Fox News

Hundreds of uniformed officers joined the wife and two sons of a New York policeman who was gunned down in broad daylight at a wake Friday.

The tribute to Officer Rafael Ramos took place at a Queens church were friends and colleagues spoke highly of him. Ramos was seen as the embodiment of selflessness and the kind of officer the New York Police Department wants its officers to project.

“He was studying to be a pastor. He had Bible study books in his locker, which is rare for a police officer, but that goes to show you the type of man he was,” NYPD Capt. Sergio Centa said before entering Christ Tabernacle Church.   Continue reading “Wake held for Rafael Ramos, 1 of 2 NYPD officers gunned down in attack”

Emerald Triangle MapGeoCurrents – by Martin W. Lewis

On December 4, 2014, National Public Radio (NPR) ran an interesting story on a severely underreported matter: international seasonal labor migration to the “Golden Triangle” of marijuana cultivation in northwestern California. This report—“With Harvest Season, ‘Trimmigrants’ Flock To California’s Pot Capital”*—captured many of the more intriguing and important aspects of the phenomenon. But it also missed some significant things and made a few doubtful assertions. This post seeks to provide a more comprehensive picture.

Before proceeding, it is necessary to outline my own sources of information. Although the evidence in most GeoCurrents posts derives from a variety of published materials and on-line sources, this one relies entirely on oral interviews. Continue reading “NPR’s Incomplete Story on “Trimmigants” in the California Marijuana Industry”

IllustrationiHLS

American soldiers are being trained for Cyber wars.

A unique mix of training technologies sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is preparing front-line soldiers to conduct cyber and combat operations simultaneously, as Marines demonstrated during a recent amphibious exercise off the coast of Virginia.

According to HomeLand Security News Wire, during last month’s Bold Alligator exercise, Marines used ONR’s Tactical Cyber Range to emulate adversary communications hidden in a noisy, dense electromagnetic spectrum —as much a battleground in today’s digital world as any piece of land.   Continue reading “New cyber test range trains soldiers for simultaneous cyber and combat operations”

NewsMax – by Sandy Fitzgerald

The Supreme Court will tackle a laundry list of high-profile cases during the first six months of the new year, including decisions on Obamacare and other hot-button topics that could pose big challenges for both liberal and conservative interests.

The looming decision on Obamacare tops the list of controversial agenda items, reports the National Journal, but justices are also considering decisions on matters, including political fundraising limits, free speech, and religious freedom that will all have a high impact this coming year.   Continue reading “Obamacare Tops Hot-Button Issues Soon Before Supreme Court”

Fox News

North Korea called President Barack Obama “a monkey” and blamed the U.S. on Saturday for shutting down its Internet amid the hacking row over the comedy “The Interview.”

North Korea has denied involvement in a crippling cyberattack on Sony Pictures but has expressed fury over the comedy depicting an assassination of its leader Kim Jong Un. Sony Pictures initially called off the release citing threats of terror attacks against U.S. movie theaters. Obama criticized Sony’s decision, and the movie has opened this week.   Continue reading “N. Korea blames US for internet shutdown, hurls racist comment toward Obama”

Khamis Shatara (screen capture)Raw Story – by David Ferguson

An off-duty sheriff’s deputy from Palm Beach, Florida reportedly shot and killed his 21-year-old son on Christmas Eve at an apartment complex in Delrey Beach.

According to the Broward-Palm Beach New Times‘ Pulp blog, Khamis Shatara was shot and killed by his father, a Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office deputy, in a dispute that took place on Wednesday.   Continue reading “Off-duty Florida sheriff’s deputy accused of shooting and killing his son on Christmas Eve”

Thompson Auto-OrdnanceAmmo Land

POMONA, NY –-(Ammoland.com)-  USA based, Kahr Firearms Group is proud to announce the introduction of the Auto Ordnance 1911BKO.

The 1911BKO is only the second 1911 pistol to be introduced over the past year, following in the footsteps of the successful 1911TC model in stainless steel just last year.

The Auto Ordnance 1911BKO frame incorporates GI specs and features a matte black finish frame, barrel and slide. The carbon steel slide, sear and disconnector are machined from solid bar stock and heat treated properly to assure durability and long life over many thousands of rounds.  The low-profile sights feature a blade front sight and a rear drift adjustable for windage. The grip is brown checkered plastic.   Continue reading “Auto Ordnance Introduces the Budget Priced 1911 BKO Pistol”

Mish’s Global Economic Trend Analysis

In Russia, the overnight lending rates between banks has soared to 19%, a sign of widespread and warranted mistrust between banks, as one bank has failed. To stabilize the situation, Putin is considering bank deposit insurance up to an amount equivalent rate of about $26,000.

Meanwhile, and although Russia is still burning through currency reserves, the value of the Ruble has been rising.

CNN Money reports Russia Empties the Vault to Prop Up Ruble.   Continue reading “Russia’s Overnight Lending Rate Hits 19%, as Mistrust of Banks Spreads; Ruble Up Again”

SlideshowValley Central – by Nadia Galindo

A person claiming to be a member of a cartel said they have kidnapped a border agent and threatened the agent’s life, according to police.

Border Patrol is making contact with all personnel in the Rio Grande Valley sector at this time.

They have now confirmed that all agents working the day of the threat have been accounted for.   Continue reading “Police: Cartel claims they have kidnapped Border Patrol agent”

Image source: KOAT-TVTheBlaze – by Jon Street

Federal authorities are on alert after the website of a local newspaper in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was hacked Wednesday.

The newspaper’s top online story about the 1971 slaying of a state police officer was removed and replaced with pro-Islamic State propaganda in an article titled “CHRISTMAS WILL NEVER BE MERRY ANY LONGER,” KRWG-TV reported. The mystery post reportedly warned residents that their privacy was being invaded.   Continue reading “What Appeared on a Major Newspaper’s Website Results in FBI Investigation”

Before It’s News – by Dave Hodges

The following is a frightening pep talk given to police about the need to form the “Thin Blue Line”. Implied in the message is that it is the police vs. public. In this philosophy, the people are viewed by the police as the enemy. When in fact, most of the public wants to support the police and needs them to protect them from harm. The following two videos frame the debate on this topic.    Continue reading “Recorded Pep Talk Encouraging Police to View the Public As the Enemy”

View image on TwitterUPI – by Aileen Graef

HAVERHILL, Mass., Dec. 26 (UPI) — A baby Jesus figurine from a church in Massachusetts was stolen and replaced with a real pig’s head on Christmas.

The police were called by the Sacred Heart Church in Haverhill with the report of the swap on Christmas. Police planned a news conference Friday but there were no reports of a suspect.   Continue reading “Baby Jesus stolen from church Nativity replaced with real pig’s head”

TruthDig – by Alexander Reed Kelly

The U.S. Census Bureau shows “the generation that has been dismissed as entitled and whiny is struggling with higher levels of poverty than their counterparts did in 1980,” when one in seven 18-to-34-year-olds lived in poverty, the Guardian reports.

Unemployment is a major factor:   Continue reading “One In Five Young Adults Lives in Poverty”

Ruger 22 Charger PistolAmmoLand

Southport, CT –-(Ammoland.com)- Sturm, Ruger &amp Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) proudly announces the re-engineered 22 Charger pistol with enhanced features and introduces the new 22 Charger Takedown pistol.

First introduced in 2007, the 22 Charger pistol became a favorite for .22 LR pistol shooters and plinkers alike.

Weighing just under 3.25 pounds, the new 22 Charger pistol has an overall length of 19.25 inches and features a 10-inch precision rifled, threaded barrel with a 1/2″-28 thread pattern to accept most popular muzzle accessories.   Continue reading “Ruger Introduces the Re-engineered 22 Charger Pistol & the New 22 Charger Takedown”

Stop common coreShark Tank – by Javier Manjarres

Could Common Core be the defining issue in the 2016 Republican presidential primary race?

No one knows for sure, but the groundswell of support against the national education standards has increase expedentially across the nation, emboldening an new bloc of concerned mothers, who may not all be conservative-minded.   Continue reading “Common Core Will Define The 2016 GOP Presidential Primary”

Tiara ObamaABC News

Apparently only Girl Scouts can get President Obama to break one of his cardinal rules.

Chief White House photographer Pete Souza posted a photo to Instagram today showing the president donning a tiara alongside a group of Girl Scouts from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The photo, from the annual White House Science Fair, was taken in May.   Continue reading “Obama Breaks Cardinal Presidential Rule by Donning Tiara”

The Rebel Website – by Jim Stone

What triggered Ferguson to become the center of a national propaganda campaign that could very well be used to take away more rights and freedoms? Why was that exact spot chosen for this? Because some high level super rich corporate types decided they wanted to take the main avenue of Ferguson and turn it into a large strip mall, and mom and pop stores refused to sell.   Continue reading “The real reason for Ferguson riots: Mom and Pop refused to sell.”