You can look at the financial health of Social Security in many ways.
The official version, found in the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees' annual report, is this:
Social Security's total income is projected to exceed its total cost through 2019, as it has since 1982. After 2019, interest income and money taken out of reserves will provide the resources needed to offset Social Security's annual deficits until 2034.
By then, if Congress does nothing, the federal government will collect enough in payroll taxes to pay about 75 percent of scheduled retirement benefits until 2090.
The Social Security Administration projects that unfunded obligations will reach $11.4 trillion by 2090. That's up $700 billion from the $10.7 trillion the administration projected for its 2089 shortfall.
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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
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
California police arrest a man for driving under the influence of caffeine
Joseph Schwab was driving home from work in Solano County when he allegedly cut off an agent from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Claiming Schwab was driving erratically, the officer pulled him over and gave him a breathalyzer test. The result turned up as 0.00%.
Regardless, she arrested him and took him to jail where they decided to do a blood test to see if he was on anything else. Everything in the illegal column came back negative, but it did show that Schwab had some caffeine in him. With that, California police charged Schwab with a DUI.
If you’re confused as to how police could charge Schwab with a DUI for being under the influence of a substance that is literally sold to keep drivers awake and alert, you’re not alone. Schwab’s attorney is just as perplexed.
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Why “White Privilege” Is A Liberal Myth
Robert Gehl reports MTV has some New Year’s advice for all you white people.
It’s nothing much, really… just admit you’re a total racist and clean up your act.
The video is titled “2017 Resolutions for White Guys.”
It features several “non-white” actors – and one token white guy – who paint white men as racist, clueless and privileged.
“First off, try to recognize that America was never great for anyone who wasn’t a white guy,” a woman says in the video.
“Can we all just agree that Black Lives Matter isn’t the opposite of all lives matter? Black lives just matter. There’s no need to overcomplicate it,” another woman says.
https://twitter.com/MTVNews/status/810960588973035520
READ MORE
The Washington Times: MTV News offers ‘2017 resolutions for white guys’: ‘Blue Lives Matter isn’t a thing’
MTV NEWS:
Also, Blue Lives Matter isn’t a thing,” the white guy adds.
“Learn what mansplaining is and then stop doing it,” a woman says.
“We all love Beyonce and yeah, she’s black, so of course she cares about black issues. I’m talking to you, Fox News,” a man says.
“Feel free to take Kanye West, though. You guys can have him,” a woman adds.
“You know what you did, Kanye,” the man replies.
The dig was clearly in reference to Mr. West’s recent meeting with Donald Trump in New York and the rapper’s praise of the president-elect.
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It’s nothing much, really… just admit you’re a total racist and clean up your act.
The video is titled “2017 Resolutions for White Guys.”
It features several “non-white” actors – and one token white guy – who paint white men as racist, clueless and privileged.
“First off, try to recognize that America was never great for anyone who wasn’t a white guy,” a woman says in the video.
“Can we all just agree that Black Lives Matter isn’t the opposite of all lives matter? Black lives just matter. There’s no need to overcomplicate it,” another woman says.
https://twitter.com/MTVNews/status/810960588973035520
READ MORE
The Washington Times: MTV News offers ‘2017 resolutions for white guys’: ‘Blue Lives Matter isn’t a thing’
MTV NEWS:
Also, Blue Lives Matter isn’t a thing,” the white guy adds.
“Learn what mansplaining is and then stop doing it,” a woman says.
“We all love Beyonce and yeah, she’s black, so of course she cares about black issues. I’m talking to you, Fox News,” a man says.
“Feel free to take Kanye West, though. You guys can have him,” a woman adds.
“You know what you did, Kanye,” the man replies.
The dig was clearly in reference to Mr. West’s recent meeting with Donald Trump in New York and the rapper’s praise of the president-elect.
More
Tapper: A Lot of the Media Thinks a Lot of Trump Supporters Are ‘Deplorable,’ ‘Racist’
Monday on CNN’s “Wolf,” while discussing the 2016 presidential election when Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said that half of Republican Donald Trump’s supporters belong in a “basket of deplorables,” guest host Jake Tapper said, “I don’t think there’s any story that demonstrates the divide between the people who report on politicians and the voters, than that story,” adding our reaction was, “a lot of them are deplorable, a lot of them are racist.”
Partial transcript as follows:
BASH: Number one —you and I talked about this in the break —for sure, Hillary Clinton’s deplorables comment.
TAPPER: Basket of deplorables, yeah.
BASH: Baskets of deplorables where she said — She wasn’t caught on tape, she was saying it with a camera there at a fund-raiser, she was talking about Donald Trump supporters. Accusing them of, at least half of them of being deplorable.
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Partial transcript as follows:
BASH: Number one —you and I talked about this in the break —for sure, Hillary Clinton’s deplorables comment.
TAPPER: Basket of deplorables, yeah.
BASH: Baskets of deplorables where she said — She wasn’t caught on tape, she was saying it with a camera there at a fund-raiser, she was talking about Donald Trump supporters. Accusing them of, at least half of them of being deplorable.
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Delaware man finds new best friend for Christmas
It certainly does appear as if fate — or just plain good luck — brought man and canine together last Friday.
Consider that Mr. Moser, of Felton, was forced to have Ace, his former faithful friend and Great Pyrenees, euthanized at the Middletown Animal Hospital on Nov. 15 after the dog experienced organ failure at the age of 13 years, 11 months old.
Meanwhile, Buck had gone through a pair of homes over the past month and was about to be placed in an animal shelter, which can be a difficult proposition for such a large breed of dog.
Against incredibly long odds, Mr. Moser and Buck were introduced at the perfect time in each other’s lives. It turned out to be love at first sight.
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New Party of No? Dems prepare for battle with Trump on Cabinet picks, agenda
After blasting Republican colleagues for years over their blockade of President Obama’s agenda, Democrats are gearing up for their turn as the opposition party – planning to throw up early roadblocks for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks and proposals.
With the new Congress set to convene Jan. 3 – and Trump set for his inauguration on Jan. 20 – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi last week issued a call to action to her rank and file to fight Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare, one of Republicans’ top agenda priorities for 2017.
Pelosi is planning to intensify the “drumbeat” in the week before the inauguration, setting Jan. 14 as a “national day of action with events across the country.”
The Democrats’ bid to fend off Republican attacks on Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement is no surprise. But the resistance extends well beyond fortifying their ObamaCare defenses.
Bloomberg reports that Democrats are preparing for a separate fight with Republicans over plans to overhaul the tax code.
“There’s going to be opposition if these tax cuts are directed to the people at the top again,” Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the next top Democrat on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, told Bloomberg. “We’re going to be pretty united.”
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With the new Congress set to convene Jan. 3 – and Trump set for his inauguration on Jan. 20 – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi last week issued a call to action to her rank and file to fight Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare, one of Republicans’ top agenda priorities for 2017.
Pelosi is planning to intensify the “drumbeat” in the week before the inauguration, setting Jan. 14 as a “national day of action with events across the country.”
The Democrats’ bid to fend off Republican attacks on Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement is no surprise. But the resistance extends well beyond fortifying their ObamaCare defenses.
Bloomberg reports that Democrats are preparing for a separate fight with Republicans over plans to overhaul the tax code.
“There’s going to be opposition if these tax cuts are directed to the people at the top again,” Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the next top Democrat on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, told Bloomberg. “We’re going to be pretty united.”
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When paying the rent means going hungry
It is a sign of the uneven economic terrain impeding the recovery: Although U.S. consumer confidence is at its highest level in 15 years, a combination of stagnant wages and surging housing costs are leaving millions of people scrambling to afford food.
Forty-one percent of cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors reported an increase in demand for emergency food assistance. More than half of the Americans applying for emergency food are employed, while only 8 percent were homeless, the study found. The cities with the biggest increases include Des Moines, Iowa, where the number of requests for food help jumped 15 percent, and San Francisco, where it rose 3 percent.
The culprit is the impact of two intersecting trends that is spelling trouble for many working families: slow wage growth in the post-recession years as well as sharply higher rents. In 2013, one of four renters paid half their incomes toward rent, a trend that’s projected by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies to only worsen over the next several years.
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Navy PBY
A little naval aviation history:
An Old guy told me it was an 80 knot marvel, took off at 80 knots, climbed at 80 knots, cruised at 80 knots, and landed at 80 knots.
Love the sound of the Pratt Whitney engines!
This is for all you airplane enthusiasts . . . a well-done video about a little known, but magnificent, airplane . . . Enjoy! ! !
Truly, this unique plane and its skilled crews were the unsung heroes of WWII. They played a key role in the Pacific war.
The Navy PBY had no wing flaps.
The pilot used no gauges.
He was expected to look out the windows.
It was the flight engineer that flew the plane.
There was a cook and kitchen on board because the plane flew long missions.
The plane was sectioned off with water tight doors between different areas so that if it went down, then not all areas would be flooded.
We see a lot on the restorations of WWII era bombers and fighters, but this one is something quite unusual.
The story of PBY-5A CATALINA (Strawberry 5) discovery and restoration for the US Navy museum in San Diego .
It was the only remaining intact PBY 5 Catalina remaining in the World, and it was discovered in South Africa .
PBY "STRAWBERRY 5" WAS THE PLANE THAT FOUND THE JAPANESE CARRIERS AT THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY WHICH BECAME THE TURNING POINT IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF WWII.
Source
An Old guy told me it was an 80 knot marvel, took off at 80 knots, climbed at 80 knots, cruised at 80 knots, and landed at 80 knots.
Love the sound of the Pratt Whitney engines!
This is for all you airplane enthusiasts . . . a well-done video about a little known, but magnificent, airplane . . . Enjoy! ! !
Truly, this unique plane and its skilled crews were the unsung heroes of WWII. They played a key role in the Pacific war.
The Navy PBY had no wing flaps.
The pilot used no gauges.
He was expected to look out the windows.
It was the flight engineer that flew the plane.
There was a cook and kitchen on board because the plane flew long missions.
The plane was sectioned off with water tight doors between different areas so that if it went down, then not all areas would be flooded.
We see a lot on the restorations of WWII era bombers and fighters, but this one is something quite unusual.
The story of PBY-5A CATALINA (Strawberry 5) discovery and restoration for the US Navy museum in San Diego .
It was the only remaining intact PBY 5 Catalina remaining in the World, and it was discovered in South Africa .
PBY "STRAWBERRY 5" WAS THE PLANE THAT FOUND THE JAPANESE CARRIERS AT THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY WHICH BECAME THE TURNING POINT IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF WWII.
Source
Flag Status Alert: United States Flag and Maryland Flag
Flag Status Alert: United States Flag and Maryland Flag are at Half-Staff
Three Lassies from Scotland
Their accent appeared to be Scottish, so I approached and asked, "Hello, are you three lassies from Scotland?"
One of them angrily screeched, "It's Wales, Wales you bloody idiot!"
So I apologized and replied, "I am so sorry. Are you three whales from Scotland?"
And that's the last thing I remember!
Warming up: 51% of voters now view Donald Trump favorably, Rasmussen poll says
A new Rasmussen Reports survey released Tuesday finds that 51 percent of likely U.S. voters have a favorable opinion of Mr. Trump — a number which includes 29 percent who view him “very” favorably. The landmark finding follows weeks of rising poll numbers for the incoming president. His favorability numbers among all voters have increased on average from the low-30 percentage point range to the mid-40s. None have gone over 50 percent in recent days.
There are still hold-outs. The poll also found that 47 percent of voters view him unfavorably.
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WCSO Press Release Dec. 28, 2016
Incident: DUI
Date of Incident: 28 December 2016
Location: Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Jamon Eugene Knaub, 39, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 28 December 2016 at 12:55 PM, a deputy was travelling northbound on Camden Avenue in the area of Pine Bluff Road when the deputy observed a vehicle that came up quickly behind him, almost striking the rear of the deputy’s patrol vehicle. As the deputy made a turn onto Pine Bluff Rd, the deputy observed that this operator who was behind him started blaring on his horn as he went around the deputy and continued northbound. The deputy immediately initiated a stop of this subject, who would later be identified as Jamon Knaub, but Knaub continued northbound without stopping until reaching North Clairmont Drive, five blocks away.
The deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Knaub’s breath and person, which coupled with other observed physical indicators, caused the deputy to suspect that Knaub was under the influence of alcohol. The deputy also discovered that Knaub had a five year old child in the vehicle with him.
Following sobriety testing, the deputy placed Knaub under arrest. During subsequent processing, Knaub provided a breath sample that registered .35.
Knaub was released upon the issuance of citations.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Drive vehicle while Under the Influence of Alcohol While Transporting a Minor, Attempt by Driver to Elude Police, Driving While Suspended, Following a Motor Vehicle Closer than Reasonable and Prudent
The Lawyers' Party, By Bruce Walker
The Democratic Party has become the Lawyers Party.
Barack Obama is a lawyer. Michelle Obama is a lawyer.
Hillary Clinton is a lawyer. Bill Clinton is a lawyer.
John Edwards is a lawyer. Elizabeth Edwards was a lawyer.
Every Democrat nominee since 1984 went to law school (although Gore did not graduate).
Every Democrat vice presidential nominee since 1976, except for Lloyd Bentsen, went to law school.
Look at leaders of the Democrat Party in Congress:
Harry Reid is a lawyer. Nancy Pelosi is a lawyer.
The Republican Party is different.
President Bush is a businessman.
Vice President Cheney is a businessman.
The leaders of the Republican Revolution:
Newt Gingrich was a history professor.
Tom Delay was an exterminator. Dick Armey was an economist.
House Minority Leader Boehner was a plastic manufacturer.
The former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is a heart surgeon.
Who was the last Republican president who was a lawyer? Gerald Ford, who left office 31 years ago and who barely won the Republican nomination as a sitting president, running against Ronald Reagan in 1976.
The Republican Party is made up of real people doing real work, who are often the targets of lawyers.
The Democrat Party is made up of lawyers. Democrats mock and scorn men who create wealth, like Bush and Cheney, or who heal the sick, like Frist, or who immerse themselves in history, like Gingrich. The Lawyers Party sees these sorts of people, who provide goods and services that people want, as the enemies of America .. And, so we have seen the procession of official enemies, in the eyes of the Lawyers Party, grow.
Against whom do Hillary and Obama rail?....Pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, hospitals, manufacturers, fast food restaurant chains, large retail businesses, bankers, and anyone producing anything of value in our nation. This is the natural consequence of viewing everything through the eyes of lawyers. Lawyers solve problems by successfully representing their clients, in this case the American people. Lawyers seek to have new laws passed, they seek to win lawsuits, they press appellate courts to overturn precedent, and lawyers always parse language to favor their side.
Confined to the narrow practice of law, that is fine. But it is an awful way to govern a great nation. When politicians as lawyers begin to view some Americans as clients and other Americans as opposing parties, then the role of the legal system in our life becomes all-consuming. Some Americans become adverse parties of our very government. We are not all litigants in some vast social class-action suit. We are citizens of a republic that promises us a great deal of freedom from laws, from courts, and from lawyers.
Today, we are drowning in laws; we are contorted by judicial decisions; we are driven to distraction by omnipresent lawyers in all parts of our once private lives. America has a place for laws and lawyers, but that place is modest and reasonable, not vast and unchecked. When the most important decision for our next president is whom he will appoint to the Supreme Court, the role of lawyers and the law in America is too big.
When House Democrats sue America in order to hamstring our efforts to learn what our enemies are planning to do to us, then the role of litigation in America has become crushing.
Perhaps Americans will understand that change cannot be brought to our nation by those lawyers who already largely dictate American society and business. Perhaps Americans will see that hope does not come from the mouths of lawyers but from personal dreams nourished by hard work. Perhaps Americans will embrace the truth that more lawyers with more power will only make our problems worse.
The United States has 5% of the world's population and 66% of the world's lawyers! Tort (Legal) reform legislation has been introduced in congress several times in the last several years to limit punitive damages in ridiculous lawsuits such as spilling hot coffee on yourself and suing the establishment that sold it to you and also to limit punitive damages in huge medical malpractice lawsuits. This legislation has continually been blocked from even being voted on by the Democrat Party. When you see that 97% of the political contributions from the American Trial Lawyers Association go to the Democrat Party, then you realize who is responsible for our medical and product costs being so high!
Barack Obama is a lawyer. Michelle Obama is a lawyer.
Hillary Clinton is a lawyer. Bill Clinton is a lawyer.
John Edwards is a lawyer. Elizabeth Edwards was a lawyer.
Every Democrat nominee since 1984 went to law school (although Gore did not graduate).
Every Democrat vice presidential nominee since 1976, except for Lloyd Bentsen, went to law school.
Look at leaders of the Democrat Party in Congress:
Harry Reid is a lawyer. Nancy Pelosi is a lawyer.
The Republican Party is different.
President Bush is a businessman.
Vice President Cheney is a businessman.
The leaders of the Republican Revolution:
Newt Gingrich was a history professor.
Tom Delay was an exterminator. Dick Armey was an economist.
House Minority Leader Boehner was a plastic manufacturer.
The former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is a heart surgeon.
Who was the last Republican president who was a lawyer? Gerald Ford, who left office 31 years ago and who barely won the Republican nomination as a sitting president, running against Ronald Reagan in 1976.
The Republican Party is made up of real people doing real work, who are often the targets of lawyers.
The Democrat Party is made up of lawyers. Democrats mock and scorn men who create wealth, like Bush and Cheney, or who heal the sick, like Frist, or who immerse themselves in history, like Gingrich. The Lawyers Party sees these sorts of people, who provide goods and services that people want, as the enemies of America .. And, so we have seen the procession of official enemies, in the eyes of the Lawyers Party, grow.
Against whom do Hillary and Obama rail?....Pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, hospitals, manufacturers, fast food restaurant chains, large retail businesses, bankers, and anyone producing anything of value in our nation. This is the natural consequence of viewing everything through the eyes of lawyers. Lawyers solve problems by successfully representing their clients, in this case the American people. Lawyers seek to have new laws passed, they seek to win lawsuits, they press appellate courts to overturn precedent, and lawyers always parse language to favor their side.
Confined to the narrow practice of law, that is fine. But it is an awful way to govern a great nation. When politicians as lawyers begin to view some Americans as clients and other Americans as opposing parties, then the role of the legal system in our life becomes all-consuming. Some Americans become adverse parties of our very government. We are not all litigants in some vast social class-action suit. We are citizens of a republic that promises us a great deal of freedom from laws, from courts, and from lawyers.
Today, we are drowning in laws; we are contorted by judicial decisions; we are driven to distraction by omnipresent lawyers in all parts of our once private lives. America has a place for laws and lawyers, but that place is modest and reasonable, not vast and unchecked. When the most important decision for our next president is whom he will appoint to the Supreme Court, the role of lawyers and the law in America is too big.
When House Democrats sue America in order to hamstring our efforts to learn what our enemies are planning to do to us, then the role of litigation in America has become crushing.
Perhaps Americans will understand that change cannot be brought to our nation by those lawyers who already largely dictate American society and business. Perhaps Americans will see that hope does not come from the mouths of lawyers but from personal dreams nourished by hard work. Perhaps Americans will embrace the truth that more lawyers with more power will only make our problems worse.
The United States has 5% of the world's population and 66% of the world's lawyers! Tort (Legal) reform legislation has been introduced in congress several times in the last several years to limit punitive damages in ridiculous lawsuits such as spilling hot coffee on yourself and suing the establishment that sold it to you and also to limit punitive damages in huge medical malpractice lawsuits. This legislation has continually been blocked from even being voted on by the Democrat Party. When you see that 97% of the political contributions from the American Trial Lawyers Association go to the Democrat Party, then you realize who is responsible for our medical and product costs being so high!
Make sure your recycling bin doesn’t tip off holiday thieves
St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department is reminding its online followers to think twice before throwing out the boxes for their new electronics and gaming systems this holiday.
Similar to how delivered packages are vulnerable to theft before recipients bring them inside to wrap, officials say advertising the holiday haul, especially pricey electronics, at the recycling bin could catch a criminal’s eye.
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10 habits of genuinely charming people
Sure, everyone knows blunt, impolite, and even rude people who are somehow extremely successful. I know a bunch of them.
But since we're all more likely to build professional and personal relationships and do business with people we like, we'renaturally drawn to individuals who are polite, modest, agreeable, and kind.
In short, we're drawn to people who are charming.
I know a bunch of them, too, and here's how they do it:
1. They willingly show a little vulnerability
Charming people don't try to win any unstated competitions with people they meet. In fact, they actively try to lose. They're complimentary. They're impressed. They're even willing to admit a weakness or a failure.
It's really easy. Say you meet a would-be Donald Trump and he says, "I just closed a fabulous deal to build the world's best golf course on the most amazing oceanfront property on the planet."
Don't try to win. Instead say, "That's awesome. I'm jealous. I've wanted to build a small recreation facility for years, but can't line up the financing. How did you pull off such a huge deal?"
Charming people are confident enough to be unafraid to show a little vulnerability. They know that while some people may be, at least temporarily, impressed by the superficial, everyone sincerely likes and appreciates the genuine.
2. They show they're genuinely glad to meet you
But since we're all more likely to build professional and personal relationships and do business with people we like, we'renaturally drawn to individuals who are polite, modest, agreeable, and kind.
In short, we're drawn to people who are charming.
I know a bunch of them, too, and here's how they do it:
1. They willingly show a little vulnerability
Charming people don't try to win any unstated competitions with people they meet. In fact, they actively try to lose. They're complimentary. They're impressed. They're even willing to admit a weakness or a failure.
It's really easy. Say you meet a would-be Donald Trump and he says, "I just closed a fabulous deal to build the world's best golf course on the most amazing oceanfront property on the planet."
Don't try to win. Instead say, "That's awesome. I'm jealous. I've wanted to build a small recreation facility for years, but can't line up the financing. How did you pull off such a huge deal?"
Charming people are confident enough to be unafraid to show a little vulnerability. They know that while some people may be, at least temporarily, impressed by the superficial, everyone sincerely likes and appreciates the genuine.
2. They show they're genuinely glad to meet you
Growing number of Americans are retiring outside the US
“I wanted to find a place where I could afford to live off my Social Security,” she said. “The weather here is so perfect, and it’s a beautiful place.”
She is among a growing number of Americans who are retiring outside the United States. The number grew 17 percent between 2010 and 2015 and is expected to increase over the next 10 years as more baby boomers retire.
Just under 400,000 American retirees are now living abroad, according to the Social Security Administration. The countries they have chosen most often: Canada, Japan, Mexico, Germany and the United Kingdom.
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In Memory of Denver Calvin Moore Jr. February 24, 1954 - December 25, 2016
Denver was a dedicated supporter of the Town of Pittsville, his family and friends. He was a member of the Maryland Municipal League for his dedicated service to the town for 30 years and was president of Pittsville Cemetery. He was a lifetime member of the Maryland State PTA, long-time member of Pittsville Lions Club where he served as president several times and treasurer. Denver was very proud to have been instrumental in helping have the strawberry painted on the water tower and the upgrade to the Pittsville Park playground equipment.
He is survived by his childhood sweetheart and wife of 43 years, Gail A. Wilkins Moore; three children, Derrick C. Moore and his wife Jen, Erika Moore-Lecates and her husband Jim, and Carla Moore and her fiancé Cody Hunsucker; two granddaughters, Alexis M. Mason and Abigail J. Lecates; sister, Teresa Donaway; step brother, Roger Bryant; and several special cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sister, Delores Merritt.
A funeral service will be held Friday at 1PM Bounds Funeral Home on East Main Street in Salisbury where friends may call from 11am-1pm.
Rev. Paul Sherwood and Pastor Jim Lecates will officiate. Interment will follow in Pittsville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Denver to the Pittsville Community, PO Box A, Pittsville, MD 21850, Pittsville Cemetery, PO Box 111, Pittsville, MD 21850, or Pittsville Fire Department, C/O Debbie Powell, 8292 Gumboro Rd., Pittsville, MD 21850.
Obama is doing everything he can to make things hard for Trump
The most telling hot-mic moment of Barack Obama’s presidency came in March 2012 when he told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev: “This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility.”
The topic then was missile defense, but America and the world now see the full ramifications. Whether it’s dusting off an obscure provision to block oil drilling or using the United Nations to betray Israel, this is what maximum flexibility looks like. This is Obama being Obama.
Liberated from the pretense of respecting public consent and no longer forced to calculate the impact on Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Obama is rushing to settle scores and tie Donald Trump’s hands. It is an infuriating exit.
It is also a revealing one. The last-ditch actions help explain not only why Trump won, but also why a course correction was absolutely necessary for the nation. Obama’s cynical schemes are variations of “you can keep your doctor,” and Americans were right to show Democrats the door.
It’s also worth remembering that Obama promised to have Israel’s back, and that’s where he put the knife.
More
The topic then was missile defense, but America and the world now see the full ramifications. Whether it’s dusting off an obscure provision to block oil drilling or using the United Nations to betray Israel, this is what maximum flexibility looks like. This is Obama being Obama.
Liberated from the pretense of respecting public consent and no longer forced to calculate the impact on Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Obama is rushing to settle scores and tie Donald Trump’s hands. It is an infuriating exit.
It is also a revealing one. The last-ditch actions help explain not only why Trump won, but also why a course correction was absolutely necessary for the nation. Obama’s cynical schemes are variations of “you can keep your doctor,” and Americans were right to show Democrats the door.
It’s also worth remembering that Obama promised to have Israel’s back, and that’s where he put the knife.
More
Kwanzaa Creator: Deranged Felon Who Tortured Naked Women
It’s Christmastime, America, and you know what that means: It’s the season when public schools across the fruited plain are teeming with lessons about Kwanzaa and a handful of other holidays which aren’t Christmas.
As a public service, then, The Daily Caller is here to tell you the true — and truly bizarre — history of the violent, deranged and radical black nationalist who concocted the completely artificial holiday of Kwanzaa in 1966.
The creator of Kwanzaa is Maulana Ndabezitha Karenga, a 75-year-old professor or Africana studies at California State University, Long Beach. His real name is Ronald Everett. He was born in rural Maryland, the fourteenth child of a sharecropping Baptist minister.
Karenga was convicted in 1971 for brutally torturing two naked women. The women were members of Karenga’s ultra-radical, paramilitary, black nationalist cult called the US Organization, according to a May 1971 Los Angeles Times story dug up by FrontPage Magazine.
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As a public service, then, The Daily Caller is here to tell you the true — and truly bizarre — history of the violent, deranged and radical black nationalist who concocted the completely artificial holiday of Kwanzaa in 1966.
The creator of Kwanzaa is Maulana Ndabezitha Karenga, a 75-year-old professor or Africana studies at California State University, Long Beach. His real name is Ronald Everett. He was born in rural Maryland, the fourteenth child of a sharecropping Baptist minister.
Karenga was convicted in 1971 for brutally torturing two naked women. The women were members of Karenga’s ultra-radical, paramilitary, black nationalist cult called the US Organization, according to a May 1971 Los Angeles Times story dug up by FrontPage Magazine.
More
Congressman Andy Harris’ Statement on United Nations Anti-Israel Resolution
“Senators Lindsay Graham and Ted Cruz have called for the U.S. to end its financial support for the U.N. until the Security Council abrogates Resolution 2334. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I stand with Senators Graham and Cruz in supporting de-funding the U.N. until the resolution is rescinded.
“The U.N. Resolution is a tool used to legitimize Palestinian claims against Israel. It serves to criminalize Israel and its people and to undermine Israel’s right to exist.
“It is shameful that President Obama failed to oppose this resolution, and it appears the Administration may have even helped orchestrate the effort. With just days left in office, President Obama should stop undermining our best ally and allow President-elect Trump to fix eight years of disastrous foreign policy. The Middle East will be more peaceful when Israel’s right to exist is unchallenged.”
State Police Arrest Two in Gun Investigation – Laurel
On Tuesday December 27, 2016 around 12:04 p.m., troopers assigned to the Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement (P.A.C.E.) team, with the assistance of the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT), conducted a search warrant at a residence in the 1000 block of Hollybrook Apartments after information was gathered about illegal guns and stolen property at the apartment. Upon the troopers arrival, Anthony L. Hood, 48, and Denise Clark, 50, both of that address, were taken into custody without incident. The search revealed a .22 caliber rifle, .556 cal. rifle, 9mm revolver, and a BB gun, along with various rounds of ammunition and magazines. Troopers also recovered two flat screen TVs and a sound bar that are linked to burglaries in the surrounding area. Troopers also located .285 grams of heroin, .16 grams of crack cocaine, and .55 grams of marijuana.
Anthony Hood and Denise Clark were transported back to Troop 5 where they were both charged with five counts of Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited, Conspiracy 2nd, Receiving Stolen Property, and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Hood was additionally charged with Possession of Marijuana. They were arraigned at JP2 and committed to the Delaware Department of Corrections on $28,600.00 cash (Hood) and $28,500.00 cash (Clark).
Orbán: EU Must Change After 'Christians Murdered at Christmas' in 'Heart of Europe'
Illegal migrants must be deported and Europe’s borders sealed shut, following the “unprecedented” attack in Berlin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said.
“It is unprecedented that in the heart of Europe, Christians were murdered at Christmas”, Orbán said in an interview published Saturday, speaking about the terror attack in Berlin, in which a Tunisian migrant ploughed a truck into a crowd of people at a Christmas market on Monday.
“It’s clear that, in the case of migration, nothing can remain the way it was before. Brussels needs to change, migrants who entered Europe illegally must be deported, the borders need to be protected and the inflow of migrants has to be eliminated,” the Fidesz statesman told Veszprém online newspaper.
Reflecting on the year, Orbán hailed it as one in which a democratic “revolt” took place in the West against political leaders “who refused to listen to the people”.
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“It is unprecedented that in the heart of Europe, Christians were murdered at Christmas”, Orbán said in an interview published Saturday, speaking about the terror attack in Berlin, in which a Tunisian migrant ploughed a truck into a crowd of people at a Christmas market on Monday.
“It’s clear that, in the case of migration, nothing can remain the way it was before. Brussels needs to change, migrants who entered Europe illegally must be deported, the borders need to be protected and the inflow of migrants has to be eliminated,” the Fidesz statesman told Veszprém online newspaper.
Reflecting on the year, Orbán hailed it as one in which a democratic “revolt” took place in the West against political leaders “who refused to listen to the people”.
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Ex-Immigration Agent: Illegals Are Aliens, Call Them That
The United States' immigration system needs "clarity," and using the term alien again will get things on that track, former immigrations agent Michael Cutler told Newsmax TV on Tuesday.
Cutler told "America Talks Live" host Bill Tucker he would like the incoming administration start to clean things up.
"Let's understand that unlike American citizens, foreign nationals have no inherent right to enter the United States," said Cutler, who has more than 30 years of immigration enforcement experience. "This isn't about not letting anybody in, but it's like being a responsible homeowner who carefully looks through their peephole before unlocking his door to a stranger.
"And we've got to go back to using the word alien because it provides clarity to the conversation. We had a problem with the administration not wanting to talk about radical Islamists. They don't want to talk about aliens either and we should. The term alien simply means any person, not a citizen or a national of the United States. There's no insult, only clarity. And at a time like this, we need clarity."
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Cutler told "America Talks Live" host Bill Tucker he would like the incoming administration start to clean things up.
"Let's understand that unlike American citizens, foreign nationals have no inherent right to enter the United States," said Cutler, who has more than 30 years of immigration enforcement experience. "This isn't about not letting anybody in, but it's like being a responsible homeowner who carefully looks through their peephole before unlocking his door to a stranger.
"And we've got to go back to using the word alien because it provides clarity to the conversation. We had a problem with the administration not wanting to talk about radical Islamists. They don't want to talk about aliens either and we should. The term alien simply means any person, not a citizen or a national of the United States. There's no insult, only clarity. And at a time like this, we need clarity."
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Mother-of-two, 32, traveling with her young daughters to visit family is killed by driver fleeing DUI checkpoint in Virginia
A mother of two young children was killed by a driver who tried to avoid a drunken-driving checkpoint in southwest Virginia, according to state police.
Police say the crash occurred Friday afternoon on Route 58 in the town of Coeburn, in Wise County.
Samantha Dennis, 36, of Coeburn was driving a sport-utility that abruptly stopped after arriving at a DUI checkpoint, according to authorities.
Police say she made a U-turn and headed west in the eastbound lane before colliding head-on with another car.
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Police say the crash occurred Friday afternoon on Route 58 in the town of Coeburn, in Wise County.
Samantha Dennis, 36, of Coeburn was driving a sport-utility that abruptly stopped after arriving at a DUI checkpoint, according to authorities.
Police say she made a U-turn and headed west in the eastbound lane before colliding head-on with another car.
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Congress Moving to Cut U.S. Funding to U.N. in Wake of Anti-Israel Vote
Cruz: Obama plotting further action against Israel
Congress is already setting the stage to cut off U.S. funding to the United Nations in the wake of a contested vote last week in which the Obama administration permitted an anti-Israel resolution to win overwhelming approval, according to congressional leaders, who told the Washington Free Beacon that the current administration is already plotting to take further action against the Jewish state before vacating office.
Other punitive actions by Congress could include expelling Palestinian diplomats from U.S. soil and scaling back ties with foreign nations that voted in favor of the controversial measure, according to multiple sources who spoke to the Free Beacon about the situation both on and off the record.
The Obama administration is still under bipartisan attack for its decision to help craft and facilitate the passage of a U.N. resolution condemning the construction of Jewish homes in Jerusalem, a move that reversed years of U.S. policy on the matter.
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Congress is already setting the stage to cut off U.S. funding to the United Nations in the wake of a contested vote last week in which the Obama administration permitted an anti-Israel resolution to win overwhelming approval, according to congressional leaders, who told the Washington Free Beacon that the current administration is already plotting to take further action against the Jewish state before vacating office.
Other punitive actions by Congress could include expelling Palestinian diplomats from U.S. soil and scaling back ties with foreign nations that voted in favor of the controversial measure, according to multiple sources who spoke to the Free Beacon about the situation both on and off the record.
The Obama administration is still under bipartisan attack for its decision to help craft and facilitate the passage of a U.N. resolution condemning the construction of Jewish homes in Jerusalem, a move that reversed years of U.S. policy on the matter.
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Trump Tower evacuated
An evacuation was ordered at Trump Tower — where President-electDonald Trump lives and works in New York — on Tuesday due to a suspicious package, a New York City Police Department media relations officer told the Washington Examiner.
J. Peter Donald, the assistant commissioner for communication & public information at the NYPD, later tweeted: "All clear at Trump Tower following the earlier suspicious package in the lobby." He said a bomb squad responded to the scene out of an "abundance of caution."
Trump is not at Trump Tower. He is in Florida at the Mar-a-Lago resort.
Video posted to social media shows people in the lobby running out of the building.
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J. Peter Donald, the assistant commissioner for communication & public information at the NYPD, later tweeted: "All clear at Trump Tower following the earlier suspicious package in the lobby." He said a bomb squad responded to the scene out of an "abundance of caution."
Trump is not at Trump Tower. He is in Florida at the Mar-a-Lago resort.
Video posted to social media shows people in the lobby running out of the building.
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Islamic State arrests reveal jihadi threat near seat of U.S. government
Law enforcement agencies have arrested nine Northern Virginia residents on charges of aiding the Islamic State since the terrorist group rose to power in Syria and Iraq in 2014 and launched social media propaganda to attract followers, a government message to police states.
The Northern Virginia Regional Intelligence Center issued profiles of the nine in a Dec. 21 report labeled “law enforcement sensitive.”
A defense attorney in one of the cases accused police of anti-Muslim bias; his client later pleaded guilty.
Somalis living in Minnesota appear to receive the most press attention in the U.S. for wanting to help or join the Islamic State. The FBI arrested six residents of Somali origin in April after they made arrangements to leave Minnesota for Syria. Last December, a 20-year-old man of Somali origin was arrested on accusations of leading a group of ethnic Somalis attempting to fight for the Islamic State.
Of the nine Northern Virginians who were arrested, all but one were in their teens and early 20s. They included a police officer, a Starbucks barista, Army soldiers, bankers and a cabdriver. Four of the nine graduated from Northern Virginia high schools, one with honors. Two attended Northern Virginia Community College.
In other words, all of them appeared to have opportunities via public education to become successful Americans but instead were charged with what amounted to a devotion to violent jihad.
More here
The Northern Virginia Regional Intelligence Center issued profiles of the nine in a Dec. 21 report labeled “law enforcement sensitive.”
A defense attorney in one of the cases accused police of anti-Muslim bias; his client later pleaded guilty.
Somalis living in Minnesota appear to receive the most press attention in the U.S. for wanting to help or join the Islamic State. The FBI arrested six residents of Somali origin in April after they made arrangements to leave Minnesota for Syria. Last December, a 20-year-old man of Somali origin was arrested on accusations of leading a group of ethnic Somalis attempting to fight for the Islamic State.
Of the nine Northern Virginians who were arrested, all but one were in their teens and early 20s. They included a police officer, a Starbucks barista, Army soldiers, bankers and a cabdriver. Four of the nine graduated from Northern Virginia high schools, one with honors. Two attended Northern Virginia Community College.
In other words, all of them appeared to have opportunities via public education to become successful Americans but instead were charged with what amounted to a devotion to violent jihad.
More here
Here's Where You Absolutely Don't Want To Be "When It All Turns Ugly"
OK, this is actually pretty obvious – but it is worth pointing out that the “archipelago” of islands across the vast expanse of the United States that carried the vote for Hillary Clinton during the election – also happens to be a ring of the liberal cities that:
a) have exploded with crime, riots and unrest
b) have provided sanctuary for millions of illegal immigrants that have destabilized the country
c) are going bankrupt and will be unable to fulfill pension obligations, or pay their share of social security, welfare, etc.
d) have been foremost in advocating gun control, and ensuring that only criminals and police have guns, while 2nd Amendment arm-bearing citizen have flocked to the rural areas where their rights are not generally restricted
e) will be the first places to be become unstable during any major crisis – as soon as grocery store shelves go empty. Martial law will be the only way to maintain stability, and that will come at a further price to liberty.
f) will be the first place to line up for FEMA camps and beg for food, shelter and rations, again, at a further price to liberty
Of course, there are many more items that could be added to the list, but it gets tedious, and I think everyone gets the point.
Liberal havens have become largely clueless about the real world about them, and have turned a blind eye to the destabilizing forces that are compounding upon them.
IF/WHEN the SHTF, these will be the absolute last places you’d want to be caught dead.
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a) have exploded with crime, riots and unrest
b) have provided sanctuary for millions of illegal immigrants that have destabilized the country
c) are going bankrupt and will be unable to fulfill pension obligations, or pay their share of social security, welfare, etc.
d) have been foremost in advocating gun control, and ensuring that only criminals and police have guns, while 2nd Amendment arm-bearing citizen have flocked to the rural areas where their rights are not generally restricted
e) will be the first places to be become unstable during any major crisis – as soon as grocery store shelves go empty. Martial law will be the only way to maintain stability, and that will come at a further price to liberty.
f) will be the first place to line up for FEMA camps and beg for food, shelter and rations, again, at a further price to liberty
Of course, there are many more items that could be added to the list, but it gets tedious, and I think everyone gets the point.
Liberal havens have become largely clueless about the real world about them, and have turned a blind eye to the destabilizing forces that are compounding upon them.
IF/WHEN the SHTF, these will be the absolute last places you’d want to be caught dead.
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Somerset County Sheriff's Office reports most recent arrests
Baudilio Perez Lopez of Crisfield, arrested 12-11-16 for Driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, driving on a suspended driver’s license, negligent driving, and failing to stop at a stop sign. Lopez was later released on signatures pending court actions. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop conducted by Deputies in the Crisfield area.
Jerry Lloyd Bloodsworth of Dames Quarters, arrested 12-12-16 on a warrant for violation of probation. Bloodsworth was later held without bond.
Markia Eileen Farmer of Princess Anne, arrested 12-13-16 on a warrant for 2nd degree assault, and violating a peace order. Farmer was later held on a $10,000 bond.
Patty Marie Shae of Eden, criminal summons served on 12-13-16 regarding theft under $1,000. Shae was later released on signature pending court actions.
Charles Richard Bethard of Salisbury, arrested 12-16-16 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Bethard was later held on a $500.00 bond.
Patrick Edward Stevenson of Salisbury, arrested 12-21-16 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Stevenson was later released after posting bond.
Jordan Park Johnson of Chance, arrested 12-22-16 on a Wicomico County warrant for failing to appear in court. Johnson was later released to Wicomico Deputies.
Jaimie Joshua Goodson of Severn Maryland, arrested 12-22-16 on warrants for failing to appear in court, and violation of probation. Goodson was later held without bond.
Rodney O Hinmon of Seaford Delaware, arrested 12-25-16 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Hinmon was later held on a $500.00 bond.
Nya Leatherbury of Princess Anne, criminal summons served 12-26-16 regarding theft, and malicious destruction of property. Leatherbury was later released on signature.
Jerry Lloyd Bloodsworth of Dames Quarters, arrested 12-12-16 on a warrant for violation of probation. Bloodsworth was later held without bond.
Markia Eileen Farmer of Princess Anne, arrested 12-13-16 on a warrant for 2nd degree assault, and violating a peace order. Farmer was later held on a $10,000 bond.
Patty Marie Shae of Eden, criminal summons served on 12-13-16 regarding theft under $1,000. Shae was later released on signature pending court actions.
Charles Richard Bethard of Salisbury, arrested 12-16-16 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Bethard was later held on a $500.00 bond.
Patrick Edward Stevenson of Salisbury, arrested 12-21-16 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Stevenson was later released after posting bond.
Jordan Park Johnson of Chance, arrested 12-22-16 on a Wicomico County warrant for failing to appear in court. Johnson was later released to Wicomico Deputies.
Jaimie Joshua Goodson of Severn Maryland, arrested 12-22-16 on warrants for failing to appear in court, and violation of probation. Goodson was later held without bond.
Rodney O Hinmon of Seaford Delaware, arrested 12-25-16 on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Hinmon was later held on a $500.00 bond.
Nya Leatherbury of Princess Anne, criminal summons served 12-26-16 regarding theft, and malicious destruction of property. Leatherbury was later released on signature.
Former Fort Bragg soldier convicted of murder and rape faces execution after eight-year delay
A former Fort Bragg soldier who killed four women and raped several others is headed for execution eight years after he was first scheduled to die.
Ronald Gray, who is held at a military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, lost a battle to keep in place a 2008 federal court's order blocking his execution.
Gray was convicted in 1988, and and his death sentence will be the first for the U.S. military since 1961.
The Army cook was convicted and sentenced to death in military court for two murders and three rapes while stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
He also pleaded guilty in civilian courts to two more murders and five separate rapes, for which he received a total of eight life sentences.
His murder victims included cab driver Kimberly Ann Ruggles, Army Private Laura Lee Vickery-Clay, Campbell University student Linda Jean Coats and soldier's wife Tammy Wilson, the Fayetteville Observer reported.
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Ronald Gray, who is held at a military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, lost a battle to keep in place a 2008 federal court's order blocking his execution.
Gray was convicted in 1988, and and his death sentence will be the first for the U.S. military since 1961.
The Army cook was convicted and sentenced to death in military court for two murders and three rapes while stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
He also pleaded guilty in civilian courts to two more murders and five separate rapes, for which he received a total of eight life sentences.
His murder victims included cab driver Kimberly Ann Ruggles, Army Private Laura Lee Vickery-Clay, Campbell University student Linda Jean Coats and soldier's wife Tammy Wilson, the Fayetteville Observer reported.
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Hey parents, malls are for commerce -- not babysitting
Shoppers and shopkeepers across the nation were terrorized by rampaging mobs of teenage thugs and juvenile delinquents over the Christmas weekend.
More than a dozen malls across the nation were either evacuated or completely shut down due to "large disturbances." The two major malls in my hometown (Memphis) were among those rocked by violence. There was even a chaotic scene inside the Oak Court Mall -- at what had been one of the most upscale malls in the Mid-South.
There was no rhyme or reason to the violence. Police speculate that social media may have played a role. But there was a common denominator -- most of the chaos was caused by unsupervised teenagers. And hardly anyone was arrested.
That needs to stop. It's time for the police to crack down on lawlessness. There should be no more coddling. If teenagers disrupt commerce and cause mayhem, they should spend the night in jail. It's time for these kids to learn that actions must have consequences.
It's also time for shopping malls to evict unsupervised and underage young people.
It may not be popular with community activists, but anyone under the age of 18 without parental supervision has no business in a mall. Period.
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More than a dozen malls across the nation were either evacuated or completely shut down due to "large disturbances." The two major malls in my hometown (Memphis) were among those rocked by violence. There was even a chaotic scene inside the Oak Court Mall -- at what had been one of the most upscale malls in the Mid-South.
There was no rhyme or reason to the violence. Police speculate that social media may have played a role. But there was a common denominator -- most of the chaos was caused by unsupervised teenagers. And hardly anyone was arrested.
That needs to stop. It's time for the police to crack down on lawlessness. There should be no more coddling. If teenagers disrupt commerce and cause mayhem, they should spend the night in jail. It's time for these kids to learn that actions must have consequences.
It's also time for shopping malls to evict unsupervised and underage young people.
It may not be popular with community activists, but anyone under the age of 18 without parental supervision has no business in a mall. Period.
More
More police officers shot and killed in 2016 than in past 5 years
In the past decade, an average of 53 police shooting deaths occurred annually.
Does this year's increase indicate that there is less respect for law enforcement these days?
Some police officers say it's difficult to tell others it's what they do for a living. In a recent episode of the podcast "This American Life," show producer Miki Meek talked with two police officers in South Florida the day after Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election. The officers said they are hopeful a new president will help restore law and order.
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Bills Fire Coach Rex Ryan Ahead of Last Game of Season
Terry Pegula, who made Ryan's hiring his first big splash as owner, was the person who informed Ryan of his dismissal Tuesday. The decision came three days after a 34-31 overtime loss to Miami which eliminated Buffalo (7-8) from contention, and extended the NFL's longest active playoff drought to 17 years.
"We mutually agreed that that the time to part ways is now," Pegula said in a statement released by the team. "These decisions are never easy."
Pegula then noted his wife in saying: "Kim and I and our entire Bills organization share in the same disappointment and frustration as our fans, but we remain committed to our goal of bringing a championship to western New York."
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George Washington University Removes U.S. History as a Requirement for History Majors
George Washington University has changed its course requirements for history major to no longer include U.S. history, the College Fix reports.
The university’s history department recently introduced new requirements with the stated aim of giving students greater flexibility to pursue their interests, and to “better reflect a globalizing world,” according to faculty.
The university’s history department recently introduced new requirements with the stated aim of giving students greater flexibility to pursue their interests, and to “better reflect a globalizing world,” according to faculty.
Requirements in U.S., North American, and European history were eliminated, along with foreign language. Incoming history major will be required to take at least one introductory course, and may choose U.S. history as option. However, like many other universities, GWU allows incoming students to place out of the introductory courses by scoring well on Advanced Placement exams in high school.
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US Appeals Court Revives Clinton Email Suit
In a new legal development on the controversy over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's emails, an appeals court on Tuesday reversed a lower court ruling and said two U.S. government agencies should have done more to recover the emails.
The ruling from Judge Stephen Williams, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, revives one of a number of legal challenges involving Clinton's handling of government emails when she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.
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The ruling from Judge Stephen Williams, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, revives one of a number of legal challenges involving Clinton's handling of government emails when she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.
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A National Treasure: Saving tidal wetlands on Maryland's Eastern Shore
In the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge more than 5,000 acres of marsh has already been lost. After battling nutria, an invasive rodent species only recently eradicated, the marsh is still declining at an alarming rate.
"If no action is taken, then the computer models that we have looked at tell us that virtually all the marshes in Blackwater and the surrounding areas of Dorchester County will be lost to erosion and sea level rise by the end of the century," Curson said.
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A simple 'sniff test' is accurate in diagnosing dementia early on
A simple 'sniff test' could help to detect dementia, scientists claim.
Sense of smell is known to decline sharply in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Experts believe this is because the build-up of toxic clumps in the brain - the signature hallmark of dementia - affects the memory region.
But asking people at risk to try and identify a range of odours could provide an accurate early diagnosis, a new study found.
The 5-minute test could also be used to detect mild cognitive impairment - the pre-cursor to the debilitating disease, it suggested.
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Sense of smell is known to decline sharply in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Experts believe this is because the build-up of toxic clumps in the brain - the signature hallmark of dementia - affects the memory region.
But asking people at risk to try and identify a range of odours could provide an accurate early diagnosis, a new study found.
The 5-minute test could also be used to detect mild cognitive impairment - the pre-cursor to the debilitating disease, it suggested.
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The Deadly Explosion Behind America's Whipped-Cream Shortage
Reddi-wip’s key ingredient is neither sweet nor dairy but a gas: nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. Dentists use it to knock out their patients. Teenagers use it for whippets. And race-car engines use it for an extra boost, when nitrous oxide explosively decomposes into nitrogen and oxygen.
But most of the time, nitrous oxide is not exploding. It’s sitting inertly in refrigerators and trucks and tanks. “Most people consider nitrous oxide to be very safe,” says Dan Tillema, an investigator with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Tillema is investigating why that nitrous-oxide tanker exploded in Cantonment, Florida, one afternoon in August. The accident killed a plant operator, Jesse Graham Folmar, 32, who was filling the tanker at the time.
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Exit, Hope & Change - The Obama Post-Mortem
By now, anyone in this country still of sound mind knows that Barack Obama presided through eight years of remarkable continuity - ofchangeless conditions that left a great many hopeless. As the days of his tenure dwindle, what do we make of the departing 44thpresident?
He played the role with cool-headed decorum, but that raises the question: was he just playing a role? From the get-go, he made himself hostage to some of the most sinister puppeteers of the Deep State: Robert Rubin, Larry Summers, and Tim Geithner on the money side, and the Beltway Neocon war party infestation on the foreign affairs side. I’m convinced that the top dogs of both these gangs worked Obama over woodshed-style sometime after the 2008 election and told him to stick with the program, or else.
What was the program?
On the money side, it was to float the banks and the whole groaning daisy chain of their dependents in shadow finance, real estate, and insurance, at all costs. Hence, the extension of Bush Two’s bailout policy with the trillion-dollar “shovel-ready” stimulus, the rescue of the car-makers, and a much greater and surreptitious multi-trillion dollar hand-off from the Federal Reserve to backstop the European banks with counter-party obligations to US banks.
In April of 2009, Obama’s new SEC appointees, strong-armed by bank lobbyists, pushed the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) into suspending their crucial Rule 157, which had required publically-held companies to report their asset holdings based on standard market-based valuation procedures — called “mark-to-market.” After that, companies like Too-Big-Too-Fail banks could just make shit up. This opened the door to the pervasive accounting fraud that allowed the financial sector to pretend it was healthy for the eight years that followed. The net effect of their criminal fakery was to only make the financial sector artificially larger, more dangerously fragile, and more prone to cataclysmic collapse.
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He played the role with cool-headed decorum, but that raises the question: was he just playing a role? From the get-go, he made himself hostage to some of the most sinister puppeteers of the Deep State: Robert Rubin, Larry Summers, and Tim Geithner on the money side, and the Beltway Neocon war party infestation on the foreign affairs side. I’m convinced that the top dogs of both these gangs worked Obama over woodshed-style sometime after the 2008 election and told him to stick with the program, or else.
What was the program?
On the money side, it was to float the banks and the whole groaning daisy chain of their dependents in shadow finance, real estate, and insurance, at all costs. Hence, the extension of Bush Two’s bailout policy with the trillion-dollar “shovel-ready” stimulus, the rescue of the car-makers, and a much greater and surreptitious multi-trillion dollar hand-off from the Federal Reserve to backstop the European banks with counter-party obligations to US banks.
In April of 2009, Obama’s new SEC appointees, strong-armed by bank lobbyists, pushed the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) into suspending their crucial Rule 157, which had required publically-held companies to report their asset holdings based on standard market-based valuation procedures — called “mark-to-market.” After that, companies like Too-Big-Too-Fail banks could just make shit up. This opened the door to the pervasive accounting fraud that allowed the financial sector to pretend it was healthy for the eight years that followed. The net effect of their criminal fakery was to only make the financial sector artificially larger, more dangerously fragile, and more prone to cataclysmic collapse.
More
Israel braces for more tensions with US as Kerry plans major speech
Israel is bracing for yet another potential clash with the Obama administration in the final weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, as Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to follow up last week’s anti-settlement U.N. censure with a major address on the U.S. vision for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Times of Israel and Israel’s Channel 2 report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned about an Obama administration bid to have the Security Council endorse principles for a Palestinian state, and is reaching out to allies in the U.S. Congress and the incoming Trump administration to try and deter further action against Israel.
Netanyahu reportedly is concerned about what parameters Kerry may lay out for a Palestinian state.
While it is unclear whether the Obama administration would push for any further Security Council action – after a U.S. abstention allowed the anti-settlement resolution to clear the council Friday – the White House confirmed that Kerry is planning a speech regarding the peace process.
Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told Channel 2 that Kerry will lay out a comprehensive vision for how the U.S. sees the conflict being resolved.
Obama in 2011 publicly called for Israel to pull back to the borders that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War, a call Netanyahu rejected at the time. Netanyahu spokesman David Keyes told Fox News on Monday they were “definitely concerned” when asked about Kerry's planned address.
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The Times of Israel and Israel’s Channel 2 report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned about an Obama administration bid to have the Security Council endorse principles for a Palestinian state, and is reaching out to allies in the U.S. Congress and the incoming Trump administration to try and deter further action against Israel.
Netanyahu reportedly is concerned about what parameters Kerry may lay out for a Palestinian state.
While it is unclear whether the Obama administration would push for any further Security Council action – after a U.S. abstention allowed the anti-settlement resolution to clear the council Friday – the White House confirmed that Kerry is planning a speech regarding the peace process.
Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told Channel 2 that Kerry will lay out a comprehensive vision for how the U.S. sees the conflict being resolved.
Obama in 2011 publicly called for Israel to pull back to the borders that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War, a call Netanyahu rejected at the time. Netanyahu spokesman David Keyes told Fox News on Monday they were “definitely concerned” when asked about Kerry's planned address.
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President’s Order Protects 3.8M Acres Of Ocean From Drilling
OCEAN CITY — The Obama administration this month announced it was moving to permanently protect a vast area off the Atlantic coast from offshore drilling for oil and natural gas reserves.
Utilizing his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Barack Obama last Tuesday announced he was withdrawing roughly 3.8 million acres in the north and mid-Atlantic from future offshore drilling for oil and natural gas reserves. The measure formally protects the 31 offshore canyons from New England to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay including the Baltimore, Poor Man’s, Washington and Norfolk Canyons accessible from Ocean City and the mid-Atlantic coast.
In January 2015, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced a proposal to lease a vast area off the mid-Atlantic coast for oil and natural gas exploration and eventually excavation as part of the Obama administration’s larger strategy to expand safe and responsible domestic energy production. The proposal was immediately hit with a groundswell of resistance from environmental groups and coastal communities, many of which wrote strong letters of opposition to the proposal, including Ocean City, Worcester County and Berlin locally.
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Utilizing his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Barack Obama last Tuesday announced he was withdrawing roughly 3.8 million acres in the north and mid-Atlantic from future offshore drilling for oil and natural gas reserves. The measure formally protects the 31 offshore canyons from New England to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay including the Baltimore, Poor Man’s, Washington and Norfolk Canyons accessible from Ocean City and the mid-Atlantic coast.
In January 2015, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced a proposal to lease a vast area off the mid-Atlantic coast for oil and natural gas exploration and eventually excavation as part of the Obama administration’s larger strategy to expand safe and responsible domestic energy production. The proposal was immediately hit with a groundswell of resistance from environmental groups and coastal communities, many of which wrote strong letters of opposition to the proposal, including Ocean City, Worcester County and Berlin locally.
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Dr. Thomas Sowell: My farewell column
It was very fulfilling to be able to share my thoughts on the events unfolding around us, and to receive feedback from readers across the country – even if it was impossible to answer them all.
Being old-fashioned, I liked to know what the facts were before writing. That required not only a lot of research, it also required keeping up with what was being said in the media.
During a stay in Yosemite National Park last May, taking photos with a couple of my buddies, there were four consecutive days without seeing a newspaper or a television news program – and it felt wonderful. With the political news being so awful this year, it felt especially wonderful.
This made me decide to spend less time following politics and more time on my photography, adding more pictures to my website (www.tsowell.com).
Looking back over the years, as old-timers are apt to do, I see huge changes, both for the better and for the worse.
In material things, there has been almost unbelievable progress. Most Americans did not have refrigerators back in 1930, when I was born. Television was little more than an experiment, and such things as air-conditioning or air travel were only for the very rich.
My own family did not have electricity or hot running water in my early childhood, which was not unusual for blacks in the South in those days.
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State Files Consumer Protection Lawsuit Against Man Accused Of Using Facebook To Trick Women Into Sex
Reminder: Handgun Purchase Application Process Goes On-Line January 1st
As part of Maryland State Police efforts to improve customer service, the process of applying to purchase a regulated firearm is moving from paper forms filled out by hand, to an on-line automated system expected to increase efficiency and improve the process for both customers and firearms dealers.
Beginning January 1, 2017, persons applying to purchase a regulated firearm in Maryland will conduct the entire process on-line via the Maryland State Police Licensing Portal. This includes completing the application forms and paying the required application fee. Individuals will be able to apply on-line using a computer, tablet, or mobile phone, regardless of the operating system. All current web browsers are also supported by the new system.
Currently, a person wishing to purchase a regulated firearm must complete the required Form 77R and the related paperwork by hand. This paperwork is submitted to a firearms dealer or State Police barrack and then forwarded to the Maryland State Police Licensing Division, where background checks are conducted to ensure the applicant is not prohibited from purchasing a regulated firearm.
Little has changed in the questions and forms being completed as part of the purchase application process. Applicants will continue to provide the same information currently required on the Form 77R.
There will be two differences in the new process. First, every applicant will need an email account. This will enable the applicant to receive follow-up and reminder correspondence from the State Police Licensing Division. Second, submission of the electronic application requires the use of a credit or debit card. All transactions with the Licensing Division regarding regulated firearm purchases will be done by credit or debit card only, beginning January 1, 2017. The $10 application fee will remain the same.
When the on-line application is completed by a firearm dealer or barrack, it will be submitted electronically to the State Police Licensing Division, rather than being mailed or faxed as has been done in the past. The electronic submission of the completed form by the dealer or barrack will begin the seven-day waiting period required by law, during which the required background checks are conducted to determine if the applicant is prohibited from purchasing a regulated firearm.
Beginning January 1, 2017, persons applying to purchase a regulated firearm in Maryland will conduct the entire process on-line via the Maryland State Police Licensing Portal. This includes completing the application forms and paying the required application fee. Individuals will be able to apply on-line using a computer, tablet, or mobile phone, regardless of the operating system. All current web browsers are also supported by the new system.
Currently, a person wishing to purchase a regulated firearm must complete the required Form 77R and the related paperwork by hand. This paperwork is submitted to a firearms dealer or State Police barrack and then forwarded to the Maryland State Police Licensing Division, where background checks are conducted to ensure the applicant is not prohibited from purchasing a regulated firearm.
Little has changed in the questions and forms being completed as part of the purchase application process. Applicants will continue to provide the same information currently required on the Form 77R.
There will be two differences in the new process. First, every applicant will need an email account. This will enable the applicant to receive follow-up and reminder correspondence from the State Police Licensing Division. Second, submission of the electronic application requires the use of a credit or debit card. All transactions with the Licensing Division regarding regulated firearm purchases will be done by credit or debit card only, beginning January 1, 2017. The $10 application fee will remain the same.
When the on-line application is completed by a firearm dealer or barrack, it will be submitted electronically to the State Police Licensing Division, rather than being mailed or faxed as has been done in the past. The electronic submission of the completed form by the dealer or barrack will begin the seven-day waiting period required by law, during which the required background checks are conducted to determine if the applicant is prohibited from purchasing a regulated firearm.
Trump Versus The Green Blob: The Biggest Science Scam In History
“I’ve waited 40 years for this moment.”
In a congressional meeting room, somewhere on Capitol Hill, one of the world’s leading sceptical climate scientists, Dr. Tim Ball, is toasting the advent of the Trump administration.
“I don’t want to use the phrase tipping point because that’s a phrase that has been abused in the scientific area. But I think we’re on the verge of a dramatic shift,” Ball tells the small invited audience of journalists, scientists, think-tankers, lawyers and DC politicos. He’s talking about the war on the Green Blob.
Most of them are scarred veterans of the decades-long battle to expose the man-made global warming scare as what another speaker, Tony Heller, describes as “the biggest scientific deception in history.” Many have suffered personally and professionally for speaking out against the so-called “consensus.” Ball, for example, a distinguished Canadian professor of climatology, has exhausted all his retirement money defending a legal action brought against him by the notorious climate alarmist Michael Mann, creator of the discredited “Hockey Stick”. (You can hear more about Ball’s struggle for truth on my latest Delingpole podcast—he’s a fascinating, articulate man and he has an inspiring story to tell).
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In a congressional meeting room, somewhere on Capitol Hill, one of the world’s leading sceptical climate scientists, Dr. Tim Ball, is toasting the advent of the Trump administration.
“I don’t want to use the phrase tipping point because that’s a phrase that has been abused in the scientific area. But I think we’re on the verge of a dramatic shift,” Ball tells the small invited audience of journalists, scientists, think-tankers, lawyers and DC politicos. He’s talking about the war on the Green Blob.
Most of them are scarred veterans of the decades-long battle to expose the man-made global warming scare as what another speaker, Tony Heller, describes as “the biggest scientific deception in history.” Many have suffered personally and professionally for speaking out against the so-called “consensus.” Ball, for example, a distinguished Canadian professor of climatology, has exhausted all his retirement money defending a legal action brought against him by the notorious climate alarmist Michael Mann, creator of the discredited “Hockey Stick”. (You can hear more about Ball’s struggle for truth on my latest Delingpole podcast—he’s a fascinating, articulate man and he has an inspiring story to tell).
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Crop of 'Indian potato' discovered in British Columbia could be world's oldest garden
In between stalking animals and fishing for dinner, it seems our fierce ancestors were discovering the joys of their own vegetable patch.
The evidence is a 3,800-year-old garden in British Columbia, Canada with its own rock wall, wooden digging tools and the remains of a crop known as the ‘Indian potato’.
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Wake Up Eastern Shore
San Francisco grapples with growing crime, blight after years of liberal policies
San Francisco is earning a growing reputation for more than just its unmatched tech sector – for critics, the city stands as a profound example of the damage ultra-liberal policies can do.
After 20 years of envelope-pushing changes to grow government and ease law enforcement, the once-shining City by the Bay has turned into a place where:
Property crime runs amok
An online map is needed to track human feces on city streets
Discarded syringes are common sightings
Public urination is so widespread it has damaged subway elevators and escalators, building walls and power poles
“There’s a very tolerant attitude, you can very much do anything on the streets you want,” said Marc Joffe, director of research at the California Policy Center think tank. “As members of a civilized society, there are things you should not accept. But we have ignored that … and there is nobody on the other side setting limits.”
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San Francisco is earning a growing reputation for more than just its unmatched tech sector – for critics, the city stands as a profound example of the damage ultra-liberal policies can do.
After 20 years of envelope-pushing changes to grow government and ease law enforcement, the once-shining City by the Bay has turned into a place where:
Property crime runs amok
An online map is needed to track human feces on city streets
Discarded syringes are common sightings
Public urination is so widespread it has damaged subway elevators and escalators, building walls and power poles
“There’s a very tolerant attitude, you can very much do anything on the streets you want,” said Marc Joffe, director of research at the California Policy Center think tank. “As members of a civilized society, there are things you should not accept. But we have ignored that … and there is nobody on the other side setting limits.”
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Many For-Profit Colleges Get More Than 90% Of Funding From Federal Government
For-profit colleges operate under the so-called “90/10 Rule,” which states that a school can’t receive more than 90% of its revenue from the federal government. However, there’s a loophole that does notcount certain military-related education funds — like the GI Bill — against that 90%, meaning these schools can go over that 90% threshold without violating the 90/10 Rule. And according to a new report, hundreds of for-profit schools are indeed getting nearly every dollar of their funding from taxpayers.
Insurers Not So Sure Smart Gadgets Make Your Home Any Safer
The insurance industry seems to have a love-hate relationship with smart gadgets: auto insurers want drivers to use tracking technology so they can offer more personalized rates (something many drivers don’t want), but home insurance companies aren’t likely to give homeowners with internet-connected safety systems a break on their bills.
Did Big Pharma Hire Dozens Of DEA Officials To Reduce Scrutiny Of Opioid Painkillers?
It’s not uncommon for folks at federal agencies to cash in on their public sector connections by taking a high-paying job with a company they used to regulate. But when it comes to the pharmaceuticals industry’s hiring of dozens of Drug Enforcement Administration officials, the question is whether these former DEA staffers were being hired because of what they could contribute, or because it was better for the industry to get them out of law enforcement.
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Uber Packs Up Its Self-Driving Cars And Takes Them To Play In Arizona
Not even 24 hours after the California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the registrations of 16 self-driving Uber cars that had been operating in San Francisco, the ridesharing company has announced it’s found a new sandbox where it can play with its toys.
