Bin Laden Threatens More Attacks on US

Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the failed attempt to bomb a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas in a new audio message released Sunday threatening more attacks on the United States.

However, a senior U.S. intelligence official in Washington said there is "no evidence whatsoever" that the al-Qaida leader had any involvement in the plot or even knew about it in advance. So the message indicates bin Laden may want to appear in direct command of the terror group's affiliates around the world at a time when some analysts have suggested he is mostly a figurehead.

The Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab told federal agents shortly afterward that he had been trained and given the explosives by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, an al-Qaida-inspired offshoot in bin Laden's ancestral homeland of Yemen.

In the minute-long recording released to al-Jazeera Arabic news channel, bin Laden addressed President Barack Obama saying the recent attempt was meant to send a message similar to that of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"The message delivered to you through the plane of the heroic warrior Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a confirmation of the previous messages sent by the heroes of the Sept. 11," he said. "America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine," he added.

"God willing, our raids on you will continue as long as your support for the Israelis continues."

U.S.-based IntelCenter, which monitors militant messages, said bin Laden used specific language he has used before in advance of attacks, a possible indicator of an upcoming action within the next 12 months.

The phrase "Peace be upon those who follow guidance" appears at the beginning and end of messages released in advance of attacks to warn al-Qaida's enemies that they need to change their ways or they will be attacked, IntelCenter said in a statement. The language, used in the latest message as well, allows al-Qaida to blame the actual attack on those who refuse to change their ways, which in the group's view forces a response.

There was no way to verify the voice on the audio message was actually bin Laden, but it resembled previous recordings attributed to him.

The U.S. said it could not immediately authenticate the message. But White House adviser David Axelrod told CNN's "State of the Union" that whatever the source, the message "contains the same hollow justification for the mass slaughter of innocents."

Abdulmutallab attempted to blow up his plane as it approached Detroit Metro Airport on Christmas Day. However, the explosive powder he was hiding in his underwear failed to detonate.

On Friday, Britain raised its terror threat alert to the second-highest level, one of several recent moves the country has made to increase vigilance against international terrorists after the Christmas Day bombing attempt on a flight from Amsterdam.

Bin Laden's message came four weeks after the Yemen-based group made its own claim of responsibility for the bomb plot with a different justification - linking it to Yemeni military attacks on al-Qaida targets with the help of U.S. intelligence.

But the U.S. intelligence official said al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula is linked to the central al-Qaida that bin Laden heads and recent intelligence indicates there are ongoing contacts between al-Qaida in Yemen and in Pakistan. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

The message appeared to be an attempt by bin Laden to stay relevant, said Rohan Gunaratna, author of "Inside Al Qaeda: Global Network of Terror."

"The training and the definition of the attack was by the local leaders of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, so in many ways you can say bin Laden is exploiting for his benefit this particular attack," he said. "Bin Laden still wants to claim leadership for the global jihad movement."

Of all the various offshoots and branches of al-Qaida around the world, Gunaratna said the group in Yemen is one of the closest to bin Laden since it is made up of bodyguards and associates of the organization's top ideologues. Yemen is bin Laden's ancestral homeland.

"Today the operational relationship has somewhat suffered, but the ideological relationship is very strong and that is why bin Laden claimed this attack," Gunaratna said.

Two of the group's top members were former detainees released in November 2007 from the U.S. military prison Guantanamo Bay.

Since the Christmas Day attempt, the Yemeni government, at the U.S.'s urging has stepped up its attacks on the group's hideouts in the rugged country's remote hinterland.

Analysts have long debated how much control bin Laden, who is believed to be somewhere in Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, really has over the various organizations using his group's name.

The Yemen-based group, however, has closer ties than most to bin Laden and his key lieutenants, many having once been their bodyguards.

In the past year, bin Laden's messages have concentrated heavily on the situation of the Palestinians in attempt to rally support from Muslims around the world.

Some analysts say bin Laden is focusing on the close U.S.-Israeli relationship because he is worried about Obama's popularity across the Middle East with his promises to withdraw from Iraq and because his father was a Muslim from the African nation of Kenya.

The plight of the Palestinians, especially in the blockaded Gaza Strip where 1,400 were killed in an Israeli offensive a year ago, angers many in the Arab world.

"The Palestinian conflict was never part of the al-Qaida original mandate, but Osama is clearly exploiting it," Gunaratna said.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Andy David dismissed the latest al-Qaida message and its attempt to link Israel with attacks on the U.S.

"This is nothing new. He has said this before," he said. "Terrorists always look for absurd excuses for their despicable deeds."

The last public message from bin Laden appears to have been on Sept. 26, when he demanded that European countries pull their troops out of Afghanistan. The order came in an audiotape that also warned of "retaliation" against nations that are allied with the United States in fighting the war.

An Insult To Our Democracy

YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS! 2 minutes long and straight from C-Span - how a vote was passed. (the video is very short and very maddening).

If anyone wonders about our current Congress and especially the House of Representatives this youtube will open their eyes. Watch this, then cry. We are losing our nation and everything it stands for.

Take a look:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywgUCdefSW8

Century-old skipjack destroyed

The century-old skipjack Ethel Lewis, which was transported from New York to Onancock five years ago by volunteers hoping to save her, was destroyed this week in a controlled burn after those involved said it was unsalvageable.

The 58-foot boat, built in Chesconnesex in 1906, had been one of only about 40 skipjacks still in existence. The wooden sailing vessels were used at the turn of the century to dredge for oysters on the Chesapeake Bay.

Several experts who examined the Ethel Lewis since it came to Onancock in 2004 said it was beyond repair and in April, the citizens' committee that had taken on the restoration project released the town to dispose of it.

The town asked the Onancock Volunteer Fire Department to burn what remained of the skipjack.

"That boat, it looked like it was pretty rotten. ... It was beyond repair, basically," said Reedville Fisherman's Museum's Aubrey Henry, who was part of a group that surveyed the skipjack about three years ago.

Onancock recently sold the waterfront lot on which the boat sat, making the vessel's removal necessary.

After changing hands several times since the 1950s, the Ethel Lewis was restored in the 1970s by Richard Schaefer of Islip, N.Y., who used it for two decades, according to a 2004 Newsday article about the restoration effort.

Schaefer donated the boat, in need of repair, in 1998 to a nonprofit group based at the Brooklyn Navy Yard that taught inner-city youth about boat restoration.

But that organization ceased operating when it lost funding after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

A downtown revitalization plan the town unveiled in 2006 but never implemented featured a park at the corner of Ames and Market streets with the fully rigged, restored skipjack as its centerpiece.

The Reedville group recently restored another skipjack, the Claud W. Somers, which was built in Accomack County in 1911.

Paul Ewell, an Accomack County native and Virginia Wesleyan College professor who is compiling a database of old Eastern Shore workboats, also examined the Ethel Lewis earlier this month. Ewell's family members have been commercial fishermen on Virginia's Eastern Shore since the 1600s.

"I remember thinking, 'they're probably not going to be able to do anything with it,' " he said. "If anybody wants to preserve an old workboat, it's me; but the problem is she's so far gone."

Ewell said he recorded the boat's dimensions and took photographs during his survey.

"I've got a significant amount of history," he said.

Skipjacks were "cheaper, easy to build" vessels which in the late 19th century and largely replaced the earlier, sturdier-built bugeyes, Ewell said.

"They were meant to be disposable boats," he said.

VIA DelmarvaNow.com

The WeekEnd Is Here! Let's Laugh!

A man in his late 40’s had to have his father put in a nursing home.

While his father was sitting on a bench in the dining area of the nursing home, he started to fall over to the left side and a nurse came over and helped him sit back up.

After a few minutes, he started to fall over to the right side and again the nurse came over and helped him sit back up.

A few days later, the son came to visit his father and he asked, "Dad how do you like it here? Are they treating you good?"

His father replied, "I like the food, the entertainment is very good. But, they won’t let me F_rt!"

Enjoy your weekend!

__________________

Pocomoke: Burglary Alert

ALERT

During the period of November 2009 to January 4, 2010 several Breaking & Entering occurred in the below listed City locations.

100 Blk 8th St- Daytime

400 Blk Maple St- Daytime

100 Blk Hailey's Way- Daytime

200 Blk Morgan's Court- Daytime

20 Blk Central Ave- Daytime

600 Blk Oxford St- Daytime

200 Blk Carson's Court- Daytime

Crimes were committed by entering through rear doors/windows. Residents should be aware of any unusual activity in their neighborhood and are requested to call the Police @ 410-957-1600 or 911. If they observe any unknown persons or unusual activity in their neighborhood. If you have any information concerning the Breaking & Enterings you are requested to call Pocomoke City Police. You may remain anonymous.

JD Ervin

Chief of Police

VIA

Meteorite Lands In Lorton, Virginia

On Monday at just around 5:45 in the late afternoon Marc Gallini and Frank Ciampi were having the usual day of seeing their patients at the Williamsburg Family Practice in Lorton, Virginia when they heard a crash in one of the examining rooms.

　

　

"The first thing I thought of was that Dr. Gallini's bookshelf fell on him," Ciampi told a WUSA9 TV crew.

The fist-size rock had crashed through the roof, a fire wall and the room's ceiling tile before it hit the floor and shattered.

According to the Smithsonian Institution it was the first known meteorite to hit Virginia since 1924. Linda Welzenback, meteorite curator to the Smithsonian reported that it weighed slightly more than two thirds of a pound and identified it as stony "ordinary chondrite."

　

"It's 'ordinary' because 85 to 90 percent of everything that falls is this type," she said. "It has a light gray interior with little, tiny iron, nickel metal particles," all covered by a black fusion crust that melted as the rock entered the atmosphere.

It's arrival on Monday evening was witnessed by hundreds of people from New Jersey to southwestern Virginia being described as a brilliant fireball that broke into pieces as it fell.

"Ken," in Baldwin, wrote: "It appeared to break up slightly as it fell and almost seemed to sparkle like a firework would. It was an awesome sight between the orange/pink color of the horizon, the navy blue of the sky and the moon. The trail stayed in the sky for a number of minutes and seemed to have a slight crook or bend to it."

It has been estimated that the space rock was traveling at a speed of close to 220 mph when it struck the building's roof raining debris into the office. No one was injured.

Solar Energy for Eastern Shore By End of Year

The Accomack County Board of Supervisors met Wednesday night for their first meeting of 2010. Many important issues were discussed by the Supervisors.

The meeting began with a brief overview of Community Energy, the company interested in renewable energy in Accomack County. Bill Finch began to address the Board expressing the companys desire to build a five megawatt power plant on the Eastern Shore. According to Finch, this will be able to power roughly 1,000 homes. Community Energy has leased a 100 acre parcel in Accomack County but only about 35 acres of it will be used for the solar panels.

Finch pointed out that unlike other community projects require large infrastructure to be built, roads, bridges, etc. However, this project will not require any additional infrastructure spending, a point which was likely well received by the Board given the state tax revenue shortfalls.

The land Community Energy is interested in as of now is located near the overpass in Onley, although the exact parcel was not identified. The Eastern Shore is ideal for solar energy projects because of the relatively low cloud cover, excellent sunshine, the ocean and the bay provides great solar insulation will provide a 3-4% higher energy yield than other places. There are currently 29 states in the region that require the energy producers to create at least a portion of renewable energy. Finch promised that when the five year lease is up Community Energy will leave the land in better condition than it was before.

If all goes as planned, the project could be powering Eastern Shore homes by the end of this year.

Thought For The Day

Eskimos Wanted

No, eskimos have not landed on the quiet island of Saxis, Virginia and built a home there.

This igloo was built after the January 8th snow we had. The local engineers were Stephanie Schivo, Josh Voss, Tyler Williams, and Cory Chance. All of them are just local kids with the creativity
for building something other than the traditional snowman............not to mention the motivation to get out in the cold.

Great job, guys!!!!

Pocomoke: Election supervisors appointed

The mayor was given the authority to appoint the members of the Board of Supervisors of Elections to handle the duties for the April 6 municipal election. John Haynie was appointed to replace Carolyn Hoffman. Members reappointed include Diane Downing, Rich Choquette, Barbara Browning and Christina Tasker.

Thought For The Day

Children's Versions of History:

The following excerpts are actual answers given on history tests and
in Sunday school quizzes by children between 5th & 6th grade ages in
Ohio. Kids should rule the world, as it would be a laugh a minute for
us adults and therefore no time to war or argue.

Ancient Egypt was old. It was inhabited by gypsies and mummies who all
wrote in hydraulics. They lived in the Sarah Dessert. The climate of
the Sarah is such that all the inhabitants have to live elsewhere....
Moses led the Hebrew slaves to the Red Sea where they made unleavened
bread, which is bread made without any ingredients. Moses went up on
Mount Cyanide to get the ten commandos. He died before he ever reached
Canada but the commandos made it.

Solomon had three hundred wives and seven hundred porcupines. He was A
actual hysterical figure as well as being in the bible. It sounds like
he was sort of busy too.

The Greeks were a highly sculptured people, and without them we
wouldn’t have history. The Greeks also had myths. A myth is a young
female moth.

Socrates was a famous old Greek teacher who went around giving people
advice. They killed him. He later died from an overdose of wedlock,
which is apparently poisonous. After his death, his career suffered a
Dramatic decline.

In the first Olympic games, Greeks ran races, jumped, hurled biscuits,
and threw the java. The games were messier then, than they show on TV
now.

Julius Caesar extinguished himself on the battlefields of Gaul. The
Ides of March murdered him because they thought he was going to be
made king. Dying, he gasped out “Same to you, Brutus.”

Joan of Arc was burnt to a steak and was canonized by Bernard Shaw for
reasons I don’t really understand. The English and French still have
problems.

Queen Elizabeth was the “Virgin Queen,” As a queen she was a success.
When she exposed herself before her troops they all shouted “hurrah!”
and that was the end of the fighting for a long while.

Sir Walter Raleigh is a historical figure because he invented
Cigarettes and started smoking.

Sir Frances Drake circumcised the world with a 100 foot clipper which
was very dangerous to all his men.

The greatest writer of the Renaissance was William Shakespeare. He was
born in the year 1564, supposedly on his birthday. He never made much
money and is famous only because of his plays. He wrote tragedies,
comedies, and hysterectomies, all in Islamic pentameter.

Writing at the same time as Shakespeare was Miguel Cervantes. He wrote
Donkey Hote. The next great author was John Milton. Milton wrote
Paradise Lost. Since then no one ever found it.

Delegates from the original 13 states formed the Contented Congress.
Thomas Jefferson, a Virgin and Benjamin Franklin were two singers of
the Declaration of Independence. Franklin discovered electricity by
Rubbing two cats backward and also declared, “A horse divided against
itself cannot stand.” He was a naturalist for sure. Frianklin died in
1790 and is still dead.

Johann Bach wrote a great many musical compositions and had a large
number of children. In between he practiced on an old spinster which
he kept up in his attic. Bach died from 1750 to the present. Bach was
the most famous composer in the world and so was Handel. Handel was
half German, half Italian, and half English. He was very large.

Beethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf that he
wrote loud music and became the father of rock and roll. He took long
walks in the forest even when everyone was calling for him. Beethoven
expired in 1827 and later died for this.

The nineteenth century was a time of a great many thoughts and
inventions. People stopped reproducing by hand and started reproducing
by machine. Then invention of the steamboat caused a network of rivers
to spring up.

Cyrus McCormick invented the McCormick raper, which did the work of a
hundred men.

Louis Pasteur discovered a cure for rabbits, but I don’t know why.

Charles Darwin was a naturalist. He wrote the Organ of the Species. It
was very long, people got upset about it, and had trials to see if it
was really true. He sort of said God’s days were not just 24 hours,
but without watches who knew anyhow? I don’t get it.

Madman Curie discovered radio. She was the first woman to do what she
did. Other women have become scientists since her but they didn’t get
to find radios because they were already taken.

Virginians Gather At Capitol For Gun Rights

Hundreds of Virginians rallied in support of bills that would allow concealed handguns to be carried in more places and make it easier to get both guns and the permits.

Gun rights advocates who rallied Monday at the Capitol decried Senate Democrats, who put two more Democrats on a key committee that hears all gun bills. Gun supporters hope to get more bills enacted this year because Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, who took office on Saturday, supports gun rights.

Former Gov. Tim Kaine often vetoed pro-gun bills.

Bills have been filed to repeal the law that limits gun purchases to one a month, to allow concealed guns on school property, in courthouses and in restaurants and to make it easier to get a concealed carry permit.


www.shoredailynews.com

Mar-Va Theater Is Looking for Friends

I think that the Mar-Va Theater is the most wonderful thing that has happened in Pocomoke for a very long time. And I glad to see that Emily is now a part of the Mar-Va team. Here's an opportunity for all of you that were younger "in the day" and gave Mrs. Hattie Clark, Jeannie Byrd, and Roger Marriner "headaches" on those Friday nights (as they pointed the flashlight in your direction) a chance to give back to your wonderful community!

Brown Wins Election in Massachusetts

Tonight in the state of Massachusetts Republican

Scott Brown has won! Brown defeated Democrat

Martha Coakley who was in the race to win the senate seat held for 46 years by the late Ted

Kennedy.

Browns victory in Massachusetts makes him the 41st Republican in the Senate, which means that the Democrats are no longer capable of stopping a GOP fillibuster. This throws a huge monkey wrench in to President Obama's agenda and the health care legislation currently pending in Congress.

Who says there is never any hope?

Missing Temperanceville Man Found

The body of John Benjamin Thornton, III was found on Monday, January 18. Thornton's body was found in a shed near his residence in Temperanceville, Virginia. The body was transported to the Medical Examiners Office in Norfolk for an autopsy to determine that actual cause of death.


Thornton was reported missing on Monday, January 11 by his girlfriend who had reported that she had last seen Thornton around 3a.m.

that same morning.

According to Sheriff Giddens further investigation of the cause of death is continuing.

Poe's Birthday "Toaster" Is a No-Show

Edgar Allan Poe
Born January 19, 1809 Died October 7, 1849

On the birthday each year of Edgar Allan Poe and mysterious figure appears at the graveof the famouse writer leaving a bottle of cognac and 3 roses. It is thought that one rose is for Poe's wife, another for his mother-in-law Maria Clemm and the third for Poe himself Between the hours of midnight and 5:30 a.,m. the Poe Toaster (unoficially named) walks into the Westminster Burying Grounds in Baltimore, Maryland at the corner of Fayette and Greene Streets and leaves the gifts for Poe. After a short and touching ceremony of kneeling and placing his hands on the stone the toaster leaves. The persons identity has never been known and the tradition has been kept since Poe's 100th birthday in 1949.

However, this morning the Poe Toaster did NOT visit the burial site of Poe! For the FIRST time since 1949 no one crept into the cemetary leaving the traditional cognac and roses. Last night 30 to 50 people stood outside the gate singing Happy Birthday to Poe several times during the night while awaiting the mysterious visiter.

At 5:30 this morning the curator the Edgar Allan Poe House, Jeff Jerome, broke the news to the crowd that had been standing vigil outside the locked gate through the night. The Poe Toaster had not had not shown. Jerome did make the statement that he plans to keep the vigil through 2012.

"After two years if he doesn't show up, I think we can safely assume the tribute has ended," Jerome said.

Odor on Nictitate (chapter 8)

Odor on Nictitate
By Odor Eliminator

Chapter 8
The Invention of a Story

We have been patiently waiting to hear about the tremendous efforts to find Christine by Nictitate and the groupies. It has been very quiet and one could assume that a time out was taken for the Holidays.

A few rather strange postings have appeared on blogs concerning Christine’s case. One rather entertaining post introduces a person named Henry. Where Henry came from is anyone’s guess and OE supposes that he is another conjured up mystery to try and keep Nictitate in the spotlight.

Using the imagination, OE has invented a story to go along with this new mystery.

Along came a spider named Nictitate spinning tales of deception while the groupies hanging from her nest conjure up subjects to add to the tales.

A person named Henry met Christine through a mutual friend. They went out on a date and he instantly became obsessed with her. Supposedly, Christine never told her family about Henry. - Okay, I can buy that she might have met someone and gone out on a date however how could her family not know about Henry. Someone had to babysit for her while she was out and she was living at her mother’s home. Did she just up and walk out and not tell anyone where she was going? What excuse did she give for needing someone to watch the children?

The story continues with Henry instantly becoming so enamored with Christine that he turns into a stalker. Anyone who has ever been a victim of stalking knows that their stalker appears everywhere that they go and the stalker is always watching. Are we to believe that no one ever saw Henry the stalker and that Christine told no one not even her sister whom she was close with or her BFF “Q”?

Continuing on…… Henry has been stalking Christine however he convinces her to go out on another date. What? I’m sorry folks but OE was shocked by this revelation. No one in their right mind would go out on a date with someone who has been watching and following them. The end of the story about Henry the stalker is that while out on this date he took Christine across the State Line and she disappeared.

Nictitate and the groupies have out done their selves with this one.



We all know that Christine and the boy’s left with her BFF “Q” after having an argument with her mother and went to the Milford, DE Wal-Mart to meet JR & Tia. We also know that JR & Tia took Christine and the boy’s across the State Line to Pocomoke, MD where she lived with them at the farm house on Byrd Road until she disappeared.

On a blog frequented by Nictitate and the groupies one of the comments wonders when we will hear the next chapter on Christine. We all are waiting for the great one to tell us where Christine is and still we wait, and we wait, and we wait……….



As is appropriate for the New Year, OE is taking a “look back” at 2009. Sadly enough, looking back at the Nictitate saga in Christine’s case, OE comes up with a big fat zero.

It’s been almost 6 months since Nictitate and the groupies were inserted into Christine’s case. Many of us knew from the beginning that the promise of solving the case within 3 months was empty. Some of us tried to warn Christine’s family about Nictitates real motives for getting involved. We were attacked for doubting and anyone who opposed Nictitates methods were quickly turned into being suspect or being someone with something to hide.

Nictitates methods made an attempt at tearing a community apart and we saw the owners of a local blog jump into Nictitates nest and spew forth hatred and ugliness at anyone who dared to oppose their Queen.

Conspiracy was the word for 2009. One after another, conspiracies swirled around Christine’s case like a dust devil. They blew in from nowhere, stirred up the dust, and blew away as quickly as they appeared.

Friendships were broken and support for Christine’s family was withdrawn by many people because the family supported Nictitates methods and never spoke up in an attempt to end it. Many people felt a slap in the face as Nictitate continued on with the whirlwind of destruction.

From the very beginning of Nictitates appearance, lies were told. Bloggers quickly did research and past acquaintances of Nictitate came forward with the truth. We had in our midst nothing more than a self proclaimed investigative journalist who has a habit of worming into cases of missing people. High profile was the target and we were told that the national media was coming to cover Christine’s case. Sources tell OE that efforts from the community got more attention than anything Nictitate did. A letter writing or sending email campaign to America’s Most Wanted by the community got Christine case onto AMW’s website. We’re still waiting for Nictitates national media blitz.

Sadly, it appears that Christine’s case is at a standstill. Sources tell OE that private opinion of some LE is that the case has been turned into a 3 ring circus. Without naming names, it’s easy to figure out who’s staring in each ring!

A post by the great one herself says that she is letting the powers to [that] be do their work…….. What a novel idea. It’s a little too late for that notion don’t ya think?

The post finishes by saying that “with some other interesting developments in the background……”. If the groupie story about Henry is an example of the interesting developments in the background, OE for one can’t wait to see what is conjured up next.

Note: For those of you who want to highjack writings from OE – DON’T. Any writings contributed by Odor Eliminator belong to The Pocomoke Public Eye exclusively and all rights are reserved. You may not copy and paste, dissect, snip, or use any of OE’s writings in any part or its entirety without prior written consent.

Read Chapters 1-7 HERE

Edgar Allan Poe's Body To Remain in Baltimore

by Chris Kaltenbach

Edgar Allan Poe should rest in peace, and right here in Baltimore.

Saturday in Richmond, Va., a representative of the Poe family came down foursquare against the idea that their famous ancestor's body should be moved anywhere, but still didn't decide which American city can best lay a dominant claim to the author.

The announcement, made at Richmond's Poe Museum during a 24-hour commemoration of the celebrated author's 201st birthday, is the latest declaration in a years-long mostly good-natured debate over where Poe should rest and which city most deserves his legacy.

Noting that distant cousin Edgar already has been subjected to four funerals, most recently two organized by Baltimore's Poe House and Museum back in October, Harry Lee Poe said enough was enough. After all, he noted, none of the author's living descendants have been buried even once.

"In the spirit of fairness, the family simply cannot agree to move the body just yet," Harry Lee Poe, whose great-grandfather was Edgar Allan Poe's cousin, told an audience of about 80 in Richmond Saturday. "Not until the rest of us have had our turn."

Harry Lee Poe, however, took no position on which American city has the most legitimate claim to Poe's legacy - a question that was at the heart of a pair of debates last year between representatives of Boston, where Edgar Allan Poe was born; Philadelphia, where he wrote many of his most famous stories; and Baltimore, where he died and was buried. Representatives from Richmond, where he grew up, did not participate in either debate.

"They really didn't take a stand," said Jeff Jerome, curator of the Poe House in Baltimore. "If they want to shy away from a dialogue about this, that's certainly their prerogative." Still, Jerome added, "I'm pleased that they came to the conclusion they did about the body. Poe died in Baltimore, and he should stay here."



Rest of the story on Poe:

www.baltimoresun.com

Please Help Locate Missing Person

STILL MISSING...................................................

John Benjamin Thornton, III

Missing from Temperanceville, Virginia

since Monday January 11, 2009.

If you have see him or know where he may be PLEASE CONTACT THE

ACCOMACK COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT !!

757-787-1131

MISSING: Temperanceville Resident John Benjamin Thornton Still Missing

UPDATE: As of Thursday afternoon Accomack County Sheriff's Department has conducted a search of the surrounding areas and has found no trace of Thornton.

The Accomack County Sheriff's Office is asking the public for help in locating John Benjamin Thornton, III of Temperanceville, Virginia. Thornton was last seen around
3:00 a.m. on Monday January 11, 2010 by his girlfriend.

Thornton is 55 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches tall with blue eyes and fair reddish complextion. He was last seen wearing light blue jeans, white tennis shoes,a red shirt with black and white on it, long johns, also a dark colored t-shirt. Thornton sometimes wears glasses.

The Accomack County Sheriff's Department conducted searches on Monday and Tuesday but were unable to find any trace of the missing man.

If you have any information concerning the whereabouts of John Benjamin Thornton, III please call the Accomack County Sherriff's Office: 757-787-1131 or 757-787-1264.

http://www.shoredailynews.com/ photos and info

From circa 1957

1) "I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a weeks groceries for $20."

(2) "Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long when $5000 will only buy a used one."

(3) "If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.."

(4) "Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?"

(5) "If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store."

(6) "When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage."

(7) "Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls."

(8) "I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more.. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying 'damn' in 'Gone With The Wind,' it seems every new movie has either "hell" or "damn" in it.

(9) "I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas."

(10) "Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the president."

(11) "I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric.. They are even making electric typewriters now."

(12) "It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work just to make ends meet."

(13) "It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work."

(14) "Marriage doesn't mean a thing any more, those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat."

(15) "I'm just afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business."

(16) "Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress."

(17) "The drive-through restaurant is convenient , but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on."

(18) "There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $15 a night to stay in a hotel."

(19) "No one can afford to be sick any more, $35 a day in the hospital is too rich for my blood."

(20) "If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it.

Thought For The Day

Virginia's New Governor Sworn In Today

Richmond
written by: Julian Walker


Minutes after being sworn in Saturday as the state's 71st governor, Bob McDonnell assured Virginians that an economic revival lies ahead.

"I've listened to people tell me they fear that America may no longer be the land of opportunity it has always been, and that Virginia's history in playing a leading role in the life of our nation may be just that - history. They are wrong," McDonnell said, enunciating each word for emphasis.

The new governor's address blended allusions to the state's past as the "Cradle of Democracy" and the home of civil rights advances with a sobering but optimistic assessment of its prospects, while laying out a vision for the commonwealth's next chapter.

He promised better roads, more energy resources, an improved educational system, and perhaps most importantly, a climate that will foster economic growth.

"Where opportunity is absent, we must create it," McDonnell told an estimated crowd of 7,000. "Where opportunity is limited, we must expand it. Where opportunity is unequal, we must make it open to everyone."

It was a heady day for euphoric Republicans, who roared approval after many of the stanzas in McDonnell's speech.

Later, as the inaugural ceremony came to a close Saturday afternoon, McDonnell scooped first lady Maureen McDonnell into his arms and carried her across the threshold of the governor's mansion, where the family will live for the next four years.

For Republicans, that literal gesture was also a symbolic one that crystallized their optimism.

It signaled the end of eight years of Democratic rule and, they hope, a sign that McDonnell's November election is the start of a national resurgence for a sometimes fractious GOP.

While Republicans, including McDonnell, had much to celebrate Saturday, the unabashedly conservative new governor eschewed fiery partisan rhetoric in his inaugural speech.

Instead, he hewed to the economic growth theme that was a central component of his campaign pitch.

"The creation of new job opportunities for all our citizens is the obligation of our time, so all Virginians who seek a good job can find meaningful work and the dignity that comes with it," he said.

His initial steps in that direction were executive orders signed moments after he officially become governor.

The first establishes a job creation task force and installs as its leader Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, who was sworn in alongside McDonnell and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on Saturday.

The second created a commission charged with finding ways to reduce government redundancy and downsize the state bureaucracy.

The most pressing task confronting McDonnell is steering the state out of a dismal economic downturn that has left the state with a $4.2 billion shortfall that must be plugged to balance the budget. The new governor wants the budget work to be completed within the 60-day General Assembly session and without new taxes.

Democratic lawmakers offered praise of McDonnell's tone Saturday. That may not be true of their reaction to the proposal he is to make in a speech Monday evening.

"His remarks here today were light and were not laden with policy," said House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Henry. "I am pleased that he led with economic development. My region of the state has been so hard hit. But all of Virginia is hurting."

One early flash point with the opposing party is the pending battle over McDonnell's pick for commerce and labor secretary, Robert Sledd.

Sledd's service on three corporate boards has raised conflict of interest concerns among some lawmakers.

Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, said Saturday that she has the votes to block Sledd's confirmation if he doesn't give up those board seats.

For the day, however, future skirmishes were a distant concern for McDonnell backers excited to see their man take office.

His victory in November, coupled with dominating wins by Bolling and Cuccinelli, consolidated Republican political power in Virginia and gives McDonnell a mandate to push his agenda.

"I think the campaign itself began to bring the party elements together," former U.S. Sen. John Warner, a Republican, said after the inauguration.

If McDonnell follows those principles, Warner said, "he'll be a good, strong governor."

McDonnell began the day with a prayer breakfast.

"As I embark on this journey I just want to say... I do pray for the wisdom of Solomon," he said. "Last year, I prayed for votes and money. This year it's wisdom and money," he continued to laughter.

One recognizable face at the prayer breakfast was religious broadcaster Pat Robertson.

The Virginia Beach televangelist drew rebukes last week when he said that the island nation of Haiti was cursed after it was struck by a massive earthquake.

Robertson didn't want to discuss the controversy Saturday, telling reporters who approached him "This is Bob's day. I'm talking about Bob McDonnell, OK?"

Less controversial local faith leaders participated in the afternoon inauguration: Rabbi Israel Zoberman of Congregation Beth Chaverim gave a scripture reading, and Bishop B. Courtney McBath of Calvary Revival Church delivered the benediction.

www.hamptonroads.com

13 Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You:

With the recent increase in burglaries in Pocomoke, (it's up 25% if you didn't know) here's some tips.

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator. 2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier. 3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have. 4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it. 5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway. 6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy. 7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too. 8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather. 9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.) 10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet. 11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms. 12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me. 13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.) 8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU: 1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook. 2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors. 3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature. 4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it? 5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets. 6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address. 7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation. 8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in. Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job. Protection for you and your home If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone's evil plans for you. I guess I can get rid of the baseball bat. Wasp Spray A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead. The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection... Thought this was interesting and might be of use. Wasp And Hornet Spray On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save your life. Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School. For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed. Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them." Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray. "That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out." Maybe even save a life. Please share this with all the people in your life.

The wasp spry is a great idea, but I'll stick to my guns

HAT TIP: Eric

What's up with cheese?

I have noticed that today's cheese can and will go bad without molding.

I had some I had to throw away today, it was Wal*Mart brand shredded sharp cheddar cheese, I opened the zip bag it comes in now and it was rank, there was not a sign of mold anywhere.

The name brand cheese will still mold, I have had, for example the same type of cheese made by Kraft that molded and it didn't stink like the Wal*Mart brand.

I remember very well as a kid cutting off the mold and eating cheese that actually tasted better then when bought. Today? When it goes bad it's BAD.

Are we eating synthetic cheese now?

Honda Commercial

READ THE EXPLANATION BELOW BEFORE YOU WATCH THE VIDEO

If you thought that the people who set up a room full of dominos to
have them knocked over later was amazing, you haven't seen anything
yet. There are no computer graphics or digital tricks in these
images.

Everything that you see happened in real time exactly as you see it.
The recording required 606 takes and in the first 605 takes there
always was something, usually of minor importance, that didn't work.
It was necessary for the recording team to install the set-up time
aftertime and it took several weeks working day and night to achieve
this effect... The recording cost 6 million dollars and it took 3
months to finish, including the engineering design of the sequence.
The duration of the video is only 2 minutes, but every time that Honda
shows the commercial on British television, they make enough money to
support any of us for the rest of our lives. However, this commercial
has turned out to be the most displayed in the history of the
Internet. Honda execs think that it will pay for itself simply
because of the free showings. When Honda senior execs viewed it, they
immediately approved it without hesitation -- including costs.
Everything you see in the sequence (besides the walls, floor, ramp,
and untouched Honda Accord) is part of two automobiles. The voice is
that of Garrison Keillor. The commercial was so well received by
Honda execs when they saw it, that their first comment was how amazing
the computer graphics were. They almost fell out of their chairs when
told that the recording was real without any graphics manipulation.
By the way, about the windshield wipers in the new Honda Accords, they
are sensitive to water and designed to start working as soon as they
get wet.

HIT TIP: Doon

Subject: Winter Poem

I don't know who Abigail is, but she is very eloquent!

I found this beautiful winter poem and thought it might be a comfort to you.
It was to me and it's very well written and I hope that you enjoy it too .
' WINTER '

Shit It's Cold

The End

HAT TIP: Doon

(RE-Post) Hawkins man accused of breaking into home, setting shower curtain on fire

Sent in by an astute reader. Where are they NOW?

ROGERSVILLE — A Hawkins County man accused of breaking into his girlfriend’s former house and setting the shower curtain on fire was charged Tuesday with aggravated burglary and arson.

According to reports, the girlfriend of Clarence Jackson, 35, 176 Bass Lane, Rogersville, was recently evicted from a residence at 166 E. Madeline Lane.

The new occupant of the residence was in the process of moving but hadn’t moved anything into the house Tuesday when she received a call from a witness informing her that the house had just been broken into.

When the new occupant arrived, she found that a French door at the rear of the house had been broken with a rock, and a shower curtain in the bathroom had been set on fire.

Although the shower curtain burned up, the fire extinguished itself before spreading.

The witness reportedly recognized Jackson as the person who had arrived at the residence.

The witness told police that Jackson pulled his vehicle to the rear of the house, broke out the glass to the rear door with a rock, and entered the house.

The witness said Jackson left a short time after entering the residence.

Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jeff Greer later contacted Jackson at his home and brought him to the Surgoinsville Police Department for questioning.

Jackson allegedly admitted to going to the house but denied breaking in.

Damage to the residence was estimated at $300.

Jackson remained lodged in the Hawkins County Jail Wednesday without bond.

He is scheduled for arraignment Sept. 28 in Hawkins County Sessions Court.

VIA

Why I voted Democrat.....

I voted Democrat because
I love the fact that I can now marry whatever I want.
I've decided to marry my horse.

I voted Democrat because
I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are
obscene but the government taxing the same gallon of gas
at 15% isn't.

I voted Democrat because
I believe the government will do a better job of
spending the money I earn than I would.

I voted Democrat because
Freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.

I voted Democrat because
When we pull out of Iraq I trust that the bad guys will stop what
they are doing because they now think we are good people.

I voted Democrat because
I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local
police are all I need to protect me from murderers and thieves.

I voted Democrat because
I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday can
tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if
I don't start driving a Prius.

I voted Democrat because
I'm not concerned about the slaughter of millions of babies so long
as we keep all death row inmates alive.


I voted Democrat because
I think illegal aliens have a right to free health care,
education, and Social Security benefits.

I voted Democrat because
I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for
themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to
the government for redistribution as the democrats see fit.

I voted Democrat because
I believe liberal judges need to rewrite The Constitution every few
days to suit some fringe kooks who would never get their agendas
past the voters.

I voted Democrat because
My head is so firmly planted up my ass that it is unlikely I'll ever have another point of view.




(God Bless America ! Please, lets take back our country! This is all insane!!!)

Tarring and feathering the current crop of Democrats, followed by running them out of town would be a good start!

Eastern Shore Wedding Expo Update

 Here's an update on the Eastern Shore Wedding Expo being held at the Eastern Shore Communtiy College in Melfa Va.. It's open to the public and the doors open at 12:00 to 3:00 on Jan. 31, 2010. There will be doors prizes during the expo and a wedding fashion show starting at 2:00. Here is a list of the vendors you can visit while you are there.
Accomodations:

Virginia’s Eastern Shore B&B Association
Hampton Inn

Cake Decorators:
The Corner Bakery

Candles:
Dat’s Candles

Catering:
The Exmore Diner (2)
Sister’s Soulfood
Mallards Catering and Entertainment

Disc Jockey:
Bill LeCato

Florists:
Baskets and Bows

Gowns/Tuxes/Fashions:
Russell’s Bridal

Facility Rental:
Bayview Waterfront B&B
Chincoteague Center
Workforce Development Center
YMCA Camp Silverbeach

Gifts:
Skipjack Custom Apparel
Blue Crab Bay Company

Health/Beauty:
Reflections
La Bella Mi
Sheila Love-Mary Kay

Transportation:
Shore Limo

Photography:
Affairs of the Heart
Chris Glennon
It’s a Shore Thing Photography & Imaging

Rentals:
Distinctive Events Rentals

Travel:
Almost There Vacations

Ceremony:
Captain Spider Flemming-Marriage Celebrant

Looking forward to see you all there.

Zoo Elephant Swarming with Butterflies

City of Norfolk Public Art Program Dedicates Art Project at Virginia Zoo

A new elephant is moving into the Virginia Zoo, and she’s bringing thousands of butterflies with him! The iconic beast will greet visitors at the front plaza and amaze them with her sheer size and her swarm of butterflies.

This African elephant isn’t a living, breathing creature. She is an incredible piece of art. The life-size elephant sculpture is the latest addition to the City of Norfolk’s Public Art Program. Created by artist Mathew Gray Palmer of Friday Harbor, Washington, the elephant is comprised of over 10,000 thousand delicate, plasma cut aluminum butterflies.

“The Virginia Zoo is thrilled to be selected as a recipient for the public art program,” notes executive director, Greg Bockheim. “Visitors will be mesmerized by the elephant’s size, its powerful tusks and intense eyes. We’re proud to be home to this remarkable piece of art and to be part of the City’s important initiative to make art accessible to the community.”

The artist, who was selected by a panel of judges, visited the Zoo before beginning his project and was impressed by the three African elephants on exhibit as well as the Zoo’s lush gardens, including the butterfly garden. His creation playfully illustrates our interconnection with each other, from the largest terrestrial mammals to the most delicate wind-bound insects. The name of the statue is “All Things Within All Things.”


For rest of story go to: www.viginiazoo.org/zoo-happenings