What are the odds ?

As gifts go, Jim Richardson's choice for his father's 79th birthday was a long shot.

Virgil Richardson fondly remembered the .30-caliber M1 Garand rifle he carried during his time as a soldier during the Korean War.

He even still had the weapon's serial number.

Using that number, Jim Richardson went online and found the firearm at a Kentucky gun broker.

"I couldn't even talk when he gave it to me," Virgil Richardson told The Flint Journal. "It didn't even have to be the same gun to be important to me."

About 7 million of the sturdy rifles were produced during the Korean War period, making the odds of finding the right one so long that the broker didn't believe the serial number matched, said Jim Richardson, 54, of Saginaw County's Frankenmuth, about 70 miles northwest of Detroit.

"After the war, the soldiers couldn't bring the rifles back with them," Jim Richardson said. "They stayed in Korea (until the 1980s), when they were able to be imported back to the United States."

He won't say exactly how much he spent, but some collectors have paid as much as $3,000. He gave the Garand to his father last week, although the elder Richardson's birthday isn't until next month.

Virgil Richardson served from 1951-53 as an Army radio operator in the 25th Infantry Division. When he speaks of the war, the General Motors Corp. retiree often mentions the rifle's accuracy and dependability, as well as his own marksmanship.

"My sister lives in the country, and it came up that you could shoot a deer right from the deck of her home," Jim Richardson said. "Dad made a comment that he could hit a silhouette target at 500 yards without a scope. Most people can't see that far without a scope."

Virgil Richardson said he'll wait until his Oct. 26 birthday to shoot the weapon.

"What shocked me the most is how very heavy it is," he said. "I have trouble now holding it up and aiming it. I guess they were made for 20- and 21-year-olds

Source: The Flint Journal, http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal

We Have DAYS To Stop the $700 Billion Stick-Up (and Fascist Power Grab)

George Washington’s Blog
Sunday, Sept 21, 2008

Congress hopes to pass the $700 Billion bailout bill by Friday, according to an article in Bloomberg.

In case you haven’t heard, the bill would not only stick up American taxpayers for an additional $700 billion, but would literally give Paulson and the government fascist powers.

Don’t believe me?

Well, as the Bloomberg article notes: “The bill would bar courts from reviewing actions taken under its authority.”

Bloomberg includes the following quotes by people who understand the significance of the bill:

It sounds like Paulson is asking to be a financial dictator, for a limited period of time,” said historian John Steele Gordon . . . .

***

The Bush administration seeks “dictatorial power unreviewable by the third branch of government, the courts, to try to resolve the crisis,” said Frank Razzano, a former assistant chief trial attorney at the Securities and Exchange Commission now at Pepper Hamilton LLP in Washington. “We are taking a huge leap of faith.”

This power grab is so serious that investigative reporter Larisa Alexandrovna calls it “the final stages of the coup“.

We have days to stop this bill. March on Congress. Educate and motivate everyone around you. Do everything you can to prevent this disaster before it is too late

Taking A Break

Good Morning. I have chosen to take a break today and deliver Posts either later today or resume tomorrow morning. Thanks for understanding and I'll be back soon.

Chalk Drawings

Question of the Day, Sun 9/21

Today is International Day of Peace.

I pray for peace everyday. I pray our troops will live to see US soil again. I pray our world will learn to live as one. What does this day mean to you?

OHIO OIL COMPANY ABANDONS WELL RIG ON MT. HERMON ROAD

"Joe

For those folks that are unaware and not from around here, an oil rig such as the one displayed below, was built on the property then owned by Larry G. Hammond. It was located 6 miles east of Salisbury on Mount Hermon Road. Oil drilling was abandoned in 1945 after reaching a depth of about 43,000 feet. That is when they hit bedrock and back then they didn't have the technology to continue drilling deeper.

The property currently has a two story home on it and is the same land where the oil derrick was constructed. After hitting bedrock they abandoned the well and I've heard it was sealed and is still visible in the basement of the dwelling. The two story home was formerly occupied by Grace Cropper who has since passed away.

I wish Ohio Oil had continued their effort and struck 'paydirt' because it would have had a dramatic effect on all our lives here on the eastern shore.

Maybe you, and I among many others can convince the majority of our people to declare our independence from the Western Shore so we can embark on some 'oil catting' ourselves. I'm sure that idea will generate considerable consternation among some of our US Politicos who claim to currently represent our constituency here on the eastern shore.

You can read a little more about it on the link listed below:"
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1299352

News In Delmar

"We in the Delmar area have something else for fame besides you and the former fire chief(not missed) Gordy. The Daily Times in the sports section had an article in todays paper about Ford marketing with Carl Edwards being sponsored by Scotts products and they were giving away a Ford Mustang Convertible(nice cars). The nationwide drawing was won by a girl in Delmar but it hasn't been publically announced by Ford and Scotts yet I don't think. So there is your scoop of the day over the daily times."

Some People Will Do Anything To Get Elected

Delmar "Heritage Day Festival" Information

2^nd Annual

Heritage Day Festival

Downtown Delmar

September 27, 2008

9:00 am until 9:00 pm

Parade/National Anthem Cruising in 11:00 am Delmar Car Show

Registration 9 am to 12 pm

$10 per vehicle, Awards at 2 pm Free Concert featuring

2008 Brick Unveiling Randy Lee Ashcraft 12:00 pm and the

Martial Arts/Dance Workshops Saltwater Cowboys
1 - 3 pm 5:30 - 9:30 pm

“Over the Line”

"Eat the Pie: Horseshoe Tournament 4:30pm

pie eating Contest 5:00 pm Registration 2 pm to 4 pm $15 per
team,$300 First Place prize.

Fire Engine rides, Carriage rides, Games, Food, Craft Vendors,
Entertainment: “Carry the Yoke” relay, “Motivate the Melon” contest,
Historical memorilbilia, Street Art activity, and numerous giveaways.

Kiwanis Club, Oyster Sandwiches & French Fries

Sponsored by Delmar Revitalization Committee, Vendor Spaces
Still Available

Schedule of Events

Parade - 11 am

“Carry the Yoke” relay - 11 am

Brick Unveiling - 12 pm

Kids Street Art Competition 12:30pm

Martial Arts/Dance Workshops - 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Cruising in Delmar Car Show - 9:00am-2:00pm

“Motivate the Melon” contest - 4 pm

“Over the Line” Horseshoe Tournament - 4:30 pm

“Eat the Pie” Contest - 5 pm

supporting & Food Vendors All Day

Farewell To Lights
Free Concert 5:30pm to 9:30pm
(Chairs & Coolers Welcome)


The Delmar Revitalization Committee would like to thank all the local
businesses, Local clubs and organizations for supporting our efforts to
bring downtown Delmar, The place to spend a Saturday night in town.

4th Annual Kate Tawes Memorial Crab Feast

The 4th annual Kate Tawes Memorial Crab Feast is scheduled for Friday,October 10th at 6:00 PM at H.Glenwood Evans & Son in Crisfield.The cost is $35 per person and the menu features all you can eat crabs,corn and Smith Island cake.Beer,wine and sodas will also be available and there will be a live band to entertain the guests.All proceeds will benefit Women Supporting Women,a great organization that serves breast cancer survivors in our community.For more information call 410-968-9131.

20.8%

That my friends is the number of registered voters that voted in the 2007 District 2 general election. We need to encourage people this coming election to get out and vote. That is a very small percentage of the population who are deciding how this city will run. If you live in the city ask your neighbors if they are registered for the municipal elections, if they are not help them get that way, and if they are ask them to take the time this election to go and vote for the change we need.

Letter to the Editor:

Joe, I just rode by Pinchers after leaving the SU Family Fun Day around 4:30 p.m. this afternoon and they were cleaning up just as fast as they can.

Thanks for the Family Fun Day Post and the spotlight on Pincher's code violations. We had a great day at Salisbury University and the city is looking much better one post at a time.

Kratovil Gets $1,000,000.00 From The DCC

Congressional Candidate Frank Kratovil just received $1,000,000.00 worth of ad campaign support from the DCC. This is a huge boost to their campaign but Senator Andy Harris isn't worried as the support he has received as well as his past experience will convince voters that he's the man for the job. More to come.......

Legislative business or Grandstanding?

As a regular at the city council meetings, I have noticed more and more time being taken for awards and recognition which usually the Mayor presents. I absolutely support these people and their dedication and service that earns them these awards, but do we need to take time away from the televised legislative session for them? I believe a quarterly awards ceremony would be a fantastic solution to this problem, and would alleviate the feeling that the Mayor uses them for her own political gain.

Fw: Don't Fall For The Sham Drilling Proposals!

From: Johnnie Miller
To: Senator Ben Cardin - Do not reply to this message
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 6:01 PM
Subject: Re: Don't Fall for the Sham Drilling Proposals!

I hope you run for re-election so that I can vote against you. Your view on this imporatant legislation is outside 'mainstream' Marylanders way of thinking.

WE NEED IT ALL, NEW DRILLING FOR OIL, SOLAR, HYDROGEN, WIND, CHESAPEAKE BAY OIL EXPLORATION, WANGO OIL EXPLORATION, PITTSVILLE OIL EXPLORATION, SALISBURY OIL EXLPLORATION, AND YES I DON'T CARE IF IT IS IN OWN BACKYARD IF IT WILL RESULT IN CHEAPER ENERGY PRICES!!

I'm alerting all of my immediate family members and friends here in Maryland and will express to them what you have informed me.

Thanks for writing anyway.

Johnnie Miller

----- Original Message -----
From: Senator Ben Cardin - Do not reply to this message
To: jmiller25.net
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 4:13 PM
Subject: Re: Don't Fall for the Sham Drilling Proposals!

Dear Mr. Miller:

Thank you for writing to me with your concerns about oil and natural gas drilling on public lands . I look for ward to a day when the production of oil and gas on any public land is no longer necessary , and our nation is instead powered predominately by clean, renewable energy sources.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) , which operates under the Department of the Interior , is the agency charged with administe r ing the majority of America 's public lands and th e natural resources that reside within these lands. S ince 1920, the BLM has overseen the leasing, exploration, and production of coal, oil, gas, and sodium on public lands in the United States . If drilling is going to take place, I support agency ov ersight that is as transparent as possible. Any r ule changes , for example, should be open to public review and comment well before the y take place.

T he de velopment of public lands for private profit is a decision that must n ot be taken lightly. Throughout my legislative career, I have opposed oil and gas drilling in our wil derness areas and national park s, because I believe w e have a duty to leave wild ecosystems as intact and untouched by the human hand as possible. This is why I have consistently voted to protect sensitive marine and coastal zon es, such as Bristol Bay , and treasured wilderness areas like the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) from oil and gas development .

There are better, more responsible solutions for meeting our national energy needs . I support tax credits and other incentives for the development of clean, renewable energy sources , such as wind, solar, hydrogen, and bio-fuels . These energy sources emit fewer greenhouse gases and are much less invasive to our natural environment than oil and gas development.

I have also long sup ported protections for Maryland 's state parks and open spaces . For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 's State Wildlife Grants protect wildlife habitats in Maryland . The Land and Water Conservation Fund provide s matching federal funds to states and local governments , including Maryland , for public recreation areas and facilities. And t he North American Wetlands Conservation Act funds conservation projects that protect wetland habitats in Maryland and around the country . I have fought hard in this and p revious Congresses to increase fundin g for these and other important conservation programs, and you can be assured that I will continue to do so .

Again, thank you for contacting me about oil and gas drilling on our nation's public lands. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of concern.

Please visit my website at http://cardin.senate.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter.

Budweiser Celebrity Billiard Event In Dover

This is a tease photo to give you an idea of the Celebrity Billiard Event I hosted last night at Dover Downs. It was a packed house and it was so cool to see so many people there from Salisbury News/Salisbury. More to come.........

Chalk Drawings

Classified Ads

Don't forget to click on the Classified Ad Link to the right and see what's for sale this week.

Question of the Day, Sat 9/20

I usually don't do QOTD on weekends, but this one I cannot resist:

Today is National Wife Appreciation Day!

Wow! What a day! Do you have a wife to appreciate? Does she know she's appreciated?

How would you like to find this guy in YOUR bed?

A man was charged with burglary after he allegedly broke into a home, ate cheese from the refrigerator, made a mess in a bathroom and fell asleep on a child's bed. Tracy Mullins, 47, of Billings, was arraigned in District Court on Thursday by video from the county jail.
Mullins pleaded not guilty to burglary. Judge Susan Watters set bail at $5,000 after rejecting a request that he be released without bail. Public defender Richard Phillips, who made the request, said Mullins had been receiving mental-health counseling.
Court records indicate a woman awoke in her home Monday at 8:30 a.m. to the sound of snoring coming from her 2-year-old son's bedroom. Her son had slept that night with her and her husband.
The woman said she found a strange man sleeping in her son's bed. She woke her husband and left to call police from a neighbor's house. The husband confronted the man with an unloaded shotgun and held him until police arrived.