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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Refugee Test


9th Grade School Assignment: Draw “Join ISIS” Posters

My reaction mirrored that of a 14-year-old student’s mother. Why? Why would a teacher assign this, and why would it be considered appropriate?

I don’t understand. Consider all the things that are banned and not to be talked about in public schools, and compare those with the things that are for whatever reason considered appropriate. Teachers aren’t allowed to talk about God and the Bible, because that would constitute “promoting religion” in violation of the 1st Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

They can’t talk about Christianity, but they can teach kids the five pillars of Islam and have them recite, “There is no god but Allah, and Mohammad is his prophet.” They can’t have Bibles or talk about them, but they can come up with assignments like, “If you were a terrorist with ISIS, how would you get others to join?” From The Blaze:

Annie Langston couldn’t believe the school assignment her 14-year-old daughter Mikalia brought home, so she wrote a letter to she teacher and the principal demanding an explanation.

The assignment asked the ninth grade class at Salem Junior High School in Salem, Utah, to draw Islamic State propaganda posters. Students were also asked to type the words “how to recruit for ISIS” into Google as part of the assignment, KSTU-TV reported.


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Terrorism Deaths Quadruple Under Obama

The worldwide number of annual terrorist deaths has more than quadrupled since President Barack Obama was inaugurated in January 2009.

Deaths from terrorism increased 80 percent last year to an all-time-record of 32,658 people killed, compared to 18,111 in 2013. The number is up about 426 percent from the 7,654 killed by terrorists in 2008 under President Bush, according to the latest report from ‘Vision of Humanity.’

The 2014 economic cost of 13,370 terrorist attacks in 93 countries included property damage, medical costs, lost income for victims, and the indirect costs of preventing and responding to terrorist acts. The annual “Global Terrorism Index” report estimated those costs hit an all-time-high in 2014 of $52.9 billion.

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An interesting take on Trump

Regardless about whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or Independent you need to read this and THINK!!

William J. Bennett – Host of “Bill Bennett's Morning in America” Show, William J. Bennett, is one of America's most important, influential and respected voices on cultural, political, and education issues. This is what he said a few months back:

An interesting take on Trump

They will kill him before they let him be president. It could be a Republican or a Democrat that instigates the shutting up of Trump. Don't be surprised if Trump has an accident. Some people are getting very nervous: Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Eric Holder, Hillary Clinton and Jon Corzine, to name just a few.

It's all about the unholy dynamics between big government, big business, and big media. They all benefit by the billions of dollars from this partnership, and it’s in all of their interests to protect one another. It’s one for all and all for one.
It’s a heck of a filthy relationship that makes everyone filthy rich — everyone except the American people. We get ripped off. We’re the patsies. But for once, the powerful socialist cabal and the corrupt crony capitalists are scared. The over-the-top reaction to Trump by politicians of both parties, the media, and the biggest corporations of America has been so swift and insanely angry that it suggests they are all threatened and frightened like never before.

Donald Trump can self-fund. No matter how much they say to the contrary, the media, business, and political elite understand that Trump is no joke. He could actually win and upset their nice cozy apple cart.

It’s no coincidence that everyone has gotten together to destroy The Donald. It’s because most of the other politicians are part of the “good old boys club.” They talk big, but they won’t change a thing. They are all beholden to big-money donors. They are all owned by lobbyists, unions, lawyers, gigantic environmental organizations, and multinational corporations . . . like Big Pharma or Big Oil.

Or they are owned lock, stock and barrel by foreigners, like George Soros owns Obama or foreign governments own Hillary with their Clinton Foundation donations.

US Senator Releases List of 15 "Vetted" Islamic Refugee Terrorists Who Plotted to Attack US

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) is out with a list of 15 vetted refugees who quickly joined jihad plots to attack the United States.

He’s spotlighting the refugees-turned-jihadis because he’s trying to prod GOP leaders into halting Congress’ normal practice of giving the president huge leeway to import foreign migrants and refugees into the United States.

This year, Obama is promising to bring in an extra 10,000 low-skill, potentially difficult-to-integrate Syrian migrants into the United States. Sessions and other critics fear he’ll use his many powers — and Congress’ autopilot funding for refugee programs — to bring in far more than 10,000 migrants.

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Watters' World: Thanksgiving edition

Family fights to stay clean after baby born addicted to methadone

BALTIMORE —Addiction to opiates often destroys relationships and has a major impact on communities. A wakeup call came a few weeks ago for a Maryland family struggling to beat the odds and stay clean no matter what it takes.

 A recent Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found nearly three in 10 Marylanders say they have a family member or close friend addicted to opiates.

Amanda Brune and her boyfriend, Michael George, have a huge responsibility resting on their shoulders. It will require them to change old habits so their daughter, Isabella George, can have a successful life. She entered the world addicted to methadone and spent her first few days of life at the Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital.

"She went through withdrawal bad. She had the shakes, just like normal withdrawal in an adult," Brune said.

Doctors gave Isabella morphine and clonidine to help with her symptoms.

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Space tech meets aviation: The hypersonic revolution

(CNN) London to Melbourne in 90 minutes? Paris to San Francisco in under an hour?

That's travel at 25 times the speed of sound -- or barely enough time to take in an in-flight movie.

Few areas of aviation generate wilder predictions than hypersonic flight -- but a team in Germany might just have cracked it.

Hypersonic means speeds of Mach 5 or over, or more than five times the speed of sound. Supersonic is Mach 1, or the speed of sound.

Since the withdrawal of the Concorde in 2003, commercial aviation has remained purely subsonic, but that could change in the coming decades.


Take new aircraft concepts like the Japanese HYTEX, capable of speeds of Mach 5, or the EuropeanLapcat-II, expected to reach Mach 8.

Then there's the nascent space tourism industry, with companies such as Virgin Galactic and XCOR Aerospace hoping to take a select few on leisure trips to the edge of space.

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ACCOMACK COUNTY: PETA Gets Sued For Stealing, Then Murdering, A Family Dog

A family is suing People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for $9 million after two senior employees stole their pet Chihuahua Maya off their porch and had the dog killed.

The family captured video on their home surveillance system of two PETA employees, Victoria Carey and Jennifer Woods chasing Maya down, taking her off the family’s porch and shoving the dog into a white van. PETA admitted four months later it euthanized Maya later that day.

Victoria Carey was a contract worker for PETA and had been the organization’s human resources director. Jennifer Woods is PETA’s senior communications administrator. Carey’s contract with PETA has been terminatied, but Woods remains employed.

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‘Irreplaceable’ Lincoln bust stolen from Gettysburg museum

GETTYSBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Lincoln is missing and there are few clues to work with. The Hall of Presidents in Gettysburg hopes to get its presidential bust back.

Just a few days after the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, it’s a blow to the attraction.

There’s a lot of Lincoln in the Hall of Presidents, from the life-size figure to souvenirs like playing cards, a candy dispenser, and a snow globe.

But one likeness is long gone.

“Just having discovered it this morning, we’re still kind of trying to figure things out,” said Max Felty, president of Gettysburg Tours.

First, he found a pedestal in the parking lot. “I knew that was not right.”

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Blackwell Library Hosts Annual Homeless Animal Supply Drive

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University’s Blackwell Library holds its annual “Be a Hero for Homeless Animals” donation drive through Friday, December 18.

Members of the campus and greater communities may drop off dog and cat food and treats, toys, litter, pet soap and shampoo, collars and leashes, nail clippers, brushes, newspapers, new or used towels and blankets, paper towels, household cleaners, bleach and laundry soap at the donation area near the circulation desk. A list of needed items is available there.

Items collected benefit the Humane Society of Wicomico County, Worcester County Humane Society and Baywater Animal Rescue in Dorchester County.

For more information call 410-543-6132 or visit http://sulibraries.tumblr.com/post/132419834324/be-a-hero-for-homeless-animals.

Entertainment venue coming to Cape Region

LEWES — Frustrated by a lack of local entertainment options for their kids, Cape Region businessmen DJ Hill and Chad Moore are opening a 35,000-square-foot entertainment venue called Lefty’s Alley and Eats in Lewes.

The inside entertainment options for local families is limited, said Hill, a father of three. A need has been identified and this is trying to fill that need, he said.

The venue, under construction on an undeveloped parcel adjacent to Dartmouth Plaza on Route 1 in Lewes, is slated for an October 2016 opening, said Hill, during an interview Nov. 20.

The two men, who have nearly 40 years of hospitality experience between them, said the facility will feature 16 lanes of bowling; a state-of-the art arcade capable of holding 50 to 70 games; a 4,000-square-foot, two-story laser tag arena; four 20-foot-by-12-foot big screen televisions; a 110-person restaurant and bar, and banquet options for customized birthdays, corporate and group events

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Old Bay Crabmeat Stuffing

Love this stuff... I think it's best suited to (of course) fish or seafood, but also chicken or a Cornish hen. I love the bite of the Tabasco and the flavor of the seasonings blending with the crab. I like to use whole-grain bread for its benefits, but white bread sure tastes good here!

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ACLU Sues Indiana Gov. Pence Over Refusal to Resettle Syrian Refugees

The American Civil Liberties Union on Monday sued Indiana Governor Mike Pence over his refusal to allow refugees fleeing Syria's civil war to resettle in the state, saying his position violates federal authority and the U.S. Constitution.

Pence is one of more than 25 governors, mostly Republicans, who have publicly called on President Barack Obama to stop resettling Syrian refugees following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

The governors cited concerns that some refugees could be associated with Islamic State militants.

In the lawsuit, the ACLU said decisions concerning immigration and refugee resettlement are exclusively the province of the federal government and cannot be dictated by state officials.

More here

Q&A With Snow Hill Mayor Charlie Dorman: ‘We Are Hoping We Can Get People To Come Again And Fall In Love’

SNOW HILL — The town of Snow Hill is at a crossroads. Not geographically, of course, but figuratively, as the once vibrant and quaint community has fallen on tough economic times and is trying desperately to reverse that downward trend.

There are more vacant storefronts and buildings in the county seat than there have been in more than a decade and its aging population base is still struggling to rebound from the recession.

Mayor Charlie Dorman knows this is a critical moment in the town’s history, and he says he has a plan to turn everything around.

We sat down with Dorman this week to talk about the details of that plan, which includes a few interesting ingredients such as a bigger highway, a new perspective on the town’s geographic location, a renewed focus on the river and a man named Day.

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Radical Islam: The Most Dangerous Ideology

Injured student athletes sue MCPS over gruesome chemical burns

SILVER SPRING, Md. (WJLA) --- The Montgomery County School system is facing two lawsuits, over what one attorney calls a case of "colossal stupidity."

In September 2014, a custodian washed football uniforms in a dangerous chemical by mistake. The result was serious burns to more than a dozen players at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring.

Now, some 14 months later, five injured athletes have filed civil lawsuits against MCPS accusing the school system of coming up short.

"I cry sometimes just thinking about it," said Jordan Gillespie, a former standout running back who is now in his freshman year at Bowie State University.

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2016 State Business Tax Climate Index

Executive Summary

The Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index enables business leaders, government policymakers, and taxpayers to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare. While there are many ways to show how much is collected in taxes by state governments, the Index is designed to show how well states structure their tax systems, and provides a roadmap for improvement.

The 10 best states in this year’s Index are:

1. Wyoming

2. South Dakota

3. Alaska

4. Florida

5. Nevada

6. Montana

7. New Hampshire

8. Indiana

9. Utah

10. Texas

The absence of a major tax is a common factor among many of the top ten states. Property taxes and unemployment insurance taxes are levied in every state, but there are several states that do without one or more of the major taxes: the corporate income tax, the individual income tax, or the sales tax. Wyoming, Nevada, South Dakota, and Texas have no corporate or individual income tax (though Nevada and Texas both impose gross receipts taxes); Alaska has no individual income or state-level sales tax; Florida has no individual income tax; and New Hampshire and Montana have no sales tax.

This does not mean, however, that a state cannot rank in the top ten while still levying all the major taxes. Indiana and Utah, for example, levy all of the major tax types, but do so with low rates on broad bases.

The 10 lowest ranked, or worst, states in this year’s Index are:

41. Maryland

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Perdue Family Living Well Education Center dedicated

CAPTION: MAC Inc., the Area Agency on Aging, officially dedicated The Perdue Family Living Well Education Center recently at a ceremony attended by area dignitaries and honored guests. Cutting the ribbon are, from left: Jim Perdue, chairman, Perdue Farms; MAC Executive Director Margaret A. "Peggy" Bradford; MAC Board Chairman Mike Carbone; Chris Oliviero, Mitzi Perdue and Jan Perdue.
SALISBURY - The dedication and naming ceremony for The Perdue Family Living Well Education Center at MAC Inc., the Area Agency on Aging, was held recently at an event attended by a full house of area legislators, and honored donors and guests.

“The Perdue family knows of the valuable services that organizations like MAC provide to our aging populations here and throughout the footprint of Perdue,” said Jim Perdue, chairman, Perdue Farms.

“Our family is honored to be a part of the growth and continued success of MAC by making a gift of this nature to assure that our elderly neighbors, many of whom are our former Perdue associates, have the resources and education opportunities they need to continue to live full and enjoyable lives here on the Shore,” he said.

Funding for the education center included a grant from the Perdue Family Trust.

The new center includes three classrooms, all equipped with Smart classroom technology.

The Perdue Family Living Well Education Center is home to the non-profit organization, the Association for Lifelong Learning, which offers courses taught by retired professionals on a variety of topics, such as art, history, music and the environment – learning for the sake of learning.

Other classrooms host a variety of evidence-based classes such as chronic disease, diabetes and pain self-management, Cancer Thriving and Surviving, falls prevention, and healthy cooking, classes that are “shepherding the statewide expansion of programs to empower persons with chronic conditions to live a healthy life,” said Margaret A. “Peggy” Bradford, MAC executive director.

“These classes have demonstrated, through research, to improve quality of life, reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations, reduce medical expenditures, and maximize independence as we age,” she added.

In expressing gratitude to the Perdue family for providing their name to the building, Bradford noted the Perdue name is associated with quality, integrity, community stewardship and commitment to education.

“Everywhere you look in this community you see evidence of the Perdue’s commitment and dedication to family values passing their core values from generation to generation,” Bradford said.

Ex-student applies for probation over mac and cheese rant

ROCKVILLE, Conn. (AP) — A former University of Connecticut student who went on a drunken, obscenity-laced tirade about jalapeno-bacon macaroni and cheese applied for probation Monday.

Luke Gatti filed the application for accelerated rehabilitation at Rockville Superior Court, The Hartford Courant reported.

The charges against him misdemeanor breach of peace and criminal trespassing will be dropped if he is accepted into the program for first-time offenders and meets the required conditions.

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The Homeless Man VS Homeless Child! (Social Experiment)

McDonald’s Has A Plan To Make Sure What You Order At The Drive-Thru Is What You Get

You probably know the feeling: the little hunger monkeys in your stomach are pitching a fit,demanding to be fed, and you’re finally opening up the bag of food the drive-thru worker has handed you… and your order is wrong. The hunger monkeys fly into a rage and you’re forced to go back and ask the restaurant to make it right. McDonald’s is trying to make sure that doesn’t happen with a new plan to prevent orders from getting mucked up.

McDonald’s has already tried speeding up the drive-thru process by simplifying its menu, but since this summer it’s been working on a way to ensure that your cheeseburger doesn’t arrive cheeseless, or your crispy chicken sandwich finds itself grilled: the chain is trying to make outdoor ordering more personal, and in the meantime, more accurate, by pushing a new optional method called “ask, ask, tell” that provides three chances to check the order, reports Bloomberg.

The first ask happens when the drive-thru worker repeats the customer’s order back to them and asks if it’s correct. When the customer arrives at the window to pay, a worker again repeats the order and asks if everything is as it should be. The “tell” happens when the food changes hands from the worker to the customer, with another change — no more folded over paper bags, so the customer can look inside and see what’s there.

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Beer Truck Takes Instant Revenge On Alleged Thief By Running Him Over

If I’ve learned anything about inanimate objects from cartoons like The Brave Little Toaster, it’s that they have emotions and are totally dedicated to their humans, and will do anything to reunite with them in case of separation. Which is probably why a beer truck ran over a man accused of stealing it in Georgia recently.

Police in Columbus, GA say the driver of a Coors Light beer truck left it parked and running while he went into a Circle K in the wee hours of Monday morning, reports WRBL.com. When he came back out, he realized his 18-wheeler had gone missing and called the police.

Officers located the stolen semi-truck and caught up to the suspect driving it. The chase ended up near a Bojangles restaurant, where the man tried to get away and jumped out of the truck while it was still rolling, according to WTVM. The vehicle ran over his leg during the attempted escape, police said. Again, probably because the vehicle wanted to get back where it belonged, according to anthropomorphic cartoon canon.

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Rt. 13 South Bound Shut Down


Two VA Department Heads Demoted, Is It Enough?

The Veterans Affairs Department demoted two of its regional office directors. Kimberly Graves ran the St. Paul, Minnesota office and Diana Rubens ran the Philadelphia office. They’re both accused of manipulating the hiring system to get a bigger paycheck. Both refused to testify before Congress about those allegations at a hearing earlier this month. The VA said Rubens will be the assistant director of Veterans Benefits Administration’s Houston regional office. Graves will be the assistant director of the Phoenix office.

Goodbye, No Child Left Behind

After a long stalemate, a bipartisan team of congressional negotiators has agreed to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The law, currently known as No Child Left Behind, sends roughly $14 billion a year to schools that serve mostly low-income students.

Here's what we know about the rough agreement. First, annual testing — a major feature of NCLB — would remain for grades three through eight and at least once in high school. Schools would still have to test 95 percent of their students and report the results by race, income and special need.

Delia Pompa, former vice president with the National Council of La Raza, says this requirement is crucial.

"It is the mechanism that brought to light how children in subgroups — I'm talking about Latinos, African Americans, children in poverty, limited english-proficient children — how they're doing."

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Maryland man has 2nd and 3rd degree burns after batteries in vape (e-cig) explode

EASTON, Md. (ABC7) — WARNING: The images in the video may be difficult to view.

An Easton, Maryland man says he now has second and third degree burns on his leg after he claims the batteries in his vaporizer exploded in his pocket.

"I heard a popping noise and it sounded like firecrackers going off," said Brian Taylor. "There was a ball of fire and it started smoking and I ran off to the side and patted it all out."

Taylor says all he had in his pocket at the time were the batteries and a dollar bill.

"I don't think I was given the proper information on the possible hazards of these lithium ion batteries exploding in your pocket," he said.

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Hillary: Muslims 'Have Nothing Whatsoever To Do With Terrorism'

Behold, the woman who shall soon be crowned Queen of the endlessly self-righteous and self-congratulatory "Reality Based Community:"

This is pure claptrap. Everyone understands that the West is not at war with Islam broadly, and that an overwhelming percentage of Muslims reject violent extremism. It's been beaten into our heads by politicians of all stripes since 9/11, and we're generally bright enough to draw the relevant distinction: "These Muslims over here are just peaceful, faithful people living their lives, whereas those Muslims over there are radical and seek to impose a toxic strain of their faith via terror and violence. We have no quarrel with the former group, which thankfully represents the large majority; the latter group must be confronted and defeated." This dynamic isn't hard. It can be quickly and easily explained, yet we are constantly bombarded with dumb, sanitized denialism like Hillary's second sentence above. Instead of treating us like adults, we're infantilized. And to what end? Muslims are peaceful and tolerant, we're instructed, and they have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism. This last bit is insultingly preposterous. Some Muslims have quite a lot to do with terrorism, actually. Like the ones who were led by their hardcore theology to kill 3,000 people on 9/11. Or blow up trains in Spain. Or target London's public transit system with bombs. Or slaughter students at a Kenyan university. Or Devastate a nightclub in Indonesia. Or shoot up a shopping mall in Nairobi. Or lay siege to a hotel in Mumbai. Or terrorize Nigerian schoolgirls. Or, you know, take hostages in Mali. I could go on for some time. But those aren't real Muslims, our Thought Leaders inform us. Islamists loudly beg to differ -- and wouldn't they know a lot more about their motives and religious teachings than Western purveyors of bumper sticker feel-goodery? Try this: Ask someone who's convinced jihadists shouldn't be considered Muslims whether or not Osama bin Laden's corpse should have been discarded with no regard for Islamic traditions. Or whether the terrorists at Gitmo should be deprived of prayer mats, or Halal meals, or Korans. Maybe some enterprising reporter will ask Hillary these questions someday. In any case, the "nothing to do with terrorism" line is plainly nonsense. The more difficult part is the "peaceful and tolerant" phrase. It's absolutely true that a huge preponderance of Muslims worldwide abhor and reject religious violence. But as I explored in a piece after the Charlie Hebdomassacre, there is a worrisomely sizable strain of abject illiberalism that runs through mainstream Islam. Data from Pew, a respected global pollster, gathered two years ago:

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D.C. Residents: Yeah, Let's Ban Guns Again

The end of September was a grim milestone for Washington D.C., as the city reached 120 homicides, the most our nation’s capital has experienced since 2010, according toWUSA9. In August, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier blamed the spike in crime to an influx of illegal firearms with so-called high-capacity magazines. The problem is that Fox5DC’s Emily Miller noted that magazine capacity isn’t listed on the police form law enforcement fill out upon recovering firearms at a crime scene. In other words, DC police have no way to knowing that this is the problem, let alone tracking these weapons.

Nevertheless, the spike in crime seems to be impacting public perception since 51 percent of D.C. residents want to bring back the unconstitutional ban on firearms (via WaPo):

Fifty-one percent of D.C. residents said they would like to reinstate a ban on gun ownership in the city that was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2008, according to a new Washington Post poll.

Almost as many, 47 percent, oppose the idea. Three percent have no opinion.

The finding comes as the District grapples with a 58 percent spike in homicides this year — almost all from gun violence — and that has sent crime to the top of residents’ concerns about the city, the poll showed.

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Bill Maher Criticizes Liberals for Believing that all of Islam is Peaceful

Last Friday, Bill Maher was on his weekly show, "Real Time", when he openly criticized the notion that Muslims share the same values as other religions. Maher is known for his anti-religious rhetoric and receives backlash from groups that he criticizes. Usually Maher attacks conservative values, but from time to time, he attacks his own liberal base by challenging them to see religion in a different light.

“This idea that all religions share the same values is bull***t and we need to call it bull***t... if you are in this religion (Islam), you probably do have values that are at odds (with American values). This is what liberals don’t want to recognize,” Maher said.

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Massachusetts Has Dropped Common Core

Massachusetts has become the lateststate to eschew Common Core standards, and will instead create its own state-specific test to measure how well students are learning.

Common Core has come under fire from both the left and the right. Teacher's unions disliked the standards-- and the high-stakes testing--and those on the right thought that Common Core was the federal government growing far too large.

Massachusetts already had very high standards (and good outcomes) for education, plus some of the best schools in the country, so it makes sense for the state to switch back to something it can personally control.

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WATCH LIVE: Obama delivers statement on national security

President Obama delivers a statement on national security following a meeting with advisers on the Paris attacks. Watch live on Fox News Channel and FoxNews.com.

Painkiller Addiction Touches A Quarter of Americans

New data show the staggering reach of the prescription drug epidemic.

Doctors wrote 259 million opioid prescriptions for Americans in 2012, enough to medicate every adult in the country. Drug overdoses are eclipsing car crashes as a leading cause of accidental death for American adults.

A poll out today from the Kaiser Family Foundation adds a troubling new number to the accounting: 27 percent of Americans report that they either have been addicted to prescription painkillers or have a family member or close friend who has.

That's roughly 66 million U.S. adults for whom the opioid crisis has become intensely personal.

The Kaiser Foundation interviewed 1,352 respondents from a national sample by phone. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.

More than half reported some connection to the epidemic—knowing anyone who ever misused painkillers, was addicted, or died from an overdose. If you don't have some kind of personal connection to painkiller abuse, you're in the minority.

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Governor Hogan, Maryland Officials Participate in Emergency Preparedness Exercise Ahead of Winter Season


ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Larry Hogan today hosted an exercise for top administration officials at the Maryland Emergency Management Agency in Reisterstown. The discussion and drill, which focused on a blizzard scenario, boosted state agencies’ ability to collaborate on a variety of issues that can arise during winter storms and related emergencies.

“Maryland is susceptible to a wide range of natural hazards, including winter storms, hurricanes, and flooding,” said Governor Hogan. “I have directed my administration to work together before the first snowstorm this season to ensure that state government can effectively respond to a storm or any emergency this winter.”


Over twenty-five leaders from state agencies and offices participated in today’s event. This exercise is the first in a series of drills directed by the Hogan administration related to emergency management, disaster preparedness, and homeland security.
“It is essential that the state be able to support local jurisdictions’ response to any incident, including severe winter storms,” said Maryland Emergency Management Agency’s Executive Director Russell Strickland. “This series of drills will raise our ability to be agile in the face of any emergency and ensure resident safety.”
For additional information on emergency management in Maryland and winter safety tips, residents can visit mema.maryland.gov.

China 'Cloning Factory' to Produce Cattle, Racehorses and Pets

World’s largest cloning facility in China aims to produce a million cattle a year, along with other animals

The world’s biggest animal “cloning factory” is due to open in China, producing one million calves a year, sniffer dogs and even genetic copies of the family pet.

Chinese media said, following the development of a technique which began when Dolly the sheep became the first cloned mammal when she was born in Scotland in 1996.

The centre may cause alarm in Europe, where the cloning of animals for farming was banned in September due to animal welfare considerations.

But Xu Xiaochun, chairman of Chinese biotechnology company BoyaLife that is backing the facility, dismissed such concerns.

“Let me ask one question. Was this ban based on scientific rationale or ethical rationale or political agenda?” Mr Xu told The Telegraph.

“Legislation is always behind science. But in the area of cloning, I think we are going the wrong way and starting to kill the technology.”

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Buzzkill: Obamacare Regulation May Put Craft Breweries Out of Business

Obamacare’s menu labeling regulation promises to be a disaster for the food and restaurant industries, as its implementation is both costly and extremely onerous. While its deleterious effects on the pizza, restaurant, and grocery industries have been most well known, it also has the potential to shutter an industry near and dear to Americans’ hearts: craft beer.

Since beer has a few too many calories for bureaucrats, the health law dictates that all brewers include a detailed calorie count on every type of beer produced. Failure to do so, according to Americans for Tax Reform, “means craft brewers will not be able to sell their beer in any restaurant chain with over 20 locations.”

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Today's Survey Question 11-25-15

Are you staying home 
or 
traveling for Thanksgiving?

MD Congresswoman Donna Edwards is tapped to deliver commencement address at UMES

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. –– Rep. Donna F. Edwards, who represents Maryland’s 4th Congressional District, will be the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s 2015 winter commencement speaker.

An estimated 329 degrees will be awarded Dec. 18 at the Hytche Athletic Center. Graduation ceremonies start at 10 a.m.

Edwards became the first African-American woman from Maryland to serve in Congress after winning a special election in June 2008.

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Living Well with Diabetes Workshops offered

Living Well with Diabetes Workshops will be offered at various locations on the Shore beginning in January.

Participants will learn how to deal with the symptoms of diabetes such as fatigue, pain, high and low blood sugar, stress and emotional issues such as depression, anger fear and frustration. Participants also will learn about exercises to improve strength and endurance, and how healthy eating can help them manage diabetes.

Classes are scheduled at the following locations:

Wicomico Public Library, downtown location, Salisbury, 5-7:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Jan. 5 to Feb. 9;

Somerset County Library, Princess Anne, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Jan. 12 to Feb. 16;

St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Salisbury, 2-4:30 p.m., Fridays, Jan. 22 to March 4;

Village at Harbor Pointe, Salisbury, 2-4:30 p.m., Thursdays, Jan. 7 to Feb. 18.

Workshops are free and are open to the public, but registration is required.

To register for a workshop, or for more information, call Jill Kenney at 410-742-0505, ext. 159, or email her at jak@macinc.org.

DC POLICE CHIEF URGES CITIZENS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST PARIS-STYLE ATTACKERS

“...we’ve never told people, ‘Take action.’ [But] it’s a different…scenario”

Citizens in the nation’s capitol should be prepared to fight and try to “take the gunman out” should a Paris-style scenario unfold prior to police arriving, the city’s police chief has stated.

Speaking with 60 Minutes Sunday, Washington DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier urged residents to do what’s necessary to save lives in the event of a terror attack or mass shooting, whether it means “run, hide or fight.”

“If you’re in a position to try and take the gunman down, to take the gunman out, it’s the best option for saving lives before police can get there,” Lanier said.

While acknowledging her latest suggestion was “counterintuitive” to previous tactics police have advised, Lanier claimed “taking action” may be essential to prevent another massacre like the attack in Paris which left over 120 people dead.

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Maine May Ban Buying Junk Food With Food Stamps

Maine's top health official on Monday proposed banning the purchase of soda and candy under the federal aid program known as food stamps, describing the move as needed to counter an "alarming epidemic of obesity" among the state's poor.

In their formal request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which must approve any change in rules related to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state officials said the shift would help control the rising costs of healthcare for overweight, low-income patients.

A 2012 study by a University of Maine researcher put the annual medical costs of obesity in Maine at $452.7 million.

"Healthy eating has the potential of trimming the waistline of both the benefit recipients and state government," said Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew.

Mayhew, who was appointed by Republican Governor Paul LePage, a Tea Party activist who has made welfare reform a priority, said the majority of state residents who receive food stamps are also on Medicaid, the federal health-care program for low-income people.

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Craig Shirley: Foreign Policy Might Get Trump Nomination

Though GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump was initially seen as strong on the economy, recent events have pushed him stronger into the lead on foreign policy, historian and Reagan biographer Craig Shirley tells Newsmax TV.

"Trump, as ironic as it seemed to be originally that his strongest message was economic, and now it seems to be appearing to be on foreign policy," Shirley said Monday on "Newsmax Prime."

Voters understand the difference between so-called foreign policy experience and being strong in foreign policy, Shirley said, and Trump is currently coming across strongest on foreign policy, vowing to keep terrorism out of the United States.

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Georgia Execution of Rapist-Killer 'Most Deserving,' Says DA

The execution in Georgia of Marcus Johnson for the 1994 rape and murder of Angela Sizemore – who was stabbed 41 times with a dull knife – was "most deserving," said the district attorney who prosecuted the case.

Johnson, 50, had appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court for a reprieve, but his requests were denied and his execution was carried late Thursday, The Washington Post reported.

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Man claims he was pulled over, profiled for being white

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — An Annapolis man is suing the city, accusing police officers of unlawfully stopping and searching his vehicle several times because he was a white man in a neighborhood with predominantly African-American and Latino residents.

Daniel Hodges filed the lawsuit Saturday in U.S. District Court, naming Mayor Mike Pantelides, Annapolis Police Chief Michael Pristoop and officers involved in the traffic stops.

Hodges’ lawyer Nevin Young says he believes the officers presumed his client to be in the minority neighborhoods to buy illegal drugs.

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Dick Morris: Hey Christie — It's Time to Quit Race

It's time for Gov. Chris Christie to drop out of this cluttered, overcrowded race for president.

Polling data out this past weekend shows what a train wreck his campaign has been: The ABC News poll has him at just 2 percent.

Last week the Farleigh Dickinson University poll of New Jersey voters have their “hometown” governor in an embarrassing fourth place – trailing badly behind Trump, Carson and Rubio.

In “must win” New Hampshire, a new CBS poll has Christie in seventh place – this after mounting a herculean effort in the Granite State.

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Heartless: With Reason

WHY THERE IS NO ARGUMENT THAT WILL EVER SUPPORT GOVERNMENT-SUBSIDIZED REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

It’s easy to view the refugee issue – which this website exposed many months ago here in our home state – exclusively through the reflexive lens of the recent terror attacks in France. Doing so is natural. And there’s no doubt the national security implications of this debate will be front and center for the foreseeable future.

As they should be …

Seriously: Who wants a repeat of the last time we dropped this particular ball?

But our emphatic rejection of refugee resettlement in the United States (along with other “open borders” nonsense) has always been fiscal in nature. Namely, we do not believe that a nation (or state) drowning in red ink should force those already being pushed under the waves to support additional dependents.

Especially not in a state as dirt poor as South Carolina …

“We explicitly reject the use of federal tax dollars – especially those routed through liberal foundations – to impose long-term obligations on South Carolina taxpayers,” we wrote early-on in this drama. “If faith-based organizations wish to host legal immigrants on their own dime, that’s great – but their activities cannot be subsidized by government revenue. Nor can they be permitted to impose affirmative new obligations on already over-taxed citizens.”

Or to put it another way: Compassion cannot be compulsory – especially when people are already struggling and suffering to subsidize a soaring dependency culture (corporate and otherwise).

“Faith-based compassion is a wonderful thing, but just as one’s religious beliefs shouldn’t be imposed on another without consent … neither should taxpayer obligations based on those beliefs,” we wrote.

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LETTER: RETHINKING REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM

Dear Editor,

Reasonable, compassionate people, and many experts who work with refugees, agree that victims of the Islamic Caliphate, perpetrated by Islamists in the Middle East, need help.

However, the incidents in Paris on November 13, 2015, clearly demonstrate the inherent dangers of allowing compassion to override prudence. It’s now apparent, even to the most zealous proponents of refugee resettlements, that Islamic jihadists are concealing themselves among those refugees.

Consequently, any “help” should come in the form of temporary assistance, and a secure living environment in their native countries, or in a neighboring country, until they are able to return safely to their homes.

Current efforts to vet refugees from the Middle East are woefully inadequate and completely ineffective.

Experts from the FBI and NSA say there is simply no reliable way to accomplish that task successfully. As a result, some of those refugees represent a clear and present danger to us and our communities.

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Proposed Regulations for Drones are Released

Drones, those remote-controlled flying machines, are expected to top many wish lists this holiday season.
Now those who open those gifts will most likely need to tell the federal government.

On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration, scurrying to prepare for hundreds of thousands of more drones flying into the air, released a list of recommendations for how to better monitor recreational use of the machines. Under the proposal, most drone owners would have to register the machines with the federal government, which would place the information in a national database, the first such requirements.

The recommendations, from a task force created by the agency, would be the biggest step yet by the government to deal with the proliferation of recreational drones, which are usually used for harmless purposes but have also been tools for mischief and serious wrongdoing, and pose a risk to airborne jets.

The F.A.A. is widely expected to approve the bulk of the recommendations in the next month, just in time for Christmas.

Dinner With Delegate Carl Anderton

Join us for an amazing dinner served by the Delmar VFW. Our menu will be roast beef, potatoes, hot vegetable, rolls, coffee, tea and dessert.

Individual: $20

We would be honored to have you consider being a sponsor for this event. Our levels are as follows:
$100 - Bronze
$250 - Silver
$500 - Gold
$1,000 - Platinum

Authority of Friends of Carl Anderton Jr., Roy Figgs, Treasurer

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Critical Times and Locations for Deer Crashes in Sussex County

The Delaware State Police have investigated 741 crashes in the Sussex County area in the last 30 days with 189 or 26% of the total crashes being animal or deer-related. 

24 of the 189 animal or deer-related crashes occurred in the 6:00 a.m. hour (Dawn)

23 crashes occurred in the 5:00 p.m. hour (Dusk)

105 of the animal or deer-related crashes occurred between 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. hours

Overall, many of these animal or deer-related crashes occurred along the main corridors of SR 1, U.S. Route 13 and U.S. Route 113 during the 6:00 a.m. hour and
During the 5:00 p.m. hour, almost all of the crashes were on ‘secondary’ roads.

Freedom


No K-9 Is Going To Sniff This One Out


Donald Trump Was Right…Muslims Celebrated 9/11 in Jersey City

While everyone and his brother (Or transgender sister) have been jumping on the bandwagon, saying Donald Trump lied about seeing people on TV celebrating the downing of the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001. I have not found the tape ye6t, but I do have a newspaper article from September 18, 2001 from the Washington Post.

In Jersey City, within hours of two jetliners’ plowing into the World Trade Center, law enforcement authorities detained and questioned a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks and holding tailgate-style parties on rooftops while they watched the devastation on the other side of the river.

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Jimmy, Adele & The Roots Sing "Hello" (w/Classroom Instruments)

Jimmy, Adele & The Roots Sing "Hello" (w/Classroom Instruments)

Adele joins Jimmy and The Roots in the Tonight Show Music Room to perform "Hello" with classroom instruments.

Posted by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Next Should Be "Life Behind Bars" for DUMMIES


Secretary of State’s Office Warns Marylanders to Beware of Charity Scams This Holiday Season

ANNAPOLIS, MD - As the holidays approach, Governor Larry Hogan and Secretary of State John Wobensmith are warning Maryland citizens to beware of deceptive practices. Charities in Maryland depend upon the generosity of citizens to provide programs and services to those in need across the state. While this is the time of year charities increase their efforts to collect donations, it is important to be vigilant about scams that are posing as legitimate charitable organizations.

“The holiday season inspires a spirit of generosity to help those in need, but unfortunately, scam artists are also stepping up their efforts to take advantage of that generosity,” said Secretary Wobensmith. “It is important for all Marylanders to be vigilant and know exactly to which charities they are donating.”

It is important to recognize the warning signs that may be affiliated with a scam. Ask questions and be wary of any charity that doesn’t have answers.

Here are some “red flags” that should help determine if a charity is worthy of support:
Did the organization refuse to send you written material or financial information?
Did the solicitor offer to send someone to collect your contribution?
Did the charity send you an invoice or statement that indicates a payment due for a contribution you never pledged?
Does the organization’s name and logo closely resemble those of another charity with a similar purpose?

Charitable organizations that solicit donations from Maryland citizens are required to be registered with the Office of the Secretary of State if they: collect $25,000 or more in direct public support or use paid solicitors to raise funds for the organization. Additionally, smaller charities may be required to file a simple fundraising notice with the Office of the Secretary of State.

To check if a charity is registered, please call 1-800-825-4510. For more information on charities, please visitwww.sos.state.md.us. Citizens can also go directly to the charities database at www.sos.state.md.us/Charity/SearchCharity.aspx.

The Secretary of State’s Office is responsible for investigating charity fraud. To report a potentially fraudulent charity, please contact the Investigations Unit of the Secretary of State’s Office at 410-260-3879 or 1-800-825-4510.

EVO Shuckin' Good Oyster Fest


Tickets are selling fast for EVO's Shuckin' Good Oyster Fest!
You can buy your tickets at EVO Public House or online until 11/25.
Sorry - No ticket sales at the door or after 11/25.

Advance Tickets - $39.99  /  Includes AYCE Buffet!
Oysters on the half, Single-Fried, Baked Oysters & Oyster Stew!
BBQ Pulled Pork, House Slaw & Potato Salad!
All-American Chili Station & Corn Bread!
Unlimited EVO Mainline & Seasonal Beer Tastings!

Doors open at noon - event ends at 4:00pm.

Oyster Fest T-Shirts Available Saturday... while they last!
EVOLUTION CRAFT BREWING CO. 
201 EAST VINE ST. SALISBURY MD  |  443-260.2337

Meanwhile In Berlin...


Just Sayin


Going Green


Found In The Mayor's Office


NOT JUST FOR “RIGHT WING NUTJOBS” ANYMORE: C-SPAN Is Now Asking Whether Obama Is A Muslim

Seriously, that actually happened last week. Here’s a screenshot from the C-SPAN website…

We’ve all heard the rumblings about whether our president is a Muslim, and virtually all of us have seen something or other to perhaps give us pause on the subject. Polls show that only 39 percent of the country actually believe Obama when he says he’s a Christian (some substantial percentage of those who don’t believe that probably reached that conclusion while seeing videos of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s sermons and finding very little Christianity there), while 29 percent think Islam really is his faith.

So despite the media’s constant upbraiding of the American people that the president isn’t a Muslim, the suspicions persevere. And then, during the press conference at the end of the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey, there was this…

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