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Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Permitless Carry Picking Up Steam In This State

Permitless carry, also called constitutional carry, is the goal for many states right now. The idea of having to jump through hoops in order to exercise your right to keep and bear arms for personal protection is ridiculous, and constitutional carry helps remove that burden from law-abiding gun owners’ lives.

Now, one state is inching a bit closer to this goal.

After gaining traction in several states last legislative session, permitless carry is now picking up steam in Wisconsin.

Earlier this week, a Senate committee voted along party lines to pass SB 169, which removes the licensing requirement for those who want to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense. The National Rifle Association is strongly supporting the measure.

The bill was introduced earlier this year by state Sen. David Craig and state Rep. Mary Felzkowski, and boasts 39 co-sponsors.

“We already give people the ability to openly carry a firearm without a license,” Sen. Craig said in a statement when announcing the legislation. “With this bill, law-abiding citizens will have the same right to carry discreetly that they currently have to carry openly.

“If you decide to throw on a coat, you should not be considered a criminal.”

Bingo.

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A Whole Tapestry of Mess

Feature: Time is running out to save the Eisenhower Memorial

There is a part of me that would like to be able to laugh about the—legally speaking probably imminent but temporally speaking still a ways off—proposed Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial.

It is, after all, to be built between the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education building and the John F. Kennedy-venerating Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, in earshot of the carousel on the National Mall that plays ice cream truck music forever. Designed by Frank Gehry with an estimated cost of some $150 million, it is supposed to include 8 enormous columns, 10 feet in diameter and 80 feet tall, standing about huge and erect, clad in limestone, like some sort of over-enthusiastic temple complex for Osiris or—as others have described them more delicately—missile silos, or smokestacks, or bad jokes about Ike's interstate highway system.

Suspended by some of the pillars will be a vast steel net, 440 feet long, asking to be called a tapestry with tangles of wire standing in for embroidery. Steel nets should catch F/A-18 Hornets but this will probably just catch birds and plastic grocery bags and, one hopes for visibility's sake, an occasional glimmer of sunlight amidst clouded, gray buildings.

Though incongruity is the essence of jokes, what all this incongruity means is that when parents bring their children to see the U.S. memorial of the Supreme Allied Commander and liberator of Western Europe, they will wander through a strange garden, loomed over by pillars and muddled mesh. And that is no laughing matter.

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Half of Americans Believe Obamacare Exchanges Are Collapsing

38% of Democrats believe marketplaces are collapsing

Half of Americans believe that the Obamacare exchanges are collapsing, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The report found that 62 percent of Republicans and 38 percent of Democrats believe the marketplaces are collapsing.

"This month's findings indicate that most Americans think the ACA marketplaces are facing significant issues and while they favor Congress taking actions to stabilize the marketplaces, they are not confident that President Trump and Congress will be able to work together to make improvements to the marketplaces," Kaiser explains.

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Steelers coach Mike Tomlin raps Alejandro Villanueva for standing for national anthem

For Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, being “respectful of our football team” trumped the right of Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva to show respect for the national anthem.

A former Army Ranger, Villanueva was the only Steeler to break from the team's orders and come out of the tunnel Sunday in Chicago to stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Speaking after his team's 23-17 loss to the Bears, Tomlin appeared to take a swipe at the Bronze Star recipient's decision.

“Like I said, I was looking for 100 percent participation, we were gonna be respectful of our football team,” Tomlin said.

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Allen West: I Can No Longer Remain Silent on Colin Kaepernick

I’ve kept my peace on this subject, but you can refer to my original comments on the issue of Colin Kaepernick from last year’s football season.

But now I hear there’s a petition of folks who are planning to boycott the NFL if Colin Kaepernick doesn’t get picked up by a football team. This is typical of the left who only operates in the world of intimidation, coercion, and violence … threats.

So now the progressive socialist left wants to coerce and intimidate a private sector business into accepting one of their chuckleheads.

Here’s the bottom line: Colin Kaepernick utilized his freedom of speech and expression — stupidly — in protest against our national anthem. That is his right, but guess what, my tender cupcake leftist social justice warriors-- there are consequences.

If Colin Kaepernick wants to make politicized statements he is free to do so. And NFL teams also have a freedom, not to hire him! You delusional leftists seem to believe we have to put up with your insidious proclamations and actions. We do not.

There's more here

GOP Senators Push Amnesty for 2.5 Million Illegals

GOP Senator and outsourcing-advocate Sen. Thom Tillis will introduce legislation on Monday offering citizenship to more than 2. 5 million illegal immigrants who gain jobs, university places or military slots sought by young Americans, according to the McClatchy news service.

The legislation is being backed by Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, despite broad public opposition to cheap-labor amnesties, and would allow the 2.5 million Democratic-leaning illegals to become citizens in 10 years.

The bill reflects Tillis’ hard-nosed push for greater use of foreign workers, in both the blue-collar H-2B program and the white-collar H-1B program. Many North Carolina companies, such including universities, are importing foreigners for white-collar jobs sought by young American graduates. In 2016, for example, companies in Charlotte, N.C., asked for almost 2,200 H-1B visas to import white-collar outsourcing workers. Tillis has repeatedly said he wants to let companies hire more cheap-labor blue-collar and white-collar contract workers. He was quoted by an Indian newspaper saying that any foreigners who get an advanced degree in the United States should be allowed to become citizens and compete against Americans for jobs.

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Voter group puts 248 counties on notice over bloated voter rolls

The Public Interest Legal Foundation is warning nearly 250 counties that they could face a lawsuit over bloated voter rolls, after their own analysis released Monday found they have more people registered to vote than could theoretically be eligible.

New York City’s big counties are on the list, with New York County — also known as Manhattan — listing 54 percent more names on its voter rolls than the total number of people of voting age, according to Census Bureau figures.

The other boroughs also made this PILF list this year, as did San Diego in California.

All told, some 248 total counties spanning 24 states were getting warnings for having bloated voter rolls in the 2016 election, the PILF said. That’s up from 144 counties across 21 states warned after the 2014 election.

“Voter fraud begins with corrupted voter rolls,” said PILF President J. Christian Adams. “We hear about possible cyber-attacks, but we aren’t doing enough to fix voter rolls that are certainly corrupt. The voter rolls are so bad in some states that election officials would have a hard time telling the difference between sabotage and negligence.”

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N.Y. stadium worker walks off job of 30 years over national anthem protests

A New York man walked away from his job of almost 30 years at New Era Field after several Buffalo Bills players knelt and others locked arms in protest of President Trump’s remarks on national anthem protests.

“I waited until the National Anthem ended, I took off my shirt, threw my Bills hat on the ground, walked out,” Erich Nikischer told a local NBC affiliate.

Mr. Nikischer said he believes in the right to protest, but that it’s the wrong time to do it during the national anthem.

“The song that is about our country, our veterans that fight and die for us, it’s just something I feel you shouldn’t disrespect that way,” he said. “I believe people have the right to protest; I just don’t believe that’s the proper venue for it.”

Mr. Nikischer said it was a hard decision to leave his job after so many years.

“I will never step foot in the that place again, I will never watch an NFL football game again until this ends,” he said.

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Committee hearing set to follow up DOJ, FBI subpoenas in Russia probe

The House Intelligence Committee has set a Thursday hearing on “document production” following the chairman’s threat to drag the attorney general and FBI director before the committee if they failed to turn over subpoenaed documents related to the Russia investigation.

It’s unclear whether any of the documents requested by Chairman Devin Nunes have been provided to the committee or if either Attorney General Jeff Sessions or FBI Director Chris Wray will appear at the hearing. But the event has the potential to heighten tensions between the Justice Department and congressional investigators as numerous probes into Russian meddling with the presidential election are ongoing.

The committee sent a pair of subpoenas to the Justice Department and the FBI last month, seeking documents related to the agencies’ relationship with former British spy Christopher Steele, who authored a salacious dossier of President Trump’s supposed activities in Russia, as well as any copies of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act applications that relied upon information provided by Mr. Steele, according to a letter authored by Mr. Nunes.

Subpoenas were served on the DOJ and FBI on Aug. 24, initially requesting the the information by Sept. 1, and later extending the deadline to Sept. 14.

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Critics: State Department Delaying Aid to Yazidis, Christians in Iraq

Human rights activists and Catholic groups are questioning why the State Department still appears reluctant to direct money Congress appropriated to assist Christians, Yazidis, and other persecuted religious minorities in Iraq but this week quickly dispatched $32 million to help a majority Muslim group fleeing violence in Burma.

The State Department on Thursday announced it would provide a humanitarian aid package worth nearly $32 million to the Rohingya, a persecuted minority group in Burma, most of whom are Muslim. More than 400,000 Rohingya have fled Burma, a majority Buddhist nation, for Bangladesh over the past month to escape wide-scale violence that the United Nations' top human rights official has labeled ethnic cleansing.

The aid package came the day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke with Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of Burma, and urged the Burmese government and military to "address deeply troubling allegations of human rights abuses and violations."

Tillerson's quick efforts to help the Rohingya demonstrated the State Department's ability to quickly direct humanitarian aid to a threatened minority group. However, critics say the swift action stands in sharp contrast to State's foot-dragging when it comes to directing funds to Yazidis, Christians, and other religious minorities facing genocide in Iraq.

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Maxine Waters calls Dr. Ben Carson 'an educated fool'?

In her latest hurled insult, Rep. Maxine Waters has called Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson "an educated fool."

"Look at Ben Carson. My God. My grandmother would call him an educated fool," Waters stated.

"Here's a man who has a reputation of being a highly competent surgeon, but when he talks about poor people, he says they're the cause of their poverty.

"He doesn't understand why you didn't do what he did and why you didn't make it like he made it. And he doesn't know the difference between slavery and immigration," she went on.

At first glance, one is tempted to reply, "Speaking of educated fools..."

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Maryland State Police Easton Barrack arrest 2 during Opiate Eradication Operation

(Easton, Maryland) On September 27, 2017 Troopers from the Maryland State Police Easton Barrack conducted an Opiate Eradication Operation in the Easton, Talbot County area. Troopers focused their efforts in identifying persons trafficking Opiates on US. 50.

Troopers conducted over 33 traffic stops during this operation. Troopers issued 13 citations, 27 warnings and 1 safety equipment repair order.

During the initial stage of the operation, Trooper Woo conducted a traffic stop of a motor vehicle. A wanted check was conducted on the operator, identified as Theodore Molock 44 years of age from Cambridge, Maryland. It was learned that Mr. Molock had an active Dorchester County Circuit Court arrest warrant for violation of probation. Mr. Molock was transferred to the custody of the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office for his initial appearance before a Circuit Court Judge.

Additionally Trooper First Class Reuschling and Trooper Angeli conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Garry Waples, 61 years of age from Berlin, Maryland. During the course of this traffic stop, a probable cause search was conducted which revealed 92 Oxycontin pills, crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The narcotics that were seized from Mr. Waples had a street value of over $1500.00. Furthermore, Mr. Waples had an active arrest warrant issued through Queen Anne County, Maryland for failure to appear in district court.

Mr. Waples was further processed and charged for varies controlled dangerous substance drug violations. He was taken before a Talbot County Court Commissioner pending disposition.

The Maryland State Police was assisted during this operation by the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office and the Talbot County Drug Task Force.

Anyone having information regarding drug trafficking are encourage to contact the Maryland State Police Easton Barrack at 410-819-4747.

Ron Paul: "How To End The Korea Crisis"

The descent of US/North Korea “crisis” to the level of schoolyard taunts should be remembered as one of the most bizarre, dangerous, and disgraceful chapters in US foreign policy history.

President Trump, who holds the lives of millions of Koreans and Americans in his hands, has taken to calling the North Korean dictator “rocket man on a suicide mission.”

Why? To goad him into launching some sort of action to provoke an American response? Maybe the US president is not even going to wait for that.

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ISIS: Hurricanes Show U.S. Must be Overrun with 'Disasters and Illness'

A new official video issued by the Islamic State calls the hurricanes that have hit the United States this season a sign to jihadists to "rest assured" that America can be wounded through divine "revenge."

The video, “And We Made for Their Destruction an Appointed Time," shows various clips of hurricane destruction and news footage reporting from the storms. The title references a Quran verse: “And those cities – we destroyed them when they wronged, and we made for their destruction an appointed time."

"By Allah, the Muslims are extremely overjoyed with the series of hurricanes that is running over the United States of America," a fluent English-speaking jihadist, his face masked, says. "O Americans, we take delight in every form of harm that afflicts you and we call upon Allah day and night to overwhelm you with disasters and illness as revenge for you."

"Do not rejoice over the fact that these hurricanes have not destroyed everything ... for it is upon Allah to send upon the wrongdoers signs that perhaps they may repent and return to guidance."

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CNN analyst calls Trump ‘white supremacist’

A CNN analyst called President Trump a “white supremacist” on Monday during a debate over the weekend’s NFL national anthem protests.

The eponymous host of “At This Hour With Kate Bouldan” found herself in an awkward position Monday morning when analyst Keith Boykin explicitly called the commander in chief a “white supremacist.” The charge, which he refused to recant when given an opportunity, came while discussing Mr. Trump’s opinion that football players who refuse to stand for the national anthem should be fired.

“He’s encouraging white supremacists, and the fact is—,” Mr. Boykin said before getting cut off, The Washington Free Beacon reported.

“Are you really going—” Ms. Bouldan said..

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Survey: Just A Quarter Of Americans Can Name All 3 Branches Of Government

A sizable portion of the American public seems to show little interest in the fabric of the country’s government and history, a new survey finds.

Researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) surveyed over 1,000 American adults, finding a shocking lack of knowledge as it pertains to U.S. politics among the general populace.

Fifty-three percent of respondents believed the falsehood that illegal immigrants aren’t granted any constitutional rights, while 37 percent couldn’t even name a single right endowed by the First Amendment.

Thankfully, 48 percent of those surveyed were able to identify freedom of speech as being a right enshrined by the First Amendment, although far fewer could identify other rights accorded.

These include freedom of religion (15 percent), freedom of the press (14 percent), right of peaceful assembly (10 percent), and right to petition the government (three percent).

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Enemies, Foreign & Domestic

When we think about the nation's domestic enemies, we shouldn't limit ourselves to the likes of George Soros, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Al Franken, Maxine Waters and Hillary Clinton. We should never overlook Barack Obama, who went from being the worst president in U.S. history to being the worst ex-president, wresting both titles away from Jimmy Carter.

Talk about records you never dream will ever be broken.

In case it escaped your attention, as it apparently has the attention of the mass media, Obama has created a gang of 30,000 traitors under the banner of Organizing for Action, and staffed it with many of the deplorables who did so much to make the eight years of his administration such an unmitigated disaster, including his very own Rasputin, Valerie Jarrett..

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Accident On Camden Ave.

Joe,

Just witnessed this accident on Camden Ave at Asbury Ch today.

Adult female driver and child are both okay, just appear to have minor cuts and bruises. Heck, the little boy was not even crying.

Citizens helped get them out of the vehicle before FD personnel arrived.

It is amazing what people can do in a moment of crisis!

NFL protests: Stars could get off their knees and lead a constructive conversation on race

As more than 100 NFL players protested during the singing of America’s national anthem across the country Sunday, what had been a small protest of the way police treat African-Americans turned into a much larger protest directed at President Trump.

The flare-up started on Friday with the president’s blistering attack against the NFL, the NBA and several players, telling a political rally in Alabama: “Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b---- off the field right now.' "

President Trump continued his barrage over the weekend via Twitter, calling on NFL owners to “fire or suspend” players who kneel during the anthem and saying that fans should boycott teams with any kneeling players.

Yet lost in the war of angry tweets and protests is the original reason for the fight: alleged police mistreatment. Groups like Black Lives Matter and sports figures like Colin Kaepernik have long held that there is widespread police violence against black and brown people in America.

Kaepernik said: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color…. There are bodies in the street and people are getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

But is he right? A study by Harvard University says no..

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Equifax's Massive Hack Has a Tiny Silver Lining

More employees are likely to see a timely new offering when they choose their benefits in a month or so—identity-theft protection. About 35 percent of companies offered it in 2015, global advisory firm Willis Towers Watson has reported, and 70 percent have said it could be on their benefits menu by 2018.

The huge data breach at Equifax Inc. is accelerating that timetable. Interest in adding the service as part of a voluntary benefits plan was already on the rise over the past few years, courtesy of the massive Anthem data breach in 2015, among others. But that’s nothing compared with this latest credit bureau disaster.

“Over the last two weeks or so—oh my word,” said Amy Hollis, national leader-voluntary benefits at Willis Towers Watson. “The entire paradigm of how employers are viewing identity theft has just shifted.”

Now, some employers that planned to offer it next year are trying to shift it this year, she said, making it one of the fastest growing plan options.

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People spend more time sitting on the toilet than exercising

People in the UK spend more time sitting on the toilet every week than exercising, a study has found.

Adults clock up an average of three hours and nine minutes on the loo every week - but spend just 90 minutes being active.

In fact, more than a quarter (26%) of people exercise for 30 minutes or less each week, the survey showed.

And overall, almost two-thirds (64%) of Britons sit down for at least six hours a day.

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Lost Cat 9-25-17: UPDATE

Identifying marks: She is a tortoiseshell cat. Answers to her name. 
She is very friendly and family misses her a bunch. Partially blind in one eye (left).

Last seen: 6397 Oxbridge Drive, Willow Creek Area:  - Evening of Sept. 22nd

Reward: $50 (My daughter’s current chore/allowance/gift savings).

Contact (410) 334-6257

BREAKING NEWS: Fire Reported At Stephen Decatur High School

Berlin, Ocean City, Ocean Pines responding to a reported building fire at Stephen Decatur High School. Smoke in the front office. All students being evacuated at this time. Use caution in the area.

The One Electric Car That Makes Some Sense . . .

It’s interesting about the Chevy Volt.

Uniquely, it carries around its own recharger – so it’s not tied to a corded umbilical like other electric cars. So it isn’t gimped by a much-abbreviated radius of action, like all other electric cars – the best of which can travel maybe 150 or so miles before their batteries conk out and the car must hook up to an electric IV for an extended recharging session.

When the Volt’s battery pack’s charge runs down, fresh current is fed into it as you drive – without having to stop driving.

This is superficially similar to the way a hybrid works but also very different.

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Hurricane Maria Has Transformed Puerto Rico Into A "Cash Only" Economy

Electricity, internet access and cell phone service have been offline in parts of Puerto Rico for a whole week. And with the island still struggling to rescue people stranded in remote villages, those managing the emergency recovery effort have yet to focus their attentions on the monumental task that looms ahead: Rebuilding the island’s devastated infrastructure, from communications to sewers and water

The damage, as Bloomberg reports, has essentially knocked Puerto Rico’s economy back into the 1950s. For locals who’re struggling to begin the process of rebuilding their damaged homes, shops across the island are only accepting cash.

The cash economy has reigned in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria decimated much of the U.S. commonwealth last week, leveling the power grid and wireless towers and transporting the island to a time before plastic existed. The state of affairs could carry on for weeks or longer in some remote parts of the commonwealth, and that means it could be impossible to trace revenue and enforce tax rules.

The situation further frustrates one of the many challenges already facing a government that has sought a form of bankruptcy protection after its debts swelled past $70 billion: boosting revenue by collecting money that slips through the cracks.

The cash-only economy could create problems for the island’s cash-strapped government, as business owners will no doubt be tempted to avoid declaring some of their revenues, depriving PR’s government of badly needed revenue.

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Hero!

All but one of the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to protest by staying in their locker room, during the playing of the national anthem at Sunday afternoon’s game in Chicago. The lone dissenter was former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva who bucked the team’s decision and took the field, anyway, hand over his heart and helmet under his arm.

This isn’t the first time the Steelers’ offensive tackle has been at odds with fellow players over anthem protests.

Last year, Villanueva criticized Colin Kaepernick for his protests during the national anthem:

“I don’t know if the most effective way is to sit down during the national anthem with a country that’s providing you freedom, providing you $16 million a year … when there are black minorities that are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for less than $20,000 a year,” Villanueva said of the anthem protests.

Villanueva was a Captain in the U.S. Army during much of his service overseas (with three tours of duty in Afghanistan) and now holds the rank of Major in the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He was also the recipient of the Bronze Star with “V” device.

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Trump may have built support for kneeling, but kneelers’ tactics are overshadowing their real cause

Kneeling on the field during the National Anthem is no longer just about Colin Kaepernick or about criminal justice reform — it’s about whether or not you support President Donald Trump calling kneeling players “sons of bitches.”

The situation has devolved into a triple irony.

The first irony is that Trump has added support to the kneelers. Only Trump’s most loyal supporters believe he is justified in calling a fellow law-abiding American a “son of a bitch.” It’s simply not appropriate for the office. Before his Friday comments, it was a fairly small group of people actively supporting Kaepernick and those kneeling on the field; after the weekend, most Democrats and anti-Trumpers have now adopted it as their cause — growing the movement considerably.

But here’s the second irony: very few, if any of these new additions understand the motives for the protests in the first place. Following social media and conversations around the city, it’s clear people are standing with the NFL players for their right to protest and against Trump’s attacks.

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The NFL's Worst Fumble Yet

President Donald Trump tapped into the sentiment of the vast majority of Americans over the weekend, and the Leftmedia hate him for it. “Trump turns sports into a political battleground,” headlined The Washington Post, as if athletes, coaches, owners and commentators hadn’t already politicized sports.

What Trump did do was give voice from the most powerful bully pulpit in the land to what many Americans already think: Athletes who make millions of dollars each year to entertain us on the field should not spit in the face of our great nation by disrespecting the national anthem before games. Take the activism off the field.

The reaction in the NFL was predictable. Many more players joined the anthem protests, taking knees and locking arms. Even a couple of owners joined in.

One instance that stood out was the Pittsburgh Steelers, who didn’t take the field at all until after the national anthem — except for Steelers offensive tackle and former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva. “This We’ll Defend” is the U.S. Army motto, and he upheld it with honor.

For his part, coach Mike Tomlin was critical … of Villanueva. “I was looking for 100 percent participation. We were gonna be respectful of our football team,” he complained of Villanueva standing alone..

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Nolte: CNN's Top 6 Hypocrisies and Lies in Defense of NFL Crybabies

If nothing else, the uproar over these spoiled NFL millionaires who work only 16 days a year but still feel the need to spit on the American flag and anthem, has proven once again that our national media is infected with a lethal dose of Groupthink.

Within the MSM, no one has shown the courage or even the ability to think for themselves. It is quite a thing to witness.

Just as fascinating is the media’s glaring, audacious hypocrisy — most especially from CNN. In its never-ending quest to destroy President Trump, the leftwing cable network’s credibility-killing shamelessness has been on display for quite a long time. But in defense of these crybaby one-percenters, it has been especially shameless.
CNN’s Definition of ‘Divisive’

According to CNN, it is not at all divisive for a bunch of pampered millionaires to politicize a sport, to take a side in the culture wars during a football game, to openly disrespect the American flag and anthem.

No, according to CNN, this issue only gets “divisive” when you criticize this abominable behavior.

You see, in order to keep things from becoming divisive, normal people are just supposed to shut up and take it.

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Former Baltimore Co. school chief investigated

Former Baltimore County school superintendent Dallas Dance is under investigation for his ties to the education company SUPES Academy, the same company that landed former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett in prison.

Investigators with the Maryland State Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation six months ago into Dance’s involvement with SUPES Academy during his time as Baltimore County superintendent, which ended with his abrupt resignation this April, The Baltimore Sun reports.

Dance took training classes with SUPES Academy while he was an administrator in Houston, before landing the Baltimore County superintendent’s job in July 2012. By the end of the year, he had talked the school board into approving an $875,000 no-bid contract with SUPES to train dozens of principals in the district over several years.

The next year, he was busted working for SUPES on the weekends in Chicago, where the company had gotten a $20 million no-bid contract with the help of former Chicago schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, according to the news site.

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DirecTV allows some NFL refunds after anthem controversy

DirecTV is allowing at least some customers to cancel subscriptions to its Sunday Ticket package of NFL games and obtain refunds, if they cite players' national anthem protests as the reason for discontinuing service, customer service representatives said Tuesday.

Under Sunday Ticket's regular policy, refunds are not to be given once the season is underway. But the representatives said they are making exceptions this season -- which began in September -- because of the controversy over the protests, in which players kneel or link arms during the national anthem.

Spokesmen for DirecTV-parent AT&T Inc. (T) and the National Football League declined to comment.

The shift is the latest twist in a controversy that has divided the nation after President Donald Trump blasted players who took a knee during the anthem and said they should be fired. He has called on people to walk out of stadiums when players are kneeling, and has continued to express his displeasure over the protests.

"For people to disrespect that by kneeling during the playing of our national anthem, I think is disgraceful," Mr. Trump said on Tuesday.

Several teams have issued statements defending the rights of their players to express their opinion or have otherwise shown solidarity with them, as has the league.

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TheDC Morning - What’s True, False And In-Between In The Trump Dossier?

The infamous Trump dossier: Democrats say key parts of it have been proved accurate and Republicans claim it has been debunked.

But the truth about the salacious document, written last year by former British spy Christopher Steele, lies somewhere in the middle.

An analysis of the 35-page document by The Daily Caller shows that a vast majority of its claims have neither been proved nor disproved. Many are under dispute; others are the subject of defamation lawsuits.

Democrats are correct in one regard. The parts of the dossier that describe in general terms a Russian plot to meddle in the presidential campaign have been backed up by the U.S. intelligence community, which says there is ample evidence that Russia interfered in the presidential campaign. But none of the specific claims about the Trump team’s involvement have been verified. And some of those specific claims have been vehemently denied by Trump and his associates.
Here is a review of the dossier’s claims, in chronological order. Some are quoted directly from the dossier while others are paraphrased.

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Planned Parenthood campaign: ‘Do No Harm’

Pro-lifers needled Planned Parenthood on Monday in response to the abortion giant’s use of the phrase “Do No Harm” to rally opposition against the Republican health care bill.

"If our senators were listening, they'd stop #Trumpcare once & for all.

Let's make sure they hear us: 202-804-8210#DoNoHarm #IStandWithPP"

Abortion opponents were quick to point out the apparent irony.

“First, do no harm” is a dictum attributed to the Greek physician Hippocrates.

Similar language appears in the Hippocratic Oath that medical students commonly take in the process of becoming doctors.

The Hippocratic Oath also contains a proscription against abortion.

“I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion,” the oath reads, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica translation.

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NEVER Trust a Dog from Salisbury!


Journalists Shouldn't Be Exempt from the Law

Suppose, gentle reader, that in the city where you live there is a trial taking place, one that has attracted considerable attention and is fraught with potential for unrest should the verdict not conform with the expectations of some of your fellow citizens. Now suppose further that when the verdict is handed down, those same citizens are indeed so displeased that they take to the streets to express their outrage.

But you, gentle reader, busy as you are with commitments to work and family, have not followed the story closely. Now aware of the controversy, you decide to attend a protest rally near your home, not so much to protest yourself but merely to be educated on the issues.

And now suppose that some of the gathered protesters are worked up into such a state that they vent their anger by breaking the windows of some of the local businesses. The police, many of whom are present on the perimeter, announce that violence will not be tolerated, and to that end they proclaim the gathering to be an unlawful assembly, directing all who wish to avoid arrest to leave the area.

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Church shooter admits to crime as bizarre Facebook posts surface

A Sudanese immigrant admitted to being the triggerman who killed one parishioner and seriously injured seven others Sunday at a Nashville-area church, according to a police affidavit ahead of his first court appearance.

Emanuel Kidega Samson, of La Vergne, told cops during an interview that he “fired upon the church building” after arriving there with a handgun, the Tennessean reported, citing the affidavit.

Samson, who was been charged with one count of murder and is likely to face other charges, will appear in Davidson County General Sessions court Wednesday and is being held at a county jail without bond.

His admission comes as police are searching for a motive for the shooting at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch. Samson, 25, purportedly posted several cryptic messages on his Facebook page in the days leading up to the attack.

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The Storm After The Storm: Disaster's Mental Toll

When the evacuation order came as Hurricane Irma was bearing down on Florida, Maria Mendez followed steps she knew well.

"We got the house ready," says Mendez, a 68-year-old English professor from Cutler Bay, about 30 miles south of downtown Miami. The family put up the hurricane shutters, wrapped paintings and other valuables, and moved the patio furniture inside.

Suddenly, however, Maria ran out of the house.

"I opened the gate and started running," she says.

Her husband, Alfredo, and daughter Ana led her back to the house, calmed her down, and the family safely evacuated.

In hindsight, Maria knows what was behind her need to escape. Irma had triggered a reliving of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, when they lost their house, cars, and boat. During that storm, the family had holed up in the house, terrified as the bathroom ceiling collapsed and the roof blew away.

"We were sure we were going to die," she remembers. The psychologist who diagnosed her posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after Hurricane Andrew had said to expect unusual reactions when disaster strikes.

With seemingly endless recent disasters -- hurricanes in Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean; wildfires out West; and now, major earthquakes in Mexico -- the immediate concern of the ones affected is survival: eating, drinking, and finding a place to sleep.

But soon after, the mental health fallout can start.

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A Viewer Writes: New City Website

Has anyone see this ridiculous new city website? All I wanted to know was how Bulk Trash Pickup worked I have a broken lawn mower to dispose of. Go ahead, try and find it. I don't know who the idiot was that put together this website but all it is, is a commercial for Jake's ventures. It's not geared for the citizens. You can not easily find anything you are looking for. I gave you the link to "citizen services". What a joke. Are these the only services us citizens are approved to know of? Hate this boy more and more each and every day.

https://salisbury.md/citzen-services

Fans are Burning their NFL Season Tickets on Social Media

NFL Star Asks 1 Question His Anthem-Kneeling Colleagues Refuse to Answer

Over the past few days, there have been numerous NFL players, coaches, and other personnel who have strongly objected to President Donald Trump’s Friday night remarks about what he thought should be done to those who kneel during the national anthem.

While a great many players have participated in the protests since Friday as a way of rebuking Trump, several have come out in defense of his statement and explained why they refuse to partake in this meaningless protest.

Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe is one of the players who has refused to kneel. On Sunday he issued a statement defending his decision not to kneel, and asked a tough question of those who do, NBC Sports Pro Football Talk reported.

Trump LEVELS NBA Star Turned Nat’l Anthem Protester: ‘You’re No Longer Invited To White House’

Once again, I find myself in complete agreement with President Trump. The Golden State Warriors were invited to the White House to celebrate their 2017 NBA Championship. The owner, coach and MVP of the team hesitated and delayed accepting the invitation. So… Trump rescinded it, very publicly on Twitter. I don’t blame him one teeny tiny bit. It’s an honor to be invited to the White House. If you are such an idiot that you can’t see it, then you don’t deserve to go. It’s been a custom to have the winner visit the White House since 1865. But because of the disrespect shown, that won’t happen this year. Too bad for the Golden State Warriors. Sucks to be them.

Kevin Durant had already stated he would not go if the team was invited. Now, he won’t be alone. Two-time MVP (and Obama golfing buddy) Stephen Curry also said he would not attend and Trump called him out by name. What jerks. It’s amazing how all these teams and players are more than willing to alienate the President of the United States and fans across the country, so they can make a political point that is nonsense to begin with. These protests are a sure road to bankruptcy for these teams and don’t have one iota of sympathy for the lot of them. Good freaking riddance.

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Main St Gym’s Hines wins Maryland Championship belt

Three Maryland State Amateur Championship belts were up for grabs Saturday night in the Welterweight, Heavyweight and Jr Middleweight divisions. Main St. boxer Markeese Hines put on a dominant performance, out scoring and landing the harder punches for three rounds against a very game Clayton Fraser, of Hagerstown. In the end, Hines won a unanimous decision and was presented the Championship belt in front of a packed house at Michaels 8th Avenue in Glen Burnie Maryland. “Markeese is a very determined young man that works extremely hard in the gym and continues to step up every time he gets in the ring. He wanted this belt badly and really made us proud in the way he represented Main St Gym and Salisbury. I am quite sure this is the first of others to come” said Main St Gym Coach Hal Chernoff. “

All Mxed Up: Fifth Grade Teacher Imposes Perverted Gender Politics

What kind of freaks have taken charge of teaching the next generation?

A new fifth-grade teacher at Canopy Oaks Elementary [in Tallahassee, Florida] is asking students to use gender-neutral pronouns in the classroom.

Math and science teacher Chloe Bressack sent the request home in a letter to parents headlined “About Mx. Bressack.”

“… my pronouns are ‘they, them, their’ instead of ‘he, his, she, hers.’ I know it takes some practice for it to feel natural,” the letter reads, “but students catch on pretty quickly.”

The letter also asks that students use “Mx.,” (pronounced ‘Mix’) when addressing the teacher rather than Mr. or Ms.

It is now too much to ask for teachers to encourage kids to speak proper English, and for science teachers not to demand that children deny objective reality.

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Riddle Me This...


Only Liberals Would Call This A Success


Makes You Think...


Mueller Scorches the Earth

His pre-dawn raid was meant to intimidate Manafort, not just to collect evidence. 

Robert Mueller’s sprawling special-counsel investigation is playing hardball. It was not enough to get a search warrant to ransack the Virginia home of Paul Manafort, even as the former Trump campaign chairman was cooperating with congressional investigators. Mueller’s bad-asses persuaded a judge to give them permission to pick the door lock. That way, they could break into the premises in the wee hours, while Manafort and his wife were in bed sleeping. They proceeded to secure the premises — of a man they are reportedly investigating for tax and financial crimes, not gang murders and Mafia hits — by drawing their guns on the stunned couple, apparently to check their pajamas for weapons.

Mueller’s probe more resembles an empire, with 17 prosecutors retained on the public dime. So . . . what exactly is the crime of the century that requires five times the number of lawyers the Justice Department customarily assigns to crimes of the century? No one can say. The growing firm is clearly scorching the earth, scrutinizing over a decade of Manafort’s shady business dealings, determined to pluck out some white-collar felony or another that they can use to squeeze him. 

You are forgiven if you can recall only vaguely that supposition about Trump-campaign collusion in Russian espionage against the 2016 election was the actual explanation for Mueller’s appointment as special counsel. To the extent there was any explanation, that is. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a Trump appointee, did not comply with the regulations requiring a description of the crimes Trump’s Justice Department is too conflicted to investigate, purportedly necessitating a quasi-independent special counsel.

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Fixing flood insurance -- now's the time

One reason why Hurricanes like Harvey and Irma cause so much damage is that people keep building and rebuilding in areas where floods are likely. They keep doing it, Matt Welch noted this week in the Los Angeles Times, because they are often being subsidized by the federal National Flood Insurance Program.

"There's no compelling reason for South Dakota to bail out South Beach," Welch wrote, reasonably enough. It's not just because the program is an expensive money-loser for taxpayers. It's also because the government's treatment of insurance is actually inducing people to put more property and more lives at risk each time there's a major storm.

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Verizon Says Some Cut-Off Rural Customers Can Stay, But They Must Ditch Unlimited Data Plans

Verizon recently notified around 8,500 rural wireless customers — accounting for nearly 20,000 phone numbers — that their service was going to be cut off for good on Oct. 17 because they spent too much time roaming off the Verizon network. Following the negative public reaction to this news, Verizon has decided to give these customers more time to find another wireless carrier or switch over to a Verizon plan with data caps. 

People Have Finally Figured Out That They Don’t Need To Wait In Line For An iPhone

Apple’s iPhone has been with us for ten years now, and Apple fans have gradually come to realize an important truth. No, not anything about iPhones themselves: They’ve come to realize that they don’t need to actually wait in line overnight on release day to get a device.

Florida Keys Will Officially Reopen To Tourists Oct. 1

If you had to delay a vacation to the Florida Keys because of Hurricane Irma, you’ll soon be able to follow through on your plan to visit Ernest Hemingway’s polydactyl cats: The Keys will officially reopen to tourists this weekend — which isn’t just good for visitors, but for the local economy as well. 

This University Has Produced the Most Powerful Women

Think you have to go to a fancy college to succeed in business? Think again.

Of the 50 women on Fortune's 2017 list of Most Powerful Women, just eight went to Ivy League universities as undergrads. The other 41 attended a range of institutions, from large state schools to small private colleges. At least one woman on our list, Home Depot's Northern Division president Crystal Hanlon (No. 41 on the list), doesn't hold a college or university degree; she started working at the company as a cashier in 1985 and rose through the ranks.

That being said, the most popular college attended by the MPWs was—as it was in 2016—Harvard University. The four women on our list who received their undergraduate degrees there are: Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg (No. 5), CVS/pharmacy president and CVS Health EVP Helena Foulkes (No. 12), YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki (No. 14), and Mattel CEO Margo Georgiadis (No. 49).

University of Miami, Boston College, and Princeton University all tied for the honor of second-most-popular college for Fortune's Most Powerful Women, with two alumnae each.

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