(CNSNews)- Nearly half of American households would not be able to afford a $400 emergency, according to a recent report from the Federal Reserve.
The Federal Reserve Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2014 says that 47 percent indicate that they would have great difficulty handling an unexpected $400 expense.
“Specifically, respondents indicate that they simply could not cover the expense (14 percent); would sell something (10 percent); or would rely on one or more means of borrowing to pay for at least part of the expense, including paying with a credit card that they pay off over time (18 percent), borrowing from friends or family (13 percent), or using a payday loan (2 percent),” the report says.
Even though it has been over 5 years since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, 47 percent of Americans responding to the Federal Reserve study claimed that they “avoided medical treatment because of the cost.”
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[ So this begs the question.. if they can't afford to use it, do they really have health care, or do they just have an insurance bill to pay? --Editor ]
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, June 09, 2015
Senator to Obama: Justify Keeping Trade Deal Secret
As it becomes apparent that most members of Congress haven’t even read the draft of a trade deal criticized by opponents as a monumental surrender of U.S. sovereignty, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., is demanding President Obama explain the legal basis for not releasing the text to the public.
In a letter to Obama delivered Friday, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest noted the president is asking for “fast-track executive authority” to pass the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement and other trade deals. Trade Promotion Authority, Sessions reminded Obama, would take away the most basic congressional powers, including the power to write, amend and fully consider legislation on the floor.
Contending the TPP is more a treaty than a trade deal – creating a “nascent European Union” – the implications are “extraordinary,” Sessions said.
They “ought to be discussed in full, in public,” he said, “before Congress even contemplates fast-tracking its creation and pre-surrendering its power to apply the constitutional two-thirds treaty vote.”
Ratifying a treaty requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate. With fast-track authority, an agreement like the TPP could be passed with only a majority vote of both the Senate and the House, and no amendments would be allowed.
“I would therefore ask that you provide to me the legal and constitutional basis for keeping this information from the public and explain why I cannot share the details of what I have read with the American people,” Sessions wrote in his letter, which was first published by Breitbart News.
Sessions spokesman Stephen Miller told WND that granting fast-track trade authority would give Obama extraordinary powers the senator believes would be detrimental to the nation.
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In a letter to Obama delivered Friday, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest noted the president is asking for “fast-track executive authority” to pass the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement and other trade deals. Trade Promotion Authority, Sessions reminded Obama, would take away the most basic congressional powers, including the power to write, amend and fully consider legislation on the floor.
Contending the TPP is more a treaty than a trade deal – creating a “nascent European Union” – the implications are “extraordinary,” Sessions said.
They “ought to be discussed in full, in public,” he said, “before Congress even contemplates fast-tracking its creation and pre-surrendering its power to apply the constitutional two-thirds treaty vote.”
Ratifying a treaty requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate. With fast-track authority, an agreement like the TPP could be passed with only a majority vote of both the Senate and the House, and no amendments would be allowed.
“I would therefore ask that you provide to me the legal and constitutional basis for keeping this information from the public and explain why I cannot share the details of what I have read with the American people,” Sessions wrote in his letter, which was first published by Breitbart News.
Sessions spokesman Stephen Miller told WND that granting fast-track trade authority would give Obama extraordinary powers the senator believes would be detrimental to the nation.
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Montgomery County making graduation robes gender-neutral
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — Three Montgomery County high schools are making graduation robes gender-neutral with one color to respect transgender students.
Damascus, Sherwood and Walter Johnson High Schools have shifted to single-color robes this year, instead of two separate colors for males and females.
At least five others have decided to make the change next year.
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Damascus, Sherwood and Walter Johnson High Schools have shifted to single-color robes this year, instead of two separate colors for males and females.
At least five others have decided to make the change next year.
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Treasury Secretary Lew Jeered, Embarrassed at US Jewish Event
President Obama has Israel's best interests at heart, Lew tells JPost conference - but unprecedented heckling ensues.
U.S. President Barack H. Obama has Israel's best interests at heart, believes his Treasury Secretary Jack Lew – but attendees of the Jerusalem Post Conference taking place in Washington this week weren't buying it.
As Lew proclaimed that “no administration has done more for Israel than the current one,” and that “we do not at all assume that Iran intends to act with innocent intentions,” a large number of audience members began hooting, booing, and yelling “nonsense,” as well as intoning sharper invectives.
Lew continued, saying that the U.S. “strategically assists Israel daily, and we stand against those who question Israel's legitimacy and right to exist.” This, too, earned audience opprobrium.
At one point, Lew was forced to stop speaking and address the audience response, saying that “I understand that we do not agree on everything, but there is no doubt of the commitment of President Obama to the State of Israel.”
More here
U.S. President Barack H. Obama has Israel's best interests at heart, believes his Treasury Secretary Jack Lew – but attendees of the Jerusalem Post Conference taking place in Washington this week weren't buying it.
As Lew proclaimed that “no administration has done more for Israel than the current one,” and that “we do not at all assume that Iran intends to act with innocent intentions,” a large number of audience members began hooting, booing, and yelling “nonsense,” as well as intoning sharper invectives.
Lew continued, saying that the U.S. “strategically assists Israel daily, and we stand against those who question Israel's legitimacy and right to exist.” This, too, earned audience opprobrium.
At one point, Lew was forced to stop speaking and address the audience response, saying that “I understand that we do not agree on everything, but there is no doubt of the commitment of President Obama to the State of Israel.”
More here
Gannett board OKs company split for June 29
- Gannett (NYSE:GCI) says its board has approved the spinoff that will split the company into a broadcasting/digital firm and a publishing company.
- The creation of the broadcast side, named TEGNA (Pending:TGNA), and the side that will retain the Gannett name will take place via separation on June 29. Gannett's current shareholders will retain shares of Gannett (which will be named TEGNA) and receive a share of new Gannett (which will keep the name and GCI ticker) for every two shares of current Gannett stock owned as of a record date of June 22.
- New Gannett will then begin regular way trading June 29.
- The new publishing firm will be "virtually debt-free" and pay a $0.64/share annual cash dividend as well as take on a $150M buyback program for the next three years.
- Meanwhile, TEGNA will hold Gannett's existing debt of about $4.4B. It plans to pay a $0.56/share annual dividend. The combination with Gannett's $0.64 dividend marks a 10% increase over current payout. TEGNA will also embark on a $750M buyback program over three years.
- In addition to a swath of previous board announcements, Henry McGee will join the TEGNA board, and USA Today Publisher Larry Kramer will retire from that post and join new Gannett's board, along with Debra Sandler and Chloe Sladden.
- Previously: Gannett sets up post-spinoff boards, execs (Apr. 29 2015)
- Source
BREAKING NEWS : New Jersey's top court sides with Christie on pensions
New Jersey State Supreme Court sides with Gov. Chris Christie in his overhaul of public worker pensions, ruling there is no enforceable contract to ensure full worker payments.
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Sprinkler System Credited With Minimizing High-Rise Fire’s Impact
Shortly before 11 p.m. on Sunday, the Ocean City Fire Department responded to a fire alarm activation resulting from a fire in a unit at the Century I condominium building. When firefighters arrived, there was smoke reported from a unit on the 25th floor. The fire department response was quickly upgraded to a structure fire in a high-rise structure.
The fire, which originated in the unit’s kitchen, was suppressed by one fire sprinkler upon arrival of the fire department. Firefighters on scene worked immediately to remove smoke throughout the 25th floor. OCFD officials said the fire at the high-rise structure illustrated the importance of working fire sprinkler systems.
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DEANDRE BALLARD CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND KIDNAPPING
Ballard was sentenced in the Wicomico County Circuit Court to the maximum penalty on all crimes. He received 10 years active for each count of Human Trafficking. Thirty years active for Kidnapping, and 30 years suspended consecutive for the Conspiracy-Kidnapping. The total sentence was 80 years suspend all but 50 years of active incarceration, with four years supervised probation. Ballard was also ordered to register as a sex offender pursuant to Maryland law. Ballard is currently serving a 20 year sentence for drug related charges.
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Salisbury City Police, the Maryland State Police, and the Department of Homeland Security, along with investigating officers, Tfc. Howard Kennard, Agent Cara Rose, Det. Matthew Thompsen, Det. Jeff Miller, and Det. Jason Caputo. Mr. Maciarello also thanked Senior Assistant State’s Attorney, Kristen Schultz who prosecuted this case.
Gannett Board Approves Completion of Spin-off Transaction
Gannett Co., Inc. GCI today announced that its Board of Directors has approved completion of the previously announced separation transaction which will create two publicly traded companies: a broadcasting and digital company named TEGNA and new Gannett, which will retain the name Gannett Co., Inc. and will include its publishing properties and affiliated digital assets. Under the terms of the transaction, Gannett shareholders will retain their shares of Gannett (which will be renamed TEGNA) and receive one share of new Gannett for every two shares of Gannett stock they own on the record date of June 22, 2015, and new Gannett shares will begin "regular way" trading on June 29, 2015. The spin-off remains subject to the conditions described in the preliminary information statement filed on Form 10 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Gracia Martore, President and CEO of Gannett, will serve as President and CEO of TEGNA upon completion of the separation. She said, "In just three weeks, we will create two industry leaders that will benefit greatly from enhanced strategic, operating, financial and regulatory flexibility as independent companies. We believe strongly that this transaction will enhance performance, unlock shareholder value and give investors access to more targeted investment opportunities with trading valuations that better reflect the distinctive characteristics and growth profiles of both companies."
Robert Dickey, who currently serves as President, Gannett U.S. Community Publishing, will become President and CEO of new Gannett following the close of the separation. Mr. Dickey said, "We are incredibly excited about the opportunities this transaction creates for our shareholders, as well as our 19,600 employees who together serve our more than 110 local U.S. and UK communities each and every day. We've made great strides in revolutionizing our content and delivery methods through our widely successful all access content subscription model and digital initiatives, as well as by leveraging our iconic USA TODAY brand to create USA TODAY local content editions. We look forward to accelerating this strong progress and delivering shareholder value as a more nimble and highly focused independent company."
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Gracia Martore, President and CEO of Gannett, will serve as President and CEO of TEGNA upon completion of the separation. She said, "In just three weeks, we will create two industry leaders that will benefit greatly from enhanced strategic, operating, financial and regulatory flexibility as independent companies. We believe strongly that this transaction will enhance performance, unlock shareholder value and give investors access to more targeted investment opportunities with trading valuations that better reflect the distinctive characteristics and growth profiles of both companies."
Robert Dickey, who currently serves as President, Gannett U.S. Community Publishing, will become President and CEO of new Gannett following the close of the separation. Mr. Dickey said, "We are incredibly excited about the opportunities this transaction creates for our shareholders, as well as our 19,600 employees who together serve our more than 110 local U.S. and UK communities each and every day. We've made great strides in revolutionizing our content and delivery methods through our widely successful all access content subscription model and digital initiatives, as well as by leveraging our iconic USA TODAY brand to create USA TODAY local content editions. We look forward to accelerating this strong progress and delivering shareholder value as a more nimble and highly focused independent company."
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It's Time To Privatize U.S. Airport Security
In recent tests, undercover investigators smuggled mock explosives and banned weapons through U.S. airport checkpoints 96 percent of the time. According to ABC, "In one case, agents failed to detect a fake explosive taped to an agent's back, even after performing a pat down that was prompted after the agent set off the magnetometer alarm."
The unionized TSA has a history of inept management. Reports in 2012 by various House committees found that TSA operations are "costly, counter-intuitive, and poorly executed," and the agency "suffers from bureaucratic morass and mismanagement." Former TSA chief Kip Hawley argued in an op-ed that the agency is "hopelessly bureaucratic." And in 2014, former acting TSA chief Kenneth Kaspirin said that TSA has "a toxic culture" with "terrible" morale. ...
Perhaps most importantly, studies have found that TSA security performance is no better, and possibly worse, than private-sector screening, which is allowed at a handful of U.S. airports.
The solution is to dismantle TSA and move responsibility for screening operations to the nation's airports.
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A Tale of Two Crooks and the IRS
With her roots in Roman mythology, Lady Justice represents morality and virtue through three symbols. First, she holds a set of scales in her left hand, to weigh evidence with reason and in light of the law. Second, she wields a double-edged sword in her right hand, representing the remedy impartially provided after the facts are laid bare before her. And third, she wears a blindfold, signifying that the law must be applied with objectivity and equality.
Yet too often politicians seek to lift this blindfold, wanting to redefine justice based on the year’s election cycle or to subvert it through delays, denials and tactics that advance their agenda.
Let’s examine two cases in which the Internal Revenue Service has been used as a tool for political revenge and harassment, and how they reflect an assault on justice that should offend all.
Consider the identical approaches of Richard Nixon and Barack Obama. One a Republican and the other a Democrat, both illustrate power’s ability to corrupt to the extreme, instituting a false democracy where disagreement and disloyalty are silenced by heavy-handed tactics.
Nixon’s legacy as the 37th president is often defined by his impeachment. Posterity’s view of Obama is still being penned, but both will be remembered for their unconstitutional misuse of government and for the tenured bureaucrats who willingly complied.
In the Articles of Impeachment adopted by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in 1974, most remember Article I, which declared Nixon “impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors” committed surrounding the break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel on June 17, 1972.
The charges leveled by Congress state, “Subsequent thereto, Richard M. Nixon, using the powers of his high office, engaged personally and through his close subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or plan designed to delay, impede, and obstruct the investigation of such illegal entry; to cover up, conceal and protect those responsible; and to conceal the existence and scope of other unlawful covert activities.”
The break-in and burglary were indeed illegal and brought disgrace to the office of the president. But the obstruction, delays and attempts to conceal the covert activities all demonstrated an egregiously deliberate abuse of the power afforded the president of the United States.
Yet those same Articles of Impeachment issue a second damning charge, accusing Nixon of “using the powers of the office of President of the United States … in violation of his constitutional oath.” Nixon “repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purposed of these agencies.”
Specifically, Nixon, “acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavored to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service” information of citizens he had on his “enemies list” who he deemed politically dangerous to his ambitions.
More here
Yet too often politicians seek to lift this blindfold, wanting to redefine justice based on the year’s election cycle or to subvert it through delays, denials and tactics that advance their agenda.
Let’s examine two cases in which the Internal Revenue Service has been used as a tool for political revenge and harassment, and how they reflect an assault on justice that should offend all.
Consider the identical approaches of Richard Nixon and Barack Obama. One a Republican and the other a Democrat, both illustrate power’s ability to corrupt to the extreme, instituting a false democracy where disagreement and disloyalty are silenced by heavy-handed tactics.
Nixon’s legacy as the 37th president is often defined by his impeachment. Posterity’s view of Obama is still being penned, but both will be remembered for their unconstitutional misuse of government and for the tenured bureaucrats who willingly complied.
In the Articles of Impeachment adopted by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in 1974, most remember Article I, which declared Nixon “impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors” committed surrounding the break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel on June 17, 1972.
The charges leveled by Congress state, “Subsequent thereto, Richard M. Nixon, using the powers of his high office, engaged personally and through his close subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or plan designed to delay, impede, and obstruct the investigation of such illegal entry; to cover up, conceal and protect those responsible; and to conceal the existence and scope of other unlawful covert activities.”
The break-in and burglary were indeed illegal and brought disgrace to the office of the president. But the obstruction, delays and attempts to conceal the covert activities all demonstrated an egregiously deliberate abuse of the power afforded the president of the United States.
Yet those same Articles of Impeachment issue a second damning charge, accusing Nixon of “using the powers of the office of President of the United States … in violation of his constitutional oath.” Nixon “repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purposed of these agencies.”
Specifically, Nixon, “acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavored to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service” information of citizens he had on his “enemies list” who he deemed politically dangerous to his ambitions.
More here
Black Chicago Pastor: Democrat Party ‘Taking Complete Advantage’ Of Us
“African-Americans have been loyal to the Democratic Party,” Pastor Corey Brooks told The Daily Beast. “But there is a group of African-Americans that feel like the Democratic Party has not been loyal to us.”
Mr. Brooks sat in his office at the New Beginnings Church of Chicago Wednesday morning mapping out a plan for Republican presidential candidates to visit the area — an effort he’s calling the “American Urban Issues Presidential Series,” The Daily Beast reported. So far, only Rand Paul has taken him up on his offer, but he said he’s heard back from the campaigns of Scott Walker and Ted Cruz.
Last week, Mr. Brooks and Mr. Paul toured the Parkway Gardens apartment complex along O Block after the Republican’s speech outside the church, The Daily Beast reported.
“We have a large, disproportionate number of people who are impoverished,” Mr. Brooks said. “We have a disproportionate number of people who are incarcerated, we have a disproportionate number of people who are unemployed, the educational system has totally failed, and all of this primarily has been under Democratic regimes in our neighborhoods.”
“So, the question for me becomes, how can our neighborhoods be doing so awful and so bad when we’re so loyal to this party who is in power? It’s a matter of them taking complete advantage of our vote,” he said.
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Wal-Mart's U.S. Chief Takes Aim At Urgent Item: Theft
Wal-Mart Stores has a new priority: reducing theft.
Greg Foran, head of the retailer's U.S. operations, told a media briefing on Thursday he added theft and other forms of "unknown shrinkage" to a list of urgent items to be tackled at Wal-Mart's 4,555 stores across the United States.
Foran said he saw an opportunity to boost margins by putting a dent in a problem that typically represents 1 percent for any retailer's sales. He noted that Wal-Mart generated nearly $300 billion in revenues in the United States in the past fiscal year.
"One percent of $300 billion is quite a lot of money. If you can save 10 basis points of it – boy I’ll take it every day of the week and put it into lower prices for customers," Foran told Reuters after the briefing.
One basis point is equal to one hundredth of 1 percent, meaning that 10 basis points - or 0.1 percent - of $300 billion would be equal to $300 million.
Wal-Mart had flagged the issue when it announced its first quarter earnings last month, saying that "shrink" was a major contributor to a 13 basis point decline in its gross profit margin. It said half of the problem was related to food.
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[ Anyone remember WalMart's decision a few years back to not prosecute theft under $25? --Editor ]
Greg Foran, head of the retailer's U.S. operations, told a media briefing on Thursday he added theft and other forms of "unknown shrinkage" to a list of urgent items to be tackled at Wal-Mart's 4,555 stores across the United States.
Foran said he saw an opportunity to boost margins by putting a dent in a problem that typically represents 1 percent for any retailer's sales. He noted that Wal-Mart generated nearly $300 billion in revenues in the United States in the past fiscal year.
"One percent of $300 billion is quite a lot of money. If you can save 10 basis points of it – boy I’ll take it every day of the week and put it into lower prices for customers," Foran told Reuters after the briefing.
One basis point is equal to one hundredth of 1 percent, meaning that 10 basis points - or 0.1 percent - of $300 billion would be equal to $300 million.
Wal-Mart had flagged the issue when it announced its first quarter earnings last month, saying that "shrink" was a major contributor to a 13 basis point decline in its gross profit margin. It said half of the problem was related to food.
More
[ Anyone remember WalMart's decision a few years back to not prosecute theft under $25? --Editor ]
Investigators: 18 arrested, two Md. drug rings annihilated
The calls started coming in more than a year ago from the Bel Pre neighborhood where Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger says his officers frequently are called to for violence.
“We’ve seen, over the past year, shootings and other violent crimes that I believe have a link back to this group,” Manger said in a press conference
So instead of making a few arrests, working with the FBI and a number of local jurisdictions, they took down two alleged drug dealers named George Gee operating out of Bel Pre and Anthony Niles operating out of Prince George’s County. Investigators say the two were sharing a supply and had daily clients.
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Obama Says Supreme Court Shouldn't Have Taken Up Health Law Case
President Obama bluntly challenged the Supreme Court over a pending ruling on the validity of ObamaCare subsidies, complaining Monday that the court should never have taken up the case -- and warning that a ruling against subsidies would be a "twisted interpretation" of the law.
The president and his administration's legal team for months have fought the Affordable Care Act court challenge, which is over whether people who enrolled through the federal HealthCare.gov are entitled to subsidies.
But the president's comments on Monday, during a press conference on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Germany, were perhaps his toughest to date. He strongly suggested the court would be running afoul of established legal guidance if it rules against the administration, and took the rare step of saying the court should have stayed out of this fight.
"This should be an easy case. Frankly, it probably shouldn't even have been taken up," Obama said.
The administration has argued in court that the subsidies are valid through both state-run exchanges and exchanges run through HealthCare.gov. Foes argue that the Affordable Care Act stipulates subsidies are only intended for those buying insurance on state-run exchanges.
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The president and his administration's legal team for months have fought the Affordable Care Act court challenge, which is over whether people who enrolled through the federal HealthCare.gov are entitled to subsidies.
But the president's comments on Monday, during a press conference on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Germany, were perhaps his toughest to date. He strongly suggested the court would be running afoul of established legal guidance if it rules against the administration, and took the rare step of saying the court should have stayed out of this fight.
"This should be an easy case. Frankly, it probably shouldn't even have been taken up," Obama said.
The administration has argued in court that the subsidies are valid through both state-run exchanges and exchanges run through HealthCare.gov. Foes argue that the Affordable Care Act stipulates subsidies are only intended for those buying insurance on state-run exchanges.
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U.S. State Dept dhimmitude; Accommodates Ramadan In Place Of Independence Day
In a mind-boggling gesture of official US Government dhimmitude, the US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia celebrated our sacred Independence Day holiday on June 4, so as to avoid any conflict with the month-long Ramadan celebration.
American Thinker Reports:
If you think any Islamic countries – there are 57 of them (not counting ISIS) that count themselves officially Islamic – will move their DC embassy’s celebration of Ramadan to accommodate our Independence holiday, I have some bridges to sell you.
“US Embassy celebrates 4th of July earlier out of respect for Ramadhan,” by Dylan Amirio
The United States Embassy enjoyed its annual 4th of July celebration on Thursday, June 4, one month early, in order to respect the upcoming Ramadhan month, which will begin on June 17 and last for one month.
US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert O. Blake and US Ambassador to ASEAN Nina Hachigian presided over the festivities, which involved brass band renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner and the Indonesian national anthem, Indonesia Raya. (CONTINUE READING THERE IS MORE)
FULL STORY HERE:
WICOMICO COUNTY CITIZEN WARNING/ALERT SIREN SYSTEM
The warning system is designed to alert residents and visitors of Wicomico County about an imminent hazard to include weather-related danger such as a tornado warning. The specific emergency alerts will be broadcast over any or all of the 13 sirens located at local fire departments and the two maintained by the Wicomico County Department of Emergency Services. Wicomico’s siren system can be activated for either the entire county or for specific affected areas. In the event of an imminent hazard the alert tone – which differs from fire station alarms – will sound for a sustained 2 minutes. When the sirens sound, citizens should seek shelter immediately and then tune into local news media for additional information. Citizens should not call 9-1-1 to determine the hazard causing the activation.
Frequently Asked Questions?
What is the Citizen Alert/Warning Siren System?
The warning system is designed to alert residents and visitors of Wicomico County about imminent hazards. The specific emergency alerts will be broadcast over any or all of the 13 sirens located at local fire departments and the two maintained by the Wicomico County Department of Emergency Services. In the event of an imminent hazard, the alert tone will sound for a sustained 2 minutes.
Why do the sirens go off the first Monday of every month?
They are tested at 6:30 pm the first Monday of every month. During the monthly test, the siren emits a single 10 second sustained alert tone. Residents should use this test as a time to review emergency procedures. In the event of a disaster, the alert tone will sound for a sustained 2 minutes.
What if I hear the siren at another time?
If you hear the siren at a time other than its regular tests on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 pm:
Stay calm
Stop what you are doing
Seek shelter immediately
Tune into local news media for additional information
Avoid using the telephone. Do not call 9-1-1, unless you have a life-threatening emergency
Wicomico County’s sirens do not sound an “All Clear” tone, so consult the news media to learn when the danger has lifted
Frequently Asked Questions?
What is the Citizen Alert/Warning Siren System?
The warning system is designed to alert residents and visitors of Wicomico County about imminent hazards. The specific emergency alerts will be broadcast over any or all of the 13 sirens located at local fire departments and the two maintained by the Wicomico County Department of Emergency Services. In the event of an imminent hazard, the alert tone will sound for a sustained 2 minutes.
Why do the sirens go off the first Monday of every month?
They are tested at 6:30 pm the first Monday of every month. During the monthly test, the siren emits a single 10 second sustained alert tone. Residents should use this test as a time to review emergency procedures. In the event of a disaster, the alert tone will sound for a sustained 2 minutes.
What if I hear the siren at another time?
If you hear the siren at a time other than its regular tests on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 pm:
Stay calm
Stop what you are doing
Seek shelter immediately
Tune into local news media for additional information
Avoid using the telephone. Do not call 9-1-1, unless you have a life-threatening emergency
Wicomico County’s sirens do not sound an “All Clear” tone, so consult the news media to learn when the danger has lifted
IRS Scam Alert Advisory
Dover-Delaware State Police is providing a Scam Alert Advisory. This is a general alert which covers any part of the State of Delaware.
The Delaware State Police have received numerous complaint from citizens in Sussex County today concerning an automated phone call from the IRS . The scam involves a person claiming they work for the IRS claiming the victim owes money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly. If the victim refuses, they are threatened with arrest, deportation, or suspension of driver's license, amongst other things.
Note that the IRS will never:
- Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill
- Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe
- Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card
- Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone
- Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
**This information was provided through the IRS website located at:http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts**
Many of these scams are difficult to investigate. They will target persons of all age groups. Delaware State Police is asking citizens to remember the tips previously mentioned in order to not become a victim of one of these scam artists.
Milk Grown in a Lab Is Humane and Sustainable. But Can It Catch On?
Would consumers rather get milk from cows or from genetically engineered yeast?
The world's first test-tube hamburger has already been synthesized and cooked at a cost of more than $300,000. Now a pair of young bioengineers in Silicon Valley are trying to produce the first glass of artificial milk, without a cow and with the help of genetically engineered yeast.
Like the creators of in vitro burgers, the scientists behind yeast-culture dairy are concerned about animal welfare and agricultural sustainability—but also about creating a food that will find a mass market. (Read: "Test-Tube Meat: Have Your Pig and Eat It Too.")
Because their petri dish milk will mirror the formula of the real thing—the yeast cultures will be churning out real milk proteins—it will retain the taste and nutritional benefits of cow milk, says Perumal Gandhi, a co-founder of the synthetic dairy start-up Muufri (pronounced Moo-free) in San Francisco, California. That will distinguish it from soy- and almond-based alternatives.
"If we want the world to change its diet from a product that isn't sustainable to something that is, it has to be identical [to], or better than, the original product," Gandhi says. "The world will not switch from milk from a cow to the plant-based milks. But if our cow-less milk is identical and priced right, they just might."
More
The world's first test-tube hamburger has already been synthesized and cooked at a cost of more than $300,000. Now a pair of young bioengineers in Silicon Valley are trying to produce the first glass of artificial milk, without a cow and with the help of genetically engineered yeast.
Like the creators of in vitro burgers, the scientists behind yeast-culture dairy are concerned about animal welfare and agricultural sustainability—but also about creating a food that will find a mass market. (Read: "Test-Tube Meat: Have Your Pig and Eat It Too.")
Because their petri dish milk will mirror the formula of the real thing—the yeast cultures will be churning out real milk proteins—it will retain the taste and nutritional benefits of cow milk, says Perumal Gandhi, a co-founder of the synthetic dairy start-up Muufri (pronounced Moo-free) in San Francisco, California. That will distinguish it from soy- and almond-based alternatives.
"If we want the world to change its diet from a product that isn't sustainable to something that is, it has to be identical [to], or better than, the original product," Gandhi says. "The world will not switch from milk from a cow to the plant-based milks. But if our cow-less milk is identical and priced right, they just might."
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5 Things Americans Should Still Be Ashamed Of Doing
16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. — Proverbs 6:16-19
The only time most people hear the word “shame” in any setting these days is when someone tells them, “You don’t have to be ashamed.” Unfortunately, in a society full of reality TV shows, overhyped marketing, and millions of people competing for attention on the Internet, we could use more shame, not less. The fact of the matter is that shame can be a very healthy emotion if you’ve done something shameful. Shouldn’t rapists feel shame? How about the Westboro Baptist Church members who’ve protested at funerals? What if you stole a poor kid’s lunch and it was the only thing he had to eat that day? There are times when shame is very appropriate.
Unfortunately, in an interconnected world where every malcontent, misfit, and misanthrope on the planet can get together via the Internet, there is no perversion, sickness, or cruelty that human beings can do to each other that won’t be heartily applauded in some dark corner of the web. Over a decade ago talented liberal humorist Zack Parsons (who would undoubtedly hate this column) wrote an extraordinary piece about how the net helps encourage shameful and weird behavior.
…I’ve talked about how the Internet enables pedophiles, furries, and others to congregate and share ideas, but I only briefly touched on the most important aspect of this. In the endless expanse of communications the Internet is, probably the greatest and most terrible gift it offers to furries, pedophiles, and others, is the ability to shut themselves off from the mainstream. They huddle in cloisters that are virtually unassailable by the outside world and whisper encouraging things to one another that would be nearly impossible to say in real life. Free from the pressures of society to conform to a boring standard they go in the exact opposite direction, externalizing things that are roughly as far from “normal” as can be expected. Then, within their protected virtual enclaves, they declare these things to be the norm. By declaring their perversions, mores, and general imbecility to be their own status quo they have simultaneously validated their own existence and demonstrated the inferiority of outsiders.
A sense of belonging and community is disturbing and sad in the hands of furries and downright dangerous in the hands of pedophiles. Nonetheless, this is what the Internet has given to these groups, and it can be both a peril to the members and, in the case of menaces like pedophiles, a peril to the rest of us….
Unfortunately, the Internet isn’t Vegas and what happens here, doesn’t stay here. The mentality spawned by the Internet has infected our whole culture like a virus. No matter what sort of stupidity or evil that people engage in, they’ll find legions of supporters telling them how wonderful it is or at least saying, “Judge not, lest ye judge.” Well, we may not be in a position to judge whether someone is going to heaven or not, but a society where people no longer feel shame for bad behavior is destined to take a long, inglorious spiral into a sewer — sort of like Miley Cyrus’s career.
1) Acting Like A Skank In Public: Speaking of Miley Cyrus, remember when she was the wholesome, kid-friendly Hannah Montana? Well, as she aged out of the Disney demographic, the music executives promoting her decided she needed to change her image and the easiest way to do it was to act like the world’s biggest skank in public. So, she twerked her way through a nasty performance at the VMAs and has been skanking it up ever since. She’s not the first to do it or even the best at it. Madonna beat her to the punch. But from Miley Cyrus’s perspective, the important thing is that it worked. She broke with her wholesome image and became a bigger star. But, at what cost to her and to other people? How many little girls who were Hannah Montana fans now think it’s cool to act like a prostitute in public to get the attention of boys? Nobody is saying women should wear ankle length skirts and always be prim and proper to be decent (Well, I’m certainly not saying it anyway), but if you act like a skank, men will view you as a skank and treat you as a skank. Even if you’re not ashamed of that, the people who raised you probably are and they should be.
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. — Proverbs 6:16-19
The only time most people hear the word “shame” in any setting these days is when someone tells them, “You don’t have to be ashamed.” Unfortunately, in a society full of reality TV shows, overhyped marketing, and millions of people competing for attention on the Internet, we could use more shame, not less. The fact of the matter is that shame can be a very healthy emotion if you’ve done something shameful. Shouldn’t rapists feel shame? How about the Westboro Baptist Church members who’ve protested at funerals? What if you stole a poor kid’s lunch and it was the only thing he had to eat that day? There are times when shame is very appropriate.
Unfortunately, in an interconnected world where every malcontent, misfit, and misanthrope on the planet can get together via the Internet, there is no perversion, sickness, or cruelty that human beings can do to each other that won’t be heartily applauded in some dark corner of the web. Over a decade ago talented liberal humorist Zack Parsons (who would undoubtedly hate this column) wrote an extraordinary piece about how the net helps encourage shameful and weird behavior.
…I’ve talked about how the Internet enables pedophiles, furries, and others to congregate and share ideas, but I only briefly touched on the most important aspect of this. In the endless expanse of communications the Internet is, probably the greatest and most terrible gift it offers to furries, pedophiles, and others, is the ability to shut themselves off from the mainstream. They huddle in cloisters that are virtually unassailable by the outside world and whisper encouraging things to one another that would be nearly impossible to say in real life. Free from the pressures of society to conform to a boring standard they go in the exact opposite direction, externalizing things that are roughly as far from “normal” as can be expected. Then, within their protected virtual enclaves, they declare these things to be the norm. By declaring their perversions, mores, and general imbecility to be their own status quo they have simultaneously validated their own existence and demonstrated the inferiority of outsiders.
A sense of belonging and community is disturbing and sad in the hands of furries and downright dangerous in the hands of pedophiles. Nonetheless, this is what the Internet has given to these groups, and it can be both a peril to the members and, in the case of menaces like pedophiles, a peril to the rest of us….
Unfortunately, the Internet isn’t Vegas and what happens here, doesn’t stay here. The mentality spawned by the Internet has infected our whole culture like a virus. No matter what sort of stupidity or evil that people engage in, they’ll find legions of supporters telling them how wonderful it is or at least saying, “Judge not, lest ye judge.” Well, we may not be in a position to judge whether someone is going to heaven or not, but a society where people no longer feel shame for bad behavior is destined to take a long, inglorious spiral into a sewer — sort of like Miley Cyrus’s career.
1) Acting Like A Skank In Public: Speaking of Miley Cyrus, remember when she was the wholesome, kid-friendly Hannah Montana? Well, as she aged out of the Disney demographic, the music executives promoting her decided she needed to change her image and the easiest way to do it was to act like the world’s biggest skank in public. So, she twerked her way through a nasty performance at the VMAs and has been skanking it up ever since. She’s not the first to do it or even the best at it. Madonna beat her to the punch. But from Miley Cyrus’s perspective, the important thing is that it worked. She broke with her wholesome image and became a bigger star. But, at what cost to her and to other people? How many little girls who were Hannah Montana fans now think it’s cool to act like a prostitute in public to get the attention of boys? Nobody is saying women should wear ankle length skirts and always be prim and proper to be decent (Well, I’m certainly not saying it anyway), but if you act like a skank, men will view you as a skank and treat you as a skank. Even if you’re not ashamed of that, the people who raised you probably are and they should be.
Troopers Investigate Fatal Crash on Mount Joy Road, Millsboro
Millsboro, DE – The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a single vehicle fatal crash that occurred Monday night north of Millsboro
The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. Monday June 8, 2015, as Jasmine D. Andrews, 22 of Georgetown was operating a 2003 Ford Taurus westbound on Mount Joy Road approximately .2 mile east of Gravel Hill Road at an apparent high rate of speed. As the operator attempted to negotiate a left curve, the car began to lose traction and spin in a counter-clockwise manner and then in an attempt to over-correct, the car then began to spin back in a clockwise direction and travel off the north side of the road where it struck a utility pole on the driver's side.
Jasmine Andrews, who was properly restrained, was extensively trapped in the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries.
The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident. Mount Joy Road, between Gravel Hill Road and Doc Frame Road, was closed for approximately three hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.
The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. Monday June 8, 2015, as Jasmine D. Andrews, 22 of Georgetown was operating a 2003 Ford Taurus westbound on Mount Joy Road approximately .2 mile east of Gravel Hill Road at an apparent high rate of speed. As the operator attempted to negotiate a left curve, the car began to lose traction and spin in a counter-clockwise manner and then in an attempt to over-correct, the car then began to spin back in a clockwise direction and travel off the north side of the road where it struck a utility pole on the driver's side.
Jasmine Andrews, who was properly restrained, was extensively trapped in the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries.
The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident. Mount Joy Road, between Gravel Hill Road and Doc Frame Road, was closed for approximately three hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.
Burial at Sea
Burial at Sea by Lt Col George Goodson, USMC (Ret)
In my 76th year, the events of my life appear to me, from time to time, as a series of vignettes. Some were significant; most were trivial.
War is the seminal event in the life of everyone that has endured it. Though I fought in Korea and the Dominican Republic and was wounded there, Vietnam was my war.
Now 42 years have passed and, thankfully, I rarely think of those days in Cambodia , Laos , and the panhandle of North Vietnam where small teams of Americans
and Montagnards fought much larger elements of the North Vietnamese Army. Instead I see vignettes: some exotic, some mundane:
and Montagnards fought much larger elements of the North Vietnamese Army. Instead I see vignettes: some exotic, some mundane:
*The smell of Nuc Mam.
*The heat, dust, and humidity.
*The blue exhaust of cycles clogging the streets.
*Elephants moving silently through the tall grass.
*Hard eyes behind the servile smiles of the villagers.
*Standing on a mountain in Laos and hearing a tiger roar.
*A young girl squeezing my hand as my medic delivered her baby.
*The flowing Ao Dais of the young women biking down Tran Hung Dao.
*My two years as Casualty Notification Officer in North Carolina , Virginia , and Maryland .
Boeing's New Spy Plane
Wingspan : 150 ft (46 m)
Takeoff gross weight : 9,800 lbs (4,445 kg)
Cruise speed : 150 kts
Maximum speed : 200 kts
Altitude : 65,000 ft
Engines : (2) 2.3L 150 horsepower
Endurance : 4 days at 65,000 ft
Takeoff gross weight : 9,800 lbs (4,445 kg)
Cruise speed : 150 kts
Maximum speed : 200 kts
Altitude : 65,000 ft
Engines : (2) 2.3L 150 horsepower
Endurance : 4 days at 65,000 ft
Let that sink in - Wingspan equal to the width of a good size building lot.
It's relatively light (at 5 ton), slow, flies at twice the altitude of commercial transport.
It's powered by the equivalent of 2 compact car engines and stays aloft for 4 days.
Now take a look - - - NewSpyPlane
Schiff, King Urge Obama To Be Aggressive In Cyberwar
Two top-ranking House lawmakers -- a Democrat and Republican -- on Sunday called on President Obama to go beyond the “whodunit” in the recent hacking of U.S. government computers, suggesting his administration must go on the attack.
“We need to figure out when we’re going on an offensive,” California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told “Fox News Sunday.”
Schiff, one of the most hawkish congressional Democrats, said he couldn’t be certain that China was indeed behind the attack. However, the breach was either the work of “state actors” or a “very sophisticated group” working with the Chinese government.
Beijing says U.S. claims that China-based hackers were involved in getting into Office of Personal Management computers are unproven and irresponsible, but has not denied responsibility for the attacks.
The security breach resulted in the purported identify theft of at least 4 million federal workers.
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., a member of the House’s Homeland Security Committee and former chairman of the chamber’s Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said the United States must do more than it is doing right now.
“We should not be afraid to use all of our tools to stop this,” he told Fox News.
More
“We need to figure out when we’re going on an offensive,” California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told “Fox News Sunday.”
Schiff, one of the most hawkish congressional Democrats, said he couldn’t be certain that China was indeed behind the attack. However, the breach was either the work of “state actors” or a “very sophisticated group” working with the Chinese government.
Beijing says U.S. claims that China-based hackers were involved in getting into Office of Personal Management computers are unproven and irresponsible, but has not denied responsibility for the attacks.
The security breach resulted in the purported identify theft of at least 4 million federal workers.
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., a member of the House’s Homeland Security Committee and former chairman of the chamber’s Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said the United States must do more than it is doing right now.
“We should not be afraid to use all of our tools to stop this,” he told Fox News.
More
Monday, June 08, 2015
GOP 2016 Contenders Gather in Iowa for 'Roast and Ride'
"We need a president who will stand up and tell the American people what may be hard to say: that this threat is not the threat that we faced in the Cold War, where containment's enough," Walker said about destroying the Islamic State at the inaugural charity "Roast and Ride" sponsored by Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst in Boone.
"This is like a virus — and if we don’t take it out, we're in trouble," Walker said.
"I don’t believe in open-ended engagements, but I believe we need a president who will say that, 'This not going to take a day, a month, or a year — but I, on behalf of your children and mine, would rather take the fight to them instead of waiting for them to bring the fight to us.
"We need to lead from the front again in America," he said.
Walker, who joined Ernst on his Harley-Davidson Road King for a 49-mile ride from Des Moines to the fundraiser in Ernst’s hometown, was among seven Republican presidential candidates and hopefuls who attended a pig roast and other activities at the event.
The others were declared candidates: Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina; former Govs. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Rick Perry of Texas; retired pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, and former Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Carly Fiorina.
More here
Pledge Aside, Dead Billionaires Don't Have to Give Away Half Their Fortune
In the five years since Bill Gates and Warren Buffett created the Giving Pledge, 193 individuals have made the simple promise to give more than half of their fortune away in life or in death. This week, another 16 people joined the initiative, including Chobani yogurt founder Hamdi Ulukaya and Scottish oil baron Ian Wood.
Signing the pledge has brought glowing press coverage, video testimonials from Bill Gates and invitations to annual conferences in luxurious resorts with fellow billionaires such as Ray Dalio and Pierre Omidyar.
Less publicized is the fact that the crux of the pledge is subjective. Signatories are under no legal obligation to donate any of their money, and sometimes fail to give away anywhere close to half. Charity regulations and estate law can block public disclosures, and Buffett and Gates don’t ask pledge takers to prove a thing.
“It’s really thinking about how iconic figures providing inspiration and support can inspire and serve as a model for society,” said Robert Rosen, the Giving Pledge coordinator as Director of Philanthropic Partnerships for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We aren’t looking to add any additional complexity,” said Rosen.
More
Signing the pledge has brought glowing press coverage, video testimonials from Bill Gates and invitations to annual conferences in luxurious resorts with fellow billionaires such as Ray Dalio and Pierre Omidyar.
Less publicized is the fact that the crux of the pledge is subjective. Signatories are under no legal obligation to donate any of their money, and sometimes fail to give away anywhere close to half. Charity regulations and estate law can block public disclosures, and Buffett and Gates don’t ask pledge takers to prove a thing.
“It’s really thinking about how iconic figures providing inspiration and support can inspire and serve as a model for society,” said Robert Rosen, the Giving Pledge coordinator as Director of Philanthropic Partnerships for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We aren’t looking to add any additional complexity,” said Rosen.
More
O’Malley’s efforts on immigration reflect complex political realities
The former Maryland governor pledged to tackle comprehensive immigration reform during his first 100 days if he makes it to the White House, and he touted his record in Annapolis, which includes signing legislation that allows undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses and in-state college tuition rates.
While those and other measures have drawn applause from national immigrant rights advocates — with some declaring O’Malley’s record the strongest in the Democratic field — Maryland lawmakers present a more nuanced view.
More
Bongino: Second Amendment Rights 'So Important'
Former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino told Newsmax TV on Thursday that Americans' Second Amendment rights could someday keep them alive in this age of lone wolf terror attacks.
During an appearance on "Newsmax Prime," Bongino told host J.D. Hayworth the fight against terrorism is becoming more and more difficult for law enforcement and federal authorities to control.
"It could get very bad," Bongino said. "These lone wolf attacks make it really difficult to find these people because that interconnected network isn't really there. We've seen over and over as these people get caught because they get sloppy as [in] the Boston case, where he started Tweeting out on social media his intentions."
Bongino was referring to the situation in Boston this week, in which one suspect was shot dead by authorities and another was arrested. The two men were allegedly planning to behead police officers.
Bongino, who is also a former New York City police officer, praised the efforts of police and federal agents to keep Americans safe. But he said their job is not to keep watch outside every American's home day and night.
"The police do a wonderful job, so do the federal agents when they can, but the police's job is to enforce the law," Bongino said.
"That's why these self-protection rights, the Second Amendment, the ability to learn to protect yourself and to not be reliant on the law enforcement operation as the first line of defense, is so important. What if these lone wolf attacks in any small business, in any small or large town in the United States, not only do you have the violence potential, but you're going to shut down possibly that town and you're definitely going to destroy that person's business. That's why all of this, all our freedoms, are so important. I can't emphasize that enough."
More
During an appearance on "Newsmax Prime," Bongino told host J.D. Hayworth the fight against terrorism is becoming more and more difficult for law enforcement and federal authorities to control.
"It could get very bad," Bongino said. "These lone wolf attacks make it really difficult to find these people because that interconnected network isn't really there. We've seen over and over as these people get caught because they get sloppy as [in] the Boston case, where he started Tweeting out on social media his intentions."
Bongino was referring to the situation in Boston this week, in which one suspect was shot dead by authorities and another was arrested. The two men were allegedly planning to behead police officers.
Bongino, who is also a former New York City police officer, praised the efforts of police and federal agents to keep Americans safe. But he said their job is not to keep watch outside every American's home day and night.
"The police do a wonderful job, so do the federal agents when they can, but the police's job is to enforce the law," Bongino said.
"That's why these self-protection rights, the Second Amendment, the ability to learn to protect yourself and to not be reliant on the law enforcement operation as the first line of defense, is so important. What if these lone wolf attacks in any small business, in any small or large town in the United States, not only do you have the violence potential, but you're going to shut down possibly that town and you're definitely going to destroy that person's business. That's why all of this, all our freedoms, are so important. I can't emphasize that enough."
More
Workshop to Focus on Protecting Maryland’s Working Waterfronts
At the event, DNR’s Chesapeake and Coastal Service will reveal the results of a six month business analysis of working waterfronts in Cambridge, as well as more information on the state’s new Working Waterfronts Enhancement Program.
“Working waterfronts are critical to the well-being of our economy, providing access for water-dependent activities such as fishing, boating and various marine trades,” said DNR Secretary Mark Belton. “With concerns for our ever-changing shorelines growing, the exchange aims to explore the future of these waterfronts, and the role they play in our community’s identity and economic importance.”
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Liberal, Conservative Billionaires Unite to Fight Israel Boycotts
One donated more than $100 million to the Republicans, the other has been the Clintons’ biggest backer. Now billionaires Sheldon Adelson and Haim Saban, split on U.S. politics, have united to fight boycott threats against Israel.
Adelson and Saban hosted a conference of pro-Israel business executives and activists over the weekend in Las Vegas, to begin an initiative aimed at countering the growing threat of international sanctions against Israel.
“That he’s a Democrat and I’m a Republican has really very little to do with it,” said Las Vegas Sands Corp. founder Adelson, who holds the 25th slot on Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, in a joint interview with Saban on Israel’s Channel 2 on Saturday. While you can “rest assured” the two men will not be supporting the same person in the 2016 presidential election, Saban said, “when it comes to Israel, we are absolutely on the same page.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has identified the global trend to boycott, divest and sanction Israel over its policy toward the Palestinians, known as the BDS movement, as a major threat.
The boycott issue gained new prominence after Stephane Richard, chief executive officer of Orange SA, said on Wednesday that the Paris-based telecom company would end its licensing deal with Israel’s Partner Communications Co. “tomorrow” if he wasn’t concerned about legal repercussions. Richard later apologized for his comments, made in response to a question over a threatened boycott of Orange’s Egyptian subsidy, Mobinil, and said they weren’t motivated by political concerns.
The Israel-born Saban, who owns a controlling stake in Partner, called Richard’s clarification “a blatant lie.”
“Any company that chooses to boycott business in Israel, they’re going to look at this case, and once we’re done, they’re going to think twice about whether they want to take on Israel or not,” he said.
More here
Adelson and Saban hosted a conference of pro-Israel business executives and activists over the weekend in Las Vegas, to begin an initiative aimed at countering the growing threat of international sanctions against Israel.
“That he’s a Democrat and I’m a Republican has really very little to do with it,” said Las Vegas Sands Corp. founder Adelson, who holds the 25th slot on Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, in a joint interview with Saban on Israel’s Channel 2 on Saturday. While you can “rest assured” the two men will not be supporting the same person in the 2016 presidential election, Saban said, “when it comes to Israel, we are absolutely on the same page.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has identified the global trend to boycott, divest and sanction Israel over its policy toward the Palestinians, known as the BDS movement, as a major threat.
The boycott issue gained new prominence after Stephane Richard, chief executive officer of Orange SA, said on Wednesday that the Paris-based telecom company would end its licensing deal with Israel’s Partner Communications Co. “tomorrow” if he wasn’t concerned about legal repercussions. Richard later apologized for his comments, made in response to a question over a threatened boycott of Orange’s Egyptian subsidy, Mobinil, and said they weren’t motivated by political concerns.
The Israel-born Saban, who owns a controlling stake in Partner, called Richard’s clarification “a blatant lie.”
“Any company that chooses to boycott business in Israel, they’re going to look at this case, and once we’re done, they’re going to think twice about whether they want to take on Israel or not,” he said.
More here
Montgomery County Issued Erroneous Tickets
Wrong Vehicles Cited In Multiple Instances
Evidence of the errors was uncovered in a Maryland Public Information Act Request which the editor of the Maryland Drivers Allegiance website filed with the county on April 17. Included in the disclosed documents were several examples of acknowledged erroneous citations which Montgomery County issued between January and April of this year.
One motorist from Columbia wrote about a citation issued on Dufief Mill Road, where a small sedan had been mistaken for their SUV: “I only own a Black 2015 Ford Explorer, it seems the car in the picture is a Ford Focus or similar vehicle”.
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GOP Presidential Hopefuls Fire Back at Hillary For Attacks on Voting Rights
Republican presidential hopefuls are firing back at former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for holding up their states as examples of those with poor records on voting rights.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich told Fox News that before Clinton attacks Ohio's voting laws, she should look no further than her home state of New York that she represented in the Senate.
"In Ohio we have 28 days. In New York, where [Clinton] is from, they have one day. Why are you suing me? Why don't you go sue your own people? Why don't you take care of business at home before you run around the country using these demagogic statements that we don't want people to vote?" Kasich said in an interview on Fox News Friday. "It's ridiculous."
While speaking at historically black Texas Southern University on Thursday, Clinton criticized by name Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and Kasich for the voting laws in their states.
"Republicans are systematically and deliberately trying to stop millions of American citizens from voting," Clinton said during her speech. "What part of democracy are they afraid of? I believe every citizen has the right to vote and I believe we should do everything we can to make it easier for every citizen to vote."
Clinton's top lawyer Marc Elias has filed lawsuits in both Ohio and Wisconsin, challenging the voting laws in those states.
Clinton supports universal voter registration, allowing greater access to polling places, allowing them to remain open for a minimum of 20 days and having voting hours on evenings and weekends.
More here
Ohio Gov. John Kasich told Fox News that before Clinton attacks Ohio's voting laws, she should look no further than her home state of New York that she represented in the Senate.
"In Ohio we have 28 days. In New York, where [Clinton] is from, they have one day. Why are you suing me? Why don't you go sue your own people? Why don't you take care of business at home before you run around the country using these demagogic statements that we don't want people to vote?" Kasich said in an interview on Fox News Friday. "It's ridiculous."
While speaking at historically black Texas Southern University on Thursday, Clinton criticized by name Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and Kasich for the voting laws in their states.
"Republicans are systematically and deliberately trying to stop millions of American citizens from voting," Clinton said during her speech. "What part of democracy are they afraid of? I believe every citizen has the right to vote and I believe we should do everything we can to make it easier for every citizen to vote."
Clinton's top lawyer Marc Elias has filed lawsuits in both Ohio and Wisconsin, challenging the voting laws in those states.
Clinton supports universal voter registration, allowing greater access to polling places, allowing them to remain open for a minimum of 20 days and having voting hours on evenings and weekends.
More here
Mark S. Bowen swears in Don Fitzgerald
Wicomico Clerk of the Court Mark S. Bowen swears in Don Fitzgerald for a second term on the Wicomico County Board of Education today, as Board President Ron Willey looks on. Fitzgerald's first term officially ended June 30, 2014, but he continued to serve on the Board -- and serve as its vice president -- while awaiting word on his reappointment during and after the election year. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan recently appointed Fitzgerald to a second five-year term, dating from July 1, 2014. Two more Board members appointed by the Governor are expected to be sworn in this month.
Kennesaw State Apologizes For Adviser’s Confrontation With Student
Kennesaw State University apologized Friday for the conduct of an adviser, who in a recording posted online threatened to call security on a student for apparently sitting in the room and waiting to speak with his academic adviser.
The incident spawned a hashtag #itsbiggerthanKSU and prompted the University to place the adviser in question, Abigail Dawson, on administrative leave pending the completion of their investigation.
After conducting interviews with 13 students, faculty and staff members, the school announced Friday that the investigation was complete and that it had apologized to the student, Kevin Bruce, for the altercation.
“We have made it very clear to Ms. Dawson and her supervisors that the behavior she demonstrated on the video will not be tolerated; and while we have apologized to the student directly, we also want to publicly apologize for her behavior, which is not representative of KSU’s student-centered culture,” said Ken Harmon, provost and vice president of academic affairs, in a statement.
In the video, Dawson is seen walking into the room telling Bruce that he was harassing another adviser in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Margaret Tilley.
“I’m not harassing no one,” Bruce said.
Bruce responded that he was just waiting to talk to someone.
“Sitting here until someone is available is harassing them,” Dawson said.
More
The incident spawned a hashtag #itsbiggerthanKSU and prompted the University to place the adviser in question, Abigail Dawson, on administrative leave pending the completion of their investigation.
After conducting interviews with 13 students, faculty and staff members, the school announced Friday that the investigation was complete and that it had apologized to the student, Kevin Bruce, for the altercation.
“We have made it very clear to Ms. Dawson and her supervisors that the behavior she demonstrated on the video will not be tolerated; and while we have apologized to the student directly, we also want to publicly apologize for her behavior, which is not representative of KSU’s student-centered culture,” said Ken Harmon, provost and vice president of academic affairs, in a statement.
In the video, Dawson is seen walking into the room telling Bruce that he was harassing another adviser in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management, Margaret Tilley.
“I’m not harassing no one,” Bruce said.
Bruce responded that he was just waiting to talk to someone.
“Sitting here until someone is available is harassing them,” Dawson said.
More
Surging school meal prices puts strain on families
School meals are designed to be both nutritious for students and easy on their families' pocketbooks. Yet while some school lunches might get an "A" on providing essential nutrients, they appear to be receiving a flunking grade for affordability.
The issue of school meal prices came to the forefront last week when a school kitchen manager in a Denver suburb said she lost her job after giving lunches to students who didn't have the money to pay. While the school district later said the employee was let go for other reasons, the incident raised questions about how children from families earning at least $31,000 per year -- the threshold for a family of four to receive free lunches -- could fail to afford the seemingly modest cost of school breakfasts and lunches. Reduced-price lunches are available for families earning 185 percent above the poverty rate, or about $44,000 for a family of four.
At the heart of the issue is a tough economic squeeze for families considered the "working poor," or those who are scraping by just above the poverty threshold. The average price of an elementary school lunch has surged 52 percent in just 11 years, according to a study from the Food Research and Action Center, a nonprofit that focuses on anti-hunger initiatives. During the same period, the median income of U.S. households has declined 5.4 percent.
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The issue of school meal prices came to the forefront last week when a school kitchen manager in a Denver suburb said she lost her job after giving lunches to students who didn't have the money to pay. While the school district later said the employee was let go for other reasons, the incident raised questions about how children from families earning at least $31,000 per year -- the threshold for a family of four to receive free lunches -- could fail to afford the seemingly modest cost of school breakfasts and lunches. Reduced-price lunches are available for families earning 185 percent above the poverty rate, or about $44,000 for a family of four.
At the heart of the issue is a tough economic squeeze for families considered the "working poor," or those who are scraping by just above the poverty threshold. The average price of an elementary school lunch has surged 52 percent in just 11 years, according to a study from the Food Research and Action Center, a nonprofit that focuses on anti-hunger initiatives. During the same period, the median income of U.S. households has declined 5.4 percent.
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Amid Campaign Meltdown, Carson Claims 'Sabotage'
Famed neurosurgeon Ben Carson smells dissent within his ranks.
"I thought it was ridiculous, obviously someone is making an attempt to sabotage," Carson told the Washington Examiner. "I don't know who this is, but there's no truth to it whatsoever. I talked to my campaign and they said things are going as well as possible."
The neurosurgeon-turned-presidential-hopeful denied chaos within his campaign following the publication of a Washington Post article, which reported the loss of four senior campaign staffers and the sweeping disarray within his two allied super PACs. He also denied any knowledge of the source of the "sabotage."
Campaign chairman Terry Giles resigned last month with the intention of forming a third super PAC. Leaving along with Giles was deputy campaign manager Stephen Rubino, a longtime Giles associate, as well as national finance chairman Jeff Reeter and general counsel Kathy Freberg. With the loss of these key aides, Carson is left with few experienced, high-level political operatives.
According to the article in question, this significant loss of staff has created "turmoil" for Carson's 2016 run, as the aides have yet to be replaced. The Post went on to highlight concerns of "dysfunction" due to "amateurism." This is Carson's first time running for elected office.
But he's not worried about the loss of staffers or the apparent confusion within his PACs. His business manager Armstrong Williams says that Carson prefers to stay as "far away from the PACs as possible" so he can focus on the people.
"It was decided when we switched over from our exploratory committee to our actual campaign that many people would leave it," Carson explained. "There was nothing rancorous about it. I was surprised about the Washington Post article to be honest. "
More here
"I thought it was ridiculous, obviously someone is making an attempt to sabotage," Carson told the Washington Examiner. "I don't know who this is, but there's no truth to it whatsoever. I talked to my campaign and they said things are going as well as possible."
The neurosurgeon-turned-presidential-hopeful denied chaos within his campaign following the publication of a Washington Post article, which reported the loss of four senior campaign staffers and the sweeping disarray within his two allied super PACs. He also denied any knowledge of the source of the "sabotage."
Campaign chairman Terry Giles resigned last month with the intention of forming a third super PAC. Leaving along with Giles was deputy campaign manager Stephen Rubino, a longtime Giles associate, as well as national finance chairman Jeff Reeter and general counsel Kathy Freberg. With the loss of these key aides, Carson is left with few experienced, high-level political operatives.
According to the article in question, this significant loss of staff has created "turmoil" for Carson's 2016 run, as the aides have yet to be replaced. The Post went on to highlight concerns of "dysfunction" due to "amateurism." This is Carson's first time running for elected office.
But he's not worried about the loss of staffers or the apparent confusion within his PACs. His business manager Armstrong Williams says that Carson prefers to stay as "far away from the PACs as possible" so he can focus on the people.
"It was decided when we switched over from our exploratory committee to our actual campaign that many people would leave it," Carson explained. "There was nothing rancorous about it. I was surprised about the Washington Post article to be honest. "
More here
A bachelor's degree has become the standard for an increasing number of entry-level positions, but is it really worth the blow to your (or your parents') bank account? It depends on what you study. While a major in finance might very well put you on the path to a lucrative career, a degree in underwater basket weaving won't.
We examined employment and earnings data for 129 popular college majors to identify courses of study that typically lead to small salaries for both recent graduates and experienced workers. We also homed in on majors that aren't in high demand on the online job marketplace. Finally, we looked at professions related to these majors to see which ones have the most discouraging long-term prospects for job growth.
Pursue any one of these majors if that's where your passion lies, because what you study in school is just one component of the overall package you present to prospective employers. Just be prepared for the reality that some majors can limit your career opportunities and earnings potential after graduation. Take a look at the 2014-2015 list of the 10 worst college majors for your career.
10. Art History
Starting salary: $36,900 (median for all 129 majors: $40,400)
Mid-career salary: $59,000 (median for all 129 majors: $69,800)
Annual online job postings: 2,140
Projected 10-year job growth: 7.1% (all occupations: 10.8%)
Alternative major: Art Education
A bachelor's degree in art history alone won't do wonders for your earnings power in the field. Museum technicians and conservators, two positions available to B.A. holders, pull in a lean median salary of $38,220 a year. Even archivist and curator positions, most of which require a master's degree, pay median salaries of just $47,340 and $49,590, respectively.
A better bet: An undergraduate degree in art education, coupled with a master's, would arm you with both art and teaching skills and put you on the fast-track to becoming a postsecondary art teacher. With a median salary of $62,160, by far the highest for a non-administrative job in the art industry, these teachers can continue to critique masterpieces without living the starving-artist lifestyle.
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We examined employment and earnings data for 129 popular college majors to identify courses of study that typically lead to small salaries for both recent graduates and experienced workers. We also homed in on majors that aren't in high demand on the online job marketplace. Finally, we looked at professions related to these majors to see which ones have the most discouraging long-term prospects for job growth.
Pursue any one of these majors if that's where your passion lies, because what you study in school is just one component of the overall package you present to prospective employers. Just be prepared for the reality that some majors can limit your career opportunities and earnings potential after graduation. Take a look at the 2014-2015 list of the 10 worst college majors for your career.
10. Art History
Starting salary: $36,900 (median for all 129 majors: $40,400)
Mid-career salary: $59,000 (median for all 129 majors: $69,800)
Annual online job postings: 2,140
Projected 10-year job growth: 7.1% (all occupations: 10.8%)
Alternative major: Art Education
A bachelor's degree in art history alone won't do wonders for your earnings power in the field. Museum technicians and conservators, two positions available to B.A. holders, pull in a lean median salary of $38,220 a year. Even archivist and curator positions, most of which require a master's degree, pay median salaries of just $47,340 and $49,590, respectively.
A better bet: An undergraduate degree in art education, coupled with a master's, would arm you with both art and teaching skills and put you on the fast-track to becoming a postsecondary art teacher. With a median salary of $62,160, by far the highest for a non-administrative job in the art industry, these teachers can continue to critique masterpieces without living the starving-artist lifestyle.
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BREAKING NEWS: Ex-SC officer indicted for murder in shooting of black man
A white former South Carolina police officer is indicted on a murder charge in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man who was running away from the officer after a traffic stop.
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Residents Near Gaza Border Say They Hear Tunnel-digging
“We have relayed these complaints to security officials who are looking into it,” one source told The Jerusalem Post’s Hebrew-language sister publication Ma’ariv. “According to the complaints, the digging hasn’t stopped for a moment.”
The complaints come less than a day after Israeli warplanes launched reprisal raids against targets in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Islamists in Gaza fired a rocket into Israeli territory earlier on Saturday. Earlier last week, at least two rockets were fired at Gaza frontier towns.
Local residents believe that the next round of fighting is simply a matter of time.
“We knew this would repeat itself, this trickle of missiles,” said Eran Zomer, a 27-year-old resident of the moshav of Amioz. “Very simply, the IDF didn’t do the job the last time.”
“I’ve also heard of many residents in the area complaining about hearing digging, so we weren’t surprised that a senior Hamas official said their people continue to prepare offensive tunnels,” he said. “I hope that next time [the army] will properly deal with the tunnels in a timely fashion instead of waiting until 14 terrorists pop out from underground.”
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