A North Carolina lottery winner is being sued by the store owner who sold her the ticket after allegedly agreeing to split the $1 million jackpot.
Mother-of-five Eva Reyes, 53, is accused of promising USA Liquors owner Laxmi Bhardwaj half the winnings because he loaned her the money to enter an Emerald 10 scratch card in January.
Though Reyes claims she promised to give $50,000, court documents include a note in her handwriting that allegedly confirms they would each take $350,000 after taxes.
But her attorney claims the Milpitas store owner fabricated the letter.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Sunday, March 08, 2015
Saturday, March 07, 2015
Who Said It? "If You Take Out Saddam, I Guarantee It Will Have Enormous Positive Reverberations"
In 2002, Benjamin Netanyahu already harbored some extremely strong convictions on how to deal with both Iran and Iraq. Back then, his opinions on how to handle the particular challenges each presented were quite divergent. On the one hand, he suggested beaming “reruns of Melrose Place” into Tehran, as a way of inspiring a popular uprising. In contrast, he suggested such an approach could never work in Iraq, and instead advocated for his preferred solution: violence.
Naturally, he believed that a violent overthrow of Saddam Hussein would be a great thing. Specifically predicting that:
If you take out Saddam’s Regime, I guarantee you, that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region.
More
Naturally, he believed that a violent overthrow of Saddam Hussein would be a great thing. Specifically predicting that:
If you take out Saddam’s Regime, I guarantee you, that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region.
More
UPDATE: Power Outage In Salisbury and Berlin
Choptank Electric Cooperative
We currently have 8,896 members without power in our Salisbury and Berlin areas. Delmarva Power has lost a transmission line between Worschester and North Salisbury. Crews are en route to investigate the problem.
UPDATE:
Choptank Electric Cooperative
Ok, folks, here's the latest update: All members being fed from Ocean Pines and New Hope substations appear to have their power restored. We still have no power to members being fed from Walston Switch substation in the Salisbury area. This currently leaves 1,208 members without power at this time. We appear to have had a bird’s nest in the substation which caused equipment to fail. If you are experiencing an outage other than described above please call our Outage Reporting number at 1.800.410.4790. We appreciate your patience as our crews work quickly and safely to restore power to our members!
UPDATE: 9:00pm
Choptank Electric Cooperative
Progress is slowly being made to restore power to the remaining 483 members still out of power in the Salisbury area. Linemen are continuing to make repairs in the Walston Switch substation.
UPDATE: 11:00pm
Choptank Electric Cooperative
All members should be restored at this time! If you are still experiencing an outage please call our Outage Reporting Number at 1.800.410.4790. We appreciate everyone's patience during this outage.
Justices Divided at Health-Law Argument
Liberals grill plaintiffs, conservatives tough on government in case concerning Affordable Care Act subsidies; focus turns to Justice Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts
WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court sparred Wednesday over a lawsuit that could gut the Affordable Care Act across most of the nation, going overtime in arguments that suggested the law’s fate likely rests with two justices.
The outcome of the case, a challenge to the insurance subsidies in the 2010 health law, appeared to turn on the views of Justice Anthony Kennedy and Chief Justice John Roberts . Justice Kennedy, in the biggest surprise from the session, suggested the challengers’ theory could face a constitutional roadblock, since it assumes Congress was trying to strong-arm the states into carrying out a federal policy. Chief Justice Roberts, who joined liberals to uphold most of the health law in 2012, was uncharacteristically quiet through most of the argument, leaving observers guessing.
The challengers’ attorney, Michael Carvin, barely began his statements before the court’s four liberals launched a fusillade of questions deriding his claim that a clause in the law denies tax credits to Americans in at least 34 states where residents use the federal HealthCare.gov website to obtain insurance.
More
WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court sparred Wednesday over a lawsuit that could gut the Affordable Care Act across most of the nation, going overtime in arguments that suggested the law’s fate likely rests with two justices.
The outcome of the case, a challenge to the insurance subsidies in the 2010 health law, appeared to turn on the views of Justice Anthony Kennedy and Chief Justice John Roberts . Justice Kennedy, in the biggest surprise from the session, suggested the challengers’ theory could face a constitutional roadblock, since it assumes Congress was trying to strong-arm the states into carrying out a federal policy. Chief Justice Roberts, who joined liberals to uphold most of the health law in 2012, was uncharacteristically quiet through most of the argument, leaving observers guessing.
The challengers’ attorney, Michael Carvin, barely began his statements before the court’s four liberals launched a fusillade of questions deriding his claim that a clause in the law denies tax credits to Americans in at least 34 states where residents use the federal HealthCare.gov website to obtain insurance.
More
The centenarian's guide to living to 100+
Misao Okawa from Japan turns 117 on March 5, 2015, making her the oldest person alive as recognized by the Gerontology Research Group (a global group of researchers who verify and track supercentenarians) or Guinness World Records. Here are living and deceased supercentenarians (aged over 110 years) and their secrets to long life.
All ages as of March 5, 2015, or at the time of death.
What are the secrets to a long, long life? These supercentenarians (all over 110 years old) reveal their secrets.
More
All ages as of March 5, 2015, or at the time of death.
What are the secrets to a long, long life? These supercentenarians (all over 110 years old) reveal their secrets.
More
If Retirement Health Care Costs Look Scary, Try These Tactics
NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Planning for retirement is a gamble. You don't know how long you'll live, how well your investments will do or how high the cost of living will go. One of the biggest wild cards: health care costs.
The older you get, the more you're likely to spend on health care, because Medicare doesn't cover everything. So how do you plan for that?
A study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute shows that recurring health care costs for Medicare beneficiaries average $1,885 a year. If those expenses — visits to the doctor and dentist and routine prescriptions — grow at 2% a year, a person who will live to 90 will require $45,708 at 65 to pay for them.
But that's just part of the picture. Retirees also face harder-to-predict non-recurring expenses for such things as hospital and nursing home stays, outpatient surgery and home health care. For people aged 85 and over, a nursing home could cost an average of $24,185 for two years, or $66,600 for those near the high end of the expense spectrum.
More
The older you get, the more you're likely to spend on health care, because Medicare doesn't cover everything. So how do you plan for that?
A study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute shows that recurring health care costs for Medicare beneficiaries average $1,885 a year. If those expenses — visits to the doctor and dentist and routine prescriptions — grow at 2% a year, a person who will live to 90 will require $45,708 at 65 to pay for them.
But that's just part of the picture. Retirees also face harder-to-predict non-recurring expenses for such things as hospital and nursing home stays, outpatient surgery and home health care. For people aged 85 and over, a nursing home could cost an average of $24,185 for two years, or $66,600 for those near the high end of the expense spectrum.
More
Potential weight-loss agent from a tree is almost too good to be true
It has qualities so remarkable, it could come from the land of Oz (and could become the television doctor's next big thing, too): a compound derived from a tree growing in South and Central America prompted obese mice to lose 20 percent to 30 percent of their weight. It also allowed normal, healthy mice to chow down on fatty foods — as much as they wanted — and never become obese, accumulate excess fat or develop diabetes.
Oh, and it only worked in females.
A new study details the effectiveness with which a synthetic compound that mimics a flavenoid found in the leaves of the primula tree prompted the muscles of female mice to behave as if they were getting regular, intensive exercise.
Compared to female mice who got a placebo, those who got an oral formulation of a compound called 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF for short) burned more calories, became more sensitive to the effects of insulin and developed body compositions that had more lean tissue and less fat.
More
Oh, and it only worked in females.
A new study details the effectiveness with which a synthetic compound that mimics a flavenoid found in the leaves of the primula tree prompted the muscles of female mice to behave as if they were getting regular, intensive exercise.
Compared to female mice who got a placebo, those who got an oral formulation of a compound called 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF for short) burned more calories, became more sensitive to the effects of insulin and developed body compositions that had more lean tissue and less fat.
More
U.S. considering possible Middle East missile defense
The U.S. military is considering sending its THAAD missile defense system to the Middle East, a senior U.S. Army general said on Wednesday, citing what he called an urgent need to respond to foes with missile systems and the will to use them.
General Vincent Brooks, head of U.S. Army Pacific Command, said no decisions had been made about deploying a U.S.-owned Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in the Middle East or South Korea, another region where he saw an urgent need given the threat posed by North Korea.
"The need is there in ... those two places, urgently, because we have adversaries who have capability and they have demonstrated that they are willing to use it," Brooks told Reuters in an interview.
Brooks did not name Iran, but U.S. military officials have raised concerns in the past about Iran's development of longer-range missiles that could reach Israel and potentially Europe.
The U.S. military must weigh its options, given the high cost involved in deploying the THAAD weapon system, built by Lockheed Martin Corp, Brooks said. He said the U.S. military also continued to explore options for lower-cost systems to defend against lesser threats, but gave no details.
The Army is preparing to swap out a THAAD battery that has been operating in Guam for about a year. It has four active THAAD batteries, with a fifth to start training this year.
More
General Vincent Brooks, head of U.S. Army Pacific Command, said no decisions had been made about deploying a U.S.-owned Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in the Middle East or South Korea, another region where he saw an urgent need given the threat posed by North Korea.
"The need is there in ... those two places, urgently, because we have adversaries who have capability and they have demonstrated that they are willing to use it," Brooks told Reuters in an interview.
Brooks did not name Iran, but U.S. military officials have raised concerns in the past about Iran's development of longer-range missiles that could reach Israel and potentially Europe.
The U.S. military must weigh its options, given the high cost involved in deploying the THAAD weapon system, built by Lockheed Martin Corp, Brooks said. He said the U.S. military also continued to explore options for lower-cost systems to defend against lesser threats, but gave no details.
The Army is preparing to swap out a THAAD battery that has been operating in Guam for about a year. It has four active THAAD batteries, with a fifth to start training this year.
More
Jane Fonda says male domination of world has been 'wounded'
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Jane Fonda said Wednesday the male power structure that has dominated the world for centuries has been wounded — "but there's nothing more dangerous than a wounded beast."
The actress and women's rights activist spoke in a telephone interview ahead of U.N. meetings next week to assess progress toward women's equality. She said "the most intractable problem that humanity faces is the problem of patriarchy," which she partly blames for the rise in terrorism and the destruction of the environment.
She said patriarchy is very entrenched, which has made it difficult for women fighting for real equality to challenge it, though she says women have made inroads.
Male power is "wounded now but there's nothing more dangerous than a wounded beast, thrashing about, flailing its tail with the barbs on it, and a lot of people are really getting hurt badly," she said.
Fonda said this challenge to male power has not only had an impact on terrorism and the environment but has affected women demanding equality because "there's a lot of guys who won't stand for it."
More
The actress and women's rights activist spoke in a telephone interview ahead of U.N. meetings next week to assess progress toward women's equality. She said "the most intractable problem that humanity faces is the problem of patriarchy," which she partly blames for the rise in terrorism and the destruction of the environment.
She said patriarchy is very entrenched, which has made it difficult for women fighting for real equality to challenge it, though she says women have made inroads.
Male power is "wounded now but there's nothing more dangerous than a wounded beast, thrashing about, flailing its tail with the barbs on it, and a lot of people are really getting hurt badly," she said.
Fonda said this challenge to male power has not only had an impact on terrorism and the environment but has affected women demanding equality because "there's a lot of guys who won't stand for it."
More
Judicial Watch Sues for Hillary and Huma’s Egypt Emails
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the State Department seeking any and all communications – including emails – from then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Chief of Staff Huma Abedin with Nagla Mahmoud, wife of ousted Egyptian president Mohammad Morsi, from January 21, 2009 to January 31, 2013 (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State (No. 1:15-cv-00321)).
This latest lawsuit will require the State Department to answer questions about and conduct thorough searches of Hillary Clinton’s newly discovered hidden email accounts. Judicial Watch also has nearly a dozen other active FOIA lawsuits that may require the State Department to search these email accounts.
Huma Abedin is also alleged to have a secret account as well.
More on this..
This latest lawsuit will require the State Department to answer questions about and conduct thorough searches of Hillary Clinton’s newly discovered hidden email accounts. Judicial Watch also has nearly a dozen other active FOIA lawsuits that may require the State Department to search these email accounts.
Huma Abedin is also alleged to have a secret account as well.
Roaming Buffalo Cause Havoc In Grand Canyon National Park
The 600-head herd rarely if ever strays from the 1,900-square-mile park, where hunting is banned. If they were to stampede into the adjacent Kaibab National Forest, they might find themselves in the crosshairs of hunters with permits to bag them, but inside the park they are safe - and free to wreak havoc.
"As long as there's no lethal removal of bison, our ability to remove them is greatly diminished," said Craig McMullen, the regional director of Arizona Game and Fish Department's Flagstaff office.
The state claims ownership of all bison in the state, and sells "tags," or permits, for hunters to kill them. While no hunting is allowed in the national park, the National Park Service has the authority to kill animals that harm resources, using park staff or volunteer shooters. But there are no trophy heads or hides to be kept and the meat is handed over to wildlife agencies, tribes or charities to distribute. Arizona officials say the only answer to thinning out the herd, which effectively has no natural predators, is to declare a hunting season.
"If you want them out of the park, you are going to have to annihilate them; shoot every last one of them," Gary Howell, a former bison hunting guide in the region, said. "Once these lead cows know where to go, you'll never move them."
More here
Cities Paying Millions to Get Out of Bad Bank Deals
Chicago is the latest example of the many local and state governments that are haunted by interest rate swap agreements they made before the Great Recession.
When the Great Recession delivered the biggest blow to government budgets this side of World War II, it wasn’t just slashing revenue streams -- it also made certain financing agreements more costly in the long run.
The agreements are called interest rate swaps, a holdover from the years leading up to 2008 when the booming market made even risky investments seem like a good idea. But in reality, these financing agreements with banks have come back to haunt governments following the financial markets crash and severe drop in interest rates. Last week, Chicago became the latest example when a credit rating downgrade by Moody’s Investors Service triggered a potential $58 million penalty for the fiscally beleaguered city.
Penalties related to ratings downgrades are common in swaps, says Municipal Market Analytics Partner Matt Fabian. But typically, the ratings floor is well below the government’s rating at the time of the deal.
More
When the Great Recession delivered the biggest blow to government budgets this side of World War II, it wasn’t just slashing revenue streams -- it also made certain financing agreements more costly in the long run.
The agreements are called interest rate swaps, a holdover from the years leading up to 2008 when the booming market made even risky investments seem like a good idea. But in reality, these financing agreements with banks have come back to haunt governments following the financial markets crash and severe drop in interest rates. Last week, Chicago became the latest example when a credit rating downgrade by Moody’s Investors Service triggered a potential $58 million penalty for the fiscally beleaguered city.
Penalties related to ratings downgrades are common in swaps, says Municipal Market Analytics Partner Matt Fabian. But typically, the ratings floor is well below the government’s rating at the time of the deal.
More
Inventor Of The Keurig Doesn’t Own One, Regrets Inventing It
Keurig’s K-Cup coffee pods are popular brewing devices that you can find in homes, offices, and waiting rooms. There are even refrigerators with a machine built right in. Do you know where you won’t find one, though? The home of the man who invented the machine back in the ’90s, John Sylvan.
This week, The Atlantic looked at the practical and environmental problems that the Keurig causes, and started from the very beginning, when inventor Sylvan was just a guy who wanted to invent a better way to dispense coffee in the office. He figured that people would buy the pods, but didn’t foresee how popular his invention would become. He sold his share of the company (“Keurig” is the Dutch word for “excellence”) for $50,000.
K-Cups are complicated; Keurig-licensed cups can theoretically be disassembled, but only in rare cities that recycle #7 plastic and if you have the patience to take the cup apart, tossing out the foil top, paper filter, and coffee grounds, and recycling the tiny cup.
“It’s like a cigarette for coffee, a single-serve delivery mechanism for an addictive substance,” he explained to the Atlantic. Very few people want to disassemble a convenience pod so it can be recycled.
More
This week, The Atlantic looked at the practical and environmental problems that the Keurig causes, and started from the very beginning, when inventor Sylvan was just a guy who wanted to invent a better way to dispense coffee in the office. He figured that people would buy the pods, but didn’t foresee how popular his invention would become. He sold his share of the company (“Keurig” is the Dutch word for “excellence”) for $50,000.
K-Cups are complicated; Keurig-licensed cups can theoretically be disassembled, but only in rare cities that recycle #7 plastic and if you have the patience to take the cup apart, tossing out the foil top, paper filter, and coffee grounds, and recycling the tiny cup.
“It’s like a cigarette for coffee, a single-serve delivery mechanism for an addictive substance,” he explained to the Atlantic. Very few people want to disassemble a convenience pod so it can be recycled.
More
DOJ Won't Prosecute Former Officer Darren Wilson
The Justice Department announced Wednesday that it will not prosecute former Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of an unarmed black 18-year-old, while also releasing a report faulting the city and its law enforcement for racial bias.
In the criminal investigation, federal officials concluded Wilson's actions "do not constitute prosecutable violations under the applicable federal criminal rights statute."
Specifically, the DOJ said there was "no evidence" to disprove Wilson's testimony that he feared for his safety, nor was there reliable evidence that Michael Brown had his hands up when he was shot.
The report said: "Although there are several individuals who have stated that Brown held his hands up in an unambiguous sign of surrender prior to Wilson shooting him dead, their accounts do not support a prosecution of Wilson. As detailed throughout this report, some of those accounts are inaccurate because they are inconsistent with the physical and forensic evidence; some of those accounts are materially inconsistent with that witness's own prior statements with no explanation, credible or otherwise, as to why those accounts changed over time."
More
In the criminal investigation, federal officials concluded Wilson's actions "do not constitute prosecutable violations under the applicable federal criminal rights statute."
Specifically, the DOJ said there was "no evidence" to disprove Wilson's testimony that he feared for his safety, nor was there reliable evidence that Michael Brown had his hands up when he was shot.
The report said: "Although there are several individuals who have stated that Brown held his hands up in an unambiguous sign of surrender prior to Wilson shooting him dead, their accounts do not support a prosecution of Wilson. As detailed throughout this report, some of those accounts are inaccurate because they are inconsistent with the physical and forensic evidence; some of those accounts are materially inconsistent with that witness's own prior statements with no explanation, credible or otherwise, as to why those accounts changed over time."
More
BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL DEAN SHOOTS A 17-YEAR-OLD STUDENT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD OVER MARIJUANA FEUD
He was the Don of students.
A top educator at a Boston high school ran an underworld crime syndicate, punctuated by the “execution-style” shooting of a pupil over a marijuana deal gone bad, authorities said.
The Rev. Shaun Harrison, 55, lured his young protege into an ambush on Tuesday evening with promises of weed and girls before blasting him in the head, the Boston Herald reported.
More
A top educator at a Boston high school ran an underworld crime syndicate, punctuated by the “execution-style” shooting of a pupil over a marijuana deal gone bad, authorities said.
The Rev. Shaun Harrison, 55, lured his young protege into an ambush on Tuesday evening with promises of weed and girls before blasting him in the head, the Boston Herald reported.
More
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)