DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Hail the size of a tennis ball fell in the town of Blair, Nebraska
Hail the size of a tennis ball fell in the town of Blair, Nebraska and the damage it caused was quite remarkable.
Get Off the Dole and Get a Job: Ben Carson
Get a job. Weed a garden, wash cars, pick vegetables – whatever you have to do to make a living and avoid being on the dole. It can help save the U.S.A.
That’s one of the messages in conservative activist Ben Carson’s new book, One Nation: What We Can Do to Save America’s Future. “It may not make you a millionaire, but certainly can pay the bills and put food on the table,” says Carson, not caring a whit about political correctness, something he’s well known for disdaining.
The former pediatric neurosurgeon argues that individual actions and responsibility can help right a nation badly off the rudder of fiscal and economic responsibility. The message – however much it grates against blue-state sensibilities – is resonating. His book debuted at number one on The New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list several weeks ago and is still hovering near the top – a notch below Hillary Clinton’s new memoir, Hard Choices, as of this week.
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That’s one of the messages in conservative activist Ben Carson’s new book, One Nation: What We Can Do to Save America’s Future. “It may not make you a millionaire, but certainly can pay the bills and put food on the table,” says Carson, not caring a whit about political correctness, something he’s well known for disdaining.
The former pediatric neurosurgeon argues that individual actions and responsibility can help right a nation badly off the rudder of fiscal and economic responsibility. The message – however much it grates against blue-state sensibilities – is resonating. His book debuted at number one on The New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list several weeks ago and is still hovering near the top – a notch below Hillary Clinton’s new memoir, Hard Choices, as of this week.
More
President Obama's Buzzed On Suds Great Adventure
Whew. Exhausting. Especially exhausting must be trying to change pace and pivot through the fundraising parties, knowing they’re thrown by those much maligned “fat cats” (Obama’s words, not mine).
The president conveniently disparages these fat cats in public, but in private their group hugs are a whole lot of cuddlin,’ purrin’ and rolling over for more tummy tickling from the one who feeds them. And it wasn’t hairballs any felines coughed up Tuesday just to hear Obama talk…and talk…and talk some more.
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Price of Beef Rose 35% Under Obama
If you’re going to Cleveland, talk about the price of beef.
The increases since June 2009 are: Beef and veal: +35.2%, Pork: +27%, Fish and seafood: +20.1%, Eggs: +33.1%, Dairy: +16.1%, Fresh Fruits: +13.8%.
At the same time, Average Hourly Earnings have increased by 10.1%.
The net effect is a severe downgrade of lifestyle. It means that meat becomes less affordable for more families.
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THE DOGMA OF DRUG PROHIBITION: NEITHER YOUR LIFE NOR YOUR DEATH BELONGS TO YOU
In their casual depravity and genteel sadism can be seen the true nature of the entity called the “State”
Benton Mackenzie is suffering from terminal angiosarcoma, an aggressive variety of cancer that has left his body mottled with grotesque lesions. In the hope of enjoying what remains of his life, the 48-year-old Iowa resident has grown marijuana in order to distill cannabis oil to treat his condition. When this became known to the local Prohibition soviet, police raided his home, stole 71 marijuana plants, and arrested Mackenzie and his wife on “drug conspiracy” charges.
Yesterday, as Mackenzie was scheduled to testify in the Vyshinskyite farce called his “trial,” he was incapacitated by pain and hallucinations and had to be rushed to the hospital. This development will not deter or delay the functionaries in charge of the proceedings, who insist that they will wrap things up by Friday. District Court Judge Henry Latham and Assistant Scott County District Attorney Patrick McAlyea have conspired (no other word is suitable) to suppress any mention of Mackenzie’s condition as a defense for his actions, contending that Iowa statutes only permit the use of cannabis oil for treatment of “intractable epilepsy.”
It is not an exaggeration to say that those officials are doing everything they can to extract the last full measure of agony from a desperate, dying, and helpless man who has done no injury to anybody. In their casual depravity and genteel sadism can be seen the true nature of the entity called the “State.”
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Benton Mackenzie is suffering from terminal angiosarcoma, an aggressive variety of cancer that has left his body mottled with grotesque lesions. In the hope of enjoying what remains of his life, the 48-year-old Iowa resident has grown marijuana in order to distill cannabis oil to treat his condition. When this became known to the local Prohibition soviet, police raided his home, stole 71 marijuana plants, and arrested Mackenzie and his wife on “drug conspiracy” charges.
Yesterday, as Mackenzie was scheduled to testify in the Vyshinskyite farce called his “trial,” he was incapacitated by pain and hallucinations and had to be rushed to the hospital. This development will not deter or delay the functionaries in charge of the proceedings, who insist that they will wrap things up by Friday. District Court Judge Henry Latham and Assistant Scott County District Attorney Patrick McAlyea have conspired (no other word is suitable) to suppress any mention of Mackenzie’s condition as a defense for his actions, contending that Iowa statutes only permit the use of cannabis oil for treatment of “intractable epilepsy.”
It is not an exaggeration to say that those officials are doing everything they can to extract the last full measure of agony from a desperate, dying, and helpless man who has done no injury to anybody. In their casual depravity and genteel sadism can be seen the true nature of the entity called the “State.”
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John Wayne's Family, University 'Duke' It Out Over Whiskey
The North Carolina school filed several objections when the actor's descendants filed for federal trademarks to use "Duke" to sell products, but the latest came last year when John Wayne Enterprises launched "Duke Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey," according to court documents.
Duke University's claim that "Duke Bourbon" can "cause confusion and dilution" that hurts the school's recruiting and reputation "is ludicrous," Wayne's family said in a lawsuit filed this month in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
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BREAKING NEWS: Stockman Files Motion Ordering The Arrest Of Lois Lerner
WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Stockman Thursday filed a resolution directing the House Sergeant-At-Arms to arrest former IRS Director of the Exempt Organizations Unit Lois Lerner on charges of contempt of Congress.
“Asking the Justice Department to prosecute Lois Lerner for admittedly illegal activity is a joke. The Obama administration will not prosecute the Obama administration. How much longer will the House allow itself to be mocked? It is up to this House to uphold the rule of law and hold accountable those who illegally targeted American citizens for simply having different ideas than the President,” said Stockman.
“Democrats have openly stated the House has the powers to arrest those in contempt of Congress and imprison them in the Capitol. I don’t want to go as far as Democrats in exercising the House’s powers to arrest. Ms. Lerner will be held in the D.C. jail,” said Stockman.
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“Asking the Justice Department to prosecute Lois Lerner for admittedly illegal activity is a joke. The Obama administration will not prosecute the Obama administration. How much longer will the House allow itself to be mocked? It is up to this House to uphold the rule of law and hold accountable those who illegally targeted American citizens for simply having different ideas than the President,” said Stockman.
“Democrats have openly stated the House has the powers to arrest those in contempt of Congress and imprison them in the Capitol. I don’t want to go as far as Democrats in exercising the House’s powers to arrest. Ms. Lerner will be held in the D.C. jail,” said Stockman.
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Higher Wages Won't Spur Growth
America's Economic Woes: Why Jobs Are Scarce, Wages Low and Government Can't Help
Americans keep hoping for a robust recovery — one that delivers better-paying jobs and decent returns on retirement savings. Changes in technology and the economy may require that never happens, and government efforts to improve conditions often multiply the misery.
In 1908, Henry Ford had a great idea — the Model T — and a novel understanding of mass production, but needed huge amounts of capital to build factories, establish dealers to sell and service mass-produced cars and maintain a large corps of managers and assembly workers.
His success inspired competitors and whole new industries making everything from agricultural implements to zippers. For three generations, those created enormous demand for capital and jobs for millions in manufacturing and supporting services.
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Americans keep hoping for a robust recovery — one that delivers better-paying jobs and decent returns on retirement savings. Changes in technology and the economy may require that never happens, and government efforts to improve conditions often multiply the misery.
In 1908, Henry Ford had a great idea — the Model T — and a novel understanding of mass production, but needed huge amounts of capital to build factories, establish dealers to sell and service mass-produced cars and maintain a large corps of managers and assembly workers.
His success inspired competitors and whole new industries making everything from agricultural implements to zippers. For three generations, those created enormous demand for capital and jobs for millions in manufacturing and supporting services.
More
Power Outage In Delmar
The Fire Department is at Delmar Pizza celebrating Delmar Little League Champions.
See Photos Of The Queenstown Estate Up For Auction
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The estate was built in 1989 on an 18-acre peninsula on Wye Narrows Drive on the Wye River in Queen Anne's County and will be sold during auction on July 19.
The 22,600-square-foot Georgian-style home overlooks more than 2,000 feet of shoreline in DeCoursey Cove, according to auction officials.
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Beware Of Another Local Phone Scam
Joe,
I have once again been called by a group of scammers who say that they're from Microsoft and want to do a scan of my computer and sell me a protection package.
The call, this time from 980 757 8819 (Charlotte, NC), was from a man who identified himself as a Microsoft representative. I've had calls from them before, both from New York City and Las Vegas, NV, each time a man with a heavy Indian accent (Indian from India, not a Native American) who says he's from Microsoft and has some common English name, like Steven.
.
This is a scam! They will attempt to gain control of your computer(s) and scan all of the contents of your hard drive. They will insert a password or code in your computer (unbeknownst to you) and ask you to buy their non-existent virus protection programs for a varying fee (up to $250). If you refuse, they will allow the password to prevent you from accessing your computer. They will then call you back and demand money to remove the passcode. They will ask that you send them money from you bank account via your credit or debit card, paid to a money delivery service, which will be nearly impossible to get a refund from.
It looks like the scam originates in India, one of them being an outfit called KBK Infotech.
Please let your readers know about this. Anyone who gets their call should blow them off, but note the telephone number from which they call, then report them to the Federal Trade Commission. If they are unlucky enough to be drawn into the scam, they should also call their local police department to report what is a theft. They will probably never see their money again, but reporting them may eventually get some Federal response and action to snare these weasels.
Thanks.
I have once again been called by a group of scammers who say that they're from Microsoft and want to do a scan of my computer and sell me a protection package.
The call, this time from 980 757 8819 (Charlotte, NC), was from a man who identified himself as a Microsoft representative. I've had calls from them before, both from New York City and Las Vegas, NV, each time a man with a heavy Indian accent (Indian from India, not a Native American) who says he's from Microsoft and has some common English name, like Steven.
.
This is a scam! They will attempt to gain control of your computer(s) and scan all of the contents of your hard drive. They will insert a password or code in your computer (unbeknownst to you) and ask you to buy their non-existent virus protection programs for a varying fee (up to $250). If you refuse, they will allow the password to prevent you from accessing your computer. They will then call you back and demand money to remove the passcode. They will ask that you send them money from you bank account via your credit or debit card, paid to a money delivery service, which will be nearly impossible to get a refund from.
It looks like the scam originates in India, one of them being an outfit called KBK Infotech.
Please let your readers know about this. Anyone who gets their call should blow them off, but note the telephone number from which they call, then report them to the Federal Trade Commission. If they are unlucky enough to be drawn into the scam, they should also call their local police department to report what is a theft. They will probably never see their money again, but reporting them may eventually get some Federal response and action to snare these weasels.
Thanks.
NEW STATE POLICE FORENSICS LAB DIRECTOR APPOINTED
(Pikesville, MD) – Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus L. Brown today announced a veteran forensic scientist with a broad range of expertise including DNA technology has been appointed as the new crime laboratory director.
Daniel E. Katz has been appointed director of the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division. Katz has worked in the Forensic Sciences Division since May 2007. Since January 2014, he has served as Acting Director of the Forensic Sciences Division, following the retirement of former Director Teresa Long.
“Dan Katz is an outstanding leader with significant credentials and experience who has already had an integral role in helping develop our lab into the preeminent scientific facility it is today,” Colonel Brown said. “The Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division is vital to the state’s crime fight because of the evidence analysis support the dedicated scientists there provide to any requesting police department. Dan will continue to build on the foundation of scientific excellence already established there and will work to expand the lab’s capabilities and services to Maryland’s law enforcement community.”
“I am grateful for this opportunity and the honor to lead the committed scientists, crime scene technicians, and support personnel who are a part of the Forensic Sciences Division,” Director Katz said. “This Division will continue to be a leader in forensic sciences support as we work together to unlock the secrets of crime scene evidence to identify the guilty and exonerate the innocent.”
Daniel E. Katz has been appointed director of the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division. Katz has worked in the Forensic Sciences Division since May 2007. Since January 2014, he has served as Acting Director of the Forensic Sciences Division, following the retirement of former Director Teresa Long.
“Dan Katz is an outstanding leader with significant credentials and experience who has already had an integral role in helping develop our lab into the preeminent scientific facility it is today,” Colonel Brown said. “The Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division is vital to the state’s crime fight because of the evidence analysis support the dedicated scientists there provide to any requesting police department. Dan will continue to build on the foundation of scientific excellence already established there and will work to expand the lab’s capabilities and services to Maryland’s law enforcement community.”
“I am grateful for this opportunity and the honor to lead the committed scientists, crime scene technicians, and support personnel who are a part of the Forensic Sciences Division,” Director Katz said. “This Division will continue to be a leader in forensic sciences support as we work together to unlock the secrets of crime scene evidence to identify the guilty and exonerate the innocent.”
10-year Sentence For Ex-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin
U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan handed down the sentence Wednesday morning.
Nagin was convicted Feb. 12 of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from businessmen who wanted work from the city or Nagin's support for various projects. The bribes came in the form of money, free vacations and truckloads of free granite for his family business.
The 58-year-old Democrat had defiantly denied any wrongdoing after his 2013 indictment and during his February trial.
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Coburn: 'For $8M, We Can Put them All on a First-Class Seat Back to Their Homes'
(CNSNews.com) - On the same day President Obama asked Congress for $3.7 billion dollars to deal with the crisis at the Southwest border, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) called it "the wrong approach."
"Look, for $8 million, we can put them all on a first-class seat back to their homes. That's $8 million. That's a first-class seat, one way, to each of their homes," Coburn told CNN's "Crossfire" on Tuesday.
"That's $60,000 per child that we're going to spend, in emergency money. Can we -- first of all, that shows just how incompetent we -- we can't do that for $3(000) or $4,000 per child? That's No. 1.
"No. 2 is, if we can't do that, the Border Patrol is as bad as the V.A. And by the way, the vast majority of Border Patrol are not patrolling the border right now. They're involved in the humanitarian crisis."
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"Look, for $8 million, we can put them all on a first-class seat back to their homes. That's $8 million. That's a first-class seat, one way, to each of their homes," Coburn told CNN's "Crossfire" on Tuesday.
"That's $60,000 per child that we're going to spend, in emergency money. Can we -- first of all, that shows just how incompetent we -- we can't do that for $3(000) or $4,000 per child? That's No. 1.
"No. 2 is, if we can't do that, the Border Patrol is as bad as the V.A. And by the way, the vast majority of Border Patrol are not patrolling the border right now. They're involved in the humanitarian crisis."
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To The Person Who Keeps Sending In Comments Under Phony Names
The comment below is just ONE example of many that come in each and every day in which we REJECT. Hey Stupid, have you even noticed we have been rejecting ALL of your comments? If you want to continue to waste your time creating all these stupid names and making stupid comment, so be it. Just know we will continue to reject your stupidity. Look up the definition of INSANITY. Here's your 15 minutes of fame.
I think the KKK Flag should fly....
Obama administration tracking Muslim candidates for military, Pentagon positions
WASHINGTON — The administration of President Barack Obama has been identifying Muslims in the military in an effort to encourage their presence.
Officials said the Defense Department has been keeping records and tracking Muslims. They said the administration sought to attract Muslims both to the military and to the Pentagon.
“Our nation and our entire military family remain stronger because of the service and sacrifice of people of all faiths, including the thousands of patriotic Muslim Americans who have served and still serve in this long period of war,” Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work said last week.
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Officials said the Defense Department has been keeping records and tracking Muslims. They said the administration sought to attract Muslims both to the military and to the Pentagon.
“Our nation and our entire military family remain stronger because of the service and sacrifice of people of all faiths, including the thousands of patriotic Muslim Americans who have served and still serve in this long period of war,” Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work said last week.
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The New Feudalism
It’s not too late to stop it from undermining our liberal republic.
There is a specter haunting America — the specter of neofeudalism. Especially in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008, many Americans have felt considerable anxiety about the trajectory of the nation’s affairs, fearing diminished economic prospects, a heightening of social strife, and the possibility of the powerful making themselves less accountable to, and more removed from, the body politic as a whole. This anxiety can be seen on both the left and the right, fueling the rise of Elizabeth Warren and grass-roots Tea Partiers alike. Americans on both sides of the aisle worry about institutional dysfunction, an out-of-touch self-dealing elite, scorched-earth cultural controversies, the implications of the rise of post-national ideologies, the deification of tribalistic identity, and the failure of our economy to recover as threatening the civic compact of the Republic. The concept of “neofeudalism” offers one way of grouping together and understanding these major contemporary tendencies. The realization of a neofeudal vision could pose significant challenges for economic opportunity, free-market principles, and the traditional aspiration of a unified yet diverse American body politic.
In 2013, demographer Joel Kotkin warned that California was slipping into a condition of neofeudalism. According to Kotkin, the Golden State, once a citadel of the American middle class, has become splintered into four classes: the oligarchs (the super-wealthy, especially in tech and finance), the clerisy (government regulators, the media elite, and the academy), the yeomanry (the middle class and small-business owners), and the serfs (the working poor and government dependents). Kotkin claimed that the yeomanry has been eviscerated as California has moved into a neofeudal era, while the oligarchs and the clerisy have gained increasing power and the serfs have grown in number.
Kotkin’s analysis focuses on the demographic structures of California, but we can explore more broadly some of the underlying tendencies of neofeudalism. It might be helpful to contrast the neofeudal state with the traditional liberal republic. The latter is composed of individuals (and organizations of individuals) coming together to form a nation governed by laws, and it aims to be in accordance with certain foundational rights. The neofeudal state, on the other hand, is anti-national. Rather than the unified body politic of the liberal republic, the neofeudal state slices and dices its residents into discrete subsets, each with its own unique rights and responsibilities. Solid economic and social divisions were a key part of feudal society, and they also play a role in present-day neofeudalism. Moreover, the institutional dysfunction characteristic of neofeudalism undermines the efficient functioning of the republic and makes the nation more vulnerable to the whims of executive diktat.
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There is a specter haunting America — the specter of neofeudalism. Especially in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008, many Americans have felt considerable anxiety about the trajectory of the nation’s affairs, fearing diminished economic prospects, a heightening of social strife, and the possibility of the powerful making themselves less accountable to, and more removed from, the body politic as a whole. This anxiety can be seen on both the left and the right, fueling the rise of Elizabeth Warren and grass-roots Tea Partiers alike. Americans on both sides of the aisle worry about institutional dysfunction, an out-of-touch self-dealing elite, scorched-earth cultural controversies, the implications of the rise of post-national ideologies, the deification of tribalistic identity, and the failure of our economy to recover as threatening the civic compact of the Republic. The concept of “neofeudalism” offers one way of grouping together and understanding these major contemporary tendencies. The realization of a neofeudal vision could pose significant challenges for economic opportunity, free-market principles, and the traditional aspiration of a unified yet diverse American body politic.
In 2013, demographer Joel Kotkin warned that California was slipping into a condition of neofeudalism. According to Kotkin, the Golden State, once a citadel of the American middle class, has become splintered into four classes: the oligarchs (the super-wealthy, especially in tech and finance), the clerisy (government regulators, the media elite, and the academy), the yeomanry (the middle class and small-business owners), and the serfs (the working poor and government dependents). Kotkin claimed that the yeomanry has been eviscerated as California has moved into a neofeudal era, while the oligarchs and the clerisy have gained increasing power and the serfs have grown in number.
Kotkin’s analysis focuses on the demographic structures of California, but we can explore more broadly some of the underlying tendencies of neofeudalism. It might be helpful to contrast the neofeudal state with the traditional liberal republic. The latter is composed of individuals (and organizations of individuals) coming together to form a nation governed by laws, and it aims to be in accordance with certain foundational rights. The neofeudal state, on the other hand, is anti-national. Rather than the unified body politic of the liberal republic, the neofeudal state slices and dices its residents into discrete subsets, each with its own unique rights and responsibilities. Solid economic and social divisions were a key part of feudal society, and they also play a role in present-day neofeudalism. Moreover, the institutional dysfunction characteristic of neofeudalism undermines the efficient functioning of the republic and makes the nation more vulnerable to the whims of executive diktat.
More
Sterling Says He Won't Sell Team, Calls Wife A Pig
"Make no mistake today," Sterling shouted toward the end of his second day of testimony in the trial to determine his wife's right to make a $2 billion deal to sell the Clippers, "I will never, ever sell this team, and until I die I will be suing the NBA for this terrible violation under antitrust."
He was followed to the stand by wife, Shelly, who tried to approach him in the front row of the courtroom after she was done for the day.
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Mexican Judge Orders Jailed Marine To Remain Behind Bars
On Wednesday’s radio program, Glenn spoke to Tahmooressi’s mother Jill who was in Mexico for her son’s first full appearance in court. In the interview, Jill said she did not believe her son would be released from prison, but she was praying “God will grant us a miracle today.”
Unfortunately, Victor Octavio Luna Escobedo, the judge presiding over the case, ordered Tahmooressi back to prison. According to Fox News, heavily armed guards escorted Tahmooressi back to El Hongo Prison in Tecate following the hearing.
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Germany Expels CIA Chief Over Spying Scandal Amid "Deep Rift"
You know things are not going your way when a long-time ally and peer in the world's power structure 'shuns' you.On the heels of the exposure of a 2nd "spy case", Germany has had enough...
*GERMANY EXPELS U.S. DIPLOMAT OVER ESPIONAGE AFFAIR
*GERMAN GOVT TAKING ISSUE 'VERY SERIOUSLY,' CHANCELLERY SAYS
*EXPULSION LINKED TO INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED U.S. SPYING
It appears the US surveillance efforts was crossing Merkel's red line and the 'diplomat' appears to the CIA station chief. Of course, we are sure President Obama knew nothing about this spying...
As Bloomberg reports,
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government asks representative of U.S. security services at embassy in Berlin to leave Germany.
• Expulsion tied to investigations into U.S. espionage activity in Germany, Federal Chancellery says in e-mailed statement.
• “The government takes these activities very seriously,” Germany’s Federal Chancellery says in e-mailed statement.
• Trustful cooperation with U.S. “indispensable” to Germany, though must be reciprocated
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*GERMANY EXPELS U.S. DIPLOMAT OVER ESPIONAGE AFFAIR
*GERMAN GOVT TAKING ISSUE 'VERY SERIOUSLY,' CHANCELLERY SAYS
*EXPULSION LINKED TO INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGED U.S. SPYING
It appears the US surveillance efforts was crossing Merkel's red line and the 'diplomat' appears to the CIA station chief. Of course, we are sure President Obama knew nothing about this spying...
As Bloomberg reports,
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government asks representative of U.S. security services at embassy in Berlin to leave Germany.
• Expulsion tied to investigations into U.S. espionage activity in Germany, Federal Chancellery says in e-mailed statement.
• “The government takes these activities very seriously,” Germany’s Federal Chancellery says in e-mailed statement.
• Trustful cooperation with U.S. “indispensable” to Germany, though must be reciprocated
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Obama: 'This Isn't Theater...I'm Not Interested in Photo Ops'
(CNSNews.com) - President Obama told reporters in Dallas, Texas Wednesday night that he skipped a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border because he already knows what's going on there -- and because he's "not interested in photo ops."
"This isn't theater. This is a problem. I'm not interested in photo ops. I'm interested in solving a problem," said the man whose most recent photo-op took place in a Denver bar less than 24 hours earlier.
After a round of fund-raisers in Texas, the president on Wednesday night indicated that he doesn't need to visit the border because his Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has "now visited, at my direction...five times," and is about to return for a sixth visit.
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"This isn't theater. This is a problem. I'm not interested in photo ops. I'm interested in solving a problem," said the man whose most recent photo-op took place in a Denver bar less than 24 hours earlier.
After a round of fund-raisers in Texas, the president on Wednesday night indicated that he doesn't need to visit the border because his Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has "now visited, at my direction...five times," and is about to return for a sixth visit.
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Murder Rate Drops As Concealed Carry Permits Rise, Study Claims
The study by the Crime Prevention Research Center found that 11.1 million Americans now have permits to carry concealed weapons, up from 4.5 million in 2007. The 146 percent increase has come even as both murder and violent crime rates have dropped by 22 percent.
“When you allow people to carry concealed handguns, you see changes in the behavior of criminals," said the center’s president, John R. Lott, a Fox News contributor. “Some criminals stop committing crimes, others move on to crimes in which they don’t come into contact with victims and others actually move to areas where they have less fear of being confronted by armed victims.”
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NAPOLITANO: Hopping from liberty to tyranny
NSA disregard for the Constitution threatens innocent Americans
In what appears to be one of Edward Snowden’s final revelations, the former CIA and NSA agent has demonstrated conclusively that the National Security Agency has collected and analyzed the contents of emails, text messages, and mobile and landline telephone calls from nine Americans for every one foreign person it has targeted.
This puts the lie to the government’s claims that it has only collected metadata — identifying markers such as phone numbers and email addresses — and not content from unsuspecting and unsuspected Americans. It puts the lie to the government’s claims that it has studiously avoided prying into the private lives of Americans, in whom it has no intelligence-related or lawful interest. This also puts the lie to the government’s contentions and the opinions of judges of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that the NSA’s spying is somehow lawful, constitutional and helpful.
We now know that the government has failed effectively to refute the Snowden claims that it has collected and maintained for future access massive amounts of personal materials about nearly all people in America since 2009. This includes the metadata and content of nearly every telephone call, email and text message made, sent or received in the United States, as well as nearly every credit card bill, utility bill and monthly bank statement of nearly every person in the nation.
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In what appears to be one of Edward Snowden’s final revelations, the former CIA and NSA agent has demonstrated conclusively that the National Security Agency has collected and analyzed the contents of emails, text messages, and mobile and landline telephone calls from nine Americans for every one foreign person it has targeted.
This puts the lie to the government’s claims that it has only collected metadata — identifying markers such as phone numbers and email addresses — and not content from unsuspecting and unsuspected Americans. It puts the lie to the government’s claims that it has studiously avoided prying into the private lives of Americans, in whom it has no intelligence-related or lawful interest. This also puts the lie to the government’s contentions and the opinions of judges of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that the NSA’s spying is somehow lawful, constitutional and helpful.
We now know that the government has failed effectively to refute the Snowden claims that it has collected and maintained for future access massive amounts of personal materials about nearly all people in America since 2009. This includes the metadata and content of nearly every telephone call, email and text message made, sent or received in the United States, as well as nearly every credit card bill, utility bill and monthly bank statement of nearly every person in the nation.
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BREAKING: IRS employee suspended for pro-Obama activities
An IRS employee was suspended for 100 days for using his job at the agency's help line to try to convince callers to vote for ... read more >
SFD Calls For Service 7-9-14
- Wednesday July, 9 2014 @ 22:21Nature: Smoke / Co Detector Address: 32405 Mt Olive Rd Salisbury, MD 21801
- Wednesday July, 9 2014 @ 21:25Nature: Smoke / Co Detector Address: 32405 Mt Olive Rd Salisbury, MD 21801
- Wednesday July, 9 2014 @ 21:06Nature: Medical Emergency City:Salisbury
- Wednesday July, 9 2014 @ 20:32Nature: Appliance Fire Address: 209 Winterborn Ln Salisbury, MD 21801
- Wednesday July, 9 2014 @ 19:49Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
Sen. Ron Johnson: Illegals Could All Be Flown Home in Style for 1.5% Obama's Funding Request
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson argued Wednesday that there are more cost-effective and efficient ways to confront the ongoing border crisis than President Obama’s emergency funding request for $3.7 billion to be dispersed across multiple agencies.
“The $300 million dollar [State Department] request for – I guess improving conditions in those Central American countries... You know, we’re finding we’re not particularly good at improving our own economy. Isn't it a pipe dream to spend $295 million trying to improve the conditions and expecting that is going to solve the problem, as opposed to sending planeloads full of these kids back to their families?” Johnson asked during a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing.
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“The $300 million dollar [State Department] request for – I guess improving conditions in those Central American countries... You know, we’re finding we’re not particularly good at improving our own economy. Isn't it a pipe dream to spend $295 million trying to improve the conditions and expecting that is going to solve the problem, as opposed to sending planeloads full of these kids back to their families?” Johnson asked during a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing.
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The Emperor’s New Clothes: The Naked Truth About the American Police State
It’s vogue, trendy, and appropriate to look to dystopian literature as a harbinger of what we’re experiencing at the hands of the government
“The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself… Almost inevitably, he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, and intolerable.”
—H.L. Mencken, American journalist
It’s vogue, trendy, and appropriate to look to dystopian literature as a harbinger of what we’re experiencing at the hands of the government. Certainly, George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm have much to say about government tyranny, corruption, and control, as does Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Philip K. Dick’s Minority Report. Yet there are also older, simpler, more timeless stories — folk tales and fairy tales — that speak just as powerfully to the follies and foibles in our nature as citizens and rulers alike that give rise to tyrants and dictatorships.
One such tale, Hans Christian Andersen’s fable of the Emperor’s New Clothes, is a perfect paradigm of life today in the fiefdom that is the American police state, only instead of an imperial president spending money wantonly on lavish vacations, entertainment, and questionable government programs aimed at amassing greater power, Andersen presents us with a vain and thoughtless emperor, concerned only with satisfying his own needs at the expense of his people, even when it means taxing them unmercifully, bankrupting his kingdom, and harshly punishing his people for daring to challenge his edicts.
More
“The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself… Almost inevitably, he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, and intolerable.”
—H.L. Mencken, American journalist
It’s vogue, trendy, and appropriate to look to dystopian literature as a harbinger of what we’re experiencing at the hands of the government. Certainly, George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm have much to say about government tyranny, corruption, and control, as does Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Philip K. Dick’s Minority Report. Yet there are also older, simpler, more timeless stories — folk tales and fairy tales — that speak just as powerfully to the follies and foibles in our nature as citizens and rulers alike that give rise to tyrants and dictatorships.
One such tale, Hans Christian Andersen’s fable of the Emperor’s New Clothes, is a perfect paradigm of life today in the fiefdom that is the American police state, only instead of an imperial president spending money wantonly on lavish vacations, entertainment, and questionable government programs aimed at amassing greater power, Andersen presents us with a vain and thoughtless emperor, concerned only with satisfying his own needs at the expense of his people, even when it means taxing them unmercifully, bankrupting his kingdom, and harshly punishing his people for daring to challenge his edicts.
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Why Housing Will Crash Again - But For Different Reasons Than Last Time
Institutionalizing the speculative excesses that inflated the previous housing bubble has fed magical thinking and fostered illusions of phantom wealth and security.
The global housing market has been dominated by magical thinking for the past 15 years. The magical thinking can be boiled down to this:
A person who buys a house for $50,000 will be able to sell the same house for $150,000 a few years later without adding any real-world value. The buyer will be able to sell the house for $300,000 a few years later without adding any real-world value. The buyer will be able to sell the house for $600,000 a few years later without adding any real-world value.
And so on, decade after decade and generation after generation: a house should magically accumulate enormous capital (home equity) without the owner having to do anything but pay the mortgage for a few years.
The capital isn't created by magic, of course: it's created by a greater fool paying a fortune for the house on the speculative confidence that an even greater fool will magically appear to pay an even greater fortune for the same house a few years hence.
This is the result of housing transmogrifying from shelter purchased to slowly build equity over a lifetime of labor into a speculative bet that credit bubbles will never pop. This transmogrification is the final stage of the larger dynamic of financialization, which turns every asset into a speculative commodity that can leveraged via debt and derivatives and sold into global markets.
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The global housing market has been dominated by magical thinking for the past 15 years. The magical thinking can be boiled down to this:
A person who buys a house for $50,000 will be able to sell the same house for $150,000 a few years later without adding any real-world value. The buyer will be able to sell the house for $300,000 a few years later without adding any real-world value. The buyer will be able to sell the house for $600,000 a few years later without adding any real-world value.
And so on, decade after decade and generation after generation: a house should magically accumulate enormous capital (home equity) without the owner having to do anything but pay the mortgage for a few years.
The capital isn't created by magic, of course: it's created by a greater fool paying a fortune for the house on the speculative confidence that an even greater fool will magically appear to pay an even greater fortune for the same house a few years hence.
This is the result of housing transmogrifying from shelter purchased to slowly build equity over a lifetime of labor into a speculative bet that credit bubbles will never pop. This transmogrification is the final stage of the larger dynamic of financialization, which turns every asset into a speculative commodity that can leveraged via debt and derivatives and sold into global markets.
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Why Tuition Keeps Rising
Imagine for a moment that you are the owner of a popular restaurant located on a street with many restaurants. You do your best to provide the best experience to your customers while staying ahead of the competition by keeping your prices down. You try to avoid spending too much on labor, and do as much of the work yourself as you can, often putting in long hours. Although there is a good wholesale market nearby, you drive an extra hour to another market just to get your ingredients a little cheaper.
One day a wealthy patron who is a big fan of your cooking announces a new idea. Because he wants as many people as possible to enjoy your food, he is going to pick up the tab for most of your customers. You can just go on doing what you always do, but when the check arrives for many tables, this wealthy patron will pay the tab. The next day, your waitress complains that there are too many tables and you should hire more help. What would you do?
Normally, you would try to find a way to avoid hiring another person as it would eat into what little profits you make. But now you realize there is another solution. You can just raise prices. Since most of your patrons are not paying for their meals, your place will still stay popular and you won’t have to worry about losing business to your competition. So why not hire another waitress? While you are at it, why not hire a manger so you don’t have to be there all time, and stop driving to the further market?. Whatever increase in costs you suffer you can make up for by raising prices more and more.
Now imagine all your competitors also have wealthy benefactors picking up the check for many of their customers. You can all raise prices constantly without losing any sleep – or business.
This scenario is effectively what America’s higher education financing system has turned into. There are many reasons why college tuition is rising faster than virtually anything else, from more applicants than ever to state budget cuts for public universities, but all of those factors are allowed to persist because often times the person getting the degree is not the person paying the tab – not for today anyway.
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One day a wealthy patron who is a big fan of your cooking announces a new idea. Because he wants as many people as possible to enjoy your food, he is going to pick up the tab for most of your customers. You can just go on doing what you always do, but when the check arrives for many tables, this wealthy patron will pay the tab. The next day, your waitress complains that there are too many tables and you should hire more help. What would you do?
Normally, you would try to find a way to avoid hiring another person as it would eat into what little profits you make. But now you realize there is another solution. You can just raise prices. Since most of your patrons are not paying for their meals, your place will still stay popular and you won’t have to worry about losing business to your competition. So why not hire another waitress? While you are at it, why not hire a manger so you don’t have to be there all time, and stop driving to the further market?. Whatever increase in costs you suffer you can make up for by raising prices more and more.
Now imagine all your competitors also have wealthy benefactors picking up the check for many of their customers. You can all raise prices constantly without losing any sleep – or business.
This scenario is effectively what America’s higher education financing system has turned into. There are many reasons why college tuition is rising faster than virtually anything else, from more applicants than ever to state budget cuts for public universities, but all of those factors are allowed to persist because often times the person getting the degree is not the person paying the tab – not for today anyway.
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Police To Take Graphic Photos Of Teen As Evidence
McLEAN, Va. (AP) -- A Virginia teenager is fighting efforts by police who want to take photos of him in a sexually aroused state to try to prove a sexting case against him.
Prosecutors in Prince William County told a judge they need photos of the 17-year-old's erect penis to compare against photos he is accused of sending to his 15-year-old girlfriend at the time. The teen has been charged in juvenile court with possessing and manufacturing child pornography related to the images of himself he's accused of creating.
The teen's lawyers say the search warrant allowing the photographs has been authorized by a magistrate but not yet executed. They are fighting the warrant in court; a hearing is scheduled for next week.
Defense lawyer Jessica Foster said she is unaware of any cases where police have pursued similar photographs, particularly of a minor.
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Prosecutors in Prince William County told a judge they need photos of the 17-year-old's erect penis to compare against photos he is accused of sending to his 15-year-old girlfriend at the time. The teen has been charged in juvenile court with possessing and manufacturing child pornography related to the images of himself he's accused of creating.
The teen's lawyers say the search warrant allowing the photographs has been authorized by a magistrate but not yet executed. They are fighting the warrant in court; a hearing is scheduled for next week.
Defense lawyer Jessica Foster said she is unaware of any cases where police have pursued similar photographs, particularly of a minor.
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A Letter To The Editor: HOME DEPOT AND HELPFUL PEOPLE
JOE - Just wanted you and your bloggers to know there really are nice companies and people in our area. Sometimes we don't say enough when nice things happen. This past Saturday I was out to Home Depot in Salisbury and was attempting to get into our vehicle when I slipped we were next to the curb, I completely fell down hard, and had knee surgery in the last couple of years. I called for help as I could not get up and one leg was completely under me. Two very nice men came to my aid who were in the parking lot the name of one of the gentleman was Dexter Wilson, the other unfortunately I do not have the name. These men were so nice they helped me get into the seat of the vehicle and went into Home Depot to let them know I had fallen without me even asking them, because they were so concerned. Both of these men were angels as far as I am concerned. The manager came out and wrote up my fall and was genuinely nice. I also have received two calls one Monday and one today from Home Depot checking on how I am doing. I just think everyone needs to know with all the negative things we here all the time that we truly have some nice employees, companies and some of the Eastern Shore's finest people in our midst, always remember to thank someone for good deeds.
Kathie Brittingham
Salisbury Md.
Salisbury Md.
Massachusetts Supreme Court: Cops Can’t Search Vehicles Based on Smell of Cannabis
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled, in a unanimous decision, that law enforcement can’t use the smell of unburntcannabis as probable cause to search a person’s vehicle, regardless of how strong the smell.
“[W]e are not confident, at least on this record, that a human nose can discern reliably the presence of a criminal amount of marijuana, as distinct from an amount subject only to a civil fine,” says Justice Barbara A. Lenk. The ruling expands the court’s 2011 Commonwealth v. Cruz decision, which ruled that the smell of burnt cannabis doesn’t give cops probable cause to search a car.
In a separate, yet still unanimous decision, the court ruled that police can’t use the smell of cannabis as probable cause to search a person’s car, even if police believe there is evidence of a federal crime.
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“[W]e are not confident, at least on this record, that a human nose can discern reliably the presence of a criminal amount of marijuana, as distinct from an amount subject only to a civil fine,” says Justice Barbara A. Lenk. The ruling expands the court’s 2011 Commonwealth v. Cruz decision, which ruled that the smell of burnt cannabis doesn’t give cops probable cause to search a car.
In a separate, yet still unanimous decision, the court ruled that police can’t use the smell of cannabis as probable cause to search a person’s car, even if police believe there is evidence of a federal crime.
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Petition: Let’s Put Up “Unaccompanied” Illegals at White House
In response to inaction by the Obama administration and the federal government to confront the tidal wave of illegal immigrants streaming over the border into Texas, Alex Jones and Infowars have posted a petition on the “We the People” page at the White House.
We demand Obama and Congress take responsibility for the unprecedented influx of so-called “unaccompanied minors” streaming across the border. Specifically, since there is no practical way at this point to prevent thousands of people daily from illegally crossing into the United States – short of militarizing the southern border – we demand Obama and Congress house the immigrants in Washington DC.
In order to make certain this effort does not impose additional burden on already seriously besieged American tax payers, we also demand Obama’s wealthy Democrat base pay for the housing and other needs of the impoverished illegal immigrants.
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We demand Obama and Congress take responsibility for the unprecedented influx of so-called “unaccompanied minors” streaming across the border. Specifically, since there is no practical way at this point to prevent thousands of people daily from illegally crossing into the United States – short of militarizing the southern border – we demand Obama and Congress house the immigrants in Washington DC.
In order to make certain this effort does not impose additional burden on already seriously besieged American tax payers, we also demand Obama’s wealthy Democrat base pay for the housing and other needs of the impoverished illegal immigrants.
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Shoplifter Runs From Mall Security, Found Dead In Drainage Pond
HANOVER, Md. (WJZ) — An attempt at petty theft ended up costing a man his life. Police say a suspected shoplifter tried to flee from Arundel Mills Mall but ended up drowning in the process.
Chopper aerials captured a dramatic rescue attempt at a storm runoff pond near Arundel Mills Mall. Firefighters and divers were trying to locate a suspected shoplifter who tried to make a getaway. Anne Arundel County police say the whole thing started at 8:30 at the Zumiez store inside the mall.
“An employee witnessed an apparent shoplifting, followed three individuals there who were attempting to exit store with merchandise. They were assisted by mall security,” said Justin Mulcahy, Anne Arundel County police.
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Chopper aerials captured a dramatic rescue attempt at a storm runoff pond near Arundel Mills Mall. Firefighters and divers were trying to locate a suspected shoplifter who tried to make a getaway. Anne Arundel County police say the whole thing started at 8:30 at the Zumiez store inside the mall.
“An employee witnessed an apparent shoplifting, followed three individuals there who were attempting to exit store with merchandise. They were assisted by mall security,” said Justin Mulcahy, Anne Arundel County police.
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EPA Demands Power to Garnish Wages w/o Court Order
The Environmental Protection Agency has quietly claimed that it has the authority to unilaterally garnish the wages of individuals who have been accused of violating its rules.
According to The Washington Times, the agency announced the plan to enhance its purview last week in a notice in the Federal Register. The notice claimed that federal law allows the EPA to “garnish non-Federal wages to collect delinquent non-tax debts owed the United States without first obtaining a court order.”
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Three Long-Range M-75 Rockets Fired At Israel’s Dimona Nuclear Reactor
Three rockets were launched at Dimona in southern Israel on Wednesday afternoon. The Iron Dome intercepted one rocket before it could land, while two other rockets landed in open areas.
Dimona is the location of Israel’s nuclear reactor. There was no indication that rockets damaged any part of the reactor.
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Dimona is the location of Israel’s nuclear reactor. There was no indication that rockets damaged any part of the reactor.
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'Staggering': Government Making $100B In Improper Payments Every Year
“The amounts here are absolutely staggering,” Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said.
The problem of erroneous payments – largely from Medicare and other health care programs – is not a new one. But Mica said at the hearing of a House oversight subcommittee that federal agencies reported over $100 billion in improper payments during each of the last five years.
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8 Reasons to Close the Border Now
With thousands of illegal immigrant minors continuing to pour over America’s southern border, the same politicians are singing the same songs: we can’t close the border, we must pursue comprehensiveimmigration reform, we can only reach political consensus if we compromise on border enforcement. It’s all nonsense. As I’ve explained in this space, we could easily close the border if we had the political will to do so.
The lack of political will springs from a fundamental misunderstanding of the risks of mass illegal immigration – to immigrants, both legal and illegal, and to American citizens. Here, then, are the top reasons to close the border, and to close it forthwith:
Disease. America is now coping with diseases it believed it had eradicated, at least in part thanks to unrestricted immigration. In early June, ABC 15 in Arizona reported, “US Border Patrol agents are worried that what’s coming over into the US could harm everyone… Agents are worried about a viral outbreak.” According to Border Patrol Agent and Rio Grande Valley Union representative Chris Cabrera, agents are experiencing contagious outbreaks – and so-called quarantine areas are nothing of the sort, often separated from the general population by mere caution tape. “There’s been an outbreak of scabies that’s been going on for the past month,” Cabrera said. And it’s not just scabies, it’s chicken pox, MRSA, staph infections. The Department of Homeland Security will not allow media to speak with doctors and medical staff treating illegal immigrants. A health official told The Blaze, “There is really no hard stop at the border, and we have no idea health-wise what diseases are coming across.”
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The lack of political will springs from a fundamental misunderstanding of the risks of mass illegal immigration – to immigrants, both legal and illegal, and to American citizens. Here, then, are the top reasons to close the border, and to close it forthwith:
Disease. America is now coping with diseases it believed it had eradicated, at least in part thanks to unrestricted immigration. In early June, ABC 15 in Arizona reported, “US Border Patrol agents are worried that what’s coming over into the US could harm everyone… Agents are worried about a viral outbreak.” According to Border Patrol Agent and Rio Grande Valley Union representative Chris Cabrera, agents are experiencing contagious outbreaks – and so-called quarantine areas are nothing of the sort, often separated from the general population by mere caution tape. “There’s been an outbreak of scabies that’s been going on for the past month,” Cabrera said. And it’s not just scabies, it’s chicken pox, MRSA, staph infections. The Department of Homeland Security will not allow media to speak with doctors and medical staff treating illegal immigrants. A health official told The Blaze, “There is really no hard stop at the border, and we have no idea health-wise what diseases are coming across.”
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Illegal children detained on the border are wearing sneakers featuring Obama's picture
The note accompanied the photos without laces.
Dennis Michael: These pictures were taken from a friend who works at the processing center in South Texas. These are being worn by an illegal who will soon be released into the general public. For people who may think this is a fake picture, notice the shoe laces. We make everyone remove their laces. Thanks for the reporting. You’re the only one reporting accurate facts. Keep up the outstanding work.
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Hogan accepts two more TV debates as Brown remains in “communications bunker.”
Anthony Brown’s seven years as Lt. Governor have been marked by a bunker-like mentality, where Health Exchange meetings were closed to the public and media in violation of state law (Secret-1, Secret-2, Secret-3); reporters questioning him received angry rebuffs (angry-1, angry-2), and even reporters covering his primary election were not permitted to mingle with supporters or go to the bathrooms by themselves (BR-1, BR-2).
According to Hogan, “The Lt. Governor is a career politician who, depending on the day, will either do nothing or say anything to secure a third term of the O’Malley-Brown Administration. Brown’s campaign strategy is to remain in his communications bunker through election day and emerge only for two tightly-scripted TV debates and one radio debate on pre-approved stations with his hand-picked moderators.
“Marylanders can’t afford another four years like the last seven, and middle class tax payers and small businesses deserve better from Martin O’Malley’s chosen successor. It’s time to restore transparency, accountability and integrity to Annapolis and the only way to do this is to end one-party rule.
The following invitations have been received and accepted by the Hogan campaign:
Invite received June 26 - Maryland Municipal League Gubernatorial Candidates Forum
Invite received July 3 – WBFF TV – Gubernatorial debate.
Invite received July 6 - Maryland Association of Counties candidates forum.
Invite received July 8 – WBAL-TV – Gubernatorial debate
Invite received July 8 - WJZ-TV – Gubernatorial debate
Dog Found: UPDATE
Marine held in Mexico ordered to remain in custody
A Mexican judge has ordered Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi to remain in custody on gun charges following a hearing.
PUBLIC WARNED OF E-ZPASS MARYLAND 'PHISHING' EMAIL SCAM
PUBLIC WARNED OF E-ZPASS MARYLAND
'PHISHING' EMAIL SCAM
'PHISHING' EMAIL SCAM
Public Can Call Customer Service Line at 1-888-321-6824 to Report Phony Emails
Under no circumstance does E-ZPass Maryland ever request personal information via email. While E-ZPass Maryland periodically sends marketing emails for upcoming events, projects or surveys, the agency will never send an unsolicited email demanding payment or requesting sensitive personal information such as credit card information, social security numbers, user names, passwords, etc.
If contacted via email by anyone stating that they are from E-ZPass Maryland and they are seeking personal information, E-ZPass Maryland advises the public not to open or respond to the message. The safest thing to do is delete the email. The public is urged to call the E-ZPass Maryland Customer Service Center at 1-888-321-6824 to report if they have been contacted by someone attempting to obtain personal information, or if they have any questions about their account information.
Worcester County Tea Party
Event: Speaker Series provided by the Worcester County Tea Party
Speaker: Chad R. Lingenfelder, Esq.
Topic: Maryland Gun Laws, Gun Trusts and Estate Planning for Your Family
Date: Thursday, July 17, 2014
Time: Meeting begins at 7PM, doors open at 6:30PM
Location: Ocean Pines Community Center, Assateague Room
235 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, MD 21811
Admission: FREE
For more information email WCTPPatriots@gmail.com, go to the web sitewww.worcestercountyteaparty.com or call 443-614-7214
Dick Jones Dies At 87; Actor Who Provided Voice Of Disney's Pinocchio
His son Rick Jones tells the Los Angeles Times his father died Monday after a fall at home. The cause hasn't been determined.
Dick Jones was just 10 years old but already had appeared in nearly 40 movies when he got the part of Pinocchio.
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Even Sam's Club is trying to get rid of these books
10 Ways Addiction In The US Is Different From Anywhere Else
When it comes to the politics and culture of drugs, the United States is dramatically different from the rest of the Western world. Too often, however, we are special for the wrong reasons.
1. We Try More Drugs Than Anyone Else
Americans are more likely to try illegal drugs than anyone else in the world, according to global survey data from the World Health Organization.
42% of American adults have tried marijuana, for example, while only 20% of the Dutch have done so—despite the Netherlands’ long-running policy of tolerating sales and possession without criminal penalties. We’re also number one in terms of the percentage of our population that has tried cocaine (16%), with most European countries (including Holland) having averages around 1% to 2%. In Colombia—a major source country for the drug—only 4% of the population has taken cocaine.
In terms of lifetime tobacco use—coming in at 74%—we’re also a serious outlier: In most of Europe, only around half the population tries smoking or other tobacco products.
Not surprisingly, we’re also number one in terms of annual prescription painkiller misuse—with 5.1% of the population reporting taking such drugs for nonmedical reasons, compared to 1% in Canada and 3% in Australia.
But we’re lagging behind on illegal opiate use, which includes drugs like heroin and opium. According to this year’s World Drug Reportfrom the UN, in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, 1.25% of the population has taken these drugs at least once in the past year. In the US and Canada, that number is less than 0.5%. Clearly, we have some work to do!
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1. We Try More Drugs Than Anyone Else
Americans are more likely to try illegal drugs than anyone else in the world, according to global survey data from the World Health Organization.
42% of American adults have tried marijuana, for example, while only 20% of the Dutch have done so—despite the Netherlands’ long-running policy of tolerating sales and possession without criminal penalties. We’re also number one in terms of the percentage of our population that has tried cocaine (16%), with most European countries (including Holland) having averages around 1% to 2%. In Colombia—a major source country for the drug—only 4% of the population has taken cocaine.
In terms of lifetime tobacco use—coming in at 74%—we’re also a serious outlier: In most of Europe, only around half the population tries smoking or other tobacco products.
Not surprisingly, we’re also number one in terms of annual prescription painkiller misuse—with 5.1% of the population reporting taking such drugs for nonmedical reasons, compared to 1% in Canada and 3% in Australia.
But we’re lagging behind on illegal opiate use, which includes drugs like heroin and opium. According to this year’s World Drug Reportfrom the UN, in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, 1.25% of the population has taken these drugs at least once in the past year. In the US and Canada, that number is less than 0.5%. Clearly, we have some work to do!
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7 Bad Speaking Habits That Turn People Off
Not even the best ideas can put you on the path to success if no one will listen to you.
Speaker and author Julian Treasure gave a popular TED Talk last year that explained how anyone can speak effectively, whether in a conversation or in front of a crowd. How well you influence others is as much about you do say as what you don't.
Here are the bad habits you need to avoid if you want people to listen to you, which Treasure calls the "seven deadly sins of speaking":
Speaker and author Julian Treasure gave a popular TED Talk last year that explained how anyone can speak effectively, whether in a conversation or in front of a crowd. How well you influence others is as much about you do say as what you don't.
Here are the bad habits you need to avoid if you want people to listen to you, which Treasure calls the "seven deadly sins of speaking":
1. Gossiping
Speaking badly of somebody else seems to have a chain reaction, Treasure says. If you engage in gossip, you can give yourself a bad reputation and inspire others to start gossiping about you.
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Speaking badly of somebody else seems to have a chain reaction, Treasure says. If you engage in gossip, you can give yourself a bad reputation and inspire others to start gossiping about you.
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PLANET FITNESS CELEBRATES NEW CLUB IN SALISBURY, MD ON COLLEGE AVE
New club offers low prices, brand name equipment, unlimited fitness training and more; join on July 12 for just $1 down and then $10 a month with no commitment
Club to host grand opening ribbon cutting celebration on Saturday, July 12 at 11:00 a.m. with Mayor Jim Ireton and Chelsea Ann Arthurs, contestant from Season 15 “The Biggest Loser”
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 11:00 a.m. with Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton and Chelsea Ann Arthurs, contestant from Season 15 of NBC’s The Biggest Loser. Chelsea will be at the Salisbury club from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. to help Planet Fitness celebrate this occasion, and will be available to talk about fitness tips, how she kept the weight off and her experience with the show. Attendees will also have the chance to enter for a chance to win a workout with Chelsea. In addition, the event will include a live broadcast from WOCQ and a performance from the popular local band “On The Edge” from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Club to host grand opening ribbon cutting celebration on Saturday, July 12 at 11:00 a.m. with Mayor Jim Ireton and Chelsea Ann Arthurs, contestant from Season 15 “The Biggest Loser”
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 11:00 a.m. with Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton and Chelsea Ann Arthurs, contestant from Season 15 of NBC’s The Biggest Loser. Chelsea will be at the Salisbury club from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. to help Planet Fitness celebrate this occasion, and will be available to talk about fitness tips, how she kept the weight off and her experience with the show. Attendees will also have the chance to enter for a chance to win a workout with Chelsea. In addition, the event will include a live broadcast from WOCQ and a performance from the popular local band “On The Edge” from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Imminent Court Ruling Could Cripple Obamacare
President Barack Obama is facing a "death spiral" for Obamacare as a federal court weighs a controversial legal challenge that could wipe out healthcare subsidies for millions of Americans.
The "bomb-thrower" case that could spark the destruction of Obama’s landmark domestic policy centers around the subsidies that 5 million Americans received when buying insurance through the HealthCare.gov exchanges, which sold coverage for 36 states this year, according to CNBC.
The plaintiffs in the little-known case, Halbig v. Sebelius, allege that these subsidies were illegal because Obamacare only permitted tax credits to be given to people who had bought insurance from the 14 individual states with their own exchanges, as well as the District of Colombia, not federal exchanges.
CNBC reported that 90 percent of enrollees in the federal exchanges qualified for subsidies due to their low or moderate incomes. The Affordable Care Act could go into a tailspin, before finally crashing and burning, if the courts now rule that those credits are illegal.
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The "bomb-thrower" case that could spark the destruction of Obama’s landmark domestic policy centers around the subsidies that 5 million Americans received when buying insurance through the HealthCare.gov exchanges, which sold coverage for 36 states this year, according to CNBC.
The plaintiffs in the little-known case, Halbig v. Sebelius, allege that these subsidies were illegal because Obamacare only permitted tax credits to be given to people who had bought insurance from the 14 individual states with their own exchanges, as well as the District of Colombia, not federal exchanges.
CNBC reported that 90 percent of enrollees in the federal exchanges qualified for subsidies due to their low or moderate incomes. The Affordable Care Act could go into a tailspin, before finally crashing and burning, if the courts now rule that those credits are illegal.
More