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Tuesday, January 08, 2019
Do Animals Have Feelings? 5 Studies on Animal Sentence
What is your dog feeling when he’s playing with his favorite toy? What emotions does your cat experience when you leave the house? How about your hamster: does he know what it means when you give him a kiss?
Additionally, many humans may feel that animal sentience — the ability of animals to feel and perceive things — is clear: After all, anyone that has ever been a pet parent can see clearly that their animals exhibit fear, surprise, happiness, and anger. But for scientists, this observational evidence isn’t enough: There needs to be more.
And more there has been.
Over the years, there have been several significant studies on animal sentience. Here, we’ll touch on a few, but first a note about procedure: for some animals, scientists study their perceived sentience observationally. In other words, studies of rodents and chickens have been done by watching their behavior. Other studies have been done through brain scans: Often, these types of studies are done on animals that will tolerate them, such as dogs and dolphins. There is no uniform methodology for testing sentience in animals, which makes sense, as all animals — even human animals — are different in the ways they perceive and relate to the world.
Here are a few of the most significant studies done on animal sentience:
Additionally, many humans may feel that animal sentience — the ability of animals to feel and perceive things — is clear: After all, anyone that has ever been a pet parent can see clearly that their animals exhibit fear, surprise, happiness, and anger. But for scientists, this observational evidence isn’t enough: There needs to be more.
And more there has been.
Over the years, there have been several significant studies on animal sentience. Here, we’ll touch on a few, but first a note about procedure: for some animals, scientists study their perceived sentience observationally. In other words, studies of rodents and chickens have been done by watching their behavior. Other studies have been done through brain scans: Often, these types of studies are done on animals that will tolerate them, such as dogs and dolphins. There is no uniform methodology for testing sentience in animals, which makes sense, as all animals — even human animals — are different in the ways they perceive and relate to the world.
Here are a few of the most significant studies done on animal sentience:
01 of 05
A University of Chicago Study Proves Empathy in Rodents
A study conducted by Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal, Jean Decety, and Peggy Mason at the University of Chicago found that rats that have not been trained to do so will free other rats that are being restrained, and that they do this based on empathy. This study added to an earlier study that proved that mice also had empathy (though the study inflicted pain upon the mice) and a later study that found empathy in chickens, as well (without harming the chickens).
02 of 05
Gregory Burns Studies Dog Sentience
A University of Chicago Study Proves Empathy in Rodents
A study conducted by Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal, Jean Decety, and Peggy Mason at the University of Chicago found that rats that have not been trained to do so will free other rats that are being restrained, and that they do this based on empathy. This study added to an earlier study that proved that mice also had empathy (though the study inflicted pain upon the mice) and a later study that found empathy in chickens, as well (without harming the chickens).
02 of 05
Gregory Burns Studies Dog Sentience
Judge rejects Colorado's bid to dismiss discrimination suit filed by Christian baker Jack Phillips
A federal judge has rejected Colorado’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Christian baker Jack Phillips, who has accused the state of targeting him based on his religious beliefs with its latest civil-rights investigation.
Senior U.S. District Judge Wiley T. Daniel said the Colorado Commission on Civil Rights and Colorado Civil Rights Division Director Aubrey Elenis had shown evidence of “bad faith” by filing a formal complaint against him in October over his refusal to create a cake to celebrate a gender transition.
“The decision to pursue the discrimination charge occurred after Masterpiece I, and this decision by Director Elenis and the Defendant Commissioners supports the existence of bad faith,” Judge Daniel said in his Friday ruling.
Mr. Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, filed the lawsuit accusing the state of targeting him after the commission’s latest complaint, which was filed a few months after his Supreme Court victory in June over his refusal to bake a cake for a same-sex ceremony.
In the case known as Masterpiece I, the high court ruled that commissioners had shown bias against Mr. Phillips by, for example, making derogatory comments about his religion, but stopped short of affirming the First Amendment rights of small-business owners who refuse services for gay weddings.
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Senior U.S. District Judge Wiley T. Daniel said the Colorado Commission on Civil Rights and Colorado Civil Rights Division Director Aubrey Elenis had shown evidence of “bad faith” by filing a formal complaint against him in October over his refusal to create a cake to celebrate a gender transition.
“The decision to pursue the discrimination charge occurred after Masterpiece I, and this decision by Director Elenis and the Defendant Commissioners supports the existence of bad faith,” Judge Daniel said in his Friday ruling.
Mr. Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, filed the lawsuit accusing the state of targeting him after the commission’s latest complaint, which was filed a few months after his Supreme Court victory in June over his refusal to bake a cake for a same-sex ceremony.
In the case known as Masterpiece I, the high court ruled that commissioners had shown bias against Mr. Phillips by, for example, making derogatory comments about his religion, but stopped short of affirming the First Amendment rights of small-business owners who refuse services for gay weddings.
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University professor to face discipline for exposing shoddy scholarship
A scholar whose careful fiction helped expose the rot within some sectors of the modern academy is now under fire from his home, Portland State University, although prominent academics throughout the West have sprung to his defense.
Peter Boghossian, an assistant professor of philosophy at Portland State University in Oregon, led a trio of scholars last year who submitted what they called “intentionally broken” papers to leading publications on gender, race and sexuality. Several of the absurd pieces were published.
Now, Portland State has initiated disciplinary action against Mr. Boghossian for an alleged breach of the institution’s ethical guidelines.
Among the renowned international scholars urging Portland State to forego such action is Oxford’s Professor Emeritus Richard Dawkins, who compared administrators to the duplicitous pigs in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”
“My first response on reading of the punitive investigation into Dr Peter Boghossian’s brilliant hoax was to let out a howl of incredulous mirth,” Mr. Dawkins wrote on Dec. 14. “Do your humourless colleagues who brought this action want Portland State to become the laughing stock of the academic world? Or at least the world of serious scientific scholarship uncontaminated by pretentious charlatans of exactly the kind Dr Boghossian and his colleagues were satirising?”
More here
Peter Boghossian, an assistant professor of philosophy at Portland State University in Oregon, led a trio of scholars last year who submitted what they called “intentionally broken” papers to leading publications on gender, race and sexuality. Several of the absurd pieces were published.
Now, Portland State has initiated disciplinary action against Mr. Boghossian for an alleged breach of the institution’s ethical guidelines.
Among the renowned international scholars urging Portland State to forego such action is Oxford’s Professor Emeritus Richard Dawkins, who compared administrators to the duplicitous pigs in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”
“My first response on reading of the punitive investigation into Dr Peter Boghossian’s brilliant hoax was to let out a howl of incredulous mirth,” Mr. Dawkins wrote on Dec. 14. “Do your humourless colleagues who brought this action want Portland State to become the laughing stock of the academic world? Or at least the world of serious scientific scholarship uncontaminated by pretentious charlatans of exactly the kind Dr Boghossian and his colleagues were satirising?”
More here
Democrat Congresswoman stands by remarks suggesting killing may have been ‘hate crime’
A Texas Democrat Congresswoman is defending her earlier comments suggesting the drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes may have been a hate crime, even though both suspects in the case turned out to be black – and not a white individual as police and members of the public initially believed.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, when asked Sunday by a reporter about some of the comments made in the aftermath of the young girl’s death in Houston on Dec. 30, said it was “absolutely not” irresponsible to make that suggestion.
Barnes was shot and killed while sitting in the back seat of her mother’s car. Witness descriptions of a white man in his forties at the scene of the shooting – and a sketch put out by police – prompted widespread speculation a hate crime had happened.
“I believe – and having written hate crime legislation, knowing the criteria, I believe that this should be looked at as a hate crime,” Lee said during a press conference Friday, in a video posted to the Congresswoman’s Facebook page. “We don’t want to have on the street someone who is willing to kill children and possibly kill them in the name of hate
Yet both suspects in the case are black, police confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday.
More
https://www.foxnews.com/us/texas-democrat-congresswoman-stands-by-remarks-suggesting-jazmine-barnes-killing-may-have-been-hate-crime
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, when asked Sunday by a reporter about some of the comments made in the aftermath of the young girl’s death in Houston on Dec. 30, said it was “absolutely not” irresponsible to make that suggestion.
Barnes was shot and killed while sitting in the back seat of her mother’s car. Witness descriptions of a white man in his forties at the scene of the shooting – and a sketch put out by police – prompted widespread speculation a hate crime had happened.
“I believe – and having written hate crime legislation, knowing the criteria, I believe that this should be looked at as a hate crime,” Lee said during a press conference Friday, in a video posted to the Congresswoman’s Facebook page. “We don’t want to have on the street someone who is willing to kill children and possibly kill them in the name of hate
Yet both suspects in the case are black, police confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday.
More
https://www.foxnews.com/us/texas-democrat-congresswoman-stands-by-remarks-suggesting-jazmine-barnes-killing-may-have-been-hate-crime
THEY CHEAT: Democrats Caught Running SECOND FALSE FLAG Internet Campaign during Alabama Senate Race
Corrupt Democrats ran a Facebook smear campaign against Judge Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race in 2017 and Facebook allowed it.
Democrat activists took what Russia did on a minute scale in the 2016 election and ramped it up times one thousand.
Facebook allowed this to happen. LinkedIn billionaire Reid Hoffman was a top funder of this deception.
But it gets better… the same hacks who ran this deceptive campaign against Judge Roy Moore are the same people who wrote the junk “Russia interference” report for the US Senate!
Now this… liberals also ran a fake online campaign during the Alabama Senate race linking Judge Roy Moore to a fake ban on liquor in the state. The group was able to amass 4.6 million followers on Facebook!
They spent serious money to make this happen and likely had Facebook’s support for their nefarious actions.
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Democrat activists took what Russia did on a minute scale in the 2016 election and ramped it up times one thousand.
Facebook allowed this to happen. LinkedIn billionaire Reid Hoffman was a top funder of this deception.
But it gets better… the same hacks who ran this deceptive campaign against Judge Roy Moore are the same people who wrote the junk “Russia interference” report for the US Senate!
Now this… liberals also ran a fake online campaign during the Alabama Senate race linking Judge Roy Moore to a fake ban on liquor in the state. The group was able to amass 4.6 million followers on Facebook!
They spent serious money to make this happen and likely had Facebook’s support for their nefarious actions.
More
House Republicans demand update on Huber probe into bias at FBI, DOJ
Top Republicans on two House committees Monday demanded U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber provide an update on his investigation into allegations of bias at the FBI and Justice Department during the 2016 election.
The lawmakers say a refresher on the more than nine-month investigation is warranted because key witnesses said they had not spoken with Mr. Huber, according to a letter sent by Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Doug Collins of Georgia.
Mr. Huber had been assigned by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate the Justice Department’s handling of its probe into the Clinton Foundation and how it secured a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant on Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
But Mr. Huber’s investigation has been dogged by allegations that he has not interviewed witnesses who could shed light on those topics.
In a letter to Mr. Huber, Mr. Jordan and Mr. Collins said they interviewed dozens of witnesses while his probe was simultaneously running.
More here
The lawmakers say a refresher on the more than nine-month investigation is warranted because key witnesses said they had not spoken with Mr. Huber, according to a letter sent by Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Doug Collins of Georgia.
Mr. Huber had been assigned by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate the Justice Department’s handling of its probe into the Clinton Foundation and how it secured a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant on Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
But Mr. Huber’s investigation has been dogged by allegations that he has not interviewed witnesses who could shed light on those topics.
In a letter to Mr. Huber, Mr. Jordan and Mr. Collins said they interviewed dozens of witnesses while his probe was simultaneously running.
More here
Brenda Snipes asks federal judge to reinstate her as Broward elections supervisor
Brenda Snipes was in a federal court Monday asking U.S. District Judge Mark Walker to reinstate her as elections supervisor for Broward County.
Walker did not rule during the nearly two-hour hearing, but he did raise questions about whether Snipes was given a chance to defend herself against allegations made by Scott.
More here
Chuck Schumer moves to block pro-Israel bill to protest shutdown
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Senate Democrat leaders are mounting an effort to block a pro-Israel bill on Tuesday in order to protest the ongoing partial government shutdown, which is now in its third week.
The Senate late Tuesday will hold a procedural vote on a bill that supports Israel by allowing state and local governments to divest from entities that boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel because of its occupation of the West Bank.
The provision is part of legislation numbered “S.1” that was to be the very first bill senators debate in the 116th Congress. In addition to the BDS language, it includes several Middle East security provisions such as new authorities for sanctioning Bashar Assad's regime in Syria and re-authorization of security assistance to Israel.
But Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., a top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, will vote Tuesday against moving to debate the BDS bill, even though they co-sponsored the bill when was introduced in 2017.
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The Senate late Tuesday will hold a procedural vote on a bill that supports Israel by allowing state and local governments to divest from entities that boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel because of its occupation of the West Bank.
The provision is part of legislation numbered “S.1” that was to be the very first bill senators debate in the 116th Congress. In addition to the BDS language, it includes several Middle East security provisions such as new authorities for sanctioning Bashar Assad's regime in Syria and re-authorization of security assistance to Israel.
But Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., a top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, will vote Tuesday against moving to debate the BDS bill, even though they co-sponsored the bill when was introduced in 2017.
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Let's Play Follow The Climate Money!
The climate crisis industry incessantly claims that fossil fuel emissions are causing unprecedented temperature, climate and weather changes that pose existential threats to human civilization and our planet. The only solution, Climate Crisis, Inc. insists, is to eliminate the oil, coal and natural gas that provide 80% of the energy that makes US and global economies, health and living standards possible.
Failing that, CCI demands steadily increasing taxes on carbon-based fuels and carbon dioxide emissions.
However, as France’s Yellow Vest protests and the latest climate confab in Poland demonstrated, the world is not prepared to go down that dark path. Countries worldwide are expanding their reliable fossil fuel use, and families do not want to reduce their living standards or their aspirations for better lives.
Moreover, climate computer model forecasts are completely out of touch with real-world observations. There is no evidence to support claims that the slight temperature, climate and weather changes we’ve experienced are dangerous, unprecedented or caused by humans, instead of by the powerful solar, oceanic and other natural forces that have driven similar or far more serious changes throughout history.
More importantly, the CCI “solutions” would cause unprecedented disruption of modern industrialized societies; permanent poverty and disease in poor countries; and serious ecological damage worldwide.
Nothing that is required to harness breezes and sunshine to power civilization is clean, green, renewable, climate-friendly or sustainable. Tens of billions of tons of rock would have to be removed, to extract billions of tons of ores, to create millions of tons of metals, concrete and other materials, to manufacture millions of wind turbines and solar panels, and install them on millions of acres of wildlife habitats – to generate expensive, intermittent energy that would be grossly insufficient for humanity’s needs. Every step in this process requires fossil fuels – and some of the mining involves child labor.
How do CCI alarmists respond to these points? They don’t. They refuse to engage in or even permit civil discussion. They rant that anyone “who denies climate change science” is on the fossil fuel industry payroll, thus has a blatant conflict of interest and no credibility, and therefore should be ignored.
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Failing that, CCI demands steadily increasing taxes on carbon-based fuels and carbon dioxide emissions.
However, as France’s Yellow Vest protests and the latest climate confab in Poland demonstrated, the world is not prepared to go down that dark path. Countries worldwide are expanding their reliable fossil fuel use, and families do not want to reduce their living standards or their aspirations for better lives.
Moreover, climate computer model forecasts are completely out of touch with real-world observations. There is no evidence to support claims that the slight temperature, climate and weather changes we’ve experienced are dangerous, unprecedented or caused by humans, instead of by the powerful solar, oceanic and other natural forces that have driven similar or far more serious changes throughout history.
More importantly, the CCI “solutions” would cause unprecedented disruption of modern industrialized societies; permanent poverty and disease in poor countries; and serious ecological damage worldwide.
Nothing that is required to harness breezes and sunshine to power civilization is clean, green, renewable, climate-friendly or sustainable. Tens of billions of tons of rock would have to be removed, to extract billions of tons of ores, to create millions of tons of metals, concrete and other materials, to manufacture millions of wind turbines and solar panels, and install them on millions of acres of wildlife habitats – to generate expensive, intermittent energy that would be grossly insufficient for humanity’s needs. Every step in this process requires fossil fuels – and some of the mining involves child labor.
How do CCI alarmists respond to these points? They don’t. They refuse to engage in or even permit civil discussion. They rant that anyone “who denies climate change science” is on the fossil fuel industry payroll, thus has a blatant conflict of interest and no credibility, and therefore should be ignored.
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Judge Jeanine Pirro: Rashida Tlaib, this is my message for you -- Do what you were elected to do
This week newly elected Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, just hours after the honor of being sworn in to the United States Congress had this to say:
“When your son looks at you and says, "Mama, look you won. Bullies don't win," and I said, "Baby, they don't. Because we are going to go in there and we're going to impeach the [expletive deleted]."
Rashida, so our country allows your family to come here, start a new life in America with all its advantages, protections and privileges -- unlike anything they experienced in Palestine -- and your first act after being allowed the privilege of running for the U.S. Congress and then winning a seat in that hallowed chamber, the People's House is to curse out the president of the United States? Promising his impeachment with absolutely no facts to support the charge, violating the very Constitution you just swore to uphold.
And by the way, show me where in the Constitution, Rashida, it says you can impeach a president because you hate him? The greatest nation on Earth, through its largesse opens its doors and lays out the welcome mat for your mother and father, whom I'm sure thanked God when they got here, and you get to the national stage and call the commander-in-Chief a "mother-effer" in a public forum? Demanding impeachment? Who are you?
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“When your son looks at you and says, "Mama, look you won. Bullies don't win," and I said, "Baby, they don't. Because we are going to go in there and we're going to impeach the [expletive deleted]."
Rashida, so our country allows your family to come here, start a new life in America with all its advantages, protections and privileges -- unlike anything they experienced in Palestine -- and your first act after being allowed the privilege of running for the U.S. Congress and then winning a seat in that hallowed chamber, the People's House is to curse out the president of the United States? Promising his impeachment with absolutely no facts to support the charge, violating the very Constitution you just swore to uphold.
And by the way, show me where in the Constitution, Rashida, it says you can impeach a president because you hate him? The greatest nation on Earth, through its largesse opens its doors and lays out the welcome mat for your mother and father, whom I'm sure thanked God when they got here, and you get to the national stage and call the commander-in-Chief a "mother-effer" in a public forum? Demanding impeachment? Who are you?
More
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/judge-jeanine-pirro-rashida-tlaib-this-is-my-message-for-you-do-what-you-were-elected-to-do
Navy Warship Passage Challenges Beijing Control of S. China Sea Islands
China responded by sending ships and aircraft to confront the vessel, the Chinese Foreign Minister said.
Lt. Rachel McMarr, a Fleet spokeswoman, said the guided missile destroyer USS McCampbell conducted a freedom of navigation operation on Monday by sailing within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Islands.
The operation was designed to "challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law," she said in a statement.
Passage within 12 nautical miles of a disputed island, as the McCampbell did, is a direct challenge and usually involves some type of military maneuver. McMarr and a Pentagon spokesman did not say whether the warship conducted activities inside the 12-nautical mile limit of the Paracels.
More here
Mike Pence: Trump won't reopen the government on the 'promise' of talks with Democrats
Vice President Pence said Monday that President Trump won't agree to reopen the federal government based only on a promise from Democrats that they will then negotiate funding for the border wall.
"The president is not going to reopen the federal government with a promise that negotiations would begin thereafter," Pence told reporters at the White House.
Democrats have said the last several days that they won't talk about border wall funding while the government is partially shut down. But Pence's remark makes it clear that the White House wants wall funding as part of a deal to reopen the government.
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"The president is not going to reopen the federal government with a promise that negotiations would begin thereafter," Pence told reporters at the White House.
Democrats have said the last several days that they won't talk about border wall funding while the government is partially shut down. But Pence's remark makes it clear that the White House wants wall funding as part of a deal to reopen the government.
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Ocasio-Cortez Blasts Politifact, WaPo for Fact Checking
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) on Monday blasted multiple fact-checking media sources for their coverage of her statements, saying, "I say true things all the time."
Ocasio-Cortez, who was sworn into office last Thursday, is evidently not happy about the scrutiny she's received from fact-checkers. In a Twitter thread, she targeted the Washington Post and Politifact, saying "false equivalency [and] bias creeps in" with their fact checks.
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Ocasio-Cortez, who was sworn into office last Thursday, is evidently not happy about the scrutiny she's received from fact-checkers. In a Twitter thread, she targeted the Washington Post and Politifact, saying "false equivalency [and] bias creeps in" with their fact checks.
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A Viewer Writes: 2019 Maryland General Assembly - Senate Bill 11
This bill is actually worse than I orginally thought. The sponsor is deleting the 'Average Per Capita Personal Income' thresholds reference wording from the entire bill. Note - that the brackets indicate the entire language is being deleted. In other words - the income measuring stick - is trying to be deleted so as to mask the true economics picture.
(see last page of bill) - http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2019RS/bills/sb/sb0011F.pdf
FYI - SB-11 - Legislation to change name identity from Maryland counties designed 'Distressed' to a new name 'Tier 1'.
This legislation has just been sponsored and is attempting to try and remove the appearance of an aura or stigma that can be attributed to a MD county designated as being 'Distressed'
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2019RS/bills/sb/sb0011F.pdf
See middle of page in the link below - MD counties designated as being 'Distressed'.
https://taxes.marylandtaxes.gov/Business_Taxes/General_Information/Business_Tax_Credits/One_Maryland_Economic_Development_Tax_Credit.shtml
IMHO - MD brainwashing - at its best.
(see last page of bill) - http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2019RS/bills/sb/sb0011F.pdf
FYI - SB-11 - Legislation to change name identity from Maryland counties designed 'Distressed' to a new name 'Tier 1'.
This legislation has just been sponsored and is attempting to try and remove the appearance of an aura or stigma that can be attributed to a MD county designated as being 'Distressed'
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2019RS/bills/sb/sb0011F.pdf
See middle of page in the link below - MD counties designated as being 'Distressed'.
https://taxes.marylandtaxes.gov/Business_Taxes/General_Information/Business_Tax_Credits/One_Maryland_Economic_Development_Tax_Credit.shtml
IMHO - MD brainwashing - at its best.
A Message From Executive Culver
Pizza Hut is going to Deliver Beer from Hundreds of Locations
Pizza Hut is expanding beer delivery to hundreds of locations across America.
By mid-January, customers will be able to order beer for delivery at nearly 300 locations across the US, including restaurants in Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio, the chain announced on Monday. By this summer, Pizza Hut plans to offer beer delivery at 1,000 locations.
Pizza Hut is pushing beer delivery leading up to Super Bowl LIII in early February. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest business days of the year at the chain.
In February 2018, Pizza Hut announced it had signed a multiyear agreement to be the NFL's official pizza sponsor, one day after Papa John's said it had ended its NFL sponsorship deal.
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By mid-January, customers will be able to order beer for delivery at nearly 300 locations across the US, including restaurants in Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio, the chain announced on Monday. By this summer, Pizza Hut plans to offer beer delivery at 1,000 locations.
Pizza Hut is pushing beer delivery leading up to Super Bowl LIII in early February. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest business days of the year at the chain.
In February 2018, Pizza Hut announced it had signed a multiyear agreement to be the NFL's official pizza sponsor, one day after Papa John's said it had ended its NFL sponsorship deal.
More
Body Cams, Tasers Approved In Wicomico
SALISBURY – New body cameras and Tasers are expected to benefit the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office.
On Wednesday, the Wicomico County Council approved the department’s request to authorize Axon Enterprise Inc. as a sole source vendor and to waive the formal competitive bidding process for the purchase of body cameras and Tasers at a cost to exceed $25,000.
“This [company] was authorized as a sole source vendor in August of 2018 for the Department of Corrections to purchase Tasers,” Council Administrator Laura Hurley said. “This request is now coming before you from the sheriff’s department, seeking to purchase body cameras as well as Tasers.”
In a statement submitted to the county council, department heads explained the need for new devices.
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On Wednesday, the Wicomico County Council approved the department’s request to authorize Axon Enterprise Inc. as a sole source vendor and to waive the formal competitive bidding process for the purchase of body cameras and Tasers at a cost to exceed $25,000.
“This [company] was authorized as a sole source vendor in August of 2018 for the Department of Corrections to purchase Tasers,” Council Administrator Laura Hurley said. “This request is now coming before you from the sheriff’s department, seeking to purchase body cameras as well as Tasers.”
In a statement submitted to the county council, department heads explained the need for new devices.
More
Worcester School System Continues Report Card Review; County Proud Of Four-Star Ratings
NEWARK – Education officials continue to review data associated with the state’s new school rating system.
Officials with Worcester County Public Schools say they’re still looking at the ratings associated with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and determining what the new system means for local schools. The Maryland Report Card issued in December revealed that all of the county’s eligible schools received four out of a possible five stars under the new rating system.
“I know we will have five -star schools next year,” said Annette Wallace, the school system’s chief operating officer.
At the last meeting of the Worcester County Board of Education, staff reviewed the new system and explained how ratings were developed.
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Officials with Worcester County Public Schools say they’re still looking at the ratings associated with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and determining what the new system means for local schools. The Maryland Report Card issued in December revealed that all of the county’s eligible schools received four out of a possible five stars under the new rating system.
“I know we will have five -star schools next year,” said Annette Wallace, the school system’s chief operating officer.
At the last meeting of the Worcester County Board of Education, staff reviewed the new system and explained how ratings were developed.
More
Robin Smith: A Former 'Transgendered' Man Tells the Truth
Walt Heyer's new book relays 30 stories of people who regret sex-reassignment surgery.
Just before Christmas, CNBC promoted via social media an “LBGTQ youth advocate” by featuring a video of a boy in a sequined outfit, a choker, loop earrings, lipstick, and eye makeup posing Liza Minnelli-like in a child’s play pit filled with multi-colored balls. The caption: “This 11-year-old drag kid is using his voice to encourage LGBTQ youth to be themselves.”
The exploitation of this child first occurred over the summer, when his parents were heralded as “progressive” and the timeline of Desmond Napoles’s gender dysphoria was noted to have begun before he was old enough to have such issues. This truly despicable treatment of a child’s broken identify is just one example of the Leftmedia’s deliberate role as a partner in the degradation of humanity in the culture war. In fact, it’s child abuse.
While media “journalists” scoff at the idea they’re propagating a narrative that gender-bending is just great, why is there so little coverage of the broken individuals who face regret for making “transitions” to their assumed gender?
Walt Heyer, who underwent gender-reassignment surgery from male to female and lived that way for a decade before having more surgery to become male again, has written his sixth book on the issue, Trans Life Survivors. In it, Heyer chronicles the stories of just 30 of the hundreds of individuals who’ve contacted him about having joined the “transmania,” each wanting to escape some conflict, loss, trauma, or personal void only to deeply regret their flawed method of dealing with these personal battles. Heyer’s books are among the few resources that speak plainly about the struggles with child abuse, mental illness, and an unsuccessful attempt to take life’s hardships and traumas and hope to wash them away by gender fluidity instead of getting needed help.
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Just before Christmas, CNBC promoted via social media an “LBGTQ youth advocate” by featuring a video of a boy in a sequined outfit, a choker, loop earrings, lipstick, and eye makeup posing Liza Minnelli-like in a child’s play pit filled with multi-colored balls. The caption: “This 11-year-old drag kid is using his voice to encourage LGBTQ youth to be themselves.”
The exploitation of this child first occurred over the summer, when his parents were heralded as “progressive” and the timeline of Desmond Napoles’s gender dysphoria was noted to have begun before he was old enough to have such issues. This truly despicable treatment of a child’s broken identify is just one example of the Leftmedia’s deliberate role as a partner in the degradation of humanity in the culture war. In fact, it’s child abuse.
While media “journalists” scoff at the idea they’re propagating a narrative that gender-bending is just great, why is there so little coverage of the broken individuals who face regret for making “transitions” to their assumed gender?
Walt Heyer, who underwent gender-reassignment surgery from male to female and lived that way for a decade before having more surgery to become male again, has written his sixth book on the issue, Trans Life Survivors. In it, Heyer chronicles the stories of just 30 of the hundreds of individuals who’ve contacted him about having joined the “transmania,” each wanting to escape some conflict, loss, trauma, or personal void only to deeply regret their flawed method of dealing with these personal battles. Heyer’s books are among the few resources that speak plainly about the struggles with child abuse, mental illness, and an unsuccessful attempt to take life’s hardships and traumas and hope to wash them away by gender fluidity instead of getting needed help.
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Effort Aims To Raise Farmer Suicide Rate Awareness
BERLIN – A new campaign aims to raise awareness regarding the increased risk of suicide facing farmers.
Farmers are three times more likely to die by suicide than those outside the agriculture industry, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). To address that fact, local organizations have launched the “Save a Shore Farmer” outreach campaign.
“The CDC report highlighted three occupations that suffer high rates of suicide: farmers, forestry workers, and watermen,” said Kim Klump, president of the Klump Fund. “Because agriculture is a keystone of our local economy, and because so many local businesses are dependent on farming, we and our partners put together a program of advertising, education and resource availability aimed directly at those who work the soil, and those who depend on them.”
As 2018 proved to be a particularly difficult year for local farmers, who faced the impacts of too much rain, falling prices and trade wars, those with the Jesse Klump Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program are especially eager to share available resources with those who may be in need of help.
More
Farmers are three times more likely to die by suicide than those outside the agriculture industry, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). To address that fact, local organizations have launched the “Save a Shore Farmer” outreach campaign.
“The CDC report highlighted three occupations that suffer high rates of suicide: farmers, forestry workers, and watermen,” said Kim Klump, president of the Klump Fund. “Because agriculture is a keystone of our local economy, and because so many local businesses are dependent on farming, we and our partners put together a program of advertising, education and resource availability aimed directly at those who work the soil, and those who depend on them.”
As 2018 proved to be a particularly difficult year for local farmers, who faced the impacts of too much rain, falling prices and trade wars, those with the Jesse Klump Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program are especially eager to share available resources with those who may be in need of help.
More
Boom! President Trump: "We Are Doing a Great Job in Shutdown Negotiation" People Who Voted For or Against Me Are For It
American President Donald Trump spoke with reporters on a number of topics on Sunday morning before departing to Camp David.
The US government is now on 16th day of a partial shutdown.
President Trump told reporters the Supreme Court will hopefully not allow Obama’s DACA decision to stand.
The president says part of the surge on the border is his fault because the economy is so well today.
As far as the current shutdown goes the president believes he has the upper hand.
President Trump: I think we’re doing a great job with the shutdown negotiation. We have no choice. Look there will be, excuse me, I’m totally involved. I’m involved with principle because ultimately it’s going to be resolved by principle. Schumer and Nancy Pelosi and myself can solve this in 20 minutes if they want to. If they don’t want to it’s going to go on for a long time. I will tell you this, if we don’t find a solution it’s going to go on for a long time… And those people who voted for Donald Trump, in a great election. Are for it. And let me tell you people who didn’t vote for Donald Trump are for it also.
Chuck and Nancy will be begging for the government to open in another week.
Trump should demand $10 billion before he gives in.
More/Video
The US government is now on 16th day of a partial shutdown.
President Trump told reporters the Supreme Court will hopefully not allow Obama’s DACA decision to stand.
The president says part of the surge on the border is his fault because the economy is so well today.
As far as the current shutdown goes the president believes he has the upper hand.
President Trump: I think we’re doing a great job with the shutdown negotiation. We have no choice. Look there will be, excuse me, I’m totally involved. I’m involved with principle because ultimately it’s going to be resolved by principle. Schumer and Nancy Pelosi and myself can solve this in 20 minutes if they want to. If they don’t want to it’s going to go on for a long time. I will tell you this, if we don’t find a solution it’s going to go on for a long time… And those people who voted for Donald Trump, in a great election. Are for it. And let me tell you people who didn’t vote for Donald Trump are for it also.
Chuck and Nancy will be begging for the government to open in another week.
Trump should demand $10 billion before he gives in.
More/Video
WSJ: Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria Is ‘Social Contagion’
The medical community is far too unconditionally affirmative in its treatment of rapid onset gender dysphoria (ROGD), a Wall Street Journal op-ed argued Sunday, making ROGD an anomaly among social contagions.
Unlike traditional gender dysphoria, a “psychological affliction that begins in early childhood and is characterized by a severe and persistent feeling that one was born the wrong sex,” writes Abigail Shrier, ROGD is “a social contagion that comes on suddenly in adolescence, afflicting teens who’d never exhibited any confusion about their sex.”
Unlike other social contagions, such as cutting and bulimia, ROGD gets “full support from the medical community” instead of the treatment such contagions deserve, she contends.
“The standard for dealing with teens who assert they are transgender is ‘affirmative care’—immediately granting the patient’s stated identity,” Ms. Shrier writes, when the role of therapists should be to assist their patients in overcoming their unhealthy urges rather than pandering to them.
Gender dysphoria has now become “a fashionable cause,” and clinics routinely give girls testosterone with few questions asked, and with little thought to the sometimes permanent damage that such treatment brings about.
Parents who question the wisdom of yielding to their children’s desire to change genders often run up against a wall of contrary public opinion with very little scientific evidence to back it up.
“Nearly every force in society is aligned against these parents,” Shrier says.
More
Unlike traditional gender dysphoria, a “psychological affliction that begins in early childhood and is characterized by a severe and persistent feeling that one was born the wrong sex,” writes Abigail Shrier, ROGD is “a social contagion that comes on suddenly in adolescence, afflicting teens who’d never exhibited any confusion about their sex.”
Unlike other social contagions, such as cutting and bulimia, ROGD gets “full support from the medical community” instead of the treatment such contagions deserve, she contends.
“The standard for dealing with teens who assert they are transgender is ‘affirmative care’—immediately granting the patient’s stated identity,” Ms. Shrier writes, when the role of therapists should be to assist their patients in overcoming their unhealthy urges rather than pandering to them.
Gender dysphoria has now become “a fashionable cause,” and clinics routinely give girls testosterone with few questions asked, and with little thought to the sometimes permanent damage that such treatment brings about.
Parents who question the wisdom of yielding to their children’s desire to change genders often run up against a wall of contrary public opinion with very little scientific evidence to back it up.
“Nearly every force in society is aligned against these parents,” Shrier says.
More
"I've Got My Yellow Vest, Do You?"
I have to hand out sincere kudos to Tucker Carlson. His opening salvo for 2019 was one for the ages. It was a broad-ranging, fifteen-minute rhetorical tour de force.
Tying together Mitt Romney’s vulture capitalism, unchecked immigration, political corruption and the destruction of the middle class family, Carlson laid out a story that if everyone took off their ideological blinders for a few minutes (myself included) would see as simply a horror show.
Carlson’s thesis is that the American family is disintegrating. He’s right. But it’s not just America. It’s everywhere globalism has been the watchword of public policy, ie. Europe as well.
The Yellow Vests in France began protesting over a rise in diesel fuel tax to support climate change initiatives and has morphed into a full-blown revolt against globalism, neoliberalism and French government institutions.
More
Tying together Mitt Romney’s vulture capitalism, unchecked immigration, political corruption and the destruction of the middle class family, Carlson laid out a story that if everyone took off their ideological blinders for a few minutes (myself included) would see as simply a horror show.
Carlson’s thesis is that the American family is disintegrating. He’s right. But it’s not just America. It’s everywhere globalism has been the watchword of public policy, ie. Europe as well.
The Yellow Vests in France began protesting over a rise in diesel fuel tax to support climate change initiatives and has morphed into a full-blown revolt against globalism, neoliberalism and French government institutions.
More
312,000 Jobs Added In December, Manufacturing Growing 714% Faster Under Trump Than Obama
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its December jobs report Friday morning, showing nonfarm employment was up by 312,000, stronger than analysts expected.
The impressive jobs number, along with the Fed signaling patience on rate hikes, shook the stock market loose from its doldrums, with the Dow posting a 747-point gain.
With the December jobs number, President Trump now has two full years of economic performance to compare with his predecessor, President Obama. The two biggest statistical standouts are:
Manufacturing jobs are growing at a 714% faster clip under Trump than over a similar time under Obama , and;
Under Obama, federal state and local government employment grew 6 times faster than did manufacturing jobs, while under Trump, that ratio has been reversed, with manufacturing jobs growing 5 times faster than government jobs.
The impressive jobs number, along with the Fed signaling patience on rate hikes, shook the stock market loose from its doldrums, with the Dow posting a 747-point gain.
With the December jobs number, President Trump now has two full years of economic performance to compare with his predecessor, President Obama. The two biggest statistical standouts are:
Manufacturing jobs are growing at a 714% faster clip under Trump than over a similar time under Obama , and;
Under Obama, federal state and local government employment grew 6 times faster than did manufacturing jobs, while under Trump, that ratio has been reversed, with manufacturing jobs growing 5 times faster than government jobs.
Looking at jobs added over the 24 months through this December and comparing that with the last two years of the Obama Administration is illuminating—both for the pace of employment expansion in the late stage of a business cycle, as well as for the composition of the jobs added.
What is a Billion?
This is too true to be funny.
The next time you hear a politician use the Word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending
YOUR tax money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, But one advertising agency did a good job of Putting that figure into some perspective in
One of its releases.
A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain... let's take a look at New Orleans... It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.
Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D) was asking Congress for
250 BILLION DOLLARS To rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number.. What does it mean?
A. Well .. If you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans
(every man, woman and child) You each get $516,528
B. Or... If you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans, your home gets $1,329,787.
C. Or... If you are a family of four... Your family gets $2,066,012.
Washington , D.C
HELLO!
Are all your calculators broken??
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax (Fed)
Federal Unemployment Tax (FU TA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
(And to think, we left British Rule to avoid so many taxes)
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago... And our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt.. We had the largest middle class in the world... And Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened?
Can you spell politicians'!
And I still have to Press '1' For English.
I hope this goes around the U S A At least 100 times
What the hell has happened to our country?????
A crisis has hit border but generates little urgency
In 2015, the year President Donald Trump launched his White House bid with a promise to build a wall on the Mexico border, illegal migration to the United States plunged 31 percent, falling near its lowest level in 50 years.
Security experts saw a success, but Trump looked at the border and saw something ominous: "rapists," "criminals" and other predators lurking on the other side.
In 2017, Trump's first year in office, he continued to insist on the urgent need for a border wall, even as illegal crossings dropped further.
With parts of the federal government shut down over what has morphed into the defining symbol of Trump's presidency, administration officials are clamoring louder than ever. Only this time, they face a bona fide emergency on the border, and they're struggling to make the case there's truly a problem.
Record numbers of migrant families are streaming into the United States, overwhelming border agents and leaving holding cells dangerously overcrowded with children, many of whom are falling sick. Two Guatemalan children taken into U.S. custody died in December.
In a letter to lawmakers Friday, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security made a fresh appeal to amend immigration laws they denounce as "legal loopholes" and blame for creating a "border security and humanitarian crisis." But the chance of reaching consensus for such technical fixes to U.S. immigration statutes is growing more remote, buried by the pitched battle over a structure new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., calls "immoral."
With both sides entrenched, there has been little bipartisan urgency to examine the relatively narrow set of legal and administrative changes that could potentially make a difference in slowing illegal migration or improving conditions for families who arrive at the border.
More here
Security experts saw a success, but Trump looked at the border and saw something ominous: "rapists," "criminals" and other predators lurking on the other side.
In 2017, Trump's first year in office, he continued to insist on the urgent need for a border wall, even as illegal crossings dropped further.
With parts of the federal government shut down over what has morphed into the defining symbol of Trump's presidency, administration officials are clamoring louder than ever. Only this time, they face a bona fide emergency on the border, and they're struggling to make the case there's truly a problem.
Record numbers of migrant families are streaming into the United States, overwhelming border agents and leaving holding cells dangerously overcrowded with children, many of whom are falling sick. Two Guatemalan children taken into U.S. custody died in December.
In a letter to lawmakers Friday, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security made a fresh appeal to amend immigration laws they denounce as "legal loopholes" and blame for creating a "border security and humanitarian crisis." But the chance of reaching consensus for such technical fixes to U.S. immigration statutes is growing more remote, buried by the pitched battle over a structure new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., calls "immoral."
With both sides entrenched, there has been little bipartisan urgency to examine the relatively narrow set of legal and administrative changes that could potentially make a difference in slowing illegal migration or improving conditions for families who arrive at the border.
More here
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