DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Friday, October 12, 2018
Special Meeting & Work Session Materials
Attached are the Agenda Packets for Monday’s Special Meeting and Work Session. They are posted on the website at the links below.
Special Meeting - https://salisbury.md/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/101518SplMtgPkt.pdf
Work Session - https://salisbury.md/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/101518WSPkt-1.pdf
The Special Meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers (The Public is invited to attend). Council will convene in the regularly scheduled Work Session upon adjournment of the Special Meeting at approximately 4:40 p.m.
Special Meeting Notice - https://salisbury.md/10/10/2018/public-notice-of-special-meeting-10-15-18
Special Meeting - https://salisbury.md/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/101518SplMtgPkt.pdf
Work Session - https://salisbury.md/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/101518WSPkt-1.pdf
The Special Meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers (The Public is invited to attend). Council will convene in the regularly scheduled Work Session upon adjournment of the Special Meeting at approximately 4:40 p.m.
Special Meeting Notice - https://salisbury.md/10/10/2018/public-notice-of-special-meeting-10-15-18
China Has Already Lost This War
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is dead. Mexico and Canada have folded. A new agreement, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), will replace it. While the new agreement maintains the integrity of the North American market, it dramatically changes the rules and tilts the playing field in favor of the United States. In particular, changes in provisions regarding the percentage of North American content required in vehicles imported under the agreement, a mandate for huge increases in minimum wages in Mexico and support for labor unions in Mexico mean that an already resurging American manufacturing base is set to expand even more rapidly.
All eyes now shift to the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, the world's two largest economies. Here the news is even better. We have already won.
Growth in China's manufacturing sector stalled this September, with export orders falling faster than they have in two years. The Caixin/ Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for September fell more than expected to 50.0 from 50.6 in August. The index measures the rate of expansion or contraction in an economy, and the neutral 50-mark divides expansion from contraction. What was once the world's fastest growing economy, destined to overtake the United States at any moment, is now poised, not simply to cool off, but to begin to shrink in size. New export orders from Chinese firms, the all-important indicator of what the future portends, are now shrinking across the board.
"Expansion across the manufacturing sector weakened in September, as exports increasingly dragged down performance and continued softening demand began to have an impact on companies' production," said Zhengsheng Zhong, director of macroeconomic analysis at CEBM Group, a company specializing in analysis of the Chinese economy. "Downward pressure on China's economy was significant," said Zhong.
China's currency is in free fall. China's foreign exchange reserves fell more than expected in September 2018 to a 14-month low as the yuan weakened against the dollar.
China's stock market is crashing. It has lost $2 trillion in value already this year. China, which overtook Japan as the second largest stock market in the world only a few years ago, has now officially fallen behind Japan. The losses show no signs of abating.
Chinese investments in the US plummeted 92 per cent in the first nine months of 2018 from their peak two years ago. In New York, where Chinese money was once driving real estate prices through the roof, the Chinese are now selling and going home. In the second quarter of 2018 Chinese investors sold $1.29 billion worth of US commercial real estate. During the same time period, Chinese investors bought only $126.2 million of property, according to data firm Real Capital Analytics. This marked the first time that these investors were net sellers since 2008.
Meanwhile, back home, China is on pace for a record year in corporate-bond defaults. Chinese companies have reneged on about $2.5 billion of public bond payments so far this year. As the economy downshifts and the threat of US tariffs hangs over everything, Chinese companies increasingly simply cannot pay their debt.
More
All eyes now shift to the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, the world's two largest economies. Here the news is even better. We have already won.
Growth in China's manufacturing sector stalled this September, with export orders falling faster than they have in two years. The Caixin/ Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for September fell more than expected to 50.0 from 50.6 in August. The index measures the rate of expansion or contraction in an economy, and the neutral 50-mark divides expansion from contraction. What was once the world's fastest growing economy, destined to overtake the United States at any moment, is now poised, not simply to cool off, but to begin to shrink in size. New export orders from Chinese firms, the all-important indicator of what the future portends, are now shrinking across the board.
"Expansion across the manufacturing sector weakened in September, as exports increasingly dragged down performance and continued softening demand began to have an impact on companies' production," said Zhengsheng Zhong, director of macroeconomic analysis at CEBM Group, a company specializing in analysis of the Chinese economy. "Downward pressure on China's economy was significant," said Zhong.
China's currency is in free fall. China's foreign exchange reserves fell more than expected in September 2018 to a 14-month low as the yuan weakened against the dollar.
China's stock market is crashing. It has lost $2 trillion in value already this year. China, which overtook Japan as the second largest stock market in the world only a few years ago, has now officially fallen behind Japan. The losses show no signs of abating.
Chinese investments in the US plummeted 92 per cent in the first nine months of 2018 from their peak two years ago. In New York, where Chinese money was once driving real estate prices through the roof, the Chinese are now selling and going home. In the second quarter of 2018 Chinese investors sold $1.29 billion worth of US commercial real estate. During the same time period, Chinese investors bought only $126.2 million of property, according to data firm Real Capital Analytics. This marked the first time that these investors were net sellers since 2008.
Meanwhile, back home, China is on pace for a record year in corporate-bond defaults. Chinese companies have reneged on about $2.5 billion of public bond payments so far this year. As the economy downshifts and the threat of US tariffs hangs over everything, Chinese companies increasingly simply cannot pay their debt.
More
Kicking Back: President Trump Slams Eric Holder and Sends Him a Warning
During an interview with Fox and Friends Thursday morning, President Donald Trump slammed former Attorney General Eric Holder for saying leftists should "kick" Republicans.
"He better be careful what he's wishing for, that I can tell you. That's a disgusting statement for him to make. For him to make a statement like that is a very dangerous statement," Trump said. "They better be careful with the rhetoric because it's very dangerous what Holder said. Holder was held in contempt of Congress. Holder went after Christians. He went after our great evangelicals. He went after our tea party people, you know that, the IRS just settled that case."
"You know, they talk about us. We are exactly the opposite," he continued. "My rallies are really calm and well run and packed with people. We don't have problems at my rallies...They [leftists] used to send in paid protestors."
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"He better be careful what he's wishing for, that I can tell you. That's a disgusting statement for him to make. For him to make a statement like that is a very dangerous statement," Trump said. "They better be careful with the rhetoric because it's very dangerous what Holder said. Holder was held in contempt of Congress. Holder went after Christians. He went after our great evangelicals. He went after our tea party people, you know that, the IRS just settled that case."
"You know, they talk about us. We are exactly the opposite," he continued. "My rallies are really calm and well run and packed with people. We don't have problems at my rallies...They [leftists] used to send in paid protestors."
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Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar's Campaign Donated Money to CAIR
The campaign of Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, who is running against incumbent Republican Rep Duncan Hunter Jr. (R-CA) in California’s 50th congressional district, donated $650 to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in 2017, public records show.
As Breitbart News has noted:
In 2007-8, CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the terror financing trial of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. That case, in turn, led the FBI to discontinue its work with the organization. In 2009, a federal judge ruled that the government “produced ample evidence to establish” the ties of CAIR with Hamas, the Palestinian terror organization . The United Arab Emirates labeled CAIR a terrorist organization in 2014 (a decision that the Obama administration opposed).
In 2015, following a radical Islamic terror attack in San Bernardino by a husband-and-wife team who killed 14 people and wounded 22 others, CAIR ensured the terrorists had an Islamic burial, and provided legal assistance to their family. Hussam Ayloush, the director of CAIR’s Los Angeles chapter, told CNN that U.S. foreign policy was partly to blame for providing the attack.
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As Breitbart News has noted:
In 2007-8, CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the terror financing trial of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. That case, in turn, led the FBI to discontinue its work with the organization. In 2009, a federal judge ruled that the government “produced ample evidence to establish” the ties of CAIR with Hamas, the Palestinian terror organization . The United Arab Emirates labeled CAIR a terrorist organization in 2014 (a decision that the Obama administration opposed).
In 2015, following a radical Islamic terror attack in San Bernardino by a husband-and-wife team who killed 14 people and wounded 22 others, CAIR ensured the terrorists had an Islamic burial, and provided legal assistance to their family. Hussam Ayloush, the director of CAIR’s Los Angeles chapter, told CNN that U.S. foreign policy was partly to blame for providing the attack.
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Tom Cotton: Schumer’s Political Operation Along with Preet Bharara Were Behind Christine Ford’s Hit on Kavanaugh
Senator Tom Cotton dropped a bomb this week on The Hugh Hewitt Show.
Cotton blamed Schumer’s political operation for being behind the Christine Ford operation from the very beginning.
Cotton pointed to Ford’s friend Monica McLean who worked for Preet Bharara, an outspoken Trump hater and former US Attorney in Manhattan. Cotton believes Schumer and Bharara were also behind this disgusting assault on Brett Kavanaugh.
More/Video
Cotton blamed Schumer’s political operation for being behind the Christine Ford operation from the very beginning.
Cotton pointed to Ford’s friend Monica McLean who worked for Preet Bharara, an outspoken Trump hater and former US Attorney in Manhattan. Cotton believes Schumer and Bharara were also behind this disgusting assault on Brett Kavanaugh.
More/Video
Trump Slams Holder’s Call For Violence: ‘It’s a Disgrace’
Holder declares “That is what this new Democratic Party is about”
President Trump has slammed comments made on video by former Attorney General Eric Holder, who said at the weekend that former First Lady Michelle Obama’s infamous ‘when Republicans go low, Democrats go high’ comment should have been ‘when Republicans go low, we kick them.’
Holder made the remarks while speaking at a campaign event in Georgia. After Holder made the comment, the crowd erupted in applause and began shouting “fight, fight, fight.”
More/Video
President Trump has slammed comments made on video by former Attorney General Eric Holder, who said at the weekend that former First Lady Michelle Obama’s infamous ‘when Republicans go low, Democrats go high’ comment should have been ‘when Republicans go low, we kick them.’
Holder made the remarks while speaking at a campaign event in Georgia. After Holder made the comment, the crowd erupted in applause and began shouting “fight, fight, fight.”
More/Video
South Africa’s Zulu Nation Joins White Farmers To Protest Government Land Seizures
The largest ethnic group in South Africa, Zulu, has spoken out against the racial expropriation of land without compensation in the country
Now, this is what unity looks like. South Africa’s Zulu nation has joined forces with white farmers being subjected to racial land seizures in order to prevent the atrocity.
The largest ethnic group in South Africa, Zulu, has spoken out against the racial expropriation of land without compensation in the country. Zulu is ready to cooperate with the country’s white farmers, known as “Afrikaners” or “Boers” to prevent the seizure of their land, reported RT. Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has said the group will cooperate with South African minority rights group AfriForum because they desire to eat in the future.
“The Zulu nation I’m talking about will not exist if we don’t have food. That’s why I say farmers must come closer so that we discuss what we can do when we talk about agriculture and the availability of enough food in the land. That’s why I’m asking AfriForum of the Boers to come and help us,” Zwelithini said, as quoted by eNews Channel Africa. “Because when government started talking about the appropriation of land, expropriation without compensation, Boers downed tools. There is no food in South Africa,” he added.
More
Now, this is what unity looks like. South Africa’s Zulu nation has joined forces with white farmers being subjected to racial land seizures in order to prevent the atrocity.
The largest ethnic group in South Africa, Zulu, has spoken out against the racial expropriation of land without compensation in the country. Zulu is ready to cooperate with the country’s white farmers, known as “Afrikaners” or “Boers” to prevent the seizure of their land, reported RT. Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has said the group will cooperate with South African minority rights group AfriForum because they desire to eat in the future.
“The Zulu nation I’m talking about will not exist if we don’t have food. That’s why I say farmers must come closer so that we discuss what we can do when we talk about agriculture and the availability of enough food in the land. That’s why I’m asking AfriForum of the Boers to come and help us,” Zwelithini said, as quoted by eNews Channel Africa. “Because when government started talking about the appropriation of land, expropriation without compensation, Boers downed tools. There is no food in South Africa,” he added.
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China spy busted: Who, again, started the China trade war?
In what was hailed as a rare espionage victory against China, U.S. officials successfully extradited a Chinese intelligence official lured to Belgium back to the U.S. on charges of economic espionage. According to the New York Times:
The extradition on Tuesday of the officer, Yanjun Xu, a deputy division director in China's main spy agency, the Ministry of State Security, is the first time that a Chinese intelligence official has been brought to the United States to be prosecuted and tried in open court. Law enforcement officials said that Mr. Xu tried to steal trade secrets from companies including GE Aviation outside Cincinnati, in Evendale, Ohio, one of the world's top jet engine suppliers for commercial and military aircraft.
The Times report, which is good, notes that this kind of economic secret-stealing is business as usual for the Chicoms, whose national security strategy seems to be premised on thievery instead of innovation.
The coming trial, in federal court in Cincinnati, could further expose China's methods for stealing trade secrets and embarrass officials in Beijing – part of what current and former administration officials said was a long-term strategy to make stealing secrets costly and shameful for China. Federal prosecutors will have to present additional evidence to prove their case, which could include intercepted communications between government officials or even testimony from cooperating witnesses.
The Times reporter even offered some rare, rare (hope she doesn't get into trouble) implied praise for the Trump administration for actually going after this matter:
More
The extradition on Tuesday of the officer, Yanjun Xu, a deputy division director in China's main spy agency, the Ministry of State Security, is the first time that a Chinese intelligence official has been brought to the United States to be prosecuted and tried in open court. Law enforcement officials said that Mr. Xu tried to steal trade secrets from companies including GE Aviation outside Cincinnati, in Evendale, Ohio, one of the world's top jet engine suppliers for commercial and military aircraft.
The Times report, which is good, notes that this kind of economic secret-stealing is business as usual for the Chicoms, whose national security strategy seems to be premised on thievery instead of innovation.
The coming trial, in federal court in Cincinnati, could further expose China's methods for stealing trade secrets and embarrass officials in Beijing – part of what current and former administration officials said was a long-term strategy to make stealing secrets costly and shameful for China. Federal prosecutors will have to present additional evidence to prove their case, which could include intercepted communications between government officials or even testimony from cooperating witnesses.
The Times reporter even offered some rare, rare (hope she doesn't get into trouble) implied praise for the Trump administration for actually going after this matter:
More
Pompeo: National Security ‘Risk’ Belongs To Menendez
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday placed the blame for any “risk” to the nation because of vacant national security positions “at the feet of” Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey.
In a news release, Pompeo referred to a comment from Menendez on Wednesday when he blamed the Trump administration for not confirming nominees for State Department positions.
“Yesterday, astonishingly and shamefully, Senator Menendez blamed the Administration for a lack of confirmed nominees when he said, ‘This Administration’s continued inability to adequately or appropriately fill key national security positions puts our nation at risk.'”
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In a news release, Pompeo referred to a comment from Menendez on Wednesday when he blamed the Trump administration for not confirming nominees for State Department positions.
“Yesterday, astonishingly and shamefully, Senator Menendez blamed the Administration for a lack of confirmed nominees when he said, ‘This Administration’s continued inability to adequately or appropriately fill key national security positions puts our nation at risk.'”
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Evidence Dems are panicking over black voters: CNN panel insults Kanye West as 'negro' on eve of his White House visit
Democrats need 90% black turnout and 90% black support in order to win elections on a national scale. Anything that erodes either number is a mortal threat. They must be sensing softness, if not outright desertion in the face of three factors:
1. Blacks have done far better under Trump than Obama in terms of rising employment opportunities and rising wages. The growth in manufacturing employment in particular has pushed up wages in the segments of the labor market with heavy black participation. Few people of any color prefer life on food stamps and unemployment insurance to gainful employment at rising wages.
2. The enthusiastic support of Kanye West, slated to visit the White House along with football icon "Big Jim" Brown (as President Trump affectionately calls him), powerfully diminishes the ability of Democrats to call on ethnic solidarity to spike turnout and support.
3. The Democrats' embrace of political correctness is unattractive to black voters. Steven Hayward of Powerline cites a startling study revealing the depth of repugnance felt by blacks and Hispanics toward P.C.:
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1. Blacks have done far better under Trump than Obama in terms of rising employment opportunities and rising wages. The growth in manufacturing employment in particular has pushed up wages in the segments of the labor market with heavy black participation. Few people of any color prefer life on food stamps and unemployment insurance to gainful employment at rising wages.
2. The enthusiastic support of Kanye West, slated to visit the White House along with football icon "Big Jim" Brown (as President Trump affectionately calls him), powerfully diminishes the ability of Democrats to call on ethnic solidarity to spike turnout and support.
3. The Democrats' embrace of political correctness is unattractive to black voters. Steven Hayward of Powerline cites a startling study revealing the depth of repugnance felt by blacks and Hispanics toward P.C.:
More
What Do The Worst-Run States Have In Common?
What do the worst-run states have in common? ...they're run by tax-and-spend Democrats...
Fiscal Sanity: Which political party is better at managing taxpayer dollars? The latest ranking of states' fiscal condition offers an unequivocal answer.
For several years, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University has ranked statesbased on five measures of their financial condition: cash solvency, budget solvency, the ability to meet long-term spending commitments, state spending and taxes as a share of personal income, and unfunded pension liabilities and debt.
And lest anything think that Mercatus — a free-market-oriented group — is fudging the numbers, note that the data used to compile these rankings all come from official state annual financial reports and from state actuarial reports.
For 2016, the latest year for which data are available, the top five most fiscally sound states were, in order: Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Florida and Oklahoma.
The five worst states, starting at the bottom: Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Kentucky.
Notice anything similar in these groupings? We did. All but one of the top five are solidly Republican states. All but one of the bottom five are solidly Democratic.
Not An Aberration
This isn't some one-year aberration, either.
For the first time this year, Mercatus produced rankings from 2006 through 2016.
What does that show?
More
Fiscal Sanity: Which political party is better at managing taxpayer dollars? The latest ranking of states' fiscal condition offers an unequivocal answer.
For several years, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University has ranked statesbased on five measures of their financial condition: cash solvency, budget solvency, the ability to meet long-term spending commitments, state spending and taxes as a share of personal income, and unfunded pension liabilities and debt.
And lest anything think that Mercatus — a free-market-oriented group — is fudging the numbers, note that the data used to compile these rankings all come from official state annual financial reports and from state actuarial reports.
For 2016, the latest year for which data are available, the top five most fiscally sound states were, in order: Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Florida and Oklahoma.
The five worst states, starting at the bottom: Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Kentucky.
Notice anything similar in these groupings? We did. All but one of the top five are solidly Republican states. All but one of the bottom five are solidly Democratic.
Not An Aberration
This isn't some one-year aberration, either.
For the first time this year, Mercatus produced rankings from 2006 through 2016.
What does that show?
More
Kelsey Quayle mysteriously shot while driving through Atlanta
A young model is fighting for her life after being mysteriously shot in the neck while driving in Georgia.
Kelsey Quayle, 28, was placed on life support after being targeted Monday morning in Clayton County.
She drove into oncoming traffic and caused a three-car pile up after being shot at the wheel of her Mazda 626, police said.
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Kelsey Quayle, 28, was placed on life support after being targeted Monday morning in Clayton County.
She drove into oncoming traffic and caused a three-car pile up after being shot at the wheel of her Mazda 626, police said.
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San Francisco school board replavces Pledge with Maya Angelou
The newly appointed president of the San Francisco School Board broke with tradition on Tuesday by skipping over the Pledge of Allegiance.
In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Stevon Cook said that it was a decision he made prior to the meeting, and discussed with a few members of the board.
Cook noted that he removed this ceremonial exercise at a time when the Trump administration 'has been attacking our liberties,' opting instead to recite a quote from famed poet Maya Angelou.
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In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Stevon Cook said that it was a decision he made prior to the meeting, and discussed with a few members of the board.
Cook noted that he removed this ceremonial exercise at a time when the Trump administration 'has been attacking our liberties,' opting instead to recite a quote from famed poet Maya Angelou.
More
Michelle Obama: George W. Bush is my ‘partner in crime’
Michelle Obama in an interview early Thursday described former President George W. Bush as her "partner in crime" during every official function, explaining the former president handing her a cough drop at Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) funeral.
"I didn't realize at the time that anybody noticed what we were doing," the former first lady told NBC's "Today" show.
"President Bush and I are forever seat mates because of protocol; that's how we sit at all the official functions," Obama said. "So he is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather."
"I love him to death," she said of the former president. "He's a wonderful man. He's a funny man."
“I didn’t realize at the time that anybody noticed what we were doing… He is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather… I love him to death.” @MichelleObama talks about George W. Bush handing her a cough drop (an old one at that!) at McCain's funeral pic.twitter.com/hS9fV0DHjB— TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 11, 2018
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"I didn't realize at the time that anybody noticed what we were doing," the former first lady told NBC's "Today" show.
"President Bush and I are forever seat mates because of protocol; that's how we sit at all the official functions," Obama said. "So he is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather."
"I love him to death," she said of the former president. "He's a wonderful man. He's a funny man."
“I didn’t realize at the time that anybody noticed what we were doing… He is my partner in crime at every major thing where all the formers gather… I love him to death.” @MichelleObama talks about George W. Bush handing her a cough drop (an old one at that!) at McCain's funeral pic.twitter.com/hS9fV0DHjB— TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 11, 2018
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Judge considering TOSSING $289million school groundskeeper who cancer because Roundup weed-killer
A San Francisco judge is considering tossing most of a $289 million judgement against the makers of RoundUp weed-killer that a groundskeeper says caused his cancer.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Suzanne Bolanos didn't formally rule on any issues after a two-hour hearing to consider the parent company of RoundUp, Monsanto's demand to toss out the entire jury verdict in the first of thousands of similar cases across the country to go to trial.
The San Francisco jury in August said Monsanto knew - or should have known - its best-selling Roundup weed-killer causes cancer and hit the company with $250 million in punitive damages, which are designed to punish companies who act recklessly.
The jury also awarded DeWayne Johnson $33 million in so-called 'pain-and-suffering' damages and $6million in actual damages.
But Bolanos issued a written tentative ruling ahead of the hearing saying she intended to strike down the punitive damages and schedule a new trial on that issue.
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San Francisco Superior Court Judge Suzanne Bolanos didn't formally rule on any issues after a two-hour hearing to consider the parent company of RoundUp, Monsanto's demand to toss out the entire jury verdict in the first of thousands of similar cases across the country to go to trial.
The San Francisco jury in August said Monsanto knew - or should have known - its best-selling Roundup weed-killer causes cancer and hit the company with $250 million in punitive damages, which are designed to punish companies who act recklessly.
The jury also awarded DeWayne Johnson $33 million in so-called 'pain-and-suffering' damages and $6million in actual damages.
But Bolanos issued a written tentative ruling ahead of the hearing saying she intended to strike down the punitive damages and schedule a new trial on that issue.
More
Memphis men accused of raping 9-month-old girl, filming attack
Two men have been accused of raping a 9-month-old girl and filming the attack.
Isiah Dequan Hayes, 19, and Daireus Jumare Ice, 22, were indicted by a grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee on Tuesday on charges including especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.
In October 2016, the victim's mother reported the men to authorities when she found sickening cell phone video of the attack, according to the Shelby County District Attorney General's office.
In one of those videos the suspect could allegedly be seen exposing and touching himself with the young child, who was nude from the waist down.
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Isiah Dequan Hayes, 19, and Daireus Jumare Ice, 22, were indicted by a grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee on Tuesday on charges including especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.
In October 2016, the victim's mother reported the men to authorities when she found sickening cell phone video of the attack, according to the Shelby County District Attorney General's office.
In one of those videos the suspect could allegedly be seen exposing and touching himself with the young child, who was nude from the waist down.
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Kanye West Stands by the Second Amendment: 'We Have the Right to Bear Arms'
Hip-hop superstar Kanye West defended the Second Amendment on Thursday, in a visit at the White House with President Donald Trump.
West was asked reporters about gun violence in Chicago.
“The problem is illegal guns,” West replied. “Illegal is the problem, not legal guns. We have the right to bear arms.”
He said that there was a lot of hate building between police officers and the black community, but that the country also had to discuss black-on-black violence.
“As black people, we have to take a responsibility for what we’re doing. We kill each other more than police officers,” he said.
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West was asked reporters about gun violence in Chicago.
“The problem is illegal guns,” West replied. “Illegal is the problem, not legal guns. We have the right to bear arms.”
He said that there was a lot of hate building between police officers and the black community, but that the country also had to discuss black-on-black violence.
“As black people, we have to take a responsibility for what we’re doing. We kill each other more than police officers,” he said.
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Kanye West Brings '4D Chess' to the White House: 'We Have to Release the Love'
President Donald Trump met with hip-hop superstar and fashion mogul Kanye West at the on Thursday and spoke to the media in the Oval Office.
“Trump is on his hero’s journey right now,” West said. “He might not have thought he’d have a crazy mother-fucker like Kanye West run up and support, but best believe — we are going to make America great.”
West wore Trump’s campaign MAGA hat, urging Americans to rally around the president. He said that the hat was his “superman cape” allowing him to do whatever he wanted.
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“Trump is on his hero’s journey right now,” West said. “He might not have thought he’d have a crazy mother-fucker like Kanye West run up and support, but best believe — we are going to make America great.”
West wore Trump’s campaign MAGA hat, urging Americans to rally around the president. He said that the hat was his “superman cape” allowing him to do whatever he wanted.
More
DHS Nielsen: 'We Need a Bigger Stick' to Stop Chinese Fentanyl Production
The United States “needs a bigger stick” to stop the inflow of Chinese-made fentanyl drugs, Homeland Defense secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Thursday.
It is coming from China, we need to do more,” Nielsen told Ohio GOP Sen. Rob Portman, who had just described the impact of Chinese-made fentanyl in his home state. Portman said:
We have an opioid epidemic. People don’t know the role that fentanyl played — 4,000% increase in fentanyl overdose deaths. Now the number-one killer in Ohio. Relatively inexpensive to make synthetically. Most of it is coming from China. Most is coming through the mail system.
“We need a bigger stick,” Nielsen later told Alabama’s Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, adding:
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It is coming from China, we need to do more,” Nielsen told Ohio GOP Sen. Rob Portman, who had just described the impact of Chinese-made fentanyl in his home state. Portman said:
We have an opioid epidemic. People don’t know the role that fentanyl played — 4,000% increase in fentanyl overdose deaths. Now the number-one killer in Ohio. Relatively inexpensive to make synthetically. Most of it is coming from China. Most is coming through the mail system.
“We need a bigger stick,” Nielsen later told Alabama’s Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, adding:
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Scarborough: 'The Kavanaugh Hearings Were a Disaster for the Democratic Party'
Thursday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” host Joe Scarborough reflected on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s hearings, calling it a “disaster” for Democrats and a “huge bump” for Republicans for the 2018 midterm elections.
“I see right now the Republicans getting a huge bump out of the Kavanaugh hearings,” Scarborough stated. “I think a lot of Americans, especially a lot of Republicans, didn’t like what they saw during those hearings coming from the Democratic side of the aisle.”
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“I see right now the Republicans getting a huge bump out of the Kavanaugh hearings,” Scarborough stated. “I think a lot of Americans, especially a lot of Republicans, didn’t like what they saw during those hearings coming from the Democratic side of the aisle.”
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'AN UNHINGED MOB': RNC Releases Brutal Ad Slamming Political Left
The Republican National Committee released a new ad on Thursday highlighting the political Left as "an unhinged mob" as Democratic leaders have called for incivility and used violent rhetoric in recent days.
The new campaign ad comes as the 2018 midterm elections are less than a month away and as leftist groups have caused unease around the country with their increasingly mob-like behavior.
Recent examples of mob violence from the political Left includes:
- A Democratic terrorist and Bernie Sanders supporter who tried to mass murder GOP lawmakers at a baseball practice in 2017.
- Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) being attacked at his home by his Democratic neighbor.
- Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) urging people to harass Trump administration officials.
- Far-left groups forcing Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen from restaurants while they were eating with their families.
- Democratic Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) calling for people to "get up in the face" of members of Congress.
- Obama-era Attorney General Eric Holder saying: "When they go low, we kick them."
- Two-time failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton saying that Democrats "cannot be civil" towards Republicans.
- Far-left activists pounding on the doors of the Supreme Court during the Kavanaugh confirmation hearing.
- More
More Local Governments Boost Smoking Age
Starting today, if you want to buy cigarettes, e-cigarettes or other tobacco products in San Antonio, you’ve got to be 21 or older.
The city is one of a growing number of local governments that have passed ordinances or regulations that raise the smoking age to 21.
While Massachusetts this summer became the sixth state to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21, many local officials aren’t waiting for state legislatures to make the move.
At least 350 towns, cities and counties in 21 states have taken action, compared with about 200 in 14 states in 2016, according to Tobacco 21, a Dublin, Ohio-based advocacy group that supports raising the minimum age to 21.
In September alone, at least four cities or counties — Phillips County, Arkansas; Douglas County, Kansas; Minnetonka, Minnesota; and Essex County, New York — voted to hike the smoking age.
More
The city is one of a growing number of local governments that have passed ordinances or regulations that raise the smoking age to 21.
While Massachusetts this summer became the sixth state to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21, many local officials aren’t waiting for state legislatures to make the move.
At least 350 towns, cities and counties in 21 states have taken action, compared with about 200 in 14 states in 2016, according to Tobacco 21, a Dublin, Ohio-based advocacy group that supports raising the minimum age to 21.
In September alone, at least four cities or counties — Phillips County, Arkansas; Douglas County, Kansas; Minnetonka, Minnesota; and Essex County, New York — voted to hike the smoking age.
More
Scalise: Democrats calling for violence a direct threat to our democracy
This summer, California Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters called on her supporters to harass cabinet officials. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that you “cannot be civil” with members of the Republican Party. And Wednesday, videotape was released of former Attorney General Eric Holder telling a Democratic audience at a campaign rally in Georgia on Sunday that they should “kick” Republicans when they perceive them as “going low.”
Despite the continued reports of politically motivated threats or violence, Democratic Party leaders have worked to keep this anger burning and incite even more harassment and violence.
Beginning with my own near-death experience at the hands of a deranged shooter who sought to assassinate a baseball field of Republicans, there is a growing list of violent or threatening actions taken against conservatives by Democrats.
In America, we win battles at the ballot box, not through mob rule or intimidation. While it’s clear many Democrats refuse to accept the election of President Trump, if they want change, they need to convince people with their ideas and actually win elections, rather than call for violent resistance, harassment, and mob rule.
As I see, working in Congress every day, it’s possible to agree without being disagreeable and address political differences in a civil manner. That’s an example leaders need to continue to set.
Instead, when Democratic leaders like Eric Holder call for violence, that is a direct threat to our democracy.
I hope he and others think long and hard about the world they are creating and the impact they are leaving on this country.
More
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/rep-steve-scalise-when-eric-holder-other-dems-call-for-violence-thats-a-direct-threat-to-our-democracy
Despite the continued reports of politically motivated threats or violence, Democratic Party leaders have worked to keep this anger burning and incite even more harassment and violence.
Beginning with my own near-death experience at the hands of a deranged shooter who sought to assassinate a baseball field of Republicans, there is a growing list of violent or threatening actions taken against conservatives by Democrats.
In America, we win battles at the ballot box, not through mob rule or intimidation. While it’s clear many Democrats refuse to accept the election of President Trump, if they want change, they need to convince people with their ideas and actually win elections, rather than call for violent resistance, harassment, and mob rule.
As I see, working in Congress every day, it’s possible to agree without being disagreeable and address political differences in a civil manner. That’s an example leaders need to continue to set.
Instead, when Democratic leaders like Eric Holder call for violence, that is a direct threat to our democracy.
I hope he and others think long and hard about the world they are creating and the impact they are leaving on this country.
More
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/rep-steve-scalise-when-eric-holder-other-dems-call-for-violence-thats-a-direct-threat-to-our-democracy
Rocket Headed For International Space Station Fails, Makes Emergency Landing
A Soyuz rocket booster failed during the launch of a capsule carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin on Thursday, forcing officials to abort their mission. The capsule made a "ballistic landing" and rescue teams recovered the pair, who are reportedly in "good condition," NASA says.
Hague and Ovchinin launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:40 a.m. ET, heading to join the crew of the International Space Station. But more than a minute after launch, their Soyuz MS-10's booster failed.
Helicopters were able to reach Hague and Ovchinin fairly quickly and get them out of the capsule. They then started the process of flying back to the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Roscosmos, which oversees the Russian space program, tweeted a photo of Hague and Ovchinin being examined in Zhezkazgan.
More
Hague and Ovchinin launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 4:40 a.m. ET, heading to join the crew of the International Space Station. But more than a minute after launch, their Soyuz MS-10's booster failed.
Helicopters were able to reach Hague and Ovchinin fairly quickly and get them out of the capsule. They then started the process of flying back to the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Roscosmos, which oversees the Russian space program, tweeted a photo of Hague and Ovchinin being examined in Zhezkazgan.
More
Want to Get Rich? Be a Professional Left-Wing Protester
Being a professional protester can be quite lucrative. Take, for example, Ana Maria Archila, who makes nearly three times the annual U.S. median household income doing things like confronting Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) in an elevator.
Archila is one of eight officials making two and three times (or more) above the U.S. Census Bureau’s median average U.S. household income of $60,336 working for the tax-exempt nonprofit Center for Popular Democracy (CPD). Thanks to her encounter with Sen. Flake, she is likely the most famous of the eight.
Archila is thus among the leaders of one of the Left’s best-funded activist groups, making a way of life in organizing, funding and leading protests on behalf of a host of left-wing causes and campaigns across the country.
She received total compensation in 2016 of $178,071 as co-executive director, according to CPD’s most recent publicly available tax return, which also lists her as its principle officer.
Archila is also listed with the same title and compensation for the Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund Inc., a 501(c)(4) advocacy and lobbying group that uses the same street address as CPD.
Archila is joined by these seven other highly paid CPD officials and employees:
[George Soros has been a key funder through his Open Society Foundations of a left-wing network of protest groups, including the Center for Popular Democracy ---Editor]
Archila is one of eight officials making two and three times (or more) above the U.S. Census Bureau’s median average U.S. household income of $60,336 working for the tax-exempt nonprofit Center for Popular Democracy (CPD). Thanks to her encounter with Sen. Flake, she is likely the most famous of the eight.
Archila is thus among the leaders of one of the Left’s best-funded activist groups, making a way of life in organizing, funding and leading protests on behalf of a host of left-wing causes and campaigns across the country.
She received total compensation in 2016 of $178,071 as co-executive director, according to CPD’s most recent publicly available tax return, which also lists her as its principle officer.
Archila is also listed with the same title and compensation for the Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund Inc., a 501(c)(4) advocacy and lobbying group that uses the same street address as CPD.
Archila is joined by these seven other highly paid CPD officials and employees:
[George Soros has been a key funder through his Open Society Foundations of a left-wing network of protest groups, including the Center for Popular Democracy ---Editor]
Fyre Festival Co-Founder Ordered To Pay $26 Million In Restitution
Billy McFarland, a co-founder of the schadenfreude-rich, hospitality-poor debacle known as the Fyre Festival, has been sentenced to six years in prison and three years on probation; he also will have to pay restitution of just more than $26 million. Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald presided over McFarland's sentencing in the U.S. Southern District Court in Manhattan on Thursday.
During the sentencing, Judge Buchwald called McFarland a "serial fraudster," adding that he has "been dishonest for most of his life."
In a statement to the court, McFarland, dressed in a grey-green prison jumpsuit, said, "The thing that pushed me more than anything was fear" of the Fyre Festival collapsing and of "letting everyone down."
It's been a tumultuous year for McFarland and his defense team. After McFarland pleaded guilty to Fyre Festival-related charges in March, the business of sentencing McFarland was underway. In June, his defense team submitted its arguments for his sentencing, asking that along with paying just more than $26 million, McFarland should serve 1,000 hours of community service and either six months of house arrest or "a minimal period of incarceration."
More
During the sentencing, Judge Buchwald called McFarland a "serial fraudster," adding that he has "been dishonest for most of his life."
In a statement to the court, McFarland, dressed in a grey-green prison jumpsuit, said, "The thing that pushed me more than anything was fear" of the Fyre Festival collapsing and of "letting everyone down."
It's been a tumultuous year for McFarland and his defense team. After McFarland pleaded guilty to Fyre Festival-related charges in March, the business of sentencing McFarland was underway. In June, his defense team submitted its arguments for his sentencing, asking that along with paying just more than $26 million, McFarland should serve 1,000 hours of community service and either six months of house arrest or "a minimal period of incarceration."
More
EBT Blogger Is A Thief, Steals Our Post Again
Look below the "e' in PRESS and above the "l" in release. if you zoom in and look closely it says SBYNEWS.
Ocean City Plans To Ask Governor For Enforcement Help; Changes Eyed To Special Event Zone Next Year
OCEAN CITY — With the dust settled on the unsanctioned and uninvited H2O International (H2Oi) event two weekends ago, resort leaders this week reviewed the outcome and called for an even stronger police presence and more bite for enforcement in the future.
For the record, the official H2Oi car show was held in Atlantic City the last weekend in September, but, as expected, a huge contingent of car enthusiasts bent on wreaking havoc in Ocean City arrived anyway. Throughout the weekend, Ocean City witnessed the same lawlessness and blatant disrespect for the community from the unregistered and unsanctioned participants who did not make the trip to Atlantic City that have fairly or unfairly been associated with the event in the past.
In the days leading up to the unsanctioned event and throughout the weekend, a special event zone with reduced speed limits and enhanced penalties for some traffic violations was in place, and for the most part, appeared to fulfill its intended purpose. Statistically, the numbers in many key indicators were down slightly this year compared to prior years during the event with fewer calls for service and fewer traffic stops, although the number of citations issued went up significantly.
During Wednesday’s Police Commission meeting, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) Chief Ross Buzzuro outlined some of the statistics for committee members and offered his own assessment of the 2018 event.
More
For the record, the official H2Oi car show was held in Atlantic City the last weekend in September, but, as expected, a huge contingent of car enthusiasts bent on wreaking havoc in Ocean City arrived anyway. Throughout the weekend, Ocean City witnessed the same lawlessness and blatant disrespect for the community from the unregistered and unsanctioned participants who did not make the trip to Atlantic City that have fairly or unfairly been associated with the event in the past.
In the days leading up to the unsanctioned event and throughout the weekend, a special event zone with reduced speed limits and enhanced penalties for some traffic violations was in place, and for the most part, appeared to fulfill its intended purpose. Statistically, the numbers in many key indicators were down slightly this year compared to prior years during the event with fewer calls for service and fewer traffic stops, although the number of citations issued went up significantly.
During Wednesday’s Police Commission meeting, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) Chief Ross Buzzuro outlined some of the statistics for committee members and offered his own assessment of the 2018 event.
More
Comptroller Agents Confiscate More Than $40K in Tobacco Products
Owner and clerk charged following inspection at Suitland shop
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (October 11, 2018) - Comptroller Peter Franchot today announced that agents from his Field Enforcement Division (FED) made significant seizures of untaxed other tobacco products (OTP) and unstamped cigarettes, and executed an undercover purchase of a single cigarette as a result of a planned operation at Tobacco Heaven, a retail store at 4831 Silver Hill Road in Suitland.
Following an inspection on October 3, agents seized 38,270 sticks of untaxed OTP with a retail value of $38,270 and representing a tax loss of $26,789 as well as 272 packs of unstamped cigarettes seized with a retail value of $1,754.40 and representing a tax loss of $544.
The two men who face charges are:
- Mehboob-Ul Haq Chowdhury, 36, of Suitland, owner of Tobacco Heaven, charged with willful possession, sale or offer to sell untaxed other tobacco products; unlawful possession of unstamped cigarettes; and as a Maryland licensed retailer of OTP unlawfully possessing OTP products, excluding premium cigars and pipe tobacco that had not been purchased from a Maryland licensed wholesaler.
- Mohammed Saiful Islam, 24, of Suitland, clerk at Tobacco Heaven, charged with selling unpackaged cigarettes; willful possession, sale or offer to sell untaxed other tobacco products; and as a Maryland licensed retailer of OTP unlawfully possessing OTP products, excluding premium cigars and pipe tobacco that had not been purchased from a Maryland licensed wholesaler.
"Once again, tax cheats show that they have no regard for the law and no respect for fellow Marylanders who benefit from tobacco tax revenues, " said Comptroller Franchot. "My FED officers will continue to crack down on criminals who think they are above the law."
FED Agents and inspectors conduct random routine inspections of retailers of tobacco products throughout the state to ensure that the tobacco excise tax is being paid on all tobacco products sold and all other state laws are followed. Retailers can only be in possession of and sell tobacco products when the tobacco excise tax has already been paid by the licensed Maryland wholesaler that supplied the product to the retailer.
During the inspection, all of the untaxed tobacco products seized were comprised of non-premium cigars. A retailer in Maryland can only lawfully possess and sell non-premium cigars that were purchased from a licensed Maryland wholesaler of OTP. In addition, the retailer must possess invoicing for all OTP inventory they possess from that licensed Maryland wholesaler that must indicate the Maryland excise tax was previously paid to the State by the wholesaler.
To date in fiscal year 2019, FED agents have arrested and charged 28 individuals for various tobacco violations as a result of discovering 31 instances of violations of Maryland's tobacco laws. These arrests have resulted in the seizure of 4,743 packs of contraband cigarettes and the seizure of 169,712 sticks of OTP. The seized items are valued at $200,297.90 and represent a $128,158.80 tax loss to the State of Maryland.
Baltimore Shop Owner Charged Following Comptroller's Inspection
FED agents confiscate more than $8K in tobacco products
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Comptroller Peter Franchot today announced that agents from his Field Enforcement Division (FED) made a significant seizure of untaxed other tobacco products (OTP) as a result of a planned operation at Lombard Liquors, a tobacco retail store located at 1000 West Lombard Street in Baltimore City.
Following an inspection on October 10, agents seized 8,636 sticks of untaxed OTP with a retail value of $8,636 and representing a tax loss of $6,045.20.
Store owner Harpal Badwal, 44, of White Marsh, was charged with willful possession, sale or offer to sell untaxed other tobacco products and as a Maryland licensed retailer of OTP unlawfully possessing OTP products, excluding premium cigars and pipe tobacco that had not been purchased from a Maryland licensed wholesaler.
"My FED officers should be commended once again for stopping cigarette smugglers who are trying to cheat Maryland and its citizens," Comptroller Franchot said.
FED agents and inspectors conduct random routine inspections of retailers of tobacco products throughout the state to ensure that the tobacco excise tax is being paid on all tobacco products sold and all other state laws are followed. Retailers can only be in possession of and sell tobacco products when the tobacco excise tax has already been paid by the licensed Maryland wholesaler that supplied the product to the retailer.
During the inspection, all of the untaxed tobacco products seized were comprised of non-premium cigars. A retailer in Maryland can only lawfully possess and sell non-premium cigars that were purchased from a licensed Maryland wholesaler of OTP. In addition, the retailer must possess invoicing for all OTP inventory they possess from that licensed Maryland wholesaler that must indicate the Maryland excise tax was previously paid to the State by the wholesaler.
To date in fiscal year 2019, FED agents have arrested and charged 28 individuals for various tobacco violations as a result of discovering 31 instances of violations of Maryland's tobacco laws. These arrests have resulted in the seizure of 4,743 packs of contraband cigarettes and the seizure of 169,712 sticks of OTP. The seized items are valued at $200,297.90 and represent a $128,158.80 tax loss to the State of Maryland.
Easy DNA Identifications With Genealogy Databases Raise Privacy Concerns
Police in California made headlines this spring when they charged a former police officer with being the Golden State Killer, a man who allegedly committed a series of notorious rapes and murders in the 1970s and '80s.
Authorities revealed they used DNA from a publicly available genealogy website to crack the case.
Since then, police around the country have started doing the same sort of thing to solve other cold cases.
That prompted Yaniv Erlich, the chief science officer at the Israeli companyMyHeritage, to investigate just how easy it is to use public genealogy databases to track down people.
"We wanted to quantify how powerful this technique is to identify individuals," Erlich says. So he and his colleagues analyzed the genomes of 1.28 million people in the company's database.
More
Authorities revealed they used DNA from a publicly available genealogy website to crack the case.
Since then, police around the country have started doing the same sort of thing to solve other cold cases.
That prompted Yaniv Erlich, the chief science officer at the Israeli companyMyHeritage, to investigate just how easy it is to use public genealogy databases to track down people.
"We wanted to quantify how powerful this technique is to identify individuals," Erlich says. So he and his colleagues analyzed the genomes of 1.28 million people in the company's database.
More
Protester to Candace Owens: ‘You’re Not Black’
Among the crowd were protesters who seemed to take displeasure in the fact that Owens is a black conservative.
“You’re not black!” Shouted one agitator while Owens explained why she left the Democratic Party.
“[The Left] believes that someone loses their blackness as soon as they become a conservative,” reacted Kirk, “They did this to Clarence Thomas, they did this to Dr. Ben Carson, and now they’re doing this to Candace Owens.”
“Make no mistake, the Left believes that they own black people,” added Owens, “So when a black person has the audacity to stand on stage and say—I no longer agree with these policies, and I would like to think with my brain as opposed to my skin tone, they lose their minds.”
More/video here
ID cards to help undocumented immigrants in Baltimore
The Archdiocese of Baltimore hopes the cards will help people without government ID cards feel safe asking police for help.
Baltimore police have agreed to recognize identification cards that the city’s Catholic churches issue to undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable residents.
Baltimore’s mayor Catherine Pugh said the Parish ID program is meant to help Baltimore residents who don’t have government-issued identification feel comfortable calling the police if they become victims of a crime.
“This effort will help us strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and some of our most vulnerable populations,” Pugh said during a press conference on the steps of Baltimore’s Sacred Heart of Jesus church Wednesday. “No one should become a victim and be afraid to call the police.”
The Parish ID program is the result of efforts from community activists and Catholic charity organizations. The initiative has the “full weight” of the Archdiocese of Baltimore behind it, Archbishop William E. Lori said at the press conference.
“This ID provides one avenue to freedom from fear,” Lori said.
More/Video
Baltimore police have agreed to recognize identification cards that the city’s Catholic churches issue to undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable residents.
Baltimore’s mayor Catherine Pugh said the Parish ID program is meant to help Baltimore residents who don’t have government-issued identification feel comfortable calling the police if they become victims of a crime.
“This effort will help us strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and some of our most vulnerable populations,” Pugh said during a press conference on the steps of Baltimore’s Sacred Heart of Jesus church Wednesday. “No one should become a victim and be afraid to call the police.”
The Parish ID program is the result of efforts from community activists and Catholic charity organizations. The initiative has the “full weight” of the Archdiocese of Baltimore behind it, Archbishop William E. Lori said at the press conference.
“This ID provides one avenue to freedom from fear,” Lori said.
More/Video
Cardin Defends Record On Behalf of Marylanders
Sen. Ben Cardin said that even though Judge Brett Kavanaugh is now Justice Brett Kavanaugh and that won't change, some of the concerns around the process persist.
"We recognize that there is hard feelings and damage done with the manner in which the Supreme Court nominee was considered," Cardin told Brett Hollander in a phone interview on Thursday.
Audio Player
He put much of the blame for the process on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's rushed timeline, particularly after several women alleged sexual assault and other misconduct dating back to the early 1980s. In an additional background investigation conducted at the direction of President Donald Trump, the FBI interviewed nine witnesses, but did not talk to Kavanaugh, initial accuser Christine Blasey Ford or some of the other accusers and witnesses available.
"We did not have all the information before the confirmation hearings," Cardin said. "There wasn't a complete investigation, and the reasonable request that was made for additional witnesses and additional information was not granted."
More
"We recognize that there is hard feelings and damage done with the manner in which the Supreme Court nominee was considered," Cardin told Brett Hollander in a phone interview on Thursday.
Audio Player
He put much of the blame for the process on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's rushed timeline, particularly after several women alleged sexual assault and other misconduct dating back to the early 1980s. In an additional background investigation conducted at the direction of President Donald Trump, the FBI interviewed nine witnesses, but did not talk to Kavanaugh, initial accuser Christine Blasey Ford or some of the other accusers and witnesses available.
"We did not have all the information before the confirmation hearings," Cardin said. "There wasn't a complete investigation, and the reasonable request that was made for additional witnesses and additional information was not granted."
More
Amazon Echo and Google Home Smart Assistants Scare Owners with Unprompted Statements
According to the Wall Street Journal, one Echo owner “was sitting on her bed crying one day after having just quit her job, listening to music, when she said she heard a voice tell her, ‘It’s going to be OK.'”
“The words might have been comforting had she not heard them from Alexa — Amazon.com Inc.’s voice assistant which powers the Echo Dot speaker on her nightstand,” the Journal declared.
The device’s owner reportedly became so scared by the incident that she unplugged it and placed it in a drawer for several days, and it’s not the only spooky incident to have happened surrounding Silicon Valley’s A.I. assistants.
“They are also sometimes freaking people out, seeming to drop into conversations uninvited, playing music unprompted in the middle of the night, turning on other gadgets at random and acting generally, well, possessed,” the Wall Street Journal explained, adding that a Google Home Mini recently reminded its owner of a “cocaine and reefer” event at 1 p.m.
More here
Cal Ripken Jr. sues hometown of Aberdeen
Ripken's company Tufton Professional Baseball LLC said in a lawsuit filed Thursday that the Aberdeen mayor and city council need to "live up to an agreement that they signed almost two decades ago... to develop and operate a state-of-the-art minor league stadium and sports complex."
The suit claims "repeated attempts to resolve these matters with the City" weren't successful.
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Trump’s DHS Begins Defense Against Nuclear Bomb ‘Electromagnetic Pulse’
President Donald Trump’s homeland defense agency has taken the first steps to defend the nation against an electromagnetic pulse attack which could instantly destroy tens of millions of vital electronic devices from coast to coast.
Pentagon officials have quietly worried for decades about an enemy using a high-altitude nuclear explosion to create a nationwide EMP attack. But little or nothing has been done because of the huge cost of protecting civilian electronics and the nation’s electrical, transport and energy infrastructures.
The plan from the Department of Homeland Security showcases the EMP problem, and offers initial planning steps — but it does not urge major spending or an award of tax-breaks to help companies, utilities, and local governments protect their networks from EMP.
“An intentional electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack or a naturally occurring geomagnetic disturbance … could damage significant portions of the Nation’s critical infrastructure, including the electrical grid, communications equipment, water and wastewater systems, and transportation modes,” says the DHS plan, titled “Strategy for Protecting and Preparing the Homeland Against Threats of Electromagnetic Pulse and Geomagnetic Disturbances.”
“We need to do a whole lot more on that,” Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen at an Oct. 10 hearing.
But Nielsen has little authority to write regulations which would require anti-EMP protections be added over vulnerable networks and little money to fund any protections.
So the DHS plan sketches out three goals:
Pentagon officials have quietly worried for decades about an enemy using a high-altitude nuclear explosion to create a nationwide EMP attack. But little or nothing has been done because of the huge cost of protecting civilian electronics and the nation’s electrical, transport and energy infrastructures.
The plan from the Department of Homeland Security showcases the EMP problem, and offers initial planning steps — but it does not urge major spending or an award of tax-breaks to help companies, utilities, and local governments protect their networks from EMP.
“An intentional electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack or a naturally occurring geomagnetic disturbance … could damage significant portions of the Nation’s critical infrastructure, including the electrical grid, communications equipment, water and wastewater systems, and transportation modes,” says the DHS plan, titled “Strategy for Protecting and Preparing the Homeland Against Threats of Electromagnetic Pulse and Geomagnetic Disturbances.”
“We need to do a whole lot more on that,” Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen at an Oct. 10 hearing.
But Nielsen has little authority to write regulations which would require anti-EMP protections be added over vulnerable networks and little money to fund any protections.
So the DHS plan sketches out three goals:
COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCES ROAD CLOSURES
Salisbury, MD ... County Executive Bob Culver announced today that due to the extreme rainfall, several roads in Wicomico County are impassable:
* Nanticoke Road is closed at Riawakin Pond
* Pemberton Road is closed between Crooked Oak Lane and Harbor Point Drive
* Old Towne Subdivision is closed
All traffic from the West side of the County must to go to Rockawalkin Road to get to Route #50. Coming from Route #50 to the Nanticoke area you must utilize Rockawalkin Road.
* Nanticoke Road is closed at Riawakin Pond
* Pemberton Road is closed between Crooked Oak Lane and Harbor Point Drive
* Old Towne Subdivision is closed
All traffic from the West side of the County must to go to Rockawalkin Road to get to Route #50. Coming from Route #50 to the Nanticoke area you must utilize Rockawalkin Road.
“The Baddest Son-O-The Beach” TONIGHT
Shawn “Showtime” Porter Vinny “The Paz” Pazienz Current WBC
Welterweight Champion 5 Time World Champion
Former IBF Welterweight Champion Subject of the Movie “Bleed For This”
Five Time World Champion Vinny “The Paz”Pazienza and two time Current World Champion, Shawn “Showtime” Porter are set to attend “ The Baddest Son-O- The Beach” Fight Fest Oct 12th at the Ocean City Convention Center.
It was already expected to be a one of the most excited events to hit Ocean City in a long time, so it’s hard believe the event can possibly get even better, but that was before Promoters Hal Chernoff of Main St Gym in Salisbury and Jake Smith of Baltimore Boxing in Baltimore pulled a few string and were able to bring in two living legends of the boxing world.
Smith who has a close friendship with Pazienza has brought him in before to attend fights in Glen Burnie MD. Many people know of Pazienza as the lion hearted fighter that became a great champion then suffered a broken neck in a car accident. After being told he would be lucky be able to walk again, Pazienza drew from the same grit and tenacity that made him a champion and not only walked again, but against everyone’s advice, fought again, to become a five time World Champion. His accomplishment of regaining a world title after his accident alone is one of the most inspiring stories in sports.
Meanwhile, Chernoff, who serves on Team Porter as cut man, inquired to see if Shawn could make it to the Oct 12th fight in Ocean City. “ I asked Shawn back when he fought former World Champion, Danny Garcia in New York City, last month to brought home the WBC Championship Belt. But I knew he had a busy schedule and didn’t think it could happen”. said Chernoff.
Both Pazienza and Porter are eager and excited to come to the area and meet the people of the Eastern Shore. Although Pazienza is not that familiar with the Salisbury or Ocean City, Porter has strong ties the area.
Porter’s pro debut was at the Wicomico Civic Center back in October of 2008, he then went on to fight four more times in Salisbury.
“Shawn has always loved this place, ever since his pro debut when he saw the way the fans of this area supported him. He was like a local favorite even though he lived in Ohio. This will be like a homecoming for him almost exactly ten years from the day of his pro debut in Salisbury on a Sho-Box card.” Said Chernoff.
Both men will be on hand for photo’s and to sign autographs. “They are really nice guys and very approachable so don’t hesitate to bring your kids to meet them, they truly love their fans.” added Chernoff.
The Event dubbed “The Baddest Son-O-The Beach” could as easily be called “The Baddest Daughter of the Beach” as there are two scheduled female bouts planned for the evening.
It all happens Friday Oct 12th at the O.C Convention Center when fighters from Main St. Gym, Baltimore Boxing, Ocean City Fight Club, Mack Lewis’s Gym of Baltimore and more, lace up the gloves and let the leather fly in the Baddest Son -O-The Beach, Fight Fest.
Sponsored by Pohanka of Salisbury and sanctioned by USA Boxing, the night boasts a lineup that includes a bout with former Baltimore Raven’s Running Back, hard hitting Walter “Duke” Sanders, as well as the much anticipated ladies battle between O.C. Fight Club’s, Lupe Ayalaaldana and United States Marine Corp Sergent, Lisa Bodenberg, of Baltimore Boxing.
Other local fighters that will be rumbling in the ring include, Main St Gym’s Heavyweight Thomas Mottinger, a 3 time Golden Gloves Champion.
Also on the card is the lightning quick rising star, Erick Acosta, a student of Bennett High school and Markeese Hines from the Easter shore of VA. Ocean City will also be well represented with O.C Fight Club’s own, Omar Serrano and Simone Serrano.
Don’t miss this, edge of the seat, action packed event, jammed with power punching, blazing speed and fighters with the heart of a gladiators.
A full cash bar will be on hand and open for the event as well as snack foods.
When the last punch is thrown everyone will be heading down to Buxy’s Salty Dog Saloon at 28th St. for the “After Fight Party”.
Other sponsors for the event include: D.W. Burt Concrete, Yard Designs, Atlantic Physical Therapy, Charm City Boxing &Promotions, Rice’s Pest Control, Robinson’s Family of Businesses, Chesapeake Paving, Peninsula Printing Inc. R.E.W Materials, Snowden Lane Partners Investments. & The Salty Dog Saloon.
V.I.P. Tables of 8 persons are available for $400 and general tables for $300 as well as theater seating for $50 Ringside, $35 Prime, and $25 Gen Admission
Simply Call the O C Box Office at 410-289-2800 for Ticket information
Why Dogs Wag Their Tails and What Tail Wagging Means
A wagging tail is a form of dog communication. Dogs wag their tails to tell us something about how they're feeling, just as they do with other forms of body language. But do you know what canine tail wagging really means?
Why Dogs Wag Their Tails
Dogs wag their tail to communicate with humans and other animals. Often, it seems fairly obvious what the dog is trying to tell you when he wags his tail. Most people look at a dog with a wagging tail and assume he is happy. While this is usually true, there are times when a dog wags his tail right before he becomes aggressive. It is important that you pay attention to how the dog is holding his tail when he's wagging it. Where the tail is and the way a dog holds his body while he's wagging it can give you a clue about what he is trying to communicate. You should also pay attention to other signs in the dog's body language.
Happy Tail Wagging
Is the dog's tail relaxed and moving back and forth? Is his body moving along with the wagging? If a dog is wagging his tail and the rest of his body seems relaxed or is moving along with the wagging, you are probably dealing with a happy, comfortable dog. Happy, relaxed tail wagging is usually accompanied by a happy facial expression. A happy dog usually has bright eyes, a relaxed open mouth, and possibly a gentle pant. Fast tail wagging with other happy signals usually means the dog is excited.
Other Reasons for Tail Wagging
Why Dogs Wag Their Tails
Dogs wag their tail to communicate with humans and other animals. Often, it seems fairly obvious what the dog is trying to tell you when he wags his tail. Most people look at a dog with a wagging tail and assume he is happy. While this is usually true, there are times when a dog wags his tail right before he becomes aggressive. It is important that you pay attention to how the dog is holding his tail when he's wagging it. Where the tail is and the way a dog holds his body while he's wagging it can give you a clue about what he is trying to communicate. You should also pay attention to other signs in the dog's body language.
Happy Tail Wagging
Is the dog's tail relaxed and moving back and forth? Is his body moving along with the wagging? If a dog is wagging his tail and the rest of his body seems relaxed or is moving along with the wagging, you are probably dealing with a happy, comfortable dog. Happy, relaxed tail wagging is usually accompanied by a happy facial expression. A happy dog usually has bright eyes, a relaxed open mouth, and possibly a gentle pant. Fast tail wagging with other happy signals usually means the dog is excited.
Other Reasons for Tail Wagging
Support for Cannabis Legalization Grows to 62%
With the 2018 elections less than a month away, support for cannabis legalization continues to climb. More than six in ten Americans now think cannabis use should be made legal, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.
The increase continues three decades of steadily growing support among nearly all demographic groups—and represents double the support Pew found in 2000. Even groups who remain opposed to legalization, such as Republicans and older Americans, have become far more favorable to the idea in the past several years.
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The increase continues three decades of steadily growing support among nearly all demographic groups—and represents double the support Pew found in 2000. Even groups who remain opposed to legalization, such as Republicans and older Americans, have become far more favorable to the idea in the past several years.
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The Top 5 Regions Where Cannabis Is Grown in the US
October is that magical time of the year that brings out the best in America’s favorite pastime, as well as cannabis. While the top baseball teams match up in the Fall Classic, the nation’s most delectable sun-grown cannabis will be harvested throughout a season better known as Croptober.
And just like baseball, the year’s most elite crops will be dependent on the strength of its hometown advantages.
Much like the benefit of an energized home crowd, high-grade strains become that way due to its friendly environs. Climate conditions are obviously the most important factor in growing primo buds, but isn’t the only one to take into consideration. Variables like population and legal status can be just as important as soil and water quality when it comes to choosing an area to cultivate.
As the postseason strips the league down to its most elite teams, here are our picks for the best regions in the US for growing cannabis.
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And just like baseball, the year’s most elite crops will be dependent on the strength of its hometown advantages.
Much like the benefit of an energized home crowd, high-grade strains become that way due to its friendly environs. Climate conditions are obviously the most important factor in growing primo buds, but isn’t the only one to take into consideration. Variables like population and legal status can be just as important as soil and water quality when it comes to choosing an area to cultivate.
As the postseason strips the league down to its most elite teams, here are our picks for the best regions in the US for growing cannabis.
More
Eight Delmarva Flock Supervisors Honored for Work With Chicken Growers
At Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.’s (DPI) 53rd National Meeting on Poultry Health, Processing, and Live Production, eight flock supervisors from Delmarva’s five chicken companies received Outstanding Flock Supervisor awards. DPI hosted the meeting Oct. 8-10 at the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland.
The flock supervisors honored were:
Steve Windsor, Mountaire Farms of Delmarva (a five-time recipient)
Jessica Crabtree, Allen Harim Farms LLC (a two-time recipient)
George Sherman, Perdue Foods (a two-time recipient)
Todd Hite, Jr., Tyson Foods, Inc. (a two-time recipient)
Wade Parks, Amick Farms, LLC
Matt Campbell, Mountaire Farms of Delaware
Izaak Donohoe, Perdue Foods
Emily Markey, Perdue Foods
“Flock supervisors have increasingly difficult and complex jobs,” said Todd Baker, DPI president – and a past recipient of an Outstanding Flock Supervisor award. “You walk the fine line between working for the company and building relationships with your growers. Many growers look to you as a friend. And you are doing all of this while dealing with the company’s needs that reflect consumer demand.”
“Flock supervisors make critical connections between a chicken company and a family farmer,” said Bill Satterfield, DPI’s executive director. “We’re proud of these eight honorees, who do important work for the whole chicken community.”
More than two dozen veterinarians, chicken company leaders, government officials, researchers, extension educators, and animal health officials delivered talks at the National Meeting on Poultry Health, Processing and Live Production on topics ranging from animal antibiotic use to food safety to litter management to biosecurity. In conjunction with the National Meeting, DPI worked with University of Maryland Extension and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension to host a Denton, Maryland meeting for chicken growers on Oct. 9.
The flock supervisors honored were:
Steve Windsor, Mountaire Farms of Delmarva (a five-time recipient)
Jessica Crabtree, Allen Harim Farms LLC (a two-time recipient)
George Sherman, Perdue Foods (a two-time recipient)
Todd Hite, Jr., Tyson Foods, Inc. (a two-time recipient)
Wade Parks, Amick Farms, LLC
Matt Campbell, Mountaire Farms of Delaware
Izaak Donohoe, Perdue Foods
Emily Markey, Perdue Foods
“Flock supervisors have increasingly difficult and complex jobs,” said Todd Baker, DPI president – and a past recipient of an Outstanding Flock Supervisor award. “You walk the fine line between working for the company and building relationships with your growers. Many growers look to you as a friend. And you are doing all of this while dealing with the company’s needs that reflect consumer demand.”
“Flock supervisors make critical connections between a chicken company and a family farmer,” said Bill Satterfield, DPI’s executive director. “We’re proud of these eight honorees, who do important work for the whole chicken community.”
More than two dozen veterinarians, chicken company leaders, government officials, researchers, extension educators, and animal health officials delivered talks at the National Meeting on Poultry Health, Processing and Live Production on topics ranging from animal antibiotic use to food safety to litter management to biosecurity. In conjunction with the National Meeting, DPI worked with University of Maryland Extension and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension to host a Denton, Maryland meeting for chicken growers on Oct. 9.
More than $16 Million Awarded to Maryland School Systems for Out-of-School Time Programs
Grants Awarded through Federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program
BALTIMORE - A total of 53 programs in 12 Maryland jurisdictions have been awarded $16.4 million in grants by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) through the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant program.
The 21st CCLC programs occur before school, after school, during the summer, and on Saturdays. Out-of-school time programs are designed to keep students safe, help working families and improve academic achievement.
The purpose of the 21st CCLC program is to create community learning centers that provide students with academic enrichment opportunities as well as additional services designed to complement their regular academic program. The grant provides opportunities for academic enrichment which includes providing instructional services to help students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, meet State and local student academic achievement standards in core academic subjects, such as language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
The 21st CCLC programs offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities, such as: youth development and engagement activities, substance abuse and alcohol prevention, service-learning, violence prevention, counseling, art, music, recreation, and technology education. Character education programs are also included to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students.
The grant targets students and families of students who attend Title I School-wide programs or schools that serve a high percentage (at least 40 percent) of students from low income families. The grant includes partnerships of eligible entities consisting of local school systems and/or community-based organizations or other public or private entities.
MSDE received 97 applications for the 21st CCLC program. Grants were awarded on a competitive basis in the following jurisdictions:
Anne Arundel County
Baltimore City
Dorchester County
Frederick County
Howard County
Montgomery County
Prince George’s County
Queen Anne’s County
Somerset County
Washington County
Wicomico County
Worcester County
BALTIMORE - A total of 53 programs in 12 Maryland jurisdictions have been awarded $16.4 million in grants by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) through the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant program.
The 21st CCLC programs occur before school, after school, during the summer, and on Saturdays. Out-of-school time programs are designed to keep students safe, help working families and improve academic achievement.
The purpose of the 21st CCLC program is to create community learning centers that provide students with academic enrichment opportunities as well as additional services designed to complement their regular academic program. The grant provides opportunities for academic enrichment which includes providing instructional services to help students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, meet State and local student academic achievement standards in core academic subjects, such as language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
The 21st CCLC programs offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities, such as: youth development and engagement activities, substance abuse and alcohol prevention, service-learning, violence prevention, counseling, art, music, recreation, and technology education. Character education programs are also included to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students.
The grant targets students and families of students who attend Title I School-wide programs or schools that serve a high percentage (at least 40 percent) of students from low income families. The grant includes partnerships of eligible entities consisting of local school systems and/or community-based organizations or other public or private entities.
MSDE received 97 applications for the 21st CCLC program. Grants were awarded on a competitive basis in the following jurisdictions:
Anne Arundel County
Baltimore City
Dorchester County
Frederick County
Howard County
Montgomery County
Prince George’s County
Queen Anne’s County
Somerset County
Washington County
Wicomico County
Worcester County
Obama AG Eric Holder Questions Legitimacy Of Supreme Court, Calls On Democrats To ‘Use Rage To Vote To Be Rid Of These People'
Barack Obama's attorney general Eric Holder is fuming over the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
So angry is the one-time top lawman that he questions the legitimacy of the highest court in America — simply because a fairly-elected Republican president installed a conservative judge. And he wants everyone who opposed Kavanaugh to use their "rage" to "be rid of these people."
"With the confirmation of Kavanaugh and the process which led to it, (and the treatment of Merrick Garland), the legitimacy of the Supreme Court can justifiably be questioned. The Court must now prove - through its work - that it is worthy of the nation’s trust," Holder wrote Saturday on Twitter.
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So angry is the one-time top lawman that he questions the legitimacy of the highest court in America — simply because a fairly-elected Republican president installed a conservative judge. And he wants everyone who opposed Kavanaugh to use their "rage" to "be rid of these people."
"With the confirmation of Kavanaugh and the process which led to it, (and the treatment of Merrick Garland), the legitimacy of the Supreme Court can justifiably be questioned. The Court must now prove - through its work - that it is worthy of the nation’s trust," Holder wrote Saturday on Twitter.
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Michelle Malkin: The Most Important Movie You've Never Heard Of
It’s here.
“Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer” debuts in theaters nationwide on Oct. 12. I do believe this groundbreaking film by indie producers Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney is the most important movie in America right now — a true-life saga of good vs. evil, deadly medical malpractice, systemic government malfeasance and cultural apathy toward the most vulnerable members of our society.
I first reported on this real-life horror story nearly eight years ago, but you’ve probably not heard or read a word about “Gosnell” in the mainstream press, TV news or online. The conspiracy of silence is the result of both malign neglect and active suppression of inconvenient truths:
–One CNN commentator flippantly explained that the network’s lack of interest was a “business decision,” not bias.
More
“Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer” debuts in theaters nationwide on Oct. 12. I do believe this groundbreaking film by indie producers Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney is the most important movie in America right now — a true-life saga of good vs. evil, deadly medical malpractice, systemic government malfeasance and cultural apathy toward the most vulnerable members of our society.
I first reported on this real-life horror story nearly eight years ago, but you’ve probably not heard or read a word about “Gosnell” in the mainstream press, TV news or online. The conspiracy of silence is the result of both malign neglect and active suppression of inconvenient truths:
–One CNN commentator flippantly explained that the network’s lack of interest was a “business decision,” not bias.
More
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