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Wednesday, February 01, 2017
Hebron VFD Casino Night
No Free Lunch: Donors Come Forward To Erase Students’ Debts
BALTIMORE (AP) — Ashley C. Ford felt driven to act by a sad fact of life in the nation’s school cafeterias: Kids with unpaid lunch accounts are often embarrassed with a substitute meal of a cold cheese sandwich and a carton of milk.
Ford, a New York City writer, appealed to her 66,000 Twitter followers with a solution. “A cool thing you can do today is try to find out which of your local schools have kids with overdue lunch accounts and pay them off.”
In the nearly two months since, people around the country have been inspired to donate thousands of dollars to erase debts owed by parents that can follow kids throughout their school careers.
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Ford, a New York City writer, appealed to her 66,000 Twitter followers with a solution. “A cool thing you can do today is try to find out which of your local schools have kids with overdue lunch accounts and pay them off.”
In the nearly two months since, people around the country have been inspired to donate thousands of dollars to erase debts owed by parents that can follow kids throughout their school careers.
More
Showell VFC Oyster Roast
Tickets run $35 in advance and $40 at the door. See any member or stop by the station for tickets!
Milo Yiannopoulos talk at UC Berkeley cancelled after protests erupt
BERKELEY (AP) -- An unlawful assembly has been declared at University of California Berkeley Wednesday evening. Major protests have shutdown a scheduled talk by polarizing Breitbart News editor, Milo Yiannopoulos.
It would have been Yiannopoulos' last stop on his tour aimed at defying what he calls an epidemic of political correctness on college campuses. Demonstrators broke windows and lit fireworks at Sproul Plaza and were met by tight security in the form of law enforcement armed in riot gear who were inside protecting the campus building.
Police said they have been targeted by bricks and flaming objects.
The 32-year-old right-wing provocateur is a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and a self-proclaimed internet troll whose comments have been criticized as racist, misogynist, anti-Muslim and white supremacist. He was banned from Twitter after leading a harassment campaign against "Ghostbusters" actress Leslie Jones.
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It would have been Yiannopoulos' last stop on his tour aimed at defying what he calls an epidemic of political correctness on college campuses. Demonstrators broke windows and lit fireworks at Sproul Plaza and were met by tight security in the form of law enforcement armed in riot gear who were inside protecting the campus building.
Police said they have been targeted by bricks and flaming objects.
The 32-year-old right-wing provocateur is a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and a self-proclaimed internet troll whose comments have been criticized as racist, misogynist, anti-Muslim and white supremacist. He was banned from Twitter after leading a harassment campaign against "Ghostbusters" actress Leslie Jones.
MORE
Governor Larry Hogan Announces Maryland Selected to Receive Three $100,000 School Fitness Centers
“There is no better time than now for our kids to learn how to get healthy and stay healthy throughout their entire life,” said Governor Hogan. “This generous support from the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils will give Maryland students the necessary resources to get educated about the benefits of physical fitness – and have fun at the same time. I encourage all of our Maryland elementary and middle schools to apply for these new fitness facilities."
Delaware part of $586M settlement that orders Western Union to crack down on fraudsters
The settlement requires Western Union to develop and put into action a comprehensive anti-fraud program designed to help detect and prevent incidents where consumers who have been the victims of fraud through the use Western Union to wire money to scam artists.
Criminal scams that involve wiring money include: lottery and contest scams in which consumers are told they have won a large sum of money but must first wire money to pay required taxes or fees before receiving their winnings; “grandparent scams” in which a consumer believes his or her loved one is in immediate danger and needs money right away; and romance scams in which someone poses as a love interest and then soon begins asking consumers to send money for various reasons, such as medical emergencies, car accidents, and emergency travel.
“Consumers who receive solicitations from strangers promising big winnings should toss those letters in the trash, delete the e-mail or hang up the phone,” Attorney General Denn said. “And consumers who meet someone online should be cautious about wiring money, particularly if meeting in person has never taken place. Unfortunately, some victims send money multiple times to the scam artist before realizing they have been duped.”
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It’s Naive To Think Illegal Aliens Aren’t Voting – By The Millions
Leftists and their media outlets have been all too eager to dismiss President Donald Trump’s charge that as many as 5 million illegal aliens voted in the 2016 presidential election, enough to easily swing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton.
Many of these pundits, backed by an army of so-called “fact-checkers,” would have you believe that the number of illegals who are registering to vote and voting is insignificant. Oh, there may be the occasional, misguided “undocumented worker” who inadvertently wanders into the election booth, they seem to suggest. But, surely, not enough to make any difference.
Anyone who thinks that needs to think again.
There are a total of 43 million noncitizens currently living within US borders. Of these, approximately 12 million are illegal aliens. Not only are there well-documented reasons to believe that many of them may be violating election integrity, the fact is, many on the left are more than happy to see them do so. A Rasmussen Reports poll last year found that 53 percent of the Democratic Party supports allowing illegal aliens to vote.
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Many of these pundits, backed by an army of so-called “fact-checkers,” would have you believe that the number of illegals who are registering to vote and voting is insignificant. Oh, there may be the occasional, misguided “undocumented worker” who inadvertently wanders into the election booth, they seem to suggest. But, surely, not enough to make any difference.
Anyone who thinks that needs to think again.
There are a total of 43 million noncitizens currently living within US borders. Of these, approximately 12 million are illegal aliens. Not only are there well-documented reasons to believe that many of them may be violating election integrity, the fact is, many on the left are more than happy to see them do so. A Rasmussen Reports poll last year found that 53 percent of the Democratic Party supports allowing illegal aliens to vote.
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SEPARATING FACT FROM SICKENING MEDIA FICTION ON TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION EXECUTIVE ORDER
There is a lot of confusion swirling around the events that transpired this weekend as a result of Trump’s executive order on immigration. Make no mistake: every word of Trump’s executive order is in accordance with statute.
It’s important not to conflate political arguments with legal arguments, as many liberals and far too many “conservatives” on social media are doing. While the timing and coordination of implementing this order might have been poorly planned, we shouldn’t allow that to undermine the broader need to defend our sovereignty. For courts to violate years’ worth of precedent and steal our sovereignty should concern everyone.
What the order actually does
Among other things, the key provisions at the center of the existing controversy are as follows:
It shuts off the issuance of all new immigrant and non-immigrant visas for 90 days from the following seven volatile countries: Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Any non-citizen from those seven countries (not “all” Muslim countries) is excluded from entering the country during this time-period (which usually means they won’t be able to board a direct flight to America). After 30 days, the secretary of state and secretary of homeland security must submit a report to completely revamp the vetting process going forward.
Within 60 days, countries will have to submit any information that the administration determines necessary, pursuant to the findings of this report, in order to adjudicate a visa application and ensure they are properly vetted. Any country that fails to submit this information will not be able to send foreign nationals to our country. All the while, the ban can be extended and expanded at any time.
In addition, the entire refugee resettlement program is suspended for four months pending a complete investigation of the program and a plan to restructure it and prioritize those who are truly in danger of religious persecution. After 120 days, the program may resume, but only for those countries Secretaries Kelly and Tillerson determine do not pose a threat. The program from Syria is completely suspended until the president personally gives the green light.
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It’s important not to conflate political arguments with legal arguments, as many liberals and far too many “conservatives” on social media are doing. While the timing and coordination of implementing this order might have been poorly planned, we shouldn’t allow that to undermine the broader need to defend our sovereignty. For courts to violate years’ worth of precedent and steal our sovereignty should concern everyone.
What the order actually does
Among other things, the key provisions at the center of the existing controversy are as follows:
It shuts off the issuance of all new immigrant and non-immigrant visas for 90 days from the following seven volatile countries: Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Any non-citizen from those seven countries (not “all” Muslim countries) is excluded from entering the country during this time-period (which usually means they won’t be able to board a direct flight to America). After 30 days, the secretary of state and secretary of homeland security must submit a report to completely revamp the vetting process going forward.
Within 60 days, countries will have to submit any information that the administration determines necessary, pursuant to the findings of this report, in order to adjudicate a visa application and ensure they are properly vetted. Any country that fails to submit this information will not be able to send foreign nationals to our country. All the while, the ban can be extended and expanded at any time.
In addition, the entire refugee resettlement program is suspended for four months pending a complete investigation of the program and a plan to restructure it and prioritize those who are truly in danger of religious persecution. After 120 days, the program may resume, but only for those countries Secretaries Kelly and Tillerson determine do not pose a threat. The program from Syria is completely suspended until the president personally gives the green light.
More
President Trump to Nominate Md. U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein for Deputy Attorney General
Rosenstein, who was appointed the state’s top federal prosecutor by Republican President George W. Bush in 2005, is the longest-serving U.S. attorney in the country.
The White House formally announced his appointment on Tuesday less than an hour before the president named Neil Gorsuch as his choice to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant last year by Justice Antonin Scalia’s death.
The announcement also came a day after Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates.
Source
Congressman Andy Harris Praises Selection of Judge Gorsuch for the Supreme Court and Maryland’s U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein for Deputy Attorney General
WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement regarding President Trump’s nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court:
“I commend President Trump’s nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. Judge Gorsuch is a perfect fit for President Trump’s promise to appoint someone ‘in the mold of Antonin Scalia.’
“He is a distinguished legal scholar with a strong respect for our Constitution, including religious liberty and the rule of law. I trust Judge Gorsuch when he says that he will be a faithful servant of our great nation’s Constitution and laws.”
Judge Gorsuch currently serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. In 2006, he was confirmed to that position by a unanimous vote in the U.S. Senate. Congressman Harris added:
“Judge Gorsuch was confirmed by a unanimous vote in 2006 by the U.S. Senate, which included among its ranks, then Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden. I hope that he is confirmed without delay.”
Congressman Harris also praised the selection of U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein as the Deputy Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice:
“I also commend President Trump for nominating Maryland’s U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein to the post of Deputy Attorney General. U.S. Attorney Rosenstein has a distinguished legal career and his strong commitment to justice in Maryland has helped to root out corruption and gang violence.”
LIVE FEED: Prison Guards Hostage Situation In Symrna
Md. Lawmakers Push to Make Targeting Police a Hate Crime
BALTIMORE (WJZ)– Some Maryland lawmakers want to make it a hate crime for anyone who targets first responders.
Ava-Joye Burnett has more on the legislation that would give officers the same privileges given to other protected groups.
The bill has wide support from law enforcement agencies all across the U.S. Some Maryland lawmakers want to classify pre-meditated attacks against law enforcement as a hate crime.
The move came after a deadly 2016 for law enforcement. In July, five officers were gunned down in Dallas. Just days later, three more officers were murdered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Investigators say the suspect targeted police. And in March in Prince George’s County, investigators say three brothers launched a gun battle against officers in front of a police station.
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Ava-Joye Burnett has more on the legislation that would give officers the same privileges given to other protected groups.
The bill has wide support from law enforcement agencies all across the U.S. Some Maryland lawmakers want to classify pre-meditated attacks against law enforcement as a hate crime.
The move came after a deadly 2016 for law enforcement. In July, five officers were gunned down in Dallas. Just days later, three more officers were murdered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Investigators say the suspect targeted police. And in March in Prince George’s County, investigators say three brothers launched a gun battle against officers in front of a police station.
More
BREAKING Rex Tillerson Confirmed as Secretary of State
Today in the Senate former Exxon CEO, Rex Tillerson was confirmed with a 56-43 vote for our new Secretary of State.
Voting is underway for Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary.
What's Behind The Collapse In Global Exports?
Global export of goods (priced in US dollars) has collapsed in Japan, the EU, and emerging markets, since their recovery highs following the great recession.
The US is the best of the lot, but US exports of goods are down substantially as well.
What’s behind the move? Is it protectionism? Currency related? Take a guess before reading further. The answer is coming up.
I got to thinking about the above questions after following a Gavekal Capital tweet that World Trade has Increased by Less Than 1% Annually Since 7/07.
There are fears that the world is on the precipice of turning back the clock on globalization. In some ways, the case can be made globalization has been retreating since the financial crisis. One of the strongest supporting data points of that argument is world trade data. According to the CPB World Trade Monitor, the value of world exports (volume * price) has increased by less than 1% annually since making a high on 7/31/2007 compared to more than a 5% annualized growth rate since 1991 (beginning of the data series). If we look at just volume data, the story doesn’t improve very much. World export volume has increased at less than 1.5% annually since 7/31/2007. This is about 1/3 of the annual growth rate world export volumes has increased by since 1991. Even with extraordinary global monetary easing in the post financial crisis world, world trade has been unable to find the extra gear it hit during the pre-crisis era.
That explanation sounded quite reasonable when I first read it, but I wanted to see how the US fared vs. the rest of the world.
After I downloaded then plotted the data, I came up with a completely different answer.
More
The US is the best of the lot, but US exports of goods are down substantially as well.
What’s behind the move? Is it protectionism? Currency related? Take a guess before reading further. The answer is coming up.
I got to thinking about the above questions after following a Gavekal Capital tweet that World Trade has Increased by Less Than 1% Annually Since 7/07.
There are fears that the world is on the precipice of turning back the clock on globalization. In some ways, the case can be made globalization has been retreating since the financial crisis. One of the strongest supporting data points of that argument is world trade data. According to the CPB World Trade Monitor, the value of world exports (volume * price) has increased by less than 1% annually since making a high on 7/31/2007 compared to more than a 5% annualized growth rate since 1991 (beginning of the data series). If we look at just volume data, the story doesn’t improve very much. World export volume has increased at less than 1.5% annually since 7/31/2007. This is about 1/3 of the annual growth rate world export volumes has increased by since 1991. Even with extraordinary global monetary easing in the post financial crisis world, world trade has been unable to find the extra gear it hit during the pre-crisis era.
That explanation sounded quite reasonable when I first read it, but I wanted to see how the US fared vs. the rest of the world.
After I downloaded then plotted the data, I came up with a completely different answer.
More
Trump Readies Crackdown On H-1B Visa Abuse By Executive Order
The stated purpose of the H-1b program is to allow companies to temporarily import high-skilled workers when they can’t find American workers willing or able to do the job, but critics contend its true purpose is to help big businesses cut costs by importing less expensive workers. In the past several years, Disney, Southern California Edison, Fossil Group and others have together fired hundreds of American tech workers and forced them to train their foreign replacements, many of whom were flown in specifically to take their jobs.
A major overhaul to the program would have to happen through Congress, but Trump can make some changes via executive authority, and his administration is drafting an order, reports Bloomberg. Tech companies would have to prioritize American workers first under the draft order, and if they do import foreign workers, they would have to prioritize those who are the most skilled and highest paid.
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Just In
Union leader: Hostage situation at Vaughn prison
SMYRNA – The Delaware Department of Correction acknowledged Wednesday that “Department of Correction Response Teams and the Delaware State Police are on scene responding to a hostage situation at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna.”
The correctional officers union leader earlier in the day confirmed a hostage situation at the state’s largest prison.
President of the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware Geoff Klopp said, “We’re hearing that three to five correctional officers have been taken hostage and the inmates have control of the building,” he said.
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The correctional officers union leader earlier in the day confirmed a hostage situation at the state’s largest prison.
President of the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware Geoff Klopp said, “We’re hearing that three to five correctional officers have been taken hostage and the inmates have control of the building,” he said.
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Could You Possibly Be Unlikable?
Too many people succumb to the mistaken belief that being likable comes from natural, unteachable traits that belong only to a lucky few—the good looking, the fiercely social, and the incredibly talented. It’s easy to fall prey to this misconception. In reality, being likable is under your control, and it’s a matter of emotional intelligence (EQ).
In a study conducted at UCLA, subjects rated over 500 descriptions of people based on their perceived significance to likability. The top-rated descriptors had nothing to do with being gregarious, intelligent, or attractive (innate characteristics). Instead, the top descriptors were sincerity, transparency, and capable of understanding (another person).
These adjectives, and others like them, describe people who are skilled in the social side of emotional intelligence. TalentSmart research data from more than a million people shows that people who possess these skills aren’t just highly likable; they outperform those who don’t by a large margin.
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In a study conducted at UCLA, subjects rated over 500 descriptions of people based on their perceived significance to likability. The top-rated descriptors had nothing to do with being gregarious, intelligent, or attractive (innate characteristics). Instead, the top descriptors were sincerity, transparency, and capable of understanding (another person).
These adjectives, and others like them, describe people who are skilled in the social side of emotional intelligence. TalentSmart research data from more than a million people shows that people who possess these skills aren’t just highly likable; they outperform those who don’t by a large margin.
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Officers Use Social Media to Track Down Suspected Deer Poachers
West Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Deer Poaching
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers made four deer poaching cases and gained a conviction in recent enforcement action.
Using social media, officers tracked down a convicted Carroll County deer poacher and charged him with eight new violations Friday.
Tyler James Murphy, 21, of Union Bridge, posted pictures on Facebook of an antlerless deer he killed, but did not check in October. A subsequent review of state records indicated that Murphy checked in two antlerless deer Dec. 3, bought a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp that evening and checked in a 10-point buck Dec. 4.
When questioned, Murphy volunteered that he had not killed two antlerless deer Dec. 3 and killed the 10-point buck before buying the bonus stamp.
Murphy was charged with hunting without a license, failing to report his kill within 24 hours, failing to complete a Big Game Harvest Record before moving the deer, failing to obtain a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp before killing a second buck, failing to harvest two antlerless deer before hunting an additional antlered deer, and three counts of knowingly making false statements and information.
In 2015, Murphy was convicted of eight counts of deer and turkey poaching and had an 8-point buck and a 7-point buck seized.
Based on his record, each of Murphy’s 2017 citations require him to appear in Frederick County District Court. If found guilty, he could be jailed for one year and fined as much as $4,000 on each count. In addition, state law mandates restitution of at least $2,000.
Tips from the public and a story posted on Snapchat led officers to charge two men Friday with killing five deer in one night in Frederick County.
Garrett Montgomery Smith, 19, of Frederick, and John Edward Jackson, 19, of Mount Airy were charged with hunting deer during a closed season, hunting at night, hunting deer with spotlights (jacklighting), pursuing wildlife with an off-road vehicle, having a loaded firearm in a vehicle, hunting on private land without written permission, two counts of driving an off-road vehicle on private property and failing to make a reasonable attempt to recover a wounded or dead deer.
According to charging documents, officers responded to complaints of someone hunting deer at night Nov. 17 in eastern Frederick County. Witnesses provided a description of a Dodge Ram pickup truck that had a lightbar attached to the front bumper.
A Snapchat story led officers to the suspects and to a field where the truck got stuck in the mud and had to be towed out.
Smith and Jackson killed a 5-point buck and four antlerless deer with either a 0.22-caliber rifle or a 0.30-06 rifle, using the LED lightbar and headlights on the truck to illuminate the animals. They took meat from two of the five deer and left the other three carcasses – untouched – along the road, the charging documents said.
The two men are scheduled to appear in Frederick County District Court March 28. If found guilty of all charges, each man could be jailed for 90 days, face a maximum fine of $11,500 and have their hunting privileges revoked for up to five years. In addition, state law mandates restitution of at least $2,000.
Trail camera and Facebook photos led to a Carroll County man being charged last Tuesday with deer poaching.
Travis Shawn Hankins, 45, of Sykesville, received citations for hunting on private property without written permission, failing to attach a field tag to the deer before moving it and knowingly recording false information while tagging or reporting a kill.
Hankins checked a 9-point buck Jan. 12 stating that it was killed in Anne Arundel County.
However, officers were able to determine that the deer was killed near power lines in Adelphi in Prince George’s County. They found the deer – recognizable by its distinctive set of antlers – at a Carroll County taxidermy shop. The antlers were seized for evidence.
A date has not been set in Prince George’s County District Court. If found guilty of all charges, Hankins could be fined a maximum of $4,500. In addition, state law mandates restitution of at least $2,000.
A West Virginia man was sentenced last Tuesday in Montgomery County District Court to serve eight days in jail and pay a $1,000 fine after pleading guilty to deer poaching.
Robert Lee Windsor, 49, of Bunker Hill, was the driver of a vehicle stopped at 10 p.m. Nov. 25 by officers on a poaching surveillance operation in Poolesville in Montgomery County.
Windsor and two other West Virginia men were driving slowly, stopping and illuminating a field. Inside the vehicle they had a 0.30-06 rifle with a high-powered scope, 15 rounds of ammunition, spotlights and tools to butcher a deer.
Windsor pleaded guilty to casting rays with an implement (jacklighting). The judge placed charges of hunting deer at night and hunting during a closed season on the inactive docket.
Windsor, who was convicted of jacklighting in 2001, 2004 and 2012, still faces possible suspension of his hunting privileges for up to five years.
The other two defendants, Anthony Wayne Shackelford, 53, and Robert William Ice, 46, both of Falling Waters will be tried March 28 on poaching charges.
Woman nearly carjacked after stopping for dummy in road
NEWPORT, N.C. (AP) — A sheriff’s office says a woman narrowly escaped being carjacked after spotting what she thought was a child sitting in the middle of the road in the dark of night.
It turned out to be a dummy, dressed in children’s clothing. And as the woman slowed her car, two men wearing dark hoodies approached and pulled on her door handles.
She sped away and called for help as the suspects fled, according to the sheriff’s office in Carteret County, North Carolina.
Maj. Jason Wank says authorities destroyed the dummy later Sunday, just in case. He’s asking for help finding those responsible.
More/Video
It turned out to be a dummy, dressed in children’s clothing. And as the woman slowed her car, two men wearing dark hoodies approached and pulled on her door handles.
She sped away and called for help as the suspects fled, according to the sheriff’s office in Carteret County, North Carolina.
Maj. Jason Wank says authorities destroyed the dummy later Sunday, just in case. He’s asking for help finding those responsible.
More/Video
BREAKING UPDATE On Delaware Emergency Response Situation
It is rumored a fire may have taken place but there's no confirmation.
Grand Jury Indicts Maryland Man on Arson Related Charges
On, December 27, 2016 at 2:30 pm, investigators from the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office, along with members of the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force successfully located and apprehended White at his parents residence in Hickory, North Carolina. He was extradited to Maryland and remains at the Charles County Detention Center.
Organic Protest?
You're being played, people. Wake UP!
Trump Considers Proposals for Cutting U.N. Funding
The New York Times reports President Trump is looking at proposals for reducing U.S. funding for the United Nations and scaling back U.N. influence over American foreign policy.
The first of the two draft orders, titled “Auditing and Reducing U.S. Funding of International Organizations” and obtained by The New York Times, calls for terminating funding for any United Nations agency or other international body that meets any one of several criteria.
Those criteria include organizations that give full membership to the Palestinian Authority or Palestine Liberation Organization, or support programs that fund abortion or any activity that circumvents sanctions against Iran or North Korea. The draft order also calls for terminating funding for any organization that “is controlled or substantially influenced by any state that sponsors terrorism” or is blamed for the persecution of marginalized groups or any other systematic violation of human rights.
The order calls for then enacting “at least a 40 percent overall decrease” in remaining United States funding toward international organizations.
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The first of the two draft orders, titled “Auditing and Reducing U.S. Funding of International Organizations” and obtained by The New York Times, calls for terminating funding for any United Nations agency or other international body that meets any one of several criteria.
Those criteria include organizations that give full membership to the Palestinian Authority or Palestine Liberation Organization, or support programs that fund abortion or any activity that circumvents sanctions against Iran or North Korea. The draft order also calls for terminating funding for any organization that “is controlled or substantially influenced by any state that sponsors terrorism” or is blamed for the persecution of marginalized groups or any other systematic violation of human rights.
The order calls for then enacting “at least a 40 percent overall decrease” in remaining United States funding toward international organizations.
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Europe Proposes "Restrictions On Payments In Cash"
Having discontinued its production of EUR500 banknotes, it appears Europe is charging towards the utopian dream of a cashless society. Just days after Davos' elites discussed why the world needs to "get rid of currency," the European Commission has introduced a proposal enforcing "restrictions on payments in cash."
With Rogoff, Stiglitz, Summers et al. all calling for the end of cash - because only terrorists and drug-dealers need cash (nothing at all to do with totalitarian control over a nation's wealth) - we are not surprised that this proposal from the European Commission(sanctuary of statism) would appear...
The Commission published on 2 February 2016 a Communication to the Council and the Parliament on an Action Plan tofurther step up the fight against the financing of terrorism (COM (2016) 50). The Action Plan builds on existing EU rules to adapt to new threats and aims at updating EU policies in line with international standards. In the context of the Commission's action to extent the scope of the Regulation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the Community,reference is made to the appropriateness to explore the relevance of potential upper limits to cash payments.
The Action Plan states that "Payments in cash are widely used in the financing of terrorist activities… In this context, the relevance of potential upper limits to cash payments could also be explored. Several Member States have in place prohibitions for cash payments above a specific threshold."
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With Rogoff, Stiglitz, Summers et al. all calling for the end of cash - because only terrorists and drug-dealers need cash (nothing at all to do with totalitarian control over a nation's wealth) - we are not surprised that this proposal from the European Commission(sanctuary of statism) would appear...
The Commission published on 2 February 2016 a Communication to the Council and the Parliament on an Action Plan tofurther step up the fight against the financing of terrorism (COM (2016) 50). The Action Plan builds on existing EU rules to adapt to new threats and aims at updating EU policies in line with international standards. In the context of the Commission's action to extent the scope of the Regulation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the Community,reference is made to the appropriateness to explore the relevance of potential upper limits to cash payments.
The Action Plan states that "Payments in cash are widely used in the financing of terrorist activities… In this context, the relevance of potential upper limits to cash payments could also be explored. Several Member States have in place prohibitions for cash payments above a specific threshold."
More
Several retail chains on verge of bankruptcy after poor holiday sales
A bah-humbug holiday continues to haunt America’s weaker retail chains.
At least three more apparel chains — Wet Seal, Eastern Mountain Sports and Bob’s Stores — are running short of cash and on the verge of filing for bankruptcy protection, The Post has learned.
A fourth chain, outdoor retailer Gander Mountain — some of whose vendors stopped talking orders — just hired financial adviser Lazard, several sources told The Post.
A Gander spokesman declined to comment.
For Wet Seal — owned by Versa Capital, a private equity firm — a poor holiday made it impossible to obtain new financing, according to a recent regulatory filing.
As a result, the ailing teen apparel retailer, which has already completed one trip through Chapter 11, is shutting its Irvine, Calif., headquarters and closing its 171 stores.
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At least three more apparel chains — Wet Seal, Eastern Mountain Sports and Bob’s Stores — are running short of cash and on the verge of filing for bankruptcy protection, The Post has learned.
A fourth chain, outdoor retailer Gander Mountain — some of whose vendors stopped talking orders — just hired financial adviser Lazard, several sources told The Post.
A Gander spokesman declined to comment.
For Wet Seal — owned by Versa Capital, a private equity firm — a poor holiday made it impossible to obtain new financing, according to a recent regulatory filing.
As a result, the ailing teen apparel retailer, which has already completed one trip through Chapter 11, is shutting its Irvine, Calif., headquarters and closing its 171 stores.
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Trump forces GOP to rethink trade policy
Congressional Republicans who support free trade are beginning to grapple with the political reality that President Trump and many of their own constituents who put Trump in the White House don't agree.
Some GOP lawmakers have started to become more vocal in their defense of free trade. Others are looking for ways to satiate the demand for more protectionist policies without really breaking with the Republican free trade consensus that dates back to Ronald Reagan's presidency.
But presidents frequently redefine political parties, and Trump seems to be reshaping how to think about trade among Republicans. Trump is already moving to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, which passed originally passed with the support of 66 percent of Republicans in the House and 80 percent of Republicans in the Senate.
And on Thursday, Trump's White House spokesman muddied the water for Republicans once again by suggesting the administration supports an arcane tax policy change to fund a proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.
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Some GOP lawmakers have started to become more vocal in their defense of free trade. Others are looking for ways to satiate the demand for more protectionist policies without really breaking with the Republican free trade consensus that dates back to Ronald Reagan's presidency.
But presidents frequently redefine political parties, and Trump seems to be reshaping how to think about trade among Republicans. Trump is already moving to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, which passed originally passed with the support of 66 percent of Republicans in the House and 80 percent of Republicans in the Senate.
And on Thursday, Trump's White House spokesman muddied the water for Republicans once again by suggesting the administration supports an arcane tax policy change to fund a proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.
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Something BIG Is Going On In Delaware
Guinness to build Baltimore County brewery
Guinness says it will build a U.S. version of Dublin’s popular Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore County. It will be a mid-sized brewery and visitor center with an innovation microbrewery also on site, at the company’s existing Relay, Maryland, site.
Guinness says its $50 million investment also will include a packaging and warehousing operation.
But its iconic Stout won’t be produced there.
Guinness Stouts will continue to be brewed at St. Jame’s Gate in Dublin. The Baltimore operation will be home for new Guinness beers created for the U.S. market, it says.
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Coincidence? Dow Hits 20,000 As National Debt Reaches $20 Trillion
The Dow Jones Industrial Average provides us with some pretty strong evidence that our “stock market boom” has been fueled by debt. On Wednesday, the Dow crossed the 20,000 mark for the first time ever, and this comes at a time when the U.S. national debt is right on the verge of hitting 20 trillion dollars.
Is this just a coincidence? As you will see, there has been a very close correlation between the national debt and the Dow Jones Industrial Average for a very long time.
For example, when Ronald Reagan took office in 1991, the U.S. national debt had just hit 994 billion dollars and the Dow was sitting at 951. And as you can see from this chart by Matterhorn.gold via David Stockman, roughly that same ratio has held true throughout subsequent presidential administrations…
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Is this just a coincidence? As you will see, there has been a very close correlation between the national debt and the Dow Jones Industrial Average for a very long time.
For example, when Ronald Reagan took office in 1991, the U.S. national debt had just hit 994 billion dollars and the Dow was sitting at 951. And as you can see from this chart by Matterhorn.gold via David Stockman, roughly that same ratio has held true throughout subsequent presidential administrations…
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‘An Enemy Within’ – Keith Ellison exposed
New documentary reveals anti-American radical poised to take over DNC
He was put into office by dedicated communists. He supported the dissolution of the United States to create an ethnostate only for blacks. He’s been the biggest defender of the Muslim Brotherhood in Congress.
And, now, he’s poised to take over one of America’s two major political parties.
He’s Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota. And he’s one of “The Enemies Within” profiled in Trevor Loudon’s explosive new documentary of that name.
He was put into office by dedicated communists. He supported the dissolution of the United States to create an ethnostate only for blacks. He’s been the biggest defender of the Muslim Brotherhood in Congress.
And, now, he’s poised to take over one of America’s two major political parties.
He’s Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota. And he’s one of “The Enemies Within” profiled in Trevor Loudon’s explosive new documentary of that name.
2017 State of the State Address, Governor Larry Hogan
It is an honor to appear before this 437th Session of the General Assembly to give a report on the state of our great state.
It was on a snowy day just two years ago when I stood before you on this very spot in this beautiful and historic chamber to take the oath of office as Maryland’s new governor. I was truly humbled and deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve my fellow Marylanders. I was full of hope – hope for our state, hope for our people, and hope for our future.
But, I was also fully aware that our state was facing some difficult challenges. It was an opportunity for a new beginning and a new direction.
We pledged to put Maryland on a new path, with a revitalized spirit of bipartisan cooperation where we would seek common sense solutions to our problems, regardless of which side of the aisle those ideas came from.
The work began immediately, on day one, to set a new course of economic growth, security, and prosperity for Maryland.
And for two years now, we have been doing exactly what we said we would do.
Working together, we have made tremendous progress, and I am proud to report that the state of our state is strong – stronger today than it was a year ago, and stronger than it has been in many, many years.
For two years now, working together with this General Assembly, we have chosen action over apathy.
We have sought out common sense and common ground, rather than disparity and divisiveness. Working together, we have not been defined by party or ideology, but by our common purpose and our united obligation to solve problems, to make progress, and to bring real and lasting change to Maryland.
After two years of progress, Marylanders are heartened that the unifying promise of bipartisan change is being forged in reality.
We have already accomplished a great deal. But together, we can – and we must – do more.
Beginning with our unwavering commitment to education:
This is our third budget in a row with record funding for education. We invested another $6.4 billion to fully fund the legislative formulas. Every single penny that every single jurisdiction anticipated from the state for education is fully funded at one hundred percent. In addition, we are adding another $334 million dollars for school construction.
And we’re investing record amounts for higher education with a budget that includes $1.35 billion for the university system; more than $256 million for Maryland’s community colleges; and to continue our commitment to make college more affordable, we are providing an additional $17.5 million specifically for tuition relief, so that 14 Maryland universities and colleges can now cap tuition growth at two percent, rather than the five percent they were proposing.
Together, we are investing in our schools and in our children. Fully two-thirds of our entire capital budget goes toward education.
We have already accomplished a great deal. But together, we can – and we must – do more.
Every single child in Maryland deserves access to a great education, regardless of what neighborhood they happen to grow up in. Sadly, we still have students who are trapped in persistently failing schools.
Last year, Democratic leaders in this assembly proposed legislation that provided $5 million, giving a limited number of deserving kids the chance to earn a scholarship to attend a private school.
Our budget adds $2 million more to this initiative so that we can give even more children that opportunity.
Let’s also expand choices for Maryland families by passing the Public Charter School Act of 2017.
Some "Walls" Should Not Be Built
It seems I’m just no longer with the times. Apparently throwing things like eggs and snowballs at cars traveling on freeways (dangerous enough in its own respect) doesn’t get a rise among children anymore. Because kids have “graduated” to throwing much more dangerous objects at cars from freeway overpasses.
In May of last year, an 18-year-old in Philadelphia was charged with throwing railroad spikes and rocks from an overpass onto cars passing below, all for the fun of it. I actually needed to see it to believe it:
Blake Bowers, 18, is charged with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment of another person, police said Sunday.
Police were called to the 600 block of University Avenue in West Philly around 8:20 p.m. on Friday evening, where they found four drivers who had each had their vehicles damaged while driving under a railroad overpass toward I-76.
“The damage was caused by objects thrown from the overpass,” a police report states, a height of some 40 feet above the street.
A 45-year-old male driver told police “that after his windshield was broken by the thrown object, he parked, exited his vehicle and saw the defendant on the train tracks,” according to a police report on the incident.
Police said they found three metal railroad spikes, two metal railroad clamps and one rock at the scene.
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In May of last year, an 18-year-old in Philadelphia was charged with throwing railroad spikes and rocks from an overpass onto cars passing below, all for the fun of it. I actually needed to see it to believe it:
Blake Bowers, 18, is charged with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment of another person, police said Sunday.
Police were called to the 600 block of University Avenue in West Philly around 8:20 p.m. on Friday evening, where they found four drivers who had each had their vehicles damaged while driving under a railroad overpass toward I-76.
“The damage was caused by objects thrown from the overpass,” a police report states, a height of some 40 feet above the street.
A 45-year-old male driver told police “that after his windshield was broken by the thrown object, he parked, exited his vehicle and saw the defendant on the train tracks,” according to a police report on the incident.
Police said they found three metal railroad spikes, two metal railroad clamps and one rock at the scene.
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Ron Paul Suggests A Better Solution Than Trump's Border Wall
Just one week in office, President Trump is already following through on his pledge to address illegal immigration. His January 25th executive order called for the construction of a wall along the entire length of the US-Mexico border. While he is right to focus on the issue, there are several reasons why his proposed solution will unfortunately not lead us anywhere closer to solving the problem.
First, the wall will not work. Texas already started building a border fence about ten years ago. It divided people from their own property across the border, it deprived people of their land through the use of eminent domain, and in the end the problem of drug and human smuggling was not solved.
Second, the wall will be expensive. The wall is estimated to cost between 12 and 15 billion dollars. You can bet it will be more than that. President Trump has claimed that if the Mexican government doesn’t pay for it, he will impose a 20 percent duty on products imported from Mexico. Who will pay this tax? Ultimately, the American consumer, as the additional costs will be passed on. This will of course hurt the poorest Americans the most.
Third, building a wall ignores the real causes of illegal border crossings into the United States. Though President Trump is right to prioritize the problem of border security, he misses the point on how it can be done effectively and at an actual financial benefit to the country rather than a huge economic drain.
The solution to really addressing the problem of illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and the threat of cross-border terrorism is clear:
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First, the wall will not work. Texas already started building a border fence about ten years ago. It divided people from their own property across the border, it deprived people of their land through the use of eminent domain, and in the end the problem of drug and human smuggling was not solved.
Second, the wall will be expensive. The wall is estimated to cost between 12 and 15 billion dollars. You can bet it will be more than that. President Trump has claimed that if the Mexican government doesn’t pay for it, he will impose a 20 percent duty on products imported from Mexico. Who will pay this tax? Ultimately, the American consumer, as the additional costs will be passed on. This will of course hurt the poorest Americans the most.
Third, building a wall ignores the real causes of illegal border crossings into the United States. Though President Trump is right to prioritize the problem of border security, he misses the point on how it can be done effectively and at an actual financial benefit to the country rather than a huge economic drain.
The solution to really addressing the problem of illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and the threat of cross-border terrorism is clear:
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Hogan To Deliver State Of State Address Today
The speech is entitled "Real and Lasting Change."
The speech is scheduled for noon. WBAL NewsRadio 1090 will offer live coverage.
CLICK HERE to watch the speech.
Aides to the governor aren't offering specifics on the speech, other than to say the governor will speak for about 30 minutes and talk about his legislative agenda.
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EXCERPTS: Governor Larry Hogan Delivers 2017 State of the State Address
“For two years now, working together with this General Assembly, we have chosen action over apathy. We have sought out common sense and common ground, rather than disparity and divisiveness. Working together, we have not been defined by party or ideology, but by our common purpose and our united obligation to solve problems to make progress and to bring real and lasting change to Maryland.”
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“After two years of progress, Marylanders are heartened that the unifying promise of bipartisan change is being forged in reality. We have already accomplished a great deal but together we can – and we must – do more.”
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“Maryland truly is Open for Business. We have already accomplished a great deal, but together we can – and we must – do more. The reality is not all Marylanders and not every jurisdiction in our state are seeing the same level of economic success…which is why we must come together to enact the Maryland Jobs Initiative, an innovative, bipartisan proposal which will provide incentives for the creation of thousands of jobs in the places that need them the most.”
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“Last year we worked across the aisle to enact the Justice Reinvestment Act, which is the most important criminal justice reform in a generation. We worked to pass Noah’s Law, named after Montgomery County police officer – and a true Maryland hero – Noah Leotta. We have already accomplished a great deal but together we can – and we must – do more. This year we plan to work with you to enact our Justice for Victims Initiative to improve services for the victims of crimes and to reduce the number of future victims of crime.”
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“We have been aggressive, proactive, and innovative in our efforts to safeguard Maryland’s environment. We have made a great deal of progress but together we can – and we must – do more. This year, let’s make targeted, common sense investments to support our green jobs initiatives, and to attract private investment for clean energy projects in our state.”
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“Too often we see wedge politics and petty rhetoric used to belittle our adversaries and inflame partisan divisions...No problem faces us that hard work, honesty, and courage cannot solve if we work together.”
Fruitland Police: Thefts from unsecured vehicles
DATE & TIME: Overnight January 31- February 1, 2017
INCIDENT: Thefts from unsecured vehicles
LOCATION: Emily Drive
CASE NO.: 2017-0119
DISPOSITION: Under Investigation
SYNOPSIS: During the dates of January 31 and February 1, 2017, the Fruitland Police Department began investigating several incidents of thefts from unsecured vehicles. Several unsecured vehicles in the area of Emily Drive were entered and valuables were taken. Anyone who observed anything in those areas, during those times, or that may have any information is urged to call (410) 548-2803. Any residents, in those areas, that have home surveillance video are asked to review it and forward any potential information to the Fruitland Police. The Fruitland Police would also like to remind citizens to lock their vehicles and keep valuables out of sight to reduce the opportunities for criminals. Please report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood immediately.
INCIDENT: Thefts from unsecured vehicles
LOCATION: Emily Drive
CASE NO.: 2017-0119
DISPOSITION: Under Investigation
SYNOPSIS: During the dates of January 31 and February 1, 2017, the Fruitland Police Department began investigating several incidents of thefts from unsecured vehicles. Several unsecured vehicles in the area of Emily Drive were entered and valuables were taken. Anyone who observed anything in those areas, during those times, or that may have any information is urged to call (410) 548-2803. Any residents, in those areas, that have home surveillance video are asked to review it and forward any potential information to the Fruitland Police. The Fruitland Police would also like to remind citizens to lock their vehicles and keep valuables out of sight to reduce the opportunities for criminals. Please report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood immediately.
SCHUMER 2015: Refugee ‘pause may be necessary’
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer thought a “pause” in accepting refugees “may be necessary” in 2015 when Barack Obama was president.
But a temporary ban ordered by President Donald Trump in 2017 — barely one year later — literally has him in tears. “This executive order was mean-spirited and un-American,” Schumer declared while surrounded by children.
Numbers USA dug up some old audio of Schumer telling reporters that a “pause” in taking in refugees “may be necessary.”
This is a far different reaction than one he delivered on Sunday.
Listen:
But a temporary ban ordered by President Donald Trump in 2017 — barely one year later — literally has him in tears. “This executive order was mean-spirited and un-American,” Schumer declared while surrounded by children.
Numbers USA dug up some old audio of Schumer telling reporters that a “pause” in taking in refugees “may be necessary.”
This is a far different reaction than one he delivered on Sunday.
Listen:
Md. supporters of Trump’s travel ban speak out
In Maryland’s St. Mary’s County, many voters came out to support Trump on Election Day and have sided with Trump’s executive order.
“There needs to be a little bit more to the vetting process,” said Cheryl, who did not give her last name. She’s happy that the president wants to try to find out more about people’s backgrounds before they’re allowed to come to the U.S.
She added, “You can’t just let somebody in and say, ‘Oh yeah, you passed’ some random screening, even though there’s absolutely no history, and say, ‘Have fun, see you later.'”
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Trump: 'We Are Going to Help' Christian Refugees
In an interview with theChristian Broadcasting Network recorded on Thursday, but set to air in full on Sunday, President Trump said Christian refugees have been “horribly treated” and “we are going to help them.”
“The refugee changes that you’re looking to make, as it relates to persecuted Christians, do you see them as kind of a priority here?” CBN’s David Brody asked the President.
“Yes,” Trump replied. “They’ve been horribly treated.”
“Do you know if you were a Christian in Syria it was impossible – or at least very, very tough – to get in to the United States?” he asked. “If you were a Muslim, you could come in. But if you were Christian, it was almost impossible.”
“And the reason that was so unfair, is that everybody was persecuted in all fairness, they were chopping off the heads of everybody, but more so the Christians. I thought it was very, very unfair,” Trump continued. “So we are going to help them.”
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“The refugee changes that you’re looking to make, as it relates to persecuted Christians, do you see them as kind of a priority here?” CBN’s David Brody asked the President.
“Yes,” Trump replied. “They’ve been horribly treated.”
“Do you know if you were a Christian in Syria it was impossible – or at least very, very tough – to get in to the United States?” he asked. “If you were a Muslim, you could come in. But if you were Christian, it was almost impossible.”
“And the reason that was so unfair, is that everybody was persecuted in all fairness, they were chopping off the heads of everybody, but more so the Christians. I thought it was very, very unfair,” Trump continued. “So we are going to help them.”
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Armed Citizen Who Threw Wallet to Distracted Suspect: ‘That’s When I Lit Him Up’
An armed citizen, who was in Detroit’s E&S Carry Out Shrimp Shack during an alleged robbery, says he threw his wallet on the floor, and when the robbery suspect looked away to retrieve it, the citizen shot him.
The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. on January 21.
According to ClickonDetroit.com, the armed citizen is a concealed carry permit holder going only by “Dennis” to protect his privacy. He was in the Shrimp Shack with his girlfriend, Latanya, when an alleged armed robbery suspect came in and ordered everyone to hand over their “cash.” Dennis and his girlfriend “and another customer started throwing their money and wallets on the floor.”
More here
The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. on January 21.
According to ClickonDetroit.com, the armed citizen is a concealed carry permit holder going only by “Dennis” to protect his privacy. He was in the Shrimp Shack with his girlfriend, Latanya, when an alleged armed robbery suspect came in and ordered everyone to hand over their “cash.” Dennis and his girlfriend “and another customer started throwing their money and wallets on the floor.”
More here
Forensic Audit of 2016 Election Underway
I am proud to announce that True the Vote has already initiated a comprehensive forensic audit of the 2016 Presidential election.
Our focus will include, but not be limited to, non-citizen voting, falsification of identity, double voting, mail-in ballot fraud, votes cast in the name of dead voters, and federal registration flaws.
Through our past research into election fraud, we have developed the methodologies and supports necessary to structure disparate data sets in accessible ways. We are not only comfortable with, we're confident in, our ability to manage a usable platform of hundreds of millions of files.
There is no doubt this will be our biggest project to date, but we aren't going it alone. Our audit team will include world-class technologists, researchers, data miners, statisticians, scholars, analysts, and subject matter experts. This isn't 'B-team' stuff. The integrity of our elections is too important.
News reports have been unclear about what the government's role will be in this investigation. I can affirm that it is our intent to take on this project whether or not the government follows through.
More here
Trump Pledges to ‘Rigorously’ Enforce Iran Deal
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to the Saudi King Salman that he would enforce the Iranian nuclear deal “rigorously,” changing his tone from the presidential campaign in which he said he would dismantle the deal or walk away from it.
In their conversation on Sunday, Trump and King Salman also agreed on the establishment of safe zones to protect Syrian refugees in Syria and Yemen, according to a statement from the White House.
Trump called on Gulf states to establish and fund such safe zones during the presidential campaign.
“The president requested, and the King agreed, to support safe zones in Syria and Yemen, as well as supporting other ideas to help the many refugees who are displaced by the ongoing conflicts,” the statement said.
According to Reuters, the two leaders agreed on the importance of strengthening joint efforts to fight the spread of Islamic State terrorists.
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In their conversation on Sunday, Trump and King Salman also agreed on the establishment of safe zones to protect Syrian refugees in Syria and Yemen, according to a statement from the White House.
Trump called on Gulf states to establish and fund such safe zones during the presidential campaign.
“The president requested, and the King agreed, to support safe zones in Syria and Yemen, as well as supporting other ideas to help the many refugees who are displaced by the ongoing conflicts,” the statement said.
According to Reuters, the two leaders agreed on the importance of strengthening joint efforts to fight the spread of Islamic State terrorists.
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Fake news: CNN omits refugee’s Trump praise
Refugees say the darndest things.
The mainstream media had their Donald Trump victim in the flesh when Hameed Khalid Darweesh, who worked as an interpreter for the US during the Iraq War was detained at JFK airport in New York on Saturday.
Darweesh was held after President Trump issued an executive order curtailing the acceptance of refugees from Syria and other jihadi-infected areas.
He appeared before cameras outside the airport after his release.
After he heaped praise on America, a reporter shouted, “What do you think of Donald Trump?”
“I like him,” Darweesh responded, as a look of shock came over the faces of Congress members Nydia Velazquez and Jerrold Nadler, before adding, “but I don’t know, this is a policy, I don’t know, he’s a president and I’m a normal person.”
“America is the land of freedom,” he told reporters at the airport shortly after his release. “America is the greatest nation.”
A source with knowledge of the case confirmed Darweesh will be allowed into the US due to provisions in Trump’s order that allow the State and Homeland Security departments to admit individuals into the US on a case-by-case base for certain reasons, including when the person is already in transit and it would cause undue hardship and would not pose a threat to the security of the US.
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The mainstream media had their Donald Trump victim in the flesh when Hameed Khalid Darweesh, who worked as an interpreter for the US during the Iraq War was detained at JFK airport in New York on Saturday.
Darweesh was held after President Trump issued an executive order curtailing the acceptance of refugees from Syria and other jihadi-infected areas.
He appeared before cameras outside the airport after his release.
After he heaped praise on America, a reporter shouted, “What do you think of Donald Trump?”
“I like him,” Darweesh responded, as a look of shock came over the faces of Congress members Nydia Velazquez and Jerrold Nadler, before adding, “but I don’t know, this is a policy, I don’t know, he’s a president and I’m a normal person.”
“America is the land of freedom,” he told reporters at the airport shortly after his release. “America is the greatest nation.”
A source with knowledge of the case confirmed Darweesh will be allowed into the US due to provisions in Trump’s order that allow the State and Homeland Security departments to admit individuals into the US on a case-by-case base for certain reasons, including when the person is already in transit and it would cause undue hardship and would not pose a threat to the security of the US.
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Trump administration to allow 872 refugees into U.S. this week
The U.S. government has granted waivers to let 872 refugees into the country this week, despite President Donald Trump's executive order on Friday temporarily banning entry of refugees from any country, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security document seen by Reuters.
A Homeland Security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the waivers, noting that the refugees were considered "in transit" and had already been cleared for resettlement before the ban took effect.
Refugees preparing for resettlement typically have severed personal ties and relinquished their possessions, leaving them particularly vulnerable if their plans to depart are suddenly canceled.
The waivers, granted by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), came amid international protests against Trump's rushed executive order. Critics said the order in some cases was not clearly communicated to the agencies responsible for implementing it.
It was not known if additional waivers would be granted, the official said. The document did not give the nationalities of the refugees who will be admitted into the United States.
More here
A Homeland Security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the waivers, noting that the refugees were considered "in transit" and had already been cleared for resettlement before the ban took effect.
Refugees preparing for resettlement typically have severed personal ties and relinquished their possessions, leaving them particularly vulnerable if their plans to depart are suddenly canceled.
The waivers, granted by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), came amid international protests against Trump's rushed executive order. Critics said the order in some cases was not clearly communicated to the agencies responsible for implementing it.
It was not known if additional waivers would be granted, the official said. The document did not give the nationalities of the refugees who will be admitted into the United States.
More here
A tidbit of Islamic history
It might surprise many from the left to learn that Muhammad, the prophet and founder of Islam, planned on expelling all Christians and Jews from Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, he died before his followers were powerful enough to implement his vision, which in a narrower sense, actually lives on today. Non-muslims are not welcome in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. I challenge all non-Muslims, who are complaining about President Trump’s restrictions on individuals from certain nations, to buy a plane ticket and fly to Mecca. We could make bets on how many minutes would pass by before they are arrested and carried away.
Muhammad planned to expel Christians from the Arabian Peninsula
Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab:
That the Messenger of Allah said: "If I live - if Allah wills - I will expel the Jews and the Christians from the Arabian Peninsula.”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1606
In-book reference: Book 21, Hadith 69
English translation: Vol. 3, Book 19, Hadith 1606
Muhammad planned to expel Christians from the Arabian Peninsula
It has been narrated by 'Umar b. al-Khattib that he heard the Messenger of Allah say:
I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 1767 aIn-book reference: Book 32, Hadith 75
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 19, Hadith 4366
Muhammad planned to expel Christians from the Arabian Peninsula
Jabir bin ‘Abd Allah said that he was told by ‘Umar bin Al Khattab that he heard the Apostle of Allaah say “I will certainly expel the Jews and the Christians from Arabia and I shall leave only Muslims in it.”
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 3030
In-book reference: Book 20, Hadith 103
English translation: Book 19, Hadith 3024
Muhammad planned to expel Christians from the Arabian Peninsula
Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab:
That the Messenger of Allah said: "If I live - if Allah wills - I will expel the Jews and the Christians from the Arabian Peninsula.”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1606
In-book reference: Book 21, Hadith 69
English translation: Vol. 3, Book 19, Hadith 1606
Muhammad planned to expel Christians from the Arabian Peninsula
It has been narrated by 'Umar b. al-Khattib that he heard the Messenger of Allah say:
I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 1767 aIn-book reference: Book 32, Hadith 75
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 19, Hadith 4366
Muhammad planned to expel Christians from the Arabian Peninsula
Jabir bin ‘Abd Allah said that he was told by ‘Umar bin Al Khattab that he heard the Apostle of Allaah say “I will certainly expel the Jews and the Christians from Arabia and I shall leave only Muslims in it.”
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 3030
In-book reference: Book 20, Hadith 103
English translation: Book 19, Hadith 3024
When 11,000 air traffic controllers called his bluff, President Reagan fired all of them–it’s called leadership
After the air traffic controllers union walked out on talks with the Federal Aviation Administration in 1981, President Ronald Reagan deemed the strike to be illegal and said he would fire any controller who failed to return to work within 48 hours.
More than 11,000 controllers called his bluff and, to the shock of many, Reagan fired every last one of them.
The New York Times characterized the incident as “the strike that busted unions,” saying it “undermined the bargaining power of American workers and their labor unions.”
You can be assured there were protests over Reagan’s actions against the strikers — although nothing on the scale of the hysteria currently seen over President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration and refugees.
Looking back on it today, the objections proved to be fruitless, as a social media user noted on Tuesday, “They were still fired and the protesters are gone.”
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More than 11,000 controllers called his bluff and, to the shock of many, Reagan fired every last one of them.
The New York Times characterized the incident as “the strike that busted unions,” saying it “undermined the bargaining power of American workers and their labor unions.”
You can be assured there were protests over Reagan’s actions against the strikers — although nothing on the scale of the hysteria currently seen over President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration and refugees.
Looking back on it today, the objections proved to be fruitless, as a social media user noted on Tuesday, “They were still fired and the protesters are gone.”
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WH ultimatum to State Department over travel ban dissent
State Department employees harboring anger about President Donald Trump's travel ban are welcome to find a new place to work, the White House said Monday.
The 100 signatories of a dissent memo that's circulating at State 'should either get with the program or they can go,' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer declared.
'At some point if they have a big problem with the policies that he's instituting to keep the country safe, then that's up to them to question whether or not they want to stay or not,' Spicer told reporters during his daily briefing.
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The 100 signatories of a dissent memo that's circulating at State 'should either get with the program or they can go,' White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer declared.
'At some point if they have a big problem with the policies that he's instituting to keep the country safe, then that's up to them to question whether or not they want to stay or not,' Spicer told reporters during his daily briefing.
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Oprah Winfrey becoming a contributor to CBS' '60 Minutes'
The deal joins one of the most famous women in the world with the most prestigious newsmagazine on television.
Winfrey will be a "special contributor," CBS said. This means she'll have several stories on the upcoming season of the newsmagazine. The first story will air sometime in the fall.
CBS declined to comment on the length of Winfrey's contributor deal.
Jeff Fager, the executive producer of the program, said it was "invigorating" discussing the partnership.
"She's a wonderful person full of energy and ideas," he told CNN.
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Winfrey will be a "special contributor," CBS said. This means she'll have several stories on the upcoming season of the newsmagazine. The first story will air sometime in the fall.
CBS declined to comment on the length of Winfrey's contributor deal.
Jeff Fager, the executive producer of the program, said it was "invigorating" discussing the partnership.
"She's a wonderful person full of energy and ideas," he told CNN.
More
'Baked slop': Delaware sticks to prison loaf; others end use
SMYRNA, Del. – While other states are gradually moving away from special diets for unruly prisoners, Delaware officials are sticking with their use of what is commonly known as "the loaf."
That's the name given to a mashup of vegetables, bread, rice and other ingredients typically given to inmates for misbehavior involving food or bodily waste.
Pennsylvania replaced the loaf with bagged meals in October, and Maryland's prison chief rescinded its use last month.
But Delaware is sticking with the loaf, serving it to 30 inmates in 2015, and 17 last year.
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That's the name given to a mashup of vegetables, bread, rice and other ingredients typically given to inmates for misbehavior involving food or bodily waste.
Pennsylvania replaced the loaf with bagged meals in October, and Maryland's prison chief rescinded its use last month.
But Delaware is sticking with the loaf, serving it to 30 inmates in 2015, and 17 last year.
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Silent No More: Barack Obama Urges Community Organizing in Response to Donald Trump
Former President Barack Obama issued a statement reacting to President Donald Trump’s executive order to restrict immigration from high-risk countries in the Middle East, urging Americans to organize against the president.
“President Barack Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country,” Obama’s spokesman Kevin Lewis said in a statement to reporters.
Through his spokesman, Obama also opposed discrimination against people because of their faith or religion, although he did not say that Trump’s actions did so.
“With regard to comparisons to President Obama’s foreign policy decisions, as we’ve heard before,” Lewis said. “The president fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.”
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“President Barack Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country,” Obama’s spokesman Kevin Lewis said in a statement to reporters.
Through his spokesman, Obama also opposed discrimination against people because of their faith or religion, although he did not say that Trump’s actions did so.
“With regard to comparisons to President Obama’s foreign policy decisions, as we’ve heard before,” Lewis said. “The president fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.”
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