download (6)Let’s not lose sight of these other machinations going on under the radar, while we may be distracted by other newsworthy items:

Washington Post

THE TRANS-PACIFIC Partnership has been described as the centerpiece of President Obama’s attempt to “pivot” U.S. foreign policy toward Asia, and with good reason. A proposed trade liberalization agreement among 12 nations, the TPP would, in binding the United States more closely with a portion of the world, collectively account for 40 percent of global output. At the same time, it would ensure that this huge area, including giants such as Japan, Canada, Mexico and Australia, conducts business according to U.S.-style rules on tariffs, regulation and intellectual property. China would be left on the sidelines, along with its mercantilist model of international commerce — unless and until it modifies that approach. The net effect would be a better balance of power, money and ideas between the United States and its allies on the one hand and China on the other.
Continue reading “U.S. and Japan must seal the deal on the Trans-Pacific Partnership”

Washington Post – by John Paul Stevens

John Paul Stevens served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010. This essay is excerpted from his new book, “Six Amendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution.”

Following the massacre of grammar-school children in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012, high-powered weapons have been used to kill innocent victims in more senseless public incidents. Those killings, however, are only a fragment of the total harm caused by the misuse of firearms. Each year, more than 30,000 people die in the United States in firearm-related incidents. Many of those deaths involve handguns.   Continue reading “Justice Stevens: The five extra words that can ‘fix’ the Second Amendment”

The Baltimore Sun – by Jon Sham

When Sergio Gutierrez pulled out his iPhone to film an arrest taking place outside of The Greene Turtle on York Road in Towson late Saturday, he didn’t expect the video would go viral.

But when Baltimore County police officers saw Gutierrez standing there among other bystanders, holding up the phone, they intervened.   Continue reading “Bystander who filmed Towson arrest talks about interaction with police”

Smart meter installation, via PepcoWTOP – by AARON KRAUT

The Maryland Public Service Commission on Wednesday announced it has decided on fees for Pepco customers who opt-out of the company’s smart meter installation program.

Residential and small commercial customers who decline to have smart meters installed will have to pay a $75 up-front fee and $14 monthly fee starting in July.    Continue reading “PSC Sets Fees For Opting Out Of Pepco Smart Meters”

Catherine EngelbrechtCNS News – by Melanie Hunter

King Street Patriots founder Catherine Engelbrecht, one of many conservatives who claim they were unfairly targeted by the IRS when applying for tax-exempt status, told Congress Thursday that she is “more determined ever than before to stand before you and to all of America and say that I will not retreat.”

“Know this,” she said, “my experiences at the hands of this government in the last five years have made me more determined ever than before to stand before you and to all of America and say that I will not retreat. I will not surrender. I will not be intimidated, and I will not ask for permission to exercise my constitutional rights.”   Continue reading “Witness at IRS Hearing: ‘I Will Not Retreat; I Will Not Surrender’”

mathAs I have mentioned a few times, I come from a family of liberals and live near DC, many of my friends are liberals and love this kind of stuff. I maintain some ties with them due to years of history with them, though I am rapidly moving in another direction.

I read it with a sense of horror because of the very subtle indoctrination embedded within — well, I’ll say I used to find it subtle but not anymore. Now it screams out at me.   Continue reading “Math = Love?”