ClearysNoteBook

Health plans say they'll risk losing members to protect profit margins

http://www.ama-assn.org

The nation's largest publicly traded health plans say they don't plan to temper premium increases for the sake of keeping members on their rolls -- particularly not while they are under pressure from Wall Street over what it sees as their disappointing earnings.

While no plan said its overall membership has gone down, most say their risk-based commercial numbers -- representing traditional employer health benefits -- are declining or are not growing as quickly as anticipated. But health insurers say cutting premiums or reducing the rate of increase to keep customers would affect their bottom lines more than losing some members over premium hikes.

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FOSTERCHILD ON TOUR!

photo source: http://www.myspace.com/fosterchildmusic

As you know Danny is on tour with his band Fosterchild.

I would appreciate it if you could either call "106.5 The End" or shoot an email to divakar@106.5.com asking to hear "ON My Own" by Fosterchild. The phone number is 704-570-1065. Would also appreciate it if you could pass this along to your family and friends.

Check out the bands tour schedule at www.fosterchildmusic.com

Thanks, Ken MacAdams

 

IRS: Economic Stimulus Payments are on there way

Source Media Release, April 28, 2008

Payment Schedule

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has begun to transfer economic stimulus payments to millions of Americans, some of whom will see payments in their bank accounts as early as today.

The IRS will issue payments of up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples) plus $300 for eligible children younger than 17, throughout the spring and summer. The first wave of payments will go to people who opted for direct deposit on their 2007 income tax returns.

“People who chose direct deposit will receive their economic stimulus payments the quickest,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. “We know there are many people who are eligible for an economic stimulus payment who have not filed a tax return. If you think you may be eligible, even if you don’t normally file a tax return, please check it out. And, use direct deposit to get your payment faster.”

Whether a taxpayer opted for direct deposit determines how soon the payment will arrive. The first cycle of paper checks will be mailed starting May 9.

Even people who normally do not have a filing requirement may be eligible for the stimulus payment. People who have no filing requirement must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income. Qualifying income includes any combination of earned income, nontaxable combat pay they elect to include in earned income and certain payments from Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement.

People with at least $3,000 in qualifying income may qualify for an economic stimulus payment of $300 ($600 for married couples) plus the $300 per qualifying child payment. However, they must file a 2007 income tax return by Oct. 15 , 2008, to receive a stimulus payment. They can use the simple Form 1040A and provide basic information. Form 1040A is available on IRS.gov, the official IRS Web site.

The payment schedule announced earlier this year is for people who filed early enough to have their tax returns processed by April 15. People who did not submit a return in time for it to be processed by April 15 may see their stimulus payments later than the scheduled dates.

Below are the schedules for economic stimulus payments related to tax returns processed by April 15, 2008:

ROBBIE WILLIAMS OBSESSED WITH ALIEN HUNTING

http://www.contactmusic.com

Singer ROBBIE WILLIAMS is taking an indefinite hiatus from his pop career - to focus his time on investigating the existence of aliens.
The former Take That star has teamed up with British journalist Jon Ronson to record a radio documentary about extraterrestrials, in which the pair attend a UFO conference in Laughlin, Nevada to hear stories about alien abductions.
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Related: Brooklawn, My Encounter With a UFO

Bin Laden Discovered Working at Dunkin Donuts

http://www.thespoof.com...........April 19 by NickFun

Red-faced US military personnel have discovered that 9/11 terrorist Osama Bin  

A customer shot this picture of Bin Laden behind the counter at Dunkin Donuts

 Laden had been working at the Dunkin Donuts in Somerville, Massachusetts as recently as two months ago.

According to employee records, Bin Laden began working at the donut shop in March of 2005 using the name 'Oscar Smith'. He told coworkers that he was a Protestant from France even though he did not appear to speak French and insisted on facing east 5 times daily offering prayers in Arabic to destroy the US.

"I knew he looked like Osama but I thought it was just a coincidence", said Dunkin Donuts manager Joe Doneto. "He was a good worker until he blew up the store".

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Hillary Clinton Commemorated in Latest Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream - EmbellishMint

http://www.thespoof.com/news

Written by La Pluma....................April 19th,

Following in the traditions of such iconic personalized iced treats as Cherry Garcia and Phish Food, the very successful Vermont creamery has combined this year's hottest political topic, the Democratic Presidential campaign, with their always humorous, and insightful, marketing techniques. The result was the "better-with-every-bite" taste of Hillary Clinton's EmbellishMint. A cold served delicacy sure to be a hit for the elitist, the bitter and the unemployed alike.

Reportedly conceived shortly after the breaking story of Mrs. Clinton's sniper escapades in Bosnia, co-owner Ben Cohen imagined the possibilities of tying the former First Lady's tall-tale tendencies to a new taste in the Ben and Jerry arsenal. After conferring with his staff creamers, the idea became the company's latest ice cream creation.
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Actress Bullock unharmed in Gloucester car crash

April 19, 2008 01:01 PM

http://www.boston.com

GLOUCESTER -- Movie star Sandra Bullock and her husband were hit in a head-on collision by a drunk driver last night on East Main Street in this seaside town.

No one was injured, but both cars were towed. Lucille P. Gatchell, 67, of Gloucester was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to stay in marked lanes, a police report said.

Gatchell's blood alcohol level was .20, more than twice the legal limit, the report said.

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Postage to Increase yet Report Shows Post Office Officials among others abuse credit cards

http://ohmygov.com

The report noted a number of outrageous cases of fraud, waste, and abuse via the card program.  These cases included:

• A postmaster at USPS used his government purchase card to fraudulently subscribe to two Internet dating services over 15 consecutive months. (Not surprisingly, a love connection was never made.)  The cardholder paid restitution of over $1,100 but faced no disciplinary action for this fraud.
• A Department of Agriculture employee fraudulently paid over $642,000 to her boyfriend which was used for personal expenditures, such as gambling, car loan and mortgage payments, and other retail purchases over a 6-year period.  The woman was turned in by a whistleblower, sentenced to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of over $642,000.
• USPS paid over $13,000 for 8,121 conference attendees to dine at an upscale steak restaurant which cost over $160 per person.
  
• read more
  

BILLY HARNER WILL SHOWCASE HIS NEW BAND “THE PERKULATORS” AT THE AUCTION HOUSE IN AUDUBON, NJ.

Media Release

 
AUDUBON, NJ – April 12, 2008 - Billy Harner will be appearing live for the first time with is newly formed band "The Perkulators" at The Auction House music venue on Saturday, April. 12, starting at 8pm.

Photo: Billy Harner with Chalie Grace

This concert will kick off Billy Harner's 2008 "Then, Now and Forever" east coast tour.

Billy has assembled some of the best musicians in the region to support the tour. Beside "The Perk" belting out lead vocals are Robert Eric - Keyboard and back-up vocal, Chris Stevenson – Lead Guitar and back-up vocal, Ben Poore - Bass Guitar and back-up vocal, Tom Callan – Drums and back-up vocal. Warming up the crowd before "The Perkulators" performance will be local favorites Ashley Jones & Ray Brown.

The Auction House music venue has a brand new state of the art sound system and is located at 100 West Merchant St, Audubon, NJ. The show is being hosted by Russ Edwards. Tickets are $15.00 and can be reserved through the venue web site (http://www.auctionhouseevents.com) and purchased at the door.

Billy Harner's amazing musical career spans 4 decades. Early on he was nicknamed "The Human Perkulator" by the famous Philadelphia DJ "Hy Lit" because of his strong voice and energy-packed stage performances.

The Perk, as all his friends call him, has recorded on several record labels including Kama Sutra of the MGM & Paramount Records empire as well as the famous Cameo Parkway Record Company. Billy Harner was the first white artist signed by Atlantic Records and connected with a hit song: "Message To My Babe". Some of Billy's other hits include: "Sally Sayin' Somethin", "She's Almost You" (written by Joe South), "I Struck It Rich", (written by the award winning songwriting team of Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff), "Homicide Dresser", "Human", "What About The Children" and more.

The Perk still lights up a stage as bright as lightning. Like a combination of the late great James Brown and Mick Jagger, his live performances are nothing short of electrifying and Red Hot. And he's better now than he has ever been. Billy hopes that all of his fans worldwide will enjoy his brand new CD titled "Billy Harner, The Human Perkulator, Then, Now and Forever!" The 14 song CD produced by Millville, NJ songwriters Nelson Trout and Curt Schad on the Shoutback Records label includes brand new versions of his hits as well as a couple of outstanding new songs that Billy wanted to surprise you all with.

Billy's new CD can be purchased at The Auction House merchant booth and can be autographed by the band after the show. It can also be digitally downloaded at the following web sites

www.BillyHarner.com

http://cdbaby.com/cd/billyharner

http://www.myspace.com/thehumanperkulator

VENUE ADDRESS:

The Auction House 100 West Merchant St., Audubon, NJ 08106 

856-546-7755 

http://www.auctionhouseevents.com

78 Year Old Missing Man

Media Release April 4, 2008

New Castle County Police are trying to locate 78 year old Bayard Thompson of the 1300 block of Valley Stream Village, Newark.

On Thursday (4/3) at 10:47 p.m., we responded to Mr. Thompson's home and made contact with his adult son who reported that his father had not been seen for several hours.  The son advised that Mr. Thompson had been visiting an ill family member at the Christiana Hospital earlier in the day, but left the hospital at 8:30 p.m. and was supposed to be returning home.

Mr. Thompson's son advised that he suffers from Alzheimers and frequently gets disoriented and loses his way.  Mr. Thompson should be operating his 2000 silver/gray Toyota Corolla bearing Delaware registration HP5345.

Mr. Thompson is 5'10", 170 lbs, has gray hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing blue jeans.  If anyone sees Mr. Thompson or knows where he is, they are asked to contact their local authorities, or the New Castle County Police at 302-573-2800.

 

                                                          Bayard Thompson

MINNESOTA DECLARED THE HEALTHIEST STATE

IN THE 2008 EDITION OF HEALTH CARE STATE RANKINGS FROM CQ PRESS

Washington DC, March 26, 2008—For the first time since 1999, Minnesota is the Healthiest State in America. The North Star State ousts long-time winner Vermont, which held the title for six of the last seven years. Following Minnesota are New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts. At the opposite end of the rankings, Mississippi falls to last place. Joining Mississippi on the less healthy end of the rankings scale are Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Florida.

 

The rankings are contained in Health Care State Rankings 2008: Health Care Across America.  

Source: http://os.cqpress.com/Healthiest%20State%202008_Rankings.pdf

Pilot's Gun Discharges on US Airways Flight

source http://www.nationalterroralert.com

Pilot’s Gun Discharges On US Airways Flight

March 24, 2008

A US Airways pilot’s gun accidentally discharged during a flight from Denver to Charlotte Saturday, according to as statement released by the airline. The statement said the discharge happened on Flight 1536, which left Denver at approximately 6:45am and arrived in Charlotte at approximately 11:51am.

The Airbus A319 plane landed safely and none of the flight’s 124 passengers or five crew members was injured, according to the statement. It was a full flight. And airline spokeswoman said the plane has been taken out of service to make sure it is safe to return to flight.

A Transportation Safety Administration spokeswoman reached by WCNC Sunday said the pilot is part of TSA’s Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, which trains pilots to carry guns on flights. Andrea McCauley said the gun discharged in the cockpit, but she could not release how the gun was being transported at the time. She did not release the pilot’s name, but said he was authorized to carry the weapon and was last requalified in the FFDO program last November.

A statement from TSA said the airplane was never in danger, and the TSA and the Federal Air Marshals Service are investigating the incident.

Fat Joe vs. the Volcano

source http://www.villagevoice.com

It's Grammys weekend, and Fat Joe, the self-described "Susan Lucci of the Grammys," is boycotting the festivities. He's in L.A., but he's not going to the Staples Center's main event this year, because he's sick of losing out to the "booji backpackers," those conscious rappers that he says run a hip-hop "secret mafia."

Sitting in the back of the Sheraton Universal Hotel lobby, the charismatic, dough-faced, veteran Puerto Rican MC makes his case as a hip-hop populist. It's believable. For one thing, at the moment, he and his large crew are surrounded by fanny-packing parents and hyperactive kids who've spent the day on the Revenge of the Mummy ride, and he's nonetheless frequently recognized. A cloth napkin tucked into his oversized white T-shirt, he talks between bites of a giant shrimp salad and swallows of a startlingly bright-red beverage.
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Word of the Day

Word of the Day - Monday March 17, 2008

greenwash

A play on the term "whitewash," it lampoons the way companies play up the environmental benefits of a product (or policy), in order to deflect attention from other, less savory aspects.

Click here for more info...

Annual Self-Help Guide for Celebrating St Patrick’s Day

Submitted by Joseph O'Donnell, of Gloucester City

Coast Guard Searches for Woman who jumped from cruise ship

Posted: 09 Mar 2008 02:02 PM CDT

MIAMI — The Coast Guard is searching for a 39-year-old woman reported to have jumped from the cruise ship Costa Mediterranea early Sunday morning 20 miles southeast of Key Largo, Fla.

The Costa Mediterranea’s crew notified the Coast Guard at 1:18 a.m. reporting that the woman’s boyfriend, traveling aboard with her, said she had become angry and agitated and then unexpectedly jumped overboard.

The Coast Guard Cutters Farallon and Confidence, a HH-65C Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Miami and a C-130 Hercules from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., were dispatched to conduct the search.

The Coast Guard Cutter Confidence is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homported at Port Canaveral, Fla.,

The Coast Guard Cutter Farallon is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Miami.

This article is from Coast Guard News.

Tell Congress enough is enough

Hi Bill,

In the weeks following the Sept. 11 attacks, engineers at the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility in Washington, D.C. recognized that rail cars full of chlorine gas posed a huge risk to the nation's capital. The chief engineer of the facility literally couldn't sleep at night. He quickly switched from chlorine to a safer alternative -- making 1.7 million nearby residents much safer.

So why do nearly 7,000 facilities across the country each endanger more than 1,000 people by continuing to use and store dangerous chemicals?

It's because year after year, the chemical lobby has derailed chemical security bills to preserve a dangerous status quo.

The most effective way to make chemical plants safer and more secure is to replace dangerous chemicals with safer ones. This month, the House Homeland Security Committee is working on a new bill to require chemical facilities to do just that. Help us convince them to push past the chemical lobby and pass the bill this year.

Allison Cairo
NJPIRG Executive Director
AllisonC@njpirg.org
http://www.NJPIRG.org

. Click here to sign our petition:
http://www.njpirg.org/action/toxics/hsc_petition?id4=ES

Blogs for Victory*

source http://mccain.blgsforvictory.com

What a crazy election, and what an amazing comeback.

It’s only a few months ago that in New Hampshire the local media was reporting Senator McCain was riding commercial flights carrying his own bags; and that his campaign’s SUV had a flat tire (literally the tire went flat when driving away from a campaign event). Now he’s locked up the nomination, and it seems almost anti-climactic as everyone pretty much knew it was coming.

However, people shouldn’t forget what an incredible story this is. Granted McCain’s lived another comeback story that is far more impressive. However, in political terms this is about as good as it gets.
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Times Square Recruiting Station Bombing Causes Minor Damage

American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 6, 2008 - No one was injured and only minor structural damage was reported after a bomb went off outside the Armed Forces Recruiting Station in New York City's Times Square early this morning. The bomb went off at about 3:45 a.m., cracking the glass door, bending the door frame and shattering the large glass window in front of the station, said Army Capt. Charlie Jacquillard, the commander for the six Army recruiting stations in Manhattan. The station, jointly manned by Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps recruiters, is possibly the most well-known recruiting station in the world. "Our troops are dedicating to carrying out our mission despite obstacles or adversity," Jacquillard said. "We will demonstrate strength of character by remaining open despite this incident." U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, has begun assessing damage for immediate repair to get the station back to operation as soon as possible. Times Square recruiting station commander, Army Sgt. 1st Class James Latella said he is very happy to be opening tomorrow to demonstrate to the public that his troops' mission will continue on as usual. "Although not confirmed as a deliberate act against the U.S. Army or military in general, our soldiers remain committed to their recruiting mission and it's our intent to have the Times Square recruiting station reopened as soon as possible," said Army Col. Michael Negard, U.S Training and Doctrine Command chief of Public Affairs. Incidents of harassment and vandalism against military recruiters – in the form of spitting, threatening words, graffiti and broken windows – are not uncommon since many recruiters reside in leased office buildings outside the confines of military installations and are susceptible to personal attacks, Air Force officials said. "This is not the first time one of our offices has been used to demonstrate, but violence is not tolerated and law enforcement officials will find the perpetrator and prosecute," said Brig. Gen. Suzanne M. Vautrinot, Air Force Recruiting Service commander. "I must commend Air Force officials for doing a superb job of responding, reporting and accounting for their people." Army officials said that while the incident is being investigated, all Army recruiting stations have been told to assume a higher level of awareness. Civil and federal authorities are investigating the bombing. (Air Force Recruiting Service and U.S. Army news releases were used in this report.)

Biographies: Brig. Gen. Suzanne M. Vautrinot, USAF

We Were Hunting Harry: Taliban

               

source www.newser.com Posted 14 hours, 14 minutes ago                                    

               

                   

 

                               
                                Source: Associated Press                            

                                                                          (newser) – Taliban militants knew Britain's Prince Harry was deployed with his infantry unit in Afghanistan and were plotting to kidnap or kill him, one of their leaders tells Newsweek. Deputy Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Karim claims he learned of the presence of "an important chicken" as long ago as December, despite attempts by British Army brass to keep the prince's presence a secret.  •  "He is our special enemy," said Karim of Harry. "Our first option was to capture him as a prisoner, and the second, to kill him." His men twice reported possible sightings of Harry in the Helmand district but never got close to their target, said Karim. Harry, whose job was to call in air strikes on Taliban positions, was extracted from the war zone after the Drudge Report blew a British press blackout on his deployment.                                    

                                   

    Source: Newsweek

Flood of drugs, little oversight*

source www.chicagotribune.com

By the time St. Louis Children's Hospital called in its infectious-disease specialist Jan. 4 to diagnose a mysterious spike in allergic reactions to kidney dialysis, it was clear there was a major problem

A Baxter team visited the plant in September. By that time, though, timelines produced by Baxter, the FDA and the CDC indicate the suspect heparin already was making its way through the Baxter supply chain. The production line stretches from Baxter's Deerfield headquarters, to Scientific Protein's offices in Waunakee, Wis., to Changzhou, China, and back to Cherry Hill, N.J., where the heparin produced by Scientific Protein is processed, poured into bottles and shipped to hospitals around the country.

Then, in late December, the troubles started. Reports from hospitals showed a spike in allergic reactions to one dosage strength of multidose vials of the clear liquid drug. The reactions were particularly aggressive: More than 40 percent of the patients with ill effects were classified as serious—meaning death was a possibility.

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Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Parasailer

Media release, March 2, 2008

TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. - The Coast Guard suspended its search for a reported parasailer in the water about one-mile west of Sunset Beach in Treasure Island, Fla., at 10:50 p.m., Sunday.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Fla., received a call from St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, reporting that witnesses saw a motorized parasailer spiral downward and land in the water.

Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg, Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., Eckard SAR, St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue, Treasure Island Police Department and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office have searched the area since about 7 p.m. with no signs of anyone in the water.

The Coast Guard has received no reports of overdue or missing persons, and the case has been suspended pending further developments.

A Global Incident Map Displaying Terrorism and other suspicious events

A unique site. When you click on the website link below, a world map comes up showing what strange & dangerous things are happening right now in every country in the entire world & is updated every few minutes. You can move the map around, zero in on any area & actually upload the story of what is going on. This map updates every 300 seconds... constantly 24/7.

http://www.globalincidentmap.com/home.php

Click on any icon on the map for text update information. It's not just about terrorism - it's about everything happening every minute some place in the world of terrorism threats, explosions, airline incidents, etc.

submitted by brother George

American Legion News

Immigration Imbroglio: The latest Immigration policy as been covered from every angle in the long, long string of debates among presidential candidates. But the Bush administration isn't rolling over on the controversial issue just yet. Instead, it is rolling out new requirements - and new fines - for companies that knowingly hire illegal READ MORE
Extended care for combat veterans Military veterans who served in combat since Nov. 11, 1998, including veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, are now eligible for five years of free VA medical care READ MORE
Veterans small business workshop The American Legion Small Business Development Workshop is scheduled for April 1-2 during the Legislative Conference at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel in Washington. The free workshop will provide READ MORE
The last American "doughboy" With the passing of 108-year-old Harry Landis earlier this month in Florida, America has only one known living veteran of World War I remaining: 107-year-old Frank Buckles of Charles Town, W.Va. Buckles is READ MORE

The Vatican to outlaw communion in the hand?

source www.cfnews.org

The Vatican wants the Host "placed directly into the mouths of the faithful so they don't touch it (with their hands)... because many don't even realize they are receiving Christ and do this with scant concentration and respect," Ranjith said.
The distribution of Communion on the hand has been widespread since Vatican II. The practice came about by ecumenically-minded priests distributing Communion according to the Protestant method.

Yet Protestants introduced Communion in the hand in the 16^th Century to manifest their rejection of belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist; to emphasize the fact that the bread used in their services is simply ordinary bread that can be handled by anyone; and to manifest their rejection of the sacramental priesthood.

The practice also defies the ancient Catholic teaching enshrined in traditional rubrics that only the consecrated hands of the priest may touch the Sacred Host.
 

La Stampa quotes Ranjith saying the practice of Communion in the hand was "illegally and hastily introduced by certain elements of the Church immediately after the Council".  "Some people keep hosts with them as a sort of souvenir, others sell them while in some cases the hosts have been taken away to be used in blasphemous Satanic rituals," he said.
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Ten Point Elder-Plan

(reprinted with permission of Larry Elder (photo) source www.larryelder.com.

1) Abolish the IRS 
Pass a National Sales Tax--Also known as the "Let's Make Tax Lawyers and Lobbyists an Endangered Species Act." A simplified tax code gives lobbyists little to lobby about. A low tax rate spurs people to work harder without resorting to schemes to "shelter" income. At the turn of the century, government took 10 percent of the national income. Now it takes nearly 40 percent. Low taxes means higher productivity and greater job creation. Let's welcome any move to reduce our tax burden, whatever form it takes.

2) Reduce Government by 80 percent 
Less than 2 percent of Americans are farmers, yet the Department of Agriculture adds still more bureaucrats. And what exactly does the Department of Commerce do? Do we need the Small Business Administration? Amtrak? The Tennessee Valley Authority? Department of Education? Before 1950, the government largely stayed out of the housing business. Now we have housing projects in all of our major cities. They have become sewers of crime and drugs. The government, an absentee landlord, couldn't care less. The private sector can build housing more cheaply, with an incentive to maintain the property and screen tenants.

3) End Welfare, Entitlements and Special Privileges 
Welfare for the poor works out to a national average of $12,000 to $13,000 a year (cash and non-cash) per recipient. Why work at minimum wage? Why worry about impregnating someone when the government shields you from financial responsibility? But welfare for the non-poor, or entitlements, are five times as bad. This includes Social Security (the average recipient has put in fifteen cents for every dollar he or she takes out), Medicare, tuition tax credits, farm and dairy subsidies, tobacco subsidies, as well as government ownership or control of airports and utilities.

4) Abolish the Minimum Wage 
A low-paying job remains the entry point for those with few marketable skills. The minimum wage hurts the so-called hard-core unemployable by forcing an employer to pay more than the fair value of labor. Every time the government raises the minimum wage, thousands of entry-level jobs get destroyed.

5) Legalize Drugs 
Legalization does not mean approval. America spends at least $20 billion a year to fight a losing battle against drugs. (Research by William F. Buckley places America's direct and indirect costs of this "war" at more than $200 billion a year.) Experts say that worldwide, the annual drug trade may be as high as $500 billion! "Just say no" ain't gonna stop that. The drug trade provides an economic incentive for children and teens to drop out of school and earn fast money. It accounts for 50 percent of all street crimes and perhaps 30 percent of the prison population. Tax drugs, and use the money for drug treatment and additional police protection. Drug legalization would free up prison spaces, vacancies that could be used to lock up violent criminals. What about the harm to society? Drug abuse would have to increase well over fivefold to match the deaths caused by cigarette smoking (allegedly 400,000 a year).

6) Take Government Out of Education 
Before the mid 1800s, elementary and secondary education (except for slaves) was largely parent financed. Today, taxpayers spend more than $6,000 a year per student, more than virtually any other country, including Japan. With what result? Poor test scores, high dropout rate, kids incapable of filling out employment applications. Why can't the private sector assume this responsibility? Let's cheer anything, including vouchers, that takes us in this direction.

7) Drop the Davis-Bacon Act 
This little-known act compels contractors bidding on government jobs to pay union wages. This cuts out competent, non-union workers willing to work for less. This hurts minorities, many of whom were for years discriminated against by unions.

8) Eliminate Corporate Taxes 
The government taxes corporate profits and re-taxes the dividends, taking money otherwise used to reduce prices, pay higher dividends, pay higher salaries, or invest in research and development. More corporate investment means more jobs.

9) Charity from People Not Government 
During the 1980s, the "decade of greed," charitable contributions by corporations and private citizens increased by at least 30 percent! Why? People had more disposable income, paid fewer taxes, and therefore gave more away. Americans are among the most generous people on Earth. But people want their money to go to people and organizations that they choose and trust.

10) End Protectionism 
How many people know that Japanese trucks and minivans cost $2,000 more due to import tariffs? Government-mandated "price supports" force consumers to pay more for milk. Government goodies for the tobacco and sugar industries stiff consumers. Congress imposes a mind-boggling array of rules and regulations to protect declining, inefficient businesses, while taking money away from new ones.

Massive power outage hits Florida

source http://edition.cnn.com

Utility spokeswoman Aletha Player said an investigation is ongoing, and provided no details of the failure. But she said the 700,000 customers affected by the outage in southern Florida should have power restored by 5:30 p.m.

Outages were reported from Miami to Jacksonville on Florida's east coast and as far north as Tampa on the Gulf Coast, police and utility officials said.

The outage occurred shortly after 1 p.m., the company said. 

A strong cold front and scattered thunderstorms moved through the region, including one that prompted a tornado warning for Fort Lauderdale, the National Weather Service reported.
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World Net Daily strikes again!

source www.phillyfuture.com

Not long ago, groundless paranoid conspiracy allegations were floated against John McCain. What irritated me was not the idea that some crackpot would be making the allegations, but that such claims are being treated as "news" -- and are then believed by bloggers who ought to know better. In the case of the McCain allegations (he was said to have turned traitor and to have been living high in Hanoi with two prostitutes while pretending to be a prisoner), the smear was easily debunked by Ed Morrissey. (And by one of McCain's fellow POWs.) 

Obviously, no responsible person should take these kinds of smears seriously, and normally I wouldn't. After all, I don't spend much time debunking 9/11 Truther business, as it's beneath me.

But when they are repeated by news outlets that should know better, when bloggers who should know better take them seriously, at that point a certain line is crossed.

Just as I couldn't ignore the outrageous smear against John McCain, I find myself unable to ignore the latest outrageous and unsubstantiated accusation against Barack Obama.

Once again, the biggest culprit turns out to be WorldNetDaily. (Via Shaun Mullen at the Moderate Voice who treats the link with the skepticism it deserves.) 

Apparently, WND is proud to break this "story" -- and their readers are congratulating them:

Today the conservative website prides itself on being the only news organization to report - and by report, I mean use the headline 'Sleaze charge: I took drugs, had homo sex with Obama' - that some guy in Illinois posted a YouTube video alleging that he had sex and used drugs with Sen. Barack Obama in November 1999.

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HEARTS, MINDS AND SOCCER BALLS

source http://www.legion.org

An Army major stationed in Iraq mentioned a strong belief of his in an e-mail home: The way to win hearts and minds in the global war on terrorism is by building strong relationships with youngsters growing up in a world of violence and death.

That single idea led to the mid-February shipment of more than 5,000 soccer balls, mainly from California, bound for kids in Iraq and Afghanistan.

An Army major stationed in Iraq mentioned a strong belief of his in an e-mail home: The way to win hearts and minds in the global war on terrorism is by building strong relationships with youngsters growing up in a world of violence and death. That single idea led to the mid-February shipment of more than 5,000 soccer balls, mainly from California, bound for kids in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Commander Al Andres of Post 431 in Parkesburg, Pa., along with fellow veterans working for Cisco Systems Inc., led an effort to collect the soccer balls. The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) was good for 5,000 of them, and an organization called Mark's Hope, created in memory of an Army captain killed in Iraq in 2004, added another 300.

The shipping cost presented a big problem.

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ClearysNoteBook Staff

Bill Cleary
Editor
BillGCN@verizon.net

Bruce Darrow
Photos/Sports
LionsRams@aol.com

Steve Skipton
Photos/Fire News
camdenfirespfn@gmail.com

Bill Bates
Mt. Ephraim News/photos
bbates45@yahoo.com

Rich Luongo
A Few Thoughts
editorial_66431@verizon.net 

Hank Miller Jr.
When East meets West

Daisy Dailey
Gossip Columnist

Connie L. Woods
Office Manager

Snopes: Malicious Valentine Storm Day Email Alert

If you receive an email with any of the following subject lines (click link below for list) please delete the email immediately. These emails contain a link or attachment that when clicked could infect your computer with a Trojan Horse.

The emails are easy to identify by Subject Line and the body. The body contains a short message and a link that uses an IP address rather than the domain. Example http://127.0.0.1

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/valentine.asp

A STUDY IN RELATIVE SLEAZE / OBAMA AND CLINTON*

January 26, 2008 at 14:30:11  by Allen L Roland  http://www.opednews.com