DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Friday, December 12, 2014
CIA chiefs launch vehement attack on Senate torture report
Six former CIA Directors and Deputy Directors have launched a scathing attack on the Senate, accusing it of 'cherry-picking' evidence for a report claiming agents tortured Al Qaeda suspects.
Branding the inquiry 'one-sided and error strewn', the ex-officials argued that the CIA's interrogation program in fact 'saved thousands of lives' by leading to the capture of senior Al Qaeda operatives.
Among the terrorists killed as a direct result of the controversial techniques, the former officials said, was Osama Bin Laden. This claim contradicts earlier statements that suggest 'enhanced interrogation techniques' had no role in tracking down the late Al Qaeda leader.
The rebuttal comes amid growing criticism of the report for downplaying the usefulness of the interrogation program, failing to interview any key CIA personnel, and claiming that the CIA mislead government officials about its actions.
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Branding the inquiry 'one-sided and error strewn', the ex-officials argued that the CIA's interrogation program in fact 'saved thousands of lives' by leading to the capture of senior Al Qaeda operatives.
Among the terrorists killed as a direct result of the controversial techniques, the former officials said, was Osama Bin Laden. This claim contradicts earlier statements that suggest 'enhanced interrogation techniques' had no role in tracking down the late Al Qaeda leader.
The rebuttal comes amid growing criticism of the report for downplaying the usefulness of the interrogation program, failing to interview any key CIA personnel, and claiming that the CIA mislead government officials about its actions.
More
Omnibus Contains Casino Crony Kickback for Harry Reid and His Las Vegas Donors
The omnibus spending bill from House Speaker John Boehner and Appropriations Committee chairman Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) contains a blatant handout to the travel—specifically casino—industry, something that benefits outgoing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
On page 217, Title VI of the bill, is the “Travel Promotion, Enhancement and Modernization Act of 2014.” It reauthorizes, extends, and changes the “Travel Promotion Act of 2009”—which, as Breitbart News has previously reported, is a nothing more than a kickback to Reid and his casino pals in Las Vegas.
This omnibus spending bill—which is supposed to be just an Appropriations bill, not dealing with reauthorizations like this—reauthorizes the Travel Promotion Act program for five extra years through 2020. It was supposed to sunset and end in 2015, and probably would have under a Republican-controlled Congress. Yet since Boehner is working to cut this deal with the Democrats in the lame duck post-election session of Congress rather than doing a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) when the new GOP Senate takes over, he included it in this bill.
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On page 217, Title VI of the bill, is the “Travel Promotion, Enhancement and Modernization Act of 2014.” It reauthorizes, extends, and changes the “Travel Promotion Act of 2009”—which, as Breitbart News has previously reported, is a nothing more than a kickback to Reid and his casino pals in Las Vegas.
This omnibus spending bill—which is supposed to be just an Appropriations bill, not dealing with reauthorizations like this—reauthorizes the Travel Promotion Act program for five extra years through 2020. It was supposed to sunset and end in 2015, and probably would have under a Republican-controlled Congress. Yet since Boehner is working to cut this deal with the Democrats in the lame duck post-election session of Congress rather than doing a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) when the new GOP Senate takes over, he included it in this bill.
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Memo To Citigroup CEO Michael Corbat: Does Your Crony Capitalist Plunder Know No Shame?
The times are few and far between that I am in agreement with Senator Elizabeth Warren’s brand of Big Government liberalism. But I do applaud her willingness to stand up to the Wall Street lobby machine; her capacity to recognize and call-out the egregious gambling dens that have metastasized there; and her insistence that never again should the hard-pressed taxpayers of America be forced to bailout the crony capitalist plunder that is enabled by the Fed’s free money madness.
But now comes a naked Wall Street raid on the taxpayers that’s beyond the pale; and it would have sailed right through in the dead of night absent Elizabeth Warren’s intrepid opposition. Bravo, Senator!
I am referring to the Citigroup-drafted sneak attack on Washington’s tepid effort to curtail the more egregious gambling habits of some of the big banks. These incorrigible larcenists have been trying to gut the “push out” provisions of Dodd-Frank for more than three years now, yet the latter boils down to a simple and urgently necessary injunction to the banks. Namely, you can’t roll the dice in the “derivatives” gambling halls with taxpayer guaranteed deposits.
In light of the inherent dangers of what even Warren Buffet once called “financial weapons of mass destruction”, it is self-evident that no bank—not even the mighty Citigroup—–should be allowed to bring these incendiary devices within a country-mile of the taxpayer enabled FDIC guarantee program. So what Dodd-Frank does is to say go ahead and swing for the fences, but do it in a holding company subsidiary. If something subsequently goes boom in the night, its on your earnings and bonus—–not the taxpayers’ hard earned bucks.
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But now comes a naked Wall Street raid on the taxpayers that’s beyond the pale; and it would have sailed right through in the dead of night absent Elizabeth Warren’s intrepid opposition. Bravo, Senator!
I am referring to the Citigroup-drafted sneak attack on Washington’s tepid effort to curtail the more egregious gambling habits of some of the big banks. These incorrigible larcenists have been trying to gut the “push out” provisions of Dodd-Frank for more than three years now, yet the latter boils down to a simple and urgently necessary injunction to the banks. Namely, you can’t roll the dice in the “derivatives” gambling halls with taxpayer guaranteed deposits.
In light of the inherent dangers of what even Warren Buffet once called “financial weapons of mass destruction”, it is self-evident that no bank—not even the mighty Citigroup—–should be allowed to bring these incendiary devices within a country-mile of the taxpayer enabled FDIC guarantee program. So what Dodd-Frank does is to say go ahead and swing for the fences, but do it in a holding company subsidiary. If something subsequently goes boom in the night, its on your earnings and bonus—–not the taxpayers’ hard earned bucks.
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Anyone That Believes That Collapsing Oil Prices Are Good For The Economy Is Crazy
Are much lower oil prices good news for the U.S. economy? Only if you like collapsing capital expenditures, rising unemployment and a potential financial implosion on Wall Street. Yes, lower gasoline prices are good news for the middle class. I certainly would rather pay two dollars for a gallon of gas than four dollars. But in order to have money to fill up your vehicle you have got to have an income first. And since the last recession, the energy sector has been the number one creator of good jobs in the U.S. economy by far. Barack Obama loves to stand up and take credit for the fact that the employment picture in this country has been improving slightly, but without the energy industry boom, unemployment would be through the roof. And now that the “energy boom” is rapidly becoming an “energy bust”, what will happen to the struggling U.S. economy as we head into 2015?
At the start of this article I mentioned that much lower oil prices would result in “collapsing capital expenditures”.
If you do not know what a “capital expenditure” is, the following is a definition that comes from Investopedia…
“Funds used by a company to acquire or upgrade physical assets such as property, industrial buildings or equipment. This type of outlay is made by companies to maintain or increase the scope of their operations. These expenditures can include everything from repairing a roof to building a brand new factory.”
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At the start of this article I mentioned that much lower oil prices would result in “collapsing capital expenditures”.
If you do not know what a “capital expenditure” is, the following is a definition that comes from Investopedia…
“Funds used by a company to acquire or upgrade physical assets such as property, industrial buildings or equipment. This type of outlay is made by companies to maintain or increase the scope of their operations. These expenditures can include everything from repairing a roof to building a brand new factory.”
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‘War Is The Health Of The State': Reflections On The Torture Report
The just-released Senate report on CIA interrogation practices since 9/11contains nothing that would have surprised the journalist and critic Randolph Bourne. Back in 1918, in an essay left unfinished at the time of his death later that year, Bourne had warned that “war is the health of the state.”
And so it is. War thrusts power into the hands of those who covet it. Only the perpetuation of war, whether under the guise of “keeping us safe” or “spreading freedom,” can satisfy the appetite of those for whom the exercise of power is its own reward. Only war will perpetuate their prerogatives and shield them from accountability.
What prompted Bourne’s pungent observation was US intervention into the disastrous European war that began a century ago this summer. In 1917, Congress had acceded to President Woodrow Wilson’s request to enter that stalemated conflict, Wilson promising a world made safe for democracy and vowing to end war itself.
Bourne foresaw something quite different. War turned things upside down, he believed. It loosened the bonds of moral and legal restraint. It gave sanction to the otherwise impermissible. By opting for war, Bourne predicted, the United States would “adopt all the most obnoxious and coercive techniques of the enemy,” rivaling “in intimidation and ferocity of punishment the worst government systems of the age.”
And so it has come to pass, the United States in our own time having indisputably embraced torture as an allowable practice while disregarding the rule of law and trampling underfoot the values to which the chief representatives of the state routinely profess to adhere.
How did this happen? To blame a particular president, a particular administration, or a particular agency simply will not do. The abuses described in the report prepared by the Senate Committee on Intelligence did not come out of nowhere. Rather than new, they merely represent variations on an existing theme.
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And so it is. War thrusts power into the hands of those who covet it. Only the perpetuation of war, whether under the guise of “keeping us safe” or “spreading freedom,” can satisfy the appetite of those for whom the exercise of power is its own reward. Only war will perpetuate their prerogatives and shield them from accountability.
What prompted Bourne’s pungent observation was US intervention into the disastrous European war that began a century ago this summer. In 1917, Congress had acceded to President Woodrow Wilson’s request to enter that stalemated conflict, Wilson promising a world made safe for democracy and vowing to end war itself.
Bourne foresaw something quite different. War turned things upside down, he believed. It loosened the bonds of moral and legal restraint. It gave sanction to the otherwise impermissible. By opting for war, Bourne predicted, the United States would “adopt all the most obnoxious and coercive techniques of the enemy,” rivaling “in intimidation and ferocity of punishment the worst government systems of the age.”
And so it has come to pass, the United States in our own time having indisputably embraced torture as an allowable practice while disregarding the rule of law and trampling underfoot the values to which the chief representatives of the state routinely profess to adhere.
How did this happen? To blame a particular president, a particular administration, or a particular agency simply will not do. The abuses described in the report prepared by the Senate Committee on Intelligence did not come out of nowhere. Rather than new, they merely represent variations on an existing theme.
More
Leaked document: Ukraine's government to eliminate... everything
As the holiday season approaches you might have mistletoe on your mind for cheery, romantic reasons.
What you might not have known however is that the festive flora and its relatives are all actually parasites.
Unable to photosynthesize to feed itself, mistletoe latches on to a host plant and steals away its nutrients and water.
From the mistletoe’s point of view this may seem like a great idea… for a while.
Depleted of nutrients, the host’s growth is stunted. Branches fall off. And eventually if the mistletoe grows large enough, the entire host plant just dies.
Thus, mistletoe can quite literally eat its own self out of house and home. This isn’t exactly a solid long-term strategy.
Given their behavior it seems that most governments belong to the same genus.
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What you might not have known however is that the festive flora and its relatives are all actually parasites.
Unable to photosynthesize to feed itself, mistletoe latches on to a host plant and steals away its nutrients and water.
From the mistletoe’s point of view this may seem like a great idea… for a while.
Depleted of nutrients, the host’s growth is stunted. Branches fall off. And eventually if the mistletoe grows large enough, the entire host plant just dies.
Thus, mistletoe can quite literally eat its own self out of house and home. This isn’t exactly a solid long-term strategy.
Given their behavior it seems that most governments belong to the same genus.
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Incredible! Frackers pretend water is a person!
OK, we all know how criminals claim that rich corporations are people with more rights to pollute than real people have rights to defend themselves.
Now frackers are playing a freakish version of that deadly game. Does an ecosystem -- a watershed -- have more rights to pollute the people of Warren, Pa. than they have rights to protect their own water wells?
Pennsylvania General Energy (PGE), an oil and gas company based in Warren, Pa., filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming the township used an “impermissible exercise of police power” by prohibiting the underground injection of industrial waste from oil and gas fracking within the township....
Grant Township joins over 100 municipalities in Pennsylvania who’ve passed rights-based ordinances. These communities make up the Pennsylvania Community Rights Network (PACRN), whose ultimate goal includes changing the state’s constitution to recognize community rights.
“Until Pennsylvania communities are liberated to protect their health and safety, they will remain the subjects of their corporate-driven legislature,” reads PACRN’s website.
Similar to other municipalities before it, Grant Township’s new Bill of Rights asserts:
“…private corporations engaged in the depositing of waste from oil and gas extraction are wrongly recognized by the federal and state government as having more ‘rights’ than the people who live in our community, and thus, recognition of corporate ‘rights’ is a denial of the rights of the people of Grant Township…”
Does nature really have the same rights as a person? Corporations are considered ‘persons’ under current U.S. law, but not ecosystems. Both ecosystems and corporations ‘contain’ real living people, but it will be up to the courts to decide whether both have equal rights as living entities.
-- From “Pennsylvania Ecosystem Fights Corporation For Rights In Landmark Fracking Lawsuit,” by Melissa Troutman, at this December 10, 2014 Public Herald site:
Power corrupts, and sometimes an innocent man ends up dead
Eric Garner's death and the aftermath of it demonstrate two important lessons about the nature of power.
One lesson: When people have power over others, they are tempted to abuse it.
We don’t know why officer Daniel Pantaleo put Garner in a chokehold, pinned him to the sidewalk, kept the chokehold for 10 seconds and then pressed Garner’s head into the pavement. But here’s one very possible explanation: he did it because he could.
Physically, he could: Pantaleo is muscular, and clearly he had trained in takedowns. He had worked hard to acquire the strength and skills to take down a bigger man. Here was his chance to use that power.
But Garner's death demonstrates this danger of power in more general senses, too.
Police power is always and everywhere vulnerable to abuse — police are given a near-monopoly on the legal use of violence. This is why modern governments place so many restrictions on cops
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One lesson: When people have power over others, they are tempted to abuse it.
We don’t know why officer Daniel Pantaleo put Garner in a chokehold, pinned him to the sidewalk, kept the chokehold for 10 seconds and then pressed Garner’s head into the pavement. But here’s one very possible explanation: he did it because he could.
Physically, he could: Pantaleo is muscular, and clearly he had trained in takedowns. He had worked hard to acquire the strength and skills to take down a bigger man. Here was his chance to use that power.
But Garner's death demonstrates this danger of power in more general senses, too.
Police power is always and everywhere vulnerable to abuse — police are given a near-monopoly on the legal use of violence. This is why modern governments place so many restrictions on cops
More
What Is Going on in Kentucky? Residents Report "Emergency Alert" Messages and Low-Flying Military Helicopters
On Tuesday, thousands of Kentucky residents received an alarming “Civil Emergency” alert on their cell phones.
The message was sent by the Emergency Operations Center. Spokesman Buddy Rogers said the alert was accidentally sent out “during testing” and was the result of a “computer error followed by a human error.”
Rogers said the message was sent to cell phones via the Federal Communication Commission’s Wireless Emergency Alert system.
From WTVQ.com:
According to the FCC, the Wireless Emergency Alert system is a public safety system that allows customers who own certain wireless phone models and other enabled mobile devices to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area.
Paul Joseph Watson of Infowars reported that many residents find the messages – which are meant to warn people of immediate safety threats in their area – invasive.
Here’s Watson reporting on the story:
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The message was sent by the Emergency Operations Center. Spokesman Buddy Rogers said the alert was accidentally sent out “during testing” and was the result of a “computer error followed by a human error.”
Rogers said the message was sent to cell phones via the Federal Communication Commission’s Wireless Emergency Alert system.
From WTVQ.com:
According to the FCC, the Wireless Emergency Alert system is a public safety system that allows customers who own certain wireless phone models and other enabled mobile devices to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area.
Paul Joseph Watson of Infowars reported that many residents find the messages – which are meant to warn people of immediate safety threats in their area – invasive.
Here’s Watson reporting on the story:
More
Lena Dunham’s publisher says her alleged rapist “Barry” wasn’t actually named Barry
As I noted last week, Lena Dunham’s memoir describes her having sex with someone named Barry, whom she labels as Oberlin’s “resident conservative.” Her description seems to leave it somewhat ambiguous as to whether Barry raped her, but it does describe some sexual behavior by Barry that at the very least reflects badly on him; readers have certainly viewed it as rape, and Dunham has elsewhere characterized it as rape. There are two passages in which she describes the incident: one in which it comes across as consensual but unsatisfying, and another one that she begins by saying,
I’m an unreliable narrator…. [I]n another essay in this book I describe a sexual encounter with a mustachioed campus Republican as the upsetting but educational choice of a girl who was new to sex when, in fact, it didn’t feel like a choice at all.
She then goes on to describe the incident in a good deal of detail, and as a Breitbart story by John Nolte notes, there is an easily identifiable Oberlin conservative from that era named Barry; indeed, that Barry has already been identified as the person from Dunham’s book by many people. But the Breitbart story also notes that many other details don’t add up, and that the allegations about Barry may thus be inaccurate.
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I’m an unreliable narrator…. [I]n another essay in this book I describe a sexual encounter with a mustachioed campus Republican as the upsetting but educational choice of a girl who was new to sex when, in fact, it didn’t feel like a choice at all.
She then goes on to describe the incident in a good deal of detail, and as a Breitbart story by John Nolte notes, there is an easily identifiable Oberlin conservative from that era named Barry; indeed, that Barry has already been identified as the person from Dunham’s book by many people. But the Breitbart story also notes that many other details don’t add up, and that the allegations about Barry may thus be inaccurate.
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Central Banks' 2% Plan to Impoverish You
The 2% target is low enough that the household frogs in the kettle of hot water never realize they're being boiled alive because the increase is so gradual.
A comment by correspondent David C. suggested the importance of demonstrating the impoverishing consequences of central banks reaching their 2% inflation target. David observed: "That central bankers aren't all hanging by their necks from lamp posts everywhere is a testament to how scarce are those who grasp exponents and compounding."
Anyone with basic Excel skills can calculate the cumulative impoverishment caused by central banks' "modest" 2% annual inflation. Here is my worksheet:
Column 1: year
Column 2: index starting with 100
Column 3: annual inflation sum (2% of previous year's total index)
Column 4: cumulative total index
1 100.00 2.00 102.00
2 102.00 2.04 104.04
3 104.04 2.08 106.12
4 106.12 2.12 108.24
5 108.24 2.16 110.41
6 110.41 2.21 112.62
7 112.62 2.25 114.87
8 114.87 2.30 117.17
9 117.17 2.34 119.51
10 119.51 2.39 121.90
Ten years of modest 2% inflation robs households of nearly 20% of their purchasing power. What was $100 in year 1 costs about $122 after 10 years of "modest" 2% inflation. Put another way, $100 in year one is only worth $81 in year 10.
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A comment by correspondent David C. suggested the importance of demonstrating the impoverishing consequences of central banks reaching their 2% inflation target. David observed: "That central bankers aren't all hanging by their necks from lamp posts everywhere is a testament to how scarce are those who grasp exponents and compounding."
Anyone with basic Excel skills can calculate the cumulative impoverishment caused by central banks' "modest" 2% annual inflation. Here is my worksheet:
Column 1: year
Column 2: index starting with 100
Column 3: annual inflation sum (2% of previous year's total index)
Column 4: cumulative total index
1 100.00 2.00 102.00
2 102.00 2.04 104.04
3 104.04 2.08 106.12
4 106.12 2.12 108.24
5 108.24 2.16 110.41
6 110.41 2.21 112.62
7 112.62 2.25 114.87
8 114.87 2.30 117.17
9 117.17 2.34 119.51
10 119.51 2.39 121.90
Ten years of modest 2% inflation robs households of nearly 20% of their purchasing power. What was $100 in year 1 costs about $122 after 10 years of "modest" 2% inflation. Put another way, $100 in year one is only worth $81 in year 10.
More
Bratton: Report That Prison Gang Is Targeting Cops Is ‘Overblown’
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton on Sunday downplayed reports that a gang with historical ties to the Black Panther movement may be planning to gun down an on-duty police officer.
According to a report in the Staten Island Advance, a warning was issued to some police that 10 members of the Black Guerrilla Family — a militant group active in the Maryland prison system — has begun preparing to shoot a cop. The report cited an NYPD source.
Also, a letter that appears to include the signature of Ed Mullins, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, has been circulating, saying, according to sources speaking to the Advance: “I have just received information of a credible threat to SHOOT an on duty police officer. It appears this is an organized action…. Please WEAR your VEST and carry your firearm off-duty along with additional magazines.”
The warnings come days after a Staten Island grand jury declined to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleoin the death of Eric Garner, who died shortly after being placed in an apparent chokehold by the cop in July. The grand jury decision has sparked protests nationwide.
More
According to a report in the Staten Island Advance, a warning was issued to some police that 10 members of the Black Guerrilla Family — a militant group active in the Maryland prison system — has begun preparing to shoot a cop. The report cited an NYPD source.
Also, a letter that appears to include the signature of Ed Mullins, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, has been circulating, saying, according to sources speaking to the Advance: “I have just received information of a credible threat to SHOOT an on duty police officer. It appears this is an organized action…. Please WEAR your VEST and carry your firearm off-duty along with additional magazines.”
The warnings come days after a Staten Island grand jury declined to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleoin the death of Eric Garner, who died shortly after being placed in an apparent chokehold by the cop in July. The grand jury decision has sparked protests nationwide.
More
GOP 'Dark Horse' Mike Pence Wooing Conservatives
Key Republican leaders and pollsters quizzed by the Examiner are cooing over Pence’s chance to be the GOP standard bearer. They cheer about his efforts to turn Indiana into a Midwest economic engine, his Reaganesque positive outlook and his leadership as the House Republican Conference chairman in 2010, the year the party took back control of the chamber.
Plus, some say that he will be able to raise millions of dollars because of his deep ties to both social and business conservatives and also because one of his former top aides runs a free-market group funded by the billionaire Koch brothers.
And according to reports from Indianapolis, Pence is moving to shore up support from conservatives and Tea Party members in his new state budget that focuses heavily on school choice, expanding charter schools and even letting students attend private schools with taxpayer support.
More here
Department of Defense Releases Second Quarter Suicide Information
Release No: NR-614-14
Today, the Department of Defense released the quarterly suicide report (QSR) for the second quarter of calendar year 2014.
The report summarizes suicide counts for all services and components during the months of April through June of this year. Counts were down in all components from the first quarter. There were 70 suicides among service members in the active component, 14 suicides among service members in the reserves, and 20 suicides among service members in the National Guard.
The report also shows annual suicide rates and counts for 2012 and 2013.
The QSR is intended to communicate the department's suicide data on a routine basis. A breakdown of second quarter, 2014, suicide counts and resources for service members and their families, who may be facing challenges, can be found here.
Additional information is available on the Suicide Prevention Office website at www.suicideoutreach.org.
Service members or their friends and family seeking support can reach out to the Military Crisis Line, which offers free and confidential support to service members and their family or friends in crisis. The service is staffed by caring, qualified responders from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), many who have served in the military themselves. Support is offered through the crisis line, online chat, and text-messaging services for all service members (active, National Guard and reserve) and veterans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by visiting the Military Crisis Line website athttp://veteranscrisisline.net/ActiveDuty.aspx; Online Chat at http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ChatTermsOfService.aspx; sending a text to: 838255 or calling toll free at: 1-800-273-8255, Press 1
Treasury Department Seeking Survival Kits For Bank Employees
Emergency masks, solar blankets to be delivered to every major bank in the U.S.
The Department of Treasury is seeking to order survival kits for all of its employees who oversee the federal banking system, according to a new solicitation.
The emergency supplies would be for every employee at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which conducts on-site reviews of banks throughout the country. The survival kit includes everything from water purification tablets to solar blankets.
The government is willing to spend up to $200,000 on the kits, according to the solicitation released on Dec. 4.
The survival kits must come in a fanny-pack or backpack that can fit all of the items, including a 33-piece personal first aid kit with “decongestant tablets,” a variety of bandages, and medicines.
The kits must also include a “reusable solar blanket” 52 by 84 inches long, a 2,400-calorie food bar, “50 water purification tablets,” a “dust mask,” “one-size fits all poncho with hood,” a rechargeable lantern with built-in radio, and an “Air-Aid emergency mask” for protection against airborne viruses.
More here
The Department of Treasury is seeking to order survival kits for all of its employees who oversee the federal banking system, according to a new solicitation.
The emergency supplies would be for every employee at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which conducts on-site reviews of banks throughout the country. The survival kit includes everything from water purification tablets to solar blankets.
The government is willing to spend up to $200,000 on the kits, according to the solicitation released on Dec. 4.
The survival kits must come in a fanny-pack or backpack that can fit all of the items, including a 33-piece personal first aid kit with “decongestant tablets,” a variety of bandages, and medicines.
The kits must also include a “reusable solar blanket” 52 by 84 inches long, a 2,400-calorie food bar, “50 water purification tablets,” a “dust mask,” “one-size fits all poncho with hood,” a rechargeable lantern with built-in radio, and an “Air-Aid emergency mask” for protection against airborne viruses.
More here
Pew Poll: Majority of Americans Support Gun Rights
For the first time in more than 20 years, more Americans support gun rights than gun control – a shift in attitude that began after the Newtown, Ct., school shootings that killed 20 children Dec. 14, 2012, a new survey finds.
According to the Pew Research Center survey, released Wednesday, 52 percent of Americans say it's more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, while 46 percent say gun control is more important.
The majority support for gun ownership over gun control is a first in more than two decades of Pew surveys.
Since January 2013, support for gun rights has gone up 7 percentage points, from 45 percent to 52 percent, while support for gun control has dipped 5 percentage points, from 51 percent to 46 percent, the survey found.
Shortly after the Sandy Hook School massacre, 48 percent of Americans said guns do more to protect people from crime and 37 percent said they placed people at risk. The recent poll found 57 percent say guns do more to protect people from being crime victims, while 38 percent say it does more to endanger personal safety, Pew reports.
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According to the Pew Research Center survey, released Wednesday, 52 percent of Americans say it's more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, while 46 percent say gun control is more important.
The majority support for gun ownership over gun control is a first in more than two decades of Pew surveys.
Since January 2013, support for gun rights has gone up 7 percentage points, from 45 percent to 52 percent, while support for gun control has dipped 5 percentage points, from 51 percent to 46 percent, the survey found.
Shortly after the Sandy Hook School massacre, 48 percent of Americans said guns do more to protect people from crime and 37 percent said they placed people at risk. The recent poll found 57 percent say guns do more to protect people from being crime victims, while 38 percent say it does more to endanger personal safety, Pew reports.
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Santa Arrives Tonight
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The display will be open
- Friday 6pm til 9pm
- Saturday 6pm til 10pm
- Sunday 6pm til 8pm
All dates and times are weather permitting.
Like us on facebook to keep up to date!! We will post on facebook if we are unable to turn the lights on for any reason.
We are located on Parker Place in Pittsville, Maryland
SFD Calls For Servie 12-11-14
- Thursday December, 11 2014 @ 21:53Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
- Thursday December, 11 2014 @ 21:16Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
- Thursday December, 11 2014 @ 19:09Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
- Thursday December, 11 2014 @ 18:24Nature: Medical EmergencyCity:Salisbury
- Thursday December, 11 2014 @ 18:12 Nature: Vehicle Accident w/InjuriesAddress: 2410 N Salisbury Blvd Salisbury, MD 21801
Cops Confiscate Guns From Home After False Arrest
Police refuse to return guns despite dropping all charges nearly four months ago
After falsely arresting a concealed carry permit holder nearly four months ago, Bakersfield, Calif., police confiscated all the guns from his home and never returned them, according to a lawsuit filed this week.
The permit holder, former vice principal Kent Williams, was arrested at Tevis Junior High School on Aug. 28 for carrying on campus despite state law exempting concealed carry permit holders.
Police then went to Williams’ home and confiscated his entire collection of firearms.
“If it was you or I, we would call it theft,” Williams’ attorney, Daniel Rodriguez, said after filing the civil lawsuit.
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After falsely arresting a concealed carry permit holder nearly four months ago, Bakersfield, Calif., police confiscated all the guns from his home and never returned them, according to a lawsuit filed this week.
The permit holder, former vice principal Kent Williams, was arrested at Tevis Junior High School on Aug. 28 for carrying on campus despite state law exempting concealed carry permit holders.
Police then went to Williams’ home and confiscated his entire collection of firearms.
“If it was you or I, we would call it theft,” Williams’ attorney, Daniel Rodriguez, said after filing the civil lawsuit.
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Police officer forms special bond with woman in need
DESOTO, Texas (HLNTV) - Dorothy Shepard, a 73-year-old widow, received a helping hand from a DeSoto police officer.
Officer John Holder came to the door of Shepard's home for her wellness check. Shepard lives alone and is recovering from knee and back surgeries.
"She struck me as someone that really needed someone to care and help her out," Holder tells CNN affiliate WFAA.
The officer gave Shepard his cell phone number and told her if she needed anything to call him.
Shepard was surprised by the gesture.
For the past six months, Holder has driven Shepard to and from every doctor's appointment when he's off-duty.
"I know police officers, but I never expected him to be that kind, and to go out of their way," says Shepard.
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Officer John Holder came to the door of Shepard's home for her wellness check. Shepard lives alone and is recovering from knee and back surgeries.
"She struck me as someone that really needed someone to care and help her out," Holder tells CNN affiliate WFAA.
The officer gave Shepard his cell phone number and told her if she needed anything to call him.
Shepard was surprised by the gesture.
For the past six months, Holder has driven Shepard to and from every doctor's appointment when he's off-duty.
"I know police officers, but I never expected him to be that kind, and to go out of their way," says Shepard.
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Inmate gets two more years for 'bang, bang' remark
Two words uttered after he was sentenced in another case earlier this year in Washington County Circuit Court resulted in two more years of incarceration for state prison inmate Devon Naeem Davis on Thursday.
Davis, 24, formerly of Hagerstown, pleaded guilty to retaliation against a witness for reporting a crime for saying "bang, bang" to the mother of the victim as he was being led from the courtroom on May 15.
On that day, Davis was sentenced by Circuit Judge Dana Moylan Wright to four years in prison on charges of indecent exposure and second-degree assault. More than a year earlier, he had pleaded guilty to the charges for offenses that had occurred in early 2012.
The victim, a preteen girl, told investigators that Davis had molested her while she was living with her mother in a motel, according to the charging documents in that case.
After the sentencing hearing finished, Davis looked at the mother of the victim and mumbled something that the woman was unable to understand, Assistant State's Attorney Leon Debes told Circuit Judge Viki M. Pauler. While staring directly at her, Davis then said in a loud voice, "bang, bang," Debes told the judge.
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Davis, 24, formerly of Hagerstown, pleaded guilty to retaliation against a witness for reporting a crime for saying "bang, bang" to the mother of the victim as he was being led from the courtroom on May 15.
On that day, Davis was sentenced by Circuit Judge Dana Moylan Wright to four years in prison on charges of indecent exposure and second-degree assault. More than a year earlier, he had pleaded guilty to the charges for offenses that had occurred in early 2012.
The victim, a preteen girl, told investigators that Davis had molested her while she was living with her mother in a motel, according to the charging documents in that case.
After the sentencing hearing finished, Davis looked at the mother of the victim and mumbled something that the woman was unable to understand, Assistant State's Attorney Leon Debes told Circuit Judge Viki M. Pauler. While staring directly at her, Davis then said in a loud voice, "bang, bang," Debes told the judge.
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Conservative Groups Oppose $1 Trillion Spending Deal In Congress
Outside conservative groups that routinely clash with the Republican leadership are making it clear they oppose the $1 trillion end-of-the-year spending package being debated in Congress this week.
The details of the massive spending bill were finally released late Tuesday, and Congress is expected to vote on it Thursday.
Opposing the legislation, some conservatives are pointing to the riders included in the bill, which they say amount to handouts to special interests.
“Christmas has come early for the big spenders in Congress who have been experiencing long-term withdrawal from the earmark ban,” Club for Growth VP of government affairs Andy Roth told lawmakers in a memo. “This 1,603-page bill provides a ‘fix’ for these jonesing politicians who carry water for their special interest buddies.”
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The details of the massive spending bill were finally released late Tuesday, and Congress is expected to vote on it Thursday.
Opposing the legislation, some conservatives are pointing to the riders included in the bill, which they say amount to handouts to special interests.
“Christmas has come early for the big spenders in Congress who have been experiencing long-term withdrawal from the earmark ban,” Club for Growth VP of government affairs Andy Roth told lawmakers in a memo. “This 1,603-page bill provides a ‘fix’ for these jonesing politicians who carry water for their special interest buddies.”
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Congress Passes Bill Which Grants “Unlimited Access to Communications of Every American”
Amash labels legislation "most egregious I've encountered"
According to Congressman Justin Amash, Congress just passed a bill which grants the government and law enforcement “unlimited access to the communications of every American”.
When the Michigan lawmaker discovered that the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2015 had been amended with a provision that authorizes “the acquisition, retention, and dissemination” of all communications data from U.S. citizens, he desperately attempted to organize a roll call vote on the bill.
However, the legislation was passed yesterday 325-100 via a voice vote, a green light for what Amash describes as “one of the most egregious sections of law I’ve encountered during my time as a representative”.
The bill allows the private communications of Americans to be scooped up without a court order and then transferred to law enforcement for criminal investigations.
The legislation effectively codifies and legalizes mass warrantless NSA surveillance on the American people, with barely a whimper of debate.
Read the full text of Congressman Amash’s letter below, which was sent out before the bill was passed.
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According to Congressman Justin Amash, Congress just passed a bill which grants the government and law enforcement “unlimited access to the communications of every American”.
When the Michigan lawmaker discovered that the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2015 had been amended with a provision that authorizes “the acquisition, retention, and dissemination” of all communications data from U.S. citizens, he desperately attempted to organize a roll call vote on the bill.
However, the legislation was passed yesterday 325-100 via a voice vote, a green light for what Amash describes as “one of the most egregious sections of law I’ve encountered during my time as a representative”.
The bill allows the private communications of Americans to be scooped up without a court order and then transferred to law enforcement for criminal investigations.
The legislation effectively codifies and legalizes mass warrantless NSA surveillance on the American people, with barely a whimper of debate.
Read the full text of Congressman Amash’s letter below, which was sent out before the bill was passed.
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Police catches mom shoplifting eggs ... and then buys them for her
When it comes to cop of the year, William Stacy has a pretty decent shot.
The officer from Tarrant, Alabama, was called to the local Dollar General store on Saturday for a shoplifting incident.
However upon arriving, he quickly switched from policeman to nice guy.
The woman being held at the shop had been caught stealing one dozen eggs.
Stacy knew the woman, having been called to her house once before.
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The officer from Tarrant, Alabama, was called to the local Dollar General store on Saturday for a shoplifting incident.
However upon arriving, he quickly switched from policeman to nice guy.
The woman being held at the shop had been caught stealing one dozen eggs.
Stacy knew the woman, having been called to her house once before.
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Unarmed White Teen Gunned Down by Black Cop... Where's the Outrage?
Recently an 18-year-old University of South Alabama student, Gil Collar, was shot and killed by a campus police officer.
At the time of the shooting, the student was under the influence of LSD and exhibiting erratic behavior around the campus police station.
A two-minute video of the incident was played for the media by the Mobile County sheriff’s department.
A security camera mounted on the campus police station at the university and recorded most of the entire incident including the shooting. (H/T ReadyChimp)
Collar was seen acting “aggressively” in the short video, first walking up to the campus police station, pounding on the window and then walking away from it. He then walked back up to the station and again retreated.
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At the time of the shooting, the student was under the influence of LSD and exhibiting erratic behavior around the campus police station.
A two-minute video of the incident was played for the media by the Mobile County sheriff’s department.
A security camera mounted on the campus police station at the university and recorded most of the entire incident including the shooting. (H/T ReadyChimp)
Collar was seen acting “aggressively” in the short video, first walking up to the campus police station, pounding on the window and then walking away from it. He then walked back up to the station and again retreated.
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Woman Claims Police Brutality, Files $7M Lawsuit Against Officers
She tells reporters she was driving home last March when she saw a handcuffed man on the ground. She then began recording with her cellphone.
In the video, several officers can be heard yelling at Mwamba to park. But she says police were blocking her. Soon after Mwamba can be heard yelling, "Why would you do that?" ''He's burning me," and "What did I do?"
A man is then heard calling Mwamba a derogatory name and saying she tried to run over an officer.
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UC Study: Minimum Wage Hike of 2007-09 Cost 1.4M Jobs
University of California San Diego economic researchers discovered that the federal minimum wage increase from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour between 2007 and 2009 actually cost the economy 1.4 million jobs, Breitbart News reports.
Even worse, the increase's negative effect landed squarely on the people it was designed to help — low-paid, unskilled workers, who found themselves blocked out of low-paid or internship positions that would give them a shot at gaining experience and achieving higher-paid jobs, the study notes.
Breitbart noted that the Service Employees International Union has protested nationally, seeking an increase in the minimum wage, and Obama favors a 40 percent increase in the federal minimum wage to $10 per hour.
"The new research should give well-intentioned legislators pause before entertaining bills that would ultimately hurt low-skilled workers," Breitbart said.
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Hannity Rips 'Cowardly' Boehner For Being 'Everything That's Wrong With Washington'
Fox News host Sean Hannity is fuming mad over House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) support for the wide-ranging budget bill that is set to keep the government open and that narrowly passed the House late Thursday night.
"This measure did not sit well with a number of conservatives, including me," Hannity said on his program soon after the vote.
The $1.1 trillion bill was full of measures that both left-leaning and right-leaning members found objectionable. Liberals assailed the law for rolling back some environmental and banking regulations, while many conservatives were against it for not doing enough to oppose President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law and recent executive action on immigration.
"$2.5 billion for illegal immigrants and Obamacare is funded through the fiscal year, that's a conservative speaker? I don't think so," Hannity said, pointing to the Republican landslide in the 2014 midterm elections. "It's a sad day that John Boehner doesn't realize that there was an election. The people have spoken ... John Boehner has disrespected all the people who voted for all those Republicans tonight."
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"This measure did not sit well with a number of conservatives, including me," Hannity said on his program soon after the vote.
The $1.1 trillion bill was full of measures that both left-leaning and right-leaning members found objectionable. Liberals assailed the law for rolling back some environmental and banking regulations, while many conservatives were against it for not doing enough to oppose President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law and recent executive action on immigration.
"$2.5 billion for illegal immigrants and Obamacare is funded through the fiscal year, that's a conservative speaker? I don't think so," Hannity said, pointing to the Republican landslide in the 2014 midterm elections. "It's a sad day that John Boehner doesn't realize that there was an election. The people have spoken ... John Boehner has disrespected all the people who voted for all those Republicans tonight."
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Five Arrested in Long Neck Meth Lab Operation
Long Neck, DE - The Delaware State Police Sussex County Drug Unit has arrested five people after the culmination of a several month long investigation into the manufacturing of Methamphetamine (Meth) at a residence on Kings Lane
On Thursday December 11, 2014 at approximately 4:50 p.m., the Sussex County Drug Task Force (DTF) with the assistance of the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT), DNREC, and Indian River Fire Department responded to the 25813 Kings Lane, Enchanted Acres development, in order to conduct a search warrant in response to an on-going investigation into the manufacturing of meth at the house. Upon arrival at the house, Anthony V. Dipentima, 28 of Millsboro, Bonnie A. Dipentima, 56 of Millsboro, Ashlyn A. Lippy, 28 of Millsboro, Savannah N. Shelton 25 of Millsboro, and Robert S. Andell, 28 of Millsboro, were all taken into custody without incident. Upon conducting a search of the property, detectives located equipment and component mixtures of the manufacturing stages of Meth along with key ingredients in making the drug.
All five subjects were transported to Troop 4 in Georgetown where they were all charged with Operation of a Clandestine Lab, Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth, Conspiracy 2nd, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. They were all arraigned at JP3 and later turned over to the Department of Corrections in lieu of $27,500 cash bail each.
No evacuations were ordered as it was determined that there was no immediate hazard to nearby residents.
On Thursday December 11, 2014 at approximately 4:50 p.m., the Sussex County Drug Task Force (DTF) with the assistance of the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT), DNREC, and Indian River Fire Department responded to the 25813 Kings Lane, Enchanted Acres development, in order to conduct a search warrant in response to an on-going investigation into the manufacturing of meth at the house. Upon arrival at the house, Anthony V. Dipentima, 28 of Millsboro, Bonnie A. Dipentima, 56 of Millsboro, Ashlyn A. Lippy, 28 of Millsboro, Savannah N. Shelton 25 of Millsboro, and Robert S. Andell, 28 of Millsboro, were all taken into custody without incident. Upon conducting a search of the property, detectives located equipment and component mixtures of the manufacturing stages of Meth along with key ingredients in making the drug.
All five subjects were transported to Troop 4 in Georgetown where they were all charged with Operation of a Clandestine Lab, Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth, Conspiracy 2nd, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. They were all arraigned at JP3 and later turned over to the Department of Corrections in lieu of $27,500 cash bail each.
No evacuations were ordered as it was determined that there was no immediate hazard to nearby residents.
65 Percent of Children Live in Households on Federal Aid Programs
The Census Bureau reported in a study released this week that 65 percent of American children lived in households taking aid from one or more federal program as of the fall of 2011.
"Almost two-thirds (65 percent) of children," said the Census Bureau, "lived in households that participated in at least one or more of the following government aid programs: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Medicaid, and the National School Lunch Program."
How to be dependent on government is now one of the earliest life lessons America is teaching nearly a supermajority of children.
The percentage of children living in households participating in TANF, food stamps, WIC, Medicaid or the National School Lunch Program has been on the rise.
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"Almost two-thirds (65 percent) of children," said the Census Bureau, "lived in households that participated in at least one or more of the following government aid programs: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Medicaid, and the National School Lunch Program."
How to be dependent on government is now one of the earliest life lessons America is teaching nearly a supermajority of children.
The percentage of children living in households participating in TANF, food stamps, WIC, Medicaid or the National School Lunch Program has been on the rise.
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A Message From Governor Elect Hogan
Governor-elect Hogan attends Committee for Montgomery's Legislative Breakfast, addresses nearly 1,000 state & local officials, business leaders, and more
ANNAPOLIS, MD – December 12, 2014 – Governor-elect Larry Hogan attended the Committee for Montgomery's Annual Legislative Breakfast this morning in Bethesda, where he spoke to a crowd of nearly 1,000 elected officials, government and business representatives, non-profit and community leaders from Montgomery County and the state.
The Governor-elect told the crowd, "We [won] because our campaign wasn't your typical fight between Republicans and Democrats, it was more important than that. It was a fight for Maryland's future.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – December 12, 2014 – Governor-elect Larry Hogan attended the Committee for Montgomery's Annual Legislative Breakfast this morning in Bethesda, where he spoke to a crowd of nearly 1,000 elected officials, government and business representatives, non-profit and community leaders from Montgomery County and the state.
The Governor-elect told the crowd, "We [won] because our campaign wasn't your typical fight between Republicans and Democrats, it was more important than that. It was a fight for Maryland's future.
It doesn't matter what party you are, what part of the state you come from, or whether you voted for me or not, we all have to work together to turn our great state around.
These aren't Democrat problems or Republican problems, and no one party has a monopoly on good ideas. The only way we are going to solve the serious problems that face us, is to sit down together, reach across the aisle, and come up with real, bi-partisan, common-sense solutions," Governor-elect Hogan said.
The Governor-elect also spoke about his meeting yesterday with Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, who recently won his third term. "It was a productive meeting," Hogan said, "I very much enjoyed getting to know him better and what I found was that there are a lot of things we agree on, particularly with respect to economic development, job creation, and job training.
He discussed his innovative six point economic plan, and we both committed to working together in a bipartisan fashion for the good of Montgomery County and the state of Maryland."
These aren't Democrat problems or Republican problems, and no one party has a monopoly on good ideas. The only way we are going to solve the serious problems that face us, is to sit down together, reach across the aisle, and come up with real, bi-partisan, common-sense solutions," Governor-elect Hogan said.
The Governor-elect also spoke about his meeting yesterday with Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, who recently won his third term. "It was a productive meeting," Hogan said, "I very much enjoyed getting to know him better and what I found was that there are a lot of things we agree on, particularly with respect to economic development, job creation, and job training.
He discussed his innovative six point economic plan, and we both committed to working together in a bipartisan fashion for the good of Montgomery County and the state of Maryland."
Utah Supreme Court says woman can be married to dead man
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Supreme Court has reinstated a legally contested marriage between a woman and her late-husband.
In a ruling handed down on Tuesday, the state’s top court ruled that Janetta Gardiner could be married posthumously to Kenneth Vanderwerff. The court ruling said the two were in a romantic relationship from 2007 until Vanderwerff died in 2010 at age 78.
Vanderwerff had no kin, the ruling said, and Gardiner filed to be married to him in a “common-law” union a month after his death. A judge granted it and also made her executor of his estate. Cousins of Vanderwerff sought to intervene and the case made its way to the Utah Supreme Court.
“Where a petitioner seeks a posthumous determination of an unsolemnized marriage, he or she must serve process upon the estate of the deceased. In this case, Ms. Gardiner waived service on behalf of the estate as the personal representative of Mr. Vanderwerff,” the court said.
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In a ruling handed down on Tuesday, the state’s top court ruled that Janetta Gardiner could be married posthumously to Kenneth Vanderwerff. The court ruling said the two were in a romantic relationship from 2007 until Vanderwerff died in 2010 at age 78.
Vanderwerff had no kin, the ruling said, and Gardiner filed to be married to him in a “common-law” union a month after his death. A judge granted it and also made her executor of his estate. Cousins of Vanderwerff sought to intervene and the case made its way to the Utah Supreme Court.
“Where a petitioner seeks a posthumous determination of an unsolemnized marriage, he or she must serve process upon the estate of the deceased. In this case, Ms. Gardiner waived service on behalf of the estate as the personal representative of Mr. Vanderwerff,” the court said.
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Season’s Greetings and Join Us for Our Annual Holiday Open House
Dear Friends:
The holiday season is a time to be thankful for our blessings and give back to the community that connects us. This winter, please share what resources you can – food, money, or your time – with those who are less fortunate. The smallest acts of kindness can lift up our neighbors, provide hope to one another, and make a difference. Please take a moment to thank the men and women who sacrifice so much, including time spent away from their families during this holiday season, to serve and defend our nation.2014 has been a remarkable year for our State and the holidays are a time to reflect and recognize just how far we’ve moved our State forward. We remain committed to strengthening and growing the middle class, ensuring that our students have the greatest opportunities possible, and protecting the dignity of all Marylanders. As we celebrate the spirit of the season, let’s remember that we’re all in this together and that our story is a shared story.
Katie and I hope you will take time to join us at Government House to share in the joy of the season and enjoy the company of neighbors and friends.
On behalf of our family, Lt. Governor Brown’s family, and all those serving in your State government, we wish you a joyous holiday season.
Happy Holidays!
Martin, Katie, Grace, Tara, William and Jack O’Malley
Please join us at our annual Holiday Open House
Saturday, December 13, 2014 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM
Government House — Annapolis, Maryland
Saturday, December 13, 2014 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM
Government House — Annapolis, Maryland
There is parking and shuttle service available from the Naval Stadium Lot (Rowe Blvd. and Taylor Ave.).
All attendees will need a state issued ID.
All attendees will need a state issued ID.
New Federal Law Targets Retirement Benefit Cuts: “We Thought Our Pension Was Secure”
Publishers Notes: We, (SBYNews) have been trying to warn all of you for years this was coming. While some complain we keep publishing financial news, don't say we didn't warn you.
The $1.01 trillion spending bill being moving through Congress right now includes some new provisions that may come as a shock to millions of American pension holders. In a bipartisan deal that also included leaders of unions and retirement fund management companies, pension recipients who depend on the money promised to them during their working years may see significant cuts to their monthly disbursements.
There have been Senate hearings, exploratory committees and rumors over the years, but nothing had ever really been legislated so most Americans simply ignored it as another one of those “conspiracy theories.”
Unit now.
The measure, attached to a massive $1.01 trillion spending bill, would alter 40 years of federal law and could affect millions of workers, many of them part of a shrinking corps of middle-income employees in businesses such as trucking, construction and supermarkets.
“We have to do something to allow these plans to make the corrections and adjustments they need to keep these plans viable,” said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), who along with Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) led efforts to hammer out a deal.
The idea is reluctantly supported by some unions and retirement fund managers who see it as the only way to salvage pensions in plans that are in imminent danger of running out of money.
But it also has stirred strong opposition from retirees who could face deep pension cuts and from advocates eager to keep retiree pensions sacrosanct, even in cases when funds are in a deep financial hole. The advocates argue that allowing cuts to plans would open the door to trims for other retirees later.
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Troopers Investigate a Laurel area Home Invasion
Laurel, DE – Troopers are investigating a home invasion that occurred east of Laurel early Thursday morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:05 a.m. Thursday December 11, 2014 after a 9-1-1 call was placed from a resident living in a house, located in the 8000 block of Bacons Road, reporting that someone had broken into the dwelling and robbed the 78-year-old homeowner. Preliminary investigation revealed the elderly male victim had been asleep in his bedroom when he was abruptly woken up by an unknown male striking him in the head with an unknown object and then tying him up. At the same time, another male suspect was reportedly rummaging through the victims personal belongings looking for money. Once they found the cash, the two suspects fled the house in an unknown direction.
The 78-year-old male was slightly injured during the altercation and was able to walk out to the living room where one of his male tenants was sitting and inform him of what happened. The victim refused medical treatment on-scene.
There is no physical or clothing description of any of the male suspects. Detectives have determined through preliminary interviews and investigation that this was not a random act and believe the victim was targeted in the home invasion.
If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact Det. S. Gray at 302-856-5850 ext. 210 or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at: http://www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."
The incident occurred at approximately 2:05 a.m. Thursday December 11, 2014 after a 9-1-1 call was placed from a resident living in a house, located in the 8000 block of Bacons Road, reporting that someone had broken into the dwelling and robbed the 78-year-old homeowner. Preliminary investigation revealed the elderly male victim had been asleep in his bedroom when he was abruptly woken up by an unknown male striking him in the head with an unknown object and then tying him up. At the same time, another male suspect was reportedly rummaging through the victims personal belongings looking for money. Once they found the cash, the two suspects fled the house in an unknown direction.
The 78-year-old male was slightly injured during the altercation and was able to walk out to the living room where one of his male tenants was sitting and inform him of what happened. The victim refused medical treatment on-scene.
There is no physical or clothing description of any of the male suspects. Detectives have determined through preliminary interviews and investigation that this was not a random act and believe the victim was targeted in the home invasion.
If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact Det. S. Gray at 302-856-5850 ext. 210 or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at: http://www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."
6-year-old girl asks for holiday cards for her last Christmas
Sending out holiday cards this week? You’ll want to add another name to your list.
Addie Fausett, 6, of Fountain Green, Utah, is likely celebrating her last Christmas this year due to an atrophy of her brain that has left doctors puzzled. And in the face of devastating news, her family has come up with a beautiful idea: They are asking people to send Addie a “lifetime of Christmas cards.”
So far, hundreds of cards have poured into her nearby post office. “We really just started spreading the word. I think it’s just going to grow and grow,” says Amber Brosig, managing trustee at Children and the Earth, Inc., a nonprofit organization that is assisting with the project.
While fulfilling wishes like this one is for the child, for sure, it also goes a long way for the parents, siblings and other relatives. “We’re creating lasting memories for the family, with the family,” Brosig explains.
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Addie Fausett, 6, of Fountain Green, Utah, is likely celebrating her last Christmas this year due to an atrophy of her brain that has left doctors puzzled. And in the face of devastating news, her family has come up with a beautiful idea: They are asking people to send Addie a “lifetime of Christmas cards.”
So far, hundreds of cards have poured into her nearby post office. “We really just started spreading the word. I think it’s just going to grow and grow,” says Amber Brosig, managing trustee at Children and the Earth, Inc., a nonprofit organization that is assisting with the project.
While fulfilling wishes like this one is for the child, for sure, it also goes a long way for the parents, siblings and other relatives. “We’re creating lasting memories for the family, with the family,” Brosig explains.
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Hillary Clinton Got The Benghazi Talking Points BEFORE Rest Of Obama Administration
Clinton knew the Obama White House’s Benghazi talking points BEFORE the White House even sent them around
Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton knew the Obama White House’s Benghazi talking points BEFORE the White House even sent them around to administration officials.
Hillary Clinton used the administration’s exact talking point blaming the attack on a YouTube video before Obama’s White House speechwriter Ben Rhodes drafted it to prepare Susan Rice for Sunday morning talk shows days later.
As Rhodes prepares to leave the White House before he can be called to testify in front of Rep. Trey Gowdy’s select committee on the attack, a new timeline emerges that puts the video in Secretary Clinton’s hands.
We know now that Benghazi was an al-Qaeda attack, not just a spontaneous response to filmmaker Nakoula Nakoula Bassely’s obscure film “Innocence of Muslims.”
Full article here
Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton knew the Obama White House’s Benghazi talking points BEFORE the White House even sent them around to administration officials.
Hillary Clinton used the administration’s exact talking point blaming the attack on a YouTube video before Obama’s White House speechwriter Ben Rhodes drafted it to prepare Susan Rice for Sunday morning talk shows days later.
As Rhodes prepares to leave the White House before he can be called to testify in front of Rep. Trey Gowdy’s select committee on the attack, a new timeline emerges that puts the video in Secretary Clinton’s hands.
We know now that Benghazi was an al-Qaeda attack, not just a spontaneous response to filmmaker Nakoula Nakoula Bassely’s obscure film “Innocence of Muslims.”
Full article here
Minimum Wage Maximum Unemployment
Minimum wage hikes hurt the people that politicians claim to help, according to a new study.
University of California at San Diego professors Jeffrey Clemens and Michael Wither found that the $7.25 minimum wage passed in 2007 contributed to job losses for entry level and low-skilled workers. The wages may have been high on paper, but the take home pay for workers fell during the first three years of the new wage.
“We find that binding minimum wage increases had significant, negative effects on the employment and income growth of targeted workers,” the study says.
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University of California at San Diego professors Jeffrey Clemens and Michael Wither found that the $7.25 minimum wage passed in 2007 contributed to job losses for entry level and low-skilled workers. The wages may have been high on paper, but the take home pay for workers fell during the first three years of the new wage.
“We find that binding minimum wage increases had significant, negative effects on the employment and income growth of targeted workers,” the study says.
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The Economy Is Worse than During the Great Depression
Underneath the Propaganda, the Economy Is In BAD SHAPE ...
We noted in 2013 that the British economy is worse than during the Great Depression.
The Washington Post's Wonkblog pointed out in August that Europe is stuck in a "Greater Depression" ... worse than the Great Depression.
Well-known economist Brad DeLong agrees. As does Paul Krugman.
Historian, economist and demographer Neil Howe provided the following charts via Forbes last month, showing how dire the situation is in Europe:
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We noted in 2013 that the British economy is worse than during the Great Depression.
The Washington Post's Wonkblog pointed out in August that Europe is stuck in a "Greater Depression" ... worse than the Great Depression.
Well-known economist Brad DeLong agrees. As does Paul Krugman.
Historian, economist and demographer Neil Howe provided the following charts via Forbes last month, showing how dire the situation is in Europe:
More
Hogan Says Difficult Budget Decisions Loom
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Hogan gave a general outline of problems the state is facing on Thursday in Annapolis. While he avoided specifics, Hogan says state government needs to have the courage to avoid increased spending.
"If we can take the strong medicine now, I believe that we can begin to heal our state's economy and that will benefit all Marylanders," Hogan said at a news conference.
Maryland is facing a shortfall of about $300 million for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. The state also has a projected $593 million budget hole in the next fiscal year.
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Revelations From The Torture Report – CIA Lies, Nazi Methods And The $81 Million No-Bid Torture Contract
After initially helping to devise the “enhanced interrogation” efforts, they were designated as the only two contractors allowed to oversee these interrogations at sites around the world. In 2005, they formed a company to receive contracts from the CIA. According to the Senate report, the base value of their contract in 2006 was in excess of $180 million.
By the time the CIA terminated their contract in 2009, the consulting firm founded by the two men had collected $81 million in taxpayer money. In May of that year,ProPublica reported [11], the firm abruptly gave up the lease on its Spokane, Washington, headquarters and disconnected the phone.
Still, according to the Senate report, the CIA will provide $5 million in indemnity costs to the firm to cover all legal expenses for potential criminal prosecution and investigations through 2021.
– From the Huffington Post article: Architects Of CIA Torture Program Raked In $81 Million, Report Reveals
One of the greatest propaganda successes of the consolidated and corporate owned mainstream media in the US. has been the ability to convince many naive Americans that people with fascist tendencies do not exist in our society, and it they do, they certainly don’t occupy the highest halls of power.
One of the key points I try to get across in my writing is that the sociopathic mindset knows no borders, and a society that ignorantly believes that its “leadership” consists of good people with a moral high ground is a society of sheep primed for slaughter. Not only do fascist types exist at the highest levels of the U.S. status quo, the smart ones will typically do everything they can to attain such positions. Why?
As I noted recently in the post, In Great Britain, Protecting Pedophile Politicians is a Matter of “National Security”.
More
By the time the CIA terminated their contract in 2009, the consulting firm founded by the two men had collected $81 million in taxpayer money. In May of that year,ProPublica reported [11], the firm abruptly gave up the lease on its Spokane, Washington, headquarters and disconnected the phone.
Still, according to the Senate report, the CIA will provide $5 million in indemnity costs to the firm to cover all legal expenses for potential criminal prosecution and investigations through 2021.
– From the Huffington Post article: Architects Of CIA Torture Program Raked In $81 Million, Report Reveals
One of the greatest propaganda successes of the consolidated and corporate owned mainstream media in the US. has been the ability to convince many naive Americans that people with fascist tendencies do not exist in our society, and it they do, they certainly don’t occupy the highest halls of power.
One of the key points I try to get across in my writing is that the sociopathic mindset knows no borders, and a society that ignorantly believes that its “leadership” consists of good people with a moral high ground is a society of sheep primed for slaughter. Not only do fascist types exist at the highest levels of the U.S. status quo, the smart ones will typically do everything they can to attain such positions. Why?
As I noted recently in the post, In Great Britain, Protecting Pedophile Politicians is a Matter of “National Security”.
More
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon: We'll Do Away With Minimum Wage Pay In New Year
Back in October, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon announced future plans to boost the lowest of wages at the big box giant so that no worker is paid the federally mandated minimum of $7.25 an hour.
In an interview on Wednesday morning, he appeared to have set himself a deadline of early 2015 for this salary hike.
“We’re going to make changes in a few months that will create a situation where no Walmart associate in the United States makes federal minimum wage,” McMillon told ‘CBS CBS -1.7% This Morning’ co-host Charlie Rose in a rare, fairly wide-ranging sit-down discussion. “We’ll be ahead of that with our starting wage.”
McMillon, who at 48 is the youngest CEO of Walmart since founder Sam Walton, agreed with Rose’s assertion that the perception of Walmart — as a low-wage, dead-end employer, doubtlessly — differs from the reality of the business he runs.
“In the world there is a debate over inequity, and sometimes we get caught up in that, and retail does in general,” he said.
More
In an interview on Wednesday morning, he appeared to have set himself a deadline of early 2015 for this salary hike.
“We’re going to make changes in a few months that will create a situation where no Walmart associate in the United States makes federal minimum wage,” McMillon told ‘CBS CBS -1.7% This Morning’ co-host Charlie Rose in a rare, fairly wide-ranging sit-down discussion. “We’ll be ahead of that with our starting wage.”
McMillon, who at 48 is the youngest CEO of Walmart since founder Sam Walton, agreed with Rose’s assertion that the perception of Walmart — as a low-wage, dead-end employer, doubtlessly — differs from the reality of the business he runs.
“In the world there is a debate over inequity, and sometimes we get caught up in that, and retail does in general,” he said.
More
The Plague of Overcriminalization
America might at long last be ready to stare into the abyss of its criminal-justice system.
By history’s frequently brutal dialectic, the good that we call progress often comes spasmodically, in lurches propelled by tragedies caused by callousness, folly, or ignorance. With the grand jury’s as yet inexplicable and probably inexcusable refusal to find criminal culpability in Eric Garner’s death on a Staten Island sidewalk, the nation might have experienced sufficient affronts to its sense of decency. It might at long last be ready to stare into the abyss of its criminal-justice system.
It will stare back, balefully. Furthermore, the radiating ripples from the nation’s overdue reconsideration of present practices may reach beyond matters of crime and punishment, to basic truths about governance.
Garner died at the dangerous intersection of something wise, known as “broken windows” policing, and something worse than foolish: decades of overcriminalization. The policing applies the wisdom that when signs of disorder, such as broken windows, proliferate and persist, there is a general diminution of restraint and good comportment. So, because minor infractions are, cumulatively, not minor, police should not be lackadaisical about offenses such as jumping over subway turnstiles.
Overcriminalization has become a national plague. And when more and more behaviors are criminalized, there are more and more occasions for police, who embody the state’s monopoly on legitimate violence, and who fully participate in humanity’s flaws, to make mistakes.
More
By history’s frequently brutal dialectic, the good that we call progress often comes spasmodically, in lurches propelled by tragedies caused by callousness, folly, or ignorance. With the grand jury’s as yet inexplicable and probably inexcusable refusal to find criminal culpability in Eric Garner’s death on a Staten Island sidewalk, the nation might have experienced sufficient affronts to its sense of decency. It might at long last be ready to stare into the abyss of its criminal-justice system.
It will stare back, balefully. Furthermore, the radiating ripples from the nation’s overdue reconsideration of present practices may reach beyond matters of crime and punishment, to basic truths about governance.
Garner died at the dangerous intersection of something wise, known as “broken windows” policing, and something worse than foolish: decades of overcriminalization. The policing applies the wisdom that when signs of disorder, such as broken windows, proliferate and persist, there is a general diminution of restraint and good comportment. So, because minor infractions are, cumulatively, not minor, police should not be lackadaisical about offenses such as jumping over subway turnstiles.
Overcriminalization has become a national plague. And when more and more behaviors are criminalized, there are more and more occasions for police, who embody the state’s monopoly on legitimate violence, and who fully participate in humanity’s flaws, to make mistakes.
More
TRESPASS VIOLATION TURNS TO FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT IN OCEAN CITY
 |
| Bryan K. Taylor |
On December 10, 2014, at approximately 4:13 a.m. Ocean City officers responded to the area of 1st Street and Philadelphia Avenue for a report of trespassing. The suspect, later identified as Bryan K. Taylor, 48, of Ocean City, was given a trespass warning for the residence earlier in the morning in the presence of an officer and had returned to the property.
Upon arrival, officers could hear Taylor making threatening statements to another male behind a locked door and was holding a fixed blade knife. After multiple commands from an officer with his gun drawn, Taylor put down the knife and was arrested. Through investigation, officers determined that Taylor was threatening the individual behind the locked door after a minor altercation a few hours prior.
Police have charged Taylor with first and second degree assault, possessing a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, trespassing and disorderly conduct. Taylor was seen by a Maryland District Court Commissioner and is currently being held at the Ocean City Public Safety Building on $50,000 bond.
CROmnibus: The $1 Trillion Betrayal
The White House is lobbying for passage of this Omnibus budget by reminding their troops that they will not have as much leverage when the GOP takes over in January. If they understand that, why doesn’t the Republican leadership. And is John Boehner tone deaf and out of touch with the voters who gave the GOP a huge majority in Congress?? From our own Jim Simpson. Worth a read! Ellen Sauerbrey
Flush from an unprecedented nationwide GOP victory in this November’s elections, House and Senate GOP leadership determined that their essential first course of action should be to snatch defeat from its jaws. They have brought forth a spending bill for 2015 that gives President Obama almost everything he wants, while disenfranchising the very voters who delivered the GOP victory.
The $1.014 trillion Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, (HR 83), has been dubbed “CROmnibus” as it is a combined continuing resolution (CR)[1] and Omnibus spending bill. It will provide full funding for 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills to the end of FY 2015 (September 30th), and a short term continuing resolution to February 27 for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Speaker Boehner has said he would ensure members a minimum of 72 hours to read legislation. Instead, following former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s innovative “pass the bill so that you can find out what’s in it” policy, there will only be a tiny window of no more than 52 hours to read, analyze and vote on a trillion dollar spending bill that is 1,603 pages long. For reference, the Bible (NKJV) is only 1,200 pages. In 2010, incoming Speaker Boehner sang a different tune, “I do not believe that having 2,000-page bills on the House floor serves anyone’s best interests, not the House, not for the members and certainly not for the American people,” he said. But he also said he was going to cut spending…
Well, since this monstrosity went public at around 8:30 Tuesday night, countless eyes have been poring over its provisions to make sure we don’t have to pass it to find out what’s in it. Following are some of the worst:
1. Explanatory Statement
Right from the start, the very first provision indicates this is a new animal:
Sec. 4 Explanatory Statement (P 4.)
The explanatory statement regarding this Act, printed in the House of Representatives section of the Congressional Record on or about December 11, 2014 by the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House, shall have the same effect with respect to the allocation of funds and implementation of divisions A through K of this Act as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a committee of conference.
What it says in plain English is that the appropriations committee chairman will have authority to write in changes to any of the appropriations bills after the bill is passed. Usually this is done by a conference committee before the vote and indicates how and where they would like to see monies spent. This provision could allow the chairman to sneak in something or make other changes after the vote!
More
Flush from an unprecedented nationwide GOP victory in this November’s elections, House and Senate GOP leadership determined that their essential first course of action should be to snatch defeat from its jaws. They have brought forth a spending bill for 2015 that gives President Obama almost everything he wants, while disenfranchising the very voters who delivered the GOP victory.
The $1.014 trillion Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, (HR 83), has been dubbed “CROmnibus” as it is a combined continuing resolution (CR)[1] and Omnibus spending bill. It will provide full funding for 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills to the end of FY 2015 (September 30th), and a short term continuing resolution to February 27 for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Speaker Boehner has said he would ensure members a minimum of 72 hours to read legislation. Instead, following former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s innovative “pass the bill so that you can find out what’s in it” policy, there will only be a tiny window of no more than 52 hours to read, analyze and vote on a trillion dollar spending bill that is 1,603 pages long. For reference, the Bible (NKJV) is only 1,200 pages. In 2010, incoming Speaker Boehner sang a different tune, “I do not believe that having 2,000-page bills on the House floor serves anyone’s best interests, not the House, not for the members and certainly not for the American people,” he said. But he also said he was going to cut spending…
Well, since this monstrosity went public at around 8:30 Tuesday night, countless eyes have been poring over its provisions to make sure we don’t have to pass it to find out what’s in it. Following are some of the worst:
1. Explanatory Statement
Right from the start, the very first provision indicates this is a new animal:
Sec. 4 Explanatory Statement (P 4.)
The explanatory statement regarding this Act, printed in the House of Representatives section of the Congressional Record on or about December 11, 2014 by the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House, shall have the same effect with respect to the allocation of funds and implementation of divisions A through K of this Act as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a committee of conference.
What it says in plain English is that the appropriations committee chairman will have authority to write in changes to any of the appropriations bills after the bill is passed. Usually this is done by a conference committee before the vote and indicates how and where they would like to see monies spent. This provision could allow the chairman to sneak in something or make other changes after the vote!
More
Is Obama Secretly Working to Replace Netanyahu?
Nurtured in the Saul Alinsky-style, ACORN-esque tactics of organizing revolution under the banner of "social change," Barack Obama, as a young community organizer in Chicago in the 1980s understood early on the importance of a crisis and how to ride the waves of an emergency to effect the fundamental transformation of society.
As the nation’s chief executive, President Obama has demonstrated a particular specialty in the use and perpetuation of crises to push through policies that the public otherwise might not willingly accept, including the wildly unpopular healthcare law, immigration reform, and the first-term "stimulus" legislation. It is therefore unsurprising to detect the international export of the Obama’s “crisis” game plan to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A dispassionate look at the sequence of events shows that the Obama administration has generated an unprecedented crisis in US-Israeli relations, a crisis utilized at every twist and turn by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political rivals, most notably those within his coalition, to try to shake up the country’s leadership.
There is more than a hint of White House interference in helping to agitate the coalition drama that provoked Netanyahu’s hesitant decision last Tuesday to dissolve parliament and schedule early elections that could potentially see the prime minister unseated.
Before divining the Obama administration’s fingerprints on the events that led to Netanyahu’s predicament, the immediate question is just what about the Israeli premier makes him so problematic for this White House. The answer is fraught with policy implications that cut to the very heart of Obama’s dangerously myopic, academic view of the world and America’s place among friend and foe.
Read more here
As the nation’s chief executive, President Obama has demonstrated a particular specialty in the use and perpetuation of crises to push through policies that the public otherwise might not willingly accept, including the wildly unpopular healthcare law, immigration reform, and the first-term "stimulus" legislation. It is therefore unsurprising to detect the international export of the Obama’s “crisis” game plan to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A dispassionate look at the sequence of events shows that the Obama administration has generated an unprecedented crisis in US-Israeli relations, a crisis utilized at every twist and turn by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political rivals, most notably those within his coalition, to try to shake up the country’s leadership.
There is more than a hint of White House interference in helping to agitate the coalition drama that provoked Netanyahu’s hesitant decision last Tuesday to dissolve parliament and schedule early elections that could potentially see the prime minister unseated.
Before divining the Obama administration’s fingerprints on the events that led to Netanyahu’s predicament, the immediate question is just what about the Israeli premier makes him so problematic for this White House. The answer is fraught with policy implications that cut to the very heart of Obama’s dangerously myopic, academic view of the world and America’s place among friend and foe.
Read more here
Word Verification Finally Turned Off
There's a ton of articles going up today as well as a very full day on Saturday.
Don't forget, GUNS AND HOSES Boxing Saturday night at the Main Street Gym. FIREFIGHTERS VS. POLICE!!!! Should be an absolute blast. Call Hal Chernoff if you'd like tickets. 410-430-6687
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
Governor-elect Hogan announces three top governor’s staff appointments
ANNAPOLIS, MD – At a press conference today, Governor-elect Larry Hogan announced three top appointments to his staff. The press conference took place at 45 Calvert Street in downtown Annapolis, home to the Maryland Department of Budget and Management, with all three appointees attending.
Governor-elect Hogan named Craig Williams, director of policy and U.S. government affairs at biotechnology firm Amgen, as his chief of staff. Mr. Williams developed a deep expertise in state health care reform while he was at Amgen, said Govenor-elect Hogan.
Mr. Williams also served as deputy chief of staff to Governor Ehrlich, during which time he coordinated major policy issues for some of the largest state agencies, including the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Education.
Next, Governor-elect Hogan announced that Senator Joe Getty, who joined the transition to lead the legislative and policy team, would continue on as the chief legislative officer in the Hogan-Rutherford administration. Senator Getty sat on both the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee as well as the Budget and Tax Committee—the latter role serving him well as he works to “get the state’s financial house in order,” said the Governor-elect.
Finally, Bobby Neall, former member of the House of Delegates, state senator, and county executive, was named a special adviser to the governor on fiscal matters. Senator Neall is widely regarded as the “most experienced and most trusted fiscal mind in our state,” said the Governor-elect.
BLOOD IN THE WATER: TEAMSTERS, JIMMY HOFFA, JR. TO CONGRESS: KILL THE OMNIBUS BILL
There's blood in the water on Capitol Hill. Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., is out in strong opposition to the omnibus spending bill as Democratic support—and Republican support—for it continues crumbling.
“On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, I am writing to ask that you vote NO on the rule and NO on the Omnibus Appropriations Bill,” Hoffa wrote to all members of Congress on Wednesday afternoon. “This bill and its self-executing rule will slash the pensions of thousands of retirees who worked years for a pension that they thought would provide them financial security in their retirement years. That promise is now busted.”
Hoffa added that a “last minute $2 billion bailout to a $100 billion Fortune 50 company for breaking its promise to its retirees is outrageous and only adds to the list of special interest provisions in this bill.”
CALL J A BOENER AT (202) 225-0600 STAT he is pushing the pension cuts! They were added at the LAST minute!
(earlier post) AT 2 40 UPDATE TO STALL THE OMNIBUS BILL!
JOHN BONNER IS FOR CUTTING YOUR PENSION YOU HAVE A FEW HOURS ONLY LEFT it will be up for vote tomorrow AM. PLEASE CALL THE WHITE HOUSE 202-456-1111 NOW AND CALL YOUR SENATORS NEXT The 1603 page bill was given last minute and no one had time to read it all!!!
If you are under 80 YOU will have your pension cut tomorrow the 12th....despite a 40 year ago guarantee NOT to change our pensions we already earned!.....it DOES not matter who paid your pension!!!!!
I doubt Congress and the Senate nor the President will loose their Pensions! I called the white house, emailed Biden called both MD senators and Reps from all 8 MD districts today and LIGHT UP Facebook with appeals!!!
“On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, I am writing to ask that you vote NO on the rule and NO on the Omnibus Appropriations Bill,” Hoffa wrote to all members of Congress on Wednesday afternoon. “This bill and its self-executing rule will slash the pensions of thousands of retirees who worked years for a pension that they thought would provide them financial security in their retirement years. That promise is now busted.”
Hoffa added that a “last minute $2 billion bailout to a $100 billion Fortune 50 company for breaking its promise to its retirees is outrageous and only adds to the list of special interest provisions in this bill.”
“This disgraceful government subsidy to one of the most profitable companies in America should be stopped in its tracks,” Hoffa wrote, adding that “hiding behind a rule that prevents Members of Congress from directly voting to cut retiree benefits is a shameful act that may well be remembered at the ballot box in the future.”
Hoffa’s letter became public as House Rules Committee chairman Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) works to bring the 1,603-page omnibus to the floor of the House, even though it funds President Barack Obama’s executive amnesty. The Hill reports that at least 50 to 60 Republicans are working to oppose the bill, numbers that are beginning to surge, sources on Capitol Hill tell Breitbart News.
More
Hoffa’s letter became public as House Rules Committee chairman Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) works to bring the 1,603-page omnibus to the floor of the House, even though it funds President Barack Obama’s executive amnesty. The Hill reports that at least 50 to 60 Republicans are working to oppose the bill, numbers that are beginning to surge, sources on Capitol Hill tell Breitbart News.
More
(earlier post) AT 2 40 UPDATE TO STALL THE OMNIBUS BILL!
JOHN BONNER IS FOR CUTTING YOUR PENSION YOU HAVE A FEW HOURS ONLY LEFT it will be up for vote tomorrow AM. PLEASE CALL THE WHITE HOUSE 202-456-1111 NOW AND CALL YOUR SENATORS NEXT The 1603 page bill was given last minute and no one had time to read it all!!!
If you are under 80 YOU will have your pension cut tomorrow the 12th....despite a 40 year ago guarantee NOT to change our pensions we already earned!.....it DOES not matter who paid your pension!!!!!
I doubt Congress and the Senate nor the President will loose their Pensions! I called the white house, emailed Biden called both MD senators and Reps from all 8 MD districts today and LIGHT UP Facebook with appeals!!!
Post on Humane treatment of Poultry
What was most upsetting, for me, after watching this video is besides all the false information shared, many of the points this farmer made were completely avoidable. Houses are climate controlled and are (or supposed to be) cleaned between each flock. If your birds are panting and have sores on their feet, YOU, as the farmer — AS THEIR CARETAKER — are doing something wrong.
Also, genetic deformities happen, all poultry farmers are instructed how to humanely cull their birds. Our houses are walked through twice a day, the dead are picked up, those that need to be culled are, and the overall health of each house is assessed and documented. Any problems are immediately addressed.
Even when someone is not in the houses, the chickens best interest are being looked out for. Various sensors detect a variety elements of in the houses, the second anything varies from what it should be the sensors tell a computer and the computer calls my husband. If he doesn't answer the call, the computer then calls my Mother-in-Law, then my father-in-law and so on and so forth until it gets a hold of someone to let them know, 'Yo! Things are not all bueno up in hurrr!'
My point, growing for a company or not, the farmer is ultimately responsible for the health of his flock and what was in that video is NOT what should be happening inside a chicken house.
If you have a concern about something, reach out to your local farmers. I promise, they want to talk to YOU, too.
“Operation Son Sun” Nets Forty Four on Gun and Weapons Charges
New Castle County- A multi-jurisdictional investigation into the illegal drug trafficking organization of two Newark, Delaware men conducted by the Delaware State Police, the Delaware Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration-Wilmington Office (DEA), the Wilmington Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the New Castle County Police Department, the Division of Probation and Parole, the Newark Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police, has concluded with the arrest or indictment of over 40 individuals on 330 criminal charges.
The 11 month investigation, dubbed “Operation Son Sun”, which began in December of 2013 and concluded on November 25, 2014, targeted the illegal drug trafficking organization headed by Andrew Lloyd, 31 (pictured), and Jarrell Brown, 29 (pictured), both of Newark, DE, though Andrew Lloyd has been charged with directing a significant heroin network in the City of Wilmington. The operation involved the execution of search warrants at 17 different residential locations throughout New Castle County and has resulted in the arrest or indictment of 44 individuals on numerous drug and weapons offenses.
On October 30, 2014 the initial wave of search warrants were executed by the tactical teams of the Delaware State Police, Wilmington Police Department, and the New Castle County Police at eight separate residences located in Newark and Wilmington, DE. The targeted locations were:
2610 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE
210 E. 23rd Street, Wilmington, DE
401 N. Spruce Street, C1, Wilmington, DE
835 N. Pine Street, Wilmington, DE
12 Hobart Drive, B4, Newark, DE
502 E. 5th Street, C1, Wilmington, DE
501 E. 5th Street, C2, Wilmington, DE
810 W. 9th Street, Wilmington, DE
On November 25, 2014 a second wave of search warrants were executed by the tactical teams of the Delaware State Police, Wilmington Police Department, New Castle County Police, and the FBI at nine separate residences located in Newark, New Castle, and Wilmington, DE. The targeted locations were:
5301 Byron Court, Newark, DE
2223 Dickens Terrace, Newark, DE
11 Kathy Court, New Castle, DE
19 Blyth Court, New Castle, DE
31 Winterhaven Drive, #4, Newark, DE
51 Brookside Boulevard, C6, Newark, DE
44 Oakmont Drive, New Castle, DE
1 Barbara Circle, Wilmington, DE
511 Smyrna Avenue, Wilmington, DE
As a result of the execution of the search warrants the following items were seized (all weights are approximate):
The 11 month investigation, dubbed “Operation Son Sun”, which began in December of 2013 and concluded on November 25, 2014, targeted the illegal drug trafficking organization headed by Andrew Lloyd, 31 (pictured), and Jarrell Brown, 29 (pictured), both of Newark, DE, though Andrew Lloyd has been charged with directing a significant heroin network in the City of Wilmington. The operation involved the execution of search warrants at 17 different residential locations throughout New Castle County and has resulted in the arrest or indictment of 44 individuals on numerous drug and weapons offenses.
On October 30, 2014 the initial wave of search warrants were executed by the tactical teams of the Delaware State Police, Wilmington Police Department, and the New Castle County Police at eight separate residences located in Newark and Wilmington, DE. The targeted locations were:
2610 N. Market Street, Wilmington, DE
210 E. 23rd Street, Wilmington, DE
401 N. Spruce Street, C1, Wilmington, DE
835 N. Pine Street, Wilmington, DE
12 Hobart Drive, B4, Newark, DE
502 E. 5th Street, C1, Wilmington, DE
501 E. 5th Street, C2, Wilmington, DE
810 W. 9th Street, Wilmington, DE
On November 25, 2014 a second wave of search warrants were executed by the tactical teams of the Delaware State Police, Wilmington Police Department, New Castle County Police, and the FBI at nine separate residences located in Newark, New Castle, and Wilmington, DE. The targeted locations were:
5301 Byron Court, Newark, DE
2223 Dickens Terrace, Newark, DE
11 Kathy Court, New Castle, DE
19 Blyth Court, New Castle, DE
31 Winterhaven Drive, #4, Newark, DE
51 Brookside Boulevard, C6, Newark, DE
44 Oakmont Drive, New Castle, DE
1 Barbara Circle, Wilmington, DE
511 Smyrna Avenue, Wilmington, DE
As a result of the execution of the search warrants the following items were seized (all weights are approximate):
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