Holiday Mail for Heroes makes it easy

For the third consecutive year, the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are joining forces to send seasonal cheer to soldiers, veterans and their families during the holiday season through the Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

Holiday Mail for Heroes makes it easy for all of us to say "Thanks!" and "We're thinking of you!" to these brave Americans, particularly to the millions of soldiers, like my brother-in-law Chris (aka "Sgt. McHottie") and his team, the ODA 7315, who will be overseas and away from our families during the holidays.

Here's how it works:

1. Between now and the cut-off date of Monday, December 7th, you send a card to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

2. Pitney Bowes screens the cards to make sure they're safe (no hazardous materials) and forwards them to participating Red Cross chapters nationwide.

3. The Red Cross sorts and reviews the cards, and distributes them to service members, their families and veterans

It's so easy you could fit it in with your errands today!

They do have some basic rules:

• Sign all cards.
• Address them to "Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran."
• There's a limit of 15 cards per person or 50 for a school class or business group.
• Please bundle groups of cards in single, large envelopes.

To keep the program streamlined, safe and consistent, they ask that you not:

• Send letters.
• Include personal information such as home or email addresses.
• Use glitter because it can aggravate the wounds of hurt soldiers.
• Include inserts of any kind -- they'll be removed in the screening process.

According to the Red Cross, there are over 1.4 million men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces, and over 24 million veterans. This is the perfect way to thank them, and their families, for serving their country, with a holiday greeting!

VIA

Undercover Wife Busts Husband by Posing as a Chatroom Teen

With its 'To Catch a Predator' sting operations, NBC's 'Dateline' has spawned a Web meme of motivational posters and jokes deriding repulsive sexual deviants. Those undercover sting operations have also inspired a wave of Net vigilantes who personally attempt to ensnare those unwitting, perverted dimwits.

A 69-year-old man in Wales was recently duped by an undercover crusader, and the operative just so happened to be in the next room. Instead of exchanging chat-room messages with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl, David Anthony Roberts was actually propositioning his own wife.

Cheryl Roberts, David's wife of 20 years, had recently grown suspicious of her husband's extensive online activities, particularly those he carried out under the message board alias of "Corky." With that in mind, she created profiles of 14- and 15-year-old girls on the site Bearshare and began engaging in clandestine discussions with her husband. The conversations apparently turned sexual in nature and finally culminated with David propositioning the 14-year-old character.

WalesOnline reports that Cheryl, who has since divorced her husband, called police after the incident. They made an arrest and subsequently found child pornography on the man's computer. David -- who, officials believe, may suffer from a neurological disorder -- plead guilty to eight charges of child pornography and is now a registered sexual offender. He is also being required to attend a sex offender program and is not allowed to contact anyone under the age of 18 on the Web. Chris Hansen would be proud. [From: Wales Online]

St. Paul ‘happy-slapping’ video that has police and citizens outraged

The arrests and investigation followed the Monday posting of a YouTube video featuring eight Black males terrorizing bicyclists and pedestrians -- including children and older people -- in what appeared to be Minneapolis and St. Paul.

St. Paul police have arrested an adult and a juvenile in connection with a series of random attacks in Minneapolis and St. Paul, which were recorded on video and posted on YouTube.



The adult from Oakdale, whose age was not released, was booked into the Ramsey County Jail, while a 17-year-old with no listed hometown, was taken to a juvenile detention center. Both were booked Tuesday on suspicion of strong-arm robbery and aggravated assault, according to St. Paul police reports. Charges do not appear to have been filed.

Several other suspects have been identified but have not yet been arrested, police said.

A police report showed that at least one person came forward after he was tackled behind by an unknown male at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 while walking eastbound on Grand Avenue near Avon Street in St. Paul.

“Assault was probably posted on YouTube”, the report said.

VIA

Local Business owner alleges charges on local blogger

The war of words has been going on since the beginning of time, but it seams that in today's world one must be cautious as to not say anything that could possibly hurt someones feelings.

More and more bloggers are being sued and/or arrested for a picture, a sound bite, or simple words, the strange thing is most of the time the offending substance comes from anonymous comments and are not the opinions of the blogger themselves.

As far as I know no one has won one of these lawsuits yet except the blogger that was arrested in Jade county Virginia on frivolous charges and they copped a plea.

Some people just need to grow thicker skin.

Below is today's article on DelMarVaNow.com


A local business owner who filed criminal charges and a civil lawsuit against a controversial Salisbury news blogger could have a lengthy and expensive court battle ahead of him, according to a blog pundit.

John Robinson, the 39-year-old owner of Robinson's Jewelry and Clock Store, filed criminal charges and a civil lawsuit against Joe Albero, a 47-year-old Delaware resident, this month in the District Court of Maryland for Wicomico County.

Albero declined to comment on the allegations, stating he just received court documents related to the criminal charges.

If Albero opts for a criminal jury trial, the criminal case could go to Circuit Court.

The majority of defamation cases never see the inside of a courtroom, said Robert Cox, president of the Media Bloggers Association. They are either dropped or settled out of court.

These types of cases can also cost up to $50,000, he added.

Robinson filed criminal charges on Tuesday alleging that Albero has harassed and published defamatory comments about Robinson and his family for more than two years, according to court documents.

The business owner on Nov. 11 also filed civil lawsuits against Albero and two other alleged contributors on Albero's blog.

Each civil complaint asks for $24,000 in damages, according to court records.

The alleged blog posts include unsubstantiated allegations that called Robinson a drug abuser, a child molester and suggested that his daughter was fathered by another man, according to court records.

"If those things are not true, you at least have a foot in the door for a defamation case," said Cox.

The Media Bloggers Association is a nonprofit organization founded by "leading bloggers" in 2004 whose mission includes defending the rights of bloggers and citizen journalists, according to information on the association's Web site.

However, more than just hurt feelings are needed to prove a case, Cox said. Robinson would have to prove that he lost money as a result of the alleged posts.

"It's like punching Jell-O," said Robert Cox. "There's very little you can do."

Robinson also alleges Albero followed his family around and took pictures of them at a local mall, the playground and other places, according to court records.

Cox said because these are public places, it is less likely that Albero's alleged actions could be considered harassment by a judge or jury. The scenario sounded more like an invasion of privacy which would also be difficult to prove if the photos were taken in public places.

Also adding to the challenge of such cases is that the plaintiff has to prove the defendant has malicious intent when the posts were made, Cox said.

"You can't vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man."

Strong words today from Mr. Hymie-town himself, the Reverend Jesse Jackson. The once powerful civil rights leader who is desperately trying to regain some relevancy had something to say to Black Members of Congress who would dare to vote against the Obamacare bill. 'You can't vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man.'

Strong words for someone who just a year and a half ago threatened to cut off Barack Obama's Manhood. Jackson's remarks tonight were directed specifically again against Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) who voted against the healthcare bill in the house:
"We even have blacks voting against the healthcare bill," Jackson said at a reception Wednesday night. "You can't vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man."

The remark stirred a murmur at the reception, held by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Foundation as part of a series of events revolving around the 25th anniversary of Jackson's run for president. Several CBC members were in attendance, including Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who'd introduced Jackson.

I wonder if that means that Speaker Pelosi, who voted for the bill is a black man.

Congressman Davis, who is running for governor, is the only black member of Congress from Alabama. He is also the only member of the CBC to have voted against the healthcare bill earlier this month.

Davis referred to Jackson's 1988 run for president in a statement, issued through his office, that said he would not engage Jackson on his criticism.

“One of the reasons that I like and admire Rev. Jesse Jackson is that 21 years ago he inspired the idea that a black politician would not be judged simply as a black leader,” Davis's statement said. “The best way to honor Rev. Jackson's legacy is to decline to engage in an argument with him that begins and ends with race.”

That's exactly the point. Obamacare is a horrible bill for America all of America, no mater the hue of their skin. Maybe Congressman Davis could see beyond the CBC's political goal of redistribution of Income, and government control of society to cast a vote that was right for his country and his constituents. It seems to me that the Congressman is more of a Man than the self-promoting Jackson will ever be.

Reverend Jackson, why don't you go find another tyrant to kiss up to?

VIA

CALL TO ACTION!

Never Forget

Read the letter to Obama here!

Americans, it is time to unite, not as Republicans or Democrats, not as Conservatives or Liberals or Progressives.

It is time to unite as CITIZENS.

President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have forgotten that their chief duty is the safety and the security of the American people.

IT IS TIME FOR US TO REMIND THEM.

AG Eric Holder will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, November 18, to testify about the administration's plan to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed back to the scene of Al Qaeda's greatest single atrocity--Ground Zero--where he will brag about the slaughter of 3,000 innocent men, women and children and his lawyers will tell a "jury of his peers" that HE is a victim of the U.S. Government.

This is insanity.

Please join 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America, firefighters of TheBravest.com and Keep America Safe in Washington, D.C. to tell Eric Holder and members of Congress,

"WE WILL FIGHT YOU ALL THE WAY!"

We know this is short notice....but that's how the Administration planned it...they are counting on you just sitting this out, yelling at the cable news coverage of this outrage instead of showing up and changing the narrative in the MSM echo chamber.

Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-50

Constitution Avenue and 1st Street, NE

U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

When: Wednesday, November 18, 9:30 am

Who: AG Eric Holder

More to follow...

neverforget@theBravest.com

Hat Tip; Kack

Frostroms Subaru of Pocomoke

If you're looking for a courteous auto dealer or auto repair Frostroms is the place.

I have had several experiences in a short time with Frostroms Subaru and everyone I had to deal with have been very caring and professional to do business with.

here's just one example; I called Frostroms yesterday because I needed a vehicle Maryland inspected, I was told that they could do it 8:00am the following day, I recieved a call around 11:00am the same day telling me my vehicle was ready to go.

My experience each time has been the same, Frostroms has a very good staff to deal with from buying a new car to having a oil change, kind and courteous every time.

Frostroms also has a great labor rate on vehicle repairs, I was amazed to learn that their labor rate is actually less than some local small repair shops while getting the dealer experience and training.

So if you need a new or pre-owned car, a Maryland state inspection, a general repair, or parts to do it yourself, give Frostroms a call, I guarantee that you wont be disappointed. Give them a try today.

Contact Frostroms @

Sales: (410)957-1414 (888)616-6457
Service: (410)957-1414
Parts: (410)957-1414

or visit their website for more info @ Frostroms Subaru

Thanksgiving Dinner; How NOT to fry a Trukey

Deep frying a turkey is, for some, a new Thanksgiving tradition, and so you'll find many "How to Fry a Turkey" videos and PSAs online.

However, there are almost as many videos titled "How Not to Fry a Turkey" on YouTube, because when you take a vat of high-temperature oil, and drop something heavy into it, it's rife with potential for things to go horribly wrong. They're all pretty cringe-worthy, ranging from the comparatively tame -- flip-flopped feet getting splattered with hot oil -- to out-and-out fireball- and-pillar-of-smoke disasters. Here's an example of the latter (though admittedly, it was done as a TV stunt).

Obama's Home Teleprompter Malfunctions During Family Dinner

Hat Tip; Tree

Ladies Get Surprise at Gadhafi 'Party'

ROME (Nov. 17) -- Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi hosted a soiree in Rome for some 200 young Italian women, but instead of the party they expected the women were given a lecture on Islam and copies of the Quran, a news report said.

A reporter for Italy's ANSA news agency went undercover with the women, who were hired for $75 by a modeling agency for the event Sunday evening. Journalist Paola Lo Mele said the women assembled at a hotel, where some where left behind because they were not tall enough or dressed modestly enough.

Those accepted were taken to a villa, where Gadhafi lectured them on women's rights and religion, and urged them to convert to Islam.

"All the girls expected a party with a gala dinner," Lo Mele told her agency. Instead, "he made a 45-minute speech on Islam and women's role in Islam. It was a bit of an indoctrination session."

Lo Mele took pictures before and after the event, showing the women carrying Qurans they received as gifts. A second soiree was planned for Monday evening, ANSA said.

Gadhafi was in Rome to attend a U.N. summit on world hunger.

After his speech, Gadhafi made an impromptu visit to one of downtown Rome's swankiest piazzas, stopping traffic as he sat down at an outdoor cafe for something to drink.

VIA

Police Officer Uses Taser On 10-Year-Old Girl

OZARK, Ark. -- Ozark police said they were called to a home where a mother asked for help with her unruly child, but the 10-year-old's father said he's outraged at the force police used against his daughter.

"I would like to say Ozark police Tased this little girl right here. Ten years old and [they] shot electricity through her body, and I want to know how the heck in God's green earth can they get away with this," said the girl's father, Anthony Medlock.

Medlock said his daughter was at her mother's house when Ozark police Officer Dustin Bradshaw shocked her in the back with a Taser and arrested her.

"If you can't pick the kid up and take her to your car, handcuff her, then I don't think you need to be an officer," Medlock said.

Medlock said his daughter does show signs of having emotional issues, but she "doesn't deserve to be treated like a dog. She's not a tiger."

According to a police report, the officer was called to the home by the mother and witnessed the child kicking and screaming. The officer's statement said the girl's mother, Kelly Hamlert, told him to use a Taser on her if he needed to.

The officer did shock the girl after he said she kicked him in the groin. "He had no other choice. He had to get the child under control," said Ozark police Chief Jim Noggle.

Noggle said the officer shocked the girl for about a second. Ozark police said it is their policy to use a Taser on someone who is a threat to others, no matter their age.

Noggle said simply restraining the child could be harmful. "Well, if he tried to restrain her, he might hurt her by restraining her. If you grab somebody, you can slip an arm out of joint. They can slip from you and fall on the ground," Noggle said. "I don't know what kind of policy it is. I don't think it's right," Medlock said.

Medlock said this is not the first time the girl's mother has called police to take her daughter to a juvenile facility. He said he will now try to get custody of his daughter.

"She just wants somebody to love her, and I do," he said.

40/29 News checked with several other police agencies about their taser policies. The Fort Smith Police Department said it will only uses a Taser on a person 14 years old or older if they are a threat to someone.

Fort Smith Police said it's usually the discretion of each police department to make their own policies on using a Taser. Noggle said no action is being taken against the Ozark officer who used the Taser on the girl, and he said her case will go before the juvenile court system.

VIA

Britons Row From Japan to San Francisco

Two British men rowed unassisted across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to San Francisco, arriving at the Golden Gate Bridge on Friday, TV station KGO has reported.

The journey of 5,100 miles took 189 days to complete. Chris Martin, 28, and Mick Dawson, 45 -- both experienced rowers -- are the first to row unescorted across the North Pacific Ocean, according to the Web site they set up to chronicle the feat, which they called the Golden Gate Endeavour.

Martin and Dawson set out in April from Choshi, Japan, in a 23-foot row boat called the Bojangles. The boat left Japan with everything needed for the trip, including all food and supplies, a water desalinator and communication and video systems powered by solar panels, the sailors' Web site said.

Typhoons and tropical storms are a constant threat in the North Pacific. Both Martin and Dawson had crossed the Atlantic before, but said that was nothing compared to this. Wind and currents blew them off course and set them a few days behind.

"The North Pacific is the most hostile, fantastic, beautiful, worst, best place you can go to," Dawson told KGO.

After arriving at the Golden Gate Bridge on Friday, the sailors accepted a tow to the Golden Gate Yacht Club, where friends and family from the United States, Canada and England were waiting.

Martin and Dawson solicited donations on their Web site, with proceeds going to two charities: the Hamilton Lodge School in England and Hearts of Gold children's hospice in Nigeria.

They announced that since they raised enough to cover their expenses through sponsorships before they set out, all donations would go to charity.

The men told KGO they would sleep about two hours every night and then take 12-hour shifts rowing.

To read more, go to KGO and www.goldengateendeavour.com.

Caption not necessary

Pocomoke sweeps Bayside South field hockey awards

Congratulations Pocomoke Warriors.

POCOMOKE CITY -- The Bayside South field hockey awards and teams have been announced, and Pocomoke swept, winning both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and Co-Coach of the Year.

Michelle Roberts was named Offensive Player of the Year, and Taylor West was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Coach Susan Pusey was named co-Coach of the Year along with Parkside head coach Kim Pelot.

Other Warriors making the first team include Annah Brittingham, Bianca Merritt, Kasey Tapman and goal keeper Derian Matthews.

Washington had four players make the first team, including Gracie Daniels, Amanda Muir, Tyler Overholt and Dana Rock.

Parkside had three players make the first team, including Anna Davis, Rachel McCain and Breck Sullivan. Crisfield's Courtney Thomas and Stephen Decatur's Alicia Arrivello rounded out the first team.

Pocomoke also had three players make the second team, which included Skylar Hall, Emily Leonard and Natalie Parks. Washington had three players make the team, which included Amber Baines, Lindsey Lescallett and Kelsey Thornton. Crisfield's Elle Hinman and Kirsten Ward were also named. Parkside's Kari Lamboni and keeper Caroline Carozza, along with Decatur's Gracie Ferber and Wicomico's Megan White, finished the second team.

Read More HERE @ DelMarVaNow.com

Traffic Accident After Home Invasion

Three men were arrested Saturday after Police said that they broke into a home while armed with sawed off shot guns, but crashed their vehicle while leaving the scene. Steve Lamar Kilgor and Milton Darnell Phason have been charged with breaking and entring, attempted robbery, use of a fire arm in the commission of a felony, possession of a sawed off shot gun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, assult and battery, and destruction of property. The third suspect, Davon Davis, faces the same charges except that of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to Accomac County Sheriff Larry Giddens, Saturday at 12:35 A,M., his office received a report of a home invasion in progress at a residence on Seaside Road. A vehicle description was obtained, and broadcasted to the responding units. While deputies were en-route to the scene of the home invasion, they came upon the scene of a traffic accident at the intersection of U.S. 13 (Lankford Highway) and Coal Kiln Road, and determined that one of the vehicles matched the description that they had received in connection with the Home invasion. Two fo the suspects were apprehended at the scene of the accident, and the third was rounded up a short distance away.

The suspects were transported to Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital by Melfa Fire and Rescue, where they were treated for injuries and released back to the Sheriff's Department.

Assisting in this investigation were the Virginia State Police and the Onancock Police Department.

http://www.shoredailynews.com

Teacher Sought 'Hit' on Student, Cops Say

ATLANTA (Nov. 17) -- A suburban Atlanta high school teacher has been accused of pursuing a "hit" on a 16-year-old student last month, and the case is under investigation by local authorities.

Randolph Forde -- who teaches at Mundy's Mill High School in Clayton County -- has been charged with making terroristic threats and was released on bond.

He is currently on administrative leave from his job with pay and faces an employment hearing in early December, Charles White, a school district spokesman, said Tuesday.



A Clayton County Police report says the incident occurred October 9. The suspect took a student off a school bus and told him he "would pay him to kill the victim," the report says. When the student asked who the target would be, the suspect said he'd write the name on a note, it says.

"The teacher held a piece of paper up with the victim's name on it," said Officer Otis Willis III of the Clayton police.

Attorney Terance Madden, who represents alleged target and his family, issued a statement saying that problems between the boy and the teacher go back to "on or about September 29," when "Forde allegedly called my client outside the class and asked him if he is gay."
Then "on or about September 30," the two had an argument in class and Forde threatened "to hit him in his 'effin' mouth," Madden's statement said.

"Not only did my client report the verbal altercation and verbal threat to the vice principal of Mundy's Mill HS, he also reported that Mr. Forde asked him outside the classroom for the inappropriate question of whether he was gay," the statement said. "Apparently nothing was done by the school administration to either Mr. Forde or my client, because Mr. Forde was back in the classroom on October 1, as was my client."

Madden said the school didn't take any action until after a police report was filed on October 12 about the incident.

Can the law keep up with technology?

In a case that would have been impossible even five years ago, bad-girl rocker Courtney Love is being sued for libel by a fashion designer for allegedly slamming the woman on Twitter.

The suit claims that after a disagreement over what Love should pay Dawn Simorangkir for the clothes she designed, Love posted allegedly derogatory and false comments about the designer -- among them that she had a "history of dealing cocaine" -- on her now-discontinued Twitter feed.

But as technology evolves faster than the laws that govern free speech online, it's not just the famous who are finding trouble.

Consider the case of Amanda Bonnen and her former landlord. Bonnen, an Illinois resident, is accused of using Twitter to tell another user: "Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon Realty thinks it's okay."

Horizon Group Management LLC, the company that owned the apartment in question, sued Bonnen for libel over the alleged tweet. Horizon is seeking $50,000 in damages.

Legal experts say such Internet-related cases are being watched closely because they confront new and unaddressed areas of American law.

For example, how should a libel case be handled when it comes to social media? How can society balance accountability with free speech? And if information -- from private thoughts to public data -- is so readily available, how do we define what constitutes privacy?

Anonymity and immunity

In August 2008, a user of Blogger.com, a Google subsidiary, created "Skanks in NYC."

The blog assailed Liskula Cohen, 37, a Canadian-born cover girl who has appeared in Vogue and other fashion magazines, by featuring photos of Cohen captioned with derogatory terms.

Cohen sued Google to learn the name of the anonymous blogger on the grounds that the post was defamatory and libelous. A New York Supreme Court judge ordered Google to reveal the anonymous blogger's name, and Google complied.

The case provided insight into the debate between the competing values of privacy and free speech, said Jeffrey Toobin, CNN's senior legal analyst.

"You have a robust debate on a million different subjects every day on the Internet," he said. "But on the other hand, is that a license to damage people's reputation with knowing falsehood?"

The courts are trying to strike a balance between the two, Toobin said.

"There have been a lot of cases about trying to get behind the anonymity of the Internet," he said. "What the courts are ... saying is that you have to show good reason, you can't just frivolously ask."

Nicholas Thompson of Wired magazine said such cases make it clear that anonymity on the Web does not necessarily guarantee a measure of immunity.

"The more people learn about it, the more they're going to realize that laws do apply online," he said.

More HERE from CNN

What's wrong with this picture?

Check out this latest picture from Veterans Day 11/11/09 at the Ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery. I don't know whether the National Anthem is being played, or the Flag is going by, or WHAT, but EVERYBODY in the picture is either saluting or has his hand over the HEART.

All except ONE.

Guess who.

Hat Tip; Eric

2010 Census to Begin

THIS IS PRETTY BASIC ADVICE;

Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers by Susan Johnson

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Hat Tip; Kack

Stolen VW van found after missing 35 years

Michele Squires once owned the 1965 Volkswagen van that was found recently in a shipping container at a Southern California port -- 35 years after she had it stolen from a repair shop.

She'd now like to buy it back.

Squires told The Spokesman-Review that she was watching television news on Friday when a picture of a VW van popped up on the screen during a story about how customs agents on Oct. 19 discovered the vehicle in a shipping container headed for the Netherlands. The blue-and-white van looked to be in pristine condition, and could be worth more than $25,000.

Customs officials ran the vehicle identification number and found it had been reported stolen from an upholstery shop in Spokane on July 12, 1974. Squires said she had taken the van to the shop to have a bed made in the back for camping.

Squires, 58, is a lifelong Spokane-area resident who has worked at a Chinese restaurant for the past 30 years.

In this undated photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a 1965 Volkswagen van that was stolen 35 years ago from Spokane, Wash., is shown after it was recovered on Oct. 19, 2009, from a shipping container at the Port of Los Angeles bound for The Netherlands. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection / AP)

Her memory of buying the van is a little hazy. She wrecked her previous car and received $600 in settlement, and used that toward the van, though she doesn't remember the price. She remembers having a lot of fun in the van, hauling friends from home to home for progressive dinners and on ski trips.

"It was great in the snow," she said. "Lousy heater. I kind of fell in love with it."

After the van was stolen, Squires was paid off by the insurer, Allstate Insurance Co., which then became the legal owner. When it turned up at the Los Angeles seaport, officials seized it and turned it over to the insurance company.

The van had likely changed owners several times over the years. Most recently, it had been in the hands of a custom repair shop in Arizona, which refurbishes VWs and sells them overseas. Authorities say the owners of the shop are not considered suspects in the long-ago theft.

Squires has contacted Allstate to see if she could get the van back. Before she came forward, a company spokeswoman said Allstate would have the car appraised, apply for a new title and sell it at auction.

Asked Monday if Allstate would try to sell or return the car to Squires, the spokeswoman said the company was still investigating its options.

Squires said she probably cannot afford to buy back the van if it is worth $25,000 or more, as the auto theft investigator on the case has guessed. But she would at least like the first chance at purchasing it, she said.

Lou Dobbs Left CNN for $8 Million Good Reasons

CNN wanted veteran newscaster out so badly, they gave him an $8 million settlement package, reports The New York Post.

"They wanted him out," revealed a source. Dobbs shocked fans by announcing he was quitting his show 'Lou Dobbs Tonight' last Wednesday. Another source claimed he had 18 months left on a $12 million contract.

---

Tension had been building between Dobbs and CNN executive producer Jonathan Klein over the subject matter reported during Dobbs's show - that President Barack Obama was not born in Hawaii and therefore not an American citizen as well as illegal immigration. "What they do is their business," Dobbs stated yesterday regarding CNN. "I tried to accommodate them as best I could, but I've said for many years now that neutrality is not part of my being."

Klein held a strong belief that Dobbs' increasingly opinionated reporting ran counter to CNN's stated goal of becoming a fact-based, opinion-free network nestled between the right-leaning FOX News and left-leaning MSNBC.

However, the extent to which CNN was willing to pay Dobbs such a significant severance had been hidden. This stands in significant contrast to the way Dobbs expressed the professional dissolution of his 27-year association with CNN which he characterized as "pleasant, friendly and professional" to the Atlanta Constitution-Journal.

The $8 million package has given Dobbs a sense of freedom. "I truly believe that it's also a liberating moment for me," claimed Dobbs, who is in no rush to work on another network. Dobbs said that it would be "weeks, probably months" before he decides what to do next.

Speculation that Dobbs may become a candidate for the Senate seat in New Jersey in 2012 rings false to insiders. "He couldn't stand the scrutiny," mentioned a colleague.

Young student refuses to recite Pledge "Liberty and justice for all?"

Notice in the video that the news reporter is all smiles and seams very happy that this young man has defied the patriotism that should be instilled in ever young American.

If he were my child he would say the Pledge, you can bet on that.

he also says he wants to be a "lawyer" no surprise there.

Will Phillips doesn't believe that describes America for its gay and lesbian citizens. He's a 10-year-old at West Fork Elementary School in Arkansas, about three hours east of Oklahoma City. Given his beliefs, he refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, specifically because that one phrase, "liberty and justice for all," he says, does not truly apply to all.

That did not go over well with the substitute teacher in his fifth-grade classroom.

The Arkansas Times reports that he started refusing to say the pledge Mon., Oct. 5. By Thursday, the substitute was steamed. She told Will she knew his mother and grandmother and they would want him to recite the pledge.

Will told the Times the substitute got more and more upset. She raised her voice. By this point, Will told the newspaper, he started losing his cool too, adding: "After a few minutes, I said, 'With all due respect ma'am, go jump off a bridge.'"

That got him sent to the principal's office. The principal made him look up information about the flag and what it represents. Meanwhile, there was the inevitable call to his mother.

At first, mom Laura Phillips told the Times, the principal talked about Will telling a substitute to jump off a bridge. When pressed, the principal admitted the whole incident was sparked by the boy exercising his constitutional right not to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Phillips suggested an apology was in order -- from the teacher. When the principal said that wasn't necessary, Will's mother started venting to friends via Twitter. Those friends, in turn, told the news media. And what would have been a minor classroom incident has people throughout Arkansas and beyond choosing sides.

As for Will, he continues to exercise his right to remain silent. It can be rough at times, he and his family admit. He has his share of supporters, however, his critics are louder and nastier -- especially because he took his stand to defend gay rights.

"In the lunchroom and in the hallway, they've been making comments and doing pranks, calling me gay," he told the Times. "It's always the same people, walking up and calling me a gaywad."

Nonetheless, Will told the paper, he is sticking to his convictions. A reporter for the paper asked Will -- with all this talk about patriotism and the pledge -- what he thinks it means to be an American.

"Freedom of speech," he responded. "The freedom to disagree. That's what I think pretty much being an American represents."

His mother is proud.

"He's probably more aware of the meaning of the pledge that a lot of adults," Phillips told the Times.

Domino World Record Smashed in Style

KA-POW! The world record for toppling dominoes has been broken!

Some 4,491,863 dominoes bit the dust in Holland this weekend, smashing the standing world record of 4,345,027. Both records were set by a man known as Mr. Domino.

Mr. D was helped by a team of 90 domino experts from 14 European countries who worked for two months on the masterpiece, in the Netherlands town of Leeuwarden. The builders used rulers and tweezers to ensure each stone was in its exact spot.

When toppled, the dominoes fell in a sequence lasting one-and-half-hours in which dominoes climbed stairs, unveil paintings and do all manner of other nerdy things.

Representative at Chincoteague Town Office

Congressman Nye Staff Will Meet with Constituents





Tomorrow from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM Congressman Glenn Nye will have a representative at the Chincoteague Town Office to meet with his constituents. Sylvia Parks, a member of Congressman Nyes Staff, will meet with anyone needing assistance with a Federal Agency or wishing to express concerns.






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Note concerning landfill tipping fees:



In response to the damage caused by the recent nor'easter, the Accomack County Board of supervisors have determined that the tipping fees at both county landfills will be waived for storm debris. This waiver will be in effect from Saturday November 14th through the 21st.
Residents should bring their storm related debris in separate loads from their regular other waste and inform the scale operator at the landfill that it is storm debris and subject to the waiver.


www.shoredailynews.com

No American President Ever Bowed to a Foreign Leader — Until Now

President Obama created a new presidential precedent when he bowed to the Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko Saturday.

No president of the United States in the more than 230 years since the country was founded in 1776 had ever bowed to a member of royalty. That was until Barack Obama’s presidency.

In April, President Obama bowed to the Saudi king during the G-20 meeting. At the time, Obama’s deferential bow was somewhat obscured, and the White House insisted that the president simply had leaned forward to shake the king’s hand.

But the president's recent demonstration of royal deference to the Japanese emperor and empress suggests his earlier action was no aberration.

What should we make of this? Is it trivial to worry about what on its face could easily be interpreted as nothing more than a polite gesture by our president to respect the culture of a country?

America was founded on republican virtues — small “r,” that is. Like the French Republic, our nation does not recognize royalty or social rank, especially from officials of the republic.

The conduct of our president when he deals with foreign leaders is a serious matter. After all, he represents the American people and our Constitution.

Indeed, when President Obama bows before a foreign leader, the whole country bows with him.

It is difficult to grasp what President Obama’s motives are for bowing to foreign royalty (it would be nice if a reporter asked his press secretary Robert Gibbs why he does it).

But Obama’s motives do not really matter when we consider his behavior.

What matters is how the rest of the world will interpret his actions. When it comes to bowing before foreign leaders, there is a fine line between showing politeness and servility, between respect and weakness

Continued HERE

Caption not necessary

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Cops Search for Missing 5-Year-Old

Authorities acted on a tip Sunday and scoured a portion of south-central North Carolina in hopes of finding a 5-year-old girl reported missing by her mother.

The girl's mother has been charged with human trafficking and other offenses.

Capt. Charles Kimble of the Fayetteville Police Department said several agencies started searching for Shaniya Davis at 8 a.m. in an area between Spring Lake and Sanford.

Kimble would not elaborate on what information officers had received.

"We're following up on a tip. It seems to be good, so we're out there looking," Kimble said.

The N.C. Highway Patrol sent a helicopter to aid in the search, Lt. Everett Clendenin said.

Earlier Sunday, authorities arrested Antoinette Nicole Davis, Shaniya's mother. Fayetteville police said she faces a human trafficking charge, as well a child abuse charge involving prostitution and filing a false police report.

The child hasn't been seen since Tuesday, when surveillance footage recorded the man charged with kidnapping Shaniya carrying her into a hotel room.

Police did not say whether the charges against Davis were related to her daughter's disappearance, but The Fayetteville Observer reported that arrest records indicated they were.

According to arrest documents cited by the newspaper, Davis "knowingly provide(d) Shaniya Davis with the intent that she be held in sexual servitude" and she "permit(ted) an act of prostitution."

Shaniya had only been living with her mother since last month. Davis reported the girl missing Tuesday morning from a mobile home community in Fayetteville, and authorities began searching nearby wooded areas. The following day a man described as Davis' boyfriend was charged in the kidnapping, but the charges were later dropped and he was released.

Police then said a hotel worked spotted a child matching Shaniya's description at a Sanford hotel about 40 miles from Fayetteville on Tuesday. Authorities reviewed surveillance video and, after speaking with family members, confirmed the child's identity.

Surveillance footage showed Mario Andrette McNeill carrying Shaniya into a hotel room, and he was arrested and charged with kidnapping Friday.

What Old People Do For Fun

Hat Tip; Ree

My 1 day of employment when I retired

So after landing my new job as a
Wal-Mart greeter,
a good find for many retirees,
I lasted less than a day.......

About two hours into my first day on the job
a very loud, unattractive, mean-acting woman
walked into the store with her two kids, Yelling obscenities at them all the way through the entrance.

As I had been instructed, I said pleasantly,

'Good morning and welcome to Wal-Mart.
Nice children you have there.. Are they twins?'

The ugly woman stopped yelling long enough to say,

'Hell no, they ain't twins. The oldest one's 9, and the other one's 7. Why the h... would you think they're twins? Are you blind, or just stupid?'

So I replied,

'I'm neither blind nor stupid, Ma'am,
I just couldn't believe someone slept with you twice.

Have a good day and thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart.'

My supervisor said I probably wasn't
cut out for this line of work.

Hat Tip; Ree

Southern maryland; NAACP says police altered killing video

About 20 minutes into an uneventful traffic stop and drug scan, the lights on Cornelius Warren's Tahoe flashes almost without warning. A split second later on a police video of the incident, the SUV kicks up a cloud of dust as it lurches away from police.

But a county activist who viewed the tape before the sheriff's office released it Wednesday said he believes someone altered the video between when he saw it last month and when it was made available to the press.

"What you saw on the video is not what we've seen. It's been tampered with," county NAACP President William Braxton said.

The dashboard camera footage released Wednesday, which captured the last few moments of Warren's life, shows sheriff's officer Stephen Miller swing his body into the sport utility vehicle as it speeds off-screen, another police cruiser following close behind. The video didn't record the ensuing struggle, which happened outside the camera's line of sight. But police say that after the SUV accelerated down a Pisgah driveway, Warren tried to wrestle away Miller's handgun. A pair of sheriff's officers shot at Warren 11 times, hitting him with eight of the bullets, authorities believe.

The footage, which is without sound, charts the Oct. 2 incident, from a traffic stop at a gravel driveway about a mile from Warren's home to the search of his Chevrolet Tahoe and the alleged discovery of crack cocaine and marijuana worth more than $16,000, according to police. It was after the drugs were allegedly discovered that Warren, 44, threw his SUV into gear and drove a short distance around the circular driveway, where sheriff's officers fired the rounds that ended his life.

While Warren's family and the county chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have condemned the shooting, a grand jury last week found that the officers' actions didn't constitute a crime. The Charles County State's Attorney's Office concluded the shooting was "not unreasonable" given the danger Warren posed to the officers when he tried to grab Miller's gun.

"We're going to be second-guessed every time we use deadly force, and that's appropriate," said Maj. Joseph Montminy during a Wednesday press conference.

However, he cautioned against "Monday morning quarterbacking" and said "the deputy was in a life-and-death situation that all unfolded in a matter of seconds."

Braxton alleged that in the version of the tape he saw during a meeting with Sheriff Rex W. Coffey last month, Miller climbed into the SUV and shut the door before the Tahoe started to move.

"We … are going to talk to the sheriff's department to explain what we saw and see if he's going to look us in the eye and tell us the tapes haven't been altered," he said.

Diane Richardson, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said apart from masking the face of Warren's passenger, the sheriff's office hasn't changed the footage since showing it to NAACP members.

The passenger, whose name has not been released, has his face obscured by digital manipulation in the video released Wednesday.

"It is unfortunate Mr. Braxton is questioning our integrity," she said. "The video we released to the media is the same video that was shown to Mr. Braxton immediately following the shooting with the exception that we did protect the passenger's face."

Multimedia:

Watch the video (1 of 3)

Multimedia:

Watch the video (2 of 3)

Multimedia:

Watch the video (3 of 3)

Complete story HERE

Million-Dollar Car Crashes in Marsh

I think if I were driving a million dollar car I'd chance the bird and forget the cell phone. DUH!

LA MARQUE, Texas (Nov. 14) -- A man blamed a low-flying pelican and a dropped cell phone for his veering his million-dollar sports car off a road and into a salt marsh near Galveston. The accident happened about 3 p.m. Wednesday on the frontage road of Interstate 45 northbound in La Marque, about 35 miles



The Lufkin, Texas, man told of driving his luxury, French-built Bugatti Veyron when the bird distracted him, said La Marque police Lt. Greg Gilchrist. The motorist dropped his cell phone, reached to pick it up and veered off the road and into the salt marsh. The car was half-submerged in the brine about 20 feet from the road when police arrived.
Gilchrist said he doesn't know if the car was salvageable, but in his words, "Salt water isn't good for anything." He says the man, whose identity hasn't been released, was not injured.
A 2006 Bugatti Veyron was recently offered for sale in Jonesboro, Ark., for $1.25 million.

Flight 1549 3D Reconstruction, Hudson River Ditching

The NTSB released the public docket for Flight 1549 on June 9, 2009. The docket contains a wealth of information that can be utilized in a full 3D reconstruction of the accident. Our work goes deep into the underlying framework of information and encompasses the entire spectrum of accident information.

Integrating all spatial and temporal data allows us to approach this accident from a never-before-seen perspective. The ability to flexibly combine data, camera views and other visual elements is a key advantage in presenting an engaging real-time presentation of the accident sequence.

All work you see on this page would withstand the rigors of qualification for presentation either as demonstrative evidence or, if sufficient witness testimony is available, real evidence. We have the capability to blend all of the information you see into any perceivable final product, depending on your specific visualization needs. The video below is best viewed full screen with HD enabled.



Most people don't realize this, but the birds were visible on radar, before the event occured. After integrating the raw radar data into our 3D environment and creating motion targets representing those radar returns associated with the flock of birds, our timeline clearly depicts the intersection of Flight 1549 with birds at a time of around 1527:10 (HHMM:SS).

This coincides well with the CVR transcript which indicates loud "thumps" at 1527:11.4 (HHMM:SS.0). The NTSB Wildlife Factors Report has identified the feathers in the aircraft as Branta Canadensis (Canada Goose) by means of visual, microscopic and DNA analysis. Identification of the feathers was conducted by the Smithsonian Institute Feather Identification Laboratory.

Though the errors may be intolerable, it is possible to pursue an altitude calculation for the birds by triangulation, this due to the fact that there are two separate radar facilities that reported data. We know the altitude of the birds at the time of impact, but it may also be helpful to determine their flight profile to understand where they were going or where they departed.. We will attempt this analysis as our work continues on the accident.

The timelapse (10x) animation below presents a detailed view in the area of the bird strike and clearly shows motion, disorganization of the flock following the bird strike, and the subsequent re-organization of the flock(s) following the passage of a second aircraft, Eagle Flight 4718. Aircraft altitude is in 100's of feet. Eagle Flight 4718 actually came quite close to birds but luckily was not on an intersecting flightpath.

More HERE

Cats Allegedly Thrown From Moving Car, Suspect At Large

It's some sick people in this world.

From WDMT.com

The Talbot County Humane Society is searching for the suspects who allegedly threw eight to ten cats from a moving car.

Officials say the act was witnessed on St. Michaels Road near Royal Oak Road last Saturday night. The witnesses said most of the cats scattered and ran into the woods.

However, two were rescued by those witnesses and are in need of a home. Their names are "Hugs" and "kisses."

Anyone with information about the case or wanting to donate to the reward fund can call the shelter at 410-822-0107.

Pocomoke Warriors win 7th straight title

REPORTED AT

Pocomoke field hockey coach Susan Pusey felt confident coming into the MPSSAA 1A state final, knowing that if the Warriors played their precision passing game, they most likely would be successful in capturing their seventh straight state title.

In the championship tilt Saturday, the Warriors' execution was nearly flawless, as Taylor West scored three goals, with the first tally coming just more than two minutes into the contest, en route to a 5-1 victory over Bohemia Manor, a first-time playoff participant.

"We always talk before the game that we need to come out with a bang," said West, a junior forward. "It catches other teams off guard sometimes, so you always want to come out strong."

West certainly started the game out with a bang, as she rang a laser shot off the back board of the Bohemia Manor cage to give Pocomoke an early 1-0 lead. The Warriors opened the game with possession and worked their way into the Eagles' circle, earning a penalty corner before the game was two minutes old. Pocomoke senior Michelle Roberts sent the ball into play, finding the stick of Kasey Tapman. Tapman then tapped the ball over to West, who unloaded on the ball and sent it into the far corner of the Eagles' cage.

"They wanted to score in the first three minutes. That was there goal," Pusey said. "They came out and did it. Normally, when they set there mind to something, they do pretty well at doing it."

The Warriors were far from finished, as they doubled their lead just six minutes later. Tapman created a turnover 30 yards from goal and weaved around multiple Eagle defenders on her way to the circle. On the junior's first step into the circle, she ripped a rocket shot that went through the wickets of the Bohemia keeper, giving Pocomoke a 2-0 lead.

Read More HERE @ DelMarVaNow.com