DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, January 25, 2018
With a little help from Ray Lewis and Tom Brady, Under Armour vows 'to fight back'
Like some of its signature athletes have done in their own careers, Under Armour Inc. wants to make a comeback after a challenging 2017. The Baltimore sportswear maker did not shy away from addressing Wall Street's criticism in a video shown to the U.S. Olympic bobsled team at its Locust Point headquarters on Tuesday. Starting with clips highlighting Under Armour's early growth as a company and then transitioning to some of the comments Wall Streets analysts made as Under Armour's stock plummeted almost 50 percent last year, the video takes viewers on a journey with the company.
Maryland lawmakers name members of sexual harassment panel
Maryland lawmakers have named the members of a commission to examine workplace polices on sexual harassment in all three branches of state government. The General Assembly's Workplace Harassment Commission consists of 12 women and two men. It will be chaired by Jeanne Hitchcock, who held two Cabinet positions in former Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration and senior posts in state and local government and the private sector. The panel will review state policies and solicit input from business leaders and policy experts. It also will hear public testimony and make recommendations to the Legislative Policy Committee.
Hogan wants to turn closed city jail into treatment center
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) - Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is proposing some new initiatives to fight the opioid epidemic in 2018, including letting the Attorney General sue some opioid manufacturers and turning part of downtownBaltimore's defunct jail into a special treatment center.
The state will conduct a feasibility study on turning part of the former Baltimore City Men's Detention Center, part of the massive jail complex on Eager Street, into "a therapeutic detention facility to provide treatment for incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders and other behavioral health ailments," according to a press release Tuesday from Hogan's office.
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The state will conduct a feasibility study on turning part of the former Baltimore City Men's Detention Center, part of the massive jail complex on Eager Street, into "a therapeutic detention facility to provide treatment for incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders and other behavioral health ailments," according to a press release Tuesday from Hogan's office.
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Battle of the beans: Monsanto faces a fight for soy market
WINNIPEG, Manitoba/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Monsanto Co (MON.N) is facing major threats to its historic dominance of seed and herbicide technology for the $40 billion U.S. soybean market.
Rivals BASF SE (BASFn.DE) and DowDuPont (DWDP.N) are preparing to push their own varieties of genetically modified soybeans. At stake is control over seed supply for the next generation of farmers producing the most valuable U.S. agricultural export.
The market has opened up as Monsanto’s Roundup Ready line of seeds - engineered to tolerate the weed killer glyphosate - has lost effectiveness as weeds develop their own tolerance to the chemical. Compounding the firm’s troubles is a national scandal over crop damage linked to its new soybean and herbicide pairing – Roundup Ready 2 Xtend seeds, engineered to resist the chemical dicamba.
The newly competitive sector has sown confusion across the U.S. farm belt, particularly among smaller firms that produce and sell seeds with technology licensed from the agrichemical giants.
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Rivals BASF SE (BASFn.DE) and DowDuPont (DWDP.N) are preparing to push their own varieties of genetically modified soybeans. At stake is control over seed supply for the next generation of farmers producing the most valuable U.S. agricultural export.
The market has opened up as Monsanto’s Roundup Ready line of seeds - engineered to tolerate the weed killer glyphosate - has lost effectiveness as weeds develop their own tolerance to the chemical. Compounding the firm’s troubles is a national scandal over crop damage linked to its new soybean and herbicide pairing – Roundup Ready 2 Xtend seeds, engineered to resist the chemical dicamba.
The newly competitive sector has sown confusion across the U.S. farm belt, particularly among smaller firms that produce and sell seeds with technology licensed from the agrichemical giants.
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Voters Call for Special Prosecutor to Investigate FBI
Voters suspect the FBI is hiding something and think a special prosecutor is needed to see if the nation’s top cops have been playing politics.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters believe a special prosecutor should be named to investigate whether senior FBI officials handled the investigations of Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump in a legal and unbiased fashion. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree, but a sizable 19% are not sure.
The FBI has told Congress that it is unable to retrieve about five months of high-level text messages from the period in 2016 when it was determining whether to seek an indictment of Clinton.
Fifty-eight percent (58%) of all voters think it is likely that the FBI or the agent in question destroyed those messages to hide something from investigators.
More here
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters believe a special prosecutor should be named to investigate whether senior FBI officials handled the investigations of Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump in a legal and unbiased fashion. Thirty-one percent (31%) disagree, but a sizable 19% are not sure.
The FBI has told Congress that it is unable to retrieve about five months of high-level text messages from the period in 2016 when it was determining whether to seek an indictment of Clinton.
Fifty-eight percent (58%) of all voters think it is likely that the FBI or the agent in question destroyed those messages to hide something from investigators.
More here
Al Gore Won’t Tell You Wind Power’s Dirty Secret
We’ve been told over and over again that wind power is one of the cleanest power sources on earth, all by people like Al Gore. And why wouldn’t it be?
After all, it harnesses the power of the wind — a natural phenomenon — and turns it into energy. Aside from the occasional dead bird (or, well, more than occasional dead bird), what could be so polluting about wind energy?
Unfortunately, those who bought into the fiction are quickly finding out.
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After all, it harnesses the power of the wind — a natural phenomenon — and turns it into energy. Aside from the occasional dead bird (or, well, more than occasional dead bird), what could be so polluting about wind energy?
Unfortunately, those who bought into the fiction are quickly finding out.
More/Video
FBI & Salisbury Maryland Police Department Announce Upping The Ante Reward To $32,000.00 For Bank Robbers
Obviously the Salisbury Police very quickly gave up on ANY real or solid evidence and are now relying on the PUBLIC to solve their case.
You know what Ladies & Gentlemen, FACT, the Salisbury Police Department under the leadership of Chief Dykes was respected as the #1 Police Department in the United States. When a single position opened up at the SPD they had, (seriously) up to 250 applicants sign up to take the chance of being hired. Now the SPD has to hire a recruiter, (fact) to go across the United States to try to steal any police officer they can to join the SPD Force.
Salisbury is now a SH!THOLE lead by Liberal leaders who don't know their heads from their a$$es. And this Mayor wants to bring 300,000 people to this BS City and refuses to pay the WCSO and MSP for protection.
Way to go LIBS, buy your way out of trouble, once again. R.I.P Chief Dykes.
Illegal Alien Uber Driver Allegedly Raped Four Women in Sanctuary State California
A previously deported illegal alien Uber driver is accused of raping four women, three of whom were allegedly intoxicated when he assaulted them, prosecutors say.
Alfonso Alarcon-Nunez, a 39-year-old illegal alien from Mexico living in San Luis Obispo, California, has been charged with raping and robbing four women while he was driving for the ride-sharing company Uber, according to the Daily Mail.
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow told the media that Nunez’s alleged rape victims are between the ages of 19-years-old and 22-years-old, with three of them being intoxicated from alcohol when he allegedly robbed and raped them.
Dow said the illegal alien would target women leaving parties while he was on duty as an Uber driver. The illegal alien would allegedly go back to the women’s homes where he would rape them and rob them, prosecutors say.
Nunez is facing 10 charges for the rape, assault and robbery accusations.
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Alfonso Alarcon-Nunez, a 39-year-old illegal alien from Mexico living in San Luis Obispo, California, has been charged with raping and robbing four women while he was driving for the ride-sharing company Uber, according to the Daily Mail.
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow told the media that Nunez’s alleged rape victims are between the ages of 19-years-old and 22-years-old, with three of them being intoxicated from alcohol when he allegedly robbed and raped them.
Dow said the illegal alien would target women leaving parties while he was on duty as an Uber driver. The illegal alien would allegedly go back to the women’s homes where he would rape them and rob them, prosecutors say.
Nunez is facing 10 charges for the rape, assault and robbery accusations.
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Troopers Investigating Robbery/Kidnapping- Claymont
The incident occurred at approximately 9:00 p.m., Thursday, January 18, 2018, in the parking lot of the Tri State Mall, located at 333 Naaman’s Road, Claymont. A 23 year old, Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, man was walking to his vehicle, which was parked in the lot, when he was approached from behind, by a suspect who placed a gun in his back. Two additional suspects then approached and proceeded to remove property from his pockets, to include a cell phone, cash, jewelry, along with his car keys.
The victim was then escorted to his vehicle by the three suspects, who locked him in the trunk before driving away. The victim estimated that he was driven around in the trunk of his vehicle for approximately 3o minutes prior to it coming to a stop. After approximately 5 minutes of the vehicle being stationery, the trunk was opened and the victim was able to get out. By the time he exited the trunk, the suspects had fled, however they did leave the keys behind. Upon driving away the victim was able to determine that he was in Chester, Pennsylvania.
The only description the victim could give of the suspects is that they were all black males. The victim did sustain a contusion to his head, for which he did not seek medical treatment.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Troop 2 Robbery Unit at 302-365-8566
Information may also be provided by calling Delaware crime stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com
*UPDATE: SUSPECT IN CUSTODY* Robbery Suspect Being Contained Inside Bear Residence
Bear - The armed robbery suspect who was being contained inside a residence, in the unit block of Primrose Drive, in the development of Brennan Estates, Bear, has been taken in to custody without incident.
There will be ongoing police activity in the in the area as the investigation continues.
There will be ongoing police activity in the in the area as the investigation continues.
Breaking News: The White House proposed a path to citizenship for "Dreamers" in return for a wall and an immigration crackdown. It hit instant opposition.
Winter Turkey Season Results; Carroll County Land Protected
Hunters reported taking 87 wild turkeys during Maryland’s 2018 winter turkey season, which was open Jan. 18-20 statewide.
Turkeys were harvested in 22 of the 23 counties, with St. Mary’s, Dorchester, Garrett and Washington counties reporting the highest numbers, according to theMaryland Department of Natural Resources.
Adult males (toms/gobbler) comprised 37 percent of the harvest with the remainder being females (hen) and juveniles (jake/jenny). Eighty-three percent were taken with a shotgun, but some hunters harvested their bird with a cross or vertical bow.
| Winter Wild Turkey Season Harvest, 2015-2018 | ||||
| County | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
| Allegany | 6 | 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Anne Arundel | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Baltimore | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Calvert | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Caroline | 6 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Carroll | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Cecil | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Charles | 5 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
| Dorchester | 15 | 6 | 14 | 8 |
| Frederick | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Garrett | 11 | 4 | 9 | 8 |
| Harford | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Howard | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kent | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Montgomery | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Prince George’s | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Queen Anne’s | 7 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Somerset | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| St. Mary’s | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| Talbot | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Washington | 6 | 7 | 11 | 8 |
| Wicomico | 4 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| Worcester | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 108 | 61 | 109 | 87 |
This harvest was lower than the record 109 birds taken last year but higher than the 61 birds taken back in 2016. The winter turkey season was established in 2015 to provide hunters an additional hunting opportunities that does not conflict with other hunting seasons.
Turkey populations at one time were limited in Maryland. In the 1980s and 1990s, an extensive department program to trap and relocate wild flocks successfully established populations in every county.
Attorney General Frosh Joins Multistate Coalition Urging Supreme Court to Protect Workers’ Organizing Rights
21 Attorneys General File Amicus Brief in Mark Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, Urging SCOTUS to Follow Precedent That Empowers States to Manage Labor Relations
BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced that he has joined a coalition of 21 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a Seventh Circuit decision protecting “fair share” provisions in public sector collective bargaining agreements.
The brief addresses Mark Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, a case that will be heard on February 26, 2018, that seeks to overrule precedent settled in the 1977 Supreme Court case Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, which states have relied upon for decades to negotiate labor contracts and ensure labor peace and efficient provision of government services. The brief argues that the Supreme Court should defer to states’ judgment on how best to manage their workforces.
Read more in the full press release:http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2018/012318.pdf
BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced that he has joined a coalition of 21 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a Seventh Circuit decision protecting “fair share” provisions in public sector collective bargaining agreements.
The brief addresses Mark Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, a case that will be heard on February 26, 2018, that seeks to overrule precedent settled in the 1977 Supreme Court case Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, which states have relied upon for decades to negotiate labor contracts and ensure labor peace and efficient provision of government services. The brief argues that the Supreme Court should defer to states’ judgment on how best to manage their workforces.
Read more in the full press release:http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2018/012318.pdf
Robbery Suspect Being Contained Inside Bear Residence
Adjacent residences have been evacuated as a precautionary measure and all others are being asked to avoid the area. Anyone who observes any suspicious activity in the area is asked to call 911.
Updates with further information will be released as it becomes available or as is necessary.
ICE arrests 46 in western New York operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and other immigration violators
BUFFALO, N.Y. – A Jamaican national arrested in Albany, New York, who has prior convictions for possession of a weapon, loaded firearm, four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, and larceny is among 46 foreign nationals taken into custody during a five-day operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in western New York, targeting at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and other immigration violators.
Of those arrested during the operation, which was spearheaded by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), 23 offenders, or 50 percent, had prior criminal convictions. Of the 23 non-criminal immigration violators, four are fugitives and six illegally re-entered the country after being deported.
Criminal convictions of those arrested included: felony grand larceny, firearms possession, drug possession, child endangerment, abuse, driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, and forgery.
Among those arrested were:
A 39-year-old Mexican male with convictions for two counts of illegal entry, driving while intoxicated, and a protection order for domestic violence. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
A 23-year-old Guyanese male with convictions for driving while ability impaired and harassment, following his arrest for menacing with a weapon. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
A 53-year-old United Kingdom male with convictions for two separate convictions for felony grand larceny. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
A 49-year-old Vietnamese male with convictions for theft, burglary, abuse, and menacing, following his arrest for menacing with a weapon, child endangerment, and criminal possession of a weapon. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
A 46-year-old Guyanese female with convictions for forgery and larceny. She will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of her removal proceedings.
The operation, which concluded Jan. 12, targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including individuals who re-entered the country after being removed, other immigration violators, and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges.
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Of those arrested during the operation, which was spearheaded by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), 23 offenders, or 50 percent, had prior criminal convictions. Of the 23 non-criminal immigration violators, four are fugitives and six illegally re-entered the country after being deported.
Criminal convictions of those arrested included: felony grand larceny, firearms possession, drug possession, child endangerment, abuse, driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, and forgery.
Among those arrested were:
A 39-year-old Mexican male with convictions for two counts of illegal entry, driving while intoxicated, and a protection order for domestic violence. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
A 23-year-old Guyanese male with convictions for driving while ability impaired and harassment, following his arrest for menacing with a weapon. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
A 53-year-old United Kingdom male with convictions for two separate convictions for felony grand larceny. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
A 49-year-old Vietnamese male with convictions for theft, burglary, abuse, and menacing, following his arrest for menacing with a weapon, child endangerment, and criminal possession of a weapon. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
A 46-year-old Guyanese female with convictions for forgery and larceny. She will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of her removal proceedings.
The operation, which concluded Jan. 12, targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including individuals who re-entered the country after being removed, other immigration violators, and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges.
More
Five Arrested in Felton Meth Lab Operation
Felton – The Delaware State Police have arrested five suspects in connection with the manufacturing of Methamphetamine (Meth) at an abandoned residence.
On Monday, January 22, 2018 at approximately 9:25 p.m. members of the Governor's Task Force unit responded to an abandoned residence located in the 9000 block of Canterbury Road in an attempt to locate 37-year-old David Sharp of Felton who had active warrants out of Troop 3. Through investigative measures, it was learned that Sharp was possibly squatting in the abandoned residence. Upon arrival, unit members made contact with 39-year-old Marlena Korona (Perry) of Felton who was exiting the driveway of the residence. While Troopers were attempting to identify the owners of the residence, 33-year-old Joshua Wilson of Harrington was observed exiting the residence through a second story window onto the roof and was subsequently taken into custody. While at the front door of the residence, 39-year-old Mary Prichard of Dover and 32-year-old Brandi Luciano of Hartly were taken into custody, as they exited. A search of the residence was conducted and David Sharp was found hiding in a bedroom closet. While conducting a search of the second floor an active meth lab was observed in a bedroom. A member of the Delaware State Police Kent County Drug Unit (KDU) and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) arrived at the scene and confirmed the meth manufacturing lab was present on the property. The Little Creek Fire Department and Deldot were also on scene due to the roadway being shut down. The components used to manufacture meth along with key ingredients in making the drug were safely collected and seized by DNREC.
All five suspects were arrested and transported to Troop 3 without further incident. Sharp was charged with Operating a Clandestine Laboratory, Drug Dealing, Conspiracy 2nd, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Impersonation. He was also charged on his outstanding warrant for multiple Theft and Unlawful Use of a Credit Card charges. He was arraigned out of Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $17,500 secured bond.
On Monday, January 22, 2018 at approximately 9:25 p.m. members of the Governor's Task Force unit responded to an abandoned residence located in the 9000 block of Canterbury Road in an attempt to locate 37-year-old David Sharp of Felton who had active warrants out of Troop 3. Through investigative measures, it was learned that Sharp was possibly squatting in the abandoned residence. Upon arrival, unit members made contact with 39-year-old Marlena Korona (Perry) of Felton who was exiting the driveway of the residence. While Troopers were attempting to identify the owners of the residence, 33-year-old Joshua Wilson of Harrington was observed exiting the residence through a second story window onto the roof and was subsequently taken into custody. While at the front door of the residence, 39-year-old Mary Prichard of Dover and 32-year-old Brandi Luciano of Hartly were taken into custody, as they exited. A search of the residence was conducted and David Sharp was found hiding in a bedroom closet. While conducting a search of the second floor an active meth lab was observed in a bedroom. A member of the Delaware State Police Kent County Drug Unit (KDU) and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) arrived at the scene and confirmed the meth manufacturing lab was present on the property. The Little Creek Fire Department and Deldot were also on scene due to the roadway being shut down. The components used to manufacture meth along with key ingredients in making the drug were safely collected and seized by DNREC.
All five suspects were arrested and transported to Troop 3 without further incident. Sharp was charged with Operating a Clandestine Laboratory, Drug Dealing, Conspiracy 2nd, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Impersonation. He was also charged on his outstanding warrant for multiple Theft and Unlawful Use of a Credit Card charges. He was arraigned out of Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $17,500 secured bond.
This is the least educated state in America, study finds
Mississippi has been ranked the least educated state in the U.S., according to a national study released Tuesday.
Personal finance website WalletHub released its annual list of the most and least educated states in America list after analyzing key factors in all 50 states, including educational attainment, school quality and achievement gaps between genders and races.
The most educated state is Massachusetts with a total score of 81.92%, after topping the list in both educational attainment and quality of education. Maryland, Connecticut, Vermont and Colorado followed filling out the top five most educated states list. Maryland, which came in second, had the highest school system rating in the country, which is 16.2 times higher than in Nebraska, the state with the lowest at 1.7%.
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Personal finance website WalletHub released its annual list of the most and least educated states in America list after analyzing key factors in all 50 states, including educational attainment, school quality and achievement gaps between genders and races.
The most educated state is Massachusetts with a total score of 81.92%, after topping the list in both educational attainment and quality of education. Maryland, Connecticut, Vermont and Colorado followed filling out the top five most educated states list. Maryland, which came in second, had the highest school system rating in the country, which is 16.2 times higher than in Nebraska, the state with the lowest at 1.7%.
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http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2018/01/23/this-is-least-educated-state-in-america-study-finds.html
"Jaw-dropping" Text Message By FBI Agent Suggests No Trump Collusion With Russia
And the hits just keep on coming.
Just hours after we reported that according to the latest batch of text messages between anti-Trump FBI investigators, a "secret society of folks" within the DOJ and the FBI may have come together in the "immediate aftermath" of the 2016 election to undermine President Trump, another blockbuster text message appears to have emerged.
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in a radio interview that the FBI’s top agent on the Trump-Russia investigation, Peter Strzok, sent what Johnson called a "jaw-dropping" text message last year that suggests he saw no evidence of Trump campaign collusion.
As first reported by the Daily Caller's Chuck Ross, in an interview with WISN-Milwaukee radio host Jay Weber, Johnson read aloud a May 19, 2017 text that Strzok sent to Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer and his mistress.
As Weber summarized, "Sen Ron Johnson tells me he's discovered a text from Peter Strzok 2 days after the Mueller investigation in whichhe questions whether he wants to be part of it because he believes 'there's nothing there'. No collusion."
Here is the "jawdropping" text message that Strzok wrote just two days after Mueller was named special counsel for the Russia Investigation:
"You and I both know the odds are nothing. If I thought it was likely, I’d be there no question. I hesitate in part because of my gut sense and concern that there’s no big there there."
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Just hours after we reported that according to the latest batch of text messages between anti-Trump FBI investigators, a "secret society of folks" within the DOJ and the FBI may have come together in the "immediate aftermath" of the 2016 election to undermine President Trump, another blockbuster text message appears to have emerged.
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in a radio interview that the FBI’s top agent on the Trump-Russia investigation, Peter Strzok, sent what Johnson called a "jaw-dropping" text message last year that suggests he saw no evidence of Trump campaign collusion.
As first reported by the Daily Caller's Chuck Ross, in an interview with WISN-Milwaukee radio host Jay Weber, Johnson read aloud a May 19, 2017 text that Strzok sent to Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer and his mistress.
As Weber summarized, "Sen Ron Johnson tells me he's discovered a text from Peter Strzok 2 days after the Mueller investigation in whichhe questions whether he wants to be part of it because he believes 'there's nothing there'. No collusion."
"You and I both know the odds are nothing. If I thought it was likely, I’d be there no question. I hesitate in part because of my gut sense and concern that there’s no big there there."
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"Stupidest Damn Thing I've Ever Seen": 'Sellout Schumer' Under Fire For Shutdown Deal
Desperate proponent of the #TrumpShutdown hashtag, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is coming under fire from his own party in the aftermath of a fight that shut down the government for three days and left Democrats with nothing to show for it.
As The Hill reports, liberal groups were enraged by that decision, arguing Schumer didn’t get enough to back down.
“It’s official: Chuck Schumer is the worst negotiator in Washington – even worse than Trump,” said Murshed Zaheed, political director at Credo, a progressive advocacy group.
“We went in with a very weak set of cards, with [25] people up for re-election,” said one Democratic senator, one of several lawmakers who requested anonymity to assess Schumer’s performance frankly.
Another Democratic senator said almost every local news channel he spoke to over the weekend began its interview with the same question, “
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As The Hill reports, liberal groups were enraged by that decision, arguing Schumer didn’t get enough to back down.
“It’s official: Chuck Schumer is the worst negotiator in Washington – even worse than Trump,” said Murshed Zaheed, political director at Credo, a progressive advocacy group.
“We went in with a very weak set of cards, with [25] people up for re-election,” said one Democratic senator, one of several lawmakers who requested anonymity to assess Schumer’s performance frankly.
Another Democratic senator said almost every local news channel he spoke to over the weekend began its interview with the same question, “
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Floridians will vote this fall on restoring voting rights to 1.5 million felons
Florida voters will decide this fall whether 1.5 million felons will get their voting rights back.
Floridians for Fair Democracy, led by Desmond Meade, of Orlando, successfully gathered more than 799,000 certified signatures in their years-long petition drive, just a week before the deadline to reach the required total of about 766,000. Because of that, the state on Tuesday certified the initiative for the Nov. 6 ballot.
If approved by 60 percent of voters, the amendment would restore voting rights to Floridians with felony convictions after they fully complete their sentences, including parole or probation. Those convicted of murder or sexual offenses would continue to be barred from voting.
“The moment I found out, tears just started streaming down my face,” said Meade, a former addict convicted on drug and firearm charges in 2001. Though he went on to earn a law degree, he could not vote for his wife, Sheena, in her unsuccessful bid for the Florida House in 2016. “As someone directly impacted, I cannot quantify the level of emotion moving through me right now.”
If the amendment becomes law, it could have a huge effect on elections in a state as evenly split politically as Florida. Gov. Rick Scott was elected and re-elected by margins of fewer than 65,000 votes, while President Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the state by fewer than 120,000 votes.
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Floridians for Fair Democracy, led by Desmond Meade, of Orlando, successfully gathered more than 799,000 certified signatures in their years-long petition drive, just a week before the deadline to reach the required total of about 766,000. Because of that, the state on Tuesday certified the initiative for the Nov. 6 ballot.
If approved by 60 percent of voters, the amendment would restore voting rights to Floridians with felony convictions after they fully complete their sentences, including parole or probation. Those convicted of murder or sexual offenses would continue to be barred from voting.
“The moment I found out, tears just started streaming down my face,” said Meade, a former addict convicted on drug and firearm charges in 2001. Though he went on to earn a law degree, he could not vote for his wife, Sheena, in her unsuccessful bid for the Florida House in 2016. “As someone directly impacted, I cannot quantify the level of emotion moving through me right now.”
If the amendment becomes law, it could have a huge effect on elections in a state as evenly split politically as Florida. Gov. Rick Scott was elected and re-elected by margins of fewer than 65,000 votes, while President Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the state by fewer than 120,000 votes.
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Rep. Paul Gosar on #ReleaseTheMemo: Obama's 'Weaponization' of DOJ and Intelligence Services Links to Fast and Furious, IRS, and Benghazi Scandal
“If you don’t think the unmasking has something to do with the weaponization of our Department of Justice and our intelligence services, think again,” said Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), suggesting that the Obama administration had weaponized the executive branch in pursuit of partisan political purposes.
Gosar’s remarks came in a SiriusXM Breitbart News Tonight interview with Breitbart News’s Senior Editors-at-Large Rebecca Mansour and Joel Pollak.
Drawing on a classified four-page memo composed by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), who chairs the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, for his claims, Gosar described abuse of executive power as a pattern across the Obama administration.
Gosar linked the following Obama-era operations and events as illustrative of a pattern of partisan weaponization of the executive branch: Fast and Furious; the handling of and response to the September 11, 2012, Islamic terrorist attack on the diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya; the IRS’s targeting of dissident charities and non-profits; and the surveillance of persons connected to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
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Gosar’s remarks came in a SiriusXM Breitbart News Tonight interview with Breitbart News’s Senior Editors-at-Large Rebecca Mansour and Joel Pollak.
Drawing on a classified four-page memo composed by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), who chairs the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, for his claims, Gosar described abuse of executive power as a pattern across the Obama administration.
Gosar linked the following Obama-era operations and events as illustrative of a pattern of partisan weaponization of the executive branch: Fast and Furious; the handling of and response to the September 11, 2012, Islamic terrorist attack on the diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya; the IRS’s targeting of dissident charities and non-profits; and the surveillance of persons connected to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
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Amazon pulls 'slavery gets sh-t done' products from site
Amazon has pulled a number of items for sale on its website which featured the saying, “slavery gets sh-t done.”
The online retail giant removed the products — reportedly ranging from t-shirts, to bags, to mugs, to children’s clothing — following backlash from shoppers, Reuters reported Monday.
The controversial products, according to Amazon, were sold online by third-party sellers.
“All Marketplace sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who don’t will be subject to action including potential removal of their account,” an Amazon spokesperson told Reuters. “The products in question are no longer available.”
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http://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/2018/01/23/amazon-pulls-slavery-gets-sh-t-done-products-from-site.html
The online retail giant removed the products — reportedly ranging from t-shirts, to bags, to mugs, to children’s clothing — following backlash from shoppers, Reuters reported Monday.
The controversial products, according to Amazon, were sold online by third-party sellers.
“All Marketplace sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who don’t will be subject to action including potential removal of their account,” an Amazon spokesperson told Reuters. “The products in question are no longer available.”
More
http://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/2018/01/23/amazon-pulls-slavery-gets-sh-t-done-products-from-site.html
The American System Is Not Capitalism
One of the great myths of our time is that America is a capitalistic country. It is not, and has not been close to capitalistic for more than 150 years.
Capitalism is a social system in which an individual’s rights, including his rights to own property, are recognized and all property is privately owned. In a capitalistic society, governments acknowledge that individuals and companies can and should compete for their own economic gain, and the prices of goods and services are determined by the free market. The role of government in capitalistic societies is to ensure that markets function without interference and to protect individuals from fraud and/or the use of physical force by others.
Capitalism is not about greed. Capitalism is about human freedom, or as we term it, personal liberty. As Adam Smith posited inWealth of Nations, when individuals are permitted to pursue their self-interest through markets, they are amazingly good at finding ways of bettering not only themselves but society as well.
In Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Ayn Rand writes:
The recognition of individual rights entails the banishment of physical force from human relationships: basically, rights can be violated only by means of force.
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Capitalism is a social system in which an individual’s rights, including his rights to own property, are recognized and all property is privately owned. In a capitalistic society, governments acknowledge that individuals and companies can and should compete for their own economic gain, and the prices of goods and services are determined by the free market. The role of government in capitalistic societies is to ensure that markets function without interference and to protect individuals from fraud and/or the use of physical force by others.
Capitalism is not about greed. Capitalism is about human freedom, or as we term it, personal liberty. As Adam Smith posited inWealth of Nations, when individuals are permitted to pursue their self-interest through markets, they are amazingly good at finding ways of bettering not only themselves but society as well.
In Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Ayn Rand writes:
The recognition of individual rights entails the banishment of physical force from human relationships: basically, rights can be violated only by means of force.
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DELUSIONAL: MSNBC Anchor Joy Reid Says The Democrats Only Look Bad Because The Media Loves Republicans
On Monday, following Democrats’ failed attempt to shut down the government in order to pressure Republicans into re-enshrining President Obama’s executive amnesty, MSNBC anchor Joy Reid took to Twitter to express her outrage. And she blamed . . . the Republican-leaning media.
Yes, seriously. Now, in case you were wondering if Reid is living in an alternative universe, she is: just 7% of journalists identify as Republicans, as opposed to 18% in 2002 and 26% in 1971. And according to the Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy, the press coverage of President Trump has been unprecedentedly nasty: in the first 100 days of his administration, CNN and NBC covered bad news for Trump at a 13-1 rate over good news. That rate was paralleled by other left-leaning outlets.
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Yes, seriously. Now, in case you were wondering if Reid is living in an alternative universe, she is: just 7% of journalists identify as Republicans, as opposed to 18% in 2002 and 26% in 1971. And according to the Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy, the press coverage of President Trump has been unprecedentedly nasty: in the first 100 days of his administration, CNN and NBC covered bad news for Trump at a 13-1 rate over good news. That rate was paralleled by other left-leaning outlets.
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Did Mueller Help Cover Up Connections Between Saudis And 9/11?
Mueller was “likely involved” in releasing deceptive agency statements
Special counsel Robert Mueller may have helped cover up connections between a Saudi family and the 9/11 terror attacks, according to Tuesday report from conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch.
Court documents obtained by Judicial Watch show that as FBI director, Mueller was “likely involved” in releasing deceptive agency statements to cover up a connection between a Saudi Arabian family living in Florida and the 9/11 hijackers. The statements were tailored to discredit a 2011 story exposing an FBI investigation into the family, who lived in Sarasota, Fla. The investigation was also withheld from Congress, according to Judicial Watch.
The FBI investigation into the Saudis came when news stories found that they had abruptly left the country two weeks before 9/11, reportedly leaving behind their cars, furniture, clothes, and other personal items.
“Though the recently filed court documents reveal Mueller received a briefing about the Sarasota Saudi investigation, the FBI continued to publicly deny it existed and it appears that the lies were approved by Mueller,” Judicial Watch wrote. “Not surprisingly, he didn’t respond to questions about this new discovery emailed to his office by the news organization that uncovered it.”
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Special counsel Robert Mueller may have helped cover up connections between a Saudi family and the 9/11 terror attacks, according to Tuesday report from conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch.
Court documents obtained by Judicial Watch show that as FBI director, Mueller was “likely involved” in releasing deceptive agency statements to cover up a connection between a Saudi Arabian family living in Florida and the 9/11 hijackers. The statements were tailored to discredit a 2011 story exposing an FBI investigation into the family, who lived in Sarasota, Fla. The investigation was also withheld from Congress, according to Judicial Watch.
The FBI investigation into the Saudis came when news stories found that they had abruptly left the country two weeks before 9/11, reportedly leaving behind their cars, furniture, clothes, and other personal items.
“Though the recently filed court documents reveal Mueller received a briefing about the Sarasota Saudi investigation, the FBI continued to publicly deny it existed and it appears that the lies were approved by Mueller,” Judicial Watch wrote. “Not surprisingly, he didn’t respond to questions about this new discovery emailed to his office by the news organization that uncovered it.”
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Peter Schiff: "We're Near The Endgame... And Trump's Gonna Be The Fall Guy"
Peter Schiff isn’t known for mincing words or sugarcoating the evidence. The financial broker and economist said in an interview “the economy is going to blow up like a bomb,” and when that happens, Donald Trump will take all of the blame.
Not even a full minute into an interview with Alex Jones of Info Wars, Schiff says “it’s not a good thing” that the economy is going to crash and burn. “Unfortunately, that’s what Trump has inherited from Obama. But it’s not even really just Obama, it’s the federal reserve. It’s the monetary policy that has been passed like a baton from Clinton to Bush to Obama and now to Trump. And we’re near the end of the game and unfortunately, Trump’s gonna be the fall guy. This thing is all gonna collapse while he’s president.”
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Not even a full minute into an interview with Alex Jones of Info Wars, Schiff says “it’s not a good thing” that the economy is going to crash and burn. “Unfortunately, that’s what Trump has inherited from Obama. But it’s not even really just Obama, it’s the federal reserve. It’s the monetary policy that has been passed like a baton from Clinton to Bush to Obama and now to Trump. And we’re near the end of the game and unfortunately, Trump’s gonna be the fall guy. This thing is all gonna collapse while he’s president.”
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Report: American Religiosity ‘Growing More Exceptional All the Time’
Contrary to popular opinion, religiosity is not on the decline in the United States but enjoys “persistent and exceptional intensity,” according to groundbreaking new research.
In an analysis of recent scholarship, Glenn T. Stanton notes that while moderate religion is indeed slipping in the United States, intense religious belief and practice, especially among Christians, is holding strong and even increasing.
A report last month by scholars from Harvard and Indiana Universities suggests that the secularization taking place in many advanced industrialized societies does not in fact hold for American culture, and that religiosity in the United States is growing ever more exceptional in comparison with the rest of the world.
More here
In an analysis of recent scholarship, Glenn T. Stanton notes that while moderate religion is indeed slipping in the United States, intense religious belief and practice, especially among Christians, is holding strong and even increasing.
A report last month by scholars from Harvard and Indiana Universities suggests that the secularization taking place in many advanced industrialized societies does not in fact hold for American culture, and that religiosity in the United States is growing ever more exceptional in comparison with the rest of the world.
More here
Accident In West Ocean City
Why FBI's 'missing' five months of texts is worse than Watergate
Richard Nixon's secretary Rose Mary Woods erased 18 minutes of tape recording of the president and became infamous in1972. The FBI failed to preserve five months of text messages and expects the American public to believe it was a random mistake.
This is worse than Watergate. The text messages between agents Peter Strozk and Lisa Page are instructive for several reasons.
First, the texts were sent in the lead-up to Robert Mueller being named a special counsel in the investigation of Russia and the 2016 presidential election.
Second, earlier messages that have been released included not only the involvement of outgoing FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, but the desire of top-level FBI officials to create an “insurance policy” against a Donald Trump presidency.
Strozk and Page eventually ended up working on Mueller’s probe into possible Russia connections to the Trump campaign. However, Strozk was removed after the Justice Department’s inspector general revealed Strozk’s extramarital affair with Page, and also disclosed the anti-Trump bias that was animating Strozk and Page. Page had already left the probe before the texts were discovered.
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This is worse than Watergate. The text messages between agents Peter Strozk and Lisa Page are instructive for several reasons.
First, the texts were sent in the lead-up to Robert Mueller being named a special counsel in the investigation of Russia and the 2016 presidential election.
Second, earlier messages that have been released included not only the involvement of outgoing FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, but the desire of top-level FBI officials to create an “insurance policy” against a Donald Trump presidency.
Strozk and Page eventually ended up working on Mueller’s probe into possible Russia connections to the Trump campaign. However, Strozk was removed after the Justice Department’s inspector general revealed Strozk’s extramarital affair with Page, and also disclosed the anti-Trump bias that was animating Strozk and Page. Page had already left the probe before the texts were discovered.
More/Video
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/01/23/why-fbis-missing-five-months-texts-is-worse-than-watergate.html
Google Parent Tops Big Spenders on Washington Lobbyists
Google parent Alphabet Inc. outspent all other companies on lobbying Washington bureaucrats and politicians in 2017, a year in which it and other tech giants were hauled before legislators probing Russian influence in the 2016 election.
The search giant doled out $13.6 million on lobbying firms like Prime Policy Group and Gephardt Group, edging out the $13.2 million spent by AT&T, which is facing government opposition to its takeover of Time Warner Inc. for $85 billion.
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The search giant doled out $13.6 million on lobbying firms like Prime Policy Group and Gephardt Group, edging out the $13.2 million spent by AT&T, which is facing government opposition to its takeover of Time Warner Inc. for $85 billion.
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CNN Asks Dem What Shutdown Accomplished
Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen went on CNN Tuesday morning to attempt to spin the Democrats caving to GOP demands on the government shutdown.
Van Hollen’s Democratic colleagues in the Senate voted Monday to re-open the government by a large majority. Van Hollen was among the Democrats who voted to end the three-day shutdown. When CNN asked what the shutdown had “gained” for progressives and Democrats, Hollen had a stunning answer. “What did you gain?” CNN asked. Van Hollen’s answer was to immediately blame Trump:
“First of all, John, let’s be clear: it was the total incompetence of President Trump and the dysfunctionious [sic] White House that led to the shutdown in the first place.”
Hollen went on to talk about how the Democrats gained a commitment from McConnell to take up a bipartisan DACA bill.
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Van Hollen’s Democratic colleagues in the Senate voted Monday to re-open the government by a large majority. Van Hollen was among the Democrats who voted to end the three-day shutdown. When CNN asked what the shutdown had “gained” for progressives and Democrats, Hollen had a stunning answer. “What did you gain?” CNN asked. Van Hollen’s answer was to immediately blame Trump:
“First of all, John, let’s be clear: it was the total incompetence of President Trump and the dysfunctionious [sic] White House that led to the shutdown in the first place.”
Hollen went on to talk about how the Democrats gained a commitment from McConnell to take up a bipartisan DACA bill.
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Troopers Seek Public’s Assistance in Locating Theft Suspect-Seaford
Billy Williams 3rd
Seaford- The Delaware State Police is seeking the public's assistance in attempting to locate a suspect in connection with multiple thefts from vehicles.
Between December 10, 2017 and December 11, 2017, State Police responded to the area of Bethel Road and Woodland Ferry Road, Seaford in reference to six reported thefts from motor vehicles. Through investigative measures, Troopers were able to identify 35-year-old Billy Williams 3rd. of Laurel as a suspect.
A warrant has been obtained for the arrest of Williams including multiple charges of Theft, Conspiracy and Attempting to Sell Stolen Property. Troopers have been unable to locate Williams who is known to frequent the area of Federalsburg, Maryland and Laurel, Delaware.
If anyone has any information in reference to the location of this individual, they are asked to please contact Detective A. Jones, Troop 4 Property Crimes at 302-752-3795. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.
Ohio school board member resigns after apparent overdose
A first-term Ohio school board member resigned Monday after he was found unconscious from an apparent overdose last week.
Police in Akron were called to the 200 block of East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue early last Thursday evening, when Akron Board of Education member John Otterman was spotted passed out inside his SUV.
'His car has been on for hours... we shook the car, we beat on the windows and everything. He's not moving,' a witness described while speaking in the emergency call.
When police and paramedics arrived, the 57-year-old was administered four doses of the opioid overdose drug, naloxone, to be revived, the police report said.
During a vehicle search, authorities found fentanyl - an opioid said to be nearly 50 times stronger than heroin - as well as marijuana in the vehicle.
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Police in Akron were called to the 200 block of East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue early last Thursday evening, when Akron Board of Education member John Otterman was spotted passed out inside his SUV.
'His car has been on for hours... we shook the car, we beat on the windows and everything. He's not moving,' a witness described while speaking in the emergency call.
When police and paramedics arrived, the 57-year-old was administered four doses of the opioid overdose drug, naloxone, to be revived, the police report said.
During a vehicle search, authorities found fentanyl - an opioid said to be nearly 50 times stronger than heroin - as well as marijuana in the vehicle.
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The vacuum won't start
A guy sits around the house all day, so one day his wife says, “Ed, you could do something useful, like vacuum the house once a week." Ed gives it a moment’s thought and says: “Sure! Why not. Where’s the vacuum?" Half an hour later, Ed comes into the kitchen to get some coffee. His wife says, “I didn't hear the vacuum running. I thought you were going to do the vacuuming?” Exasperated, Ed answers, “The stupid thing is broken; it won't start. We need to buy a new one.” “Really?” she says, “show me -- it worked fine the last time.” So he shows her:
( Click Here).
( Click Here).
Clinton Foundation Uses Unseen Transactions for Influence Peddling
Huge, unregulated transnational charities provide unique cover for moving money and other considerations as illegal favors...
A friend of mine, Peter Wing, once actually hid an elephant in plain sight at the castle he built with his bare hands from reclaimed materials near Millbrook, New York.
The evolution of the Clinton Foundation since Oct. 23, 1997, proves that gigantic frauds, spread across the globe under the harsh glare of public attention and in the media, are tough to grasp - and tougher still to police.
Who would imagine, for example, that a former president, an aspiring president and a highly educated only child would work together, purposefully gaming controls at supposed “charities,” produce false and misleading public filings, and do so for more than two decades using a bevy of outside professional advisers and world-renowned directors?
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A friend of mine, Peter Wing, once actually hid an elephant in plain sight at the castle he built with his bare hands from reclaimed materials near Millbrook, New York.
The evolution of the Clinton Foundation since Oct. 23, 1997, proves that gigantic frauds, spread across the globe under the harsh glare of public attention and in the media, are tough to grasp - and tougher still to police.
Who would imagine, for example, that a former president, an aspiring president and a highly educated only child would work together, purposefully gaming controls at supposed “charities,” produce false and misleading public filings, and do so for more than two decades using a bevy of outside professional advisers and world-renowned directors?
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Laptops And Phones In The Classroom: Yea, Nay Or A Third Way?
"If something on their desk or in their pocket dings, rings or vibrates — they will lose focus."
"Students are doing so much in class, distraction and disruption isn't really something I worry about."
How should teachers — both K-12 and college — deal with the use of computers and phones by students in class?
On the one hand, those sleek little supercomputers promise to connect us to all human knowledge. On the other hand, they are also scientifically designed by some of the world's top geniuses to feel as compelling as oxygen.
So where does that leave teachers? Should you ban these devices in the classroom? Let students go whole hog? Or is there a happy medium?
This seemingly simple topic ends up being what one professor and pedagogy expert calls "a Rorschach test for so much that's going on in education."
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"Students are doing so much in class, distraction and disruption isn't really something I worry about."
How should teachers — both K-12 and college — deal with the use of computers and phones by students in class?
On the one hand, those sleek little supercomputers promise to connect us to all human knowledge. On the other hand, they are also scientifically designed by some of the world's top geniuses to feel as compelling as oxygen.
So where does that leave teachers? Should you ban these devices in the classroom? Let students go whole hog? Or is there a happy medium?
This seemingly simple topic ends up being what one professor and pedagogy expert calls "a Rorschach test for so much that's going on in education."
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Trump To Schumer: No Wall, No DACA
President Trump fired off a Tuesday night tweet to "Cryin'" Chuck Schumer (D) letting let the New York Senate Minority Leader know that without funding for the wall - one of the president's cornerstone campaign promises, there would be no compromise on legislation to help so-called Dreamers, something we expected when we reported that Schumer was pulling his border wall funding "offer" on Tuesday.
Schumer had offered and then withdrawn a deal which would secure funding for the wall in exchange for an agreement over immigration. Schumer's office confirmed on Tuesday that the offer - initially made last Friday during negotiations over the shutdown - had been withdrawn on Sunday.
"Cryin’ Chuck Schumer fully understands, especially after his humiliating defeat, that if there is no Wall, there is no DACA. We must have safety and security, together with a strong Military, for our great people!" Trump tweeted.
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Schumer had offered and then withdrawn a deal which would secure funding for the wall in exchange for an agreement over immigration. Schumer's office confirmed on Tuesday that the offer - initially made last Friday during negotiations over the shutdown - had been withdrawn on Sunday.
"Cryin’ Chuck Schumer fully understands, especially after his humiliating defeat, that if there is no Wall, there is no DACA. We must have safety and security, together with a strong Military, for our great people!" Trump tweeted.
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Democrats Blow Up Amnesty Negotiations, Again
The divided and angry Democratic caucus in the Senate has reunited itself by blowing up the few immigration and amnesty concessions it had offered to the GOP.
According to Politico:
The Senate minority leader, through an aide, informed the White House on Monday that he was retracting the offer he made last week to give Trump well north of the $1.6 billion in wall funding Trump had asked for this year, according to two Democrats. And now they say Trump will simply not get a better deal than that on his signature campaign promise.
Schumer “took it off,” said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. “He called the White House yesterday and said it’s over…”
“Discussions were had coming up to Friday night are interesting for context,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). But now, he said, “we start from a blank sheet of paper.”
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According to Politico:
The Senate minority leader, through an aide, informed the White House on Monday that he was retracting the offer he made last week to give Trump well north of the $1.6 billion in wall funding Trump had asked for this year, according to two Democrats. And now they say Trump will simply not get a better deal than that on his signature campaign promise.
Schumer “took it off,” said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. “He called the White House yesterday and said it’s over…”
“Discussions were had coming up to Friday night are interesting for context,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). But now, he said, “we start from a blank sheet of paper.”
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Evidence suggests a massive scandal is brewing at the FBI
During the financial crisis, the federal government bailed out banks it declared “too big to fail.” Fearing their bankruptcy might trigger economic Armageddon, the feds propped them up with taxpayer cash.
Something similar is happening now at the FBI, with the Washington wagons circling the agency to protect it from charges of corruption. This time, the appropriate tag line is “too big to believe.”
Yet each day brings credible reports suggesting there is a massive scandal involving the top ranks of America’s premier law enforcement agency. The reports, which feature talk among agents of a “secret society” and suddenly missing text messages, point to the existence both of a cabal dedicated to defeating Donald Trump in 2016 and of a plan to let Hillary Clinton skate free in the classified email probe.
If either one is true — and I believe both probably are — it would mean FBI leaders betrayed the nation by abusing their powers in a bid to pick the president.
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Something similar is happening now at the FBI, with the Washington wagons circling the agency to protect it from charges of corruption. This time, the appropriate tag line is “too big to believe.”
Yet each day brings credible reports suggesting there is a massive scandal involving the top ranks of America’s premier law enforcement agency. The reports, which feature talk among agents of a “secret society” and suddenly missing text messages, point to the existence both of a cabal dedicated to defeating Donald Trump in 2016 and of a plan to let Hillary Clinton skate free in the classified email probe.
If either one is true — and I believe both probably are — it would mean FBI leaders betrayed the nation by abusing their powers in a bid to pick the president.
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Sen. Johnson: FBI Informant Says 'Secret Society' Held Secret Meetings
An FBI informant has apparently informed Congress that a secret society at the FBI was holding secret meetings off-site after the election of Donald Trump.
On Special Report with Bret Baier Tuesday evening, Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) called it "corruption of the highest levels of the FBI."
"That secret society — we have an informant that's talking about a group that were holding secret meetings off-site," Johnson said. "There is so much smoke here."
More/Video
On Special Report with Bret Baier Tuesday evening, Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) called it "corruption of the highest levels of the FBI."
"That secret society — we have an informant that's talking about a group that were holding secret meetings off-site," Johnson said. "There is so much smoke here."
More/Video
Report: Missing FBI Texts Include Direct Threats Of Physical Harm Against President Trump
High-level FBI officials that supported Hillary Clinton for president discussed “initiating” physical harm against President Donald Trump in a series of “missing” text messages, according to a shocking new report detailed by two different alternative news outlets.
With the possibility that tens of thousands of text messages between anti-Trump FBI agent Peter Strzok and his mistress, FBI lawyer Lisa Page, were purposefully deleted, many have assumed that they contained bombshell evidence of a conspiracy against Trump and, now, that seems to actually be the case.
In the article, True Pundit details what they claim to be comments made by a high ranking FBI official who believes the missing texts contained actual threats against the life of Donald Trump.
True Pundit reports:
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With the possibility that tens of thousands of text messages between anti-Trump FBI agent Peter Strzok and his mistress, FBI lawyer Lisa Page, were purposefully deleted, many have assumed that they contained bombshell evidence of a conspiracy against Trump and, now, that seems to actually be the case.
In the article, True Pundit details what they claim to be comments made by a high ranking FBI official who believes the missing texts contained actual threats against the life of Donald Trump.
True Pundit reports:
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'DACA No Longer Enough:' Soros-Funded Illegal Aliens Demand Amnesty by Protesting Schumer, Democrats
Illegal alien activists stormed the home of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the offices of Democrats demanding immediate amnesty for all 12 to 30 million illegal aliens in the United States, as well as the release of all illegal aliens who are in detention centers for crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
Illegal aliens and open borders activists with “United We Dream,” a group that is partiallyfunded by globalist billionaire George Soros, blocked off streets in Brooklyn, New York to protest Schumer’s vote to cave and reopen the federal government without an amnesty for millions of illegal aliens being included in the government funding bill.
“If Chuck won’t let us dream, we won’t let him sleep!” illegal alien activists shouted outside the New York liberal’s home on Tuesday.
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Illegal aliens and open borders activists with “United We Dream,” a group that is partiallyfunded by globalist billionaire George Soros, blocked off streets in Brooklyn, New York to protest Schumer’s vote to cave and reopen the federal government without an amnesty for millions of illegal aliens being included in the government funding bill.
“If Chuck won’t let us dream, we won’t let him sleep!” illegal alien activists shouted outside the New York liberal’s home on Tuesday.
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113 people executed in Virginia since 1982
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Happening TODAY
| Hearing - Preliminary Inquiry | 09/18/2017 | 08:30:00 | Wicomico District Court | Courtroom 2 | Court |
| Trial | 10/18/2017 | 08:30:00 | Wicomico District Court | Courtroom 2 | POST |
| Hearing | 11/22/2017 | 08:30:00 | Wicomico District Court | Courtroom 2 | POST |
| Trial | 12/13/2017 | 08:30:00 | Wicomico District Court | Courtroom 2 | Canceled/Vacated |
| Trial | 01/25/2018 | 08:30:00 | Wicomico District Court | Courtroom 1 |
Congressman Harris Announces Next Tele-Town Hall
If constituents prefer to be called on a certain phone number, they can list that number through the link below.
· Date: Monday, January 29, 2018
· Time: 5:30-6:30 PM
· Sign Up: https://vekeo.com/andyharrismd/
Questions about the event can be directed to Congressman Harris’ DC office at (202) 225-5311. Constituents who wish to be removed from the call list should contact Congressman Harris’s DC office.
DEA announces step to increase opioid addiction treatment
Deregulation enables mid-level practitioners to prescribe and dispense buprenorphine to addicts
WASHINGTON – The United States Drug Enforcement Administration today announced a deregulatory measure that will make it easier for residents of underserved areas to receive treatment for opioid addiction.
As published today in the Federal Register, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can now become DATA-Waived qualifying practitioners, which give them authority to prescribe and dispense the opioid maintenance drug buprenorphine from their offices. Prior to the enactment of the Drug Abuse Treatment Act of 2000, only physicians could treat opioid addicts and had to register with DEA as both physicians and operators of Narcotic Treatment Programs. Waiving this second registration prompted more physicians to offer treatment services. The Federal Register notice is available here:
Today’s action brings DEA regulations into conformity with the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act passed by Congress and signed into law in 2016. Because the vast majority of DATA-Waived physicians prior to CARA served urban areas, rural parts of the United States were underserved. This action provides more treatment options for addicts in rural parts of the country.
According to a 2017 report published by the National Rural Health Association, 90 percent of DATA-Waived physicians practice in urban counties, leaving 53 percent of rural counties without any prescribing physician and 30 million people living in counties where treatment is unavailable. As a result, rural patients seeking outpatient buprenorphine treatment must often travel long distances to access care. Rural providers of buprenorphine report a demand far beyond their capacity and say they lack the resources to adequately support themselves and patients in treatment. The NRHA report also found that, with 92 percent of substance use treatment facilities located in urban areas, rural areas offer fewer inpatient and day treatment resources.
Currently, there are nearly 43,000 Data-Waived qualifying practitioners in the United States. When CARA was enacted, DEA began the process of transitioning mid-level practitioners into DATA-Waived status in order to treat more addicts, and nearly 5,000 mid-level practitioners are already able to treat and prescribe opioid addicts.
WASHINGTON – The United States Drug Enforcement Administration today announced a deregulatory measure that will make it easier for residents of underserved areas to receive treatment for opioid addiction.
As published today in the Federal Register, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can now become DATA-Waived qualifying practitioners, which give them authority to prescribe and dispense the opioid maintenance drug buprenorphine from their offices. Prior to the enactment of the Drug Abuse Treatment Act of 2000, only physicians could treat opioid addicts and had to register with DEA as both physicians and operators of Narcotic Treatment Programs. Waiving this second registration prompted more physicians to offer treatment services. The Federal Register notice is available here:
Today’s action brings DEA regulations into conformity with the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act passed by Congress and signed into law in 2016. Because the vast majority of DATA-Waived physicians prior to CARA served urban areas, rural parts of the United States were underserved. This action provides more treatment options for addicts in rural parts of the country.
According to a 2017 report published by the National Rural Health Association, 90 percent of DATA-Waived physicians practice in urban counties, leaving 53 percent of rural counties without any prescribing physician and 30 million people living in counties where treatment is unavailable. As a result, rural patients seeking outpatient buprenorphine treatment must often travel long distances to access care. Rural providers of buprenorphine report a demand far beyond their capacity and say they lack the resources to adequately support themselves and patients in treatment. The NRHA report also found that, with 92 percent of substance use treatment facilities located in urban areas, rural areas offer fewer inpatient and day treatment resources.
Currently, there are nearly 43,000 Data-Waived qualifying practitioners in the United States. When CARA was enacted, DEA began the process of transitioning mid-level practitioners into DATA-Waived status in order to treat more addicts, and nearly 5,000 mid-level practitioners are already able to treat and prescribe opioid addicts.
Right to Work Here to Stay in Kentucky
A Kentucky judge threw out a union attempt to block the state's newly minted right to work law.
Teamsters Local 89 filed suit shortly after Republican Gov. Matt Bevin approved right to work, a law that bars companies from mandating union membership as a condition of employment, in January 2017. On Tuesday, Franklin Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate dismissed the suit, saying the union failed to show a "genuine issue of material fact" to support its assertion the law would illegally take their property.
Labor groups sought to block the implementation of the law by arguing that it illegally denied them their property, namely the dues and fees that workers pay. Federal law mandates that unions with sole bargaining rights over a workplace cover all employees, rather than just members. The union argued right to work would create a free rider problem in which workers benefit from union-negotiated wages and compensation, as well as grievance representation and work rules, but do not have to pay for that representation.
Judge Wingate dismissed that claim, saying the law did not prevent unions from continuing to collect from those opting for membership. He further said that a worker's wages, even the portion that previously went to pay dues or fees, are not considered the property of the union.
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Teamsters Local 89 filed suit shortly after Republican Gov. Matt Bevin approved right to work, a law that bars companies from mandating union membership as a condition of employment, in January 2017. On Tuesday, Franklin Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate dismissed the suit, saying the union failed to show a "genuine issue of material fact" to support its assertion the law would illegally take their property.
Labor groups sought to block the implementation of the law by arguing that it illegally denied them their property, namely the dues and fees that workers pay. Federal law mandates that unions with sole bargaining rights over a workplace cover all employees, rather than just members. The union argued right to work would create a free rider problem in which workers benefit from union-negotiated wages and compensation, as well as grievance representation and work rules, but do not have to pay for that representation.
Judge Wingate dismissed that claim, saying the law did not prevent unions from continuing to collect from those opting for membership. He further said that a worker's wages, even the portion that previously went to pay dues or fees, are not considered the property of the union.
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Robot Assistant Fired After One Week for Irritating and Confusing Customers
Robot shop assistant ShopBot, also known as “Fabio,” was created by Heriot-Watt University and soon became employed at a store, where he “got off to a good start, charming customers with high fives, hugs and greetings of ‘hello gorgeous,’” according to the Daily Mail.
However, “Within a few days Fabio began irritating and confusing shoppers at the flagship store,” with the robot giving customers vague and unhelpful answers, and finding it difficult to understand people.
When the robot was tasked with handing out samples, it also “became too enthusiastic” and started to scare customers who “fled from him.”
“We thought a robot was a great addition to show the customers that we are always wanting to do something new and exciting,” claimed shop owner Elena Margiotta. “Unfortunately Fabio didn’t perform as well as we had hoped… People seemed to be actually avoiding him.”
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[Walmart greeters are breathing easier now.. --Editor]
Robots Rejected: Humans Still Build the Best New Car You Can Buy
More than three decades after Honda Motor Co. first built an Accord sedan at its Marysville, Ohio, factory in 1982, humans are still an integral part of the assembly process -- and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
Even as doom-and-gloom reports suggest robots are poised to replace human labor and automotive upstarts like Tesla Inc. aim to largely remove people from the production line, workers keep toiling side-by-side with machines in Marysville. And Honda’s approach is working: The Accord won the prestigious North American Car of Year award at last week’s Detroit auto show.
“We can’t find anything to take the place of the human touch and of human senses like sight, hearing and smell,” Tom Shoupe, the chief operating officer of Honda’s Ohio manufacturing unit, said in an interview.
Honda isn’t alone. Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp. uses just a handful of robots on the Camry final assembly line at its plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, and has no plans to add more, according to Mark Boire, chief production engineer. Markus Schaefer, production chief at Mercedes-Benz, in 2016 said the carmaker was de-automating and relying more on humans to install the endless array of options that luxury customers demand.
More here
Even as doom-and-gloom reports suggest robots are poised to replace human labor and automotive upstarts like Tesla Inc. aim to largely remove people from the production line, workers keep toiling side-by-side with machines in Marysville. And Honda’s approach is working: The Accord won the prestigious North American Car of Year award at last week’s Detroit auto show.
“We can’t find anything to take the place of the human touch and of human senses like sight, hearing and smell,” Tom Shoupe, the chief operating officer of Honda’s Ohio manufacturing unit, said in an interview.
Honda isn’t alone. Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp. uses just a handful of robots on the Camry final assembly line at its plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, and has no plans to add more, according to Mark Boire, chief production engineer. Markus Schaefer, production chief at Mercedes-Benz, in 2016 said the carmaker was de-automating and relying more on humans to install the endless array of options that luxury customers demand.
More here