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MSNBC’s Maddow: Keith Broke Rule But Fox News Is Way Worse

WHAAAA, WHAAAAA, WHAAAA!!!  Can the liberal leftist MSNBC get any more lame?

How can Madcow sit there with a straight face and blame Fox News for the actions of Dip-weed Kieth Olbermann? He clearly broke the rules of HIS employer so if he wants to live by the rules of another network maybe he should find another job and MSNBC should fire Madcow for taking up so much on-air time with her diatribe of disdain and total disagreement of her own employer. 

Both Madcow and Olbermann are a waste of good oxygen IMOH

Sumbuddy call da whambulance !!

Transcript:

You may have heard today that my friend and colleague Keith Olbermann was temporarily suspended from his job hosting Countdown on this network, because he made three personal political donations to candidates in this last election cycle. The reason that resulted in Keith’s suspension is that, here at MSNBC, there is an explicit employee rule against hosts making contributions like that. You can do it if you ask in advance, and if management tells you ‘okay.’ That’s what I understand happened with our morning show host’s political donations in 2006 under previous management. But if you don’t ask in advance for an exemption from the rule, you are more bound by the rule. For the record, the rule applies to us hosts here at MSNBC and NBC News staff. CNBC is not under NBC News, so CNBC staffers are not bound by the same thing.
I understand this rule. I understand what it means to break this rule. I believe that everyone should face the same treatment under this rule. I also personally believe that the point has been made and that we should have Keith back hosting Countdown. Here’s the larger point though. That’s going mysteriously missing, from all the right-wing cackling and the beltway, old-media cluck cluck clucking about this. This is what I think is missing.
Let this incident lay to rest forever the facile, never true, bullpucky, lazy conflation of Fox News and what the rest of us do for a living.

Mediaite’s extended transcript is here.

VIA: THE BLAZE

Al-Qaida Claims Responsibility For Mail Bombs

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates(AP) – A Yemen-based al-Qaida group on Friday claimed responsibility for the international mail bomb plot uncovered late last week as well as the crash of a United Parcel Service cargo plane in September.

A week after authorities intercepted packages in Dubai and Britain that were bound for the U.S., al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula issued a statement taking credit for the plot and saying it would continue to strike American and Western interests. The group specifically said it would target civilian and cargo aircraft.

"We have struck three blows at your airplanes in a single year. And God willing, we will continue to strike our blows against American interests and the interests of America's allies," the group said in a message posted on a militant website.

The authenticity of Friday's claim could not be immediately verified. A U.S. intelligence official said authorities are not surprised to see this claim now.

U.S. officials have said all week that there were strong indications the plot originated with al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, a terror group that has become al-Qaida's most active franchise and has increasingly carried out attacks on Western targets.

Authorities in the U.S. and the UAE have said the Sept. 3 crash of the UPS plane in Dubai shortly after takeoff was caused by an onboard fire, but investigators are taking another look at the incident following the parcel bomb plot.

A security official in the UAE familiar with the investigations into the UPS cargo plane crash in Dubai and the mail bombs plot told The Associated Press Friday that there is no change in earlier findings and that the UPS crash in September was likely caused by an onboard fire and not by an explosive device.

"There was no explosion," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity under standing UAE rules on disclosing security-related information.

A UPS spokesman, Norman Black, said his company had "no independent knowledge of this claim by al-Qaida," and noted that both UAE officials and U.S. National Transportation Safety Board officials have so far ruled out the possibility of a bomb as cause in the crash.

In its statement, al-Qaida's Yemeni offshoot said that it "downed the UPS airplane but because the enemy's media did not attribute the act to us, we kept silent about the operation until we could return the ball once more.

"We have done that, this time with two explosives, one of them sent via UPS, the other via FedEx."

It said that its "advanced explosives" give it "the opportunity to detonate (planes) in the air or after they have reached their final target, and they are designed to bypass all detection devices."

Both mail bombs were hidden inside computer printers and wired to detonators that used cell-phone technology and packed powdered PETN, a potent industrial explosive.

The message also directed a warning to Saudi Arabia, which was instrumental in passing along the key tip that led to the discovery of the bombs: "These explosives were directed at Jewish Zionist temples, and you intervened to protect them with your treason. God's curse on the oppressors."

Al-Qaida's offshoot in Yemen grew strength after several key leaders escaped from a Yemeni jail in 2006. In 2009, it was further bolstered by a merger with Saudi al-Qaida militants to form al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

The group first made a stunning show of its international reach in December, when it allegedly plotted a failed Christmas Day attempt to blow up a passenger jet over the U.S. The Obama administration branded the terror group a global threat, and has dramatically stepped up its alliance with Yemen's government to uproot it.

"AQAP continues to probe for weaknesses in our ability to disrupt, detect or stop their operations," said Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican who serves on the House intelligence terrorism subcommittee.

He expressed little surprise at the claim, saying:

"They are agile and determined. So must we be."

www.yahoo.com

Couple Wins Lottery - Gives Almost All Away

Allen and Violet Large figured they were lucky enough already.

So when the Canadian couple hit it big in the lottery this year, they decided to give it away -- all of it. Since their July win, the elderly couple has donated nearly every cent of their $11.2 million winnings to charity. Call it the Larges' largess.

"What you've never had, you never miss," Violet Large, 78, told The Chronicle Herald in Canada. She and her 74-year-old husband, who live in Nova Scotia, said they first made sure their family was taken care of. But then, she said, they decided the money was "a big headache."

So in a matter of just four months, they gave away the rest of their millions to the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and local churches, according to The Chronicle Herald. They also donated money to the hospitals where Violet Large was fighting cancer this year.

The Larges play the lottery twice a week and say they'd never won more than $1,000 before this year. But July 14 was different. After choosing numbers in "Lotto 649" that day, Violet Large said she first thought they'd won only $10. Then, she took a closer look and was in shock. "'Oh my God,'" she said she told Allen that day at the couple's home, according to the Truro
Daily News. "I said, 'Come and check these numbers.'"

But Allen Large, a retired steel worker, said he was more concerned with his wife's health than with the cash. "That money that we won was nothing," he said. "We have each other."

Violet, who has completed her treatment, told the paper that she and Allen were happy to be done with the money and have no interest in living extravagantly. "We're the lucky ones," she said. "I have no complaints." The humble couple, who did not immediately return a call for comment today from AOL News, will not say how much they gave to each charity.
www.aol.news

Change Those Batteries !

With the onset of Eastern Standard Time now is the perfect time to replace the batteries on your smoke detector. Smoke detectors have saved millions of lives since they came onto the scene in the 1970s. The devices which typically cost around $10 and placed properly cut the chances of dying in a fire by over half.

Homes with working smoke detectors stand a far less chance of being heavily damaged in a fire than those who don't them. Fire officials state that properly placed smoke detectors offer the best protection against fire damage or injury.

Smoke detectors should be placed in the hall way outside sleeping rooms and at various locations in the living area of the home. Placing smoke detectors directly in kitchens isn't advised because cooking can trigger them.

If you would like to learn more about these life saving devices log onto:

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pyfff/smkalarm.html
www.shoredailynews.com

Remember To Change Your Clocks

The annual change over from Daylight Savings Time to Eastern Standard Time takes place tonight.

Officially at 2 AM clocks the change takes place although most change their clocks back before going to bed.

Eastern Standard Time will remain until next March.

Beginning on Sunday the sun will rise and set one hour earlier.

A Thankyou To Supporters

I want to thank my supporters for all of their sacrifice and efforts during my campaign. Your prayers have sustained me, your encouragement has lifted me and your votes have humbled me.

As we move from campaign to governing, I ask that you continue to pray for Maryland and our country. We will face many challenges, but we will face them together.

I affirm my commitment to communicate the actions being discussed and those acted upon by the General Assembly, and to always be a strong voice for the Eastern Shore.

Mike McDermott
Pocomoke City
Maryland House of Delegates -ELECT
District 38-B

Punkin Chunkin This Weekend !!

When it comes to performing before large outdoor crowds, Discovery Channel's "Mythbusters" hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman have some experience.

After all, it was just last weekend when the duo warmed up the crowd at Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" in Washington D.C.

On that day, aerial photography analysis commissioned by CBS News estimated that the rally drew about 215,000. So when Savage and Hyneman host this weekend's Punkin Chunkin, which drew about 80,000 people last year, their nerves should be calm.

With about 115 teams competing in the pumpkin-flinging event and Discovery Channel television crews crawling across the Wheatley farm working on this year's specials, Punkin Chunkin Association spokesman Frank Shade has a prediction for this weekend: "Absolute chaos -- controlled mayhem."

For the third year in a row, Discovery Networks will produce a special at this weekend's event to be simulcasted Thanksgiving night on both the Discovery and Science channels with Savage and Hyneman serving as hosts. A one-hour "Road to Punkin Chunkin" documentary will air the night before, Nov. 24, on the Science Channel.

"Next to football games, turkey and pumpkin pie, Punkin Chunkin is a national Thanksgiving tradition," Clark Bunting, Discovery Channel president and general manager said in a statement announcing this year's programming, which will be filmed at the event site near Bridgeville at the Wheatley Farm.

It's hard to underestimate the power of the Discovery Channel exposure for Delaware's quirkiest event, which officially kicks off Friday at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Sunday with the naming of this year's champion. Before 2008, the event drew about 30,000 to 50,000 spectators. Last year's record crowd of 80,000 is expected to be surpassed this year.

"We could go well into six digits," Shade predicted. "The Discovery folks have put us over the top."

Mike Sorensen, executive producer of the Science Channel's Punkin Chunkin specials, said last year's Punkin Chunkin coverage was the highest-rated special in the channel's history, drawing in plenty viewers across the country to watch what was once Delaware's own secret.

"It's American ingenuity at its best," Sorensen said. "People get a peek into this world. The machines are incredible. The people are great. And they are really into it, fighting for bragging rights."

This year, the television crew for the specials have doubled to about 40 people, he said, adding that slow motion cameras and new technology usually used to track golf balls for television audiences will be used for the pumpkins for the first time.

Punkin Chunkin's relationship with Discovery goes back to 2003, when the cable network first produced its first pumpkin-filled hour-long special. Back then, about 65 machines competed in front of about 25,000 people. The television exposure wasn't completely new. In the mid-'90s, "The Late Show with David Letterman" famously flung pumpkins down 52nd Street in Manhattan and several cable networks have aired segments on the event over the years.

Sorensen said Savage and Hyneman are perfect to host Punkin Chunkin and the pair will lean on their own engineering expertise while inspecting the machines and interviewing participants.

"This is absolutely their territory and their crowd," he said. "Their engineering knowledge is unmatched. And I think once we get them with the characters there and their machines, it'll be such a great fit. This event was really made for these guys."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: 25th annual World Championship Punkin Chunkin

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, with the winner announced at 5 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: The Wheatley farm near Bridgeville. From U.S. 113, take Del. 40 (Redden Road) west to Chaplain's Chapel Road. Turn left, and the site is straight ahead on the right.

COST: Admission is $9 per adult and $2 parking per vehicle. Children under 10 are free.

FULL SCHEDULE AND DIRECTIONS: www.punkinchunkin.com.

www.delawareonline.com

Indian Media Said It Was A $200 Million Per Day Trip

No, President Obama's trip is not going to cost $200 million a day.

That figure -- first thrown out by a single Indian media outlet and now viral on conservative talk radio -- is wildly off the mark.

The problem is that the costs for these trips are impossible to determine, for many of the president's expenses would be incurred whether he was visiting India or Atlanta or simply hanging around the White House. Obama's India trip starts an Asian swing that includes South Korea, Indonesia and Japan.

The administration isn't inclined to detail costs, most of which deal with security.

"The numbers reported in this article have no basis in reality," said White House spokesman Tommy Vietor. "Due to security concerns, we are unable to outline details associated with security procedures and costs, but it's safe to say these numbers are wildly inflated."

To be sure, these trips do cost millions of dollars per day.

Whenever a president travels, he or she takes a mini-White House with them, from bulletproof limousines to gaggles of aides. This can come in awfully handy when trouble happens, such as the terrorist attacks on 9/11 when George W. Bush was in Florida. Ronald Reagan was traveling in Asia when the Chernobyl nuclear plant in what was then the Soviet Union blew up in 1986.

Foreign trips are expensive but are a staple of presidential duties. India is a rising economy power. It is next to -- and has an intense rivalry with -- one of the world's most dangerous countries, Pakistan. It can be a counterweight to threats from China. Any president is going to deal with India.

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim majority nation. South Korea is the site of a G-20 global economic summit. Japan is hosting the annual Asian economic summit, which Obama's predecessors also attended. There's no evidence that Obama's team is spending any more money than its predecessors, taking inflation into account.

Yes, these gigs will cost money. But $200 million a day? Not even close.

One other thing to keep in mind: The Secret Service is not going to let anything happen to a president overseas if they can help it. They're going to do -- and spend -- whatever it takes. That's just a fact of life.

One last thing: The media organizations accompanying Obama will pay their own expenses.

www.usatoday.com

So how much will it cost and who is picking up the tab???

Accomack County Court

Accomack County Commonwealths Attorney Gary Agar Reports the following cases were heard in Accomack Countys Circuit Court:

Cathy Jones, 45 of Onancock, was found guilty of welfare fraud and passing bad checks.

Rory Tomlin, 19 of Melfa, was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment and a youthful offender program for attempted robbery, maliciously shooting at an occupied vehicle and use of a firearm.

Davon Davis, 21 of Painter, was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment and a youthful offender program for armed burglary, attempted robbery and use of a sawed off shotgun.

Anthony Turner, 33 of Painter, was sentenced to one year imprisonment for distribution of cocaine.

Jason Rienerth, 20 of Onancock, had probation revoked on the original charges of attempted burglary, grand larceny and burglary.
www.shoredailynews.com

Help Support "OPERATION WE CARE" !

BERLIN -- Barrett Chevrolet is now a drop-off location for donations to Operation We Care. The dealership is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The dealership is located at 10419 Old Ocean City Blvd. and backs up to Route 50.

Operation We Care will pack boxes on Nov. 14, the Sunday following Veterans Day, to be distributed to our military personnel deployed in harm's way. Boxes will be delivered before the holidays. The donation list is available online at www.easternshorehog-com. Cash donations will be used for postage, as each box costs $12.50 to ship to the troops. The Ocean City Post Office delivers most of the boxes to Iraq and Afghanistan in about a week to 10 days.

If you know a local member of our military who is deployed or is soon to be deployed, please contact Jeff Merritt, coordinator of Operation We Care, at 410-713-8940 or jemerritt314@-yahoo.com.

www.worcestercountytimes.com

No Beer Summit For The Republicans

President Obama has just given Slurpee something it could never buy: global street cred.

Hours after the leader of the free world jokingly suggested at Wednesday's day-after-election press conference that he might hold a "Slurpee Summit" with the new Republican leadership, the brand of slushy soft drinks is in overdrive to make the summit real.

"This is a rare opportunity for a brand," says Margaret Chabris, a spokeswoman for 7-Eleven, which owns 44-year-old Slurpee. "We don't want to be opportunistic, but nothing has ever been this big for Slurpee."

This is what brands dream about. Bud Light got a big PR lift after Obama drank a Bud Light at the White House "Beer Summit" in July 2009. That brought together Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and James Crowley, the police sergeant who arrested him.

During recent campaign speeches, Obama said Republicans stood around drinking Slurpees while Democrats did the hard legislative work. Now, Slurpee's getting the last laugh. Already in motion:

•Negotiations. White House officials were contacted late Wednesday by officials representing 7-Eleven with a proposal for the Slurpee brand to cater a Slurpee Summit between key Democrats and Republicans. The summit could be at the White House — or wherever the president chooses.

"If the president wants a Slurpee Summit, we're offering to cater it with red and blue Slurpees — and we'll even offer a purple Slurpee, since that's what you get when you bring red and blue together," Chabris says.

7-Eleven's request to the White House was made via the public relations firm New Partners, which has many employees who worked on the Obama campaign in 2008.

•Advertising. 7-Eleven on Friday will place an ad in national newspapers that plays off the idea of Slurpees bringing people together, says Chabris. One concept in discussion is a picture of a purple Slurpee with a red straw and a blue straw sticking out.

•Strategy. Slurpee is re-evaluating its brand strategy. It's looking at a new theme to be a drink that "brings people together," says Chabris.

Consultant David Aaker says it doesn't get any better. "If they actually have a summit, it's worth tens of millions of dollars in free advertising."

Strategy guru Mark Coopersmith says Slurpee should quickly go big in social media, nudging folks to have Slurpee Summits to solve problems.

"How often do you get the leader of the free world to associate your brand with all of these positive elements?"

www.usatoday.com

Congressman Elect Rigell Lays out Plan to Reshape Washington

Congressman-elect Scott Rigell has released his plan for reforming Congress. In the plan, Rigell states he attempt to reshape the mindset in Washington, forcing elected officials to be more transparent and frugal with taxpayer dollars.

Rigell says he will aim to change Congressional pensions plans to be more similar to 401(k)s as well as ending free lobbyist and foundation sponsored travel. The plan includes a call to institute 12 year term limits for representatives, posting committee votes online and restoring congressional offices' operating budgets to 2008 levels.

"I want to be very proactive and reach out to all parts of our community," explained Rigell. "We will make absolutely no distinction in constituent service, I will make that so clear to my staff. I'm optimistic that we'll reach out to folks who might not have reached out to us."

Rigell also spoke about the Eastern Shore. "I am proud of our commitment to the Eastern Shore," he said. "One of the first calls I made after learning I had won was to my good friend Ooker, the Mayor of Tangier, and he said 'Scott, we're going to turn out for you on Tangier.'"

Rigell is set to be inaugurated in January.
www.shoredailynews.com

Oh my Gourd!

Here are some photos taken of the pumpkin village taken at the Dallas Arboretum. 

Anger Management

You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up

 CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Hat Tip; Kack

Oglesby Holds Narrow Lead In Race With Todd

SNOW HILL — The Worcester state’s attorney race narrowed when absentee ballots were counted, but candidate Beau Oglesby retained a 107-vote lead over incumbent Joel Todd.

When election officials finished counting about 1,500 absentee ballots Thursday, Todd, a Democrat, had received 739 additional votes. Oglesby, a Republican, added 701 absentee votes.

That cut down the vote lead Oglesby earned on Election Day, but did not reverse it.

“This time four years ago, I was up by two [votes], and now I’m up by 107,” Oglesby said, referring to a razor-thin 2006 contest in which Todd prevailed by 14 votes. “It’s a much better place to be.”

Several hundred absentee ballots Worcester officials mailed out to voters who asked for them haven’t yet been cataloged or counted. Ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 and received by the time officals count absentees again on Nov. 12 could still be counted as valid votes.

“We’re quietly optimistic,” Oglesby said. “There’s still enough votes out there to make a difference, so we’ll stand by and see what happens.”

Todd did not return a call for comment late Thursday.

In another close Worcester county race, for District 4 commissioner, incumbent Democrat Virgil Shockley slightly widened his lead over Republican Ted Elder.

Shockley earned 93 absentee votes, for a total of 1,257; Elder garnered 79, for a total of 1,172. Shockley now leads by 85 votes.

www.delmarvanow.com

Worcester County Commissioner Seat - District 1

It must have been a difficult decision for Bobby Cowger to opt out for reelection this year. Lots of Worcestor County citizens hate to see him go.

We truly thank him for being so devoted and wish Bobby the best.

Here is the man that will and can fill his shoes! Merrill W. Lockfaw, Jr.
Just like Bobby, Merrill Lockfaw, is a man you can trust and believe in. He is a man that will work for the citizens and the communities.

Merill has a wonderful family, is a devoted person to his community, his church, fire department and country.

CONGRATULATIONS MERRILL !!

And good luck!

20 TONS Of Pot Found Near Tunnel By U S Border

SAN DIEGO – Federal authorities in San Diego have made one of the largest marijuana seizures in the United States, confiscating 20 tons of pot near an underground tunnel connecting warehouses on either side of California's border with Mexico, officials said Wednesday.

Mexican authorities seized another four tons of pot from the warehouse on their side of the border. Officials said the lightening-speed, 12-hour operation started Tuesday night when U.S. authorities watching a warehouse under surveillance followed a tractor-trailer as it left the building.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents called in the California Highway Patrol, whose officers stopped the rig near Temecula and authorities found 10 tons of marijuana inside. The driver, a U.S. citizen, and his Mexican wife were arrested and will be arraigned in San Diego on Thursday.

Authorities quickly obtained a federal search warrant to go inside the warehouse, where they discovered 10 to 15 tons of marijuana — worth an estimated $20 million, said ICE director John Morton.

They also found a wood door that opened to a hole leading to the tunnel, running the length of six football fields, under the border and into a warehouse in Mexico, Morton said. Officials found packets being ready to be moved into the United States from the tunnel, which had lighting, ventilation and a rail system to send loads of illegal drugs into California.

"This is not a mom-and-pop operation. This is obviously the work of a cartel," said Morton, who held a news conference outside the warehouse in an industrial park near the Otay Mesa truck crossing, across from Tijuana.

Officials said the seizure was the largest ever in California and was believed to be the second-largest in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized 33 tons of marijuana in Oregon in 2008, DEA special agent Ralph W. Partridge said.

www.yahoo.com

McDonald's Happy Meals May Become UnHappy Meals In San Francisco

In another significant vote on the health front Tuesday, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors took a big step toward an ordinance against restaurants handing out toys as part of junky kids' meals.

Can you say McDonald's Happy Meal? We thought you could.

In an 8-3 vote, the board passed a preliminary version of a new rule that forbids toy freebies with meals that don't meet minimum nutritional standards.

"This is a challenge to the restaurant industry to think about children's health first and join the wide range of local restaurants that have already made this commitment," Supervisor Eric Mar, who introduced the legislation, said in a statement.

How high is the bar? Not as high as you might think.

Here's the lowdown on what kind of meal would qualify.

Calories: Less than 600

Sodium: Less than 640 milligram.

Fat: Less than 35 percent of calories from fat; Less than 10 percent from saturated fat (with exception for nuts, seeds, eggs or low-fat cheese).

Meals would also have to offer fruit or vegetables.

Mayor Gavin Newsom has said he would veto the ordinance. But if a final vote, expected next week, goes like this one, it would be veto-proof.

McDonald's is unhappy. "We are extremely disappointed with this decision," company spokeswoman Danya Proud said in a statement. "It's not what our customers want, nor is it something they asked for."

The fast-food chain says research shows the proposal is "unrealistic" because kids aren't likely to eat the sorts of meals stipulated by the ordinance.

www.npr.org

Flea-Control Chemicals Can Be Harmful To More Than Just Pets

Fleas are obnoxious and if you've seen your pet scratching a lot or, worse yet, are bitten yourself, you know how itchy and uncomfortable the jumpy little insects can be. But when it comes to treatment, rather than use chemicals, your first moves should be to keep your pet indoors and vacuum and comb to sweep up fleas and eggs. Flea collars and sprays may seem like an easy solution, but they often contain chemicals that can harm your pets, your children and you.

Many flea and tick formulations are safe when used as directed, but two alarmingly toxic chemicals are found in some products. Called tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur these chemicals are potentially harmful to pets and their humans at the levels found in today's flea collars. The humans at greatest risk from these chemicals are young children, especially toddlers who spend a lot of time hugging, stroking, and sleeping with their pets.

Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) is used in flea and tick collars, powders, and sprays, while propoxur is found only in the collars. Both chemicals are in products marketed for cats and dogs. Flea collars release the chThese chemicals kill by jamming communications between nerve cells in insects. On the most basic level, however, we humans are not all that different from insects. Our human nervous system (and our pets' nervous systems) utilize the same nerve cell messaging system as the insect's, so TCVP and propoxur can harm not only insects but our pets and us. In high doses, these chemicals can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, sweating and tearing eyes. More severe poisoning can cause muscle twitching, drooling, seizures and death. Over the past decade, the Humane Society of the United States has received hundreds of complaints of pets experiencing severe reactions or death from flea collars.
Although the amounts in the residue left by flea collars are smaller than the doses that cause acute human symptoms, both TCVP and propoxur may cause long-term health consequences. Propoxur is known to cause cancer in humans, according to the State of California. TCVP is classified by the US EPA as a possible human carcinogen.

TCVP and other chemicals in the family known as organophosphates are also suspected of being linked to neurodevelopmental problems including impulsivity, hyperactivity and learning disabilities in children. A study published in June in the journal Pediatrics found that children with higher exposure to TCVP-like chemicals were more likely to be diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), although more research needs to be done to see if the association is causal.

Young children are most at risk, because they spend the most time at pets-eye view, playing on floors and putting their hands in their mouths. Children also have developing neurological systems that may be more vulnerable to toxic chemicals. Through pet collars, children are being exposed to levels of tetrachlorvinphos and propoxur that exceed the US EPA's acceptable levels, according to an NRDC study published in 2009. The study found that after three days, 100 percent of pets wearing a propoxur flea collar and 50 percent of pets wearing a tetrachlorvinphos collar had enough chemical on their fur to exceed the EPA's acceptable dose level for toddlers.

The EPA's acceptable dose is based on the toxicity of the chemical and the safety of the use of a particular product is determined by comparing the expected amount of exposure to the acceptable dose. In the case of flea collar chemicals, the EPA assumes that a typical child spends about two hours per day with his or her pet. But many children spend eight or more hours a day with their pets (including when sleeping), and many children have more than one pet, so a child's exposure can be higher than EPA models predict. Many consumers assume that whatever is on store shelves must be 100 percent safe for use around pets and children. But both these chemicals have significant health risks. Though still allowed for use in flea collars, propoxur has been banned for use in homes for other pests, although the State of Ohio last year asked EPA to approve it for residential use to treat bed bugs. The EPA denied the request in June, citing the unacceptable risk to children.

What you can do:

Start with chemical-free methods and use chemical treatments only when necessary.

Wash pet bedding (and your bedding, too, if your pet sleeps with you) in hot, soapy water.

Vacuum often to remove flea eggs, and replace the vacuum bag frequently.

Comb your pet daily with a fine-toothed flea comb. Dispose of any fleas you find.

If needed, try products made with essential oils of lemongrass, cedarwood, peppermint, rosemary or thyme.

If you are getting a new cat, keep it indoors so that fleas and ticks will not be a problem.

If non-chemical methods haven't worked, look for lower risk products. Check the label to make sure the product does not contain tetrachlorvinphos or propoxur or any of the other high risk chemicals. Make sure the product is suitable for your pet and follow the instructions carefully. The safest options, according to NRDC, are pill-based flea treatments.

Visit NRDC's http://www.greenpaws.org for a comprehensive list of brand-name products with their chemical ingredients and more information about health risks from pesticides. ___ For better health and sustainable living tips, articles and how-tos, visit NRDC SimpleSteps at: http://www.simplesteps.org/.

www.baltimoresun.com

White House Ups Ante With Iran - Tries To Save Woman From Hanging

Written by, Eleanor Clift

I'm sure the Obama administration will insist that the fuel deal they are attempting to revive with Iran has nothing to do with the White House's strongly worded rebuke of the government of Iran's intention to move forward with the execution by hanging of a 43-year-old woman charged with adultery.

The favored diplomatic term is "two-tracking," but it's pretty clear that Iran's treatment of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has made her a pawn in the much bigger geopolitical fight between Iran and the West. The White House press release went out on Election Day amidst fears by human rights groups that the execution was set to take place the following day. Instead, Ashtiani is reported in "perfect health" and being held at the Tabiz prison, according to a justice official quoted by the official Irna news agency.

Iranian officials have their own version of two-tracking. They claim to not pay attention to critics of the severe sentence, saying the execution has been delayed, not cancelled. Yet they condemn the West for "trying to use this ordinary case as a pressure against our nation" in the words of foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast. If that's what the West is doing, so far it's succeeding if success is defined by every day that Ashtiani remains alive.

She first came to the attention of human rights groups when her stoning sentence for adultery was upheld by Iran's Supreme Court in 2007. Since then, in an apparent concession to modernity, the Iranians have altered the sentence to death by hanging, which in their culture is a gesture to show mercy.

The White House statement points to "the lack of transparency and due process" in the case, euphemisms that hardly convey the extent of the Iranian government's actions, which include arresting Ashtiani's lawyer and her adult son, who has been working to try to free his mother.

In the meantime, the Obama administration together with its European allies is trying to entice Tehran into an arrangement where it would send a portion of its nuclear fuel out of the country for processing in exchange for lifting economic sanctions imposed by the West to hinder Iran's development of a nuclear bomb. A similar deal was proposed last year and rejected by Iran's supreme leader, but the administration thinks Tehran might now be ready to accept the restrictions because the latest round of sanctions are having a stronger impact than before on the Iranian economy.

The fact that the White House waded into the controversy over Ashtiani and the government's imposition of Sharia law at a sensitive time in the ongoing negotiations suggests a bigger agenda at play in both capitals. Tehran, by backing off from what the U.S. and its European allies consider unacceptable behavior, could gain a measure of trust as it proceeds with talks that would allow it to continue its nuclear program for peaceful purposes without the burden of economic sanctions that have begun to cripple the government. If Ashtiani is a pawn in this global game, it at least keeps her alive, although in what conditions one can only imagine.

www.politicsdaily.com

Wal-Mart To Begin Carrying Virginia Grown Produce

Virginia farmers will see an opportunity to improve their incomes under Wal-Mart Stores' plan to have more locally grown food in its U.S. stores.

Wal-Mart announced this month it hopes to double its sales of locally sourced produce in the U.S. by the end of 2015. Its goals is to have 9 percent of its produce come from local farms.
Tony Banks, a commodity marketing specialist for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, says farmers should be aware that greater returns are possible from the increased demand.

Some Wal-Mart stores in the state already carry Virginia peanuts and other local foods.
www.shoredailynews.com

Why Men Shouldn't Write Advise Columns

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Hat Tip; Eric

Trial Date Set For Justin Hadel

SNOW HILL — A three-day jury trial of the man accused of murdering Christine Sheddy, a missing woman whose remains were found last spring, is slated to begin Dec. 7.

Justin M. Hadel of College Station, Texas, who turns 20 next week, is charged with first-degree murder and first- and second-degree assault. Prosecutors say they believe he killed Sheddy on Nov. 13, 2007. Her family didn’t know her fate until last February, when her body was found buried in a Snow Hill yard.

In charging documents, police detectives said Hadel had been a guest at a home at 2911 Byrd Road, near Pocomoke, at the same time Sheddy was staying there, and that witnesses told police Hadel was responsible for her death. Court records show Hadel’s trial is expected to last three days, with closing arguments delivered Dec. 9.

www.delmarvanow.com

Reggie Mason Elected New Sheriff For Worcester County

REGGIE MASON WINS!!

Reggie T. Mason,Sr. (R) 12,083

Bobby Brittingham (D) 6,709

"My mission and dedication is to continue to serve the citizens of Worcester County to keep our children and families safe. The citizens are the eyes and ears of every community and I always welcome open lines of communication between the citizens and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. I am a true believer in giving back to the Community in which I serve. I will be accessible to the public for any needs or concerns that they may have. We need to work together to make Worcester County a safe place to work, live and raise our children. The Sheriff’s Departments success depends on the citizens of this county." Reggie Mason

Congratulations Reggie !!

District 38B Winner..............

Pocomoke Mayor Mike McDermott wins seat in Maryland House Of Delegates!




His goal when taking office will be removing regulations that keep industries and companies from settling in Maryland, with job creation his ultimate goal.

"We've been working on this campaign for two years," he said. "When I started, it wasn't necessarily a great time to be a Republican. Now, big government has fallen out of favor." Delmarvanow.com

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN, MIKE!

jmmb

State's Attorney Race- Absentee Ballots To Be Counted

SNOW HILL -- In a tight race and before absentee ballots were counted, challenger Beau Oglesby had an edge over veteran prosecutor Joel Todd in the race for Worcester County State's Attorney.

Oglesby, who led Todd by 169 votes late Tuesday night, knows what a tight race feels like; he was narrowly defeated by Todd in 2006.

"Four years ago, we were down by one vote on election night and ended up losing by 14," said Oglesby, a Republican. "We're in a much better position now. We're quietly optimistic this will hold but we're unsure how many absentee ballots are outstanding."

According to election officials, 1,500 absentee ballots have been collected and will begin being counted Thursday, although the final results of that count will not be known until Nov. 22. In addition, late Tuesday night ballots from three voting machines -- one each from Districts 1, 2 and 6 -- were being counted manually because of machine errors.

Although Oglesby led in the polls for much of the night, with 14 of 18 precincts reporting, Todd took the lead with 6,669 votes. Just after 11 p.m., however, when all 18 precincts' votes were tallied, Oglesby had regained a slight advantage.

Todd said early in the evening that if he did lose, it would not be because of political mailers from his campaign that the Worcester Republicans called unethical last week. On the mailers, Todd was pictured with several prominent people under a headline that read "Community Leaders Support Joel Todd," although some of them had not endorsed him. Todd's wife and campaign manager, Anita Todd, took the blame for sending the literature.

"If I lose the election, I don't think it has anything to do with that," Todd said as ballots were being counted.

Todd was joined at the polls Tuesday by Lynn Dodenhoff, the mother of Pocomoke City woman Christine Sheddy, whose body was found in Snow Hill earlier this year after she had gone missing. Dodenhoff said Todd was the only man she trusted to prosecute Justin M. Hadel, the man charged in Sheddy's death.

"I believe this is the only man who could prosecute my daughter's murderers," she said. "He's the only man that listened to me and stepped in, got the right people involved in her case."

Other races
In the sheriff's race, current chief deputy for the office Reggie Mason came out significantly ahead of Democratic challenger Bobby Brittingham. Mason received 12,083 votes, while Brittingham took 6,709.

In the Worcester County Commissioners races, incumbents came out ahead, with Commissioner Judy Boggs besting challenger John Bodnar in District 5 with 2,212 votes to his 1,301.

"It was a particularly satisfying win," Boggs said. "The people of Ocean Pines, by an overwhelming vote, demonstrated their confidence in me. I'm delighted by that and I'm looking forward to another four years."

www.delmarvanow.com

Rigell Ousts Nye In Second District

VIRGINIA BEACH — Republican Scott Rigell rode a wave of conservative voters to knock off freshman Democrat Rep. Glenn Nye, recapturing a Hampton Roads swing district for the GOP, the Associated Press is projecting based on exit polling.

Rigell, who owns a chain of car dealerships in Hampton Roads, pushed his business background as the main reason that local voters should send him to Congress, blasting Democratic leaders for deficit spending.

The congressional midterm elections are an important indicator of the nation's political mood, and Republicans were expected to reclaim control of the House of Representatives and perhaps even the U.S. Senate.

Rigell's victory is a boon for the Virginia Republican Party because the district, which includes parts of Hampton and Norfolk and all of Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore, had been reliably Republican for a number of years prior to 2008.

Nye knocked off incumbent Thelma Drake during the 2008 campaign by eking out narrow victories in Hampton and Norfolk and rolling up a few thousand vote advantage in traditionally conservative Virginia Beach.

This year, there were early reports of heavy voter turnout in downtown Hampton at Armstrong Elementary School, which usually breaks for Democrats on Election Day. But further north in Hampton at Asbury Elementary School in Fox Hill Rigell signs surrounded the precinct where Nye gear was hard to spot.

www.dailypress.com

Today At The Polls

Tells us about your day at the polls.

I voted late in the day, I got there around 7:30pm and I had to wait a couple of minuets because the verification table was full of people. When I was moved to the verification table I was asked my name, last name first, my address, which I gave them my PO box but they did at least ask for my physical address.

But.... and to me this is a BIG "BUT"; ... I had my I.D. (license) out and ready (and here's the "BUT") but they didn't ask for any I.D., notta, zip, zero, I was asked for nothing to prove I was who I said I was.


I could have been anyone, a dead person, a person from anywhere in the world, I could have given them any name and address I wanted too and I wouldn't have had to prove it. With that I ask. Why doesn't one need to show I.D. to prove they are who they say they are at the polls?

As I was waiting for a voting machine to become vacant I was talking to a volunteer asking if it had been this busy all day and he told me that it had not slowed down all day and that it was a little light at the time I was there but it had been very busy all day long. Way to go Pocomoke, y'all did your part by taking the time out of your busy schedule to go out and VOTE!

Now I must apologize for not having pictures of the many people at the polls but unlike some blogs/bloggers I believe that voting is a private matter, not only to whom you vote for but I believe it's a private matter and frankly no ones business whether you even voted or not.

So that's my day at the polls, tell us yours while I go put together the next article about Obama going to India on vacation and spending 200 million per day

FREE Alaskan Cruise for Seniors

Social Security

For the first time in history, the Democratic Congress will not allow an increase in the social security COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment).  In fact, The Henry J.. Kaiser Family Foundation predicts there may not be any COLA for the next three (3) years.  However, the per person monthly Medicare insurance premium will be increased from the 2009 premium of $96.40 to $104.20 in 2010 and to $120.20 for the year 2011.  Congress also gave themselves a $3,000.00 a month Cost of Living Adjustment!

Hat Tip; Kack