The Senate overwhelmingly voted to authorize new U.S. sanctions against North Korea, days after the country launched a long-range rocket.
The measure, passed 96-0, would create sanctions against individuals, companies and foreign governments that contribute to North Korea’s nuclear program and ballistic missile development. Also penalized would be those who send luxury goods or aid the regime’s censorship or human rights abuses.
The House passed an earlier version of H.R. 757 on Jan. 12, also in an overwhelming bipartisan vote. The differences must be reconciled before the bill can go to President Barack Obama.
Prior to the vote, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, and Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, each spoke on the Senate floor to urge their colleagues to support the bill. The leaders said Congress needs to act after the Pyongyang regime’s rocket launch on Sunday, which the U.S. says violated a United Nations ban on North Korea’s use of ballistic missile technology.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Friday, February 12, 2016
House Bill Would Allow Drug Testing For Food Stamps
Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt unveiled the measure on Thursday as Republicans look to find savings in the program. Aderholt says that states could choose whether they wanted to allow drug testing, so the legislation wouldn’t be a mandate. He says it’s common sense to create drug programs for those who need help.
“This is a compassionate way to try and help these people who have issues, instead of turning the head,” said Aderholt, chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees spending for the Agriculture Department, which administers the food stamp program.
The bill is designed to aid states like Wisconsin, where former GOP presidential candidate Walker has sought to require food stamp recipients to undergo drug screening.
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Dick Morris: Hillary Lost Because She Lied
New Hampshire exit polls in the Democratic primary indicate that Bernie Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton among self-described liberals by 60-39. Okay. But he also beat her among moderates and conservatives by a nearly identical 60-37 margin.
They also show that among the one-third of all voters who said "honesty and trustworthiness" were the most important qualities of a candidate in determining their vote, Sanders beat Clinton by 95-5.
These data indicate that Sanders' victory was not the result of an ideological vote for a socialist but was due to a personal repudiation of a liar. It was Hillary's dearth of personal ethics and her lack of veracity, not her political ideology or her issue positions, that led to her smashing defeat in New Hampshire.
So when Hillary sought to co-opt and plagiarize Bernie's rhetoric in her concession speech, she did nothing to solve the problem that brought her low. Nor will any shift in her message or beheadings of her staff do much to help her.
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They also show that among the one-third of all voters who said "honesty and trustworthiness" were the most important qualities of a candidate in determining their vote, Sanders beat Clinton by 95-5.
These data indicate that Sanders' victory was not the result of an ideological vote for a socialist but was due to a personal repudiation of a liar. It was Hillary's dearth of personal ethics and her lack of veracity, not her political ideology or her issue positions, that led to her smashing defeat in New Hampshire.
So when Hillary sought to co-opt and plagiarize Bernie's rhetoric in her concession speech, she did nothing to solve the problem that brought her low. Nor will any shift in her message or beheadings of her staff do much to help her.
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Defense Secretary Backs Plan To Relaunch Radar Balloons
According to our media partner, The Baltimore Sun, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter signed off on the plan to relaunch the unmanned balloons over Aberdeen Proving Ground.
They have been grounded since a series of errors caused one of them broke free in October.
Getting them back in the air will require congressional approval, more money, training personnel and a new balloon.
Source
Dan Said He Can't Wait Till That New Radar System Is Available
North Korean Leader Kim Has His Military Chief Executed
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had his military chief executed for corruption and other charges, a South Korean official said Thursday.
If true, the execution of Ri Yong Gil, chief of the North Korean military's general staff, would be the latest in a series of killings, purges and dismissals since Kim took power in late 2011.
Details about North Korea's opaque government are notoriously difficult for outsiders to get, even national governments, and South Korean officials have a spotty record of tracking developments in North Korea.
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If true, the execution of Ri Yong Gil, chief of the North Korean military's general staff, would be the latest in a series of killings, purges and dismissals since Kim took power in late 2011.
Details about North Korea's opaque government are notoriously difficult for outsiders to get, even national governments, and South Korean officials have a spotty record of tracking developments in North Korea.
More
Snow Conditions In West Ocean City
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.
Bill would change driver's license renewal process
ANNAPOLIS, Md. —State lawmakers heard passionate testimony Thursday for a bill that would change the driver's license renewal process.
Victims' family members joined national experts for a briefing in Annapolis in hopes of changing state law to require older drivers to renew their licenses in person. They want changes made to better evaluate driving ability.
For Josie and Mike Hollingsworth, the doctor's words still sting, "She didn't make it." In the fall of 2014, their 23-year-old daughter, Lauren, died after she was struck by an 81-year-old driver.
Josie Hollingsworth told a House committee that police said the man panicked and got confused seeing a car door suddenly open, hitting the gas pedal instead of the brakes. She recalled witnesses describing Lauren looking like a rag doll rolling down the sidewalk.
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Victims' family members joined national experts for a briefing in Annapolis in hopes of changing state law to require older drivers to renew their licenses in person. They want changes made to better evaluate driving ability.
For Josie and Mike Hollingsworth, the doctor's words still sting, "She didn't make it." In the fall of 2014, their 23-year-old daughter, Lauren, died after she was struck by an 81-year-old driver.
Josie Hollingsworth told a House committee that police said the man panicked and got confused seeing a car door suddenly open, hitting the gas pedal instead of the brakes. She recalled witnesses describing Lauren looking like a rag doll rolling down the sidewalk.
More
Sanders Raises $5M 24 Hours After Defeating Hillary
White House hopeful Bernie Sanders raised a staggering $5 million in the 18 hours since winning New Hampshire's primary, his campaign announced Wednesday, further evidence he can mount a protracted Democratic nomination battle against Hillary Clinton.
Sanders' team described the $5.2 million haul as "shattering the campaign's previous record for money raised in less than a day."
The fundraising bump came after he trounced Clinton 60 percent to 38 percent in New Hampshire, the second contest to determine the party standard bearer for the 2016 White House race.
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Sanders' team described the $5.2 million haul as "shattering the campaign's previous record for money raised in less than a day."
The fundraising bump came after he trounced Clinton 60 percent to 38 percent in New Hampshire, the second contest to determine the party standard bearer for the 2016 White House race.
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Maryland lawmakers to weigh ban on use of animals in medical research
The bill, HB 289, would prohibit a medical school from using live or dead animals to teach surgical procedures if an alternative method is in use at another medical school in the state. The legislation would establish $1,000 fine for breaking the rule. The bill was introduced by Montgomery County Del. Shane Robinson and is set for a hearing in the House Health and Government Operations committee Thursday.
The proposed legislation would apply to all three of the state’s medical schools, but would primarily affect Hopkins.
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January 2016 Salisbury MD Home Sales Report
The average time on market was 3.5 months compared to 4.2 months for home sales in the Salisbury MD area last January.
Currently, there are 10.7 months of supply of homes in the Salisbury MD area.* This is determined by how many homes are available divided by how many homes sold the previous month.
Homes Sold in Wicomico County January 2016
Conclusions for Salisbury MD Area Home Buyers
Salisbury MD area home buyers started the New Year facing low inventory, which is typical of the season and uncertainty with mortgage rates. Interest rates actually declined towards month’s end, showing us that December’s Fed action was taken in stride by the markets and aided by the worst start in the Dow’s history.
Even with low single family home inventory in Wicomico County (around 450 units), the slower sales pace pushed the months of supply up considerably. With such a small data sample, this is inconsequential. A significant portion of January home sales were foreclosures and short sales, pulling the median price down.
Conclusions for Home Sellers in the Salisbury MD Area
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Officials map out future OC bike path, despite troubles
Instead of moving forward with a temporary “right of entry agreement,” the City Council’s Transportation Commission instead agreed to draw a map designating where cyclists would be able to travel on private properties on the proposed trail between Convention Center and Route 90.
“In creating a site-specific map, the property owners would see that the right of easements would not apply to the whole property, just a segment where the bike path would be.” said Public Works Director Hal Adkins. “This would give the property owner some ease.”
The bicycle path proposal, pushed by Councilman Tony DeLuca, would keep cyclists off Coastal Highway and the bus lane and on side roads near the ocean. Officials have been eyeing the 20-block stretch between Convention Center Drive and 62nd Street since tourist-favored bars line that segment.
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4 Ways To Protect America’s Fragile Internet From Cyber Threats
Overseas, Cyber Security Expert Says
The Internet has transformed the way we communicate, the way governments interact and how we use everything from cell phones to home alarm systems and baby monitors.
Unfortunately, it’s also made the nation vulnerable in ways previous generations couldn’t have imagined, says Gary Miliefsky, CEO of SnoopWall (www.snoopwall.com), a company that specializes in cyber security.
“Billions of dollars have been spent on firewalls and antivirus programs,” he says. “Yet at every turn they fail us and we see major breaches in the news on a weekly basis.”
The victims aren’t just retailers targeted by cyber thieves who are after customer credit card information. Government also is at risk and the White House, the Office of Personnel Management and NASA are among those that have been victimized by hackers.
“As much as we would like for the Internet to be secure, it is in fact fragile and constantly under attack,” Miliefsky says. “That’s bad for us as consumers because our private information can be at risk, but it may be even worse for us as a nation, because our national security can also be at risk from cyber attacks from abroad.”
Miliefsky says it’s critical that the federal government take steps to shore up the nation’s cyber defenses in the same way it tries to guard against attacks from land, sea and air.
His recommendations for accomplishing that include:
• Require text-only email communications. All email coming in and out of U.S. government agencies should be restricted to text only. No more attachments or hyperlinks. “That’s going to seem inconvenient, but it will help the White House, the Office of Personnel Management and other agencies avoid falling victim to well-crafted spear phishing attacks,” Miliefsky says. This wouldn’t have to be a permanent fix, he says. Over time, when a completely secure email and hyperlink scrubbing system is in place, agencies could again allow the attachments and hyperlinks.
• Stick to government email servers. Government employees shouldn’t do any public business through private email accounts. This topic has drawn a lot of attention because Hillary Clinton used a private email server when she was secretary of state, but the problem goes even deeper than that. Last year, the research group Government Business Council surveyed federal employees and reported that 33 percent said they sometimes use private email accounts for government business. “That needs to stop, especially when classified information is involved, because it puts all that information at risk of being hacked,” Miliefsky says.
• Block file transfers to enemy nation states. It’s all right for U.S. government employees and the military to visit, study, learn from and review websites outside the country, but they shouldn’t be transferring files and records to such nations as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, Miliefsky says. Such transfers should be blocked at the government firewalls and routers, he says, though exceptions could be made for classified projects that have been vetted by the FBI, CIA, NSA or Department of Defense.
• Expand funding for cyber defense training and staff. Beefing up the nation’s cyber defenses comes with a price tag, but the investment would be worth it, Miliefsky says. The nation faces the possibility of cyber war, cyber espionage, cyber crime and cyber terrorism, and the federal government needs to hire staff “who have a skill set that’s as good or better than our enemies,” he says. “They will become the new leaders in expanding our cyber defense strategies and capabilities, both in military and civilian roles.”
First Responders To Condo Blaze Recognized In OC
OCEAN CITY — Ocean City firefighters and first responders got a sincere thank you last week from the owners of a north-end condominium for their quick action under trying circumstances during a massive fire in January.
Around mid-day on January 13, Ocean City firefighters along with personnel from the OCPD and the Public Works department responded to the Pelican Beach condominium on the beach between 139th and 140th streets after several citizens reported a structure fire with heavy black smoke seen from miles away. By the time first responders arrived, the fire had spread to the dune area on the east side of the property and the sounds of explosions were heard coming from the first-floor parking garage.
The investigation revealed a generator in the back of a work truck had exploded, setting fire to the building. With the swirling winds, the fire spread quickly and the entire east side of the condo was engulfed. The fire was brought under control in about an hour although frigid temperatures and gusty winds created challenges. The building suffered significant damage to its exterior as well as the interior of two of the 28 units, although it appeared initially to be much worse.
On Monday, Mayor Rick Meehan shared a letter from the condo’s board of directors thanking the city and its first responders for their quick action in putting out the massive blaze and minimizing the damage.
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Around mid-day on January 13, Ocean City firefighters along with personnel from the OCPD and the Public Works department responded to the Pelican Beach condominium on the beach between 139th and 140th streets after several citizens reported a structure fire with heavy black smoke seen from miles away. By the time first responders arrived, the fire had spread to the dune area on the east side of the property and the sounds of explosions were heard coming from the first-floor parking garage.
The investigation revealed a generator in the back of a work truck had exploded, setting fire to the building. With the swirling winds, the fire spread quickly and the entire east side of the condo was engulfed. The fire was brought under control in about an hour although frigid temperatures and gusty winds created challenges. The building suffered significant damage to its exterior as well as the interior of two of the 28 units, although it appeared initially to be much worse.
On Monday, Mayor Rick Meehan shared a letter from the condo’s board of directors thanking the city and its first responders for their quick action in putting out the massive blaze and minimizing the damage.
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And So It Began...
He called the royal weather forecaster and inquired as to the weather forecast for the next few hours. The weatherman assured him that there was no chance of rain in the coming days.
So the king went fishing with his wife, the queen. On the way he met a farmer on his donkey. Upon seeing the king the farmer said, "Your Majesty, you should return to the palace at once because in just a short time I expect a huge amount of rain to fall in this area".
The king was polite and considerate, he replied: "I hold the palace meteorologist in high regard. He is an extensively educated and experienced professional. And besides, I pay him very high wages.
He gave me a very different forecast. I trust him and I will continue on my way." So he continued on his way.
However, a short time later a torrential rain fell from the sky. The King and Queen were totally soaked and their entourage chuckled upon seeing them in such a shameful condition.
Furious, the king returned to the palace and gave the order to fire the professional. Then he summoned the farmer and offered him the prestigious and high paying role of royal forecaster.
The farmer said, "Your Majesty, I do not know anything about forecasting. I obtain my information from my donkey.
If I see my donkey's ears drooping, it means with certainty that it will rain."
So the king hired the donkey.
And thus began the practice of hiring dumb asses to work in the government and occupy its highest and most influential positions.
And the practice is unbroken to this day..
Is Amazon Doing Anything To Fight Latest Wave Of Fake, Paid-For Reviews?
Since Amazon began allowing customers to post reviews on product pages, various waves of bogus reviewers have attempted to game the system by posting fictitious or dishonest write-ups. While Amazon has recently taken legal action against people paid to write fake reviews for products, and the site has aban on most forms of “paid” reviews, there’s a new crop of compensated reviewers who are receiving free or discounted products in exchange for then writing “honest” reviews. But some of these users are writing dozens of reviews a day, sometimes for products they couldn’t possibly have tried.
This newer form of fake, paid Amazon reviews are creeping in thanks to marketing sites that offer free and deeply discounted items if buyers promise to then share their honest feelings on Amazon.
While Amazon’s review guidelines prohibit most “paid” reviews, they do include an explicit exception “when a free or discounted copy of a physical product is provided to a customer up front” if the user “clearly and conspicuously disclose[s] that fact” in their review.
That’s because e-tail giant has its own form of a “free stuff for reviews” in Amazon Vine, which allows select customers to get pre-release access to some products.
But Amazon knows who Vine members are and what they’ve received through the program. Amazon does not, however, necessarily know if a reviewer purchased an item through some discount marketer with the promise of writing a review.
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This newer form of fake, paid Amazon reviews are creeping in thanks to marketing sites that offer free and deeply discounted items if buyers promise to then share their honest feelings on Amazon.
While Amazon’s review guidelines prohibit most “paid” reviews, they do include an explicit exception “when a free or discounted copy of a physical product is provided to a customer up front” if the user “clearly and conspicuously disclose[s] that fact” in their review.
That’s because e-tail giant has its own form of a “free stuff for reviews” in Amazon Vine, which allows select customers to get pre-release access to some products.
But Amazon knows who Vine members are and what they’ve received through the program. Amazon does not, however, necessarily know if a reviewer purchased an item through some discount marketer with the promise of writing a review.
More
Big Brother Seeking to Get in Your Child's Head — Literally
With help and funding from the federal government, Big Brother is about to get inside your child's mind — literally. Emerging technologies backed by the U.S. Department of Education are already being deployed in “education,” with federal education bureaucrats hoping to eventually use those tools to monitor and track everything from children's “mindsets” and “attitudes” to their “emotions” and “cognitive processes.” Much of it is being pursued under the guise of improving and individualizing schooling. But the reality is probably not that simple. Experts have been warning about the trends for decades. Even a layman, though, can see the dire potential abuses of such technology.
Aside from official documents, the latest reports to document the troubling trend — albeit while trying to put a smiley face on the developments — come from Education Week. According to an article by Benjamin Herold published last month, under the guise of providing “personalized learning experiences,” new technology is targeting students' “individual emotions, cognitive processes, 'mindsets,' and character and personality traits.” Apparently almost oblivious to the implications of entering into students' minds under the pretext of “educating” them, the multiple Education Week articles and other reports on the issue come across almost as advertisements for Big Brother and his growing capabilities.
On January 6, for example, the education-focused media outlet touted “new efforts to dramatically expand the types of data collected in the classroom and to focus more attention on responding to individual students' 'mindsets,' non-cognitive skills, and emotional states.” Aside from one brief mention of privacy being a major concern, the report does not even consider that parents may not want their children's mindsets and emotional states to be tracked, probed, analyzed, and manipulated by Big Brother. The terrifying potential of such mind-breaking technology in the wrong hands is another subject that is never touched upon in the glowing reports, despite warnings about it from within the federal government stretching back to at least the 1970s.
Among the many tools being pursued are so-called “Intelligent Tutoring Systems,” which monitor, track, and exploit students' emotional and physiological reactions. “The idea is that emotions have a powerful influence on cognition,” computer science and psychology Professor Sidney D'Mello at the University of Notre Dame, who has done a great deal of research in the field, is quoted as saying by Education Week. “Ten years ago, there were things you could do in a lab that you couldn't do in the messiness of the real world,” he said, adding that better and more affordable technology have provided a major boost for researchers. “Now, you can get a reasonable proxy of a student's heart rate from a webcam.”
More
Aside from official documents, the latest reports to document the troubling trend — albeit while trying to put a smiley face on the developments — come from Education Week. According to an article by Benjamin Herold published last month, under the guise of providing “personalized learning experiences,” new technology is targeting students' “individual emotions, cognitive processes, 'mindsets,' and character and personality traits.” Apparently almost oblivious to the implications of entering into students' minds under the pretext of “educating” them, the multiple Education Week articles and other reports on the issue come across almost as advertisements for Big Brother and his growing capabilities.
On January 6, for example, the education-focused media outlet touted “new efforts to dramatically expand the types of data collected in the classroom and to focus more attention on responding to individual students' 'mindsets,' non-cognitive skills, and emotional states.” Aside from one brief mention of privacy being a major concern, the report does not even consider that parents may not want their children's mindsets and emotional states to be tracked, probed, analyzed, and manipulated by Big Brother. The terrifying potential of such mind-breaking technology in the wrong hands is another subject that is never touched upon in the glowing reports, despite warnings about it from within the federal government stretching back to at least the 1970s.
Among the many tools being pursued are so-called “Intelligent Tutoring Systems,” which monitor, track, and exploit students' emotional and physiological reactions. “The idea is that emotions have a powerful influence on cognition,” computer science and psychology Professor Sidney D'Mello at the University of Notre Dame, who has done a great deal of research in the field, is quoted as saying by Education Week. “Ten years ago, there were things you could do in a lab that you couldn't do in the messiness of the real world,” he said, adding that better and more affordable technology have provided a major boost for researchers. “Now, you can get a reasonable proxy of a student's heart rate from a webcam.”
More
New Chipotle Food Safety Procedures Include Shutting Down Restaurant If Anyone Barfs
Yesterday, Chipotle restaurants didn’t open until 3 PM so 50,000 or so restaurant employees could sit in hotel conference rooms or movie theaters to watch a live-streamed company-wide meeting about food safety. The future of the chain is at stake, and their task is to prove to the public that they’re not trying to make us all sick.
Chipotle’s food safety worries started to attract national attention when the same strain of E. coli showed up in customers in disparate states with no connection between incidents and investigators unable to figure out which food item actually caused the outbreak.
After the multi-state E. coli outbreak, a different foodborne illness, norovirus, broke out in Boston at a location popular with Boston University students. That caused news outlets to look back at an earlier norovirus outbreak in California, as well as a Salmonella outbreak in Minnesota, and customers to conclude that they shouldn’t go to Chipotle.
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Chipotle’s food safety worries started to attract national attention when the same strain of E. coli showed up in customers in disparate states with no connection between incidents and investigators unable to figure out which food item actually caused the outbreak.
After the multi-state E. coli outbreak, a different foodborne illness, norovirus, broke out in Boston at a location popular with Boston University students. That caused news outlets to look back at an earlier norovirus outbreak in California, as well as a Salmonella outbreak in Minnesota, and customers to conclude that they shouldn’t go to Chipotle.
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What's For Dinner: CHICKEN CABBAGE STIR FRY
CHICKEN CABBAGE STIR FRY
Ingredients
~ 3 chicken breast halves
~1 teaspoon vegetable oil
~3 cups green cabbage, shredded
~ 1 tablespoon cornstarch
~1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
~1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder
~1⁄2 cup water
~1 tablespoon soy sauce
Directions
1. Cut chicken breasts into strips.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan.
3. Add chicken strips and stir fry over medium-high heat, turning constantly until done.
4. Add cabbage and sauté 2 minutes until cabbage is crisp-tender.
5. Mix cornstarch and seasonings; add water and soy sauce, and mix until smooth.
6. Stir sauce into chicken/cabbage mixture.
7. Cook until sauce has thickened and chicken is coated, about 1 minute.
8. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Bomb Threat / Arrest
Bomb Threat / Arrest
U.S. Tells Google Computers Can Qualify As Drivers
U.S. vehicle safety regulators have said the artificial intelligence system piloting a self-driving Google car could be considered the driver under federal law, a major step towards ultimately winning approval for autonomous vehicles on the roads.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc , of its decision in a previously unreported Feb. 4 letter to the company posted on the agency's website this week.
Google's self-driving car unit on Nov. 12 submitted a proposed design for a self-driving car that has "no need for a human driver," the letter to Google from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Chief Counsel Paul Hemmersbaugh said.
"NHTSA will interpret 'driver' in the context of Google's described motor vehicle design as referring to the (self-driving system), and not to any of the vehicle occupants," NHTSA's letter said.
"We agree with Google its (self-driving car) will not have a 'driver' in the traditional sense that vehicles have had drivers during the last more than one hundred years."
Major automakers and technology companies such as Google are racing to develop and sell vehicles that can drive themselves at least part of the time.
All participants in the autonomous driving race complain that state and federal safety rules are impeding testing and eventual deployment of such vehicles. California has proposed draft rules requiring steering wheels and a licensed driver in all self-driving cars.
More here
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc , of its decision in a previously unreported Feb. 4 letter to the company posted on the agency's website this week.
Google's self-driving car unit on Nov. 12 submitted a proposed design for a self-driving car that has "no need for a human driver," the letter to Google from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Chief Counsel Paul Hemmersbaugh said.
"NHTSA will interpret 'driver' in the context of Google's described motor vehicle design as referring to the (self-driving system), and not to any of the vehicle occupants," NHTSA's letter said.
"We agree with Google its (self-driving car) will not have a 'driver' in the traditional sense that vehicles have had drivers during the last more than one hundred years."
Major automakers and technology companies such as Google are racing to develop and sell vehicles that can drive themselves at least part of the time.
All participants in the autonomous driving race complain that state and federal safety rules are impeding testing and eventual deployment of such vehicles. California has proposed draft rules requiring steering wheels and a licensed driver in all self-driving cars.
More here
Dogs' New Challenge: Find A Bomb Before It Becomes A Bomb
Humans have long turned to the dog for its nose, especially in its ability to hunt, track missing people, and search for drugs.
But there is a new challenge: Bomb-detecting dogs have to now learn to find the increasingly common Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) that can be assembled from ingredients that are not dangerous by itself.
"So we're now asking dogs not just to find a needle in a haystack – now the problem is more like saying to the dog 'we need you to find any sharp object in the haystack,' " says Clive Wynne, a professor at Arizona State University.
Wynne directs a study funded by the Office of Naval Research that develops methods to train dogs to identify a wide variety of ingredients that could be used to make bombs.
The dogs not only have to detect whether explosive ingredients are present — they also have to determine if the agents they smell could combine to form an explosive mixture.
More
But there is a new challenge: Bomb-detecting dogs have to now learn to find the increasingly common Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) that can be assembled from ingredients that are not dangerous by itself.
"So we're now asking dogs not just to find a needle in a haystack – now the problem is more like saying to the dog 'we need you to find any sharp object in the haystack,' " says Clive Wynne, a professor at Arizona State University.
Wynne directs a study funded by the Office of Naval Research that develops methods to train dogs to identify a wide variety of ingredients that could be used to make bombs.
The dogs not only have to detect whether explosive ingredients are present — they also have to determine if the agents they smell could combine to form an explosive mixture.
More
Iowa Democrats Stonewalling On Vote Totals
After the ridiculously close squeaker in the Iowa caucuses, the state’s Democratic Party said it couldn’t release the raw vote totals for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
That simply isn’t how they do business, party officials insisted.
Even after they audited the results this week, Iowa Democratic officials would say only that Clinton won 49.84 percent of the vote and Sanders 49.59 percent, reducing her margin slightly to a quarter of a point.
Sanders has called for the raw vote totals to be released. The state party says that’s not the way it conducts the caucuses. And the press has pretty much let the matter drop.
But it hasn't played out that way in past elections.
More
That simply isn’t how they do business, party officials insisted.
Even after they audited the results this week, Iowa Democratic officials would say only that Clinton won 49.84 percent of the vote and Sanders 49.59 percent, reducing her margin slightly to a quarter of a point.
Sanders has called for the raw vote totals to be released. The state party says that’s not the way it conducts the caucuses. And the press has pretty much let the matter drop.
But it hasn't played out that way in past elections.
More
Like Millennials, More Older Americans Steering Away From Driving
A growing number of Americans are driving less and getting rid of their cars.
The trend that used to be more prominent among younger adults — millennials — is now gaining traction in middle-aged adults as well, to the point where fewer of them are even bothering to get or renew their driver's licenses.
"Honestly, at this point, it just doesn't really seem worth it," says 25-year-old Peter Rebecca, who doesn't own a car or have a driver's license. "I mean, I live in Chicago, there's really good access to, you know, public transits for pretty cheap."
The student at Harold Washington College downtown lives just a couple of blocks from a rail stop on the Northwest side. In the warmer months, Rebecca says he uses a bike.
"I've got a bunch of grocery stores in walking distance and even then I can use the bus if I have to get further," he says.
Rebecca is hardly alone, especially among young adults in urban areas.
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The trend that used to be more prominent among younger adults — millennials — is now gaining traction in middle-aged adults as well, to the point where fewer of them are even bothering to get or renew their driver's licenses.
"Honestly, at this point, it just doesn't really seem worth it," says 25-year-old Peter Rebecca, who doesn't own a car or have a driver's license. "I mean, I live in Chicago, there's really good access to, you know, public transits for pretty cheap."
The student at Harold Washington College downtown lives just a couple of blocks from a rail stop on the Northwest side. In the warmer months, Rebecca says he uses a bike.
"I've got a bunch of grocery stores in walking distance and even then I can use the bus if I have to get further," he says.
Rebecca is hardly alone, especially among young adults in urban areas.
More
Three new foals expected this spring on Assateague
Carol’s Girl, a.k.a. N2BHS, has given birth to 22 foals over the years, due to her unique immunity, and she’s due for another sometime this spring. Carol’s Girl is one of three pregnant mares on the island, the others being Jojo and Charmed, up from last year’s one.
That one was not Carol’s Girl, since she had given birth the previous year and was still nursing. It was Jojo, biological technician Allison Turner said, who may have had a brief span of fertility after delivering her foal last year, before the hormones that protected Carol’s Girl last year kicked in.
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KEYBOARD WARRIORS CRY AND WHINE ABOUT SUPERBOWL ADS BEING ‘TRANSPHOBIC’ AND ‘HOMOPHOBIC’
Shorts featured Willem Dafoe in a dress and a "gay" marmot
The perpetually offended took to Twitter yesterday to make it known that their feelings had been hurt by ads during the Superbowl.
Leaving aside the Doritios ad, which is a whole other subject for another article, two ads in particular riled up SJW’s who simply could not contain their pain and suffering.
The first was an ad for Snickers – a fairly weak short in which actor Willem Dafoe is dressed as Marilyn Monroe in the iconic white dress from “The Seven Year Itch.”
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The perpetually offended took to Twitter yesterday to make it known that their feelings had been hurt by ads during the Superbowl.
Leaving aside the Doritios ad, which is a whole other subject for another article, two ads in particular riled up SJW’s who simply could not contain their pain and suffering.
The first was an ad for Snickers – a fairly weak short in which actor Willem Dafoe is dressed as Marilyn Monroe in the iconic white dress from “The Seven Year Itch.”
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Morris: Rubio, Fox News Big Losers From New Hampshire
With conservative blogs calling Fox News "the unofficial Super-PAC of Marco Rubio," the network may join the Florida senator as one of the big losers Tuesday night.
Trump – who had been battling the network over its biased coverage – not only triumphed, but Fox's favored candidate came in a disappointing fifth place.
"I am shocked at Fox News," political strategist Dick Morris told Newsmax TV Tuesday night.
Morris, a frequent past Fox commentator, said he had appeared on the network more than 2,100 times and "nobody ever told me what to say."
But he has been "appalled at the blatant bias in favor of Rubio" demonstrated by the network in recent months.
It seems like "almost every second they are hyping him, promoting him," Morris said.
Fox has come under sharp criticism for its after debate spin discussions, especially its focus groups that have had seemingly ordinary voters strongly favor Rubio.
After the last debate in Iowa, Breitbart reported that "pollster Frank Luntz got significant airtime to direct a post-debate focus group that unsurprisingly was very favorable to Rubio, the GOP establishment pick in the primary race."
Breitbart said neither Fox nor Luntz disclosed the pollster’s close ties with Rubio.
According to the conservative online news service, Rubio had paid Luntz more than $250,000 for political work completed in Florida.
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Trump – who had been battling the network over its biased coverage – not only triumphed, but Fox's favored candidate came in a disappointing fifth place.
"I am shocked at Fox News," political strategist Dick Morris told Newsmax TV Tuesday night.
Morris, a frequent past Fox commentator, said he had appeared on the network more than 2,100 times and "nobody ever told me what to say."
But he has been "appalled at the blatant bias in favor of Rubio" demonstrated by the network in recent months.
It seems like "almost every second they are hyping him, promoting him," Morris said.
Fox has come under sharp criticism for its after debate spin discussions, especially its focus groups that have had seemingly ordinary voters strongly favor Rubio.
After the last debate in Iowa, Breitbart reported that "pollster Frank Luntz got significant airtime to direct a post-debate focus group that unsurprisingly was very favorable to Rubio, the GOP establishment pick in the primary race."
Breitbart said neither Fox nor Luntz disclosed the pollster’s close ties with Rubio.
According to the conservative online news service, Rubio had paid Luntz more than $250,000 for political work completed in Florida.
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NY SCHOOL ORGANIZES ‘HIJAB DAY’ FOR NON-MUSLIM STUDENTS
“As a high school teacher for over 30 years, let me say that this is wrong on so many levels.”
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Officials at Rochester’s World School of Inquiry spent last week fielding dozens of calls from parents angry about a “World Hijab Day” event that encouraged girls to wear the Muslim religious head covering.
Sophomore Eman Muthana wears a hijab to school and wrote a letter to principal Sheela Webster asking if the school can put on its own World Hijab Day at the school last Friday,WHAM reports.
Webster approved the event – designed to educate students about the religious purposes behind the hijab – but did not inform parents until after the media reports of the event sparked backlash online, and angry calls to the school, according to WHEC.
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Officials at Rochester’s World School of Inquiry spent last week fielding dozens of calls from parents angry about a “World Hijab Day” event that encouraged girls to wear the Muslim religious head covering.
Sophomore Eman Muthana wears a hijab to school and wrote a letter to principal Sheela Webster asking if the school can put on its own World Hijab Day at the school last Friday,WHAM reports.
Webster approved the event – designed to educate students about the religious purposes behind the hijab – but did not inform parents until after the media reports of the event sparked backlash online, and angry calls to the school, according to WHEC.
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New Christian Leadership & Community Foundation Gift to HALO
Deborah Byrd, Executive Director of the Foundation, explained, "When we were closing down the radio station, we invited HALO to come down and take away the office furnishings and kitchenware that was left after we moved to a smaller office on the downtown plaza in Salisbury. I noticed on their second trip, that they were using a rental truck. That led to discovering that every time they go out on these types of pickups, they had a rental expense. In giving them this check for $5,000 with which they will purchase an enclosed trailer, we anticipate that they will save $15,000 a year on rental expenses!"
Established to protect, preserve and perpetuate the Christian perspective in our culture, the Foundation provides funding and services to ministries and non-profits throughout Delmarva. The Foundation may be reached at clcfoundation.com.
CHILD SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 45 YEARS
On February 5, 2016, the Honorable W. Newton Jackson sentenced Tyrone Hughey, age 34, to 45 years in the Division of Corrections for Sex Abuse of a Minor and related charges. Hughey will also be required to register for life as a Tier III sex offender.
Hughey was found guilty on November 30, 2015 following a jury trial. He was convicted of Sex Abuse of a Minor, Attempted Second Degree Rape, two counts of Attempted Second Degree Sexual Offense, Third Degree Sex Offense, Sexual Solicitation of a Minor, and Second Degree Assault. His victim was a seven-year old child.
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the members of the Child Advocacy Center, along with lead investigator Detective Ed Fissel of the Salisbury Police Department, for their work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Mr. Maciarello also thanked Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Karen M. Dean and Assistant State’s Attorney Shauna E. Lee, who prosecuted the case.
New stink arises from chicken poop
One way to address what to do with excess chicken litter on poultry farms on the Eastern Shore is to make it someone else’s problem, and more specifically the company that supplies the birds to the people who raise them.
That is, essentially, what HB 599 — the Poultry Litter Management Act, would do: lift the responsibility for chicken litter deemed to be in excess of nutrient management plans or phosphorus management tool restrictions from farmers to “integrators” (poultry companies), which would then manage the transport and delivery of the litter to appropriate facilities.
“I’m not making a statement whether we should or shouldn’t do this but to keep an industry strong, they need to have a product to sell,” former county commissioner and poultry farmer Virgil Shockley said. “It’s like playing Russian Roulette with a huge amount of money.”
Shockley said the major integrators like Purdue, Allen, Mountaire and Tyson are expanding out of Maryland and into Virginia and Delaware because increasing regulations.
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That is, essentially, what HB 599 — the Poultry Litter Management Act, would do: lift the responsibility for chicken litter deemed to be in excess of nutrient management plans or phosphorus management tool restrictions from farmers to “integrators” (poultry companies), which would then manage the transport and delivery of the litter to appropriate facilities.
“I’m not making a statement whether we should or shouldn’t do this but to keep an industry strong, they need to have a product to sell,” former county commissioner and poultry farmer Virgil Shockley said. “It’s like playing Russian Roulette with a huge amount of money.”
Shockley said the major integrators like Purdue, Allen, Mountaire and Tyson are expanding out of Maryland and into Virginia and Delaware because increasing regulations.
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Hey WRDE, TURN ON THE SOUND!
This coming from the station that can't match the sound with the lips, now there's simply no sound at all.
At 11:51 the sound finally kicked on. Whoops, it just turned off again. The video is bouncing around like mad now too. Oh well.
At 12:05 they have repeated a promo commercial at least 10 times in a row. The new show that started at noon has failed to start. Can you say slower lower Delaware.
Phone 302.227.9733
Email news@wrde.com
Walgreens to roll out kiosks that dispense drug antidote without prescription
Walgreens has announced a plan to roll out kiosks that dispense over-the-counter naloxone, the heroin overdose drug that users can inhale or inject, in over half of its U.S. locations.
Last week, the Illinois-based company introduced the stations in New York, and it will start the program in Indiana and Ohio in late February, UPI.com reported.
Many doctors have praised naloxone, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated could prevent 20,000 overdose deaths in the United States. CVS has also made naloxone, as well as Narcan, a similar heroin overdose drug, available to customers without a prescription in states where it is legal to do so.
Drugstores’ efforts to increase availability of these antidotes have come amid a rising issue of opioid drug overdoses in the United States. Overdoses from opioidshit a record high in 2014, driven largely by heroin and prescription painkiller abuse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Last week, the Illinois-based company introduced the stations in New York, and it will start the program in Indiana and Ohio in late February, UPI.com reported.
Many doctors have praised naloxone, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated could prevent 20,000 overdose deaths in the United States. CVS has also made naloxone, as well as Narcan, a similar heroin overdose drug, available to customers without a prescription in states where it is legal to do so.
Drugstores’ efforts to increase availability of these antidotes have come amid a rising issue of opioid drug overdoses in the United States. Overdoses from opioidshit a record high in 2014, driven largely by heroin and prescription painkiller abuse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Dog Found In Willards: UPDATE
North Carolina Is Now Drug Testing Welfare Recipients and Applicants
The law requiring testing of any Work First recipient suspected of being a drug user was enacted in 2013. After a year’s delay in implementing the law, the state began requiring the testing in August.
Of several thousand people who have been screened, 89 people took the test and 21 of them tested positive.
Benefits for adults are cut off or reduced if a test is positive or if a test appointment is missed.
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Dem Suggests Obama Ignoring Visa Waiver Law At Iran's Request
President Obama is flouting the "clear" will of a recently-passed visa waiver program law in order to satisfy Iranian business interests, according to a House Democrat who helped negotiate the legislation.
"I think it's clear that Congress spoke in as clear a fashion as it could when this language was put into the omnibus," Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, said Wednesday.
Thompson made the remarks during a hearing about how the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department plan to implement, or not implement, a law that prohibits people who have recently traveled to a country that sponsors terrorism from entering the United States without a visa under the visa waiver program. After Iranian officials complained that would violate the terms of Obama's recent nuclear agreement with Iran, the administration announced an exemption from the law that could allow business travelers to Iran enter the United States without a visa.
"One category specifically identified was individuals who traveled to Iran for legitimate business purposes after July 14, 2015, the same date the Iran deal was completed," the Mississippi Democrat noted. "It will fall to the witnesses today to explain why we should not think that there is a linkage to the Iran deal when it announces this category in a press release distributed across the globe."
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"I think it's clear that Congress spoke in as clear a fashion as it could when this language was put into the omnibus," Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, said Wednesday.
Thompson made the remarks during a hearing about how the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department plan to implement, or not implement, a law that prohibits people who have recently traveled to a country that sponsors terrorism from entering the United States without a visa under the visa waiver program. After Iranian officials complained that would violate the terms of Obama's recent nuclear agreement with Iran, the administration announced an exemption from the law that could allow business travelers to Iran enter the United States without a visa.
"One category specifically identified was individuals who traveled to Iran for legitimate business purposes after July 14, 2015, the same date the Iran deal was completed," the Mississippi Democrat noted. "It will fall to the witnesses today to explain why we should not think that there is a linkage to the Iran deal when it announces this category in a press release distributed across the globe."
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WOW! TRUMP CALLS OUT FOX AFTER THEY DOCTOR VIDEO TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE HE SAID “F*CK” AT RALLY (VIDEO)
Trump never used the word f*ck in this speech
What media bias?
Last week Donald Trump held a rally in New Hampshire where he talked about bringing jobs back to New Hampshire from Mexico.
Trump put it this way:
We’re going to have businesses that used to be in New Hampshire, that are now in Mexico, come back to New Hampshire. And, you can tell them to go (blank) themselves.
Trump never used the word f*ck in this speech.
Here is the video:
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What media bias?
Last week Donald Trump held a rally in New Hampshire where he talked about bringing jobs back to New Hampshire from Mexico.
Trump put it this way:
We’re going to have businesses that used to be in New Hampshire, that are now in Mexico, come back to New Hampshire. And, you can tell them to go (blank) themselves.
Trump never used the word f*ck in this speech.
Here is the video:
More
'The Revolution Is On'
Donald Trump's victory in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday proved that "the revolution is on," pollster John Zogby told Newsmax TV.
"The outsider challenges were absolutely correct — and both parties' establishments are in trouble," he told host J.D. Hayworth on the "Newsmax TV 2016 New Hampshire Primary Special" in an interview.
He pointed to Trump's victory and Ted Cruz's win last week in the Iowa caucuses to show that outsiders have "gotten over 50 percent in the GOP vote in crowded field.
"For the second time in a row, Bernie Sanders has done exceedingly well," he added. "If he didn't win in Iowa, he almost did — and tonight, it looks like he just shellacked Hillary.
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"The outsider challenges were absolutely correct — and both parties' establishments are in trouble," he told host J.D. Hayworth on the "Newsmax TV 2016 New Hampshire Primary Special" in an interview.
He pointed to Trump's victory and Ted Cruz's win last week in the Iowa caucuses to show that outsiders have "gotten over 50 percent in the GOP vote in crowded field.
"For the second time in a row, Bernie Sanders has done exceedingly well," he added. "If he didn't win in Iowa, he almost did — and tonight, it looks like he just shellacked Hillary.
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Miss Connie’s Lifetime Passion For Teaching Kids Endures
Sturgis, a retired schoolteacher and African-American community leader, has dedicated her life to educating children, and she has continued that work long since leaving the classroom. In recent years, she’s invited kids to her Berlin home once a month for a group called “Just Us Girls,” where she would talk with young people about history and the challenges they face as African American females in the world today. Yet, as the years have passed, her health has vastly diminished her once abundant community work.
“I move a little slower now, but my mind is still very sharp,” said Sturgis. “These kids today are crying out for our help. Our youth want to escape from using drugs, alcohol, gangs, and they really need boundaries within their lives that provide structure and safety. They are entering into adulthood unprepared and failing at alarming rates because of violence or a lack of resources.”
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Reporter Took Orders from Hillary Clinton’s Staff, Down to Specific Adjective
A newly revealed email exchange shows a reporter for a major political magazine agreeing to use the exact word suggested by a member of Hillary’s staff to write positive coverage of her speech.
The email exchange between the Atlantic‘s Marc Ambinder and Hillary Clinton’s aide at the State Department, Philippe Reines, took place in 2009. It was published Tuesday by Gawker.
Ambinder wrote to Reines asking for an advance copy of a speech Hillary was set to deliver to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Reines replied that he would make the speech available on three conditions:
1) You in your own voice describe them as “muscular”
2) You note that a look at the CFR seating plan shows that all the envoys — from Holbrooke to Mitchell to Ross — will be arrayed in front of her, which in your own clever way you can say certainly not a coincidence and meant to convey something
3) You don’t say you were blackmailed!
Ambinder immediately responded, “got it.”
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The email exchange between the Atlantic‘s Marc Ambinder and Hillary Clinton’s aide at the State Department, Philippe Reines, took place in 2009. It was published Tuesday by Gawker.
Ambinder wrote to Reines asking for an advance copy of a speech Hillary was set to deliver to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Reines replied that he would make the speech available on three conditions:
1) You in your own voice describe them as “muscular”
2) You note that a look at the CFR seating plan shows that all the envoys — from Holbrooke to Mitchell to Ross — will be arrayed in front of her, which in your own clever way you can say certainly not a coincidence and meant to convey something
3) You don’t say you were blackmailed!
Ambinder immediately responded, “got it.”
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Concealed Permit Holder Saves Officer Surrounded By Mob
On February 5, an armed citizen saved an Upper Darby police officer who was under assault and encircled by a mob of onlookers.
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said “there is no doubt they would have attacked” the officer without the armed citizen’s intervention.
According to Philly.com, the officer was breaking up a fight between two Upper Darby High School students–after school had let out for the day–and one of the students jumped the officer. Superintendent Chitwood said, “As he breaks up the fight, he takes one kid and then the other jumps [on] him. Now he’s fighting two of them and he’s calling for an assist officer at the same time. There’s a crowd of 40 or 50 kids watching the fight, and they all move in towards the officer.”
An area resident with a concealed carry permit saw the officer struggling and the crowd closing in, so he grabbed his gun and ran to the officer’s defense. The resident ordered the kids to get away from the officer and kept them away until sufficient backup arrived. Chitwood said, “He had the gun in his hand, but he didn’t point it at the kids, he just told them to back off. If this guy didn’t come out and come to the aid of the officer, this officer would have had significant problems.”
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Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said “there is no doubt they would have attacked” the officer without the armed citizen’s intervention.
According to Philly.com, the officer was breaking up a fight between two Upper Darby High School students–after school had let out for the day–and one of the students jumped the officer. Superintendent Chitwood said, “As he breaks up the fight, he takes one kid and then the other jumps [on] him. Now he’s fighting two of them and he’s calling for an assist officer at the same time. There’s a crowd of 40 or 50 kids watching the fight, and they all move in towards the officer.”
An area resident with a concealed carry permit saw the officer struggling and the crowd closing in, so he grabbed his gun and ran to the officer’s defense. The resident ordered the kids to get away from the officer and kept them away until sufficient backup arrived. Chitwood said, “He had the gun in his hand, but he didn’t point it at the kids, he just told them to back off. If this guy didn’t come out and come to the aid of the officer, this officer would have had significant problems.”
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NASCAR opens 2016 season without 2 of its biggest stars
Neither NASCAR star will be in a car when Daytona International Speedway opens Friday for preparations for the Feb. 21 season-opening Daytona 500. Gordon, arguably NASCAR's biggest star, retired at the end of last season and the four-time champion will now be a Fox analyst.
He has been highly visible during his newly acquired free time, and was on an all-terrain vehicle trip with Stewart a week ago when the three-time champion crashed. Stewart fractured a vertebra and lay in the sand alone for 90 minutes waiting for his group to find him and get him to a hospital.
The accident has sidelined Stewart for the beginning of his final season as a NASCAR driver, denying him a chance to finally win the Daytona 500. He has come heartbreakingly close in his 17 previous tries and spoke last month of his desire to add that win to his resume.
Instead, he will watch the race on television as he awaits approval to travel.
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Registration Open for Shamrock Shootout Cornhole Tournament
Salisbury, MD – Registration is open for Wicomico Recreation's 2nd Annual Shamrock Shootout Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, March 19 at the LaQuinta Hotel in downtown Salisbury. On-site registration opens at 11 a.m., pre-registered teams check in at 11:30 a.m. and bags fly at 12 p.m. The event consists of a double elimination tournament with matches being the best of three in the winners bracket and a single game in the losers bracket. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top four finishers as follows; first place: 30% of total entry fees, second place: 20% of total entry fees, third place: 15% of total entry fees, fourth place: 10% of total entry fees.
Proceeds from the Shamrock Shootout Cornhole Tournament will benefit the Stay Ready Riderz Bike Club and Wicomico Friends of Recreation & Parks' Tomorrow Fund. This fund provides scholarships to youth participating in County child care programs and youth sports programs.
Registration is available at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) or online at www.WicomicoRecandParks.org. Register as a team for $40 or as an individual for $20. For more information on Shamrock Shootout, contact Lefty at 410-603-0190.
Proceeds from the Shamrock Shootout Cornhole Tournament will benefit the Stay Ready Riderz Bike Club and Wicomico Friends of Recreation & Parks' Tomorrow Fund. This fund provides scholarships to youth participating in County child care programs and youth sports programs.
Registration is available at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) or online at www.WicomicoRecandParks.org. Register as a team for $40 or as an individual for $20. For more information on Shamrock Shootout, contact Lefty at 410-603-0190.
The Other Firewall That Could Derail Clinton's Campaign
The other day Politico ran a piece titled “Inside the Clinton Shake-Up: How Hillary’s campaign managed itself into a ditch — and how it might get itself out.” Correction: That was the title of a piece from the Atlantic. Politico’s headline was “Clinton Weighs Staff Shake-Up After New Hampshire.” The Politico piece ran Feb. 8; the Atlantic one in February 2008. …
The cliché has been that minority voters, particularly blacks, constitute Mrs. Clinton’s “firewall.” At the outset of the 2008 campaign blacks were widely expected to be loyal Clinton backers too, but they turned out to be the fire rather than the wall. …
The [Daily] Beast’s [Goldie] Taylor notes that “the most recent poll” puts Mrs. Clinton ahead among blacks “by a four-to-one margin.” We think that’s a South Carolina poll, as the most recent national one, from Quinnipiac, doesn’t come with a racial breakdown. The topline numbers, however, look ominous for Mrs. Clinton: She leads Sanders by just two points, 44% to 42% — and that was before New Hampshire.
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The cliché has been that minority voters, particularly blacks, constitute Mrs. Clinton’s “firewall.” At the outset of the 2008 campaign blacks were widely expected to be loyal Clinton backers too, but they turned out to be the fire rather than the wall. …
The [Daily] Beast’s [Goldie] Taylor notes that “the most recent poll” puts Mrs. Clinton ahead among blacks “by a four-to-one margin.” We think that’s a South Carolina poll, as the most recent national one, from Quinnipiac, doesn’t come with a racial breakdown. The topline numbers, however, look ominous for Mrs. Clinton: She leads Sanders by just two points, 44% to 42% — and that was before New Hampshire.
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Members Call on Speaker, Once Again, To Hold War Debate
Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Barbara Lee, Walter Jones, Adam Schiff, Jim McGovern, Peter Welch and 20 other Members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to Speaker Ryan calling for a debate and vote on the year-plus, multi-billion dollar war raging in the Middle East.
“Tomorrow will mark one year since President Obama sent Congress a draft AUMF. Over the last 365 days, it has sat on the Speaker’s desk while our nation has become increasingly more embroiled in yet another costly and endless war in the Middle East,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA). “The Constitution is clear: Congress has a responsibility to debate and vote on matters of war and peace. The American people deserve better than a Congress that abdicates this sacred responsibility.”
The letter, addressed to Speaker Ryan, cites language included in the omnibus spending bill that finds “Congress has a constitutional duty to debate and determine whether or not to authorize the use of military force against ISIL.”
During the Appropriations process, Congresswoman Lee added this language to the Fiscal Year 2016 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, with the support of six Republican committee members.
In the State of the Union, President Obama renewed his call for a Congressional debate on the AUMF. He said, “If this Congress is serious about winning this war, and wants to send a message to our troops and the world, authorize the use of military force against ISIL. Take a vote.”
"For 15 years, the American people have felt the cost and pain of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have spent over $1.5 trillion and lost over 6,800 brave men and women. ISIL is a new and distinct threat, and the American people expect Congress to meet its constitutional responsibility to have a debate and a vote on whether yet another war is worth the grave cost,” said Congressman Jones (R-NC).
“Nearly 18 months into the military operation against ISIS, and a year since the President submitted a draft Authorization for Use of Military Force, Congress continues to abdicate its responsibility to consider a new AUMF to authorize the war against ISIS,” said Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ranking Member on the House Intelligence Committee. “There are a variety of different approaches and ideas to authorize the campaign against ISIS, al Qaeda and the Taliban, and Congressional leadership must allow a full and open debate and vote on the matter. The power to declare war is one of Congress most solemn responsibilities and if our troops are willing to do their jobs -- and they are -- Congress should have the guts to do its job.”
"In November, a bipartisan group of 35 House lawmakers urged Speaker Ryan to bring an AUMF to the House floor for a debate and vote. We were pleased to hear Speaker Ryan include this as a priority for 2016. Today, I join with my colleagues in calling on him to deliver on that promise,”Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) said. “Americans deserve a Congress that will honor its constitutional responsibility when it comes to war and authorizing military force. Our brave men and women in uniform deserve nothing less."
“The Constitution is clear. It is the responsibility of Congress to authorize the use of military force. Yet, since military operations against ISIL began in August 2014, Congress has been absent.”Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) said. “It’s inexcusable. A service member has died. Taxpayers have spent more than $5.8 billion on airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. Speaker Ryan acknowledged that a declaration of war is the responsibility of Congress. He is right. It’s time for Congress to debate and vote on America’s strategy to defeat of ISIL.”
The letter can be found here.
“Tomorrow will mark one year since President Obama sent Congress a draft AUMF. Over the last 365 days, it has sat on the Speaker’s desk while our nation has become increasingly more embroiled in yet another costly and endless war in the Middle East,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA). “The Constitution is clear: Congress has a responsibility to debate and vote on matters of war and peace. The American people deserve better than a Congress that abdicates this sacred responsibility.”
The letter, addressed to Speaker Ryan, cites language included in the omnibus spending bill that finds “Congress has a constitutional duty to debate and determine whether or not to authorize the use of military force against ISIL.”
During the Appropriations process, Congresswoman Lee added this language to the Fiscal Year 2016 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, with the support of six Republican committee members.
In the State of the Union, President Obama renewed his call for a Congressional debate on the AUMF. He said, “If this Congress is serious about winning this war, and wants to send a message to our troops and the world, authorize the use of military force against ISIL. Take a vote.”
"For 15 years, the American people have felt the cost and pain of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have spent over $1.5 trillion and lost over 6,800 brave men and women. ISIL is a new and distinct threat, and the American people expect Congress to meet its constitutional responsibility to have a debate and a vote on whether yet another war is worth the grave cost,” said Congressman Jones (R-NC).
“Nearly 18 months into the military operation against ISIS, and a year since the President submitted a draft Authorization for Use of Military Force, Congress continues to abdicate its responsibility to consider a new AUMF to authorize the war against ISIS,” said Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ranking Member on the House Intelligence Committee. “There are a variety of different approaches and ideas to authorize the campaign against ISIS, al Qaeda and the Taliban, and Congressional leadership must allow a full and open debate and vote on the matter. The power to declare war is one of Congress most solemn responsibilities and if our troops are willing to do their jobs -- and they are -- Congress should have the guts to do its job.”
"In November, a bipartisan group of 35 House lawmakers urged Speaker Ryan to bring an AUMF to the House floor for a debate and vote. We were pleased to hear Speaker Ryan include this as a priority for 2016. Today, I join with my colleagues in calling on him to deliver on that promise,”Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) said. “Americans deserve a Congress that will honor its constitutional responsibility when it comes to war and authorizing military force. Our brave men and women in uniform deserve nothing less."
“The Constitution is clear. It is the responsibility of Congress to authorize the use of military force. Yet, since military operations against ISIL began in August 2014, Congress has been absent.”Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) said. “It’s inexcusable. A service member has died. Taxpayers have spent more than $5.8 billion on airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. Speaker Ryan acknowledged that a declaration of war is the responsibility of Congress. He is right. It’s time for Congress to debate and vote on America’s strategy to defeat of ISIL.”
The letter can be found here.
Hogan Administration Assists Baltimore City Police Department
Provides $475,000 in Funding for Three New Programs
“Finding new ways to prevent violent crime and improve police-community relations across the state and in our largest city is a top priority for our administration,” said Governor Hogan. “We are proud to support the Baltimore City Police Department and provide them with some of the tools they need to fight crime, track down violent criminals, and deliver services to those who need it most – the victims.”
“I applaud the state for responding so favorably to our request to enhance public safety in Baltimore,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis. “Working together, we will ensure Maryland’s flagship jurisdiction reduces crime and grows community partnerships.”
The new programs include:
Victim Witness Coordinators at the Baltimore Police DepartmentFunding in the amount of $120,000 for three victim services coordinators to work with the Baltimore Police Department Homicide Unit. These coordinators will help the department in its work with families and friends of homicide victims, and keep in regular contact with those families and friends in cold cases.
Stationary License Plate ReadersGrant funding in the amount of $105,000 will dedicate several additional stationary license plate readers through the city to ensure that suspected perpetrators do not travel undetected before or after committing a crime.
Youth-Police Engagement ProgramsWith the goal of building trust between the city’s young people and the officers who serve them, the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention will make up to $250,000 of funding available for nonprofit community agencies to provide programs designed to engage youth and police officers.
These programs will be administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention, which works in partnership with agencies at the local, state, and federal levels to develop and implement effective strategies for reducing crime.
First Black NASA Administrator Charles Bolden 'Pleaded' To Get Into Naval Academy
It was Nov. 23, 1963, the night after President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Charles Bolden was a high school senior, playing in the South Carolina state football championship game. He was mourning Kennedy's death along with the rest of the country, but he was mourning something else as well.
"I saw my chances of going to the Naval Academy kind of evaporating," he said in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition, more than 50 years later.
But Bolden did make it to the Naval Academy. He went on to serve in the Marine Corps as an aviator, flying more than 100 combat missions in North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in the early 1970s. Bolden later became a NASA astronaut and traveled to orbit four times aboard the space shuttle. After his last space flight, he returned to the Marine Corps and achieved the rank of major general. Then in 2009, he was appointed the administrator of NASA, the first African American to hold the office.
But that first critical step of attending the Naval Academy almost didn't happen, Bolden says, when his state representatives would not nominate him for consideration because he was black. One of South Carolina's senators at the time, Strom Thurmond, flatly rejected Bolden's request.
"[He] told me, 'No way are you going to get an appointment from me to go to the Naval Academy,'" Bolden says. "It was clear why they were not supporting me and it was because of the times. They were just not about to appoint a black to the Naval Academy or to any Academy."
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"I saw my chances of going to the Naval Academy kind of evaporating," he said in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition, more than 50 years later.
But Bolden did make it to the Naval Academy. He went on to serve in the Marine Corps as an aviator, flying more than 100 combat missions in North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in the early 1970s. Bolden later became a NASA astronaut and traveled to orbit four times aboard the space shuttle. After his last space flight, he returned to the Marine Corps and achieved the rank of major general. Then in 2009, he was appointed the administrator of NASA, the first African American to hold the office.
But that first critical step of attending the Naval Academy almost didn't happen, Bolden says, when his state representatives would not nominate him for consideration because he was black. One of South Carolina's senators at the time, Strom Thurmond, flatly rejected Bolden's request.
"[He] told me, 'No way are you going to get an appointment from me to go to the Naval Academy,'" Bolden says. "It was clear why they were not supporting me and it was because of the times. They were just not about to appoint a black to the Naval Academy or to any Academy."
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