CNN Poll: Americans split on success of Obama presidency

Americans are giving Barack Obama a split decision on his first year in office, according to a new national poll.

Forty-eight percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday say Obama's presidency has been a failure so far, with 47 percent saying Obama has been a success. The poll's January 12 release comes just 8 days before Obama marks one year in the White House.

Full results (PDF)

READ MORE HERE

2009 Darwin Awards

Runner-up, and the first female to be a Darwin Award runner-up:

(3 June 2009, North Carolina) Greensboro was innundated with four inches of pouring rain in two hours, stranding several cars on flooded roads. Rosanne T., 50, was not deterred. She hopped on her moped and drove to a convenience store where she "possibly had a beer," according to her mother, before deciding to blunder home through the storm. She phoned home to say, "My moped has two rubber wheels, Mom, I'll be fine."

North Carolina does not require a license to own a moped.
Ms. T. had acquired hers two years previously after a DUI conviction.

The Highway Patrol had blocked off several roads that were inundated with water, including Rosanne's path home. But she rode right past the officer and the barriers, lost control of her vehicle, and fell into the swollen creek below. The officer retrieved rope from his vehicle and proceeded to haul her from the water.

He then interviewed the woman, probably inquiring about her motivation for speeding through a roadblock during a flash flood. When the officer returned to his patrol car to call for assistance, Rosanne took the opportunity to escape--by jumping back into the creek!

The officer attempted to rescue her again, but alas, it was too late.

The victim's mother speculated that her daughter's motivation for jumping into a flooded creek was to rescue her drowning moped. "She loved that thing."

Another runner-up

(12 April 2008, Florida) Traffic was moving slowly on southbound I-95. Shawn M. had recently left a Pompano Beach bar, and now he was stuck in traffic. As the saying goes, you don't buy beer--you just rent it, and Shawn couldn't wait another moment to relieve himself. "I need to take a leak," he told his friends.

Traffic was deadlocked, so the waterlogged man climbed out, put his hand on the divider, and jumped over the low concrete wall... only to fall 65 feet to his death. "He probably thought there was a road, but there wasn't," said a Fort Lauderdale police spokesman. The car was idling on an overpass above the railroad lines.

His mother shared her attempt thoughts. "Shawn didn't do a whole lot for a living. He got along on his charm, just like his father."

Though his death was tragic, Shawn's downfall proves the old adage: Look before you leak!

2009 Winner (a double-header of stupidity):

Double Darwin!

(26 September 2009, Belgium) The city of Dinant is the backdrop for this rare Double Darwin Award. Two bankrobbers attempting to make a sizeable withdrawal from an ATM died when they overestimated the quantity of dynamite needed for the explosion. The blast demolished the building the bank was housed in. Nobody else was in the building at the time of the attack.

Robber One was rushed to the hospital with severe head trauma; he died shortly after arrival. Investigators initially assumed that his accomplice had managed a getway, but the second bungler's body was excavated from the debris twelve hours later. Would-be Robbers One and Two weren't exactly impoverished--their getaway car was a BMW.

Bonus 2009 winner:

(20 April 2008, Atlantic Ocean) A Catholic priest recently ascended to heaven on a helium host of party balloons, paying homage to Lawn Chair Larry's aerial adventure. In 1982, Lawnchair Larry attached 45 weather balloons to his lawnchair, packed a picnic lunch, and cut the tether--but instead of drifting above Los Angeles babescape as planned, he was rocketed into LAX air traffic lanes by the lift of the balloons!

Astoundingly, Larry survived the flight, inspiring the movies Up! and Deckchair Danny, and Adelir Antonio, 51.

This priest's audacious attempt to set a world record for clustered balloon flight was intended to publicize his plan to build spiritual rest stops for truckers. But as truckers know, sitting for 19 hours is not a trivial matter even in the comfort of your own lawn chair.

The priest did take numerous precautions, including wearing a survival suit, flying a buoyant chair, and packing a satellite phone and GPS. However, the late A.A. made a fatal mistake.

He did not know how to use the GPS.

The winds changed, as winds do, and he was blown inexorably toward open sea. He could have parachuted to safety while over land but chose not to. When the voyager was perilously lost at sea, he finally phoned for help--but rescuers were unable to determine his location since he could not use his GPS. He struggled with the unit as the charge on the cellphone dwindled and died.

Instead of a GPS, the Priest let God be his guide.

Over the next few weeks, bits of balloons began appearing on mountains and beaches, indicating that God had guided him straight to heaven. Ultimately the priest's body surfaced, confirming that he had indeed paid a visit to his boss.

The kicker? It's a Double Darwin. Catholic priests take vows of celibacy. Since priests voluntarily remove themselves from the genepool, the entire group earns a mass Darwin Award. Adelir Antonio wins twice!

--
Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal. Albert Camus

Is Refusing Bed Rest a Crime?

This is the type of thing we will see all the time if the government gains control of our health care.

Arguments are under way today in the First District Court of Appeals in Tallahassee, Fla., in the case of Samantha Burton, who was confined to her bed by a judge earlier this year because she was at risk for a miscarriage.

Burton was in her 25th week of pregnancy in March 2009 when she started showing signs of miscarrying. Her doctor advised her to go on bed rest, possibly for as long as 15 weeks, but she told him that she had two toddlers to care for and a job to keep. She planned on getting a second opinion, but the doctor alerted the state, which then asked the Circuit Court of Leon County to step in.

She was ordered to stay in bed at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and to undergo “any and all medical treatments” her doctor, acting in the interests of the fetus, decided were necessary. Burton asked to switch hospitals and the request was denied by the court, which said “such a change is not in the child’s best interest at this time.” After three days of hospitalization, she had to undergo an emergency C-section and the fetus was found dead.

Burton’s pro bono attorney, David H. Abrams, with a lot of help from the American Civil Liberties Union took the case to a higher court, charging that a dangerous precedent had been set. In a brief filed in the case, A.C.L.U. lawyers argue that the original decision unlawfully expanded the court’s right “to order medical treatment for a child over a parent’s” objections and applied it to an unborn fetus. “To ignore this fundamental constitutional distinction between the state interest in protecting fetal life and its interest in the protecting the lives and health of people is to risk virtually unfettered intrusion into the lives of pregnant women.”

The lower court based its decision on the fact that medical intervention is justified in “extraordinary” circumstances. The A.C.L.U. responded that the circumstances Burton found herself in were very ordinary. “It is hard to imagine anything more commonplace than the inability of a mother of two to remain on continuous bed rest,” the brief says, “or the well-documented difficulty in quitting smoking,” which Burton was also ordered to do.

Where then, to draw the line? If a court can confine a pregnant woman to a hospital because she refuses (or is unable) to stay in bed and quit smoking, what about the women who doesn’t eat healthfully? Or who drives above the speed limit? Dahlia Ward, state strategist for the A.C.L.U.’s Reproductive Freedom Project, wrote the following in the Daily Kos a few months ago, when the case was first reported:

Don’t get me wrong — of course I want pregnant women to follow their doctor’s advice. But I do not think that pregnant women should be confined against their will if they are unwilling or unable to do so. If we allow the government to confine a pregnant woman for not following orders to remain in bed, what’s next? Will we forcibly hospitalize pregnant women for having a glass of wine with dinner? Or eating too much fast food? What if they don’t take their prenatal vitamins? Or miss their doctor’s appointments? What if a pregnant woman refuses a Cesarean section? While we each may have strong opinions about such behaviors, our government cannot interfere in a woman’s personal private medical decisions. Allowing the government to make medical decisions for pregnant women means that literally every decision and every activity a pregnant woman engages in could be regulated by the state. And certainly the possibility of state-mandated hospitalization for those who have engaged in “unhealthy behaviors” would deter some women from seeking any prenatal care for fear of being punished. In that situation, everybody loses.

VIA

GET OUT OF THE CAR!!!

EMT Basic Course

An Emergency Medical Technician-Basic course will be offered at the Greenbackville Volunteer Fire Department starting on January 24th. Class will meet on Sundays and Tuesdays and will continue through June 2010.

The EMT-B program introduces students to the basics of prehospital emergency care and includes over 120 hours of training in a variety of emergency medical situations. Students who successfully complete the course will be eligible to sit for the Virginia EMT-B State Exam offered in June. To be eligible for the course, applicants must be 16 years of age as of the first day of class, be proficient with the English language, have no felony or other serious criminal convictions, and possess a Healthcare Provider-level CPR card.

For applicants needing CPR certification, a separate class will be offered prior to the first day of class. The cost for the entire course is $25.00 and registration is limited to 30 students. The deadline for registration is January 10th.

For more information, contact Kevin Holloway, Course Coordinator, at (757) 824-5207 or by e-mail at kevinholloway@verizon.net

http://www.shoredailynews.com/


The deadline for registration was January 10th. Since EMT's are always needed and if you are seriously interested please call just in case class capacity has not been met.

New Firehouse For Bloxom Fire Department

Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company Begins to Rebuild Station



After being without a fire station for almost four years, the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company has begun to build the replacement building. The new building was awarded to local contractors Crutchley Enterprises according to Fire Chief James T. Bagwell.

The Bloxom Fire Company purchased the adjoining lot with the original land and bull dosed existing buildings. It is on this now larger lot that the company will build the new 12,000 square foot complex. Currently, the site work is being done and preparing the place the building. Bagwell hopes next week concrete will be laid for the foundation.

The plans for the new building include community meeting rooms and a larger bay area for rescue and fire vehicles. Where the old Bloxom Station was built rectangular, the new building will more resemble the Parksley Fire Station. Bagwell says they are hoping to have the new building completed by August of this year.

The Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company Station was destroyed in a fire in 2006. Although originally believed to be a local arson that was terrorizing the Eastern Shore, investigations proved that to be false. Further investigation could not conclusively prove what caused the fire that ultimately claimed the historical station building.


www.shoredailynews.com

On January 18,2006, as the Bloxom fireman returned from fighting a structure fire they found their own firehouse ablaze.

Lottery On the Web

The Virginia Lottery is pulling its Daily Draw and twice-a-week Win For Life drawings from broadcasting on television to the web in order to save money. Mega Millions drawings will remain on television.

Monday, Jan. 11 will begin the first week of the change.

And while it allows the Virginia Lottery from having to pay to broadcast on tv, they say it is also a recognition that many receive their lottery results online or on a mobile device.

Those interested can visit the lottery's website at www.valottery.com , fan them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and as always, call the lottery hotline.


http://www.shoredailynews.com/

Wife allegedly changes wires on saw to shock hubby

OLYMPIA, Wash. -Court papers allege that an Olympia woman, angry that her husband left her, tampered with his power tools so that he received a powerful electric shock. Carolyn Paulsen-Riat was booked Friday into the Thurston County Jail for investigation of third-degree assault, domestic violence, and second-degree malicious mischief.

A judge released the 33-year-old woman on her own recognizance.

The Olympian newspaper reported that court documents said that on Jan. 1, the man was using a 220-volt table saw when he received the shock, knocking him to the ground.

Thurston County sheriff's deputies said the man did not need to go to a hospital.

In the documents, deputies said the woman told them she had reversed the wires on his power tools because she was angry he was leaving.

No Lawmakers Punished Under Three-Year-Old Ethics Rules

No lawmakers have been punished under sweeping ethics rules passed by Congress three years ago, USA Today reported.

The rules were approved in early 2007, shortly after former lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to giving gifts to elected officials in exchange for political favors. Lawmakers were barred from receiving meals or gifts from lobbyists and their clients.

At the time, incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi promised to "drain the swamp."

The most serious rebuke since the rules went into effect was a letter of "qualified admonition" to Democratic Illinois Sen. Roland Burris, according to the newspaper. An ethics panel found Burris misled Congress and inappropriately offered to raise campaign funds while seeking to be appointed to the seat formerly held by Barack Obama.

"Three years later, it's the same old, same old," Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington told USA Today.

A Pelosi spokesman defended the rules, pointing out that the independent Office of Congressional Ethics, formed in 2008, is currently examining dozens of cases for possible review by the House ethics committee.

NJ Legislature approves medical marijuana bill

The Legislature on Monday approved a bill that would make the state the 14th to allow chronically ill patients access to marijuana for medical reasons.

Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine supports the legislation and could sign it before leaving office next week, making it law.

The bill allows patients with ailments such as cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis to buy up to 2 ounces of marijuana a month at state-monitored dispensaries.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, a Princeton Democrat, was a co-sponsor of the bill and pushed for it for years. He said medical marijuana can alleviate suffering and there's no evidence it increases overall drug use.

"I don't think we should make criminals out of our very sick and terminally ill," he said.

Incoming Republican Gov. Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor, said he supported the concept of the bill but remained concerned that a loophole could lead to abuses.

A compromise bill was worked out after some other lawmakers expressed similar concerns. For example, a provision allowing patients to grow marijuana was removed.

Driving while high would continue to be against the law.

The other states that permit medical use of marijuana are Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

New Jersey's legislation authorizes the Department of Health to issue to patients with "debilitating medical conditions" registry ID cards that allow them to use marijuana. Patients with specified diseases such as cancer and glaucoma must also demonstrate severe or chronic pain, nausea, seizures, muscle spasms or wasting syndrome to qualify.

Patients with registry cards would be immune from arrest or prosecution for the medical use of marijuana.

Gusciora said the legislation, titled the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, would be the nation's strictest such law.

Lawmakers said they wanted to make sure New Jersey didn't duplicate California's liberal marijuana laws, which they said border on decriminalization of the drug.

"We have learned from the mistakes of other states," Senate co-sponsor Nick Scutari, a Democrat from Linden, said after the vote.

The Senate vote was 25-13; the Senate previously approved a less restrictive version. The earlier Assembly vote was 48-14.

Advocates and patients, who had waited for hours for the final vote, cheered the outcome.

Nancy Fedder, a 62-year-old multiple sclerosis sufferer who lives in Hillsborough, gets around in a scooter and said she has used marijuana for years to reduce pain.

"I'm in heaven," she said after the Senate vote. "It means I am no longer a criminal in the state of New Jersey."

Roseanne Scotti, director of Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey, an organization that says it's dedicated to making the state a leader in drug policy reform, thanked lawmakers for voting their consciences.

"We are absolutely thrilled," she said. "This really was a triumph of compassion."

Pentagon Tests Technology for New Stun Gun

A Pentagon office that helped develop microwave weapons that cause intense pain, lasers that temporarily blind people, and devices that emit intolerable levels of sound, is now working on a technology that uses electrical pulses to incapacitate people. If the research proves successful, it could lead to a new, more effective type of wireless stun gun.

Called the nanosecond electrical pulse (nsEP) project, the research focuses on using brief electrical pulses to temporarily paralyze an individual by disrupting the nervous system, similar to the way the Taser, another popular nonlethal device, works. But where this project differs from most other stun guns, according to the Pentagon, is that it could theoretically be built as a wireless system, and have a longer lasting effect.

The Pentagon's Joint Nonlethal Weapons Directorate, which is sponsoring the work, declined a request for an interview, but answered written questions. "It is hoped the technology can be made small enough to fit in a small, self-contained round," Dave Law, the chief of the office's technology division, wrote of the research project. "The round would have a power source and therefore would not need wires."

Taser International makes a line of incapacitating weapons that typically work with darts attached to wires, or by placing a weapon contact with a person. Though there is a wireless version of a Taser, called the eXtended Range Electronic Projectile, which works from a shotgun, nanosecond electrical pulses offer the possibility of shrinking the size of the a nonlethal round further, making the weapon more portable than current stun guns.

And perhaps more important, the paralyzing effect of the weapon would last longer than current stun guns, according to the Defense Department. "Initial studies of nanosecond electrical pulses indicate that they not only can affect the nervous system in this manner, but may also be able to provide longer-duration temporary incapacitation than the electrical waveforms in currently available HEMI devices," says a fact sheet about the program.

How long that effect might last is unclear; officials with the Joint Nonlethal Weapons Directorate declined to elaborate. "Temporary skeletal muscle effects have been observed in brine shrimp, rats and swine," said Dr. Bruce Wright, a human effects engineer in the directorate, said in an emailed response.

Nanosecond electrical pulses may have applications for nonlethal weapons, but this rapidly developing area of biological research has also attracted interest because of its potential medical applications, including as a treatment for cancer. Though the Joint Nonlethal Weapons Program Office did not respond to questions about what researchers have been supported by their funding, the Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia has emerged as the leading player in this field.

The Joint Nonlethal Weapons Programs Directorate has spent just short of two million dollars on the research over the past few years, and is currently reviewing funding for the next year and beyond. Other Defense Department offices, such as of the Office of Naval Research and the Air Force Research Laboratory, have also been involved in the research.

But how soon, if ever, the research will lead to a weapon in unclear; Pentagon officials working on the program declined to speculate on the time line. "This technology is not yet mature enough for human testing," wrote Dr. Wright.

VIA

A little boy playing Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" on the ukulele

The video first appeared on YouTube and has spread all over the Web. The boy's name hasn't been identified, and he doesn't seem to know the lyrics of the song, but millions of people have watched his enthusiastic and infectious performance.

VIDEO LINK HERE

Cold Is Caused by Warmth

Beltway Bob never ceases to amaze.
Now I understand, it's soooo cold because of warming. Erm, Okay

Gibbs: Worldwide Record Cold Result of Climate Change
by hotairpundit

There Must Be Something That Ties All These Alleged Criminals Together. But What?

One For The Google Fans

For those that like to use Google.com here's a new "spin" for ya.

CLICK HERE

HAT TIP: Bob

Calling The PC Police; I'm Offended

Where's the PC police on this? If this was called "The EZ-Injun" .... "The Black Slapper" ..... "The Mighty Muslim", How about the "jihad jock-strap" etc. etc. the PC police would be all over it... but nooooooooooo!!! It's the "EZ Cracker"



Direct Click LINK

Finally found a Doctor I like

I LOVE THIS NEW DOCTOR !!!!

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speed up heart not make live longer; that like say you can extend life of car by driving faster. Want live longer? Take nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies.. What does cow eat? Hay and corn. What are these? Vegetables. So, steak nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop can give 100% recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine. That means they take water out of fruity bit; get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made out of grain Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: If you have body and you have fat, ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Cannot think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only do sit-ups if want bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy? HELLO .... Cocoa beans! Vegetable!!! Cocoa beans best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

AND...

for those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health.

It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies:

1. The Japanese eat very little fat
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4 The Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION......

Eat and drink what you like.

Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

HAT TIP: Ree

Popping Corn on the Cob

I saw this on a morning talk show the other day and had no idea there was such a thing.

Today I did some reading on the internet and for goodness sakes this kind of popping corn has been around for some time now.

According to one website the corn gets planted in late April and in October the ears get hand picked and stored in mesh bags and placed on pallets to air dry. Once they reach a certain moisture level the ears are hand sorted, placed in a vacuum bag, and ready to be sold. All you do is place the ear in the bag provided and place into the microwave for the required amount of time and presto you have a bag of large and fluffy kernals of popped corn. No preservatives and all you need to do is add salt or butter.


I've seen popping corn on the cob and have even used a popcorn popper to make it. But I have never seen it in it's microwavable form.

KFC Pulls Australian TV Ad Amid Cries of Racism

Puhleeeze!! The PC police are always on the scene.

KFC has been forced to yank one of its commercials from Australian television after it sparked cries of racism for showing a lone white man handing out fried chicken to dancing black people.

The sketch is about cricket, a sport popular in both Australia and the West Indies, where the characters in the ad are meant to be from. It depicts a white Australian cricket fan in the opposing team's stands, surrounded by excited dark-skinned West Indies supporters.

"Need a tip when you're stuck in an awkward situation?" he says. Then it shows the man sharing a bucket of fried chicken with the crowd.



It was designed for the Australian market but got attention in America after someone posted it on YouTube.

BET, the African-American TV network, gave its take on the ad and asked readers to comment on its Web site:

"Are you a lone white man, who's sweating bullets because you're surrounded by a horde of black folks who are dancing and playing jungle rhythms? Worry not ... Kentucky Fried Chicken has the solution: Pass around a bucket of chicken.

"Does the content of this KFC ad, which is now playing on Australian TV, sound racist?"

It did to enough people that KFC was forced to discontinue the commercial Thursday.

READ MORE HERE

What Type of Oil Should You Put In Your Car?

You Don't Need To Change Your Oil Type In The Winter

Dear Tom,

I just bought a 2009 KIA Optima. The owner’s manual says I should use 5W20 oil in the engine. My dad used to fix cars and he said that this oil is too thin and that I should use “Straight 30 weight” in the winter and the 5W20 in the summer. Is he right?

Sandy from Salt Lake City, UT

Sandy

Gently tell your dad to stifle himself. Use the 5W20 oil in your KIA. The carmaker selected this oil because the engine operates under tight operating tolerances. If you put heavier oil in it then you’ll damage the engine, not to mention void your warranty should the need arise to make a claim. Years ago dad’s advice might have been acceptable, but now it’s way outdated.

Tom

Several years ago a woman called my radio show with the same question. However, she had already followed her husband’s advice and the engine in her new Ford seized due to lack of lubrication. She had to buy a new engine on a car that had only 25,000 miles. Too bad. Here are some things you should know.

What Type Of Oil Do I Use?

The answer to this question is in your owner’s manual under the maintenance schedule. The carmaker outlines what weight (viscosity) to use. If it says 5W20, use it. Carmakers make engine oil recommendations based on extensive lab testing, road testing, and research done in conjunction with petroleum companies. You can rely on the recommendation because it’s based on a lot of research.

Should I Change The Weight Of The Oil Based On Time Of Year/Temperature?

No. Multi-viscosity oils are designed to adjust their rate of flow (weight) based on outside and inside engine operating temperatures. When you read an oilcan that has a viscosity rating of 5W20 it means that the winter flow rate of the oil is 5 (thinner) than the summer flow rate (thicker). Multi-viscosity oils thicken up in the summer when the temps are hot and oil tends to thin out. When it gets cold they thin out in order to maintain optimum flow rate in all temperatures.

What About Synthetic Oil? Can I Use It?

In most cases you can switch over to synthetic oil. However, consult your owner’s manual before switching to make sure there are no caveats. I like synthetic oil because it is chemically fortified to withstand the rigors of the internal combustion engine environment. While it is not impervious to, it is highly resistant to viscosity breakdown from heat, friction, and chemical contamination. Synthetic oil flows better in winter and provides superior lubrication and protection in the summer when most oils break down under intense heat. If you switch over, just make sure you use the viscosity recommended by your carmaker.

How Often Should I Change The Oil?

When using good quality synthetic oil, change it every 5 - 7 thousand miles or six months, whichever comes first; and make sure to change the filter. When using petroleum-based oil, change it every 3 - 5 thousand miles or three months. As with synthetic, change the oil filter with a high quality filter every time you change the oil. Why the longer drain intervals with synthetic oil? It’s tougher, therefore you can go longer between drain intervals. Based on my research of synthetic engine oil, AMSOIL is number one and Mobil One is number two.

This Post is sponsored by Still Joe's Auto/Truck Repair and Custom Exhaust 125 Cleemwood St. Salisbury Md. (410) 677-1022 for all your vehicle needs at low low prices.

VIA

Explain This to IRS: Tax Agency Is $32 Billion Short

If you call the IRS don't expect them to answer the phone

The Internal Revenue Service suddenly reduced the amount of revenue it reported from delinquent collections by $32 billion, or about 27 percent, providing little information about what happened to the money, according to a report released Wednesday morning.

"There is an astonishing lack of transparency as to what is included in these revenue figures and how they are computed," said National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson as part of her annual report to Congress. "The failure to highlight and explain revisions of such magnitude erodes confidence in IRS's data reporting."

The IRS reported more than $121 billion in delinquent tax collection revenues from 2005 to 2007. But in its 2008 IRS Data Book, it quietly revised the number downward to less than $89 billion. Olson's report said that was part of a larger picture of the IRS now having a handle on what type of collection activities really bring in revenue.

IRS spokeswoman Michelle Eldridge said the IRS will explain the discrepancy this spring in its next Data Book. The $32 billion was taken off the revenue total because some of it involved double counting, she said. For instance, if four officers of a firm owed $1,000 for not paying payroll taxes and one of them paid the bill, it might be accidentally credited as $1,000 in revenue multiplied by all four officers.

Pete Sepp, vice president of the National Taxpayers Union, said the IRS appeared to be "obfuscating" whether additional funding for collecting delinquent taxes had actually yielded any results. "It's either a terrible deception or a terrible oversight. One way or another, Congress should get an answer."

A taxpayer could call and ask. But don't count on the phone being answered.

According to Olson's report, the IRS only plans to answer 71 percent of the calls it gets this year. That's barely above the 69 percent level in 1998 when Congress got so fed up with complaints about taxpayer service that it reformed the agency. And the numbers have gone down in recent years – during the 2009 tax filing season, only 64 percent of callers got through.

"It's a terrible indictment in this day and age that an agency can't even answer its phones," Sepp said. "That's setting the bar awfully low and would probably bankrupt any customer-service-oriented business."

When the call does go through, the IRS estimates that the taxpayers will be on hold for almost 12 minutes.

"This level of service is unacceptable," said Olson, whose office is part of the IRS but is charged with protecting the interests of taxpayers.

Eldridge said that although the percentage is down, the total number of calls answered was up – from 34 million in 2007 to 40 million in 2008 and 39 million last year. The past two years involved more callers with questions because of the rebate and other changes made in economic stimulus legislation.

And many of the calls that weren't answered were because taxpayers were redirected to IRS.gov, which could help them track their coming refund or answer questions. "While they are waiting on the phone lines, we are giving them other options," Eldridge said.

Olson also rapped the IRS for ramping up its filing of liens against taxpayers. She said a study has shown the lien increases have not brought in more revenue. Filing liens against people with little or no property ends up damaging their credit and making it harder for them to pay taxes in the future. The IRS should look at their ability to pay, including their other debts like credit cards, before deciding on a lien, she proposed.

Eldridge said studies other than the one cited by the taxpayer advocate office show the liens are an effective tool.

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said the IRS seems more interested in helping big banks getting bailouts than small businesses.

"The placement of liens on the little guys shouldn't be automatic and computer-generated while the big banks get the benefit of agency discretion and concern in the executive offices. One, it's unfair, and two, it's bad for the economy," he said.

"The IRS has to use its discretion to determine when liens are the best course to improve tax collection and when they're just a knee-jerk enforcement tactic that will do more harm than good."

Grassley sought answers Wednesday, including the whereabouts of the $32 billion.

"This single data point seems to indicate that not only does the IRS have a problem in knowing who owes what, the agency apparently also isn't able to properly track the taxes that have been collected," Grassley said. "The problem deserves the attention of IRS top management, as well as policy-makers who are intent on giving the IRS more and more responsibilities."

Democrats in Congress are considering a health care bill that would make the IRS involved in enforcing a new requirement that people carry health insurance.

Howard Gleckman, a tax policy expert at the Urban Institute, said the concern is valid.

"It is absolutely true we are asking the IRS to take on a huge rule when it is having a hard time doing the job it is there to do," he said. "On the other hand, if someone in the government is going to do this, the IRS is probably the best place. The IRS already has contact with almost every American."

Redneck Fire Detector

The Darwin's are out!!!!

Yes, it's that magical time of year again when the Darwin Awards are bestowed, honoring the least evolved among us.

Here is the glorious winner:

1. When his 38 caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in Long Beach , California would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.

And now, the honorable mentions:

2. The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat cutting machine and after a little shopping around, submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger. The chef's claim was approved.

3. A man who shoveled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in Chicago returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the space. Understandably, he shot her.

4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from Harare to Bulawayo had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies.. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days

5. An American teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train. When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.

6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer... $15. [If someone points a gun at you and gives you money, is a crime committed?]

7. Seems an Arkansas guy wanted some beer pretty badly.. He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window The cinder block bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.

8. As a female shopper exited a New York convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the lady I stole the purse from."

9. The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypsilanti , Michigan at 5 A.M., flashed a gun, and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast... The man, frustrated, walked away. [*A 5-STAR STUPIDITY AWARD WINNER]

10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a Seattle street, he got much more than he bargained for.. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline, but he plugged his siphon hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.

Taking The Back Roads

 I needed to go to Lowe's to pick up some wood & stain for frames. So I decided to take the back roads and check out the beautiful snow we were blessed with today. Who says you cann't turn work into playtime. Maybe a few of these will wind up in a new frame. So here are a few shots of Swan Gut & Byrd Rd.

Hope you enjoyed the the views and have a happy safe weekend.

All images are copyrighted so please don't copy.

http://www.shorethingphotography.com/

Snow Day......

Take your time this morning and use patience! The highways seem to be clear but the backroads are very snowy and slippery. Great snow fall to build a snow man or for making nicely packed snowballs!

Have a great day!

VOTE TO KEEP ONE STATION LEGIT & PRESENTING OPPOSING POINTS OF VIEW

Fox News is losing in an NPR poll, but with the power of the Internet we can turn
that around in a few hours.

If you haven't heard this, the White
House is accusing Fox News of not being a legitimate source of news,
calling them biased, etc. They have tried to block Fox reporters
from news conferences, etc., NPR has put a survey online for us to voice
our opinion.


If Fox loses this poll you can bet Obama will
mention it as support for his attack on Fox.

Let's show them how we
feel about honest conservative news reporting.


In White House Vs. Fox News War Of Words, Who Gets Your Vote?

The stories about what the Obama White House has to say about Fox News Channel keep coming.

There was White House communications director saying telling Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post and CNN "let's not pretend they're a news network the way CNN is."

Also last week it was NPR's David Folkenflik reporting that "the White House is taking direct aim at Fox News, the news organization that is the home to the most potent collection of its conservative critics."

This week it's ABC News' Jake Tapper asking why the Obama team was treating one of the "sister organizations" so badly -- and the news that the White House had tried to block a Fox News reporter from interviewing the so-called pay czar. (After all the networks objected, the White House relented.)

It seems like time for a survey:

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Posted by request.

HAT TIP: R.C.

Texas Hold'Em Poker

This looks like fun and for a worthy cause.

Texas Hold'Em Poker is returning to the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company on Friday, January 8th at 7:30 PM.

1st Prize is a $150 Visa Gift Card
2nd Prize is a $100 Visa Gift Card
3rd Prize is a $75 Visa Gift Card
4th through 6th FREE BUY IN

$15 buy in $10 add on $10 rebuys

This is the start of the 2010 Poker Championship Series. Come out and register. The championship will be held in December for eligible players The prize will be a winner take all $1000 Visa Gift Card.

Al players are welcome. This is a great event to learn to play Texas Hold'em Poker.

Call (757) 665-6977 or (757) 710-4655 for more information.

All proceeds benefit the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company.

No Need For Ebay or Craigs List

Sign of the week....................

Don't laugh. It's free advertisement.

The Mayor, the Man and the Alford Plea

On Wednesday, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon resigned as Mayor after accepting a plea deal with prosecutors. Dixons resignation takes effect February 4 with the current City Council President, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake taking over. Dixon has been Mayor of Baltimore for nearly three years. She became the first female mayor for Baltimore in January of 2007 when Martin O'Malley was elected govenor of Maryland. Prior to being mayor, Ms. Dixon had been on the City council since 1987 and was City Council president in 1997.

　

Dixon's first of two trials was in November for charges of stealing gift cards of nearly $500.00 that had been donate to the city and to be given to the needy. The theft occured while Dixon was still the president of the City Council. Her second trial WAS scheduled for March for two counts of perjury. It was claimed the the Baltimore mayor accepted gifts of furs, travel, money, etc. from a developer by the name of Ron Lipscomb. Lipscomb, in return received tax breaks from the city. Dixon and Lipscomb dated in 2003 and 2004.

So, on Wednesday Mayor Sheila Dixon entered an Alford plea to a charge of perjury. Now, this means the Ms. Dixon admits that there is enough evidence to convict her of charges but does not, however, acknowledge the guiltiness For all of this Dixon received probation before judgement. IF she follows the conditions set before her, Dixon will do no jail time. She was also given 4 years of probation, 500 hours of community service, plus she makes a charitable donation of $45,000.00. Some of her furs will be sold. She will pay her own legal fees and cannot seek employment in the city or state for two years. However, she will keep her pension of $83,000 She returns to court on February 4 to oficially accept her probation before judgement.

WOW!

And on Monday, on the good old easter shore, the famous Billy Burke, owner of the Pocomoke Tattler, went to trial for taping a conversation with the mayor of Pocomoke City on the steps of city hall. He faced felony wiretapping charges but accepted the Alford plea resulting in lesser charges. For years Mr. Burke has tried to prove corruption and other types of wrong doings within Pocomoke's city hall. His fashion of "pounding the pulpit", to convince the citizens of Pocomoke that there is actually corruption in Pocomoke City, has resulted in NO proof of corruption in that town even after months and months of his "preachings" that (according to Burke) it is indeed there.

　

What a twist. Here we have a "big town" mayor going to trial for being a thief by taking from the citizens of Baltimore and at the same time accepting wonderous gifts for the exchange of tax breaks. It has been proven that this occurred.

Then we have the "small town" citizen being drug into court by the towns mayor for a taped recording. But the "small town" citizen, Billy Burke, did try to get his message across about corruption in city hall the day of his trial with the playing of the tape (recorded that day) in which Mayor admitted and laughed about the city manager destroying public government documents. It has NEVER been proven that this occurred. Further more, it has never been proven that anything Mr. Burke "preaches" about ever occurred.

Just seems to me that if Mr. Burke wants to take the mayor serious and move, that Baltimore might be the place to go. If it's corruption, true corruption, you're still looking for I'd say that might be the place.

Y'all ever seen one of these?

My Paw gave me this many, many years ago. I just came across it while going through some packed-up junk, I had thought it to be lost forever.

Can you guess what it is?

Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck Rise from the Dead

Top-rated talk radio host Rush Limbaugh lives once again — and to paraphrase Mark Twain, “reports of his death are greatly exaggerated.”

Rush’s Web site announced that he would return to his show on Wednesday, Jan. 6, one week after he was hospitalized with chest pains during a vacation in Hawaii. Medical personnel at a Honolulu hospital found no signs of heart disease afflicting the 58-year-old conservative icon, clearing him to resume entertaining and informing the faithful listeners he calls “dittoheads.”

But Limbaugh’s critics were apparently crestfallen about his good health news, after postings over the blogoshere this past weekend took glee in his possible heart attack, with some wishing or even reporting that Limbaugh had died from cardiac arrest.

For example, shortly after news broke that Limbaugh was hospitalized, the online encyclopedia Wikipedia updated his page and pronounced him dead:
“Rush Hudson Limbaugh III (born January 12, 1951, died December 30, 2009) is an American radio host and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Rush Limbaugh Show, the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United States.”

The lie was quickly removed from the Web site. But that didn’t stop liberal bloggers from expressing disappointment that Rush did not in fact have heart disease — or from wishing him ill or even dead.

A number of posts on the left-wing site Daily Kos spewed venom against Limbaugh, with offerings such as:

“If he gets well, so be it. If he gets worse, be it paralyzed, comatose, or dead, he’s earned it.”

“I hope he dies and I’m glad he’s sick.”

“I’ll never apologize for hating Rush. Or wishing death and illness on him.”

A post on redstates.com read: “Dear Heavenly Father, Jesus, please take Rush Limbaugh for the sake of the country.”

And this vile offering appeared on TMZ.com: “Oh, please let him die! Preferably quickly and very painfully.”

News that Limbaugh did not in fact pass away may have left some in bad humor, but Rush has the last laugh — he’s alive and well.

Ironically, soon after reports of Limbaugh’s hospitalization circulated, word surfaced that another vacationing conservative media voice had died — Glenn Beck.

“While I was not in the hospital for any heart-related issues at all, and Rush Limbaugh was,” Beck said on his Monday radio program, “the day that I was writing Rush and saying, ‘Hey man, thoughts and prayers are with you,’ was the day that I got a phone call from my business partners that said: ‘You are alive, right?’”

Beck said a “major news organization” called his business partner and said “we’d just like a statement on the fatal plane crash of Glenn Beck . . . Apparently he was in a fatal plane crash and we just wanted a statement from you.”

Beck added: “Needless to say, I am not dead.”

Fans of the Rush and Beck online have hit back at the false and mean-spirited reports against Limbaugh and Beck, noting that if conservatives had posted such unseemly comments about Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and other liberal icons, the major media story would have expressed outrage.

HAT TIP: Tom

Scott Rigell Addresses Blogs United

Congressional candidate Scott Rigell addresses bloggers and others at the Blogs United conference at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia

Scott Rigell (R) announces candidacy for House seat

According to WAVY news 10, Founder of Freedom Automotive Scott Rigell announced Tuesday his intent run for the 2nd Congressional district of Virginia as a Republican.

At the campaign kick-off event, held at the Westin Hotel in Virginia Beach, Rigell spoke about issues such as energy, jobs and health care.

"At a time when one out of ten Americans are out of work and countless others are struggling to pay their bills, we need leaders who have the know-how and entrepreneurial spirit to create jobs in America again," said Rigell, who employs more than 240 people in his car dealerships.

Rigell said he's careful not to mix his business with politics, and is running against Democrat Glenn Nye whom he says won his Congressional seat on the coattails of Mark Warner and President Obama.

But it could prove challenging to Rigell. For his part, Nye has spent the past year crossing the district, and holding small business workshops to help the small business community. Political experts say Nye has spent the last year becoming the most conservative type Democrat you can be, and voted against his own party and his President on health care.

"People are interested in reforming the healthcare system, but they are interested in doing it in a way to increase access to health care but also to keep costs down. That is where this bill failed...it cost too much, and that why I voted no to that one," Nye said.

"There is a great need for accountability in Washington, and my campaign kick-off is the launch of a conversation with voters in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore on getting America back on track," said Rigell.

http://www.scottrigell.com/

Other GOP candidates for the 2nd district seat:
Kenny Golden
Ben Loyola
Ed Maulbeck
Bert Mizusawa
Scott Taylor

Nye says this about his potential opponent, "Until they have decided who their candidate is I have to focus on my job...I have a lot of work to do for the district."

Source: WESR

Pelosi Takes a Dig at Obama

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday defended the transparency of health care reform deliberations so far, and said no decision has been made about whether to skip a formal conference committee process to combine the House and Senate versions of the bills, which differ significantly.

"We don't know what route we will take," she said during a press conference on Capitol Hill. "We will take the route that does the job for the American people."

Pelosi was pressed about whether she would open the negotiations to C-SPAN cameras, as the cable network requested in a letter to her Tuesday morning.

One reporter noted that during his campaign, President Obama had advocated for airing the health reform deliberations. "Really?" Pelosi responded. "There are a number of things he was for on the campaign trail."



After her slight dig at Obama, Pelosi referred the matter to Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a junior member of her leadership team. "Mr. Van Hollen, would you like to respond?"

Van Hollen argued that the health reform process has been transparent, but he did not commit to opening future negotiations. "There will obviously be discussions between members of the House and Senate and we will continue to keep the American people informed as we have on the earlier stages of this legislation," he said.

Pelosi agreed. "There has never been a more open process for any legislation in anyone who serves here's experience."

Several senior House Democrats, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, balked before the Christmas break at the notion of foregoing a conference committee to preserve the votes of moderate senators, who warned they would not support a future bill that is significantly different than the one passed by the Senate passed on Christmas Eve.

But Rep. Charlie Rangel of New York said pointedly today, "The Senate should know that we need 218 votes over here."

Democratic leaders from the House and Senate will meet at the White House with President Obama this evening to begin negotiations on the bills and to discuss the process to be used to move legislation through the chambers for final passage.

CRISFIELD: Page Elmore to host town hall meeting tonight

Del. Page Elmore, R-38A, will hold a town hall meeting tonight in Crisfield to discuss issues facing the Maryland General Assembly in the upcoming session.

The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 319 W. Main St.

The public is invited to discuss any concerns they have.

Elmore also has two more meetings scheduled: Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Somerset County Office Complex in Princess Anne and Monday at 7 p.m. at Fruitland City Hall.

The 2010 session of the General Assembly begins Jan. 13 in Annapolis.

VIA

WTH: Women under age 55 please sign-in before you pee

I was in a Doctors office today and they had several signs concerning the restroom. The signs were on the entrance door at eye level, beside the toilet and one in another place. These signs were bright florescent in color so they couldn't be missed.

The signs read;

"All women that are under 55 years old and are patients please see the desk before using the bathroom"

As many Dr's offices that I've been in I have never seen a warning for women under 55 to consult the desk before using the restroom. WTH?

Anyone know what this is about?

Golden Retriever Saves Boy from Cougar

Dog is man's and boy's best friend.

CBC News reports that on Saturday night, 11-year-old Austin Forman was gathering firewood in his Boston Bar, B.C. backyard when his 18-month-old golden retriever ran towards him, jumping over a lawn mower and right into the path of a charging cougar.

"I knew at that moment that I would have to go get help, otherwise [Angel] wouldn't have any hope," Austin told CBC News.

Austin ran into the house, where he and his mother called 911. When Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrived at the scene, they found Angel under the back porch with the cougar's jaws gripped around her neck. Constable Chad Gravelle shot two rounds into the cougar's rear end, but it continued to attack Angel. Gravelle then got closer to the cougar and shot again, instantly killing the cougar, who still had Angel's face clenched within its jaws, CTV.ca reports.

"I feel very, very lucky. If it wasn't for my dog, I don't think I would be here," Austin told CBC News.

The dog came out of the ordeal with some extensive injuries, including a fractured skull, according to NBC's "Today." She has undergone surgery to repair the damage, and her vets hope for a full recovery.

"She was my best friend, but now she's more than a best friend," Austin told CBC News. "She's like my guardian now."

VIA

Is this the weirdest moment in Wheel of Fortune history?

Wheel of Fortune has been on over a quarter of a century, so there have been a lot of mess-ups and weird moments on the show. But there are few as weird as last night, when none of the contestants could get "Regis Philbin & Kelly Ripa," even AFTER the entire puzzle had been revealed!

Teen Girl Killed by Amtrak Train

MIDDLE RIVER, Md. (Jan. 5) – Amtrak says it expects a normal rush hour after a fatal accident near Baltimore caused delays along the Northeast corridor for much of the day.

Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero says delays continued for several hours after the 9 a.m. Tuesday accident, and some midday trains were canceled. Maryland's commuter train service was also affected.

Baltimore County police say the 14-year-old victim was struck and killed by a southbound train that hit her from behind as she walked along the tracks on the way to school. Friends and relatives of the victim, Ann Marie Stickel of Middle River, placed a plastic foam cross with a picture of her near the scene of the accident Tuesday afternoon.

A friend walking with Stickel was not injured.

Michael Steele Uses Slur in Hannity Interview

I mean seriously... who in their right mind would be offended by this? But then again they were, so obviously not in their right mind. And they have the gall to call it a "slur"??? libs... geeze

In an interview with Sean Hannity, GOP chairman Michael Steele said that the Republican Party platform is "one of the best political documents that's been written in the past 25 years -- Honest Injun on that."

The term "Injun," an intentional mispronunciation of the word "Indian," is widely seen as a derogatory way to refer to Native Americans. In 2006, Democratic congressional candidate Steve Kagen apologized for using the term during a public appearance.