SHANGHAI, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) -- A group of citizens in a northeastern Chinese city bordering North Korea have taken to the streets protesting the North's latest nuclear test as concerns over radioactive contamination are mounting there, a U.S. broadcaster reported Wednesday.
They staged a protest Sunday against the North's most powerful nuclear test on Sept. 3 in downtown Harbin, Heilongjian Province, shouting, "We strongly protest the test that intimidates the three northeastern Chinese provinces (adjacent to the North)," Radio Free Asia said.
"No country conducts a nuclear test in border areas, but North Korea poses a grave threat to China by enforcing the nuclear test in a place very close to China," rights activist Yu Yunfeng, who led the protest, was cited as saying.
He underlined that the test triggering a 5.8 magnitude earthquake can affect China's air pollution as the test site, Punggye-ri in the North's Hamkyong Province, is just 36 kilometers from the border between the two nations, the broadcaster said.
The Chinese government carried out radioactive surveys in the Chinese provinces right after the test, and concluded that no noticeable impact had been discovered.
On Thursday, however, it temporarily shut down the southern part of its popular Mount Paekdu tourist site on the border with North Korea for safety reasons.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, September 21, 2017
N. Korea says Trump threat is 'sound of dog barking'
NEW YORK, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho slammed U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, saying his threat to destroy the nation amounted to "the sound of a dog barking."
Ri arrived in New York earlier in the day to attend the U.N. General Assembly.
Speaking to reporters in front of his hotel, he issued the regime's first response to Trump's threat a day earlier to "totally destroy" North Korea if it poses a direct threat to the U.S. or its allies.
"If he was thinking he could scare us with the sound of a dog barking, that's really a dog dream," Ri said, referencing a North Korean proverb that a procession moves even if dogs bark. In Korean, a dog dream is one that is absurd and makes little sense.
Asked to comment on "Rocket Man," Trump's new nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, he said, "I feel sorry for his aides."
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Ri arrived in New York earlier in the day to attend the U.N. General Assembly.
Speaking to reporters in front of his hotel, he issued the regime's first response to Trump's threat a day earlier to "totally destroy" North Korea if it poses a direct threat to the U.S. or its allies.
"If he was thinking he could scare us with the sound of a dog barking, that's really a dog dream," Ri said, referencing a North Korean proverb that a procession moves even if dogs bark. In Korean, a dog dream is one that is absurd and makes little sense.
Asked to comment on "Rocket Man," Trump's new nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, he said, "I feel sorry for his aides."
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College football player dies after injury during 'routine' tackle
A college football player who suffered a neck injury during a game on Saturday has died, university officials announced Wednesday.
Robert Grays, a 19-year-old cornerback for Midwestern State University in Texas, died Tuesday at a hospital in Houston after he was hurt making a “routine tackle” during his team’s 35-13 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville, The Wichitan reported. University president Suzanne Shipley confirmed Grays’ death to students early Wednesday.
“Robert touched many lives while attending the university, but perhaps he will be remembered best for his smile,” Shipley said. “He was an inspiration on and off the field to those around him, and he will be remembered with love and affection by his friends, classmates, coaches, and teammates.”
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Robert Grays, a 19-year-old cornerback for Midwestern State University in Texas, died Tuesday at a hospital in Houston after he was hurt making a “routine tackle” during his team’s 35-13 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville, The Wichitan reported. University president Suzanne Shipley confirmed Grays’ death to students early Wednesday.
“Robert touched many lives while attending the university, but perhaps he will be remembered best for his smile,” Shipley said. “He was an inspiration on and off the field to those around him, and he will be remembered with love and affection by his friends, classmates, coaches, and teammates.”
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http://www.foxnews.com/health/2017/09/20/college-football-player-dies-after-injury-during-routine-tackle.html
BUSTED: Obama's DNI Chief James Clapper Swore Trump Campaign Was Not Wiretapped
Will CNN fire Clapper now that it’s abundantly clear he’s a serial liar?
Back in March, former Director of National Intelligence turned CNN contributor James Clapper swore up and down that no one on the Trump campaign was wiretapped and insisted he “would know” if that was the case.
Even though he’s a proven liar who was caught lying to congress before about mass surveillance, the mass media took his assurance that Trump and his campaign was not spied on as gospel.
More/Video
Back in March, former Director of National Intelligence turned CNN contributor James Clapper swore up and down that no one on the Trump campaign was wiretapped and insisted he “would know” if that was the case.
Even though he’s a proven liar who was caught lying to congress before about mass surveillance, the mass media took his assurance that Trump and his campaign was not spied on as gospel.
More/Video
California Attorney General Sues to Prevent Building of Trump’s Border-Wall Projects
Becerra: Trump administration is violating the Constitution in order to build the wall
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced a lawsuit on behalf of the state that would attempt to block any projects related to President Donald Trump's promised border wall between the U.S. and Mexico by deeming them unconstitutional.
The lawsuit, which is being filed in federal court, argues that the Trump administration has violated federal and state environmental laws, which it recently waived under an immigration provision in a 2005 law giving the Homeland Security secretary the power to do so.
Becerra argues that that law allowing the waiver violated the U.S. Constitutions' separation-of-powers doctrine to short-cut requirements under the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act for environmental analysis of the impact of the border-wall prototypes.
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California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced a lawsuit on behalf of the state that would attempt to block any projects related to President Donald Trump's promised border wall between the U.S. and Mexico by deeming them unconstitutional.
The lawsuit, which is being filed in federal court, argues that the Trump administration has violated federal and state environmental laws, which it recently waived under an immigration provision in a 2005 law giving the Homeland Security secretary the power to do so.
Becerra argues that that law allowing the waiver violated the U.S. Constitutions' separation-of-powers doctrine to short-cut requirements under the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act for environmental analysis of the impact of the border-wall prototypes.
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At Least 163 Children Drowned In Pools & Spas This Summer
Now that summer is over, many of us have fond memories of a few months splashing around in the pool with family and friends. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on the potential for danger, as a new federal report claims that at least 163 children drowned while swimming in pools or spas in just the last few months.
Sleep deprivation might be the antidote for depression
Depression keeping you up at night? Staying awake may be the key to rapidly improving your mood.
Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania looked back at decades’ worth of studies on sleep deprivation and concluded it can temporarily improve symptoms of depression in up to 50 percent of people.
All forms of sleep deprivation, ranging from partial (20 to 21 hours without sleep) to total (up to 36 hours), were an effective anti-depressant for patients across demographics, according to the analysis of 66 English-language studies on the topic from 1974 to 2016. What’s more, patients reported feeling better within as little as 24 hours after treatment.
“These studies in our analysis show that sleep deprivation is effective for many populations,” the study’s lead author, Elaine Boland, a clinical associate and research psychologist at the Cpl. Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, told Penn Medicine.
“Regardless of how the response was quantified, how the sleep deprivation was delivered, or the type of depression the subject was experiencing, we found a nearly equivalent response rate,” she said.
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Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania looked back at decades’ worth of studies on sleep deprivation and concluded it can temporarily improve symptoms of depression in up to 50 percent of people.
All forms of sleep deprivation, ranging from partial (20 to 21 hours without sleep) to total (up to 36 hours), were an effective anti-depressant for patients across demographics, according to the analysis of 66 English-language studies on the topic from 1974 to 2016. What’s more, patients reported feeling better within as little as 24 hours after treatment.
“These studies in our analysis show that sleep deprivation is effective for many populations,” the study’s lead author, Elaine Boland, a clinical associate and research psychologist at the Cpl. Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, told Penn Medicine.
“Regardless of how the response was quantified, how the sleep deprivation was delivered, or the type of depression the subject was experiencing, we found a nearly equivalent response rate,” she said.
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Mauldin: Americans Don't Grasp The Magnitude Of The Looming Pension Tsunami
You read that right—not doubled, tripled, or quadrupled—quintupled. That’s nice when it happens on a slot machine, not so nice when it’s money you owe.
You will also notice in the chart that much of that change happened in 2008.
Why was that?
That's when the Fed took interest rates down to nearly zero, meaning it suddenly took more cash to fund future payments.
According to a 2014 Pew study, only 15 states follow policies that have funded at least 100% of their pension needs. And that estimate is based on the aggressive assumptions of pension funds that they will get their predicted rate of returns (the “discount rate”).
Kentucky, for instance, has unfunded pension liabilities of $40 billion or more. This month the state budget director notified local governments that pension costs could jump 50–60% next year.
That’s due to a proposed reduction in the system’s assumed rate of return from 7.5% to 6.25%—a step in the right direction but not nearly enough.
Think About This as an Investor: How Can You Guarantee 6–7% Returns These Days?
Do you know a way to guarantee yourself even 6.25% average annual returns for the next 10–20 years? Of course you don’t. Yes, some strategies have a good shot at doing it, but there’s no guarantee.
And if you believe Jeremy Grantham’s seven-year forecasts (I do: His 2009 growth forecast was spot on), then those pension funds have very little hope of getting their average 7% predicted rate of return, at least for the next seven years.
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MICHAEL W. CAREY, FOUND GUILTY OF ROBBERY AND THEFT
On September 19, 2017, a Wicomico County jury convicted Michael Wayne Carey, age 38, no fixed address, of one count of Robbery and one count of Theft-$1000 to under $10,000.
This conviction stems from Carey robbing the Bank of Delmarva on Route 13 in Delmar, Maryland on September 30, 2016. Carey was arrested in Greenwood, Delaware on October 1, 2016. Carey was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, all suspended except 5 years of active incarceration. Carey was previously convicted of the September 26, 2016 robbery of First Shore Federal Bank on Mt. Hermon Road in Salisbury, for which he received a sentence of 15 years active incarceration. These two sentences will be served consecutively.
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Ella Disharoon commended the combined efforts of Corporal Thomas Esham of the Delmar Police Department, Detective Brandon Caton of the Salisbury Police Department, and many other officers and community members involved in the investigation. Mrs. Disharoon also thanked Assistant State’s Attorney James “Bo” McAllister, who prosecuted the cases.
This conviction stems from Carey robbing the Bank of Delmarva on Route 13 in Delmar, Maryland on September 30, 2016. Carey was arrested in Greenwood, Delaware on October 1, 2016. Carey was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, all suspended except 5 years of active incarceration. Carey was previously convicted of the September 26, 2016 robbery of First Shore Federal Bank on Mt. Hermon Road in Salisbury, for which he received a sentence of 15 years active incarceration. These two sentences will be served consecutively.
Wicomico County State’s Attorney Ella Disharoon commended the combined efforts of Corporal Thomas Esham of the Delmar Police Department, Detective Brandon Caton of the Salisbury Police Department, and many other officers and community members involved in the investigation. Mrs. Disharoon also thanked Assistant State’s Attorney James “Bo” McAllister, who prosecuted the cases.
Toymakers Won’t Let Toys ‘R’ Us Die Because That Would Be Bad For Their Business
Although the news of the Toys ‘R’ Us bankruptcy may have thrown some shoppers into a pre-holidays panic at first, the company will be keeping its stores open and its shelves stocked with toys. Not only because it wants to cash in during its biggest season, but because its suppliers need it to stick around.
Nearly 30 Percent of Public School Teachers Chronically Absent
Unionization plays role in shaping absentee rates
Public school teachers are three times more likely to miss large chunks of school days than their peers at charter schools, which could hurt student learning, according to a new report.
An analysis by Thomas P. Fordham Institute senior research and policy associate David Griffith found that more than 28 percent of public school teachers miss at least 11 workdays a year.
Hawaii led the country in absenteeism with 79 percent of public school teachers taking off at least 10 days. Educators' truancy rates are far higher than those in other industries. An average teacher will take eight personal or sick days each year compared to the nationwide average of three-and-a-half, according to the report, titled, "Teacher Absenteeism in Charter and Traditional Public Schools."
"The percentage of teachers in traditional public schools who take more than ten sick and personal days is almost four times higher than the percentage of employees in other industries who take at least ten sick days—despite the fact that teachers have significantly fewer work days than employees in other industries," the report says.
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Public school teachers are three times more likely to miss large chunks of school days than their peers at charter schools, which could hurt student learning, according to a new report.
An analysis by Thomas P. Fordham Institute senior research and policy associate David Griffith found that more than 28 percent of public school teachers miss at least 11 workdays a year.
Hawaii led the country in absenteeism with 79 percent of public school teachers taking off at least 10 days. Educators' truancy rates are far higher than those in other industries. An average teacher will take eight personal or sick days each year compared to the nationwide average of three-and-a-half, according to the report, titled, "Teacher Absenteeism in Charter and Traditional Public Schools."
"The percentage of teachers in traditional public schools who take more than ten sick and personal days is almost four times higher than the percentage of employees in other industries who take at least ten sick days—despite the fact that teachers have significantly fewer work days than employees in other industries," the report says.
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Panera CEO Challenges Fast Food Execs To Eat From Their Kids’ Menus For A week
When it comes to verbal throwdowns, Panera CEO Ron Shaich isn’t shy about expressing how he really feels about the chain’s rivals. Now, he’s challenging fast food executives to eat exclusively from their kids’ menus to prove they really like their own offerings.
French University Suspends All Classes Due To Migrant Squatters
‘Indefinitely’ closed until ‘security conditions restored,’ says college president
The University of Reims Champagne-Ardennes has suspended all courses due to security concerns after around 40 migrants began to squat on the campus only days after classes began.
President of the university Guillaume Gellé wrote a letter to the student population on Sunday saying: “Access to the university premises located on the Red Cross campus is forbidden until security conditions are restored.”
Gellé told local media that the security situation also extended to the migrants themselves as he noted there were children amongst them, L’Express reports.
Read more
The University of Reims Champagne-Ardennes has suspended all courses due to security concerns after around 40 migrants began to squat on the campus only days after classes began.
President of the university Guillaume Gellé wrote a letter to the student population on Sunday saying: “Access to the university premises located on the Red Cross campus is forbidden until security conditions are restored.”
Gellé told local media that the security situation also extended to the migrants themselves as he noted there were children amongst them, L’Express reports.
Read more
Hey Kids, Now Your Parents Have to Take Driver’s Ed, Too
The driver’s license: Perhaps nothing represents teen freedom more than that document saying you can go wherever you want without having your parents or someone else drive you there. But times have changed from the day when driving autonomy was granted to any 16-year-old who could pass the DMV’s tests. Now, some states are requiring parents to take a form of driver’s education alongside their teens.
Pat Buchanan: "Who Truly Imperils Our Free Society?"
“The Barbarian cannot make … he can befog and destroy but … he cannot sustain; and of every Barbarian in the decline or peril of every civilization exactly that has been true.”
Hilaire Belloc’s depiction of the barbarian is recalled to mind as the statues honoring the history and heroes of the Republic and of the West continue to be vandalized and smashed.
A week ago, the statue of missionary and Catholic Saint Fr. Junipero Serra was beheaded at the Santa Barbara Mission he founded. A century-old Columbus statue in Central Park was defaced and spray-painted with: “Hate will not be tolerated.”
Baltimore’s monument to Francis Scott Key, who observed the bombardment of Fort McHenry on a British warship late in the War of 1812 and was inspired to write “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was covered in red paint. “Racist anthem” was written across it.
In Berkeley, home of the Free Speech Movement, the university last week had to spend $600,000 to protect an invited speaker of the college Republicans from being assaulted.
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Hilaire Belloc’s depiction of the barbarian is recalled to mind as the statues honoring the history and heroes of the Republic and of the West continue to be vandalized and smashed.
A week ago, the statue of missionary and Catholic Saint Fr. Junipero Serra was beheaded at the Santa Barbara Mission he founded. A century-old Columbus statue in Central Park was defaced and spray-painted with: “Hate will not be tolerated.”
Baltimore’s monument to Francis Scott Key, who observed the bombardment of Fort McHenry on a British warship late in the War of 1812 and was inspired to write “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was covered in red paint. “Racist anthem” was written across it.
In Berkeley, home of the Free Speech Movement, the university last week had to spend $600,000 to protect an invited speaker of the college Republicans from being assaulted.
More
Lyft, Budweiser Partnering Up Again To Fight Drunk Driving With Free Rides
Just like last year, Lyft and Budweiser are teaming up to offer drinkers a safer option for getting home than climbing behind the wheel of their car: They’ll be handing out 150,000 round-trip rides in some states through the end of the year.
Finland’s Welfare State Has a Massive Baby Problem
The number of newborns has fallen to its lowest level in 148 years
You know you've got a problem when even the best don't have the solution.
Finland, a first-rate place in which to be a mother, has registered the lowest number of newborns in nearly 150 years. The birth rate has been falling steadily since the start of the decade, and there's little to suggest a reversal in the trend.
Demographics are a concern across the developed world, of course. But they are particularly problematic for countries with a generous welfare state, since they endanger its long-term survival.
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You know you've got a problem when even the best don't have the solution.
Finland, a first-rate place in which to be a mother, has registered the lowest number of newborns in nearly 150 years. The birth rate has been falling steadily since the start of the decade, and there's little to suggest a reversal in the trend.
Demographics are a concern across the developed world, of course. But they are particularly problematic for countries with a generous welfare state, since they endanger its long-term survival.
More
Congratulations America, You Gave Airlines $7.1B In Baggage And Change Fees Last Year
For the better part of the last decade, airlines have been tacking on fees for everything from checking bags to allowing customers to cancel or change their flights. While spending $25 now and then for the convenience of not dragging your bags around the airport might not break the bank, those fees add up — to $7.1 billion.
Unions Are Training Hotel Workers to Face Down Immigration Raids
Hotel workers in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York have been gathering for training sessions recently on how to handle visits from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The sessions, organized by the labor union Unite Here!, teach workers how to effectively stonewall ICE agents, emphasizing employees’ right to refuse to answer questions or show identification.
Organizers don dark sunglasses or jackets and role-play as ICE agents, with a “good cop” entreating the volunteers with lines such as “You look like a good person,” and a bad cop screaming threats at them. “I need you guys to be just absolute a$$holes,” organizer Hugo Soto, a former hotel worker who helped develop the training program, tells colleagues when preparing them to portray agents. “We need to train ourselves to be able to beat ICE.”
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Organizers don dark sunglasses or jackets and role-play as ICE agents, with a “good cop” entreating the volunteers with lines such as “You look like a good person,” and a bad cop screaming threats at them. “I need you guys to be just absolute a$$holes,” organizer Hugo Soto, a former hotel worker who helped develop the training program, tells colleagues when preparing them to portray agents. “We need to train ourselves to be able to beat ICE.”
More
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