surveys. The store also earned top honors as the regional finalist in the 2012 J-Team All Stars, an internal competition that encourages teamwork, technical knowledge, operational execution and delivery of an outstanding customer experience on all levels. The Ryans have been active members in the community for the past 15 years, with Laura serving as a volunteer EMT for the local fire department.
With a network of more than 2,000 independently owned franchises in North America, Jiffy Lube has a long history within the automotive service industry with franchisees having an average of 13 years in the system.
“Chris’ significant experience as a Jiffy Lube manager will serve him well as a business owner," said Barry Wood, director of network development for Jiffy Lube International. "As manager of the Salisbury service center for the past 12 years, Chris has demonstrated his commitment to customer service and operational excellence, earning his center top honors and acknowledgements from the entire Jiffy Lube family."

Water Balloon Fight Costs Ohio High School Its Prom

HYDE PARK — Withrow High School has canceled its May 2 prom to punish students for a senior prank.

Sharon Johnson, principal of the Cincinnati public school in Hyde Park, said students used social media last month to plan a massive water balloon fight at lunch.

Staff found out about it and tried to stamp out the plan.

Johnson made two separate school-wide announcements on the day of the prank, and another in person at the start of the lunch period.
More 

Somerset County Sheriff's Office Press Release

Brandon Alexander waters of Fruitland, arrested 1-31-13 on a warrant for violation of probation. Waters was held on a $10,000 bond.

Ronald James Paulley Sr. of Crisfield, arrested 2-1-13 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Paulley was held without bond.

Michael David Sterling of Princess Anne, criminal summons served for theft less than $1,000. Sterling was released on signature pending court actions.

David Ulysse, Wesley Leon Samuel, Kadijah Shanice Perkins, and a female juvenile arrested on 2-2-13 for possession of marijuana, and possession of alcohol. Deputies conducted a traffic stop in the area of Perry Rd, Westover for traffic violations. During a conversation with the occupants, deputies could smell the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted and deputies later recovered a small amount of suspected marijuana. The driver, a juvenile female had a strong odor of alcohol coming from her breath and person. The juvenile was arrested for underage possession and consumption of alcohol, and possession of suspected marijuana. The three adults were charged with possession of suspected marijuana and later released on citations pending court actions.

Michael Douglas Ferguson of Sicklerville New Jersey, arrested 2-3-13 for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired, failure to display license on demand, failure to stop at a stop sign, and negligent driving. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop conducted by deputies in the area of UMES Blvd, Princess Anne. Ferguson was later released on signatures pending court actions.

Timothy Gustonus Moore of Pocomoke, arrested 2-4-13 for driving under the influence of alcohol, and driving while impaired,. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop conducted by deputies in the area of Ocean Highway, Pocomoke. Moore was later released on signature pending court actions.

Desmond Rashad Roberts of Salisbury, arrested 2-4-13 for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired, driving on a suspended drivers’ license, negligent driving, driving on learners permit without supervision, and speeding. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop conducted by deputies on Ocean Highway, Eden. Roberts was later released on signature pending court actions.

David Lee Anderson Jr. of Pocomoke, arrested 2-4-13 on a warrant for violation of probation. Anderson was held on a $ 35,000 bond.

Rodney William Burke of Crisfield, arrested 2-5-13 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Burke was held on a $ 500.00 bond.

Quinton Jerome Bailey of Princess Anne, arrested 2-5-13 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Bailey was held on a $ 500.00 bond.

Laurie Ann Adkins of Princess Anne, criminal summons served for two counts of theft less than $1,000,and two counts of theft less than $ 100.00. Adkins was released on signature pending court actions.

Gregory Anton Riddick of Westover, arrested 2-6-13 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Riddick was held on a $ 500.00 bond.

Nichole Elizabeth Santos of Princess Anne, arrested 2-6-13 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Santos was later released to the Fruitland police Department for disposition.

Teacher Arrested At JFK

Jon Stewart Shreds Obama On Hypocrisy Over Drones: You're Only 'Transparent About The Last Guy's Secrets'

Daily Show host Jon Stewart tore into President Barack Obama Wednesday night for what he perceived as hypocrisy on transparency over his administration's controversial policy on drone strikes.
Stewart found the recently leaked white paper outlining the government's case for using lethal force on American citizens abroad to be disconcerting overall. He had a particular issue with the condition that a strike can only be carried out if the person presents an "imminent threat," the definition of which was very loosely defined.

"So, imminent threat, in other words, is 'imminent or not imminent,'" Stewart quipped.

More/Video

WWE Presents RAW Road To WrestleMania Sunday, March 24

Tickets On Sale Saturday, February 9

Salisbury, MD – WWE returns to the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Sunday, March 24 at 5:00pm, just two weeks before WrestleMania 29. See all your favorite WWE Superstars including John Cena, CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Sheamus, Ryback, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, Kofi Kingston, The Shield, and many more!

Tickets start at $15 and go on sale Saturday, February 9 at 10:00am. Tickets will be available online at www.WicomicoCivicCenter.org, at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (500 Glen Avenue, Salisbury, MD) or charge by phone at 410-548-4911. (Additional fees may apply to all ticket prices.)

State Now Mulling New 113 Traffic Light

SNOW HILL -- Collective protests from the Snow Hill community and unique traffic conditions have the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) re-considering placing a stoplight at the intersection of Routes 12 and 113.

Though nothing has been guaranteed, MDOT’s admission that they might put a traffic light at the accident prone intersection is a major change in position from its most recent stance. County Commissioner Virgil Shockley, who has made Routes 12 and 113 a pet project for years, attributed MDOT and the State Highway Administration’s (SHA) change in attitude to a public session held in December when the overwhelming community call was for the installation of a light.

“The meeting that night definitely had the impact needed to get some movement … The people who were in the room that night deserve a lot of credit,” he said.
 More

All Is Well

I woke up this past Saturday morning and opened my local paper to find out that all was well. An Associated Press article declared a healthy jobs market, fantastic auto sales, a surging housing market, and a stock market rocketing to new all-time highs. What’s not to love? If the mainstream media says the economy is as good as new, it must be so. Why should we let facts get in the way of a good storyline? The stock market has surged to 2007 highs, so the country’s employment situation must be strong.

More

SPD Press Release 2-9-13

Report: Baltimore Forecasts Financial Ruin In 10 Years

Changes To Commercial Striped Bass Fishing May Benefit Lower Shore

Ostensibly, the title of Maryland’s State Fish was bestowed upon the striped bass due to its long-term popularity with Chesapeake Bay watermen. But its status may as well be because it has garnered more policy attention than any other scaly, ectothermic creature in the Old Line State.

One of the state’s biggest policy decisions this year will likely come not from the legislature, but from within the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, which is “right in the middle of making some drastic changes to this fishery,” according to Mike Luisi of the DNR’s fisheries service.

“We’ve been working with the industry for quite some time about the 2014 fishery,” Luisi said. “There are some tough decisions that will have to be made.”
More 

THE CIVIL WAR HAS BEGUN

When a person amasses too much power, they often believe they are indestructible.

What Karl Rove and company did last week in the New York Times, claiming that their new “Conservative Victory Project” would cure the ills of a disappointing campaign cycle, is laughable. The so-called “Conservative Victory Project” is nothing more than an attempt by establishment Republicans to cull the conservative movement. Why does Rove think he has a monopoly on wanting to win?

At least Karl Rove and company are finally out front with their disdain for the conservative movement, and I am thankful for it. The battle lines are finally drawn, and conservatives should look at the New York Times article as our Lexington and Concord. This battle will be a long, hard slog against the establishment. Just this week, a Rove henchman attacked conservative leader Brent Bozell. But we will prevail, because we actually believe in core principles and a cause greater than our egos and money.

Karl Rove and his cabal would sell out on any issue if it means more power in the short-term, for they don’t stand for anything. Let’s just look at Rove’s record of accomplishments for Big Government causes. Rove supported the fiscally crippling expansion of Medicare, the anti-free speech McCain-Feingold campaign finance act, and the plan to reward illegal behavior when it comes to immigration reform. Under Rove’s watch, federal spending was out of control. Rove is no conservative; his decisions are made free of principle, with the deciding factor always being how he and the failing establishment try to cling to power.

More

Wicomico County Looks To Phase Out Inventory Tax

SALIBSURY – The Wicomico County Council is weighing whether to eliminate its inventory tax with a public hearing planned for next month on the effort.

On Tuesday, the Wicomico County Council voted unanimously to introduce a legislative bill that will amend a chapter within the County Code regarding taxation and the “percentage of assessed value changed” to reduce the percentage of the assessed value of commercial inventory subject to county property tax from 35 percent to zero phased over a five-year period.

According to the legislation, Wicomico County is the only county in the State of Maryland that taxes the value of business inventory.
More 

Caption This Photo Shopped Domino's Photo

WSCO Press Release 2-9-13

• 2/8/2013 Warrant Arrest - Taylor
• 2/8/2013 Theft Arrest
• 2/8/2013 Burglary and Fugitive Arrest - Williams
• 2/7/2013 Warrant Arrest - Cooper
• 2/7/2013 Burglary - Rosa
• 2/7/2013 Warrant Arrest - Byrd
• 2/7/2013 False Info and Warrant Arrest - Jones
• 2/7/2013 Assault - Taylor
• 2/7/2013 Fugitive - King
• 2/7/2013 Assault - Elzey

What The US Government Spent Its Money On Last Quarter

The most vocal justification provided for the disappointing Q4 GDP print by the mainstream was an increase in US government "austerity" resulting in a decline in the government contribution to the economic bottom line in the last quarter (or first fiscal quarter of 2013). Ironically, both total spending and total debt issuance in the past quarter increased, which means that far from being austere, the US actually spent more, not less, i.e., the opposite of austerity.

And while it is true that Defense spending declined by a tiny amount in the past quarter compared to the year ago, it was more than offset by a surge in Medicare and Medicaid, as well as Social Security, or, as they are better known,welfare. And, as the CBO yesterday showed, these two components of US spending, which together account for half of all US spending and which couldn't be funded by all US revenues even if the government spent $0.00 for all other programs, which will soar in the coming years as US society ages, as more workers retire, and as more are reliant on Uncle Sam for the payment of every bill. So the next time someone say that the US has a defense spending problem and nothing else, show them this chart.

More

The Democratic Ideal

In this essay I wish to revisit democracy since all the power that our current administration is claiming for itself is supposedly justified by way of the democratic method. But, in fact, only a properly limited democracy is politically just and justified.

Democracy is a process by which some decisions are made and in the context of politics it means the kind of system that depends upon the participation of the citizenry for certain purposes. What grounds democracy as a just mode of political decision-making is that citizens have the ultimate authority concerning certain matters in thepolis. And the reason they do have this ultimate authority is that they are, as adults, equal in their status vis-à-vis the stake they have in their political institutions, their laws, public policies, foreign relations, etc. That they have this equal status hinges on certain extra or pre-political matters, to be discerned by way of reflection upon human nature and proper human relations.

For now, I'll simply note that as I understand political matters, they arise from the moral fact that each individual adult human being has as his or her task in life to live it rationally, to flourish as a rational animal. Since this task for adults can only be achieved if they are not unwillingly subject to the rule of others – in which case it is that other individual's rational choice that would be the ruling principle of one's life – in just communities human beings must be sovereign. From this it follows that they must have a say in their own political fate, ergo, democracy.

More