Shooter advised Obama transition; Fort Hood

Fort Hood triggerman aided team on Homeland Security task force

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the alleged shooter in yesterday's massacre at Fort Hood, played a homeland security

advisory role in President Barack Obama's transition into the White House, according to a key university policy institute document.

The Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University

published a document May 19, entitled "Thinking Anew – Security Priorities for the Next Administration: Proceedings Report of the HSPI Presidential Transition Task Force, April 2008 – January 2009," in which Hasan of the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine

is listed on page 29 of the document as a Task Force Event Participant.

Hasan received his medical degree from the military's Uniformed Services University School in Bethesda, Md., in 2001.

Noting that the Obama administration transition was proceeding, the GWU Homeland Security Policy Institute report described on the first page the role of the Presidential Transition Task Force as including "representatives from past Administrations, State government, Fortune 500 companies, academia, research institutions and non-governmental organizations with global reach."

While the GWU task force participants included several members of government, including representatives of the Department of Justice and the U.S Department of Homeland Security, there is no indication in the document that the group played any formal role in the official Obama transition, other than to serve in a university-based advisory capacity.

Daniel Kaniewski, deputy director of the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University affirmed to WND in a telephone interview this morning that the Nidal Hasan listed as attending the meetings of the HSPI Presidential Transition Task Force was the same person as the alleged shooter in the Fort Hood massacre.

Kaniewski said Hasan attended the meetings in his capacity as a member of the faculty of the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, not as a member of the HSPI Presidential Task Force.

Kaniewski believed Hasan applied on the institute's website to attend the meeting and was accepted because of his professional credentials.

Kaniewski could not tell WND whether or not Hasan made comments from the audience that influenced the task force recommendations or not.

He further confirmed Hasan had attended several meetings held by the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University and that the institute is currently searching conference records to see if it is possible to determine what additional institute conferences he attended.

Read More HERE

Diaper-wearing woman awarded $150,000

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania woman was awarded $150,000 in a discrimination suit claiming she had to wear diapers to work due to a lack of toilets.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's lawsuit against Danella Construction Corp., of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., said Lisa Drozdowski, 37, had to wear adult diapers while she was working as a flagger for the company in 2005 because officials refused to provide portable toilets, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Thursday.

Drozdowski said her bathroom breaks, which involved walking a quarter mile to her car and driving several minutes to the nearest restroom, often came after she had already urinated on herself. She said the company stopped giving her work when she complained about the bathroom breaks and was denied a laborers position.

The commission and Danella entered into a consent decree filed in a court Wednesday. Danella agreed to pay $150,000 to Drozdowski and four other female employees who claimed they were also discriminated against by the company will split a $50,000 payout.
VIA

Massacre at Fort Hood

All the MSM is talking about is the Muslim shooter at Fort Hood, to hell with him... un-plug him and let Allah have him.

All I can think about is the American hero's and their families that he took out in a crazy shooting spree that took place because he couldn't have things 'his way'.

Hasan, was accepted, very well educated, and trained by our military only to turn that training against those that gave him the freedom to do so. Death is not good enough for him.

When will people wake-up to see that the muslim religion is not a "religion of peace" in-fact it's just the opposite. When a religion can and 'does' preach of killing those that will not convert to islam (even a family member) and they will be rewarded by taking this action (and they do) none of them can be trusted; And none should be 'trained' to make that task easier.

I just hope if he makes it, he will have a prompt meeting with the firing squad, his virgins await him.

Bless those he harmed and the families of those he murdered in cold blood that had the courage to fight for even his freedom.



May God have no mercy on Hasans soul.


On top of that, as I type this... The POS POTUS is on TV and he mentioned this mass murder for about 10 seconds and then went into to the "I" "me" what I have done BS.. he's one of them.

Smith Island school boat captain arrested for drunken boating

A captain of the Smith Island school boat was charged with operating his boat under the influence of alcohol while he was transporting schoolchildren.

Alan Wade Tyler, 49, was arrested Wednesday after the Coast Guard boarded and then detained his 60-foot boat, the Chelsea Lane Tyler, in Tylerton until Maryland Natural Resources Police arrived.

The five children on board were transported home to Ewell by NRP officers, said Sgt. Art Windemuth, an NRP spokesman.

Tyler was charged with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by any drug or combination of drugs and alcohol and negligent operation of a vessel.

The Coast Guard has temporarily suspended his license and will initiate administrative proceedings against him, according to a spokesman for the agency.

Tyler, along with his father, Alan Tyler Sr., share the responsibility of transporting island children to and from Crisfield High School each day.

Alan Tyler Sr. is the owner of the boat and has a contract with the Somerset County Board of Education, similar to contracts the school system has with bus drivers.

Superintendent Karen-Lee Brofee said she did not learn of the incident until about 24 hours later, and still did not know all the details except that the island children did not miss school Thursday.

"There was no break in service," she said. "The children will still get to school safely."

Read More @ DelmarvaNow.com

Marva Theatre/Performing Arts Center

Showing This Weekend.......

"The Informant"
starring Matt Damon

Friday and Saturday
November 6th and 7th
7 PM

All seats $5.00

Rated R

2009 Punkin Chunkin

Three thousand local pumpkins have been delivered and the Punkin Chunkin machines have moved in for action.

This Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7 the 24th annual
Punkin Chunkin festival begins in rural Bridgeville, Delaware.

It is expected that 80,000 spectators. along with teams not only from up and down the east coast but from Michingan and as far as Colorado will attend the popular event. This year the festival grounds have been rearranged so spectators can get a closer view of the activities along with almost doubled parking.

So with the wonderful weather predicted for this weekend and if you are looking for something different to do take the ride to Bridgeville, Del. Arrange a tailgaiting party while watching the cannons fire.

The current world record for shooting a pumpkin the greatest distance was set last year by the Young Glory III team. That pumpkin traveled a distance of 4,483.51 feet.

More info and directions: www.delawareonline.com

As many as 9 killed in Fort Hood shootings, officials say

Two gunmen in military uniforms shot and killed as many as nine people and wounded as many as 20 at Fort Hood in Texas on Thursday, officials said.

One of the shooters has been apprehended, Fort Hood spokesman Sgt. Maj. Jamie Posten told CNN.

"At this point we're looking for the other shooter," Posten said. Asked for a description, he said, "we're trying to develop that information."

The shooters were wearing military uniforms, but it was unclear whether they were soldiers, said U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.

Watch Live Delvelopments Here

One of the gunmen was shot and wounded by military police, Hutchinson told CNN. She said she got her information from a general on the base.

Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, said between 20 and 30 were wounded.

President Obama has been informed of the incident, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters.

Officials at Fort Hood, which is the Army's largest U.S. post, were asking people there to stay away from windows, CNN affiliate KXXV said. The incident took place at the sports dome, now known as the soldier readiness area, the station reported.

FBI agents are headed to the scene to assist, said Erik Vasys, spokesman for the FBI office in San Antonio. He had no other details.

On the Fort Hood Web site, the word "closed" is posted with the statement, "Effective immediately, Fort Hood is closed. Organizations/units are instructed to execute a 100 percent accountability of all personnel."

Fort Hood, with about 40,000 troops, is home to the Army's 1st Cavalry Division and elements of the 4th Infantry Division, as well as the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 13th Corps Support Command. It is located near Killeen, Texas.

At least 25,000 people are at Fort Hood on any given day, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon said.

Fort Hood is home to the Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program, which is designed to help soldiers overcome combat stress issues.

VIA

Man says image of Jesus appears on truck window

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Jim Stevens said he's not particularly religious and is clueless about why an image resembling Jesus Christ keeps appearing on his pickup. Stevens, of Jonesborough, said nearly every morning, an image that looks to him like the face of Jesus Christ has appeared in the condensation on the driver's side window of his Isuzu truck. A Johnson City Press photo of the truck showed a facial image.

Stevens said when he first saw the image, he figured it would evaporate and not return. But it kept reappearing for two weeks now.

Stevens said folks at the grocery store he goes to were amazed to see the image.

He said he isn't going to wash the truck for a while.

VIA

Man Shows Up Alive at Own Funeral

A Brazilian bricklayer reportedly killed in a car crash shocked his mourning family by showing up alive at his funeral.

Relatives of Ademir Jorge Goncalves, 59, had identified him as the victim of a Sunday night car crash in Parana state in southern Brazil, police said.

As is customary in Brazil, the funeral was held the following day, which happened to be the holiday of Finados, when Brazilians visit cemeteries to honor the dead.

What family members didn't know was that Goncalves had spent the night at a truck stop talking with friends over drinks of a sugarcane liquor known as cachaca, his niece Rosa Sampaio told the O Globo newspaper. He did not get word about his own funeral until it was already happening Monday morning.

A police spokesman in the town of Santo Antonio da Platina said Goncalves rushed to the funeral to let family members know he was not dead.

"The corpse was badly disfigured, but dressed in similar clothing," said the police spokesman, who talked on condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to discuss the case. "People are afraid to look for very long when they identify bodies, and I think that is what happened in this case."

Sampaio told O Globo that some family members were not sure the body was Goncalves.

"My two uncles and I had doubts about the identification," she told O Globo. "But an aunt and four of his friends identified the body, so what were we to do? We went ahead with the funeral."

The police spokesman confirmed there were doubts: "His mom looked at the body in the casket and thought something was strange. She looked and looked and couldn't believe it was her son," Sampaio said. "Before long, the walking dead appeared at the funeral. It was a relief."

The body was correctly identified later Monday, the police spokesman said, and has already been buried in another state. He declined to release the actual victim's name.

Missing Baby Found Alive Under Bed

Investigators spent five days searching dense vines and marshes for a missing infant, only to find her lying quietly in a 2-foot by 3-foot cedar box that had been shoved under her baby sitter's bed.

Clothing was packed around it to muffle any sounds and baking powder placed inside to mask the stench of dirty diapers.

Authorities say the baby's mother, Chrystina Lynn Mercer, gave her to baby sitter Susan Elizabeth Baker early Saturday, then reported her missing about 10 hours later.

Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock choked up Thursday as he described how 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick was stashed in the box for 12 straight hours before investigators discovered her late Wednesday. They believe she had been in the box on and off for several days before that.

"She was way back under the bed," he said. "But she was not crying."

Baker had written a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist's office in August, pleading for help for the baby and claiming her father shook her and both parents did drugs in front of her. She asked Mercer on Friday if she could have permanent custody, Haddock said. Officials do not believe Shannon's father, who is Baker's stepbrother, was involved in the disappearance.

Haddock said Shannon apparently had been fed and cared for while she was with Baker, who lived about 12 miles from Mercer, though there was no bottle in the box with her. He said Baker became a suspect several days ago but never told them where the baby was, even as they interviewed her for 12 hours while Shannon remained hidden.

Mercer and Baker were jailed and arraignments were scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Mercer was charged with interference of child custody, desertion of a child and several other charges. Charges against Baker included neglect of a child with aggravated circumstances and interference of child custody.

Mercer's mother, Candis Boyer, attended Thursday's news conference and said afterward that she was there to show support for her daughter and granddaughter.

"I love my daughter very deeply," she said.

Baker's husband, James Arthur Baker, was arrested but released. He is still under investigation, Haddock said.

Shannon's parents told investigators they last saw her when they went to bed around 3 a.m. Saturday and investigators thought she had vanished sometime between then and 8 a.m.

About 100 law enforcement agents and others spent days scouring dense vines and marshes around the baby's home in a remote, makeshift community of dirt roads, tin-roof shacks and old mobile homes. Searchers also dug through trash cans and dumpsters.

"Statistically speaking this should not have ever happened, that we found this child alive, especially after so many days," said Haddock, who cradled Shannon in his arms as he spoke to reporters earlier Thursday. "Time was against us."

Read More HERE

Pocomoke: Salisbury man caught night-hunting in stolen vehicle

Maryland Natural Resources Police caught a 30-year-old Salisbury man poaching deer at night on Oct. 30.

NRP found Kevin Matthew Twilley shining a light out a vehicle on Scotty Road in Worcester County at about 7:30 p.m.

Officers observed Twilley shooting deer in the field next to the road. A report says when officers approached Twilley, he fled, but Pocomoke City Police were able to stop the vehicle on Route 13.

A check of Twilley's license revealed it was suspended and a check of the vehicle plate revealed it was stolen.
Twilley was charged with numerous natural resources, criminal and traffic violations.

VIA DelmarvaNow

Virginia's General Election Results

In the General Election for the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Bob McDonnell is the clear winner. McDonnell won over 60% of the popular vote and was heavily favored from the start. McDonnell also won both Accomack and Northampton Counties. In the General Election for the Lieutenant Governor, the winner is Bill Bolling. Bolling won more than 59 % of the vote. Bolling won Accomack County but Northampton County residents favored challenger Jody Wagner. In the General Election for Attorney General, Ken Cuccinelli is the victor. Cuccinelli won just over 60% of the vote. Cuccinelli carried both Accomack and Northampton Counties. The local election for the next Delegate in the Virginia 100th district was just as lopsided as the previous three. Incumbent Lynwood Lewis won more than 67% percent of the vote, beating challenger Melody Scalley. Lewis won both counties, winning Northampton by a larger margin.

Northampton County Election Results

Northampton County also held its Board of Supervisors Election last night. In District 1 the winner was Willie Randall, edging out opponents W.T. Nottingham and Granville Hogg. Randall won more than 48% of the vote. In District 2 the winner was Samuel Long. Long won more than 63% of the vote to beat opponent David Burden. In District 3 the winner was Oliver Bennett, winning more than 60% of the vote to beat Marshall Cox.

Election Turnout

The real story of this year’s election was voter turnout. In Northampton County the voter turnout was only 37%. In Accomack County it was worse than that; there was only a 33% voter turnout. When it was all said and done, approximately 20,000 voters did not head to the polls, which is almost twice the number who showed up to vote. VIA Shore Daily News

DELMAR POLICE AUCTION

Auction of Abandoned Vehicles, Bikes, Misc Items

Sat., Nov. 7th 2009 10A.M.

Delmar PD 400 S. Penn Ave, Delmar, MD

Vehicle Inspection 9 A.M. Day of Sale Only

Terms of Sale: Cash or Certified Check day of Sale.

Vehicles must be moved day of sale 410-896-3131

• 81 Chevy Silverado 1GCHC33W0BZ145467
• 85 Cadi Fleetwood 1G6CB6980F4355905
• 87 Ford P/U 1FTDF15Y5HNA42196
• 87 Jeep Cherokee 1JCMT7837HT186256
• 90 Dodg Caravan 2B4K45KXLR573548
• 90 Hond Accord 1HGCB7151LA061111
• 90 Isuzu P/U JAACL11L6L7218918
• 91 Chev Cap Wagon 1G1BL83E0MW254700
• 91 Ford T Bird 1FAPP60T7MH103081
• 91 Ford Tempo 2FAPP36X9M199060
• 91 Hond Civic 1HGED3542ML041128
• 92 Ford T Bird 1FAPP6042NH155082
• 92 Hond Accord 1HGCB7655NA123900
• 92 Hond Accord 1HGCB7273NA019817
• 92 Merc Topaz 1MEPM36XXNK653714
• 92 Toyo Paseo JT2EL45F7N0053067
• 93 Chev Astro Van 1GNDM15Z7PB148333
• 93 Chev Conv Van 2GBEG25KXP4117495
• 93 Dodg Caravan 2B4GH253xpr303452
• 93 Ford Explorer 1FMDU34X7PUB75083
• 93 Merc Tracer S/W 3MAPM15J2PR676776
• 93 Olds Cutlass 1G3AG55N2P6304889
• 95 Cadi Deville 1G6KD52B8SU207761
• 95 Olds Cutlass 1G3AJ55M9S6351452
• 95 Geo Prism 1Y1SK5266SZ082005
• 96 Dodg Van 2B4FP2533TR628677
• 96 Ford Explorer 1FMDU34X3TUB28742
• 96 Ford Taurus 1FALP51U3TA252840
• 96 Niss Altima 1N4BU31D7TC157579
• 97 Ford Expedition 1FMEU1762VLA51351
• 97 Ford Escort 1FALP13P4VW284914
• 97 Ford Taurus 1FALP52U1VA128647
• 97 Olds Cutlass 1G3WH52M8VF337598
• 98 Dodg Stratus 1B3EJ46X4WN220561
• 98 Ford Ranger 1FTYR10C0WTA18109
• 98 Ford Taurus S/W 1FALP57U7TA199289
• 98 Hyund Accent KMHVD14N6WU395773
• 99 Ford Escort 3FAKP1132XR161856
• 00 Chev Cavalier 1G1JC5245Y7335131
• 00 Ford Crown Vic 2FAFP71W6YX136413
• 01 Dodg Van 2B7HB11X11K552881
• 01 Hyund Accent KMHCG45C21U248890
• 04 Hyund Sonata KMHWF25S74A977923
• Unknown wooden Trailer
• Food Provided by Delmar Wesleyan Church

Eastern Shore Auctions 443-235-5717 or 410-548-3137
Easternshoreauctions.net Willie Benton Jr, Auctioneer

More spam from Kratovil

Dear Friends,

Last week House Leadership released a merged version of the health care reform legislation that was passed by three House committees in July. I immediately posted the text of this bill on my website so that all of my constituents can view the bill for themselves.

Over the past several months, I’ve expressed a number of concerns with the initial draft of H.R. 3200. I was concerned that leaders here in Congress were not giving Members enough time to study the bill and discuss it with their constituents, which is why I pushed to postpone a vote until after the August recess. I’ve also raised concerns with some of the policy aspects of the bill, including its cost, its impact on the deficit, and the impact that the employer mandate and surtax would have on small businesses and job creation. Now that the revised bill has been introduced, I will be thoroughly reviewing this legislation to see how these priorities are addressed within the new language of the bill.

While I recognize the urgent need to reform our health care system to reduce costs for families, employers, and the federal government, I will not be able to support a bill that does not adequately address these goals. In the meantime, please know that I have greatly appreciated all of the feedback I have received from constituents on this issue, and I understand how important this moment is to our country's future. I will keep you updated as consideration of this bill proceeds in the days ahead.

With health care reform taking most of the headlines, I did want to take an opportunity to give a brief update about some of the other issues I have been working on in Congress to address concerns of families throughout Maryland’s First District.

Earlier this month, I introduced legislation to extend the home-buyers tax credit, which realtors and economists have pointed to as a major factor encouraging the recovery of the housing market in Maryland and across the country. H.R. 3640 will extend the $8,000 tax credit for one year and expand eligibility to include all homebuyers purchasing a principal residence, while also offering tax relief to individuals or families forced to sell their home at a loss. Simply put, this tax credit is working, and in this housing market it would be foolish to allow this program to expire when it is working so effectively. Click here to take a look a the bill and here to view an impartial CRS analysis of the extension.

Another bill I recently introduced is HR 3898, the Small Business Property Reimbursement Act. This legislation will extend a key tax deduction for small business owners that invest in new equipment for their businesses. Specifically, my bill will extend a provision of the tax code that allows small businesses to expense up to $250,000 of the total cost of qualified assets purchased for business purposes. I feel strongly that instead of bailing out giant corporations, we ought to focus on strengthening the small businesses that support our local economies and drive economic growth. This bill provides much-needed tax relief that will allow small business owners to re-invest and create new jobs. Click here to read the bill.

Please take the time to contact my office if you have any thoughts about these bills or any other pending legislation. I am always eager to hear your thoughts about local issues that are impacting you and your family.

With warm regards,

Rep. Frank M. Kratovil, Jr.

$3 Billion Space Hotel to Open in 2012

The opportunity to vacation in space may be right around the corner.

Reuters wrote yesterday that a Barcelona-based company, Galactic Suite Ltd, plans to open a multi-billion dollar space resort in 2012.

The space pod will circumnavigate the Earth every 80 minutes, giving guests a chance to watch the sun rise 15 times a day. Weightless space tourists will also "wear Velcro suits so they can crawl around their pod rooms by sticking themselves to the walls like Spiderman," said Reuters.

Tourists looking for an adventure that is out of this world will have to plunk down around $4.4 million in order to blast off to the Galactic Suite Space Resort. In addition to three nights in orbit, jet-setters will also take part in an eight-week training course on a Caribbean island.

Reuters reported that 43 people have already made reservations for the space hotel, with over 200 more expressing interest in the project.

According to the Galactic Suite Web site, the three pillar project includes plans for a tropical spaceport with training facilities, a spaceship that holds four passengers and two pilot-astronauts, and the "space resort" itself.

It will take a day and a half to travel from Earth to the pod. A spokesperson for Galactic Suite Ltd told NewsLite.tv: "The flight will be one of the main highlights of the experience. Aboard the craft, space tourists will reach a speed of 28,000 km/h (17,398 miles/hour) in ten minutes after rocket ignition."

Once guests arrive at the space pod, they will be left to their own devices. No staff will live permanently in the space station, which will be much like spending a long weekend at a secluded mountain retreat.

Xavier Claramunt, Galactic Suite Ltd's CEO and former aerospace engineer believes that his space venture puts him on the brink of an emerging industry. "It's very normal to think that your children, possibly within 15 years, could spend a weekend in space," he told Reuters Television.

Others say the company's pie-in-the-sky ideas are a little unrealistic, questioning the time frame of the project as well as its financial sources.

Reuters reported that "Claramunt said an anonymous billionaire space enthusiast has granted $3 billion to finance the project."

Other space projects underway include Spaceport America, a space-airport being built in New Mexico, as well as Virgin Galactic, a space tour firm started by Richard Branson that will use the Spaceport America facilities. Around 300 people have already signed up for Branson's suborbital space trips, which will cost around $200,000 a ride.

Don't leave the light on for me!

Forklift Accident Leads to Epic Booze Bath for Driver

Deep in the recesses of a vodka warehouse in Moscow, you'd think they'd have more respect for alcohol than evidenced here.

In this video, a hapless forklift driver (perhaps after getting acquainted with the product he was moving?) manages to epically crush an entire shelf of stock, which dominoes to bring an amazing $150,000 worth of booze down on himself. Somehow, he only only sustained a leg injury.



Hopefully his skin absorbed enough hooch to knock him out long enough to miss how badly he got fired.

Local Salisbury News Blogger goes Live on TV

Long time blogger Joe Albero of Salisburynews
will be going live on a local broadcasting network WRDE.

For those out there that may be interested it has been brought to the attention of the PPE that local blogger Joe Albero has now stepped out from behind his keyboard and is trying his hand at live television.



According to the SBYnews blog the show will air Saturday morning at 10:30 AM on the following channels;

COMCAST Channel 9

Mediacom Channel 99

Digital TV Channel 31.1

More on Eastern Shore Robotics

POCOMOKE CITY, Md.- Students across Delmarva are building robots to learn about engineering.

On Monday, a team of local high schoolers showed off their latest creation, affectionately called "Bubbles" the robot, at the Hawk Institute for Space Sciences in Pocomoke City.

The students say they spent about 150 hours to build a robot that competed in an international competition earlier this year. It went against other robots in a game that required each machine to toss balls into the attached trailing nets of competitors.

Organizers of the local non-profit group, called Eastern Shore Robotics, say it helps recruit a next generation of engineers. The group participates in the international FIRST Robotics competition.

"As our older engineers retire, we don't have a lot of really well-trained [and] technically-minded young kids coming in to fill those positions," said Chris Thompson, an organizer of the group.

The group uses resources from the Navy and NASA. It plans to begin working on a its next robot, under a strict six-week build period for the competition, beginning in January.

Watch the Video HERE

VIA WBOC-TV

Missing Woman's Dad at 'Breaking Point'

Relatives and friends of a California woman who vanished a month and a half ago are frustrated in their search for clues.

They were on the streets in South Los Angeles again Sunday, handing out leaflets and asking people if they had seen Mitrice Richardson. The 24-year-old woman disappeared after leaving a sheriff's station shortly after midnight Sept. 17. She was released after being charged with marijuana possession and failure to pay a restaurant bill.

Richardson was last seen on foot and was not carrying a cell phone or purse. Witnesses said she behaved strangely -- telling people she was from Mars, according to The Los Angeles Times. There have been no confirmed sightings of her since that night.

"I'm at a breaking point," Mitrice's father, Michael Richardson, 42, told the newspaper.

He is urging authorities to release security camera video that he believes will prove his daughter was in no condition to be released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The county is offering a $10,000 reward for information about Mitrice Richardson. Anyone who knows where she is should call (213) 485-2531.

Read More: Los Angeles Times

November Horoscopes

Aries
Into the Deep
This can be an explosive month, a month that offers the potential for breaking through stubborn resistance and empowers you to overcome difficult obstacles. You are forced to take relationships and your own limitations much more seriously now -- tough decisions are in the air.
More Aries Horoscopes for November.

Taurus
Fresh Perspectives
November is slated to stir up relationship conflicts and perhaps even anger with yourself. The stakes in the game of love are getting higher as your desire for more may upset a current companion or attract the ardor of a new one.
More Taurus Horoscopes for November.

Gemini
Conscious Cutbacks
Something big has changed, yet it might be difficult to put your finger on it. You could run into obstacles that seem to stand in the way of your happiness this month. Although you may worry whether you can withstand the slow but intense pressure to change, have faith that you are up to the task.
More Gemini Horoscopes for November.

Cancer
Passion and Power Personified
November fuels competitive feelings and challenges you to get more out of yourself. There is a temptation to pursue a romantic fantasy, and the foresight to achieve your goals in ways that stir up the least amount of folly.
More Cancer Horoscopes for November.

Leo
Extreme Makeover
November starts a long-term process where you begin establishing healthy patterns in your everyday life that will sustain you for years. You are forced to eliminate destructive behavior and excessive consumption of resources while still finding the freedom to explore your imagination.
More Leo Horoscopes for November.

Virgo
Student of Life
Travel and education are key this month, and you feel the need to break from the pressures of your routine. You may have to struggle to get what you want, so be bold in the pursuit of your dreams.
More Virgo Horoscopes for November.

Libra
Deconstruction Zone
There's no room for laziness this month, and extra efforts will be recognized and rewarded. There is change in the air, change that will affect the most stable and fundamental areas of your life, but leave you stronger and wiser if you're up for the challenge.
More Libra Horoscopes for November.

Scorpio
The Shape of Things to Come
Professional and personal change are stressed this November, and it's better to be bold and take the initiative than to stand still and simply react. You find yourself more comfortable in your own skin now, making you more alluring to others.
More Scorpio Horoscopes for November.

Sagittarius
Work in Progress
Service, spirit and self-awareness are three major areas of interest throughout November. Your attention is drawn to meeting your obligations, but patience is essential. Spiritual ideals can be turned into action now, and there is a call to connect with higher meaning and dimensions beyond the ordinary.
More Sagittarius Horoscopes for November.

Capricorn
True Grit
November introduces demands that aren't likely to be satisfied by more hard work -- and events may not unfold according to your plan. Life seems harder now, and this time can be a test of your will. You are urged to think long-term yet stay on top life's immediate changes.
More Capricorn Horoscopes for November.

Aquarius
Taking Care of Business
Practical and immediate issues get the attention this November, leaving less time to fantasize about the future. Professional lives feel the shuffle as a sense of spirituality or community service feels like it's missing. The danger is taking on more than you can handle.
More Aquarius Horoscopes for November.

Pisces
The Power of the Mind
Serious conversations are on the agenda this November. Dreams come into the focus of reality, bringing new life to your desires. Total discipline is critical to achieving your goals, and distancing yourself from individuals who don't respect you may determine whether you gain more control over your life.
More Pisces Horoscopes for November.

Robotics Overview Tonight on WBOC and WMDT

WBOC will be doing a Robotics overview tonight with interviews with local team members. More on this coming soon, stay tuned for updates.

Or, tune in to WBOC and WMDT TV for the local news.

(update) this will be aired tonight (11/2) at 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm on WBOC and WMDT

The USS New York

The USS New York, a Navy assult ship built with steel from the World Trade Center, will make its inaugural visit to New York today. The $1 billion ship, was built in Lousiana with using about 7.5 tons of steel in the bow.

　

The ship is scheduled to stop near ground zero today where survivors and families of the

victims, along with the public, have been invited to watch a 21-gun salute. Afterwards, the ship will travel up river to the George Washington Bridge where it will turn around, head south and dock at Pier 88 and remain there until Veteren's Day. On Saturday, an official commissioning ceremony is scheduled. After Veteren's Day, the USS New York travels to Norfolk, Virginia for a year of training and exercises.

The USS New York, which was actually scheduled to be built before the World Trade Center terrorist attack, is 684 feet long, can handle helicopters and the MV-22 osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

Out of the 361 sailors serving aboard the ship 13 percent are from New York state. And the assult ship can carry up to 800 Marines.

Of the other four ships being built two of those will also have names related to the 911 attacks.

They are the USS Arlington, built in honor of the attack on the Pentagon, and the USS Somerset, named after the county in Pennsylvania in which the United Airlines flight 93 crashed.

　

I love pumpkins. I love the pumpkin pies made from them. The birds enjoy the seeds. But the one use of the pumpkin that seems to be scarce anymore on Halloween is the carved jack-o-lantern. Every year there are jack-o-lanterns in my yard.

I've had them stolen and smashed in the street. Many people have. But I read a heart-warming story today that makes me still believe that there are nice people in this world.

Someone played a Halloween trick on two neighbors in Manassas, Virginia Saturday night by stealing their pumpkins from the front porches of both homes.

It seems the one basketball sized pumpkin taken from one porch was returned with two triangle eyes, a triangle nose and a mouth with two teeth missing carved into it. The neighbors stolen pumpkin was returned to her porch too, with one eye carved like a star.

One of the neighbors commented: "It's Halloween. I guess people do strange and weird things."

And yes, people do. I've just never heard of this happening before. And I wish the "pumpkin carver" lived near me to help with mine!

The Last of the Summer Days

I'm sure alot of you woke up to the morning the same way I did...........with your extra hour of sleep! Big deal, right!? My husband assured me that instead of it being 11:00 a.m. as the bedroom clock said, it was only 10:00.

Well, that's fine, I guess, if you like the extra hour sleeping but I had rather have that extra hour left in my day. I like the extra hour of daylight even if I choose to do nothing outside. Beach days are gone, gardening days have dwindled to the few fall chores. If you do it outside now there's no time to even change your mind.

Looking back on the summer I remembered all those hot, sunny, humid days we had. I like those brightly lit summer days and I even enjoy the humidity! I'm going to miss the sound of thunder in a distance and the soft breeze. I'm going to miss my abundance of blue birds, humming birds and finches. And I am even going to miss (somewhat) the sound and the bites of the mosquitoes and sleeping with the windows wide open.
I am a sunlight person. I like the sunny days, even if they are just warm. It's the long dreary days and nights that get to me. And I suppose that maybe there will be a few more warm sunny evenings to light the wok and sit on the patio watching the sun set. Our "world" is in the autumn mode now. It's time to rake leaves, mulch flower beds and take one long glimpse of the colorful sketches that Nature gives us this time of year.
I'll do all that while at the same time missing the summer.

ANNOYING GPS GAG

Annoying GPS gag might not direct you to your destination, but it's sure to have you laughing all the way there. Just push the button to hear the British female voice deliver one of many unhelpful comments in the style of a GPS. One-liners are sure to strike a chord with drivers.

No actual directions - just for fun! Not to be used for navigation, entertainment only. Comments include,

"I know you are a man, but can you please admit you are lost and ask for directions?",

"I'm sorry we didn't sleep together last night, but can you stop driving like a lunatic?",

"In 50 feet turn off the ball game and put on my favorite Barry Manilow CD.",

"In 100 feet, stop and think, did you lock the back door?', and

"In 100 yards I'm going to talk to you in that special voice which should let you know you've upset me in someway".

Time to change

It's that time of year.

Don't forget the time goes back this Sunday/2:00am


Click a Cloud for info HERE

Crisfield Teen Arrested for Attempted Murder

Authorities on Friday morning arrested a Crisfield teen wanted on attempted murder and related charges in connection with a shooting that occurred earlier this month.

Crisfield police say that on Oct. 13, 17-year-old Denzell J. Gregory got into an argument with another male at the Somers Cove apartments complex in Crisfield. Investigators say Gregory pulled a handgun from his waistband and began shooting at the victim while he ran away. The victim was not injured during the incident, according to police.

Police say while investigating the shooting, they received information that Gregory had fled to the Salisbury area.

At around 6 a.m. Friday, Crisfield police, working with Salisbury police, Maryland State Police, the Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation and the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, executed two search and seizure warrants at 907 Apartment G on Booth Street in Salisbury as well as at 154 Somers Cove apartments in Crisfield.

During Friday's execution of the search and seizure warrants, police located Gregory in the Booth Street apartment and took him into custody. Investigators say that hidden inside Gregory's jacket was the .38 caliber automatic handgun used in the Crisfield shooting, along with several pieces of crack cocaine. Police say that in addition, officers located inside the apartment 1-ounce of crack cocaine and several bags of heroin.

Read more @ WBOC

A Pennsylvania Ghost Story

Axe Murder Hollow






Susan and Ned were driving through a wooded empty section of highway. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, the sky went dark in the torrential downpour.
“We’d better stop,” said Susan.
Ned nodded his head in agreement. He stepped on the brake, and suddenly the car started to slide on the slick pavement. They plunged off the road and slid to a halt at the bottom of an incline.
Pale and shaking, Ned quickly turned to check if Susan was all right. When she nodded, Ned relaxed and looked through the rain soaked windows.
“I’m going to see how bad it is,” he told Susan, and when out into the storm. She saw his blurry figure in the headlight, walking around the front of the car. A moment later, he jumped in beside her, soaking wet.
“The car’s not badly damaged, but we’re wheel-deep in mud,” he said. “I’m going to have to go for help.”
Susan swallowed nervously. There would be no quick rescue here. He told her to turn off the headlights and lock the doors until he returned.
Ax Murder Hollow. Although Ned hadn’t said the name aloud, they both knew what he had been thinking when he told her to lock the car. This was the place where a man had once taken an axe and hacked his wife to death in a jealous rage over an alleged affair. Supposedly, the axe-wielding spirit of the husband continued to haunt this section of the road.
Outside the car, Susan heard a shriek, a loud thump, and a strange gurgling noise. But she couldn’t see anything in the darkness.
Frightened, she shrank down into her seat. She sat in silence for a while, and then she noticed another sound. Bump. Bump. Bump. It was a soft sound, like something being blown by the wind.
Suddenly, the car was illuminated by a bright light. An official sounding voice told her to get out of the car. Ned must have found a police officer. Susan unlocked the door and stepped out of the car. As her eyes adjusted to the bright light, she saw it.
Hanging by his feet from the tree next to the car was the dead body of Ned. His bloody throat had been cut so deeply that he was nearly decapitated. The wind swung his corpse back and forth so that it thumped against the tree. Bump. Bump. Bump.
Susan screamed and ran toward the voice and the light. As she drew close, she realized the light was not coming from a flashlight. Standing there was the glowing figure of a man with a smile on his face and a large, solid, and definitely real axe in his hands. She backed away from the glowing figure until she bumped into the car.
“Playing around when my back was turned,” the ghost whispered, stroking the sharp blade of the axe with his fingers. “You’ve been very naughty.”
The last thing she saw was the glint of the axe blade in the eerie, incandescent light.


For more stories told by S. E. Schlosser go to: www.americanfolklore.net


HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!!!!!!

When is to far, Too far? Dutch Court Halts Girl's Solo Sail

This young lady was set to sail, approved by her parents, yet blocked by the courts.

She was to have an experienced sailor along as a guide. This is what we are becoming, The courts have a right to infringe upon our personal lives.

I clearly remember fishing, crabbing, clamming, etc. at a very early age. I know that's nothing like sailing the world, but .... where do the people draw the line of what a nanny government can tell us?

I will say, I think she needs a bigger boat.

BTW: Big Mac's have been banned in Antarctica.
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Dutch Court Halts Girl's Solo Sail

A Dutch court ruled Friday that 14-year-old Laura Dekker was still too inexperienced to be allowed to set off on her quest to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

Judges at Utrecht District Court placed Laura under the guardianship of child protection authorities until July to ensure that she cannot set off on her dream voyage. The ruling means Laura can continue living with her father, but her parents must consult child protection authorities about all major decisions in her life.

Laura Dekker, 14, wants to sail solo around the world, but on Friday a Dutch judge ruled that she is too inexperienced and barred her from the trip.

Laura and her parents were not in court Friday, but family spokeswoman Mariska Woertman said the teenager was "disappointed that the court does not have faith in her to leave now."

However, Woertman said Laura was confident she can be ready to sail soon after July and still set the record as the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the globe.

The Utrecht court first blocked her departure in August out of concern for her safety. The decision sparked a worldwide debate on how much authorities and parents should limit children's freedom to undertake risky adventures.

Laura's parents, both veteran sailors, are separated. Laura's father supported the attempt, but her mother said in a newspaper interview in September she thought Laura was too young.

Presiding judge M. Oostendorp said Laura's mother has given her blessing "so long as she has assurances about the safety measures. At the moment, as far as she is concerned, they are insufficient."

Child protection authorities welcomed the decision.

Judges said they were confident that Laura was emotionally ready for the trip, but questioned the safety precautions and her ability to continue her schooling while at sea. They said, however, her sailing skills were not in question.

A psychological analysis submitted to the court said Laura's planned trip would not impair her social or emotional development.

"The good news today is that we have established Laura is capable of making this voyage," said her lawyer, Peter de Lange.

Laura told the three-judge panel at a closed hearing Monday that she was equipping her 26-foot yacht Guppy with extra security and communications equipment and learning to use it.

"(The plans are still) too unclear, not concrete enough and too uncertain" to guarantee her safety, Oostendorp said.

Laura also told the court that she planned to wait at least until May, after school ends, to embark on the voyage and will be guided by an experienced sailor in a separate boat. She also promised to take a sailor's first-aid course and practice sleep management techniques.

De Lange criticized the judges for questioning Laura's single-handed sailing experience — which is limited to trips on Dutch rivers, close to the coast and a single solo voyage to England and back.

"They say she has not got much experience of solo round-the-world sailing. That is a bit weak," he told reporters. "How do you get experience? By doing it."

In August, 17-year-old British sailor Mike Perham became the youngest person to sail solo around the world. Earlier this month, 16-year-old Australian Jessica Watson also set off on a single-handed, round-the-world trip.

De Lange said Laura can still break the record if she sets off next year.

"But the record is not her primary goal," he added. "Laura just wants to sail."

VIA

Trick-or-Treat

Happy Halloween y'all!

A Little About Halloween Tradition

All Hallow Eve, or Halloween, originated as a pagan celebration dating back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, over 2000 years ago. Samhain means "summers end" and is celebrated on November 1st as a joyous occasion. Many of the festivities included eating, drinking and dancing and the lighting of bonfires. The ashes from the burned bonfires were spread to protect the land for next years crops.

On the night before the new year the Celts believed the boundaries between the living and the dead became blurred. Ghosts of the dead returned to earth on October 31. The wearing of the masks, as a way to "hide" from the dead, became a tradition.

In the 1800's, with the Irish immigrants coming to America they brought their traditions of Halloween and the Jack-o-Lantern. The immigrants carved potatoes, turnips and beets and place a light inside using pieces of coal or a candle. These ornaments were placed in windows or on porches to welcomed the deceased and to serve as protection against horrible spirits or goblins freed from the dead.

Through the years, as the Irish Immigrants spread out across America, the lack of turnips, beets, and potatoes were replaced by the pumpkin to stand the watch for the "freed dead".

The origin of Trick-or-Treat, it is believed, orginated from the Druids. The Druids were preists and preistesses that served also as

historians, astronomers, teachers, etc. in their communities. Because the country folk believed that the dead had to be kept happy they would give the Druids food as they visited their homes. Today it is simply known as trick-or-treat.

Halloween has many names. Other names are : All Hallows Eve, The Feast of the Dead, Samhain, All Hallow Tide, All Saints Eve.

Halloween Careful who you scare

When we were little, our older brother used to put on that awful "Scream" mask and jump out from behind the kitchen door to scare the candy out of us. He found it hysterical; we found a bunch of things to complain to our therapist about later in life.

This classic video featuring a Halloween prank gone horribly awry is kind of like that. Only in our fantasy this version, the prankster gets what's coming to him. No, seriously. See why it's so not cool to creep on people, Halloween or not. Enjoy!

Dad Arrested After Daughter Hit By Car

Immigrant Believed His Daughter Was Too 'Westernized,' Police Say

Police in a Phoenix suburb say an Iraqi immigrant has been arrested in Georgia for allegedly running down his daughter because she was becoming "too Westernized."

Police in Peoria, Ariz., are releasing few details but say 48-year-old Faleh Almaleki is in custody. They aren't saying where he is being held.

Jim Joyner, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service in Atlanta, says Almaleki was arrested Thursday when he arrived at Atlanta's airport.

Twenty-year-old Noor Faleh Almaleki is hospitalized in serious condition. Police say the Almalekis moved to the suburb of Glendale from Iraq during the mid-'90s.

Police say Faleh Almaleki was upset that his daughter had become too "Westernized," and he aimed his car at her Oct. 20 in a Peoria parking lot.

Sexy Craigslist Ad Allegedly Posted by Social Worker as Revenge on 9-year-old

A Long Island social worker is facing charges after she allegedly posted a sexy Craigslist ad with the name and phone number of a 9-year-old girl who argued with the social worker's daughter at school.


Margery Tannenbaum of Hauppauge, N.Y., is charged with aggravated harassment and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly posting the child's name and phone number in an online ad targeting sex-seeking men. Prosecutors say Tannenbaum created the ad after the girl argued with the social worker's daughter at a Smithtown, N.Y., elementary school, according to New York's WCBS-TV.

Tannenbaum, 40, denied the allegations when she was arrested last spring. Her lawyer, Tad Scharfenberg, told WCBS that his client still maintains that she is innocent.

"She's a good mother, she's never been in any trouble before, she takes good care of her kids," he told WCBS. "I'm defending her to the fullest, she maintains her innocence."

Tannenbaum is accused of listing the girl's name and phone number in conjunction with the e-mail address, lacethong23@yahoo.com. The girl's mother got a call from a man who asked for the child by name. When the woman told the caller she was the girl's mom, he responded: "Oh, hot lady lives with foxy momma!"

"I told him that the hot lady you are referring to is 9-years-old," she told the station.

The state has been asked to review Tannenbaum's social work license, and parents at the school attended by both girls are hoping for a swift resolution.

One change has already taken place: Tannenbaum was the class mother for both girls last year, and she has since been replaced.

SOURCE

N.J. Court Says Americans Have No Right To Buy Handguns

A New Jersey appeals court has concluded that Americans have no Second Amendment right to buy a handgun.

In a case decided last week, the superior court upheld a state law saying that nobody may possess "any handgun" without obtaining law enforcement approval and permission in advance.

That outcome might seem like something of a surprise, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year in the D.C. v. Heller case that the Second Amendment guarantees "the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation."

But New Jersey Appellate Division Judge Stephen Skillman wrote on behalf of a unanimous three-judge panel that Heller "has no impact upon the constitutionality of" the state law.

That's because, Skillman said, the Supreme Court did not strike down the District of Columbia's de facto handgun ban but instead simply ordered the city to issue a permit. In other words, while Americans may have the right in general to possess arms, the exact contours of that right have not been mapped, especially as the Second Amendment applies to state laws. (The court's majority opinion last year said: "We therefore assume that petitioners' issuance of a license will satisfy respondent's prayer for relief and do not address the licensing requirement.")

Read More HERE

Good clean Catholic Joke

* VATICAN HUMOR *

After getting all of Pope Benedict's luggage loaded into the limo, (and hedoesn't travel light), the driver notices the Pope is still standing on the curb.

'Excuse me, Your Holiness,' says the driver, 'Would you please take your seat so we can leave?'

'Well, to tell you the truth,' says the Pope, 'they never let me drive at
the Vatican when I was a cardinal, and I'd really like to drive today.'

'I'm sorry, Your Holiness, but I cannot let you do that. I'd lose my job What if something should happen?' protests the driver, wishing he'd never gone to work that morning..

'Who's going to tell?' says the Pope with a smile.

Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 205 kph..
(Remember, the Pope is German..)

'Please slow down, Your Holiness!' pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens.

'Oh, dear God, I'm going to lose my license -- and my job!' moans the
driver.

The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches, but the cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the radio.

'I need to talk to the Chief,' he says to the dispatcher.

The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he's stopped a limo going 205 kph.

'So bust him,' says the Chief.

'I don't think we want to do that, he's really important,' said the cop.

The Chief exclaimed,' All the more reason!'

'No, I mean really important,' said the cop with a bit of persistence.

The Chief then asked, 'Who do you have there, the mayor?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: ' A senator?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: 'The Prime Minister?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

'Well,' said the Chief, 'who i s it?'

Cop: 'I think it's God!'

The Chief is even more puzzled and curious, 'What makes you think it's
God?'

Cop: 'His chauffeur is the Pope!'

6th Person Arrested in Gang Rape of Girl After Homecoming Dance

The number of people arrested in the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl outside a high school dance in Northern California has increased to six and could get higher, authorities said.

Jose Carlos Montano, 18, was arrested Thursday evening outside his San Pablo home. He was being held on $1.3 million bail, on suspicion of rape, rape in concert with force and other charges, Richmond police said.

Authorities were still looking for suspects, and have said as many as 10 people ranging from 15 to the mid-20s may have attacked the girl for more than two hours Saturday in a dimly lit area.

Montano's arrest came after three other teen suspects appeared in court for the first time Thursday.

Cody Ray Smith, 15, pleaded not guilty, while Ari Abdallah Morales, 16, and Marcelles James Peter, 17, did not enter pleas during their arraignment in Contra Costa County Superior Court.

Smith, Morales and Peter each were charged with rape in concert and sexual penetration with a foreign object. They were being held without bail and could be eligible for life in prison, if convicted.

The three were charged as adults because of the severity of the crime, prosecutor Dara Cashman said.

Another suspect, 19-year-old Manuel Ortega, was arraigned separately but did not enter a plea. He is charged with rape, robbery and assault causing great bodily injury, and is being held on $1.2 million bail.

Salvador Rodriguez, 21, also remained jailed but has not been charged.

More HERE

Run Abdul Run...

What's he keep looking at? LOL

Bullet Hits Lou Dobbs' NJ Home

WANTAGE, N.J. (Oct. 29) - Police in New Jersey are trying to determine who fired a bullet that struck CNN commentator Lou Dobbs' home as his wife stood nearby.

State police Sgt. Stephen Jones says Dobbs' wife and driver were outside the home Oct. 5 when they heard the gunshot. Jones says the bullet didn't penetrate the siding and fell to the ground outside.

VIA


Dobbs mentioned the bullet earlier this week on CNN and his radio show.
Dobbs says he had been receiving threatening phone calls for weeks. On his radio show, he connected the gunshot to his advocacy for a crackdown on illegal immigration and to his opponents' rhetoric.

The home is on a farm in Wantage, about 50 miles northwest of New York City.
It is small-game hunting season, but no hunters were seen in the area.

DNC Uses Flag Desecration Video to Raise Funds

As a heart monitor beeps ominously in the background, a graffiti artist paints over the Stars and Stripes with phrases criticizing opposition to the Democratic legislation, including 'profit over life' and the crossed-out words 'death panel.' The whole flag is eventually smeared with paint and blacked out.

A Democratic fundraising video on President Obama's political Web site shows an American flag mural being covered in graffiti and desecrated with slogans about health care reform.

As a heart monitor beeps ominously in the background, a graffiti artist paints over the Stars and Stripes with phrases criticizing opposition to the Democratic legislation, including "profit over life" and the crossed-out words "death panel." The whole flag is eventually smeared with paint and blacked out.

One of 20 finalists in the Democratic National Committee's "Health Reform Video Challenge," the video shows the Los Angeles-based graffiti artist "Saber" at work, according to a copy of the video posted to YouTube.

The DNC is using the splattered Old Glory to pick up some change, asking for donations to air the winner of its contest. "[T]o put the winning ad on national television, we'll need folks to chip in and help cover the cost of getting the ad on the air," the DNC says on its my.BarackObama.com Web site, which hosts its Organizing for America campaign program.

"I think that most Americans no matter what their political persuasion is will find this pretty obscene and pretty shocking," said Armstrong Williams, a conservative radio host. Williams said it was a bad message to send for the DNC to give "energy and credibility" to an artist desecrating the flag.

The video made it past a panel of judges "comprised of DNC employees," the site says. All finalists were screened to find "the most apt, creative, original and interesting video" that provides "clarity of message concerning supporting health insurance reform."

Supporters defended the video and said it might strike a chord with Americans who are interested in health care reform.

"I don't really think it's an issue," said Leonard Jacobs, editor of the Clyde Fitch Report. "It's one of 20 videos, and graffiti is protected by the First Amendment. And it's certainly something that might hook up with the way people feel."

Now in the final round, the remaining 20 videos will be judged by a panel of experts including DNC chief Tim Kaine; Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa.; singer will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas; actress Rosario Dawson; and Seth MacFarlane, creator of the TV cartoon "Family Guy."
A spokesman for Organizing for America told the Politico that the group was not prepared to provide comment on the video, but gave the contest a big push online.

"We're closer than we've ever been to passing real health reform, but we need to keep pushing forward and tipping the debate in favor of reform -- and the winning video could do just that," they wrote.

VIA