SAN JOSE, Calif. (TheBlaze/AP) — A San Jose police officer who was fired last year for posting comments online that threaten to kill any anti-police protestors who threaten him or his family is back on the force.
The San Jose Mercury News reports Phillip White rejoined the San Jose Police Department on Feb. 10 after convincing an independent arbitrator that termination was too harsh a punishment for his actions.
White posted several comments to his Twitter account in December 2014 saying he would kill any anti-police protesters who threatened his family. He appeared to challenge demonstrators to confront him.
More from the Mercury News:
White’s most inflammatory tweets, during a heated back-and-forth with other users critical of his string of comments criticizing Black Lives Matter demonstrations, included: “Threaten me or my family and I will use my God given and law appointed right and duty to kill you. #CopsLivesMatter” and “By the way, if anyone feels they can’t breathe or their lives matter, I’ll be at the movies tonight, off duty, carrying my gun.”
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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
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
‘Juggernaut’: GOP Candidates Running Out of Time to Stop Donald Trump
“When you look at it right now, it looks like there’s this juggernaut,” said Rich Beeson, a senior aide to one of Trump’s main rivals, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
The reason is delegates and how they’re awarded.
Winning states generates headlines, but the nomination is earned by collecting a majority of the delegates awarded in primaries and caucuses. Next up: Nevada’s caucuses on Tuesday.
This year, most contests award delegates proportionally, based on each candidate’s share of the vote. Beeson and strategists for other campaigns argue that could make it hard for Trump to build a big lead because even the second- and third-place finisher can win delegates.
If one candidate can run up a significant lead, as Trump has begun to, then proportional contests also make it difficult for rivals to catch up.
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The reason is delegates and how they’re awarded.
Winning states generates headlines, but the nomination is earned by collecting a majority of the delegates awarded in primaries and caucuses. Next up: Nevada’s caucuses on Tuesday.
This year, most contests award delegates proportionally, based on each candidate’s share of the vote. Beeson and strategists for other campaigns argue that could make it hard for Trump to build a big lead because even the second- and third-place finisher can win delegates.
If one candidate can run up a significant lead, as Trump has begun to, then proportional contests also make it difficult for rivals to catch up.
More
Democrats Want to Play Politics with Education Jobs in Maryland
THE MARYLAND state Board of Education has done a good job of recruiting and hiring state school superintendents, who have contributed to the state’s reputation as a leader in education. Similar sound judgment has been shown by the Board of Regents in the selection and appointment of chancellors, who have helped build Maryland’s university system. Now some lawmakers are seeking to upend this success by giving veto power over these appointments to the Maryland General Assembly.
The impetus for politicizing these critical education jobs is obvious. Democrats don’t like having a Republican in the governor’s office, so they hope to chip away at his authority.
Under legislation pending in the state Senate, appointment of the state school superintendent would be subject to confirmation by the Senate, while selection of the chancellor of the University System of Maryland would have to be approved by the House of Delegates and the Senate. Currently, the appointments are made, respectively, by the state Board of Education and the Board of Regents without interference from either the governor or the General Assembly.
“Searching for and recruiting a system head is challenging and difficult enough,” Board of Regents member James T. Brady told the Senate. He observed that good candidates are not likely to be interested in a job in which they would be in political limbo with the risk of rejection. State education board President Guffrie M. Smith Jr. called the proposal “nationally unprecedented in the governance of public education” and said it would impede the board’s ability to make effective and timely decisions.
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The impetus for politicizing these critical education jobs is obvious. Democrats don’t like having a Republican in the governor’s office, so they hope to chip away at his authority.
Under legislation pending in the state Senate, appointment of the state school superintendent would be subject to confirmation by the Senate, while selection of the chancellor of the University System of Maryland would have to be approved by the House of Delegates and the Senate. Currently, the appointments are made, respectively, by the state Board of Education and the Board of Regents without interference from either the governor or the General Assembly.
“Searching for and recruiting a system head is challenging and difficult enough,” Board of Regents member James T. Brady told the Senate. He observed that good candidates are not likely to be interested in a job in which they would be in political limbo with the risk of rejection. State education board President Guffrie M. Smith Jr. called the proposal “nationally unprecedented in the governance of public education” and said it would impede the board’s ability to make effective and timely decisions.
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At least 1,730 Clinton emails contain classified material
WASHINGTON - At least 1,730 emails that Hillary Clinton sent or received contained classified material, according to the State Department’s latest update from its ongoing review of more than 30,000 emails.
The State Department released a new batch of 1,116 pages of Clinton’s emails Friday evening in response to a court order. Of those, 64 contain classified information. All are at the confidential level, which is the lowest level of classification.
None of Clinton’s emails was marked as classified during her tenure, State Department officials say, but intelligence officials say some material was clearly classified at the time. Her aides also sent and received classified information.
Clinton, running a tough race for the Democratic nomination for president, has been under fire for months for exclusively using personal email routed through a private server while serving as the nation’s top diplomat. The FBI launched an inquiry into the handling of sensitive information after classified information was found in some.
In response to a public records lawsuit, the State Department is releasing Clinton’s emails monthly after partially or entirely redacting any containing sensitive U.S. or foreign government information. So far, it has released 46,946 pages of emails.
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The State Department released a new batch of 1,116 pages of Clinton’s emails Friday evening in response to a court order. Of those, 64 contain classified information. All are at the confidential level, which is the lowest level of classification.
None of Clinton’s emails was marked as classified during her tenure, State Department officials say, but intelligence officials say some material was clearly classified at the time. Her aides also sent and received classified information.
Clinton, running a tough race for the Democratic nomination for president, has been under fire for months for exclusively using personal email routed through a private server while serving as the nation’s top diplomat. The FBI launched an inquiry into the handling of sensitive information after classified information was found in some.
In response to a public records lawsuit, the State Department is releasing Clinton’s emails monthly after partially or entirely redacting any containing sensitive U.S. or foreign government information. So far, it has released 46,946 pages of emails.
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Drones To Deliver Supplies To Soldiers
The Army is looking to use drones to deliver supplies to soldiers on the battlefield. Computerworld reports the idea was floated by Larry Perecko, branch chief for Science and Technology at the Army’s Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM) Sustainment Battle Lab in Fort Lee, Virginia. Perecko brought it up while speaking with soldiers who told of their frustration delivering supplies in mountainous terrain like in Afghanistan.
IRS Spoofs
The IRS is reporting a dramatic increase in the number of phishing and malware schemes trying to trick citizens into giving up personal information. In January alone, the IRS said there were 1,026 incidents, up from 254 from a year earlier. The attacks continued into the first two weeks of February with 363 total malware and phishing incidents, compared to 201 for all of last February. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen is warning against citizens clicking on emails or links that spoof the IRS or tax preparers.
Cruz Campaign Apologizes to Marco Rubio for Spreading False Bible Story
Rick Tyler, the Senior Communications Advisor for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), issued a public apology after spreading a false story reporting that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) made a nasty comment to a Cruz staffer about the Bible.
“I want to apologize to Senator Marco Rubio for posting an inaccurate story about him here earlier today,” Tyler wrote on Facebook after sharing the false story online. “The story misquoted a remark the Senator made to the staffer. I assumed wrongly that the story was correct.”
The false report indicated that Rubio said that there were “not many answers” in the Bible — when in fact, Rubio commented that “all the answers” were in the book of scripture.
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“I want to apologize to Senator Marco Rubio for posting an inaccurate story about him here earlier today,” Tyler wrote on Facebook after sharing the false story online. “The story misquoted a remark the Senator made to the staffer. I assumed wrongly that the story was correct.”
The false report indicated that Rubio said that there were “not many answers” in the Bible — when in fact, Rubio commented that “all the answers” were in the book of scripture.
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‘The Simpsons’ Mocks the 2016 Candidates, Nails It [VIDEO]
The fighting and negative advertisements by Democrats and Republicans in this campaign cycle has created a lot of anxiety for many Americans — including Marge Simpson.
The Simpsons released a video on Saturday that featured Marge waking up from a nightmare after hearing all the mudslinging and name calling by the candidates.
“I can’t take it anymore,” Marge said. “Basic manners are gone from politics, what is it with these ding dongs.”
Homer tells his children that this was all like a bad dream “except it was real and will probably ruin your lives.” In an attempt to calm down his wife he tells her to imagine a reality where “Democrats, Republicans, and Donald Trump all get along.”
Marge fantasized all the candidates on a debate stage complimenting each other and singing How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You, but things got dark really quick.
After finishing the song the candidates started fighting again. “I was perfect the rest of you morons were flat,” Trump said.
(More here with video)
The Simpsons released a video on Saturday that featured Marge waking up from a nightmare after hearing all the mudslinging and name calling by the candidates.
“I can’t take it anymore,” Marge said. “Basic manners are gone from politics, what is it with these ding dongs.”
Homer tells his children that this was all like a bad dream “except it was real and will probably ruin your lives.” In an attempt to calm down his wife he tells her to imagine a reality where “Democrats, Republicans, and Donald Trump all get along.”
Marge fantasized all the candidates on a debate stage complimenting each other and singing How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You, but things got dark really quick.
After finishing the song the candidates started fighting again. “I was perfect the rest of you morons were flat,” Trump said.
(More here with video)
Almost 90,000 Dangerous Illegal Immigrants Go Free
Nearly 60 percent of illegal immigrants identified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as criminal threats are not deported and are eventually released, the latest example of the Obama administration's failed immigration policy.
Internal ICE figures show that in fiscal 2015, the agency encountered 152,393 illegal immigrants labeled a criminal threat, mostly in jails, but charged 64,116. About another 88,000 were not processed for deportation, according to the Center for Immigration Studies' Jessica Vaughan.
The numbers are even worse for those who ICE asks local police and sheriffs to detain but never collect.
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Internal ICE figures show that in fiscal 2015, the agency encountered 152,393 illegal immigrants labeled a criminal threat, mostly in jails, but charged 64,116. About another 88,000 were not processed for deportation, according to the Center for Immigration Studies' Jessica Vaughan.
The numbers are even worse for those who ICE asks local police and sheriffs to detain but never collect.
More
US Special Forces Help Fight Central American Street Gangs
U.S. Special Forces are engaged in the fight against Central American street gangs in an effort to prevent the violence that causes illegal immigration into the United States, The Wall Street Journal reports.
In Honduras, U.S. forces aid a local SWAT team called the Tigres, who target violent street gang members, but Americans stay in the background to avoid appearing to interfere.
"More than anything, we’re looking to promote stability and security downrange because if they're stable and secure, that’s going to naturally protect our southern border," Col. John Poast, former deputy commander of U.S. Special Operations Command-South, told the Journal.
More here
In Honduras, U.S. forces aid a local SWAT team called the Tigres, who target violent street gang members, but Americans stay in the background to avoid appearing to interfere.
"More than anything, we’re looking to promote stability and security downrange because if they're stable and secure, that’s going to naturally protect our southern border," Col. John Poast, former deputy commander of U.S. Special Operations Command-South, told the Journal.
More here
BREAKING NEWS: Contraband intercepted at Eastern Correctional Institution
Lawsuit Claims AMC Theatres Makes It Hard For Blind People To Enjoy Going To The Movies
A trip to the movies can be a fun family outing, but if you miss part of the on-screen action, it’s a lot harder to enjoy the experience. That’s why a San Francisco man is suing AMC Theatres — he’s blind, and claims that the chain routinely deprives him of enjoying the movies he goes to with his family by providing shoddy audio-description services.
Despite the fact that AMC Theatres is one of the nation’s top movie theater chains, it’s doing blind patrons no favors when it comes to audio equipment routinely, according to the man, the California Council of the Blind and others in a federal class action filed Tuesday, reported by Courthouse News.
“AMC supposedly offers audio-description devices to blind customers. However, AMC rarely provides appropriate, functioning audio-description devices to blind customers,” the man says in the lawsuit. “Instead, AMC routinely provides the wrong technology when customers request audio description devices, or audio transcription devices that are nonfunctioning or so malfunctioning that they are useless to blind customers.”
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Despite the fact that AMC Theatres is one of the nation’s top movie theater chains, it’s doing blind patrons no favors when it comes to audio equipment routinely, according to the man, the California Council of the Blind and others in a federal class action filed Tuesday, reported by Courthouse News.
“AMC supposedly offers audio-description devices to blind customers. However, AMC rarely provides appropriate, functioning audio-description devices to blind customers,” the man says in the lawsuit. “Instead, AMC routinely provides the wrong technology when customers request audio description devices, or audio transcription devices that are nonfunctioning or so malfunctioning that they are useless to blind customers.”
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IRS: Email, Text Scams Targeting Taxpayers Up 400% This Year
It’s tax season, which means it’s the prime time for scammers to crawl out from underneath their scammy rocks and try to nab taxpayers’ personal info. So far, this year’s electronic tax scams are even more prevalent than before, the Internal Revenue Service says, surging 400%.
The agency has seen a jump in phishing and malware attacks at this point in the 2016 filing season, many of which pass themselves off as official emails from the IRS or others in the tax industry, like a tax software company. Once a user clicks on an email link, they’re sent to sites that mimic the real thing, like IRS.gov, and ask for Social Security numbers and other personal info.
Those sites might also carry malware, which can infect a victim’s computer and allow hackers to waltz right in and access your files, or watch your keystrokes to steal your passwords, PINs, and other info.
These scam attempts can arrive via text messages as well. The IRS says it’s hearing reports of such scams in every part of the country.
“This dramatic jump in these scams comes at the busiest time of tax season,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen in a consumer advisory issued by the IRS Thursday. “Watch out for fraudsters slipping these official-looking emails into inboxes, trying to confuse people at the very time they work on their taxes. We urge people not to click on these emails.”
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The agency has seen a jump in phishing and malware attacks at this point in the 2016 filing season, many of which pass themselves off as official emails from the IRS or others in the tax industry, like a tax software company. Once a user clicks on an email link, they’re sent to sites that mimic the real thing, like IRS.gov, and ask for Social Security numbers and other personal info.
Those sites might also carry malware, which can infect a victim’s computer and allow hackers to waltz right in and access your files, or watch your keystrokes to steal your passwords, PINs, and other info.
These scam attempts can arrive via text messages as well. The IRS says it’s hearing reports of such scams in every part of the country.
“This dramatic jump in these scams comes at the busiest time of tax season,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen in a consumer advisory issued by the IRS Thursday. “Watch out for fraudsters slipping these official-looking emails into inboxes, trying to confuse people at the very time they work on their taxes. We urge people not to click on these emails.”
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Found black lab
Home Renters Pay Up to 47% More For Car Insurance Than Homeowners
Renting a home means that you’re not responsible for fixing the leaky roof or replacing the broken furnace, and you aren’t wedded to a mortgage for the rest of your life. But according to a new analysis of auto insurance rates, it also means you could be paying a lot more to insure your car.
The Consumer Federation of America recently tested auto insurance rates from the nation’s largest providers in ten different cities from coast to coast, and found that some renters are paying upwards of 47% more for basic liability coverage than homeowners.
The CFA analysis used a fictional driver — 30 years old, female, with a 2005 Honda Civic, a high school diploma, a clerical job, and a “Fair” credit rating. This fictional driver has been licensed for 14 years without any lapses in coverage, and without being involved in any accidents, moving violations, or having her license suspended. The only thing that changed in the test was whether she rented or owned her home.
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The Consumer Federation of America recently tested auto insurance rates from the nation’s largest providers in ten different cities from coast to coast, and found that some renters are paying upwards of 47% more for basic liability coverage than homeowners.
The CFA analysis used a fictional driver — 30 years old, female, with a 2005 Honda Civic, a high school diploma, a clerical job, and a “Fair” credit rating. This fictional driver has been licensed for 14 years without any lapses in coverage, and without being involved in any accidents, moving violations, or having her license suspended. The only thing that changed in the test was whether she rented or owned her home.
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$164 Per Mile: Surprise Ambulance Bills Are A Growing Problem & Difficult To Avoid
We’ve already seen that unconscious patients can end up with huge medical bills when an ambulance takes them to a hospital that doesn’t accept their insurance. But even if you’re conscious enough to point the driver toward the right hospital, you could still be stuck owing hundreds, even thousands, of dollars because that ambulance ride isn’t covered by your insurance.
As a sheriff’s deputy in his Rocky Mountain community, Don* regularly serves others with bills or summons from hospitals, doctor’s offices, or law firms related to medical services. But when Don’s wife needed an emergency lift to the hospital, even he didn’t expect that the short ambulance trip would result in thousands of dollars in bills.
Don, whose wife has since passed away, says that he’s come to learn more than he ever dreamed he would about medical transports and the resulting bills.
“I just could not believe the flood of bills that we’d get,” he recalls. “After the first experience with the ambulance, I didn’t do that anymore. I’d carry her and put her in the car.”
More
As a sheriff’s deputy in his Rocky Mountain community, Don* regularly serves others with bills or summons from hospitals, doctor’s offices, or law firms related to medical services. But when Don’s wife needed an emergency lift to the hospital, even he didn’t expect that the short ambulance trip would result in thousands of dollars in bills.
Don, whose wife has since passed away, says that he’s come to learn more than he ever dreamed he would about medical transports and the resulting bills.
“I just could not believe the flood of bills that we’d get,” he recalls. “After the first experience with the ambulance, I didn’t do that anymore. I’d carry her and put her in the car.”
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State of Maryland, Jeollanam-do Province Renew Cultural and Economic Memorandum of Understanding
The MOU fosters economic and cultural development for both Maryland and Jeollanam-do, as the two parties agree to continue working together to maximize business opportunities, advance enterprises, create jobs, and generate new economic opportunities in both regions. Governor Hogan traveled to South Korea last May as part of a 12-day trade mission to Korea, China, and Japan.
Obama Administration Gives Cover To Non-Citizen Voters
Several well-funded organizations — including the League of Women Voters and the NAACP — are fighting efforts to prevent non-citizens from voting illegally in the upcoming presidential election.
And the United States Department of Justice, under the direction of Attorney General Loretta Lynch, is helping them.
On February 12, these groups filed a lawsuit in D.C. federal court seeking to reverse a recent decision by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The Commission’s decision allows Kansas and other states, including Arizona and Georgia, to enforce state laws ensuring that only citizens register to vote when they use a federally designed registration form. An initial hearing in the case is set for Monday afternoon, February 22.
Under federal law, the EAC is responsible for designing the federal voter-registration form required by the National Voter Registration Act, or Motor Voter, as it is commonly called. While states must register voters who use the federal form, states can ask the EAC to include instructions with the federal form about additional state registration requirements. Some states are now requiring satisfactory proof of citizenship to ensure that only citizens register to vote.
Under Article I, Secion 2 and the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution, states have the power to set the “Qualification requisite for electors.” As with many issues, the Left disdains the balance the Framers adopted in the Constitution and objects to this delegation of power to the states. They prefer to see power over elector eligibility centralized in Washington, D.C.
So when Arizona sought to include citizenship-verification requirements with voter-registration forms, the institutional Left — including the League of Women Voters, People for the American Way, Common Cause, Project Vote, and Chicanos for La Causa — brought a lawsuit claiming that the EAC hadn’t approved such requirements.
Incredibly, this fight over whether states can ensure that only citizens are voting went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Keep reading..
And the United States Department of Justice, under the direction of Attorney General Loretta Lynch, is helping them.
On February 12, these groups filed a lawsuit in D.C. federal court seeking to reverse a recent decision by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The Commission’s decision allows Kansas and other states, including Arizona and Georgia, to enforce state laws ensuring that only citizens register to vote when they use a federally designed registration form. An initial hearing in the case is set for Monday afternoon, February 22.
Under federal law, the EAC is responsible for designing the federal voter-registration form required by the National Voter Registration Act, or Motor Voter, as it is commonly called. While states must register voters who use the federal form, states can ask the EAC to include instructions with the federal form about additional state registration requirements. Some states are now requiring satisfactory proof of citizenship to ensure that only citizens register to vote.
Under Article I, Secion 2 and the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution, states have the power to set the “Qualification requisite for electors.” As with many issues, the Left disdains the balance the Framers adopted in the Constitution and objects to this delegation of power to the states. They prefer to see power over elector eligibility centralized in Washington, D.C.
So when Arizona sought to include citizenship-verification requirements with voter-registration forms, the institutional Left — including the League of Women Voters, People for the American Way, Common Cause, Project Vote, and Chicanos for La Causa — brought a lawsuit claiming that the EAC hadn’t approved such requirements.
Incredibly, this fight over whether states can ensure that only citizens are voting went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Keep reading..
National Emergency Alert System Test to Occur on February 24th at 2:20 P.M.
Wicomico County, Md. February 23, 2016 — Maryland will be one of twenty-two states participating in a national test of the Emergency Alert System February 24th at 2:20 P.M. (Eastern). The messaging and style of the test will be similar to the regular monthly test message of the EAS, but, is being conducted in order to test and assess the readiness for distribution of a national-level message. Wicomico County residents may hear and see the following on participating radio and television stations February 24th: “This is a national test of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test.”
This test is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). According to FEMA, “Public safety officials need to be sure that in times of an emergency or disaster they have methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public when needed. Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems is a way to assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine what improvements in technologies need to be made.”
More information on the Public Alert and Warning System and Wireless Emergency Alerts is available at http://www.fema.gov/ipaws
LOST NASA TAPES UNEARTHED: ASTRONAUTS HEARD ‘MUSIC’ ON FAR SIDE OF THE MOON
When astronauts with the Apollo 10 mission traveled around the far side of the moon, they didn’t expect to hear anything on their radios. After all they would be out of radio contact with Mission Control for over an hour. In fact, there’s no way any transmission from Earth could reach them during this brief period of time. They did however, hear something really strange that day, which they likened to “music.”
Fortunately their conversations were recorded so NASA could exam them after they regained radio contact, but they were promptly classified and buried for nearly 40 years, until they were released in 2008. The nature of the transmission has been debated since then, but no definitive conclusions have been drawn.
Recently, the science channel released a documentary on the incident as part of their series “NASA’s Unexplained Files.” Check it out below, and share what you think these astronauts heard in the comments.
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Fortunately their conversations were recorded so NASA could exam them after they regained radio contact, but they were promptly classified and buried for nearly 40 years, until they were released in 2008. The nature of the transmission has been debated since then, but no definitive conclusions have been drawn.
Recently, the science channel released a documentary on the incident as part of their series “NASA’s Unexplained Files.” Check it out below, and share what you think these astronauts heard in the comments.
More
FDA To Health Food Companies: The Word ‘Healthy’ Has An Actual Meaning
Kind bars are quite tasty, but are they healthy? Sure, they’re made from ostensibly healthy ingredients like nuts and dried fruit, but some bars also have ingredients like chocolate and peanut butter. The Food and Drug Administration sent the company a warning letter about their use of the word “healthy” to describe their snacks on the label.
Of course the FDA has rules about who can plaster the word “healthy” on their packaging: they also have rules about which products are allowed to call themselves peanut butter and ice cream. Unlike“natural,” which seems to be a meaningless marketing buzzword when it comes to food, the FDA will catch up with companies that label their products as “healthy.” Eventually.
In the case of Kind’s products, it was their saturated fat content that caught the FDA’s attention.
In accordance with 21 CFR 101.65(d)(2), you may use the term “healthy” as an implied nutrient content claim on the label or in the labeling of a food provided that the food, among other things, is “low saturated fat” as defined in 21 CFR 101.62(c)(2)
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Of course the FDA has rules about who can plaster the word “healthy” on their packaging: they also have rules about which products are allowed to call themselves peanut butter and ice cream. Unlike“natural,” which seems to be a meaningless marketing buzzword when it comes to food, the FDA will catch up with companies that label their products as “healthy.” Eventually.
In the case of Kind’s products, it was their saturated fat content that caught the FDA’s attention.
In accordance with 21 CFR 101.65(d)(2), you may use the term “healthy” as an implied nutrient content claim on the label or in the labeling of a food provided that the food, among other things, is “low saturated fat” as defined in 21 CFR 101.62(c)(2)
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Debunking the Top 10 Myths About Pasta
Everything you always wanted to know about pasta (but were afraid to ask)
It seems like one of the easiest things in the world to cook: You boil some water, throw in some pasta, set the timer for the minutes indicated on the package, add a little oil to keep it from sticking, the buzzer rings and voila! It's done. Throw it onto some plates, ladle lots of sauce on top and you have dinner. Simple, right? And yet, in my opinion, there is no worse mistake in Italian food than soggy, overcooked pasta (and it's far too common). Misconceptions about pasta and the best way to cook it still abound, while methods and tips that Italians consider common knowledge might be news to many.
1. If you don't add oil to the cooking water, the pasta will stick together.
Actually, all adding oil to the water does is prevent the sauce from sticking to the pasta...and waste oil. Neither of these are things you want to happen. All you need to ensure that the pasta doesn't stick together while it cooks is to a) make sure that there is plenty of water in the pot (see #2), b) give it a good stir or two just after adding it to the water (and occasional stirs during cooking if it's long strands), and c) make sure the water is at a rolling boiling when you add the pasta (see #3).
Cut down a bit of your belly every day by using this 1 weird old tip.
Cut down a bit of your belly every day by using this 1 weird old tip.
2. You don't need a lot of extra cooking water
Actually, you do. Recommendations vary, but generally run from 4 to 6 quarts of water for every pound of (dried or fresh) pasta. Why? Well, first of all it helps keep your pieces of pasta from sticking together (see #1), giving them more room to dance around without bumping into each other, so to speak. It also dilutes the starches released by the pasta more, so that you don't get a really gluey pasta water that, again, can cause sticking. The great cooking science guru Harold McGee has conducted experiments cooking pasta not only in minimal amounts of water, but starting it in cold water (see #3), with mixed results (To read about his tests, see: http://www. times.com/2009/02/25/dining/25curi.html). He concluded that he could (and would) indeed cook pasta in just a few cups of cold water, but the greats of Italian cookery that he invited to join in his experiments, Marcella Hazan and Lidia Bastianich, were not quite convinced, and I am inclined to agree with them. It is worth the extra time it might take to boil a few extra cups of water if optimal taste and texture are important to you.
More
It seems like one of the easiest things in the world to cook: You boil some water, throw in some pasta, set the timer for the minutes indicated on the package, add a little oil to keep it from sticking, the buzzer rings and voila! It's done. Throw it onto some plates, ladle lots of sauce on top and you have dinner. Simple, right? And yet, in my opinion, there is no worse mistake in Italian food than soggy, overcooked pasta (and it's far too common). Misconceptions about pasta and the best way to cook it still abound, while methods and tips that Italians consider common knowledge might be news to many.
1. If you don't add oil to the cooking water, the pasta will stick together.
Actually, all adding oil to the water does is prevent the sauce from sticking to the pasta...and waste oil. Neither of these are things you want to happen. All you need to ensure that the pasta doesn't stick together while it cooks is to a) make sure that there is plenty of water in the pot (see #2), b) give it a good stir or two just after adding it to the water (and occasional stirs during cooking if it's long strands), and c) make sure the water is at a rolling boiling when you add the pasta (see #3).
Cut down a bit of your belly every day by using this 1 weird old tip.
Cut down a bit of your belly every day by using this 1 weird old tip.
2. You don't need a lot of extra cooking water
Actually, you do. Recommendations vary, but generally run from 4 to 6 quarts of water for every pound of (dried or fresh) pasta. Why? Well, first of all it helps keep your pieces of pasta from sticking together (see #1), giving them more room to dance around without bumping into each other, so to speak. It also dilutes the starches released by the pasta more, so that you don't get a really gluey pasta water that, again, can cause sticking. The great cooking science guru Harold McGee has conducted experiments cooking pasta not only in minimal amounts of water, but starting it in cold water (see #3), with mixed results (To read about his tests, see: http://www. times.com/2009/02/25/dining/25curi.html). He concluded that he could (and would) indeed cook pasta in just a few cups of cold water, but the greats of Italian cookery that he invited to join in his experiments, Marcella Hazan and Lidia Bastianich, were not quite convinced, and I am inclined to agree with them. It is worth the extra time it might take to boil a few extra cups of water if optimal taste and texture are important to you.
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U.S.English Chairman Praises House Passage of Bill to Declare English West Virginia's Official Language
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S.English Chairman Mauro E. Mujica today praised the West Virginia State House on its passage of a bill to recognize English as the official language of the state.
HB 3019, introduced by Delegate Woody Ireland, passed by a vote of 95 - 4. The legislation would require that official government business be conducted in English, allowing for the use of foreign languages in common sense circumstances such as health and safety, judicial situations and more. The bill would not restrict the use of foreign languages among individuals or businesses.
"I am pleased that the West Virginia State House has overwhelmingly recognized the value of conducting its official business in English," Chairman Mujica said. "When the government operates in English, it acts as an added incentive to encourage foreign language speakers to learn the language as well. I encourage the West Virginia State Senate to follow the House lead and help bring Delegate Ireland's bill to swift passage."
The legislation now awaits referral to a Senate committee. Should HB 3019 pass the State Senate and be signed into law by the Governor, West Virginia will become the 32nd state to recognize English as the official language.
U.S.English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S.English, Inc. (www.usenglish.org) now has more than 2 million members.
Source
HB 3019, introduced by Delegate Woody Ireland, passed by a vote of 95 - 4. The legislation would require that official government business be conducted in English, allowing for the use of foreign languages in common sense circumstances such as health and safety, judicial situations and more. The bill would not restrict the use of foreign languages among individuals or businesses.
"I am pleased that the West Virginia State House has overwhelmingly recognized the value of conducting its official business in English," Chairman Mujica said. "When the government operates in English, it acts as an added incentive to encourage foreign language speakers to learn the language as well. I encourage the West Virginia State Senate to follow the House lead and help bring Delegate Ireland's bill to swift passage."
The legislation now awaits referral to a Senate committee. Should HB 3019 pass the State Senate and be signed into law by the Governor, West Virginia will become the 32nd state to recognize English as the official language.
U.S.English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S.English, Inc. (www.usenglish.org) now has more than 2 million members.
Source
The GOP Machine Can’t Touch Donald Trump, Even When He Attacks Republican Lies About 9/11
Whether taking on GOP sacred cows or being caught in flat-out lies, Trump always manages to survive.
Donald Trump gave a good Town Hall performance last night on CNN. Sure, he said the same insane stuff he’s been saying for months, but for people who only see him in snippets on the evening news ranting about Mexicans or Muslims, he probably seemed pretty human. He dodged all the usual questions with his usual bravado and obsessed about his own greatness. But he was comfortably sitting down and seemed relaxed and confident and unintimidating. After all, he’s not really a politician, he’s a celebrity. He dished on his famous friends and his three beautiful wives and their children and talked about how very, very rich he is. He even shared that he’s a clean freak who prefers to eat at fast food chains like McDonalds on the road because he thinks they have higher sanitation standards. It was more like watching an Oprah interview with a TV star than a political interview.
That this happened on the same day that Trump got into a huge public fight with the Pope makes it all the more amazing. But then that’s Trump’s specialty. He makes sure he dominates the news cycle somehow. By day he’s calling out the Pope and by night he’s talking about his pal Michael Jackson’s plastic surgery. Frankly, he’s just more interesting than any politician out there. It’s a shame about his authoritarian white nationalist program and the fact the job of president requires many more skills than those that have gotten him this far.
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Donald Trump gave a good Town Hall performance last night on CNN. Sure, he said the same insane stuff he’s been saying for months, but for people who only see him in snippets on the evening news ranting about Mexicans or Muslims, he probably seemed pretty human. He dodged all the usual questions with his usual bravado and obsessed about his own greatness. But he was comfortably sitting down and seemed relaxed and confident and unintimidating. After all, he’s not really a politician, he’s a celebrity. He dished on his famous friends and his three beautiful wives and their children and talked about how very, very rich he is. He even shared that he’s a clean freak who prefers to eat at fast food chains like McDonalds on the road because he thinks they have higher sanitation standards. It was more like watching an Oprah interview with a TV star than a political interview.
That this happened on the same day that Trump got into a huge public fight with the Pope makes it all the more amazing. But then that’s Trump’s specialty. He makes sure he dominates the news cycle somehow. By day he’s calling out the Pope and by night he’s talking about his pal Michael Jackson’s plastic surgery. Frankly, he’s just more interesting than any politician out there. It’s a shame about his authoritarian white nationalist program and the fact the job of president requires many more skills than those that have gotten him this far.
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25 Commonly Accepted 'Facts' That Just Ain’t So
There are scientific facts that most of us accept as true. The Earth is round. Check. E=MC squared. Check. Humans evolved from apes. Not exactly.
It might come as a surprise that science doesn’t necessarily back many scientific “facts.” Here are 25 facts that ain’t necessarily so.
1. Humans evolved from apes.
Evangelicals will be relieved to note that humans did not evolve from apes. Of course, that has never been the scientific claim that human evolution is based on. Humans and apes (chimps, most closely) share almost identical DNA (98.8% the same). What this means is that somewhere down the line, humans and apes shared a common ancestor, some of whose offspring evolved, over millions of years, into today’s apes, and some of whose offspring evolved, over millions of years, into us.
2. Milk builds strong bones.
The advertising campaigns for milk (“Got milk?”) have been some of the most popular and successful marketing in modern history. It is gospel among most people that milk builds strong bones and teeth. However, it’s not true. Many studies over the years have failed to find a link between milk consumption and a lower incidence of bone fractures.
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It might come as a surprise that science doesn’t necessarily back many scientific “facts.” Here are 25 facts that ain’t necessarily so.
1. Humans evolved from apes.
Evangelicals will be relieved to note that humans did not evolve from apes. Of course, that has never been the scientific claim that human evolution is based on. Humans and apes (chimps, most closely) share almost identical DNA (98.8% the same). What this means is that somewhere down the line, humans and apes shared a common ancestor, some of whose offspring evolved, over millions of years, into today’s apes, and some of whose offspring evolved, over millions of years, into us.
2. Milk builds strong bones.
The advertising campaigns for milk (“Got milk?”) have been some of the most popular and successful marketing in modern history. It is gospel among most people that milk builds strong bones and teeth. However, it’s not true. Many studies over the years have failed to find a link between milk consumption and a lower incidence of bone fractures.
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Translating 8 of the Media's Code Words to Reveal Their Imperial Mindset
The corporate media uses its own private dictionary to casually launder tragedy and hostility toward outsiders.
"If thought corrupts language," George Orwell once reasoned, "language can also corrupt thought." This is how the immoral can seem banal, the cruel sanitized and the trite profound. In his time these nuggets of discourse included, "bestial atrocities," "iron heel," "bloodstained tyranny," and "free peoples of the world, stand shoulder to shoulder."
Today these terms seem corny, foreign or both, but in the late 1940s they passed for insight and conventional wisdom, and one had to more or less parrot them in order to be taken seriously. Orwell lamented the hollowness of these human propaganda conduits, which we generally call “pundits”:
One often has a curious feeling that one is not watching a live human being [say these terms] but some kind of dummy: a feeling which suddenly becomes stronger at moments when the light catches the speaker's spectacles and turns them into blank discs which seem to have no eyes behind them.
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"If thought corrupts language," George Orwell once reasoned, "language can also corrupt thought." This is how the immoral can seem banal, the cruel sanitized and the trite profound. In his time these nuggets of discourse included, "bestial atrocities," "iron heel," "bloodstained tyranny," and "free peoples of the world, stand shoulder to shoulder."
Today these terms seem corny, foreign or both, but in the late 1940s they passed for insight and conventional wisdom, and one had to more or less parrot them in order to be taken seriously. Orwell lamented the hollowness of these human propaganda conduits, which we generally call “pundits”:
One often has a curious feeling that one is not watching a live human being [say these terms] but some kind of dummy: a feeling which suddenly becomes stronger at moments when the light catches the speaker's spectacles and turns them into blank discs which seem to have no eyes behind them.
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Catch 22: Vets Fear Loss Of Gun Rights If They Seek Treatment For PTSD
Although numerous combat veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan need treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) many are increasingly hesitant to pursue treatment because they fear a prognosis of PTSD will be used to deny their gun rights under the Obama administration.
A combat vet confined to wheelchair recently spoke to Breitbart News anonymously, saying, “I was diagnosed with PTSD. What’s being done to be sure my guns aren’t taken away?” He said he lives with the added anxiety of questioning his every trip to the doctor, fearing that he is one visit away from having his gun rights snuffed out.
To clear, veterans have worried about the state of their gun rights for a number of years now. At first the concern was tied to whether a veteran could manage his or her own money. In July 2015 the Los Angeles Times reported on “a strategy used by the Department of Veterans Affairs” whereby a veteran “declared incompetent to manage pension or disability payments and assigned a fiduciary” is reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System (NICS). Translation: the inability to handle money following the strain of war and possible life and death battles is being used to deny certain veterans the right to buy a gun.
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A combat vet confined to wheelchair recently spoke to Breitbart News anonymously, saying, “I was diagnosed with PTSD. What’s being done to be sure my guns aren’t taken away?” He said he lives with the added anxiety of questioning his every trip to the doctor, fearing that he is one visit away from having his gun rights snuffed out.
To clear, veterans have worried about the state of their gun rights for a number of years now. At first the concern was tied to whether a veteran could manage his or her own money. In July 2015 the Los Angeles Times reported on “a strategy used by the Department of Veterans Affairs” whereby a veteran “declared incompetent to manage pension or disability payments and assigned a fiduciary” is reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System (NICS). Translation: the inability to handle money following the strain of war and possible life and death battles is being used to deny certain veterans the right to buy a gun.
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AP Poll: 86% of Republicans Think Donald Trump Can Win General Election
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Donald Trump has emerged as the front-runner for the GOP nomination by winning over roughly a third of Republicans in the early voting states and in preference polls, packing his rallies with men and women, evangelical Christians and military veterans, blue-collar workers and wealthy retirees.
His critics have argued for months he’ll never be able to grow that wide-but-only-so-deep coalition by clashing with Pope Francis, attacking former President George W. Bush and skipping debates like he did once in Iowa. His negatives, they say, are just too high.
But a new AP-GfK poll finds registered Republicans and GOP-leaning voters put Trump at the top of the still-unwieldy GOP field when it comes to which candidate fits best with their stand on the issues. They give Trump the best marks for competence and decisiveness.
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His critics have argued for months he’ll never be able to grow that wide-but-only-so-deep coalition by clashing with Pope Francis, attacking former President George W. Bush and skipping debates like he did once in Iowa. His negatives, they say, are just too high.
But a new AP-GfK poll finds registered Republicans and GOP-leaning voters put Trump at the top of the still-unwieldy GOP field when it comes to which candidate fits best with their stand on the issues. They give Trump the best marks for competence and decisiveness.
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END OF GUANTANAMO ERA
Obama details plan to close Gitmo detention facility, including finding location in US to house detainees
President Obama detailed Tuesday a four-point plan he'll submit to Congress to eventually close the detention facility at Guantanamo, Cuba -- a plan that includes releasing more of the remaining 91 detainees, while transferring others to an as-yet determined facility on U.S. soil.
Much of the president's plan, which represents a final effort to fulfill his 2008 campaign pledge to close the detention center, still must be approved by Congress, and includes:
-- The “careful” transfer of 35 detainees to overseas countries;
-- Accelerating the review process for the roughly 56 remaining detainees to see whether they’re eligible for transfer;
-- Using “all of the legal tools” available to resolve the cases of detainees in the commission process; and,
-- Work with Congress to select a secure transfer location on U.S. soil.
“We can improve our security, uphold our highest values around the world and save Americans money in the process,” Obama said in introductory remarks meant to frame the four key points.
The Guantanamo facility, on the U.S. Naval base in Cuba, was opened in January 2002 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to house captured terror suspects.
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President Obama detailed Tuesday a four-point plan he'll submit to Congress to eventually close the detention facility at Guantanamo, Cuba -- a plan that includes releasing more of the remaining 91 detainees, while transferring others to an as-yet determined facility on U.S. soil.
Much of the president's plan, which represents a final effort to fulfill his 2008 campaign pledge to close the detention center, still must be approved by Congress, and includes:
-- The “careful” transfer of 35 detainees to overseas countries;
-- Accelerating the review process for the roughly 56 remaining detainees to see whether they’re eligible for transfer;
-- Using “all of the legal tools” available to resolve the cases of detainees in the commission process; and,
-- Work with Congress to select a secure transfer location on U.S. soil.
“We can improve our security, uphold our highest values around the world and save Americans money in the process,” Obama said in introductory remarks meant to frame the four key points.
The Guantanamo facility, on the U.S. Naval base in Cuba, was opened in January 2002 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to house captured terror suspects.
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SC EXIT POLL: 75 PERCENT AGREE WITH TRUMP’S MUSLIM BAN
Only 23 percent said they oppose it
Three-fourths of Republicans participating in Saturday’s South Carolina GOP primary say they support presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the U.S., according to an exit poll.
A CBS News exit poll of Palmetto State primary voters found that 75 percent said they support Trump’s proposal, while 23 percent said they oppose it.
Just days after the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif. – the worst on U.S. soil since 9/11 – Trump sparked a media backlash for saying that all Muslims should be temporarily banned from entering the country.
The proposal has been ridiculed as impossible to implement and called racist by some, but it has resonated with many people concerned about the potential for terrorists to infiltrate the U.S.
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Three-fourths of Republicans participating in Saturday’s South Carolina GOP primary say they support presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the U.S., according to an exit poll.
A CBS News exit poll of Palmetto State primary voters found that 75 percent said they support Trump’s proposal, while 23 percent said they oppose it.
Just days after the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif. – the worst on U.S. soil since 9/11 – Trump sparked a media backlash for saying that all Muslims should be temporarily banned from entering the country.
The proposal has been ridiculed as impossible to implement and called racist by some, but it has resonated with many people concerned about the potential for terrorists to infiltrate the U.S.
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Congressman Harris’ Statement on President Obama’s Plan for Guantanamo Bay
“President Obama’s plan to close Guantanamo Bay and bring detainees to the United States is not only dangerous to our safety, it is illegal. With Americans believing that terrorism should be one of our top priorities, it is unconscionable that our President would willingly bring known terrorists into this country. Once again, President Obama is playing politics with the safety of our nation and putting American lives in danger.”
In November of 2015, Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, told the House Judiciary Committee that under current law, Guantanamo Bay detainees cannot be transferred to the United States. On November 25, 2015, President Obama signed the ‘‘National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016’’ into law. This law has a provision that prohibits the use of funds to transfer or release Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States. Congressman Harris voted for this bill in the House of Representatives on November 5, 2015.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016:
Subtitle D—Counterterrorism
SEC. 1031. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR TRANSFER OR RELEASE OF INDIVIDUALS DETAINED AT UNITED STATES NAVAL STATION, GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, TO THE UNITED STATES.
No amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense may be used during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2016, to transfer, release, or assist in the transfer or release to or within the United States, its territories, or possessions of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any other detainee who— (1) is not a United States citizen or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and (2) is or was held on or after January 20, 2009, at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by the Department of Defense.
WORLD WAR 3 COULD VERY EASILY TURN INTO THE VERY FIRST NUCLEAR WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Perhaps you didn’t know that the Saudis already have nukes
Saudi Arabia already has nukes, Iran probably does, and the Russians are one of the two great nuclear powers on the entire planet.
So if Saudi Arabia, Turkey and their Sunni allies do decide to conduct a full-blown ground invasion of Syria, could someone ultimately decide to use nuclear weapons when their backs get pushed up against a wall? As you read this article, there are thousands of military vehicles and hundreds of thousands of troops massed along the southern border of Turkey and the northern border of Saudi Arabia. If the command is given and those forces start streaming toward Damascus, it is inevitable that the Syrians, the Iranians, Hezbollah and the Russians would fight back. It would literally be the start of World War 3, and the Saudis and the Turks are trying very hardto convince the United States to be involved. But the truth is that we don’t want any part of this conflict, because it could very easily become the very first nuclear war in the history of the Middle East.
Perhaps you didn’t know that the Saudis already have nukes. Of course the official position is that they don’t, but it is a fact that they were the ones that funded the development of Pakistan’s nuclear program. It is an open secret that the Saudis have the bomb, but nobody is really supposed to talk about it.
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So if Saudi Arabia, Turkey and their Sunni allies do decide to conduct a full-blown ground invasion of Syria, could someone ultimately decide to use nuclear weapons when their backs get pushed up against a wall? As you read this article, there are thousands of military vehicles and hundreds of thousands of troops massed along the southern border of Turkey and the northern border of Saudi Arabia. If the command is given and those forces start streaming toward Damascus, it is inevitable that the Syrians, the Iranians, Hezbollah and the Russians would fight back. It would literally be the start of World War 3, and the Saudis and the Turks are trying very hardto convince the United States to be involved. But the truth is that we don’t want any part of this conflict, because it could very easily become the very first nuclear war in the history of the Middle East.
Perhaps you didn’t know that the Saudis already have nukes. Of course the official position is that they don’t, but it is a fact that they were the ones that funded the development of Pakistan’s nuclear program. It is an open secret that the Saudis have the bomb, but nobody is really supposed to talk about it.
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A Viewer Writes: Inquiry
Purina Sued for Allegedly Killing 4,000 Dogs With ‘Toxic’ Food
A class action lawsuit alleges a mold byproduct used in kibble is leading pets to agonizing deaths.
Despite years of online allegations that one of the most popular dog food brands has been poisoning pets, it wasn’t until just weeks ago that the cat was let out of the bag in a court filing. A class action lawsuit was filed that blames the deaths of thousands of dogs on one of Purina’s most popular brands of chow.
Googling Nestle Purina Petcare’s Beneful brand will get you the pet food manufacturer’s website, a Facebook page with over a million likes, and, in stark contrast, a Consumer Affairs page with 708 one-star ratings supported with page after grim page detailing dogs suffering slow, agonizing deaths from mysterious causes.
Internal bleeding. Diarrhea. Seizures. Liver malfunction. It reads like something from a horror movie or a plague documentary, but a suit brought in California federal court by plaintiff Frank Lucido alleges that this is all too real—and too frequent to be a coincidence.
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Despite years of online allegations that one of the most popular dog food brands has been poisoning pets, it wasn’t until just weeks ago that the cat was let out of the bag in a court filing. A class action lawsuit was filed that blames the deaths of thousands of dogs on one of Purina’s most popular brands of chow.
Googling Nestle Purina Petcare’s Beneful brand will get you the pet food manufacturer’s website, a Facebook page with over a million likes, and, in stark contrast, a Consumer Affairs page with 708 one-star ratings supported with page after grim page detailing dogs suffering slow, agonizing deaths from mysterious causes.
Internal bleeding. Diarrhea. Seizures. Liver malfunction. It reads like something from a horror movie or a plague documentary, but a suit brought in California federal court by plaintiff Frank Lucido alleges that this is all too real—and too frequent to be a coincidence.
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Cruz: I’d Look For and Deport All Illegal Immigrants
Republican presidential candidate Texas Senator Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said he would seek out and deport all the illegal immigrants in the US and that both fellow candidates Donald Trump and Florida Senator Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) “would allow those 12 million people to become US citizens” on Monday’s “The O’Reilly Factor” on the Fox News Channel.
Cruz began by stating [relevant remarks begin around 2:30] that the law should be enforced, and illegal immigrants in the US should be deported.
When asked if he would “go look for them” Cruz responded, “Bill, of course you would. That’s what ICE exists for. We have law enforcement that looks for people, who are violating the laws that apprehends them, and deports them.”
When asked if he would send federal law enforcement to the home of someone who overstayed their visa to deport them, Cruz said, “You better believe it.” He later added that he would put a biometric exit/entry system for visas.
After host Bill O’Reilly contended the courts would probably block this plan because of due process, Cruz objected. He further stated, “[T]he biggest difference is that Donald Trump and Marco Rubio and myself, is that both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio would allow those 12 million people to become U.S. citizens.
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Cruz began by stating [relevant remarks begin around 2:30] that the law should be enforced, and illegal immigrants in the US should be deported.
When asked if he would “go look for them” Cruz responded, “Bill, of course you would. That’s what ICE exists for. We have law enforcement that looks for people, who are violating the laws that apprehends them, and deports them.”
When asked if he would send federal law enforcement to the home of someone who overstayed their visa to deport them, Cruz said, “You better believe it.” He later added that he would put a biometric exit/entry system for visas.
After host Bill O’Reilly contended the courts would probably block this plan because of due process, Cruz objected. He further stated, “[T]he biggest difference is that Donald Trump and Marco Rubio and myself, is that both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio would allow those 12 million people to become U.S. citizens.
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Ted Cruz: Disgraceful for Obama to Snub Troops at Gitmo
has slammed President Obama for not visiting the American service members stationed at Guantanamo Bay during his coming trip to Cuba.
“It is disgraceful that President Obama will make time to meet the Communist dictator Raul Castro on his ill-advised trip to Cuba next month–but has no time to visit with the service men and women currently serving our nation at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station,” Sen. Cruz told Breitbart News:
On Thursday, Breitbart News confirmed with high-level sources that President Obama would not visit the American troops stationed at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, where thousands are serving their country on the island’s southeast. He is scheduled to meet with the Cuban regime from March 21-22.
Obama has not once been to Guantanamo Bay during his presidency. He has often called for the closing of the detention camp situated there, where U.S. Army National Guard soldiers keep watch over jihadist enemy combatants.
“Perhaps someone on his staff should remind Mr. Obama that he is still Commander in Chief of the United States of America,” Cruz said.
THE BILL GATES INTERVIEW: An energy miracle is coming, and it's going to change the world
The most remarkable thing about meeting Bill Gates in person is beholding his mental map of the world — how advances in technology, the well-being of humanity, and the fate of our world are all intertwined.
Tech Insider met with Gates on Monday to talk about his 2016 annual letter, in which he discusses the balance of bringing electricity to the billion people who don't have it and finding power sources that don't kill the earth.
The head of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spoke about how to make an energy miracle happen, the stakes of climate change, and what the role of the world's billionaires is in all of this.
Interview edited for clarity and length.
Drake Baer: What are the most exciting things happening right now in clean energy?
Bill Gates: A lot of it is pretty early stage. The most straightforward path would be if we could bring the cost of solar electric and wind down by another factor of say, three, and then have some miraculous storage solution, so that not only over the 24-hour day but over long periods of time where the wind doesn't blow, you have reliable energy. That's a path. But energy storage is hard. That's not a guaranteed path.
In fact, batteries haven't improved over the last 100 years as much as they would need to in order to make that happen. So I'm invested in a lot of battery companies — and there's a lot that exists I'm not in. They're all having a tough time achieving it. We need to look at less obvious paths, things like the wind in the jet stream, which is very high up. The material science of what type of kite string you would need to connect up to that. That's still at the basic research level.
That's the part where the governments have a unique role, and then when it progresses well enough, then existing companies or new startup companies should take it. In the $3 trillion a year energy market, the rewards will be quite fantastic.
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Tech Insider met with Gates on Monday to talk about his 2016 annual letter, in which he discusses the balance of bringing electricity to the billion people who don't have it and finding power sources that don't kill the earth.
The head of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spoke about how to make an energy miracle happen, the stakes of climate change, and what the role of the world's billionaires is in all of this.
Interview edited for clarity and length.
Drake Baer: What are the most exciting things happening right now in clean energy?
Bill Gates: A lot of it is pretty early stage. The most straightforward path would be if we could bring the cost of solar electric and wind down by another factor of say, three, and then have some miraculous storage solution, so that not only over the 24-hour day but over long periods of time where the wind doesn't blow, you have reliable energy. That's a path. But energy storage is hard. That's not a guaranteed path.
In fact, batteries haven't improved over the last 100 years as much as they would need to in order to make that happen. So I'm invested in a lot of battery companies — and there's a lot that exists I'm not in. They're all having a tough time achieving it. We need to look at less obvious paths, things like the wind in the jet stream, which is very high up. The material science of what type of kite string you would need to connect up to that. That's still at the basic research level.
That's the part where the governments have a unique role, and then when it progresses well enough, then existing companies or new startup companies should take it. In the $3 trillion a year energy market, the rewards will be quite fantastic.
More
A Viewer Writes: The depth of discontent with law enforcement in the US
Joe,
I was looking for eviction notice templates on the net when I came across this one.
For something like this to appear in the legal arena shows me just how deeply the mistrust and discontent with law enforcement goes in America today. I thought you might share it with your SbyNews readers.
Obama Administration Lifts Entry Ban on More Diseases
President Obama ended the policy banning people with HIV from entering the U.S. in 2009, and now the administration is eliminating the entry ban for another three sexually transmitted diseases, according to the Center for Immigration Studies.
According to a CIS report slated for release on Tuesday, the Obama administration is removing chancroid, granuloma inguinale, and lymphogranuloma venereum from the list of diseases that would prevent a non-U.S. citizen from entering the U.S.
“Accordingly, this [final rule] will: Revise the definition of communicable disease of public health significance by removing chancroid, granuloma inguinale, and lymphogranuloma venereum as inadmissible health-related conditions for aliens seeking admission to the United States,” explains the January 26, 2016, Federal Register entry.
With the rule change, the only named diseases which would bar entry as “communicable diseases of public health significance” are tuberculosis, leprosy, syphilis, and gonorrhea.
More here
According to a CIS report slated for release on Tuesday, the Obama administration is removing chancroid, granuloma inguinale, and lymphogranuloma venereum from the list of diseases that would prevent a non-U.S. citizen from entering the U.S.
“Accordingly, this [final rule] will: Revise the definition of communicable disease of public health significance by removing chancroid, granuloma inguinale, and lymphogranuloma venereum as inadmissible health-related conditions for aliens seeking admission to the United States,” explains the January 26, 2016, Federal Register entry.
With the rule change, the only named diseases which would bar entry as “communicable diseases of public health significance” are tuberculosis, leprosy, syphilis, and gonorrhea.
More here
A 2013 Disaster: Death Toll More Than Doubles in Iraq
Violence Shows No Signs of Slowing Down as Year End
For a nation still reeling from a devastating multi-year US occupation, 2013 was definitely a year Iraqis would prefer to forget. Violence spiked more than two-fold nationwide over 2012 numbers, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down.
2013 started much the same as the past several years did, but a late April crackdown against Sunni protesters by the military sparked a series of strikes from Sunni militant factions, and coupled with spillover violence from Syria, the toll is back to the levels of 2007, the height of the US surge.
For a nation still reeling from a devastating multi-year US occupation, 2013 was definitely a year Iraqis would prefer to forget. Violence spiked more than two-fold nationwide over 2012 numbers, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down.
2013 started much the same as the past several years did, but a late April crackdown against Sunni protesters by the military sparked a series of strikes from Sunni militant factions, and coupled with spillover violence from Syria, the toll is back to the levels of 2007, the height of the US surge.
Nasty: Clinton Campaign Calls 'Bulls---' on Bernie
It is getting nasty on the Democratic side. This evening, a Hillary Clinton spokesman accussed the Bernie Sanders campaign of spreading "bullshit."
The accusation, made by Clinton traveling press secretary Nick Merrill, came on Twitter.
"I don't typically like to swear on Twitter, but by all accounts so far this is complete and utter bullshit," Merrill said.
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The accusation, made by Clinton traveling press secretary Nick Merrill, came on Twitter.
"I don't typically like to swear on Twitter, but by all accounts so far this is complete and utter bullshit," Merrill said.
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Trump Triumphs over the Pope: Francis Backs Down over ‘Not Christian’ Claim as Vatican Says It Was Not a ‘Personal Attack’
The Vatican today executed a speedy climb-down in its feud with Donald Trump–handing the Republican White House hopeful a major political victory.
Pope Francis’s suggestion that Trump was ‘not Christian’ because of his views on immigration was not a personal attack on the candidate, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said on Friday.
Lombardi told Vatican radio that the pope’s comments, which were denounced by Trump, were simply an affirmation of his longstanding belief that migrants should be helped and welcomed rather than shut off behind walls.
He also leaned toward confirming Trump’s contention that his statement that Trump was ‘not a Christian’ was based largely on ‘what he was told’ about the billionaire’s position.
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Pope Francis’s suggestion that Trump was ‘not Christian’ because of his views on immigration was not a personal attack on the candidate, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said on Friday.
Lombardi told Vatican radio that the pope’s comments, which were denounced by Trump, were simply an affirmation of his longstanding belief that migrants should be helped and welcomed rather than shut off behind walls.
He also leaned toward confirming Trump’s contention that his statement that Trump was ‘not a Christian’ was based largely on ‘what he was told’ about the billionaire’s position.
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HEMP, INC. HOSTS THE "RESTORE THE PAST, GROW THE FUTURE" INFORMATIONAL SESSION IN SPRING HOPE, NC
LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwired) -- Hemp, Inc.'s (OTC PINK: HEMP) wholly owned subsidiary, Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC and the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Association (NCIHA) hosted an informational session in coordination with the Hemp Road Trip in the Spring Hope, North Carolina decortication facility on February 15, 2016. The Hemp Road Trip, the traveling grassroots campaign, has been raising awareness of hemp and was able to educate the farmers and other interested parties on the advantages of growing hemp in North Carolina and the uses of hemp. Representative Jeff Collins (Republican -- District 25, representing Franklin and Nash Counties, NC) was also in attendance.
By hosting informational meetings and events such as this, Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP) is helping to pave the way by creating a future robust and prolific industrial hemp industry in North Carolina and ultimately creating hundreds of jobs and expanding Hemp, Inc.'s business interests within the state. Hemp, Inc. sees its multipurpose hemp processing plant as a beginning to the revitalization of the entire textile industry in the Southeastern region of the United States by using hemp textiles as opposed to the dying cotton industry. With hemp textiles made-in-America, we're able to be the driving force behind this new clean green agricultural and industrial revolution.
"Even though we had severe weather conditions, we still had about 50 people in attendance who included farmers from as far south as Florida," said David Schmitt, COO of Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC. "After an approximate 90-minute presentation from the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Association (NCIHA), we opened the session to questions and answers. The session was very educational to all in attendance. We concluded the event with a tour of our decortication facility."
According to Schmitt, the majority of attendees were farmers specifically interested in growing hemp this year due to the reduced amount of tobacco they are able to grow. The farmers are in search of a new source of revenue. Many of the farmers looking to grow hemp in North Carolina were also able to garner more information on how NCIHA's newly formed NCIHC (the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission) can help the growing process.
The North Carolina Industrial Hemp Association (NCIHA) is a 501(c6) trade organization responsible for the lobbying effort that helped pass S.B 313. NCIHA not only acts as the legislative arm for hemp in the state of North Carolina, but also acts as the center for hemp education and commerce in North Carolina.
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By hosting informational meetings and events such as this, Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP) is helping to pave the way by creating a future robust and prolific industrial hemp industry in North Carolina and ultimately creating hundreds of jobs and expanding Hemp, Inc.'s business interests within the state. Hemp, Inc. sees its multipurpose hemp processing plant as a beginning to the revitalization of the entire textile industry in the Southeastern region of the United States by using hemp textiles as opposed to the dying cotton industry. With hemp textiles made-in-America, we're able to be the driving force behind this new clean green agricultural and industrial revolution.
"Even though we had severe weather conditions, we still had about 50 people in attendance who included farmers from as far south as Florida," said David Schmitt, COO of Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC. "After an approximate 90-minute presentation from the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Association (NCIHA), we opened the session to questions and answers. The session was very educational to all in attendance. We concluded the event with a tour of our decortication facility."
According to Schmitt, the majority of attendees were farmers specifically interested in growing hemp this year due to the reduced amount of tobacco they are able to grow. The farmers are in search of a new source of revenue. Many of the farmers looking to grow hemp in North Carolina were also able to garner more information on how NCIHA's newly formed NCIHC (the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Commission) can help the growing process.
The North Carolina Industrial Hemp Association (NCIHA) is a 501(c6) trade organization responsible for the lobbying effort that helped pass S.B 313. NCIHA not only acts as the legislative arm for hemp in the state of North Carolina, but also acts as the center for hemp education and commerce in North Carolina.
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Is There Any Stopping Donald Trump?
Over the last few months and even weeks, the question among many flabbergasted Republican traditionalists and incredulous political analysts was when the forces of gravity would catch up with Donald Trump and send him tumbling to earth.
It was going to happen. Of course it was going to happen. You just had to be patient. You just had to be strong.
But in the wake of his victories in New Hampshire and now South Carolina, the question is no longer “when.” It’s “if.” And the answer isn’t clear at all.
Consider this: From 1980 forward, no Republican presidential candidate has won both the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries and gone on to lose the party’s nomination.
And this: Over that same time period, only one Republican victor in South Carolina failed to become the nominee, and that was Newt Gingrich, in 2012. But Gingrich didn’t have Trump’s durable (and sizeable) lead in national polls. He didn’t dominate the race’s narrative and capture an exasperated electorate’s mood the way Trump has.
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It was going to happen. Of course it was going to happen. You just had to be patient. You just had to be strong.
But in the wake of his victories in New Hampshire and now South Carolina, the question is no longer “when.” It’s “if.” And the answer isn’t clear at all.
Consider this: From 1980 forward, no Republican presidential candidate has won both the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries and gone on to lose the party’s nomination.
And this: Over that same time period, only one Republican victor in South Carolina failed to become the nominee, and that was Newt Gingrich, in 2012. But Gingrich didn’t have Trump’s durable (and sizeable) lead in national polls. He didn’t dominate the race’s narrative and capture an exasperated electorate’s mood the way Trump has.
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Wal-Mart Woes Are 'Terrifying New Reality' for US Retail
“For retail rivals, Walmart’s struggles are not cause for celebration. Instead, they reveal a swiftly changing retail landscape where few can keep up,” BI’s Kate Taylor explains.
And there’s a cruel irony behind retailers’ quest for online dominance: it eventually forces more brick-and-mortar stores to close.
“Even if retail giants are able to turn business around by growing ecommerce sales, customers should not be surprised if more closures are on the horizon as the retail industry adjusts to this seismic shift,” Taylor explained.
“Just as mall traffic has decreased (Fung Business Intelligence Centre estimates that the average American now visits a mall three to four times a year, as opposed to five to six times a few years ago), visits to big-box retailers are also dropping,” BI reported.
Read more: Business Insider: Wal-Mart Woes Are 'Terrifying New Reality' for US Retail
Important: Can you afford to Retire?
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Snowden: Would Return to US with Guarantee of Fair Trial
Speaking via Skype from Russia, Edward Snowden told an audience of supporters in New Hampshire on Saturday that he is willing to be extradited to the United States if the federal government would guarantee he would get a fair trial.
The former National Security Agency contractor in 2013 leaked details of a secret government eavesdropping program and left the country. He faces U.S. charges that could land him in prison for up to 30 years.
Snowden spoke Saturday at the New Hampshire Liberty Forum, heavily attended by libertarians. WMUR (http://bit.ly/1KzViUd ) reported that forum organizers did not allow the media to video record his remarks.
"I've told the government I would return if they would guarantee a fair trial where I can make a public interest defense of why this was done and allow a jury to decide," Snowden told his audience.
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The former National Security Agency contractor in 2013 leaked details of a secret government eavesdropping program and left the country. He faces U.S. charges that could land him in prison for up to 30 years.
Snowden spoke Saturday at the New Hampshire Liberty Forum, heavily attended by libertarians. WMUR (http://bit.ly/1KzViUd ) reported that forum organizers did not allow the media to video record his remarks.
"I've told the government I would return if they would guarantee a fair trial where I can make a public interest defense of why this was done and allow a jury to decide," Snowden told his audience.
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US, North Korea agreed to peace talks before latest nuclear test
Days before North Korea’s latest nuclear-bomb test, the Obama administration secretly agreed to talks to try to formally end the Korean War, dropping a longstanding condition that Pyongyang first take steps to curtail its nuclear arsenal.
Instead the U.S. called for North Korea’s atomic-weapons program to be simply part of the talks. Pyongyang declined the counter-proposal, according to U.S. officials familiar with the events. Its nuclear test on Jan. 6 ended the diplomatic gambit.
The episode, in an exchange at the United Nations, was one of several unsuccessful attempts that American officials say they made to discuss denuclearization with North Korea during President Barack Obama’s second term while also negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program.
The State Department on Sunday acknowledged the U.S. exchange with North Korea, saying it took place in accordance with longstanding U.S. goals.
“To be clear, it was the North Koreans who proposed discussing a peace treaty. We carefully considered their proposal, and made clear that denuclearization had to be part of any such discussion,” said spokesman John Kirby, adding the North rejected it. “Our response to the North Korean proposal was consistent with our longstanding focus on denuclearization.”
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Instead the U.S. called for North Korea’s atomic-weapons program to be simply part of the talks. Pyongyang declined the counter-proposal, according to U.S. officials familiar with the events. Its nuclear test on Jan. 6 ended the diplomatic gambit.
The episode, in an exchange at the United Nations, was one of several unsuccessful attempts that American officials say they made to discuss denuclearization with North Korea during President Barack Obama’s second term while also negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program.
The State Department on Sunday acknowledged the U.S. exchange with North Korea, saying it took place in accordance with longstanding U.S. goals.
“To be clear, it was the North Koreans who proposed discussing a peace treaty. We carefully considered their proposal, and made clear that denuclearization had to be part of any such discussion,” said spokesman John Kirby, adding the North rejected it. “Our response to the North Korean proposal was consistent with our longstanding focus on denuclearization.”
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MD legislature wants to mandate HPV vaccine THIS SESSION!
2016 Regular Session
Entitled:
Primary and Secondary Education - Immunizations of Children Entering School
Sponsored by:
Delegate Angel
Status:
In the House - Hearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m.
Synopsis: Requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in cooperation with the State Board of Education and the Statewide Advisory Commission on Immunizations, to adopt regulations requiring that before a child enters ninth grade, the child has received a specified number of doses of human papillomavirus vaccine.
Analysis: Not available at this time
All Sponsors: Delegates Angel, Cullison, and Pena-Melnyk
Additional Facts: Cross-filed with: SB0868
Bill File Type: Regular
Effective Date(s): July 1, 2016
Committee(s):
Ways and Means
Broad Subject(s): Primary and Secondary Education
Public Health
Statutes: Article - Education
(7-403)
More information HERE.
Dems Passed A 1960 Resolution To Prevent Supreme Court Appointment Ahead Of Election
In the wake of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s death, President Barack Obama said he plans on nominating a successor despite Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 44%‘s vow not to fill the seat until the election is over.
While Democrats in the upper chamber – including Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and former Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, both of which called for blocking former President George W. Bush’s nominations – have slammed the GOP for its decision not to consider a nominee until after a new president is elected, Democrats have not always held that stance. The Democrat-controlled Senate passed a resolution in 1960 preventing a recess appointment, much to the dismay of Republicans.
As first reported by The Washington Post – S.RES. 334, also known as Expressing the Sense of the Senate That The President Should Not Make Recess Appointments to the Supreme Court, Except to Prevent or End a Breakdown in the Administration of the Court’s Business – passed the Senate in a 48-33 vote in an attempt to prevent former President Dwight Eisenhower from filling a seat last-minute.
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While Democrats in the upper chamber – including Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and former Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, both of which called for blocking former President George W. Bush’s nominations – have slammed the GOP for its decision not to consider a nominee until after a new president is elected, Democrats have not always held that stance. The Democrat-controlled Senate passed a resolution in 1960 preventing a recess appointment, much to the dismay of Republicans.
As first reported by The Washington Post – S.RES. 334, also known as Expressing the Sense of the Senate That The President Should Not Make Recess Appointments to the Supreme Court, Except to Prevent or End a Breakdown in the Administration of the Court’s Business – passed the Senate in a 48-33 vote in an attempt to prevent former President Dwight Eisenhower from filling a seat last-minute.
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