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Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Loneliness can make you sick

Loneliness can tank your mood, but can it affect your health, too?

All signs point to yes.

It turns out that feeling lonely can do more than make you sad: It can predict the way your body will respond to and bounce back from various health challenges. Lonely people are more likely to get sick, and researchers want to know why.

Three of them recently spoke about the current state of loneliness research and how scientists are responding. You can listen to their discussion on Aspen Ideas to Go, the podcast of the Aspen Ideas Festival, or watch the discussiononline.

The 40-minute conversation covers such topics as what loneliness seems to do in the body — including increased inflammation and neurological and genetic changes — and how health-care providers are reacting.

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Illinois Holocaust Museum Preserves Survivors' Stories — As Holograms

Holocaust survivor Sam Harris has told the story of how he survived the Holocaust hundreds of times.

He's talked about his experience in the Nazis' concentration camps with school groups and in videos for oral history archives. He even wrote a children's book.

But when he sat down to tell his story in Los Angeles a couple months ago, it was different.

In a Hollywood studio, surrounded by green screens, Harris answered questions for five or six hours a day. By the time it was all done, he'd answered nearly 2,000.

Sam Harris was getting made into a hologram.

"Oh my gosh, it's like being on the moon," Harris said. "I just looked at it and said, is that me?"

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This joker spends more time worrying about Trump than people in the state!

Attorney General Frosh, 11 Other Attorneys General Issue Statement in Support of Immigrant Women

BALTIMORE, MD –
Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today joined a coalition of 12 Attorneys General in telling the Trump Administration that it has no authority to block two young immigrant women in federal custody from obtaining abortions.

Late Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union filed papers in federal court to stop the Trump Administration from preventing the two women from obtaining abortions. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia will hear arguments this morning.

Troopers Arrest Civilian Pilot On Child Pornography Charges

(EASTON, MD) – A Maryland State Police investigation today resulted in the arrest of a civilian pilot in the State Police Aviation Command on child pornography charges.

The accused is identified as David Eldredge, 36, of Preston, Md. He is charged with ten counts of possession of child pornography. Eldredge has been employed as a civilian helicopter pilot in the Maryland State Police Aviation Command since March 2014. He was arrested this morning at the Easton Section of the Aviation Command.

Eldredge is being held without bond at the Talbot County Detention Center. Following his arrest today, he was removed from flight status pending the results of an internal administrative investigation that was initiated immediately.

This investigation began last week when a Maryland State Police criminal investigator assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information about child pornography being uploaded over the Internet to a personal cloud storage account. Further investigation determined the Internet address being used was located at the Maryland State Police Aviation Command Easton Section.

Investigators determined this was a non-Maryland State Police internet account that had been established there. The investigation determined the non-State Police account had been used by Eldredge to download images of child pornography onto a tablet.

Search warrants were obtained and served today at both the State Police Aviation Command Easton Section and at Eldredge’s home. Evidence obtained during those search warrants will be examined forensically as part of the ongoing investigation.

The investigation is continuing.

Thugs Break Out Into Massive Fight At Mall In Florida

Shots Fired In The City of Salisbury

City of Salisbury, Maryland
⚠️POLICE ALERT⚠️
REPORT OF SHOTS FIRED

1018 Fairground Drive

Salisbury Police Department dispatched to respond. Caller reports hearing multiple shots and seeing vehicles flee the area.

Pennsylvania prison guard identified as serial rapist

A married father-of-two prison guard was arrested on Monday for raping or attempting to rape three women in central Pennsylvania in the past five years.

Officials say they connected Kurtz to two of the crimes with DNA obtained from his discarded cigarettes.

Kurtz, a guard at the state prison in Coal Township, was under surveillance on Friday and Saturday when cops noticed him throwing cigarette butts out of his car window.

The DNA on the butts matched that perpetrator's in two of the assaults.

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Scientists just pinpointed link between red meat and cancer

Eating red meat has long been linked to cancer, and researchers now understand why.

Scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno, have identified a gene in certain animals — including cows and some types of fish — that links them to the deadly disease.

The gene, called CMAH, can cause a certain type of sugar to form in the animals. That sugar then triggers an inflammatory response when you eat red meat. The inflammation then increases the risk of tumors and cardiovascular disease.
Other research has linked this dangerous sugar to cancer, but this most recent report,published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, is the first to identify the animals with the CMAH gene that also have this sugar.

The researchers hope their findings will spur others to look into what animal products contain the cancerous sugar. In the meantime, if you’re concerned about your cancer risk, swap out red meat for poultry: Chicken, turkey and duck are all free of the CMAH gene.

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Bill Clinton snuck out of White House to visit mistresses

Bill Clinton was once caught trying to sneak out of the White House - apparently to visit a mistress - by hiding under a raincoat in the back of his personal lawyer's car.

The former president was stopped by a Secret Service officer at the gate who inspected lawyer Bruce Lindsey's vehicle and was shocked to see Clinton inside.

Lindsey pleaded to be allowed to pass but the uniformed officer held firm and radioed for backup. The officer said: 'You better get me some help here.

'I just caught Bruce Lindsey trying to drive out with the President with a raincoat over his head'.

The incident was recounted by former Secret Service officer Gary Byrne - who guarded the Clintons - in his new book, Secrets of the Secret Service: The History and Uncertain Future of the US Secret Service, which is out next month.

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Model who lost leg from tampon-induced toxic shock could also lose the other

Five years ago, at age 24, model Lauren Wasser nearly died from toxic shock after using a tampon, which resulted in her losing her right leg and part of her left foot. Now, she may lose her entire left leg as well.

“Had I known toxic shock was real, and had I seen someone that had either lost limbs or spoke about it publicly, I would have never used tampons,” Wasser told People.

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http://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/2017/12/19/model-who-lost-leg-to-toxic-shock-syndrome-warns-about-dangers-tampons.html

NFL Co-Hosts "Social Justice" Training For College Athletes

The National Football League has partnered with Morehouse College to host a three-day workshop dedicated to teaching student athletes strategies for “effective advocacy.”

The workshop comes on the heel of the NFL’s recent pledge to donate $89 million dollars to social justice causes over the next seven years, a commitment that notably came in light of the protests against racial injustice seen by NFL players like Colin Kaepernick and others.

“This historic workshop is aimed at training the next generation of athletes who wish to use sport as a powerful platform for advocacy,” said Troy Vincent, the Executive Vice President of Football Operations at the NFL, in the NFL press release.

“Our partnership is designed to equip athletes as influencers and community leaders with the mechanics to develop their advocacy platform,” Vincent added.

David Wall Rice, a psychology professor at Morehouse College, took the lead on developing the upcoming training, but it was also developed in consultation with NFL athletes, social advocates, and sports administrators, the NFL says.

The NFL and Morehouse College have been in meetings since October 2016 that were convened by the RISE, a nonprofit dedicated to “harnessing the unifying power of sports to improve race relations and drive social progress.”

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OCPD Undercover Operation Results in Numerous Drug Arrests

OCEAN CITY, MD: The Ocean City Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team (CET) and the Ocean City Police Special Enforcement Unit (SEU), has concluded a three month undercover operation that resulted in multiple arrests.  With the help of the OCPD Quick Response Team, undercover detectives began making arrests and serving Search and Seizure Warrants on December 13, 2017.  A total of 21 suspects were arrested or charged based on the investigation and various drugs were siezed.
The proactive investigation began in September as an attempt to curb thefts, burglaries and car break-ins in the downtown area by targeting street level drug distribution.  During the course of the investigation, undercover officers arranged to buy heroin and cocaine on mulitple occasions from Sherif Talib, (age), of Baltimore, Maryland. 
On December 1, detectives arranged to meet Talib in West Ocean City to purchase several ounces of heroin.  As officers moved in to arrest Talib, he immediately struck a Maryland State Police vehicle with his car and then fled in his vehicle towards Ocean City.  During the brief pursuit of Talib, he threw a plastic bag with powder out the passenger window and it burst against the chain link fence. 
Tablib entered Ocean City traveling the wrong way on to Northbound Philadelphia Avenue, where he crashed into the median and struck the wooden median barriers.  He was apprehended and charged with first degree assault (two counts), assault on law enfocement (two counts), distribution of heroin, distribution of cocaine and possesion with intend to distribute heroin and cocaine, along with several additional charges. 
It is estimated that the total street value of the drugs that Talib delivered with the intent to be sold in Ocean City and Worcester County was approximately $82,290. This would have been enough heroin to put over 2700 capsules of heroin on the streets in Worcester County and Ocean City.
 
The following arrests were also made as a result of the undercover investigation:
 
Leon Alfonso Johnson, 39, of Salisbury: Detectives learned that Johnson was supplying cocaine to people in Ocean City and after building a rapport with Johnson, they made numerous undercover purchases.  Johnson was charged with distribution of crack cocaine, distribution of powder cocaine, distribution of oxycodone and several additional charges.
 
Michael Lee Sellers, 39, of Salisbury: Undercover detectives met Sellers during the course of this investigation. An undercover detective was able to purchase heroin, crack cocaine and powder cocaine from Sellers. Sellers is currently in jail in Somerset County and his case will be presented before a Grand Jury with expectations of being charged with distribution of heroin, distribution of cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine and several additional charges.
 
Violitus Scott, 37, of Salisbury & Cherice Johnson, 37, of Salisbury: Undercover detectives met Scott during the course of this investigation. Undercover detectives made crack cocaine purchases from Scott. During the investigation Scott sent Cherice Johnson to do deals on his behalf with the undercover detective. An undercover detective made crack cocaine purchases from her also.  On December 13th, undercover detectives arranged to meet Scott to buy crack cocaine from him. When Scott arrived detectives from OCPD Narcotics, OCPD SEU and the Worcester County CET moved in and arrested Scott. Cherice Johnson was driving the vehicle that Scott arrived in and she was arrested on her charges as well.
Scott is being charged with distribution of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Johnson is being charged with distribution of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
 
Samuel Alexander Bermudez, 24, of Ocean City: OCPD Narcotics detectives met Bermudez while working undercover. An undercover detective made several purchases of Alprazolam from Bermudez. Bermudez was also supplying several other people in Ocean City with prescription pills that they were then selling on the streets of Ocean City. On December 13, OCPD detectives, the OCPD Quick Response Team, and Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team members served a search and seizure warrant at Bermudez’s residence and arrested Bermudez. Bermudez is charged with distribution of Alprazolam, possession of Alprazolam and possession of Hydromorphone.
 
Joseph Lawrence Weber Jr., 53, of Ocean City: Distribution of Heroin.
 
Troy David Teutsch., 35, of Ocean City: Distribution of Alprazolam (Xanax) and Distribution of Marijuana.
 
Brendan Shay Burgey, 24, of Ocean City: Distribution of Alprazolam (Xanax) and Distribution of Marijuana.
 
Joseph Othaniel Deshields, 54, of Berlin: Distribution of Crack Cocaine.
 
Michael David Austin, 32, of Ocean City: Distribution of Alprazolam (Xanax) and Distribution of Buprenorphine (Suboxone).
 
Caitlin Bryanna Cottrell, 27, of Ocean City: Distribution of Cocaine.
 
Avery Madison Listmann, 18, of Ocean City: Distribution of Marijuana.
 
Joshua Kala-Jeffery Dubose, 21, of Ocean City: Distribution of Marijuana.
 
Robert Lee Donaldson, 61, of Ocean City: Distribution of Crack Cocaine.
 
Brian Michael Toth, 44, Ocean City: Distribution of Marijuana.

Confirmed: Clinton Operatives in FBI Manufactured Russiagate

Conspiracy to overthrow elected president by criminal mafia confirmed

As I noted in an editorial last week, President Donald Trump has only one viable option to repel the partisan lynch mob now nipping at his heels in the form of a taxpayer-funded pack of legal hyenas, masquerading as objective prosecutors under the droopy eyes of old reliable deep state hatchet man Robert Swan Mueller III, the special counsel appointed to “investigate” the Clinton-Podesta-Schiff-Democrat Party-Corporate Media fabricated Russia collusion delusion.

As the GOP Congress finally begins to stir, as rapid-fire events make it increasingly impossible to deny the true nature of Mueller’s handpicked partisan hit squad of Trump-hating, Hillary-supporting D.C. swamp lawyers and arrogant federal careerists, as firings and other departures quickly erode the carefully-contrived, totally-counterfeit veneer of credibility ascribed to Mueller and his henchpeople, my advice to the president has only become more apropos…and more imperative.

President Trump can, and must, kill two birds with one stone.

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Sen. Collins Says News Coverage of Her Tax Vote ‘Unbelievably Sexist’

Republican Senator Susan Collins ripped news coverage of her decision to vote for the GOP tax-cut bill as "unbelievably sexist" on Tuesday.

"I cannot believe that the press would have treated another senator with 20 years of experience as they have treated me," the Maine senator told reporters at the Capitol.

"They’ve ignored everything that I’ve gotten, and there have been stories after stories about how I’ve been duped," she said. "How are you duped when all of your amendments get accepted? And when the majority leader -- and I confirmed it again today with him -- will be offering the two insurance bills that I care about as well as the provision waiving the automatic cut in Medicare that could be triggered by this bill?"

Collins criticized a reporter, whom she didn’t identify, who covered her meeting with people suffering from serious health conditions.

"The reporter actually wrote that I didn’t cry," Collins said. The same group met with Arizona GOP Senator Jeff Flake, Collins said, but there was no mention of his lack of tears. "I can’t imagine a reporter writing that about a male senator," she said.

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Sen. Collins Says News Coverage of Her Tax Vote ‘Unbelievably Sexist’

Republican Senator Susan Collins ripped news coverage of her decision to vote for the GOP tax-cut bill as "unbelievably sexist" on Tuesday.

"I cannot believe that the press would have treated another senator with 20 years of experience as they have treated me," the Maine senator told reporters at the Capitol.

"They’ve ignored everything that I’ve gotten, and there have been stories after stories about how I’ve been duped," she said. "How are you duped when all of your amendments get accepted? And when the majority leader -- and I confirmed it again today with him -- will be offering the two insurance bills that I care about as well as the provision waiving the automatic cut in Medicare that could be triggered by this bill?"

Collins criticized a reporter, whom she didn’t identify, who covered her meeting with people suffering from serious health conditions.

"The reporter actually wrote that I didn’t cry," Collins said. The same group met with Arizona GOP Senator Jeff Flake, Collins said, but there was no mention of his lack of tears. "I can’t imagine a reporter writing that about a male senator," she said.

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Judicial Watch Urges Federal Court to Unseal Depositions of IRS Officials Lerner, Paz

Judicial Watch last week asked a federal court to unseal the depositions of Lois Lerner, the former director of the Exempt Organizations Unit of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Holly Paz, her top aide and former IRS director of Office of Rulings and Agreements. Both played key roles in the targeting of conservative nonprofit groups opposed to Obama policies in the run up to the 2012 presidential election.

The request came in an amicus curiae brief filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division supporting NorCal Tea Party Patriots’ class action lawsuit seeking the unsealing of the depositions (NorCal Tea Party Patriots, et al. v. The Internal Revenue Service, et al. (No. 1:13-cv-00341)). The depositions were sealed by a federal judge after Lerner’s and Paz’s lawyers claimed the two were receiving threats. Judicial Watch’s brief argues that the documents sought may shed light on government misconduct, and the shielding of internal government deliberations does not serve the public’s interest.

Judicial Watch details how the Lerner and Paz depositions may significantly impact ongoing Judicial Watch lawsuits seeking information about misconduct of government officials in the IRS targeting scandal:

In addition to the revelation of IRS employees’ conduct in the emails uncovered, the records obtained by Judicial Watch [in the course of its FOIA investigation] also sparked investigations into Lois Lerner’s emails and IRS’ failure to preserve thousands of emails that were potentially relevant to the various investigations about the IRS’ treatment of conservative groups. While the federal government has now admitted that the targeting “was wrong” and “for such treatment, the IRS expresses its sincere apology” the IRS continues to this day to withhold from the public in Judicial Watch’s main IRS case … email communications with Lois Lerner and/or Holly Paz …

More here

Israeli Politicians Demand Obama Forfeit Nobel Peace Prize After Hezbollah Report

A damning report released Sunday by Politico chronicles how the Obama administration undid years of investigations into the terrorist organization Hezbollah in order to appease Iran and pave the way for the Iran deal.

The report alleges that the Obama administration let terrorists walk free and halted law enforcement efforts against Hezbollah to help cement the former president’s foreign policy achievement.

According to the report, the Obama administration’s backing off on the terrorist organization directly contributed to its growth and enrichment through money laundering and drug trade. It also made Hezbollah much more powerful and dangerous in the region.

Politicians in Israel, a country directly affected by Hezbollah’s terror, have lashed out at Barack Obama over the report. Some have even called for him to return his Nobel Peace Prize. Here are some statements from prominent Israeli politicians, according to the Jerusalem Post:

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Bethlehem, Maryland Post Office Gets Busy During Christmas Season

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — O, little town of Bethlehem, Maryland.

Since 1938, people have been traveling to the little hamlet, about eight miles outside Easton in Caroline County, to have their Christmas cards and letters postmarked “Bethlehem” and stamped with the image of three wise men and a star.

“Pretty much means Christmas,” says Lonnie Friend, who lives in the town of less than 200 inhabitants. “The birth of Christ. The three wise men bringing their gifts.”

Beverly Stoffler, of nearby St. Michaels, drives to Bethlehem to mail her cards and then sends out an e-mail to recipients.

“Don’t tear the envelope but make sure you read the cancellation,” she writes.

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Idiot!


OCPD, Agencies Partner On Major Heroin, Cocaine Distribution Bust; 66 Drug Buys Totaling $87K In Operation Harbor Breeze

OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) Narcotics Unit, in conjunction with the allied law enforcement agencies, last week wrapped up a major drug distribution investigation throughout the resort area with 21 arrests or indictments and thousands of dollars in heroin and cocaine taken off the streets.

The OCPD Narcotics Unit, along with the Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team, the OCPD Special Enforcement Unit and the OCPD Quick Response Team, or SWAT, last week began making arrests and serving search and seizure warrants following a three-month investigation into the distribution of heroin, cocaine and other drugs in the resort area. Under the guise of Operation Harbor Breeze, the allied agencies utilized undercover detectives to target street level drug distribution in Ocean City, particularly in the downtown area.

Operation Harbor Breeze was launched in part to curb thefts, burglaries and vehicle break-ins associated with street level drug distribution in the resort. From September through early December, undercover narcotics detectives were able to make 66 purchases of illegal drugs flowing into the resort.

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Attorney Lisa Bloom sought to line up paydays for women accusing Trump of sexual misconduct: report

Legal powerhouse Lisa Bloom tried to line up big paydays for women who were willing to accuse President Trump of sexual misconduct during the final months of last year’s election, according to an explosive report.

The Hill reported Friday that Bloom worked with campaign donors and tabloid media outlets to arrange compensation for the alleged victims and a commission for herself, offering to sell their stories. In one case, Bloom reportedly arranged for a donor to pay off one Trump accuser’s mortgage and attempted to score a six-figure payment for another woman. The former ultimately declined to come forward after being offered $750,000, the clients told The Hill.

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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/15/attorney-lisa-bloom-sought-to-line-up-paydays-for-women-accusing-trump-sexual-misconduct-report.html

URGENT ALERT: MISSING PERSON

White Female

5’5”, 135, 60 years old, very short red hair, blue eyes

Wearing a silver/gray, parka, possibly gray leggings and tan shoes

Last seen in the North Camden neighborhood of Salisbury last night around 9 pm. She is bipolar and in the throes of a delusional psychotic episode. She is highly paranoid and delusional and should not be approached. The police have been notified and are searching. 


Please DO NOT APPROACH!! Keep a visual on her and immediately call the Salisbury Police Dept or 911.

ISIS Threatens National Cathedral in Fiery Propaganda Image

Islamic State supporters issued a new Christmas-themed threat showing the National Cathedral in Washington in flames, with a camouflage-clad jihadist wielding a rifle standing in front of the Gothic structure.

The poster circulating among ISIS channels photoshops the photo of the church used on its Wikipedia page.

The text warning on the image is of a city just attacked this past week, though: "Wait for us: We meet at Christmas in New York... soon."

The threat mirrors that on a poster of Santa with a case of dynamite overlooking Times Square, which was released just after Thanksgiving: "We meet at Christmas in New York... soon," reads the text on that image.

Some law enforcement officials indicated Akayed Ullah, whose in his attempt to bomb the subway in NYC on Monday morning only burned himself, said he chose the location because of Christmas posters in the tunnel. The only decor in the tunnel was a series of iPhone ads and a marbles mural that Ullah may have mistaken for Christmas ornaments.

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This ‘decorated Green Beret’ is a total fraud

Brooklyn Army vet Papotia Reginald Wright’s resume was impressive by any standard.

He boasted of a Purple Heart, Bronze Star — and a slew of other medals as an elite Green Beret that got him into swanky galas and even field access to the Giants.

But Wright is nothing but an accomplished fraud, it was revealed Thursday.

He never served with Special Forces, never served in any combat role — and never rose above the rank of “specialist,”according to military documents obtained through FOIA by Guardians of the Green Beret.

Wright even lied about how long he was in the Army, claiming he served 25 years when he was really only enlisted from 1982 to 1990, the documents show.

He spent most of his time as a driver, with stints far from any battlefield in Alaska, Egypt, Georgia and Texas, according to his papers.

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U.S. Sends Al Qaeda’s Arabian Peninsula Headquarters $768 Mil in Humanitarian Aid

The U.S. government keeps sending an Islamic nation that serves as an Al Qaeda breeding ground hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid. The cash—$768 million since October 2016—flows through the famously corrupt U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID), which has a monstrous budget and little oversight. The money is reportedly helping to counter a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the headquarters of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). In its Country Reports on Terrorism, the State Department reveals that AQAP militants carried out hundreds of attacks including suicide bombers, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), ambushes, kidnappings and targeted assassinations. The media has also documented this for years with one in-depth report confirming that “Yemen has emerged as the breeding grounds for some of the most high-profile plans to attack the U.S. homeland.”

Additionally, dozens of terrorists freed from the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba have joined Al Qaeda in Yemen. Among them is an Al Qaeda chief who masterminded a U.S. Embassy bombing after getting released, according to a mainstream newspaper. His name is Said Ali al-Shihri and after leaving Gitmo he became an Al Qaeda deputy chief in Yemen and he organized a deadly bombing of the United States Embassy in Yemen’s capital. The former captive was also involved in car bombings outside the American Embassy that killed 16 people. Remember that the convicted terrorist who planned to blow up an American passenger jet over Detroit on Christmas in 2009 trained in Yemen and the plot was organized by Al Qaeda leaders in the Middle Eastern Arab country. A recent study published by the RAND Corporation concludes that the most significant threat to the United States comes from terrorist groups operating in Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

So why does the U.S. government continue giving Yemen huge chunks of taxpayer dollars?

Brown To Self-Identify As Diverse

How do you solve the problem of not enough “diversity” among your graduate students?

Let your applicants define how diverse they are for you.

Brown University is making progress toward its goal of doubling representation from what it calls “Historically Underrepresented Groups.” But it’s got a long way to go. So what to do?

Well, finding them, contacting them, begging them to apply, throwing money at them, and ditching your academic standards to let them in all take time.

So why not let them self-identify?

Are you “American Indian, Alaskan Native, African American, Hispanic or Latinx, and Native Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander”?

Or can you at least identify that way?

In less time than it takes to say “Elizabeth Warren”: you’re in!

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A single vote leads to a rare tie for control of the Virginia legislature

NEWPORT NEWS — The balance of power in Virginia’s legislature turned on a single vote in a recount Tuesday that flipped a seat in the House of Delegates from Republican to Democrat, leaving control of the lower chamber evenly split.

The outcome, which reverberated across Virginia, ends 17 years of GOP control of the House and forces Republicans into a rare episode of power sharing with Democrats that will refashion the political landscape in Richmond.

It was the culmination of last month’s Democratic wave that had already diminished Republican power in purple Virginia.

Democrat Shelly Simonds emerged from the recount as the apparent winner in the 94th House district, seizing the seat from Republican incumbent David Yancey. A three-judge panel still must certify the results, an event scheduled for Wednesday.

Of the 23,215 votes cast in the district on Election Day, Yancey held a tenuous lead of just 10 votes going into Tuesday’s recount.

More here

[Related: Virginia Voter Fraud Report: Non-citizens Voted Illegally]

Hillary: GOP Agenda Fanning the Flames of 'White Supremacy and Misogyny and Homophobia'

Cardinal Bernard Law is dead at 86. He resigned as archbishop of Boston in 2002 amid the pedophile priest scandal seen in the film "Spotlight."

Cardinal Bernard F. Law, whose stature as archbishop of Boston and America’s senior Roman Catholic prelate was shattered in a maelstrom of scandal, acrimony and resignation in 2002 after revelations that he had protected abusive priests for years, has died. He was 86 and lived in Rome.

CNN, WaPo, NYT Ignore Top Democrat’s $220K Sexual Harassment Settlement

The three outlets have yet to report on the massive settlement to Hastings’ accuser

CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times have ignored sexual harassment allegations against Democratic Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings, whose alleged sexual harassment of a staffer resulted in a $220,000 taxpayer-funded settlement in 2014.

The three outlets have yet to report on the massive settlement to Hastings’ accuser, former committee staffer Winsome Packer, which Roll Call first revealed a week ago on December 8. Packer accused Hastings of making sexual advances, touching her legs and threatening her job. The former staffer said she was “blackballed” for speaking out.

Hastings claimed that he was unaware of the settlement and called the sexual harassment allegations “ludicrous” on Friday.

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Alexandria pastor, wife charged with $1.2 million congregation fraud scheme

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - An Alexandria pastor and his wife were arrested on Sunday for their alleged involvement in a $1.2 million fraud scheme that victimized members of their congregation.

Terry Wayne Millender, 52, the senior pastor of Victorious Life Church in Alexandria, along with his wife, Brenda, 56, and Grenetta Wells, 55, who is affiliated with the church, were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.

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http://www.fox5dc.com/news/alexandria-pastor-wife-charged-with-12-million-congregation-fraud-scheme

I'm Joe... But Not Montana


Jealous husband, 62, who left his wife in need of a face transplant after attacking her with industrial-strength lye, dies in jail

A Vermont man who in a jealous rage doused his estranged wife with industrial-strength lye and burned her so badly she needed a face transplant has died at a Pennsylvania hospital.

Sixty-two-year-old Herbert Rodgers had been serving a 30- to 70-year prison sentence in Pennsylvania and died Monday.

Vermont officials say it appears Rodgers' death was 'related to a medical issue.'

Rodgers admitted breaking into Carmen Tarleton's house in 2007 intending to kill a man with whom he believed she was romantically involved.

He poured the toxic chemical over her and later said, 'I lost it, I just lost it.'

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Begins Jetty, Dredging Projects in MD-01

WASHINGTON, DC: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is starting work on two projects that will benefit residents of Smith Island in Somerset County, Maryland. The projects entail the construction of two jetties to improve navigation at Rhodes Point and dredging the Big Thorofare and Twitch Cove federal channels. Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01), who advocated for the projects, issued the following statement in support of the projects:

“I commend the Army Corps of Engineers for their attention to these important projects. The residents of Smith Island heavily depend on these channels for transportation to and from the mainland, and to receive shipments of goods. Severe erosion and shoaling have concerned the Marylanders living on Smith Island for years now, so the Army Corps’ plan to complete the projects in fall 2018 is welcome news.”

A Viewer Writes: Recycling?

Avery Street recycling bins to be removed.

From WBOC website:
"SU asked to remove the bins for expansion purposes and student safety."

So SU takes property off the tax rolls and refuses to allow the county/city to use it for recycling? Interesting community involvement right thar! Do they have NIMBY 101 offered in their Environmental Studies program?

Expansion purposes? More canoes? Another soccer net?

Unless the students are shooting up behind the bins, hard to imagine how recycling endangers students.

Kim Jong-un 'executes' another official over launch delay

Kim Jong-un has executed a second official in just five days over a launch delay at North Korea's test missile site.

The unnamed executive allegedly took responsibility for setbacks at the Punggye-ri nuclear base which led to the date of a rocket launch being pushed back.

Five days ago, a high ranking official once described as the 'second most powerful man in North Korea' disappeared from public life, sparking speculation he may have been executed by death squads.

It is understood the most recent victim was the director of Bureau 131 - a man in charge of the building and running of the nuclear base.

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The G.O.P.'s tax overhaul, a decades-long goal, is almost done. The Senate approved it, and the House just has to sign off on small changes

Republicans took a critical step toward notching their first significant legislative victory since assuming full political control, as the House and Senate voted along party lines on Tuesday and into early Wednesday to pass the most sweeping rewrite of the tax code in decades.

The $1.5 trillion tax bill, which is expected to head to President Trump’s desk in the coming days, will have broad effects on the economy, making deep and lasting cuts to corporate taxes as well as temporarily lowering individual taxes.

UPDATE: Chuck Schumer’s Steamy Affair With A High School Cheerleader Confirmed

The Full List Of Every GOP Senator Who Stands To Be Personally Enriched By The Tax Bill

When the U.S. Senate takes up the final tax bill this week, more than a quarter of all GOP senators will be voting on a bill that includes a special provision that could give them a new tax cut through their real estate shell companies, according to federal records reviewed by International Business Times.

The provision was not in the original bill passed by the Senate on Dec. 1. It was embedded in the final bill by Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, who is among the lawmakers that stand to personally benefit from the provision.

In response to Democratic lawmakers who have slammed the provision as a lobbyist-sculpted giveaway to the rich, Republican Majority Whip John Cornyn promoted on Twitter a column by Ryan Ellis, a registered bank lobbyist who has been working to influence the tax legislation and who has defended the provision.

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Uber suffered a major setback when the E.U.'s highest court ruled that it must obey the same rules as other taxi companies

Uber lost a major legal battle on Wednesday, when the European Union’s highest court declared that the ride hailing app must comply with tough rules governing traditional taxi associations, a significant setback for a company already grappling with a string of scandals.

The decision by the European Court of Justice, that Uber is a transportation company rather than an online platform that simply matches passengers with drivers, could thwart Uber’s expansion plans in the region, by making it pay costly licensing fees and employee benefits.

Uber will have to start treating drivers more like taxi chauffeurs, rather than independent workers with no link to the company aside from a smartphone app.

Actor pleads guilty to possessing large collection of child pornography found on his home computer

LOS ANGELES – Actor Mark Wayne Salling pleaded guilty Monday to a federal offense of possessing child pornography and specifically admitted that he possessed approximately 25,000 images of children engaged in sexual conduct.

Salling, 35, of Shadow Hills, Calif., who is best known for his role as Noah Puckerman on the television show “Glee,” pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor.

The case against Salling is the product of an investigation by the Los Angeles Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which includes officers with the Los Angeles Police Department and special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The Beverly Hills Police Department also provided substantial assistance.

In a plea agreement filed in October in United States District Court, Salling acknowledged that he downloaded the images from the internet in 2015 and used software designed to conceal his activity. The collection was discovered on a laptop computer, a hard drive, and a USB flash drive after Salling showed some of the images to a girlfriend, who reported the matter to local enforcement.

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Donna Brazile: I found 'proof' the DNC rigged the nomination for Hillary Clinton

The fix was in after all.

Last year's presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders was rigged by the Democratic National Committee - just as Sanders' supporters suspected - to hand the nomination to Clinton, according to a bombshell claim by Donna Brazile. The onetime Clinton confidante, CNN commentator and former interim party boss made the explosive claim Thursday while touting a new book that could sever her ties to Team Clinton for good.

“I had promised Bernie when I took the helm of the Democratic National Committee after the convention that I would get to the bottom of whether Hillary Clinton’s team had rigged the nomination process, as a cache of emails stolen by Russian hackers and posted online had suggested,” Brazile wrote in a piece for Politico Magazine.

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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/11/02/donna-brazile-found-proof-dnc-rigged-nomination-for-hillary-clinton.html

Trump Accuser Who Took Mortgage Payoff, Tried To Get Job As Trump's Makeup Artist

A New York makeup artist who accused Donald Trump of groping her in the 1990's - and whose mortgage was paid off by a donor arranged by Gloria Allred daughter Lisa Bloom, repeatedly solicited then-candidate Trump to become his campaign makeup artist so she could pitch her new line of men's cosmetics, according to The Hill's John Solomon. The story has to be true, because one couldn't make it up if one tried.

In an October 1, 2015 email - Trump accuser Jill Harth emailed the President's New York Company headquarters, writing:

“Hi Donald, you are doing a tremendous job of shaking things up in the United States. I am definitely on Team Trump as so many others are.”

“I can’t watch television without seeing you or hearing your name everywhere! It’s a good thing for sure but PLEASE let me do your makeup for a television interview, a debate, a photo session, anything!” Harth wrote, adding "It kills me to see you looking too orange and with white circles under the eyes. I will get your skin looking smoother and even toned."

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JAMES MICHAEL WATSON CONVICTED AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTY


Merry Christmas


Dogs In Snow...Gotta Love 'em


Senior Teenager

I JUST discovered my age group! I am a Seenager (Senior teenager).

I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 55-60 years later.

I don't have to go to school or work.

I get an allowance every month.

I have my own pad.

I don't have a curfew.

I have a driver's license and my own car.

I have ID that gets me into bars and the wine store. I like the wine store best.

The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant, they aren't scared of anything, they have been blessed to live this long, why be scared?

And I don't have acne.

Life is Good! Also, you will feel much more intelligent after reading this, if you are a Seenager.

Brains of older people are slow because they know so much.

People do not decline mentally with age; it just takes them longer to recall facts because they have more information in their brains.

Scientists believe this also makes you hard of hearing as it puts pressure on your inner ear.

Also, older people often go to another room to get something and when they get there, they stand there wondering what they came for. It is NOT a memory problem; it is nature's way of making older people do more exercise.

SO THERE!!

I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can't remember their names.

So please forward this to your friends; they may be my friends, too.

New HO Train Set

Just in time for Holiday gift giving.

Too too funny.... however, true!  Another special production of the ABC (Awful Bullsqueeze Constantly) network.

Order now and they'll throw in Al Franken and John Conyers dolls for hurling onto the tracks.

Do You Get It?


Genius


One Atlanta Passenger Was Prepared


Only In Atlanta


Bored At Work Today...


DUI Crashes On The Rise As Holiday Season Kicks In

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – As the holiday seasons kicks in to high gear, Maryland State Police respond to an increased number of alcohol related crashes this weekend throughout the state.

From Friday, December 15 through the early morning hours of today, Maryland State Police responded to eighteen crashes involving alcohol across the state. Last year at the same time, Maryland State Police responded to thirteen alcohol related crashes throughout Maryland.

Six crashes occurred on Friday, December 15, 2017, two of which occurred in Prince George’s County. The other four occurred in Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s and Prince George’s Counties.

Eight crashes occurred on Saturday, December 16, 2017, including two in Baltimore County, two in Frederick County, two in Cecil County, and one in Prince George’s County and one in Howard County. Three crashes occurred yesterday in three different counties including Cecil, Frederick and Harford. One crash occurred at 12:45 a.m. this morning in Carroll County.

Troopers from each of the 23 Maryland State Police barracks who patrol every county will continue to focus enforcement efforts on impaired driving, aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving and other violations that often contribute to highway tragedies, especially during the holiday season. Additional troopers will be working overtime assignments funded by highway safety grants from the Maryland Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office.

Extra holiday traffic this week through New Year’s includes additional Maryland state troopers who will be using a variety of patrol initiatives to keep traffic moving, respond quickly to highway incidents and take appropriate enforcement action when violations are observed that threaten the safety of travelers.

Troopers urge motorists to avoid impaired driving and plan for a designated driver or a sober ride home. Help us keep Maryland highways safe throughout this holiday season.