A Daughter's Last Gift Turns Her Struggling Family Into New Millionaires

The Cerezo family hasn’t been facing the best of times.

Their house has been in foreclosure since February and they were months away from eviction.

Their cars were repossessed.

Their jewelry gone, sold to the highest bidder.

Ricardo Cerezo, the 44-year-old head of household, quit his job in management consulting in 2010 to take care of his daughter, Savannah, who had to stay home with severe bipolar disorder. A professional in helping companies in distress, he painstakingly took her to and from medical appointments and trips to the hospital.

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Share The Wealth, Eh?: Virginia Man Wins $500K Lotto Jackpot For Third Time

You know what they say: You can’t win if you don’t play. Although we’re not sure who “they” are, the saying might want to be changed to: If you’re a certain guy in Virginia, when you play the lotto, you’re probably going to win. He’s just cashed in a $500,000 jackpot, his third of atleast that amount, if not more.

Back in 2005, friends called the man “Mr. Lucky” when he won three times in 10 months and brought in a hefty haul each time — $500,000 in November 2004, $25,000 in March 2005, and then $1 million from a scratch-off. He retired two years later, reports the Washington Post, because hello — he’d just won a bunch of money.

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IRS Official In Charge Of Scrutinizing Political Groups Now Heads Agency’s Role In ‘Obamacare’

As the House Ways and Means Committee conducted a hearing Friday on targeted scrutiny of conservative advocacy groups by the Internal Revenue Service, Republicans reacted with dismay to news that the IRS official in charge of the conservative targeting is now leading the IRS office responsible for administering the tax provisions in the Affordable Care Act.

“Absolutely outrageous,” said Sen. Roy Blunt, R- Mo. in his Twitter account.

The IRS official, Sarah Hall Ingram, served as head of the office that determined whether certain groups would be eligible for tax-exempt status between 2009 and 2012 and is now director of the IRS Affordable Care Act office.
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Should Electric Cars And Hybrids Be Taxed Extra?

Highway repair money is running lean in many states, due to decreased revenue from gas tax--a result of cars becoming more fuel efficient and Americans driving less. To plug the crater in highway funding, several states have proposed new taxes on electric cars and even hybrids. This raises a question of fairness, one we put to our fans on Facebook.

We asked: Should electric cars be taxed to ensure their drivers pay their fair share to maintain roads? Or would taxing electric cars defeat the purpose of efforts to develop electric cars to save gas, clean the air, and reduce dependence on imported oil?

We got more than 300 comments (and more than 1,200 Likes); the overwhelming majority said no, new taxes on electric cars and hybrids are not the answer. Many were colorful; some even salty.

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GOP Rep Mike Kelly Delivers Brutal Takedown Of IRS

Storm Clouds Gathering

Government is bad for personal freedom. That argument is premised upon the truism that everything government does interferes with freedom because it either prohibits or compels. Everything it owns it has taken from others. Much of what it says is divorced from the truth. President Obama, like President George W. Bush, has argued that his first job is to keep America safe, and if he impairs personal freedom in the process, that is a small price to pay for safety. Many of my colleagues in the media on the left and right have bought this argument, notwithstanding its fallacies.

Until now.

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Two Rush Hour Trains Collide In Southern Connecticut

Two rush hour trains collided and derailed near a Fairfield, Conn., train station and there are preliminary reports of injuries, a Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Railroad spokesperson says.

There Might Not Be Hope For Society

 

Click To Enlarge

IRS GAVE CONFIDENTIAL DOCS TO LIB GROUP

The progressive-leaning investigative journalism group ProPublica says the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office that targeted and harassed conservative tax-exempt groups during the 2012 election cycle gave the progressive group nine confidential applications of conservative groups whose tax-exempt status was pending.

The commendable admission lends further evidence to the lengths the IRS went during an election cycle to silence tea party and limited government voices.

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Casino Now Open 24 Hours

BERLIN -- Starting Friday morning at 8, the Casino at Ocean Downs will remain open 24 hours a day until Monday, Sept. 30 at 4 a.m.

The Casino at Ocean Downs last week gained approval from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency for its new hours of operation. Maryland voters in November approved through a referendum a gaming bill that, among other things, allows casinos in the state to operate 24 hours a day if they chose. The Casino at Ocean Downs earlier this year applied to the state gaming agency for a 24/7 operation and the application was approved.

Other casinos already operating in Maryland, including Maryland Live in Anne Arundel County, are already open 24 hours a day, but because of the seasonal nature of the resort area, the Berlin casino has only operated on a 24-hour basis on weekends thus far. However, in an attempt to take advantage of the summer season, the Casino at Ocean Downs applied for and received permission to operate 24 hours a day through the end of September.
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400 Agents Bust 89 People In Medicare Scams

Federal agents have busted 89 people in Medicare scams totaling more than $220 million. The departments of Health and Human Services and Justice say 400 agents spread throughout the country helped with the arrests on Tuesday. They worked through multi-agency Medicare strike force teams. In one scam, authorities say the defendants bribed Medicare patients to hand over their ID numbers so they could be used to charge bogus home health services. Officials say Medicare fraud costs the government more than $60 billion a year.

Maryland Legislative Hearing On Prisons Moved Up To June 6

Maryland lawmakers have rescheduled a hearing prompted by problems at a Baltimore jail for June 6, two weeks earlier than previously announced.

The meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee, made up of leading House and Senate members, will be the first formal public hearing since last month’s federal indictments of 25 inmates and corrections guards on racketeering and other charges.

Lawmakers have said they want to take a broader look at challenges facing Maryland prisons beyond troubles at the state-run Baltimore City Detention Center. 
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IRS Employees To Be Furloughed

Employees of the embattled IRS might want to take a break. They'll get one, but it's probably not what they had in mind. The IRS has revealed more details about its plans to furlough employees because of sequestration and other budget pressures. It will stop all operations on Friday, May 24, and four other days this summer. Toll-free hotlines, taxpayer-advocate and help services and some Web-based tools will shut down. The IRS won't process tax returns on those days. The agency says the shutdown won't impact tax-filing deadlines. It will give taxpayers extra time to respond to IRS requests.

Salisbury Bike Path Network Gets Funding

SALISBURY – The funding has officially been put in place to begin the initial phase of a bike path network throughout the City of Salisbury.

The first resolution to come before the City Council on Monday evening was to authorize Mayor Jim Ireton to sign the grant agreement and accept a grant of $13,750 from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Bikeways Program for the provision of the initial two miles of pavement marking and signage necessary to create a bike path “Spine” route from downtown Salisbury to Salisbury University. The total cost of the project is $25,000.

According to the resolution, the Maryland Department of Transportation and the City of Salisbury have been working together to improve bicycle connectivity between the Downtown Central Business District and Salisbury University.
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Girls vs Guys

Some State Workers Doubled Their Salaries Into Six-Figures With Overtime

Some Maryland state government workers more than doubled their salaries with overtime payments in 2012, and more than 3,300 topped $10,000 in overtime payments.

MarylandReporter.com analyzed overtime payments in a database from the Maryland Comptroller’s Office as part of its third annual state government salaries series.

Government workers who got paid overtime had total earnings of up to $160,000 annually, though only 212 out of tens of thousands of employees making overtime made more than $100,000 total from the state. That is about 4% of the 5,663 employees who earned $100,000 or more in 2012.
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Just Grins & Snickers

I was in the six item express lane at the store quietly fuming. Completely ignoring the sign, the woman ahead of me had slipped into the check-out line pushing a cart piled high with groceries. Imagine my delight when the cashier beckoned the woman to come forward looked into the cart and asked sweetly, "So which six items would you like to buy?"
Wouldn't it be great if that happened more often? 
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Because they had no reservations at a busy restaurant, my elderly neighbor and his wife were told there would be a 45-minute wait for a table.
"Young man, we're both 90 years old," the husband said. "We may not have 45 minutes."
They were seated immediately.
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The reason Politicians try so hard to get re-elected is that they would "hate" to have to make a living under the laws they've passed.
Ain't that the truth !!
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All eyes were on the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle.
They reached the altar and the waiting groom, the bride kissed her father and placed something in his hand. The guests in the front pews responded with ripples of laughter. Even the priest smiled broadly. As her father gave her awayin marriage, the bride gave him back his credit card.
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Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
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Three friends from the local congregation were asked, "When you're in your casket, and friends and congregation members are mourning over you, what would you like them to say?"
Artie said, "I would like them to say I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man."

Eugene commented, "I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher and servant of God who made a huge difference in people's lives.."

Al said, "I'd like them to say, 'Look, he's moving!'"
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Smith climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to get close enough to talk to God.
Looking up, he asks the Lord. "God, what does a million years mean to you?"
The Lord replies, "A minute."
Smith asks, "And what does a million dollars mean to you?"
The Lord replies, "A penny."
Smith asks, "Can I have a penny?"
The Lord replies, "In a minute."
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John was on his deathbed and gasped pitifully, "Give me one last request, dear," he said.
"Of course, John," his wife said softly.
"Six months after I die," he said, "I want you to marry Bob."
"But I thought you hated Bob," she said.
With his last breath John said, "I do!"
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A man goes to see the Rabbi. '
"Rabbi, something terrible is happening and I have to talk to you about it."
The Rabbi asked, "What's wrong?"
The man replied, "My wife is poisoning me.
The Rabbi, very surprised by this, asks, "How can that be?"
The man then pleads, "I'm telling you, I'm certain she's poisoning me, what should I do?"
The Rabbi then offers, "Tell you what. Let me talk to her, I'll see what I can find out and I'll let you know."
A week later the Rabbi calls the man and says, "I spoke to her on the phone for three hours. You want my advice?
The man said, "Yes" and the Rabbi replied, "Take the poison."

President Obama Finally Calls In The Marines

CHURCH SERVICES OF THE FUTURE

PASTOR: "Praise the Lord!"
CONGREGATION: "Hallelujah!"
PASTOR: "Will everyone please turn on their tablet, PC, iPad, smart phone, and Kindle Bibles to 1 Cor 13:13.
And please switch on your Bluetooth to download the sermon."

P-a-u-s-e......

"Now, Let us pray committing this week into God's hands.
Open your Apps, BBM, Twitter and Facebook, and chat with God"

S-i-l-e-n-c-e

"As we take our Sunday tithes and offerings, please have your credit and debit cards ready."
"You can log on to the church wi-fi using the password 'Lord909887. ' "
The ushers will circulate mobile card swipe machines among the worshipers:
Those who prefer to make electronic fund transfers are directed to computers and laptops at the rear of the church.
Those who prefer to use iPads can open them.
Those who prefer telephone banking, take out your cellphones to transfer your contributions to the church account.
The holy atmosphere of the Church becomes truly electrified as ALL the smart phones, iPads, PCs and laptops beep and flicker!

Final Blessing and Closing Announcements...
This week's ministry cell meetings will be held on the various Facebook group pages where the usual group chatting takes place. Please log in and don't miss out.
Thursday's Bible study will be held live on Skype at 1900hrs GMT. Please don't miss out.
You can follow your Pastor on Twitter this weekend for counseling and prayers.
God bless you and have nice day.

QUOTES OF THE DAY 5-17-13

… we conclude that the [Federal] Reserve Banks are not federal … but are independent privately owned and locally controlled corporations… without day to day direction from the federal government. – 9th Circuit Court

Banks have done more injury to the religion, morality, tranquility, prosperity, and even wealth of the nation than they can have done or ever will do good. – John Adams
Let us disappoint the Men who are raising themselves upon the ruin of this Country. – John Adams
All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise not from defects in their Constitution or Confederation, nor from want of honor or virtue, so much as downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit, and circulation. – John Adams
When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes. Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain. – Napoleon Bonaparte
The entire world economy rests on the consumer; if he ever stops spending money he doesn’t have on things he doesn’t need — we’re done for. – Bill Bonner

University Of Maryland Tuition Going Up 2.4 Percent

Students at Maryland's state universities will be paying a little more next school year.

The University System of Maryland's Board of Regents approved tuition and fee hikes at a meeting in Baltimore on Wednesday. The 2.4 percent increase over this year's tuition and fees is expected to boost revenue by $35.7 million.
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On The Edge Tonight At Brew River

Brew River Friday Dock Party w/ On the Edge 6pm! 

Great Drink Specials & No Cover

Daddy's Little Girl

GO HERE

SO YOU WANT A TILE ROOF?

Lions And Tigers And Terrorists, Oh My!

The debate over what actions actually constitute “terrorism,” I believe, will become one of the defining ideological battles of our era. Terrorism is not a word often used by common people to describe aberrant behaviors or dastardly deeds; however, it is used by governments around the world to label and marginalize political enemies. That is to say, it is the government that normally decides who is a “terrorist” and who is a mere “criminal,” the assertion being that one is clearly far worse than the other.

The terrorist label elicits emotional firestorms and fearful brain-quakes in the minds of the masses. It causes the ignorant and unaware to abandon principles they would normally apply to any other malicious enterprise. They begin to reason that a criminal should be afforded justice, while a terrorist should be afforded only vengeance, even though the act of branding a person a “terrorist” is often completely arbitrary. This vengeance is usually pursued by any means. Thus, the terrorist moniker becomes a rationalization for every vicious and inhuman policy of the establishment, as well as for the citizenry.

Dishonorable and foolish people claim the existence of terrorism essentially gives license for the rest of us to become criminal, willfully trampling on individuals’ rights to privacy, property, free speech, due process, civic participation, etc. Mass criminality against the individual in the name of social safety is the glue that holds together all tyrannical systems, triggering a catastrophic cycle of moral relativism that eventually bleeds a culture dry.

Historically, the expanded use of the terrorist label by governments tends to coincide with the rising tides of despotism. A government that quietly seeks to dominate the people will inevitably begin to treat the people as if they are the enemy. Those citizens who present the greatest philosophical or physical threat to the centralization of power are usually the first to suffer. I do not think it is unfair to say that any system of authority that suddenly claims to see terrorists under every rock and behind every tree is probably about to rain full-on fascism down upon the population.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the legal extension of this process, with a vaporous gray language that allows the government to interpret it in any manner it deems useful, which conveniently allows it to interpret a wide range of “offenses” as acts of war against the state.

The Department of Homeland Security’s “If You See Something Say Something” campaign is the social extension of the process, by which it creates the framework for a paranoid self-censored surveillance culture.

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RULES ARE RULES!

The Good news: It was a normal day in Sharon Springs, Kansas, when a Union Pacific crew boarded a loaded coal train for the long trek to Salina.

The Bad news: Just a few miles into the trip a wheel bearing became overheated and melted, letting a metal support drop down and grind on the rail, creating white hot molten metal droppings spewing down to the rail.

The Good news: A very alert crew noticed smoke about halfway back in the train and immediately stopped the train in compliance with the Governmental Regulations.

The Bad news: The train stopped with the hot wheel over a wooden bridge with creosote ties and trusses. When crew tried to explain to higher-ups they needed to move the train, they were instructed not to move the train because Federal Regulations prohibit moving the train when a part is defective.
Well okee-dokey then, and the pictures tell the rest.
As always the Government knows what is best for us.

Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. To Discuss Jobs & Health Care In The Weekly Republican Address

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (R-MD) will discuss Republicans’ efforts to lower health care costs and promote economic growth when he delivers the Weekly Republican Address on Saturday, May 18. On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 45, legislation fully repealing and defunding the president’s health care law, which is raising costs, reducing access to quality care, and making it harder for small businesses to hire.

“The president’s health care law is already undermining our economy -- employers are cutting workers and cutting hours, costs are going up, and even Democrats are worried the whole thing is headed for a train wreck,” House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said. “A physician and strong voice in Congress for patients and families, Andy Harris has shown outstanding leadership on health care issues, and I look forward to hearing what he has to say in our weekly address.”

Thursday’s vote marked the third time the Republican-led House has voted to fully repeal the president’s health care law since 2011. President Obama has signed several other bills that repeal or defund parts of the law.

“As a physician for nearly thirty years who helped mothers and their new babies get through childbirth, I have seen what is good and what is bad about America’s health care system, and ObamaCare makes our system worse,” Rep. Harris said. “Instead of lowering costs like Washington Democrats promised, ObamaCare is leading insurance companies all over the country to raise their rates by double and triple digits. Small businesses are having to think long and hard about whether they will cut back worker hours, lay off staff, or quit providing health care to their employees. Together we can fix the broken parts of the system by focusing on patient-centered changes to improve the quality and access to care.”

Before being elected to Congress in 2010, Congressman Andy Harris spent nearly 30 years as a physician and on the faculty at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He also conducted NIH funded research while at Johns Hopkins and is one of the only members of Congress to have done so. During Operation Desert Storm, he served in the Naval Reserve Medical Corps where he cared for members of the military at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Andy and his wife Cookie live in Maryland’s First District, have five children, and one grandchild. He brings his expertise in the medical field to his seat in Congress and position on the Committee on Appropriations.

The text and the audio of the Weekly Republican Address will be released Friday afternoon and embargoed until Saturday, May 18 at 6:00 a.m. EST, when the address will be available to view and download.

Army General Facing Sex Charges Had Porn On Laptop

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) -- An expert in Afghan culture testified Wednesday that pornography found on the computer of a U.S. Army general then deployed to the Muslim country would be highly offensive to local residents.

Former Defense Intelligence Agency adviser Morwari Zafar made the comments at a pre-trial hearing for Brig. Gen. Jeffery Sinclair. A court-martial for the former deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne is set to begin June 25 on charges that include forcible sodomy, indecent acts, violating orders and adultery.

Among the orders Sinclair is accused of violating is a prohibition against U.S. troops in Afghanistan possessing pornography.
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Senate Democrats Ask IRS For Greater Scrutiny Of Super PACs

Senate Democrats are asking the Internal Revenue Service to restrict the amount of money a tax-exempt organization can spend on political activities, warning that they will introduce legislation doing so if the tax enforcement agency fails to act soon.

At issue are groups that claim 501(c)4 tax-exempt status by saying they engage exclusively in “social welfare” activities but spend a considerable amount of time and money on political advertising and advocacy. Such groups, including Crossroads GPS and Priorities USA are bankrolling multimillion dollar advertising campaigns designed to provide additional firepower for Republican and Democratic candidates.

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State Police Investigate Crash Involving A Pedestrian, Milford

Location: Bay Road (US113/SR1) north of Williamsburg Drive, Milford, DE

Date of Occurrence: Thursday May 16, 2013 at approximately 10:15 p.m.

Operator and Vehicle Information:

Operator #1: Anthony P. Smith, 53, Magnolia, DE
Vehicle #1: 2013 Hyundai Accent
Passenger: 16 year old female, Magnolia, DE

Pedestrian: Brandon A. Williams, 18, Milford, DE

Resume:
Milford, DE- The Delaware State Police is investigating a crash involving a pedestrian that occurred late last night.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m. as Anthony P. Smith was operating a 2013 Hyundai Accent southbound in the left lane of Bay Road (US113/SR1) approaching Williamsburg Drive north of Milford. Brandon A. Williams was attempting to cross the southbound lanes of traffic from the center median when he was struck by the Accent in the left lane.

Brandon Williams was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to Milford Memorial Hospital where he was admitted with non-life-threatening injuries. He was cited for Crossing at other than a Crosswalk and Failure to Carry a Light on a Public Highway.

Anthony Smith and a 16 year old passenger, who were properly restrained, were not injured in the crash.

“Troopers remind pedestrians to use caution and safety when walking on or near roadways. If you must cross a roadway utilize appropriate cross walks and make sure to look left, then right, then left again before proceeding. When walking near a roadway always make yourself visible to drivers by wearing bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials. Pedestrians that are walking at night must carry a flashlight for added safety.”

North Carolina 5-Year-Old Safely Stops Car After Mom Has Seizure

A 5-year-old boy said his superhero nickname would be Caleb Batman after he helped his mother when she had a seizure while driving.

The incident happened Tuesday afternoon in Rockingham County. Sandra Taylor was driving down Lindsay Bridge Road when she began having trouble, and her son noticed.

“I was taking a nap and I just woke up, and then I saw her not driving,” he told WXII’s Stephanie Berzinski.

Read more

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ON PRELIMINARY APRIL JOBS REPORT

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 17, 2013) – Governor Martin O’Malley today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Labor’s release of preliminary employment data for the month of April:

“While the preliminary jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the month of April indicates a loss of 6,200 jobs, together, Marylanders have created 34,600 new jobs over the past 12 months while driving our unemployment rate down to 6.5 percent - the lowest rate in more than four years.

“There is no progress without jobs - and that’s why in Maryland, we’re working every day to harness the full potential of our Innovation Economy. With new initiatives like EARN, the Veterans Full Employment Act, and enhanced strategic tax credits - we are fueling innovation and investing in the things that create jobs, strengthen our workforce, expand opportunities for middle class families and give people the tools they need to compete and win in the 21st century economy.

“Our work has not gone unnoticed. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranks Maryland #1 for the second year in a row for entrepreneurship and innovation, and Entrepreneur Magazine recently named us the best state in the nation to start a new business. But there is still more work to do. Only by working together can we build a better, stronger and more prosperous future for our children.”

DUDE

David Stockman: "The American Empire And The End Of Sound Money"

In Chapter 12 of David Stockman's new book The Great Deformation, the outspoken truth-sayer discusses the realities of the end of the gold standard - from the the Bank of England's 'default' in 1931 to the 1960 London Gold panic (a shot across the Keynesian bow) and on to Nixon and Bretton Woods, Stockman explains how we are constantly deferring the day of reckoning...
"Richard Nixon soon found that meeting the nation’s obligation to pay its debts in gold and to uphold the Bretton Woods system were distinctly inconvenient to his own reason of state: reelection in 1972.

Moreover, he had found a polyglot of economic advisors who persuaded him to discard the essence of the old-time Republican financial doctrine.. and embrace the prosperity management model, turning fiscal policy into a hapless stepchild of the jobs count and the GDP measurements, and giving a public policy rationalization to endless raids on the Treasury by special interest groups and crony capitalists....

Worse still, severing the link to gold paved the way for the T-bill standard and a vast multi-decade spree of central bank debt monetization and money printing. Since a régime of floating-rate paper money had never been tried before on a global basis, the Keynesian professors and their Friedmanite collaborators can perhaps be excused for not foreseeing its destructive consequence.

The record of the next several decades, however, eliminated all doubt.

The combination of free markets and freely printed money gave rise to a toxic financial deformation; namely, the vast financialization of the world economy and the rise of endless carry trades, massive arrangements of speculative hedging, and monumental daisy chains of debts, owned by debts, owned by still more debts."

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Maryland Gov. O’Malley May Be Smiling Over Gun-Control Law, But Last Laugh Is On Him

Maryland citizens had their Second Amendments rights infringed on Thursday when Gov. Martin O’Malley signed more gun control into law. Mr. O’Malley became the third liberal governor this year — after New York and Connecticut — to ram through pointless laws that will do nothing to reduce crime by exploiting the Newtown tragedy. However, Mr. O’Malley’s scheme was secretly watered down a little before it became law.

The governor was fixated on banning “assault weapons,” even though only two people were murdered by rifles of any type in Maryland in 2011. However, O’Malley’s “assault weapons” is less stringent than the ones passed in other states or Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s version which failed in the U.S. Senate.

Read more

Top Constitutional Experts: Obama Is Worse Than Nixon

In the wake of the twin scandals of the IRS targeting conservative groups and the Department of Justice spying on AP reporters, the comparisons between Obama and Nixon are everywhere.

But what do experts say?

Former New York Times general counsel James Goodale – who represented the paper during its Pentagon Papers fight with the Nixon administration – said in an interview yesterday that Obama is worse than Nixon when it comes to press freedoms. And see this.

Former constitutional lawyer Glenn Greenwald noted last year:
We supposedly learned important lessons from the abuses of power of the Nixon administration, and then of the Bush administration: namely, that we don’t trust government officials to exercise power in the dark, with no judicial oversight, with no obligation to prove their accusations. Yet now we hear exactly this same mentality issuing from Obama, his officials and defenders to justify a far more extreme power than either Nixon or Bush dreamed of asserting: he’s only killing The Bad Citizens, so there’s no reason to object!

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WATCH LIVE: House Hearing on IRS Targeting Conservative Groups

House Ways and Means Committee holds hearing on the Internal Revenue Service's practice of singling out conservative groups for additional scrutiny. WATCH LIVE on FoxNews.com at 9 a.m. ET.

Watch Live http://live.foxnews.com/#/1155606982001

Yard Sale

Shadow Hills (off Connelly Mill in Delmar) will be having community yard sale on Saturday May 18 from 7:00 am - ?.

The Parsonsburg Fire Department will be doing a yard sale at the station tomorrow starting at 7am, to support their cadets.

YARD SALE Sat 5/18/13 7am 6704 Quercus Dr., Hebron, MD
Take Nanticoke Rd and turn right on Crooked Oak Lane, Turn left on Quercus Dr.


Love Seat, Treadmill, Misc. items

Rabies Clinic At Tractor Supply In Salisbury

Date: Saturday, May 18th
Time: 10:00am-Noon
Place: Tractor Supply store (across from Home Depot)
Cost: $10.00 per shot...CASH ONLY

This is a DOGS ONLY clinic. Please, no aggressive dogs and all dogs must be on a leash. For your dog to receive a 3 yr. vaccination, you must bring proof that your dog is current on its rabies vaccination...this would be a current rabies vaccination certificate. If you don't bring one then your dog will receive a 1 yr. vaccination.

In addition to the clinic, Horse Lovers United will also be at Tractor Supply from 10:00-2:00 and will have information on horses available for adoption.

Thanks for helping us get the word out about the clinic. If someone has a question, they can call Tractor Supply at 410-219-2601 and ask for me.

Thanks again,
Linda

Stop Common Core

Action Alert: Common Core State Standards for Education is being implemented in Worcester County Public Schools

Rumor has it the Worcester County Board of Education will conduct a demonstration on Common Core State Standards during the upcoming meeting at 12:30pm on May 21, 2013 at the Board office in Newark. We need WCTP membership participation to show the BOE that there are members of the community that truly believe "Our CHILDREN Matter" and deserve a quality education that is not dictated by the Federal Government. To learn more about the Common Core, please open here to view You Tube videos. Watch for more information in the next WCTP Newsletter.
As we have observed the blatant misuses of power over the last few days, I feel a new sense of strength to stand up to right the wrong as "Our CHILDREN Matter". Please come stand with me for Liberty!

GOD VS. GOV’T: WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION REALLY SAY ABOUT THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?

What does the U.S. Constitution — specifically the First Amendment — really say about the separation of church and state?

This question has been at the center of public debate for decades, as atheist activists, in particular, have advanced the notion that the nation’s founders envisioned a particularly fervent imposition of the segregation of God and government. But is this really the case?

Dr. John Eastman, a distinguished law professor at Chapman University, told TheBlaze that he believes these non-believers have their story wrong.

“They think the phrase separation of church and state is the First Amendment,” he said, going on to note that these words don’t appear anywhere in the U.S. Constitution.
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An Example Of Why They Are All Bad

Auto dealers push law blocking Tesla sales in North Carolina
Tesla Motors has become the belle of Wall Street over the past week after revealing its first quarterly profit and receiving the top score ever from Consumer Reports for the Tesla Model S electric luxury sedan. But those accomplishments haven’t played well yet in North Carolina, where the state Senate unanimously passed a bill Monday night that would block Tesla’s plan for selling its cars directly to consumers — forcing it to either steer clear of the entire state or use a franchised auto dealer like all other automakers.The Republican-sponsored bill, which has the backing of the North Carolina Auto Dealers Association, mirrors fights in several other states by dealers who worry about the precedent set by Tesla — even though Tesla’s own projected output of 20,000 vehicles a year is a rounding error on the 15 million new vehicles sold by U.S. dealers annually. Dealers in New York and Massachusetts have gone to court in attempts to block Tesla; in Texas, the automaker has been pushing its own bill that would loosen restrictions which limit its sales pitches to phone conversations.Dealers contend automakers, especially a start-up like Tesla, aren’t inclined to handle warranty repairs, service and other tasks that customers need close to home. For its part, Tesla has been lobbying North Carolina lawmakers for an exemption by arguing that blocking the company’s plans hurts the state economy; it says it has sold nearly 100 Model S cars to state residents with deposits for 60 more, and plans more service centers beyond the one opened in Raleigh.
What’s noteworthy about the North Carolina bill is that in addition to stopping Tesla, it would force minor changes on the agreements dealers have with established automakers — including an odd proposal barring automakers from ordering dealers to remove sports memorabilia from their stores. (This may have something to do with NASCAR owners who run one model of car on Sundays but sell a variety of them through their name-brand dealership every other day of the week.) Automakers and dealers have fought for years in statehouses over who controls what, and in general, the dealers have held the upper hand. For Tesla, it’s just another sign that Silicon Valley’s only automaker has joined the major leagues.

Original HERE.

Watchdog: Witness Protection Lost Track Of 'Known Or Suspected Terrorists,' Let Others Board Planes

The Justice Department temporarily lost track of two known or suspected terrorists who were in the witness protection program -- and allowed others on the no-fly list to board commercial flights -- according to a watchdog report which fueled criticism of the administration.

"This is gross mismanagement -- pure and simple," Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.

The allegations were made in an inspector general report released Thursday. The report found agencies in the department did not properly share the new identities of some in witness protection -- the lapse meant those new names were not updated in the no-fly list.

"Therefore, it was possible for known or suspected terrorists to fly on commercial airplanes in or over the United States and evade one of the government's primary means of identifying and tracking terrorists' movements and actions," the report said.

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Thomas Jefferson: “We Failed”

Thomas Jefferson – one of my long-time heroes – was convinced that he and his friends blew the chance they had to establish true freedom in America. I know that a hundred thousand self-praising textbooks, speeches, pundits and songs claim that Jefferson and the rest established freedom, but that’s NOT what Jefferson thought, and that is NOT what he said. (You can choose who to believe for yourself.)

Nearly fifty years after the declaration of independence, he was of the opinion that the founders did not fully live up to the moment presented to them.

Here is a letter that Jefferson wrote to John Cartwright on June 5th, 1824. Jefferson’s words are in plain text and my modern paraphrasing of the lines are in italics:
Our Revolution presented us an album on which we were free to write what we pleased. Yet we did not avail ourselves of all the advantages of our position.
The Revolution gave us a shot at real liberty, but we blew it.
We had never been permitted to exercise self-government. When forced to assume it, we were novices in its science. Its principles and forms had little entered into our former education. We established, however, some (but not all) of its important principles…
We weren’t prepared for what we had to do.
We think experience has proved the benefit of subjecting questions to two separate bodies of deliberants. But in constituting these bodies, [we have] been mistaken, making one of these bodies, and in some cases both, the representatives of property instead of persons.
We thought our legislative structure would protect us, but they were bought-off right away.
This double deliberation might be obtained just as well without any violation of true principle, either by requiring a greater age in one of the bodies, or by electing a proper number of representatives of persons, or by dividing them by lots into two chambers, and renewing the division at frequent intervals, in order to break up all cabals.
What we really needed was something that would break up parties and factions.

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BABY DIES AFTER MAN ALLEGEDLY TRICKS GIRLFRIEND INTO TAKING AN ABORTION PILL

A man in Tampa, Florida, is being accused of secretly slipping his girlfriend an abortion drug, an act that killed the couple’s unborn baby. The alleged details of the troubling story are ghastly.

Prosecutors claim that John Andrew Welden, 28, switched the label on an abortion pill bottle to make it look like Amoxicillin, a common antibiotic. After the woman, identified as 26-year-old Remee Lee, took the drug, she purportedly miscarried, reports The Tampa Tribune.

In March, Welden apparently found out that the woman was pregnant. While he purportedly wanted her to have an abortion, Lee decided to keep the baby and allegedly said that she would care for the child on her own.
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Marine Band Mascot's Farewell

TEXAS MAY HAVE ITS OWN GOSNELL: HOUSTON DOC ACCUSED OF GRUESOME ILLEGAL ABORTIONS

Although Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortionist found guilty this week of three counts of first-degree murder, has been successfully removed from civil society, another abortion practitioner like him may be on the loose in Houston, Texas.

“Harris County authorities and the Texas Department of State Health Services are investigating a local doctor accused Wednesday by an anti-abortion group of performing late-term abortions in 2011,” the Houston Chronicle reports.

The abortionist, Douglas Karpen, has been accused by three former staffers, Deborah Edge, Gigi Aguliar, and Krystal Rodriguez, of performing several illegal abortions. Their testimony, and alleged photographic evidence, was brought to light by Operation Rescue, a pro-life watchdog.
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What Is Deer Antler Spray

Earlier this month, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lifted a ban on deer antler spray, a natural supplement that shot to the forefront when "Sports Illustrated" reported in January that Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis allegedly used the substance to recover from a torn triceps muscle.
Deer antler spray is controversial because it contains IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor-1. IGF-1 is banned by WADA as a performance-enhancing drug, and by many professional sports leagues, including the NFL and MLB. 

WADA's restriction on deer antler spray, however, was overturned when the regulatory body determined that the substance contained only trivial amounts of IGF-1

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Maryland To Receive $849,000 From Pharmaceutical Settlement

BALTIMORE — Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced Tuesday that Maryland has joined with 49 other states and the federal government in a $500 million settlement to resolve civil and criminal allegations that Ranbaxy, a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Gurgaon, India, introduced adulterated drugs into interstate commerce.

As a result, false or fraudulent claims were submitted to Maryland's Medicaid program.

"Nothing can be more important than the health and safety of our citizens," said Gansler. "This record settlement is an important victory for Maryland consumers who have every right to expect that the medicine they purchase is of the highest possible quality and meets or exceeds all federal standards." 
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Trooper Involved In Crash Near Frankford

Location: Pyle Center Road (SR20) at Frankford School Road, Frankford, DE

Date of Occurrence: Thursday May 16, 2013 at approximately 7:40 a.m.

Operator and Vehicle Information:

Operator #1: 26 year old male trooper assigned to Troop 4, Georgetown, DE
Vehicle #1: 2012 Chevrolet Caprice, fully marked patrol car

Operator #2: Chad E. Marvel, 42, Millsboro, DE
Vehicle #2: 1999 Ford F450 truck
Passenger: Daniel J. Gill 4th, 29, Frankford, DE

Resume:
Frankford, DE- The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a crash that occurred earlier this morning involving a Delaware State Police car and a truck.

The incident occurred around 7:40 a.m. as a 26 year old male trooper was on patrol in the area of Pyle Center Road (SR20) and Frankford School Road, east of Frankford. The trooper, who was stopped at posted stop sign on Frankford School Road at the intersection of SR20, observed a traffic violation of a vehicle traveling northbound on SR20. The trooper then pulled the fully marked 2012 Chevrolet Caprice into the intersection in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop, when a southbound 1999 Ford F450 truck being operated by Chad E. Marvel, took evasive action by braking and swerving to the left. The truck, which was not required to stop, then struck the cruiser on the front left corner panel and caused the patrol car to spin in a clockwise manner before coming to a stop in the middle of the road. The truck continued in a south easterly direction and off the side of the roadway where it struck several small trees before coming to a stop in a ditch.

The trooper, who was properly restrained, was transported by EMS to Beebe Medical Center where he was treated and released with minor injuries.

Chad E. Marvel, was properly restrained and refused treatment at the scene. A passenger in the truck, Daniel J. Gill 4th was also properly restrained and was transported to Beebe Medical Center where he was treated and released with minor injuries.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident. SR20 between Frankford School and Roxanna Road (SR17) was closed for approximately two hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.

The Brewing Generational Conflict

Financial promises made under different conditions and assumptions are null and void, period.

Essayist Eric A. touched on a key theme of the next decade in his two-part series A Brief History of Cycles and Time, Part 1 and Part 2: the political, social and financial dominance of the Baby Boom generation, and the eventual erosion of that dominance.

The promises made to the 76 million baby Boomers cannot be met. It's really very simple: promises made when the economy was growing by 4% a year and the next generation was roughly double the size of the generation entering retirement cannot be fulfilled in an economy growing 1.5% a year (and only growing at all as the result of massive expansions of public and private debt) in which the generation after the cohort entering retirement is significantly smaller.

Just look at this chart: demographics is destiny, and the so-called Silent Generation (roughly those born 1925 - 1942) currently drawing Social Security and Medicare benefits is somewhere between half and 2/3 the size of the Baby Boom.

Meanwhile, Generation X that follows the Baby Boom is almost half the size of the enormous cohort currently entering retirement. Sorry folks, the numbers don't add up, no matter how you finesse them: a smaller working population in a low-to-zero growth economy burdened with fast-rising debt cannot fund the pay-as-you-go retirement of 76 million citizens, fully 25% of the entire U.S. population.

(Recall that Social Security, Medicare and all other entitlements are pay-as-you-go. There is no trust fund; the current benefits are paid in full by taxes paid by current workers/taxpayers or by Federal borrowing via the sale of Treasury bonds.)

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Brown To Stand In For O'Malley At Preakness Ceremony

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, who last week formally kicked off his campaign for governor, will get some national television exposure this weekend when he presents the Woodlawn Vase to the winner of Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

Aides say Governor Martin O'Malley will not be attending the ceremony due to a family commitment, and Brown will make the presentation.

The ceremony is part of NBC Sports' coverage of the Preakness Stakes.
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CRIMINAL

An Interview With Barack Obama About The IRS Scandal, AP Phone Records And Benghazi
By Michael, on May 14th, 2013

Does Barack Obama have any idea what is going on in the government that he is supposedly running?Scandals are erupting all around him, and he supposedly was not aware that any wrongdoing had taken place in any of those instances. It is almost as if every major government agency has gone rogue and Obama has no idea what the heck they are doing. According to Obama, he often doesn’t learn what those under his authority are up to until he sits down and turns on the news. Should we believe him when he claims ignorance over and over again, or is Obama just trying to protect himself? Whether you are a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent, the revelations that have come out in recent days about the IRS, the seizure of AP phone records and Benghazi should be very alarming to you. Taken together, these scandals paint a picture of a federal government that has become drunk with power, and no matter where you may fall on the political spectrum that is something that nobody should want.

Posted below is a fictional interview that I have created between an anonymous reporter and Barack Obama about the IRS scandal, the seizure of AP phone records, Benghazi and other sensitive topics. Yes, this interview is a bit absurd, but so is the notion that Barack Obama is completely ignorant about so many important things that are going on inside his own government…

REPORTER: “President Obama, the IRS has publicly admitted that they were specifically targeting patriot groups and Tea Party organizations for ‘extra scrutiny’. When did you first learn about this?”

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Walter Hoye, Founder And President Of The Issues4Life Foundation

Over 86 years, the Ku Klux Klan lynched 3,446 blacks – a figure matched in less than four days if tallying the number of black babies who are aborted.

Walter Hoye, founder and president of the Issues4Life Foundation, shared those statistics at a press conference on Tuesday where black clergy and other leaders gathered in response to the guilty verdict in the trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was convicted of murdering three newborn babies.

“Right now to give some of us just a perspective of the impact of abortion on demand in the black community, according to the archives of the Tuskegee Institute, from 1882 to 1968 – 86 years – the Ku Klux Klan lynched 3,446 Negroes,” Hoye said. “While it took the Klan 86 years to accomplish this, abortion on demand in America accomplishes that is less than 4 days.”
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Are You Smarter Than A 4th Grader, The Daily Times Isn't!

Salisbury police seek person in connection with 'serious assault' on Ohio Avenue

"Salisbury police are investigating an assault and are asking for the public’s help in locating a “person of interest,” the department tweeted at 10:43 a.m. Thursday.

The victim is Jamie Fagans, 18, of Salisbury, said Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan, and the motive is unknown. The case is still under investigation. . .. 

....The name of the injured male has not been made public. The victim was treated at transported by ambulance to Peninsula Regional Medical Center and then transferred to Shock Trauma in Baltimore for treatment of facial injuries, a Salisbury Police Department news release stated..."

Source

• The name of the injured male has not been made public?   Yes, it was . . .see 2nd paragraph!!!
• The victim was treated at transported......Huh???

BREAKING NEWS: SECOND TOP IRS OFFICIAL TO LEAVE OVER SCANDAL

Internal IRS memo says Joseph Grant, commissioner of the agency's tax exempt and government entities division, will retire on June 3 in wake of scandal on targeting of conservative groups.
From Fox News

Photo Of The Year

Lincoln Co. Officials: Retired Racecar Driver Dies Thursday

Retired racecar driver Richard "Dick" Trickle, 71, died Thursday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Lincoln County officials.

The shooting occurred at 12:02 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Highway 150 East in Boger City.

The Lincoln County Communications Center received a call, apparently from Trickle, that "there would be a dead body and it would be his." Communications Center workers tried to place a return call to the number but did not get an answer.
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Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley To Sign Gun Bill As Shooting Deaths Decline

Gov. Martin O'Malley is set to sign into law some of the toughest gun restrictions in the nation on Thursday at a time when gun deaths in Maryland are at their lowest point since the FBI started collecting data in 1995.

In Maryland, 272 people were killed with a gun in 2011, the most recent year the FBI data is available, down 34 percent from 414 firearms homicides in 2007.

The new law would outlaw the sale of 45 assault rifles, require licensing and fingerprinting for new handgun purchases, restrict ammunition magazines to 10 rounds and outlaw gun ownership by the mentally ill. It would become effective Oct. 1.
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SPD Press Release 5-16-13

 

The Evidence For A Recent Dating For Adam, 14,000 To 15,000 Years Ago

A recent genetic study of human genes related to the brain concluded that possibly there appeared a "microcephalin variant (that) could have arisen anywhere from 14,000 to 60,000 years ago" and an "ASPM variant ranged from 500 to 14,000 years" ago and "roughly correlating with the development of written language, spread of agriculture and development of cities" (see more)

Now if one assumes that the "microcephalin variant could have arisen anywhere from 14,000 to 60,000 years ago", possibly could correspond to the "Big Bang" or "Fortuitous Mutation" that Richard G. Klein refers to in his book "The Dawn of Human Culture" and says occurred about 50,000 years ago. Then, what about the "ASPM variant ranged from 500 to 14,000 years" ago and"roughly correlating with the development of written language, spread of agriculture and development of cities" as proposed.

The Bible repeatedly says that Adam and his immediate offspring were farmers
Genesis 2:15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and too keep it."

Genesis 3:23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken."

Genesis 4:2 And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground."

Here is a review of some of the findings by archaeologists concerning farming:

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A Haircut In Exchange For A Hug

Barber Anthony Cymerys has the best deal in town: A haircut in exchange for a hug. And business is booming.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Each Wednesday, barber Anthony Cymerys sets up his chair in the shade of an oak tree in Hartford's Bushnell Park. For longtime clients, the homeless or those just down on their luck, the fee is always the same: a hug for a haircut.

The 82-year-old Cymerys, who is known as Joe the Barber, began offering his services 25 years ago after retiring from a career in business. He had cut hair for his family but decided to put his clippers to work for the less fortunate after being inspired by a church sermon about the homeless.
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A.G. SCHNEIDERMAN & NYPD COMMISSIONER KELLY ANNOUNCE TAKE DOWN OF MASSIVE EASTERN SEABOARD UNSTAMPED CIGARETTE TRAFFICKING ENTERPRISE

Year-Long Joint OCTF-NYPD Investigation Revealed That Ring Laundered More Than $55 Million In Illegal Proceeds; Dodged At Least $80 Million In New York Taxes.

Schneiderman: This Indictment Is The Result Of Our Relentless Fight Against Organized Crime Rings.

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today announced the indictment of 16 members of a criminal ring that flooded New York City, Albany County and Schenectady County with more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes illegally imported from Virginia. A 244-count indictment, unsealed in Brooklyn Supreme Court, charges 16 co-conspirators with enterprise corruption, money laundering and related tax crimes. Each of the defendants faces up to 25 years behind bars.

During a 12-month investigation, law enforcement seized more than 65,000 forged NYC/NYS cigarette tax stamps that were not yet affixed to packs of cigarettes, and nearly 20,000 cartons of untaxed cigarettes. The investigation, which has so far uncovered $55 million in illegal cigarette sales, is continuing. While it hasn’t been established yet where the illicit proceeds ended up, similar schemes have been used in the past to help fund organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.

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Dock Daze Has Been Cancelled

The Dock Daze event put off by Wicomico Tourism has been cancelled. No reason has been given. 

Lawyer Representing Tea Party Groups Applauds Obama's Move

A Washington attorney who represents two conservatives targeted by the IRS applauds the president's move but says that's not enough.

Dan Backer represents theteaparty.net and Combat Veterans Training Group, two groups who claim they were targeted by the IRS.

"I think it's an excellent start," Backer told WBAL.

However, he said President Obama needs to do more. 
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PUBLIC NOTICE

Today’s Budget Work Session, scheduled for 3:00 p.m., has been canceled. It has been re-scheduled for next Tuesday, May 21, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon in Conference Room #306 of the Government Office Building.

Publishers Notes: Salisbury News learned Jake Day and Laura Mitchell called in one hour ago and said they couldn't make it to today's meeting. Here we go Folks. 

Top Crabs Reign At Bike MS: Chesapeake Challenge

June 1 & 2 cyclists of all abilities will enjoy well-supported routes through scenic Eastern Shore waterfront communities to help create a world free of MS

Easton, MD-. For over 30 years, cyclists have gathered on the Eastern Shore for Bike MS: Chesapeake Challenge in an attempt to raise awareness and funds to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. For one Top Crab- a participant who raises over $1000- the challenge is personal.

For nearly two decades, Robert Tobin’s mother, Mary Ann Tobin, has battled multiple sclerosis. To support a cure for his mother, who he describes as having an unwavering and positive attitude, Tobin established his Chesapeake Challenge team, the Fat Crabs. Since the team’s inception 13 years ago, the Fat Crabs have raised over $300,000.

“Mom is a major role model in my life, a woman of high integrity, humor and love.

My goal is to continue to raise money to support research activities to find a cure for MS,” says Tobin.

Just 40 minutes from Annapolis, Chesapeake Challenge will be held at a new venue in 2013, the Talbot County Community Center in Easton, MD. Participants will enjoy quaint and scenic waterfront communities like Tilghman Island, Oxford, St. Michaels and Trappe. A variety of route options—ranging from 34-100 miles on Saturday, and 30 & 50 mile routes on Sunday-- make Chesapeake Challenge accessible to riders of all abilities. All participants are required to raise $300, most raise significantly more trying to be a Top Crab.

“I know the Fat Crabs are excited to ride a new course, especially one that includes such a great area of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It should be a fantastic ride,” says Tobin.

For more information on Bike MS: Chesapeake Challenge visit www.bikemsmaryland.org or call 443-641-1200.

COINS LEFT ON TOMBSTONES

While visiting some cemeteries you may notice that headstones marking certain graves have coins on them, left by previous visitors to the grave. Well, here is a purported story, and I think it's a good one!

These coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of those who gave their life while serving in America's military, and these meanings vary depending on the denomination of coin.

A coin left on a headstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier's family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect. Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited.

A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the solider when he was killed.

According to tradition, the money left at graves in national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries is eventually collected, and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans.

In the US, this practice became common during the Vietnam war, due to the political divide in the country over the war; leaving a coin was seen as a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the grave than contacting the soldier's family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war.

Some Vietnam veterans would leave coins as a "down payment" to buy their fallen comrades a beer or play a hand of cards when they would finally be reunited.

The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire.

EPA WAIVERS FOR 'GREEN' GROUPS, DENIES CONSERVATIVE, WATCHDOG GROUPS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has routinely charged conservative and watchdog groups fees that the agency has waived for the mainstream media and "green" groups, according to a new report.

According to the Washington Examiner, a Conservative Enterprise Institute review found that while "government agencies are supposed to waive fees for groups disseminating information for public benefit," the EPA denied such requests from the Conservative Enterprise Institute in addition to other groups like Judicial Watch and the Franklin Center that hold Obama administration accountable.

The EPA granted requests for waivers to groups like the National Resources Defense Council and EarthJustice. The report found that the EPA waived fees for "green" groups 92% of the time.

“This is as clear an example of disparate treatment as the IRS’ hurdles selectively imposed upon groups with names ominously reflecting an interest in, say, a less intrusive or biased federal government,” CEI fellow Chris Horner said. “This is a clear pattern of favoritism for allied groups and a concerted campaign to make life more difficult for those deemed unfriendly."

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Seatbelt Laws Can Be Deadly

Maryland Teens Lead National Movement To Lower Voting Age

A national movement to grant more teens the right to vote scored its first victory this week with the passage of legislation in Takoma Park, to lower the voting age in municipal elections to 16. But momentum continued Wednesday as advocates in Massachusetts spoke at the State House in favor of allowing 17-year-olds to vote.

Activists have made a number of attempts across the country in recent years to grant more teens access to the polls. They point to the change in Takoma Park as a potential springboard for movements elsewhere.

“This is, in legislation terms, the first real big step,” said Jeffrey Nadel, president of the D.C.-based National Youth Rights Association, which lobbied for the legislation in Takoma Park. “We’re excited that this will be the spark that lights the fuse for change across the country.”

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A Letter To The Editor 5-16-13

Immigration reform article
STOP and THINK! 

Why don't we need a 3,000 mile long fence at the Canadian border?

Why are there not an extreme number of Canadians living here illegally? It certainly is a better climate than up there!

Why?