John Lennon's Ex-Wife, Cynthia Lennon, Dead at 75

Sad news: Cynthia Lennon, the late John Lennon's wife from 1962-1968, has died at age 75 from cancer. According to a rep, her sole child with the former Beatle -- Julian Lennon -- was with her at the time of her death.

Here's the statement:

"Cynthia Lennon passed away today at her home in Mallorca, Spain following a short but brave battle with cancer. Her son Julian Lennon was at her bedside throughout. The family are thankful for your prayers. Please respect their privacy at this difficult time."

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BREAKING NEWS : Arkansas governor sends controversial religious freedom law back to legislature for changes

Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson urges state lawmakers to make changes in a controversial religious freedom bill -- similar to one enacted in Indiana -- in the face of criticism that it could allow businesses and others to discriminate based on sexual orientation.

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Clinton Also Used IPad for Email

Hillary Rodham Clinton emailed her staff on an iPad as well as a BlackBerry while secretary of state, despite her explanation she exclusively used a personal email address on a homebrew server so that she could carry a single device, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The State Department released a total of four emails between Clinton and her top advisers as part of a Freedom of Information Act request filed in 2013 by the AP, which sought Clinton's correspondence with senior advisers over a four-year period relating to drone strikes overseas and U.S. surveillance programs.

While limited, the emails offer one of the first looks into Clinton's correspondence while secretary of state. The messages came from and were sent to her private email address, hosted on a server at her property in Chappaqua, New York, as opposed to a government-run email account.

They show that Clinton, on at least one occasion, accidentally mingled personal and work matters. In reply to a message sent in September 2011 by adviser Huma Abedin to Clinton's personal email account, which contained an AP story about a drone strike in Pakistan, Clinton mistakenly replied with questions that appear to be about decorations.

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April Happenings: Spring Has Officially Sprung On Delmarva With Fantastic Events And Festivals

Well hello there spring, it sure is nice to see you again!! It’s safe to say we are all ecstatic to see April, springtime, and warm weather making their magnificent debut here on the Eastern Shore. This winter was a rough one on Delmarva and while we have enjoyed the winter events, we are 100 percent ready for all that spring has to offer…particularly all the outdoor events and festivals! The month kicks off with Easter events and finishes strong with some of our favorite events of the year…Boardwalkin’ for Pets, St. Michaels WineFest, and Pork in the Park, to name a few. Take a look at a few of our favorite April happenings:
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Unified Sunni Coalition Confronts Iran

Turkey’s Erdogan: ‘Iran is trying to dominate the region’

JERUSALEM — Iran, whose pursuit in recent years of imperial ambitions in the Middle East has seemed inexorable, found itself over the weekend confronting a hostile coalition of nine Sunni states ranging from Morocco to Turkey, with nuclear-armed Pakistan a possible add-on.

The bombing in Yemen of Iranian-linked Houthi rebels that began last Thursday by the Saudi-led coalition marked the unexpected emergence of a unified Sunni front to counter the threat of regional dominance by Shiite Iran. Egypt, one of the central members of the coalition, has already dispatched naval forces to the waters off Yemen to prevent Houthi militants, acting on behalf of Iran, from threatening shipping to and from the Suez Canal.

The new Sunni militancy follows the accession two months ago of King Salman in Saudi Arabia. His son, Mohammad bin Salman, whom he appointed as defense minister, has taken the leading role in organizing the coalition and planning the strikes against the Houthis, assisted by U.S. intelligence.

Pakistan was named as a member of the coalition by Saudi officials. However, a spokesman for the Pakistani government subsequently said it had not yet made up its mind whether to join. Turkey, which like Pakistan is a Sunni Muslim state but non-Arab, took a clear stand alongside the Arab Sunnis. “Iran is trying to dominate the region,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey told a press conference. “This is intolerable and Iran has to see this.”

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Obama, Democrats Abandon Immigration Activists

The heady sense of victory immigrant rights activists had last year after President Obama announced his deportation amnesty has faded in recent weeks as the advocates sense they’ve lost ground among the very Democratic leaders they were counting on to deliver at the national and state levels.

The latest blow came over the weekend in New York, where Gov. Andrew Cuomo has scrapped plans for a state-level Dream Act granting in-state tuition to illegal immigrants as part of the budget — spawning a hunger strike from young illegal immigrants who expected him to come through.

Nationally, meanwhile, Mr. Obama is taking fire after his immigration service earlier this month deported a Mennonite pastor with American citizen children who had been living without authorization for years, but who came to agents’ attention because of a drunken driving conviction from the 1990s.

Activists said that deportation broke the rules Mr. Obama himself laid out in November, when he said he wanted to kick out “felons, not families.”

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Israel Shows Off Latest Sub

Armed with ballistic missiles, ship is deterrent against Iran

JERUSALEM — With a possible agreement on Iran’s nuclear program approaching, the Israeli navy today hosted military reporters on a tour of its latest submarine, part of an underwater fleet reportedly armed with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles that will serve as Israel’s major deterrent against a nuclear-armed Islamic Republic.

The submarine, the INS Tanin (in English, “Crocodile”) is one of five acquired from Germany in the past two decades.

According to foreign reports, cruise missiles aboard the vessels have a range of close to 1,000 miles and can carry nuclear warheads. Capable of extended stays at sea, one or more of submarines would likely always be within range of Iran.

Although Israel is reported to have some 80 nuclear weapons, these are seen only as “doomsday” options.

Meir Dagan, a former Mossad chief who opposed a preemptive Israeli air strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, has said that such an attack should be carried out “only when the sword is at the throat.” Although the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapon has raised fears in Israel, many find comfort in the second-strike capability provided by the submarines that, they believe, make it unlikely that Iran would attack Israel with nuclear weapons.

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Thai man jailed for 25 years over royal insult posts on Facebook

(Reuters) - A Thai military court on Tuesday jailed a man for 25 years for posting pictures on his Facebook page deemed insulting to Thailand's monarchy, in one of the toughest such sentences in recent years.

Thailand's lese-majeste law is the world's harshest and makes it a crime to defame, insult or threaten the king, queen or heir to the throne or regent.

Since taking power in a May coup, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a staunch royalist, has repeatedly vowed to vigorously pursue royal insult cases and try those perceived to be anti-monarchists.

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TROOPERS TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT DURING DISTRACTED DRIVING MONTH

Maryland State Police Press Release

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Read a good book, newspaper article, or sent a funny text lately? Great, but just be sure not to do that while driving. Joining police departments across the country, Maryland state troopers are increasing enforcement initiatives focused on distracted driving this month in an effort to remind drivers to focus on driving and traffic safety whenever they are behind the wheel.

Beginning today, troopers will conduct additional patrols with the goal of identifying drivers who are involved in activities that are prohibited by law, or significantly divert their attention from safe driving. These include, but are not limited to, texting, handheld cell phone use, grooming, reading, watching a video, using a navigation system, or even adjusting a radio or other entertainment device. Commanders at each of the 22 barracks of the Maryland State Police have been directed to conduct special distracted driving enforcement operations during April.

Texting is still what experts call the ‘most alarming distraction’ because it involves ‘visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver’ (www.distraction.gov). It has been estimated that a person texting takes his or her eyes off the road for an average of five seconds when texting. This is like covering the length of a football field while driving blindfolded, if you are driving at 55 mph.

Drivers are often unaware that diverting attention from the road can unconsciously lead to unsafe driving behavior, such as failure to drive in a single lane, following too close, or failing to reduce speed to avoid a traffic crash. Drivers should eliminate any activity while driving that diverts their eyes from the road ahead, their hands from the steering wheel, or their thoughts from being aware of the traffic conditions ahead and around them.

The Maryland Highway Safety Office determined more than 31,100 people are injured each year in crashes in our state because of distracted driving. Maryland law, also known as Jake’s Law, states a driver causing serious injury or death while talking on a handheld cellphone or texting may receive up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. These are primary offenses and police officers can stop drivers when those activities are observed, regardless of the presence of other violations.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has determined drivers under age 20 are in the age group with the largest proportion of drivers who are distracted. NHTSA also reports drivers in their 20s comprise 27 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes nationwide.

The increased enforcement is part of an effort promoted across the country by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and locally, by the Maryland Highway Safety Office. Funding for Maryland State Police distracted driving patrols is being provided by the Maryland Highway Safety Office.

Happening Now!

*** Happening Now *** DNR and Coast Guard attempting to rescue a Moose from the Bay. The Moose is believed to have escaped from a wildlife rescue on the eastern shore. Photo credit: Jennifer H.

Posted by All Annapolis on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Annual Auto Event Moves To October Weekend; H2Oi Promoter Issues Warning To Troublemakers

OCEAN CITY – The annual Audi/VW event will come to the Ocean City area in early October this year, appealing to the Town of Ocean City’s request to separate the occasion from the resort’s famous Sunfest. However, the announcement of the event’s official date change came with a stern message.

Over the weekend, H2O International (H2Oi) announced via social media it will be taking place the weekend of Oct. 3-4.

According to H2Oi organizer Jay Shoup, the event will annually take place the weekend following Ocean City’s own annual event, Sunfest, which will take place Sept. 24-27, 2015. H2Oi will also come the weekend prior to the annual Ocean City-sanctioned event, Endless Summer Cruisin’, which will occur Oct. 7-11, 2015.

H2Oi took place September 27-28 last year. That was the weekend after Sunfest last year. The event is a two-day VW/Audi rally that is held at Fort Whaley outside of Ocean City where, according to Shoup, on average 800 to 1,000 cars register to be shown. However, the unsanctioned event with Ocean City draws thousands of spectators to the resort where cars and spectators gather in commercial parking lots and along Coastal Highway.

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WCSO Press Releases April 1, 2015

Incident: Theft of Motor Vehicle

Date of Incident: 27 March 2015

Location: 5000 block of Forest Grove Road, Parsonsburg, MD

Suspect: Devin Tahvon Lake, 24, Hurlock,MD

                                 

Narrative: On 27 March 2015 a deputy began an investigation into the theft of a motor vehicle from a residence in Parsonsburg. During the investigation, the victim identified a possible suspect who might have taken the vehicle without permission while the victim was taking a nap. The deputy went to a location in Pittsville frequented by the suspect and found the suspect with the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that the suspect, identified as Devin Lake, had the car keys in his pocket.

The deputy placed Lake under arrest for stealing the vehicle and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the District Court Commissioner released Lake on Personal Recognizance.

Charges: Motor Vehicle Theft

Incident: DUI

Date of Incident: 29 March 2015

Location: Salisbury Blvd. at Northwood Dr., Salisbury, MD

Suspect: Milan Giovanna Palmiro, 26,Laurel, DE

                                 

Narrative: On 29 March 2015 at 2:15AM a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Milan Palmiro for driving a vehicle with an expired temporary registration plate. Upon making contact with Palmiro,the deputy detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from within Palmiro’s vehicle. The deputy observed other physical indicators that indicated that she was under the influence of alcohol. The deputy administered sobriety testing which Palmiro performed extremely poorly, after which the deputy placed Palmiro under arrest for DUI.

During processing at the Sheriff’s Office, Palmiro became belligerent and uncooperative with the deputy. While in the holding cell, Palmiro was observe dripping up toilet paper, spitting on the glass window of the cell door and attempting to flood the cell by filling the toilet up with toilet paper. These acts prompted the deputy to charged Palmiro with Malicious Destruction of Property.

Palmiro refused to submit to a breath test upon request.

Palmiro was transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Palmiro on Personal Recognizance.

Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Malicious Destruction of Property

Incident: Fugitive from Delaware

Date of Incident: 28 March 2015

Location: 8000 block of Hurley’s Neck Road, Mardela Springs, MD

Suspect: Joshua Timothy Ardes, 24, Mardela Springs, MD

                                 

Narrative: On 28 March 2015 at 11:30 AM a deputy responded to a residence in the 8000 block of Hurley’s Neck Road and located Timothy Ardes who was a wanted fugitive from the State of Delaware. Authorities in that State wanted Ardes on a warrant that charged him with Violation of Probation in a Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute case.

The deputy arrested Ardes and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner where he was charged as a fugitive from the State of Delaware. Ardes was detained with bond pending extradition back to Delaware.

Charges: Fugitive from Delaware

                

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Releasing Authority: Lt. Tim Robinson        Date:  1 April 2015

Arkansas Lawmakers Approve Religious Liberty Bill Despite Firestorm

Amid intense criticism of Indiana’s religious liberties law, which has prompted lawmakers in that state to vow to fix the legislation, another state charged ahead with a similar measure. Arkansas lawmakers on Tuesday passed their own religious freedom bill, putting the state on the verge of formally adopting a law that could lead to another firestorm.

On Tuesday afternoon, after some debate in the state House of Representatives, lawmakers signed off on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The law now heads to the desk of Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), who has said he intends to sign it into law.

“This legislation doesn’t allow anybody to discriminate against anybody, not here,” State Rep. Bob Ballinger, a Republican who sponsored the bill, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “The bill does just the opposite. It focuses on the civil rights of people believing what they want to believe, and not letting the government interfere with that.”

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THE BIGGEST THREAT TO AMERICAN LIBERTY

“Overgrown military establishments, which under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty."

George Washington pointed out, “Overgrown military establishments, which under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty.”

Wise words by the father of our country, but ones, unfortunately, rejected by modern-day Americans, who love and idolize the enormously overgrown military establishment that now characterizes our federal governmental system.

Eastern Europeans are getting a gander at America’s overgrown military establishment. Yesterday, the New York Times reported that a huge contingent of US military forces is winding its way through Eastern Europe as some sort of good-will tour and also to serve as a message to Russia that the United States is ready to go to war to protect Eastern Europe from Russia’s aggressive designs.

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Jesus Died in a Police State

“If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Catholic school children would be wearing little electric chairs around their necks instead of crosses.”―Lenny Bruce

If you buy into the version of Christianity Lite peddled by evangelical leaders such as Franklin Graham, who recently advised Americans to do as the Bible says and “submit to your leaders and those in authority,” then staying alive in the American police state depends largely on your ability to comply, submit, obey orders, respect authority and generally do whatever a cop tells you to do.

If, however, you’re one of those who prefers to model yourself after Jesus Christ himself—a radical nonconformist who challenged authority at every turn—rather than subscribe to the watered-down, corporatized, simplified, gentrified, sissified vision of a meek creature holding a lamb that most modern churches peddle, then you will understand better than most how relevant Jesus’ life and death are to those attempting to navigate the American police state.

Indeed, it is fitting, at a time when the nation is grappling with moral questions about how best to execute death row prisoners (by electric chair, lethal injection or shooting squad), whether police should be held responsible for shooting unarmed citizens (who posed no threat and complied with every order), and to what extent we allow the government to dictate, monitor and control every aspect of our lives(using Stingray devices, license plate readers, and all manner of surveillance technology), that we remember that Jesus Christ—the religious figure worshipped by Christians for his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection—died at the hands of a police state.

Those living through this present age of militarized police, SWAT team raids, police shootings of unarmed citizens, roadside strip searches, and invasive surveillance might feel as if these events are unprecedented. Yet while we in the United States may be experiencing a steady slide into a police state, we are neither the first nor the last nation to do so.

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April Fool's Day- 33 HARMLESS, PESKY PRANKS

Pesky pranks
1. Spray nozzle or taped faucets- this one's kind of sentimental for me... THIS is the VERY PRANK that fueled my fire and love for this holiday! The first April we were married, my husband took a rubber band and wound it tightly around the kitchen sink's spray nozzle and left it aimed at where my face would be. When I turned on the water, it DRENCHED me! Haha! Of course he knew that meant war!!! Twelve years later, we're still going strong!

2. Fingernail polish spill- take a piece of wax paper and a bottle of fingernail polish that you don't mind ruining. Spill out contents onto paper, let dry, peel paper off, and leave on victim's clothing or an important document. You may want to do this one a week in advance. It takes quite a while for the polish to dry. I'd recommend using quick-dry nail polish and a hairdryer. If your "spill" doesn't peel off the wax paper very well, just cut around it as close to the edges as possible.

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Just Who's Opposed to Indiana's Law?

Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act stirred plenty of opposition, including from many corporations doing business in the Hoosier State – Cummins, Apple and the NCAA to name a few.

But National Review’s Charles C.W. Cooke wonders how this is possible, writing, “We were told at the time of Hobby Lobby that companies can’t have consciences. We were told that they can’t have feelings. We were told that they can’t corporately opine on moral or legal questions as might an individual, and in consequence they can’t be worthy of praise or admonition.

What, one wonders, has changed?

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Texas mother arrested for leaving daughter in dumpster overnight

(Reuters) - A Texas mother was arrested for leaving her 7-year-old daughter in a dumpster overnight after saying that she drank vodka but remembered little else about the evening, police said on Monday.

Alicia Carroll, 28, was charged with abandoning and endangering a child. The girl said her mother told her to get into the trash container after the two left a spa because police were chasing them, according to the arrest warrant.

A lawyer for Carroll was not immediately available for comment. She is in Dallas County jail on a $25,000 bond, records showed. Carroll told police she drank vodka in the parking lot and remembered little of the evening. The next morning she called 911 to report that a person with whom she had entrusted her daughter was refusing to return her.

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3 Ways the Left WIll Target Christians After Same-Sex Marriage

Gay activists and their leftist allies told us decades ago that same-sex marriage wasn’t on the agenda. All homosexuals wanted was the benefits of marriage, but not the title. That, of course, was a lie.

Next, gay activists and their leftist allies told us that same-sex marriage would not threaten anyone; it was simply a matter of equal rights. “How will it affect anyone else if two men choose to get married?” they said. That, of course, was a lie. The same-sex marriage agenda includes with it the desire to force individual religious Americans to accept same-sex marriage. Hence the current attempt to leverage same-sex marriage into legislation forcing religious business owners to participate in activities, like same-sex weddings, that they consider sinful.

So, what’s next on the agenda?

Here are a few predictions:

Targeting The Churches

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Largest US employer proposes new retirement plans

It's not easy recruiting 18- and 19-year-olds to serve in the military, what with the low pay, the obvious risks and the frequent relocation.

The military's retirement plan hasn't made things easier. Service members with 20 years under their belts are eligible for relatively generous pensions, but if they leave before then, they are out of luck. (There is a thrift savings plan, but it is voluntary and contributions are not matched.)

According to a January report by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, which recommended changes to military retirement plans and more, under current rules, "83 percent of all enlisted personnel and 51 percent of officers receive no retirement savings for their service."

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