Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Boeing Is Taking Over One Of NASA's Old Space Shuttle Hangars

The contractor is building a new capsule that they hope will take astronauts to orbit in four or five years, the Associated Press reports. More than 100 Boeing, NASA and state and federal officials gathered in the massive empty hangar, called Orbiting Processing Facility Number Three, for the announcement. This is a first-of-its-kind agreement allowing a private company to take over the government property. NASA is counting on companies like Boeing to ferry cargo and astronauts to and from the International Space Station in three to five years.

The Final Exam

At Penn State University, there were four sophomores taking chemistry and all of them had an 'A' so far. These four friends were so confident that the weekend before finals, they decided to visit some friends and have a big party. They had a great time but, after all the hearty partying, they slept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to Penn State until early Monday morning.

Rather than taking the final then, they decided that after the final they would explain to their professor why they missed it. They said that they visited friends but on the way back they had a flat tire. As a result, they missed the final. The professor agreed they could make up the final the next day. The guys were excited and relieved. They studied that night for the exam.

The next day the Professor placed them in separate rooms and gave them a test booklet. They quickly answered the first problem worth 5 points. Cool, they thought! Each one in separate rooms, thought this was going to be easy...then they turned the page. On the second page was written...

For 95 points: Which tire?_________

GSA Doesn't Want Employees To Come To Work

The General Services Administration doesn't want its employees to come to work. A new policy signed by Administrator Martha Johnson makes telework the standard mode for most employees. She said the new policy assumes very few people need to be at the office day-to-day. Nearly eight in 10 GSA workers telework at least once a week, far more than the average federal agency. The Office of Personnel Management, National Science Foundation and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation also have high percentages of teleworkers.

City Police Report Assault At "Occupy Baltimore"

Baltimore Police are investigating a reported assault and theft that occurred Friday, October 28th at Mckeldin Square, 100 East Pratt Street.  This incident was reported to police Monday morning and detectives immediately began to investigate the allegations.

More

'America's Most Wanted' Returns On Dec. 2

Watch out, bad guys! John Walsh is back!

Lifetime announced today that "America's Most Wanted" will return to the small screen on Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. The crime-fighting show's 25th season will feature 20 brand new one-hour episodes, the network revealed.

“I am excited to be back in the saddle and working with Lifetime," said host and creator Walsh. "We are the court of last resort and with the show getting back to our weekly airing, we’ll have the capability of getting more fugitives off the streets and behind bars where they belong.  We hope our observant fans continue the mission with us, on our new night -- Friday -- and keep our capture number climbing while helping those crime victims that need us.”

More

George Allen Getting Corey Stewart's Endorsement

Corey Stewart endorsed George Allen for Virginia's Senate seat, News4's Julie Carey reported.

Months ago, the Prince William County chairman considered jumping into the race himself, firing some pointed criticism at the former governor.

Peanut Butter Turns Into Budget Buster

If you're about to run out of peanut butter, be prepared for some sticker shock next time you go grocery shopping. Due to the rising cost of peanuts, caused by one of the lowest harvests in decades, peanut butter manufacturers across the board are raising prices of jelly's best friend.

More »

Maggots Found On Nursing Home Residents

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in Michigan has cited two nursing homes for violations after a survey found two elderly women in their care had maggots in their throat and pubic areas. Now a watchdog group is investigating.

More »

My Impression Of WBOC Tonight, "No Signal"

If you've been frustrated today and or tonight trying to get onto WBOC your not alone. Especially their Fox Channel. It seems their advertisers are upset to boot. There's been some kind of computer glitch with Fox but they're working very hard to get it back up and running. Hey guys, so you know, your other channel isn't working either.

Lying, Cheating Climate Scientists Caught Lying, Cheating Again

Oh dear. I really didn't want my first blog post in a week to be yet another one about global bloody warming. Problem is, if those lying, cheating climate scientists will insist on going on lying and cheating what else can I do other than expose their lying and cheating?

The story so far: ten days ago a self-proclaimed "sceptical" climate scientist named Professor Richard Muller of Berkeley University, California, managed to grab himself some space in the Wall Street Journal (of all places) claiming that the case for global warming scepticism was over. Thanks to research from his Berkeley Earth Surface Temperatures (BEST) project, Professor Muller stated confidently, we now know that the planet has warmed by almost one degree centigrade since 1950. What's more, he told the BBC's Today programme, there is no sign that this global warming has slowed down.

Cue mass jubilation from a number of media outlets which, perhaps, ought to have known better – among them, the Independent, the Guardian, The Economist and Forbes magazine. To give you an idea of their self-righteous indignation at the supposed ignorance of climate change deniers, here is the Washington Post's Eugene Robinson in full spate:

More

The Coming Church-State Wars

Appearing the other night on the Catholic network EWTN, I was asked by Raymond Arroyo what should be done about Muslim students at Catholic University demanding that the school provide them with prayer rooms, from which crucifixes and all other Catholic symbols that they found offensive had been removed.

After a nanosecond I replied, "Kick 'em out!"

Let them go to George Washington, the university on the other side of town.

Indeed, had Muslim students shown so little loyalty to a school that welcomed them, and of whose Catholicism they were aware when they entered, expulsion would have been justified.

Looking further into the matter, that was a rush to judgment.

For it seems that not a single Muslim student at CUA had gone to the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights to file a complaint.

More

Oo-rah By Fred Reed.....(a Marine combat veteran of Vietnam)

I read frequently among the lesserly neuronal of the supposed honor of soldiers, of the military virtues of courage, loyalty, and uprightness – that in an age of moral decomposition only the military adhere to principles, and that our troops in places like Afghanistan nobly make sacrifices to preserve our freedoms and democracy. Is not all of this nonsense?

Honor? A soldier is just a nationally certified hit-man, perfectly amoral. When he joins the military he agrees to kill anyone he is told to kill, regardless of whether he has previously heard of the country in which he will kill them or whether the residents pose any threat to him or his. How is this honorable? It is cause for lifelong shame.

It is curious that so many soldiers think that they are Christians. Christianity is incompatible with military service, if any Christianity is meant that Christ would have regarded with other than repugnance.

The explanation of course lies in the soldier's moral compartmentation. Within his own tribe or pack, these usually being denominated “countries,” he is the soul of moral propriety – doesn't knock over convenience stores, kick his dog, or beat his children; speaks courteously, observes personal hygiene, and works tirelessly for the public good in the event of natural disasters. A steely gaze with little behind it and a firm handshake amplify the appearance of probity.

In conflict with foreigners, he will burn, bomb, rape and torture indiscriminately. His is the behavior of feral dogs, which humans closely resemble.

More

U.S. Students Make Gains in Math But Gaps Remain

WASHINGTON - New test scores show the nation's fourth- and eighth-graders are doing the best ever in math, but schools still have a long way to go to get everyone on grade level. In reading, eighth-graders showed some progress.

Just a little more than one-third of the students were proficient or higher in reading. In math, 40 percent of the fourth-graders and 35 percent of the eighth-graders had reached that level.

More

Birth Of A New Tradition

In lieu of shopping Walmart for the holidays:

This is a wonderful idea. As Americans, we need to support our own economy, and not be held hostage by cheap, foreign-made products that are crippling the jobs of workers in the United States. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans.  There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.  Oh.... Yes there is!

It is time to think outside the box, people.  Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut.  How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership?  It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed?  Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese-made flat-screen TV?  Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a gazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates.  And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint.  Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom?  Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal.  Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves.  They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.  And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house?  When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community.  If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city.  Christmas is now about caring about US (We the People), encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams.  And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we could not imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition! Forward this to your family and friends; post it to discussion groups; put a post on Craig's List in the Rants and Raves section in your city; send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments.

This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

WICOMICO COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCES HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY

Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., announced today that county residents will have an opportunity to dispose of hazardous household waste at no charge on Saturday, November 12th, at the Newland Park Landfill. The hours for “Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day” are 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The event is open to residents of Wicomico County and participants should bring a valid proof of residence such as a driver’s license. The Landfill will be accepting the following:

Gasoline
Gas/Oil mixes
Fuels
Acids
Cleaners
Solvents
Automotive Fluids
Bleach
Ammonia
Batteries (all types)
Household Smoke Detectors
Asbestos
Pool Chemicals
Dark Room Chemicals
Household & Lawn & Garden Pesticides
Insecticides & Herbicides
Compressed Gas Propane Cylinders (30 gallon and under)
Painting Products
Oil Based Paint
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Wood Preservatives
Wood Stripping Chemicals

Landfill officials noted that solidified latex paint may be disposed of with trash. It can be solidified by adding dirt, mulch, kitty litter or a comparable substance.

The Landfill will not be accepting the following:

Business, Industrial or Commercial Farm Waste
Explosives
Ammunition (handled by Fire Marshall)
Medical Waste
Radioactive Material

Landfill officials suggest that participants pre-arrange large loads. They also said that empty fuel containers will be returned upon request and that staff will help unload vehicles.

County Executive Pollitt commented, “Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day’ is another step in the right direction of preserving our beautiful county for future generations.”

9-Foot Statue Of Reagan Unveiled At Airport

ARLINGTON, Va. - More than a decade after it was officially renamed, a 9-foot statue honoring Ronald Reagan has been unveiled at the airport that now bears his name.

The airport just outside the nation's capital has borne Reagan's name since 1998, following the passage of Congressional legislation that was opposed by some who were not enamored of Reagan's legacy.

More

American Supermodel Defends Gadhafi Family, Loses Job


An American model who has appeared in ads for Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani and L'Oreal lost her biggest client Monday after she defended boyfriend Mutassim Gadhafi and the Gadhafi family in an interview with Italian media.

Why NASA's Fire Sale Is Good News For Florida

It's never easy watching an English aristocrat sell off parts of the family estate. First the fields and stables go, then the guest wings. Before you know it, you're confined to a few rooms on an upper floor while tourists tromp through the faded parlors and dining salons.

NASA is learning a thing or two about how old aristocracy feels. With the shuttles mothballed, the U.S.-manned program grounded and once buzzing control centers and launch pads standing empty, the agency announced this week that it will surrender three major buildings on the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center to private industry and is perfectly happy to put more of its infrastructure up for grabs as well.

More

Frankford Man Hospitalized After Shooting Himself

Location: Residence in the 30000 block of Thorogoods Road, Dagsboro, DE
Date of Occurrence: Monday, October 31, 2011 at 8:45 a.m.
Victims: 
-36 year old Frankford, DE man
Resume
Dagsboro, DE- The Delaware State Police are currently investigating an accidental shooting in which a Frankford, DE man was injured that occurred yesterday morning.
The investigation into the incident began at approximately 8:45 a.m. on Monday after troopers were told to respond to a residence located in the 30000 block of Thorogoods Road in Dagsboro, DE for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival troopers were informed by a female resident of the home that she had been awoken by the sound of a 36 year old male occupant of the home screaming in pain. She then advised that the victim, who was lying on the floor with a gunshot wound to his leg, told her that his gun had gone off. The female resident then contacted the 9-1-1 call center.
The victim was removed from the scene by EMS and transported to the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where he was admitted for his non life threatening injury.
The victim advised troopers that he had picked up the gun, identified as a .22 caliber Beretta handgun, from under his bed where he keeps it at night. As the victim was holding the gun, he bumped his thigh with it, causing it to discharge a round into his knee. 
Troopers are continuing their investigation into this incident.

Red Wine Ingredient Resveratrol Mimics Diet, Exercise In Obese Men

The red wine ingredient resveratrol mimicked the metabolic effects of dieting and exercising in obese men, a small study found.

Although it didn't lead to weight loss, a daily 150-milligram dose of resveratrol lowered blood pressure as well as blood glucose levels and liver fat in obese men after 30 days, Dutch researchers reported today in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Casey Anthony Takes Fifth 60 Times In Civil Suit Deposition

(CNN) -- Attorneys representing Casey Anthony invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 60 times during a deposition given in a civil suit against her, according to a transcript of the proceedings.
In addition, Anthony's attorney Charles Greene asserted he would also invoke the Fifth Amendment on her behalf if questioning delved into the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.

War On Doctors

Even if this doesn't impact on you now, wait a few years and it will!
 
 OBAMACARE DECLARES WAR ON DOCTORS
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN

Published on DickMorris.com on
October 26, 2011

The worst fears about Obamacare are now being realized in a decision on Monday by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MPAC) established by the law to supervise $500 billion in Medicare cuts.  MPAC, whose decisions have the force of law, has voted to impose drastic pay cuts on all doctors under Medicare and, by extension, under Medicaid (which tends to follow suit).  The cuts will effectively reduce the real pay for specialists by 50% over the next ten years --- including a 25% reduction over the next three years -- and cut general practitioners' pay by one-third over ten years (and that assumes that inflation stays down at 3% a year).

MPAC has ruled that specialists must accept a 6% cut in their fees per year for each of the next three years followed by a seven year freeze in their fees without any adjustment for inflation.  If inflation stays very low -- at 3% per year -- this cut amounts to an 18% cut in nominal pay and a 50% cut in real pay for specialists.  General practitioners will face a ten year freeze on their pay, reducing their real compensation by one-third assuming ongoing low inflation.  Higher inflation, of course, would make the cuts in real pay even more drastic.

The consequences of the MPAC decision will be immediate and drastic:

* Many physicians, and many more specialists, will refuse to treat Medicare patients.  It will become very, very difficult to see a cardiologist or an oncologist or a gastroenterologist or OB-GYN specialist if you are on Medicare unless you are willing to pay out of pocket or have the kind of health insurance coverage from a private source that would reimburse for their care.

* More and more medical care will be turned over to nurses or physician assistants, and fewer people will ever get to see a doctor on Medicare.

* Private health insurers will follow in the footsteps of the Medicare program and likely slash their fees as well.

* Fewer students will enter medicine, and a major shortage of doctors will reduce the quality of medical care in America drastically.
The MPAC cuts will bring American doctors' incomes more into line with European doctors who typically earn half or less of what their American counterparts earn -- and deliver worse medical care as a result.
We have got to stop these MPAC cuts from taking effect.  The very future of Medicare and of our entire health care system is at stake.  If they are allowed to stand, Medicare will become akin to Medicaid or public housing -- a program for poor people who cannot afford to pay for medical care from specialists outside the system.

Providing quality medical care and preserving the Medicare program is something that can reach Republicans and survival-minded Democrats, but we need to raise a storm of protest!

This decision is the same as a "Death Panel"! As a senior, if you can't see the specialists you need, you WILL die. On the other hand, the politicians who are passing these laws have no such concerns because they have their golden health care program paid for by the very tax payers who will be dying!!! Everyone of them should be lynched!

Nobel Prize-Winning Economist: "War Is Widely Thought To Be Linked To Economic Good Times . NONSENSE"

Contrary to a Common Myth, War is Bad for the Economy

Nobel prize winning economist Paul Krugman wrote [30] yesterday:
Military spending does create jobs when the economy is depressed. Indeed, much of the evidence that Keynesian economics works comes from tracking the effects of past military buildups.
(Mr. Krugman has said the same thing many times in the past [31]. And many other influential people have said the same thing [32].)

I am not a Nobel prize winning economist … but Joseph Stiglitz is.

Stiglitz wrote [33] in 2003:
War is widely thought to be linked to economic good times. The second world war is often said to have brought the world out of depression, and war has since enhanced its reputation as a spur to economic growth. Some even suggest that capitalism needs wars, that without them, recession would always lurk on the horizon.

Today, we know that this is nonsense. The 1990s boom showed that peace is economically far better than war. The Gulf war of 1991 demonstrated that wars can actually be bad for an economy.
Stiglitz has also said that this decade’s Iraq war has been very bad for the economy. See this [34], this [35] and this [36].

A No-Brainer

This is a no-brainer, if you think about it.

More

Thoughts On A Modern Revolution

Part I.  Why it won’t come easy…

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

–United States Declaration of Independence

There seems to be a division of thinking when it comes to the 1% vs everybody else.  Many people seem to think that their extreme advantage of resources, the power inherent in the existing structure, and the technology they have access to will ensure their continued dominance.  Others argue that because they are outnumbered 99 to 1 they can only maintain their control if the 99% remain compliant.  While I favor the latter view, questions remain: what percent need to resist in order for the existing power structure to be overthrown?   How does the average citizen overcome the massive advantages available to the existing authority?  Can this be accomplished with peaceful means, or will the conflict escalate into violence?  What does history teach us to expect in the resolution of this crisis?  If the existing structure is torn down, will it be replaced by something better or something worse?

In part 1 of this series, we will investigate the strength of the existing authority, and the inherent advantages that the authority holds over the average citizen who would consider resistance.  In part 2, we will look at the inherent strengths that the average citizen has in resisting the existing authority.  In part 3 we will look at some of the various methods and strategies that the resistance can pursue.  And in part 4 we will try to draw some conclusions about the path this crisis phase will take and what history teaches us to expect.

More

A Fake News Anchor (Jon Stewart) Tangles With A Real One (Brian Williams)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Slow Drivers, Get Out Of Our Way

Grand Rapids, Michigan (CNN) -- There is a place for people who enjoy soaking in the beautiful colors of fall and all the other amazing scenes of nature as they drive down the open highway.

It's called the right lane.

If you're sightseeing or rubbernecking in the left, get your butt over.

Why is that rule so freakin' hard to follow?

As drivers, we do a lot of things that irritate each other.

We signal but never turn.

When It Comes To Preventing Preterm Birth, The U.S. Gets A 'C'

Preterm birth, which is the leading cause of newborn death in the U.S., has declined in most states and dropped more than 10% in a few, according to an annual "premature-birth report card" released by the March of Dimes on Tuesday.
The data, from 2006 to 2009, are a positive indication that some interventions are meeting with success, but there are still more than half a million babies born too early each year in the U.S. Despite the improvements, the nation still gets a middling grade of C when it comes to its overall track record on preterm birth.


More

Federal Judge Threatens Oakland Police Department With Court Takeover Over Ongoing Abuses

Due to past law enforcement abuses, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) has been operating under the monitoring of a federal judge overseeing a consent decree since 2003.

Although it is difficult to set aside the deplorable record of the OPD in dealing with protesters for a moment - including Occupy Oakland advocates last Tuesday - it has a history of using excessive force on a daily basis. This includes the unnecessary drawing of guns, extortion and framing arrested individuals that is so egregious that the department may be put into receivership by the federal courts.

Google Refuses To Remove Police-Brutality Videos, It Says

In its most recent Transparency Report, Google states that it has received multiple requests from law-enforcement officials to remove videos.

“We received a request from a local law enforcement agency to remove YouTube videos of police brutality, which we did not remove. Separately, we received requests from a different local law enforcement agency for removal of videos allegedly defaming law enforcement officials. We did not comply with those requests, which we have categorized in this Report as defamation requests.”

OCPD ARREST ARMED WANTED SUSPECT AFTER BRIEF STAND-OFF

On the morning of October 31, 2011, Ocean City Police received information from Maryland State Police that a wanted person who was possibly armed, may be in or heading to Ocean City. A look out was broadcast and OCPD investigators began searching for the suspect.

The suspect, identified as Dennis John Cross, 19, of Stockton, MD, had outstanding arrest warrants from the Worcester and Wicomico County Sheriff’s Offices. During the investigation police received information from the Chincoteague Police Department that Cross was the primary suspect involved in the theft of a shotgun and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Based on all the information developed during the investigation, OCPD detectives and patrol officers began an extensive search of the 8th Street area. At approximately 4 p.m. police discovered Cross had barricaded himself under the decking of a wheel chair ramp attached to the "Beach Bum" apartments (203 9th Street).
OCPD uniformed and tactical officers responded to the scene and established a safety perimeter. OCPD tactical officers took Cross into custody without incident.

At the time of Cross’ arrest police discovered he was in possession of a modified shotgun, which was loaded. Cross was also in possession of an amount of prescription narcotics. During the standoff with police, officers observed Cross ingesting an unknown quantity of pills. He was transported to Atlantic General Hospital as a precaution.

This case is still under investigation and additional charges are pending. Cross has been charged by the OCPD with the following:

Theft under $1,000
Possession of a Schedule III CDS
Possession of a Schedule II CDS
Possession of Schedule I CDS
Possession of CDS Paraphernalia

Cross was also served with two outstanding arrest warrants from Worcester and Wicomico County Sheriff’s Offices.

Cross was seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and was held on $10,000 for each Arrest Warrant and $25,000 for the charges from the Ocean City Police.

Sex, Money, Kids: How to Talk About Touchy Topics

It's time to get down to business and talk with our husbands (or wives) about some serious issues--you know those touchy subjects like money, our health, and sex.

Before you wade into those deep waters, here are a few tips you might consider.

More

Use The Busy Holiday Season To Find A Job

Most job seekers think November and December are lousy months to look for work. People are distracted by festivities and family. When potential hiring managers are at their desks, they’re overwhelmed by year-end deadline pressure. Plus, those who have been job hunting for a long time feel like the holidays present an opportunity to take a break.

Polls Show Marijuana Legalization More Popular Than President Obama

WASHINGTON, DC -Crimebeat- “Late Friday night the White House issued a typical evasive rejection of the several marijuana legalization petitions that collected more signatures than any other issue on its “We the People” website,” stated retired Baltimore narcotics cop Neill Franklin. “Even though recent polls show that more voters support marijuana legalization than approve of President Obama’s job performance, the White House categorically dismissed the notion of reforming any laws, focusing its response on the possible harms of marijuana use instead of addressing the many harms of prohibition detailed in the petitions”.
One of the popular petitions, submitted Franklin, called on the Obama administration to simply stop interfering with states’ efforts to set their own marijuana laws.

Letters Reveal Eric Cantor Begged For Obama Stimulus Money To Create Jobs


Among the Tea Partiers Newsweek uncovered begging for federal dollars, one name stood out. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor requested tens of millions of federal stimulus dollars to create jobs in his district.

During a March 1, 2009 appearance on ABC’s This Week, Rep. Cantor said that the government can’t create jobs, “And what we see in this budget, frankly, is an attempt, again, to try and stimulate the economy through government expenditure. And, you know, at best what that can do is redistribute wealth. It can’t create jobs; it can’t create wealth. We’ve got to get back to focusing on job creation and creating prosperity.”

Teen Weight Loss: They're Doing It Wrong

In a recent study of high school students in Philadelphia, researchers found that 14% were obese. The good news is that three-quarters of these obese teens said they were trying to lose weight. The bad news is they appeared to be going about it all wrong.

More

Study: More Men Are Suffering From Binge Eating

WASHINGTON -- Binge eating is a problem mostly associated with women, but a new study shows it's not only women who are doing it.

In fact, 40 percent of binge eaters are males, according to a study from the National Eating Disorders Association.

People who binged at least once a month were likely to be obese, depressed or have sleeping problems. Binge eating is also likely to affect productivity at work.

More

Salisbury Police Press Release 11/01/11

On October 31, 2011 at approximately 10:15 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Village at Mitchell Pond Apartments for the report of a suspicious subject in a vehicle. Upon arrival the officers located the vehicle in question and made contact with the operator, listed below. The suspect initially gave the officers false identification information but after a number of attempts the officers were able to accurately identify him. A records check of the suspect revealed that he was currently wanted on an outstanding District Court Bench Warrant.

ARRESTED: Eric Lamont James, 33 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES:
False Statement to a Police Officer
Obstructing and Hindering an investigation
Maryland District Court Bench Warrant-Violation of Probation

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100042835/201100042844

Newest Way To Get Your Morning Caffeine Could Be A Puff Away

UNDATED - Forget about drinking your morning jolt of caffeine. Soon, you could get your infusion through an inhaler.

The AeroShot is a portable, tube-like device. It's expected to be out next year.

Unlike inhalers you use for asthma or the caffeine inhalers that spray your mouth with a mint spray, the Aeroshot would puff a fine powder into your mouth and it would instantly dissolve.

More

S.C. Sheriff Urges Women To Pack Firepower

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - A South Carolina sheriff is urging women to get concealed weapons permits and carry guns to protect themselves.

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright made the suggestion Monday while discussing the arrest of a suspect in an attempted rape last weekend.

Walter Monroe Lance, 46, of Spartanburg, was charged Monday with kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and grand larceny in a Sunday attack on a woman walking her dog in a park.

More

Why We Can’t Buy Happiness — But Try to Anyway

In 1972, the percentage of Americans who said they were “pretty happy” was about 50%. In the years since, the U.S.’s standard of living has risen dramatically, and our gross domestic product per capita has increased by 96%. That means we have more, we consume more and we can afford more.

Two Sought In Strong-Arm Robbery Of Teen Girl (DE)

County Police are asking for the public's help in finding 2 men who attacked and robbed a teenaged girl Sunday night.

Police say the 15-year-old victim was walking along Phillips Road in Phillips Heights, an unincorporated area near Bellefonte, when the robbers approached her from behind, grabbed her and rifled through her pockets, taking her belongings.

Mitzi Perdue Shares Experiences During November 1 Book Signing


Mitzi Perdue made her first big media deal as a teenager. While her parents were out, she signed papers allowing the exterior of their Boston home to be used in a scene for the Walt Disney movie The Parent Trap. The experience also included a role as an extra in the film, for which she was paid $10.

Eastern Shore Jobs Outlook Hopeless

Yesterday I took my Grandson out to Eric Ludwig's Barber Shop and got a glimpse of what seems to be left of the Daily Times Newspaper. A friend recently asked me, (if I'd be so kind) if I'd tell someone that works there, Thank You. When I asked why they said, because I don't even have to purchase the USA Today any more, since they publish the key stuff from that paper every day now.

Nevertheless, as I scanned through to paper I couldn't help but notice only two pages of classified ads, mostly legal notices. I started flipping through the rest of the paper, sure I had missed something. I hadn't. There were maybe 5 Help Wanted Ads. HELLO!

Look, I know many of you do not get the Daily Times any more, so I feel responsible to show you things like the image above to keep you informed. I'm not knocking the Daily Times. If the jobs just aren't out there, well, they just aren't there. So we need to look at statements like what Craig Jahelka from WBOC is saying on their commercial. I know far too many people out of work and far too many businesses struggling to stay afloat, mainly by laying off staff to stay alive.

That being said, when you see 5 help wanted ads throughout the entire Eastern Shore, this is NOT good at all. Good Lord, can you just imagine the volume of calls these companies are getting from the massive amount of unemployed.

I thought, (for a brief second) that maybe people/companies have stopped using the Daily Times as a source to get new employees. I don't believe that's the case. Then again, the classified section is the smallest I have ever seen. I also realized that Sunday is usually the biggest day to advertise such ads but I have also seen the downsize of what they produce on Sunday's and that's not very impressive either.

All in all, I think the Internet is proving to play a stronger role as to what and where the future will bring us. More and more people are getting away from print advertising and we simply need to accept this. The writing is on the wall, (so to speak).

Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler Speaks at SU November 2

SALISBURY, MD---Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler speaks on the status of civil rights in the state to commemorate Constitution Day at Salisbury University.

His talk is 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 2, in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall.

In light of the Defense of Marriage Act contestation by the Obama administration and the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law, Gansler also discusses the status of gay marriage in the state from a non-partisan perspective.

More

Fill In The Blank 11-01-11

My Profession is ______.

A Letter To The Editor 11-1-11A

Charlie Slicer Poole is a sexual predator and I'm afraid he is going to get away with it as statutory rape.

Charlie is a 42 year old man and the victim is a 14 year old girl. If you look on the Maryland judiciary website for Charlie slicer Poole you will find the charges that he is being charged with. He has confessed to the charges. I'm told by the mother of the victim, that she was told not to be sulfides if he gets convicted on statutory rape. Now how can sodomy of a fourteen year old girl be anything other than rape.

I'm afraid a deal or plea agreement is going to be made like has done before on the pedophiles. Charlie is someone I trusted, a friend I thought that my kids, especially my 10 year old daughter. I've found out recently my daughter was in his bed taking a nap with the door locked. I've contacted the officer in charge and the child advocate center with no answer.

I'm hearing around town that he is being treated to lunch by the officers for tips on minor drug activity. Why is this pedophile being treated like this. Why are my concerns with my Daughter going unanswered. Why would the states attorney even think about making a deal.

I want his name out there so if there are any more children that may have had contact with him can come forward too.

Publishers Notes: A preliminary hearing will be held on November 17th. If probable cause is found it will move to Circuit Court, NO plea arrangements have been discussed.

A Letter To The Editor 11-1-11

JOE,
Thanks for allowing me to post on your site at times..which is often and I know at times I am vocal with certain stories and one being against such strong over burdened sex offender laws we have today. You may or may not know that the laws are now to the point that many on both sides of the issue is fighting very hard to have laws overturned and or rewritten and is costing tax payers millions to fight these battles for what seems to be warm fuzzy feel good laws with no grip and or answers to the problem other than a vote grabber. In most cases these Laws are being overturned and rejected in many states across the nation and the fight has just began here in Md. on a strong level. This last year past we went to Annapolis and fought and won many battles in this matter and will continue to battle and now we have the backing of some in the public defenders office // A.C.L.U and other nationwide groups and will mount a very aggressivc battle in upcoming session. WE are not against laws at all, but there comes a time when the Laws are overburdened and causes more negative results than good and at the same time gives the public a SCARY warm fuzzy feeling while at the same time does nothing at all to correct the root of the problem. If you do the research Over 99% of the sex offenses are done by family members and people close to these children and is VERY rare a stranger to these poor children. And these past halloween they have screamed how they are restricting sex offenders from doing halloween and that is FAR from the truth. It is only those ones on P/P that is being affected and those not on P/P and or not yet caught will continue to hand out candy on halloween.
 It is on fact true that our children are more likely Injured and or Killed by a drunk driver than attached by a offender on Halloween and has been proven in past halloweens as there has never been a reported sex offense on halloween, but many children hurt or killed by drunk drivers in record numbers on this night. And what is being done about that. Nothing at all as they are to busy spending hard to come by tax dollars tracking down sex offenders who they all ready know where they live and they check on them several times a year already. I can tell for fact theat here in Baltimore County they send out no less than 3 officers to do the checks in a car. The story is 1 to drive / 1 to hold the paperwork / 1 to do the checking and at times a 4th officer will ride along to tell the others what to do ???? What a waste. And I know this for fact that this happens. And it angers me to no point when they talk about sex offenders having the highest re-offend rate. This is farthest from the truth and the public is being lied to on this matter and the truth is in studies and research over the years by the F.B.I. themselves. It is in fact that sex offenders have one of the lowest rate of re-offending than other criminals. Md is now inline with the Adam Walsh bill which tightend sex laws and allowed md to get federal funds ...the key here is money..but will cost Md. millions more to do these added tasks that was nomore than what we had on the books really and many of these are being overturned and while at the cost of millions to the tax payers while at the same time we are losing tax dollars. I ran across a very interesting story today and wanted to drop it to you to read and maybe even sharing to your readers. Well gotta get off here and attend a event with several Ravens and hand out candy with them to the kiddies and get some autographs..AND yes I am on the sex offenders list..NO not under this name , but under my real name which I will keep private as is needed due to my work and people I work with and support me to the end.

Pittsville Election

MR HOLLAND
I HAVE BEEN ON VACATION AND JUST RETURNED AND READ YOUR ARTICLE ON THE PITTSVILLE ELECTION.
I WOULD SUGGEST YOU DO SOME MORE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.
ASK TO SEE THE CHARTER.  THE ELECTION IS SUPOSED TO BE NEXT TUESDAY NOV 8TH--ELECTION DAY
MR MOORE HAS NO CLUE AND DOES WHATEVER HE WANTS.  HIS DAUGHTER WORKS AT THE TOWN OFFICE SO THERE IS NO CHECKS R BALANCES WITH THE FINANCES EITHER
ALSO THERE WAS ONE LITTLE SMALL MICROSCOPIC AD ABOUT THE ELECTION.  THE CHARTER I BELIEVE ALSO STATES ABOUT ADS TO ANNOUNCE FOR CANDIDATES AND TO REGISTER TO VOTE.  HE DIDNT WANT AN ELECTION BELIEVE ME, HE WANTS TO CONTROL WHO IS ON THE COMMISSION WITH HIM
PLEASE DO SOME MORE RESEARCH ON THIS AS THE ELECTION ON NOV 1 IS NOT LEGAL

DAILY TIMES MISLEADS READERS (AGAIN) ON CITY ATTORNEY BROHAHA

The extent to which the Daily Times will stoop to sell more copies has reached another new height (“depth” may be the more fitting term) in reporting on the recent amendment of the Salisbury City Charter regarding the City’s attorney. It does not affect, and certainly does not alter Salisbury’s outmoded “strong mayor” system. Under that system the mayor has the power to direct all City functions, except legislative matters, which are the Council’s domain subject to the mayoral power to veto ordinances passed by the Council. Those powers remain undiminished.

The real story, in contrast to the hype and spin being spooned out by Ireton and his covey of malcontents (including Mitchell and Shields), is that both Ireton and his predecessor, Barrie Tilghman, have on any occasions deliberately and improperly interfered with the interaction of Council members and the City’s attorney. But the Daily Times never reports those episodes.

The City Charter could not be clearer in charging the attorney with the duty to provide information and advice to the legislative branch (Council). Under the Charter it is improper and unreasonable, and it may be unlawful for the mayor to interfere in the Council’s dealings with the City Attorney. The resolution changing the Charter should put and end to that mischief, even if “His Arrogance” once again attempts to interfere with the legislative process in the future.

Another false claim being made by Ireton and his followers is that the City Council’s decision somehow – they have not said how or why – abrogates his authority to direct the City Attorney in regard to matters within the Executive branch. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Salisbury residents should address the situation with both barrels:

  1. Disregard the drivel in the Daily Times
  2. Don’t sign the referendum petition

And, of course, keep reading this blog!

No, 'Crackheads' Aren't Coming To Get You

No, thousands of "crackheads" aren't going to start flooding America's streets Tuesday.
That's just one of several myths that have surrounded the U.S. Sentencing Commission's vote in June to make federal sentence reductions retroactive for current prisoners convicted of crack possession or use.
What happens Tuesday is that some federal prisoners become eligible to petition for reduced sentences under rules Congress passed last year. Those rules sought to address a disparity that meant crack offenders were given the same mandatory five-year minimum sentence as were offenders in possession of 100 times as much powder cocaine.

An American Nightmare

Everyone from Bill Cosby to Ronald Reagan seems fond of placing the blame for our black community’s fate squarely on the shoulders of African-Americans, largely excusing the rest of America from any blame for their plight and refusing to consider that – just maybe – other factors might have come into play at some point during our shared history.


Until now the emergence of the modern Welfare State in particular has been singled-out as the single most detrimental force on our African-American community, since it supposedly allowed “welfare queens” with “80 names, 30 addresses, and 12 Social security cards” to pull in over $150,000 of tax-free income a year. As the argument goes, the Public Welfare Amendments of 1962 created a system that disincentived marriage by rewarding single mothers with loads of free cash.

Group: Johnson's Baby Shampoo A Cancer Risk


TRENTON, New Jersey - Two chemicals considered harmful to babies remain in Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo sold in the U.S. and some other countries, even though the company already makes versions without them, according to an international coalition of health and environmental groups.

Today's Survey Question 11-1-11

Do you have a living will?

BREAKING NEWS: Hillary Clinton's Mother Dies

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s mother, Dorothy Howell Rodham, dies in Washington, D.C., at the age of 92.
From Fox News

Leaving Iraq?

It is not too often I am pleased by the foreign policy announcements from this administration, but last week's announcement that the war in Iraq was in its final stage and all the troops may be home for Christmas did sound promising. I have long said that we should simply declare victory and come home. It should not have taken us nearly a decade to do so, and it was supposed to be a priority for the new administration. Instead, it will be one of the last things done before the critical re-election campaign gets into full swing. Better late than never but, examining the fine print, is there really much here to get excited about? Are all of our men and women really coming home, and is Iraq now to regain its sovereignty? And in this time of economic crisis, are we going to stop hemorrhaging money in Iraq? Sadly, it doesn't look that way.

First and foremost, any form of withdrawal that is happening is not simply because the administration realized it was the right thing to do. This is not the fulfillment of a campaign promise, or because suddenly the training of their police and military is complete and Iraq is now safe and secure, but because of disagreements with the new government over a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The current agreement was set up by the previous administration to expire at the end of 2011. Apparently the Iraqis refused to allow continued immunity from prosecution for our forces for any crimes our soldiers might commit on Iraqi soil. Can you imagine having foreign soldiers here, with immunity from our laws and Constitution, with access to your neighborhood?

Some 39,000 American troops will supposedly be headed home by the end of the year. However, the US embassy in Iraq, which is the largest and most expensive in the world, is not being abandoned. Upwards of 17,000 military personnel and private security contractors will remain in Iraq to guard diplomatic personnel, continue training Iraqi forces, maintain "situational awareness" and other functions. This is still a significant American footprint in the country. And considering that a private security contractor costs the US taxpayer about three times as much as a soldier, we're not going to see any real cost savings. Sadly, these contractors are covered under diplomatic immunity, meaning the Iraqi people will not get the accountability that they were hoping for.

More

Dow Drops 250 Points At Open

New York Stock Exchange invokes Rule 48 -- meant to manage volatile trading -- as Dow plummets 250 points at opening.
From Fox News

Someone Is Going To Jail For This: MF Global Caught Stealing Hundreds Of Millions From Customers?

Say you are the head back office guy at MF Global, it is the close of trading on Thursday, the firm has already completely drawn down [11]on its revolver, and all the resulting cash in addition to all the firm's cash at your disposal in affiliated bank accounts, up to and including petty cash, has been used to satisfy margin demands due to declining collateral value, yet the collateral calls just won't stop, and impatient voices on the other side of the phone line demand you transfer even more cash over immediately or else risk default proceedings commenced against you within minutes. What do you do? Do you go ahead and tell your superior that the firm is broke even though the co-opted media is trumpeting every 5 minutes that "MF Global is fine", knowing full well you will be immediately fired for being the bearer of bad news, or do you assume that courtesy of your uber-boss being the former head of the Vampire Squid, and thanks to infinite moral hazard which after Lehman made sure nobody would ever fail ever again, that there is simply no way that you will be left without some miraculous rescue, if only you can last one more day, and as a result proceed to "commingle" some client funds with the firm's cash. It turns out that at MF Global you do the latter... over and over... until you have literally stolen hundreds of millions from the firm's client accounts in hopes that the miracle rescue will come on Friday... then over the weekend... and then you realize no miracle is coming, partly because your actions have been exposed, partly because miracles only exist in fairy tales. The next thing you know, your firm is bankrupt and hundreds of clients are about to learn that all their money is gone. Poof. This is not a fictional tale. This is precisely what very likely happened at MF Global in the past 72 hours. And someone has to go to jail. That someone, if indeed this criminal act is proven to have taken place, should be none other than Jon Corzine himself.
The sad truth of just how low Wall Street has fallen comes to us courtesy of the New York Times [12]:
Federal regulators have discovered that hundreds of millions of dollars in customer money have gone missing from MF Global in recent days, prompting an investigation into the company’s operations as it filed for bankruptcy on Monday, according to several people briefed on the matter.

The revelation of the missing money scuttled an 11th hour deal for MF Global to sell a major part of itself to a rival brokerage firm. MF Global, the powerhouse commodities brokerage run by Jon S. Corzine, had staked its survival on completing the deal.
As for the details:

More

DEAR DEMOCRATS: NOW HEAR THIS!

"I sincerely believe, with you, that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies; and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity in the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale."

- Thomas Jefferson (the Thomas Jefferson)

Boonies Chop House & Pub

MDGOP Hispanic Coalition Conducts A Forum On Illegal Immigration

What is fact and what is fiction when we speak about illegal immigration? The Hispanic Coalition begins the educational and informative process of dealing with the tough issues before us by conducting a forum to analyze the Republican Platform regarding this very divisive and polarizing subject. John Mayer sings about "Waiting for the World to Change," but in reality, we cannot and must not wait for the world to change. If we continue to wait, we may be too late, to do any good. As grass-root activists, the Hispanic Coalition strives to build its membership by sharing our conservative values and ideals which we believe in. The rule of law has been the benchmark by which we measure right from wrong in this country from its beginnings in history. Our hope is that we can end the confusion and begin to understand what is fact and what is fiction about illegal immigration. Please join us for our second statewide meeting and ask the tough questions at the forum so that we can reason together and begin to find the answers to our questions. We welcome Hispanics and non-Hispanics to this event.

Date: November 18, 2011
Time: 6:30pm Reception, 7:00pm Meeting begins
Place: VFW Hall @ 4225 VFW Ln. in Ellicott City, Md. 21043
RSVP: Linda Morales Hernandez Lhernandez@mdgop.org 410-263-2125

Nurses Say Hospital Gave Them Choice: Assist Abortions or Lose Job

Lorna Jose Mendoza has been given a choice. She can either assist in an abortion this week at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, or she could refuse and risk losing her job.
Mendoza is one of a dozen nurses who filed suit today against the hospital – accusing them of violating federal and state law by forcing them to assist in abortions against their religious and moral objections.

Worcester County Bureau of Investigation

Date & Time: 09/06/2011 @ 0733 Hours CASE #: 11-0235
Location Occurred: 11041 Racetrack Road, Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland
Crime or Violation: Theft Less Than $1,000.00

Victim: McDonald’s Restuarant
Accused: Danielle Renee Collick 04/03/1984 27 Years Old of Fruitland, MD
Charges: Theft Less Than $1,000.00

Narrative: Since the end of September, TFC. Clark had been investigating an internal employee theft at the McDonald’s located at 11041 Racetrack Road, Berlin, Maryland.

Investigation revealed the suspect, Danielle Renee Collick, had stolen $520.00 from a night deposit bag. During an interview Collick confessed to the theft.

Collick was arrested and charged with Theft Less Than $1,000.00.

Collick was released to the custody of the Wicomico County Detention Center and she is awaiting to be seen by the Commissioner.

A New Twist To The Occupy Movement


Joe....there is a new twist to the Occupy movement. After the incident involving the serious injury of an Iraq War veteran Marine, the Militias are showing up to protect the rights of the protesters - even though they disagree with what some are saying. The police asked them to leave their AR-15's in their cars but they refused. They told law enforcement tha they had every right under the 2nd amendment to possess weapons - so they kept them. Loaded on single point tactical slings. Awesome!

Beacon Power: Another Energy Loan Gone Bad

NEW YORK -- Another alternative energy company that received a loan guarantee from the U.S. government has filed for bankruptcy.
Beacon Power, which makes energy storage devices used to help the power grid become more efficient, filed for bankruptcy protection Sunday, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company received a $43 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy last August.

Your Donations May Not Go To Research

Some Breast Cancer Groups Spend More On Fundraising

By some estimates, charities and organizations supporting breast cancer research will receive almost $6 billion -- but not all will spend it on research.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month ends with the close of October -- the busiest time of what has become a fundraising giant. Billions of dollars get raised by more than 1,400 organizations nationwide.
A non-descript rancher in Aberdeen is home to the Walker Cancer Research Institute -- a $12 million organization that, according to its website, is dedicated to finding new treatments for cancer, including breast cancer.