"Lie, after lie, after lie. They track, they spy, they have everyone's emails and phone calls."

Via NC Renegade

Justice Department Fights Release of Secret Court Opinion Finding Unconstitutional Surveillance

Via Daily Timewaster

Government lawyers are trying to keep buried a classified court finding that a domestic spying program went too far.

 

In the midst of revelations that the government has conducted extensive top-secret surveillance operations to collect domestic phone records and internet communications, the Justice Department was due to file a court motion Friday in its effort to keep secret an 86-page court opinion that determined that the government had violated the spirit of federal surveillance laws and engaged in unconstitutional spying.

This important case—all the more relevant in the wake of this week's disclosures—was triggered after Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate intelligence committee, started crying foul in 2011 about US government snooping. As a member of the intelligence committee, he had learned about domestic surveillance activity affecting American citizens that he believed was improper. He and Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), another intelligence committee member, raised only vague warnings about this data collection, because they could not reveal the details of the classified program that concerned them. But in July 2012, Wyden was able to get the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify two statements that he wanted to issue publicly. They were:

More @ Mother Jones

Studious

Via The Lonely Libertarian

Rural Colorado counties propose 51st state

Via Bonnie Gadsden

 

County commissioners from rural Northeastern Colorado are pursuing a plan to splinter from the state and create a new one following a legislative session they say ignored the values that form the fabric of the region.

More @ Coloradoan

Patriots of ’61 -- Private John Richard Hood – 35th North Carolina Regiment

Born on 14 October 1841 near Mint Hill, Mecklenburg County, John Richard Hood enlisted in Company H, 35^th North Carolina Regiment on 4 July 1862.  

Only seven days earlier and perhaps unbeknownst to him, brother Abner B. Hood received a mortal wound at Gaines Mill.

In September he was with his regiment at Harper’s Ferry and later at Sharpsburg in support of Stonewall Jackson’s forces; by February of 1862 his regiment  was at Kenansville, North Carolina to oppose marauding enemy troops operating from occupied New Bern.  From there the 35^th Regiment moved to Weldon in late May, and up to Petersburg in early June – then back to Weldon and a sharp five-hour engagement at Boon’s Mill near Jackson.

Private Hood received a thigh wound at the battle of Plymouth in mid-April, 1864, “most likely at Fort Comfort where many of the 35^th North Carolina Regiment were killed and wounded.”  After returning for duty in November, he was captured near Fort Stedman on 25 March 1865 and sent to Point Lookout as a prisoner of war.

After the war, Hood returned to farming at Mint Hill with his wife, Mary A. Hood -- their union produced ten children.  

John Richard Hood died on 1 March 1909, he and wife Mary are buried at Sardis Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.

(Source: Private John R. Hood, Sam Gambrell, Jr., Confederate Veteran, July-August 2008, pp. 22-23) 

The North Carolina Military Institute

Organized in the late 1850’s by Charlotte businessmen led by Dr. Charles J. Fox, the cornerstone for the building was laid in 1858, and completed the following year.  The initial class enrollment was 125 students ranging from twelve to twenty-one years old.

Educator and military officer Daniel Harvey Hill served as Superintendent of the North Carolina Military Institute at Charlotte from October, 1859 to April, 1861, and he oversaw the single commencement in the short prewar existence of the school, in July, 1860.  The keynote speaker of the commencement, held at the Presbyterian Church, was to be Thomas L. Clingman, but in his absence the address was given by Judge James W. Osborne of Charlotte.

Orations were delivered by Cadet Houston B. Lowrie, who later fell at Sharpsburg; Cadet Graham of Alabama; and Henry Elliot Shepherd of Fayetteville.  Lowrie’s theme was a eulogy upon North Carolina, having special reference to three of her sons, Macon, Gaston and Dobbin. The oration of Cadet Graham was patriotic in its scope; Osborne devoted his remarks to the literature of Scotland, his principal characters being Burns and Sir Walter Scott.

Prior to Daniel Harvey Hill’s tenure at the North Carolina Military Institute, he served as Professor of Mathematics at Washington College (later Washington & Lee), 1849-1854, and Professor of Mathematics at Davidson College, 1854-1859.   Hill left the Institute in April 1861 and with the rank of colonel, was assigned as commander of the First North Carolina Regiment, later known as the “Bethel Regiment.” Many of the cadets joined this regiment and distinguished themselves in Virginia and beyond.

The building served as a military hospital during war; afterward it became a female academy and then another military school organized by Colonel John Peyre Thomas in 1873, which continued through 1882. Col. Thomas was an 1851 graduate of The Citadel in Charleston, and served as its Superintendent 1882-1885. From 1883 through 1950 the Institute building was utilized as a Charlotte public school and demolished in 1954 to make way for an extension of Independence Boulevard.

A North Carolina historical marker at East Morehead Street and South Boulevard denotes its former presence nearby.  

More @ NCWBTS 150 

(Source: General D.H. Hill as a Teacher and Author, Dr. H.E. Shepherd, North Carolina Booklet, Vol. XVI, No. 4, April 1917)

I found Roman coins worth £100,000... 20 minutes after buying first metal detector: Novice unearths 'nationally significant' find during first treasure hunt

Via The Drawn Cutlass 

It's always nice to encounter a little beginners’ luck when you’re trying out a new hobby.

But if the phenomenon strikes on your inaugural treasure hunt, it can mean a significant payday.

Wesley Carrington was just 20 minutes into his first metal detecting trip when he unearthed a hoard of Roman gold coins estimated to be worth £100,000.  

Yesterday he jokingly suggested he may have ‘peaked early’ in his treasure hunting career.

The novice revealed he had bought a basic detector from a local shop and headed straight out to woods to try his new gadget.

His initial finds included a spoon and halfpenny piece but then the machine started bleeping to indicate metal some way beneath  the ground.

After digging down around seven inches he unearthed the first of 55 ‘solidi’ – gold coins – dating back more than 1,600 years.

Stunned experts later returned to the site and discovered a further 104 coins, describing the haul as ‘spectacular’ and of ‘national significance’.

More @ Daily Mail

DHS insider: It’s about to get very ugly

Via Wes: Caveat Emptor.

 

7 June 2013: Something quite unexpected happened just hours ago, in the dark of night, during a two-day layover in Washington, DC. My son and I are scheduled to take part in a seminar outside of Raleigh, North Carolina this weekend, so we combined our travels to include a side-trip to DC for a business meeting we had previously arranged. It was during this layover that something seemingly ripped from the pages of a spy novel took place.

While I was in the middle of a perfectly good and well needed sleep in the very early hours of this morning, I received a message. I cannot disclose how I received this message, at least not now. The discerning reader will understand why, which, by the way, would make a very interesting story alone. The message was extremely clear and precise. I was to meet my high level DHS insider at a very specific location in Washington, DC at a time when most “normal” people, except third-shift workers are still asleep. And, I was to come alone and make certain that I was not being followed, and I was to leave any cell phone or electronic device behind.

Seriously? I thought, as I was still trying to make sense of it all. Is all this really necessary? Is this really happening? I considered waking my son to accompany me, but opted to follow the instructions to the letter. Besides, I thought, he’s not the most affable middle-of-the-night person. I left a hastily written but detailed note in my hotel room before my departure in the event something happened. I looked at the digital clock on my rental car (my personal car would never survive our long distance trip). It was 3:20 a.m.

The meeting

More @ Homeland Security US

WWII field recovered relics II

Preppers

Via Cousin John

Rattler's Lodge

WWII field recovered relics

Via ivakin_alexey

 

Gun porn

Via grossfater_m

 

Mounting Signs of GOP Rebellion Against Immigration Reform

Via avordvet

Resistance to a sweeping immigration overhaul is moving from conservative talk shows to the corridors of power.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday rejected President Obama's policy to stop deporting young people brought to this country illegally as children. With all but six Republicans voting against funding a policy that lets hundreds of thousands of law-abiding but undocumented youth enrolled in high school or the military to stay in this country, the vote spotlighted the long odds facing the much broader Senate bill to allow 11 million illegal immigrants earn citizenship.

The House vote came two days after Republican Gov. Rick Scott of Florida vetoed a bill that would help young people whose deportations were halted by the Obama administration get driver's licenses. And on Wednesday, a key immigration leader in the House, Republican Raul Labrador of Idaho, defected from bi-partisan talks.

These unexpected developments reflect the stirrings of what could snowball into a full-blown revolt against the most ambitious overhaul of immigration law in a quarter century.

"If they think they're going to force-feed amnesty, there's going to be a rebellion," said Rep. Steve King of Iowa, who spearheaded the vote one day after House Republicans huddled with one of the champions of immigration reform, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. King added: "The vote might indicate that we're not particularly persuaded."

More @ National Journal

Soldier Told Not to Read Levin, Limbaugh or Hannity in Uniform

Via WiscoDave

 

A veteran member of the U.S. Army Band said he is facing retribution and punishment from the military for having anti-Obama bumper stickers on his car, reading books written by conservative authors like Mark Levin and David Limbaugh, and serving Chick-fil-A sandwiches at his promotion party.

Master Sgt. Nathan Sommers, a 25-year Army veteran and conservative Christian based at Fort Myer in Washington, believes his outspoken opposition to gay marriage prompted higher-ups to take a closer look at his beliefs. The recipient of an Army Commendation Medal and a soloist at the funeral of former First Lady Betty Ford, Sommers said his core beliefs are enough to mark a soldier for persecution in today’s military.

“It seems like with the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – that the Christians have been the ones who’ve had to go underground and in the closet – for fear of retaliation and reprisals,” Sommers told Fox News.

“Christians feel like they can’t be forthright with their faith. They have to hide.”

Ret. Navy Commander John Bennett Wells is representing the master sergeant. He said there is no doubt in his mind that the U.S. military is discriminating against Christians – and specifically his client.

“There’s no question about it,“ Wells told Fox News. “Because he is religious, because he feels that homosexual conduct is wrong for religious reasons, he is basically being persecuted.”

More @ Todd Starnes

Meet Upcoming U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power: 10 Reasons Why She’s the Most Dangerous Woman in the World

1. She hates Israel, passionately.  (For sources and links, simply Google or Bing-search her name…)
2. She is soon to be our next U.N. Ambassador
3. She is the wife of Cass Sunstein, Obama’s favorite regulatory czar
4. She used to work George Soros’ ‘think tank’ ICG (International Crisis Group)

More @ Politi Chicks

GOA Alert: Encourage the Nevada Governor to Veto Gun Control! Call 775-684-5670 and press “2.”

Gov. Sandoval is sticking his finger in the wind,
trying to decide whether to issue veto

You don’t even have to live in Nevada.

But you should know that Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval (R) is trying to decide whether he should sign or veto SB 221, a bill so extreme that the left-of-center United States Senate even voted down a version of it.

If he signs this Universal Background Check bill, it will have ramifications for you -- even if you don’t live in the Silver State.

So please call 775-684-5670 and press “2” -- to vote AGAINST the universal background check bill (SB 221).  You don’t have to live in the state.  You don’t even have to give your name or address -- the entire process is automated and it will take you less than 13 seconds.

There are many reasons why ALL gun owners from around the country should call.

For starters, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is generating his own calls into the Governor’s hotline, encouraging the Sandoval to sign the background (registration) bill.

Mayor “Big Gulp” has posted a video where he encourages people from around the country to cast their votes.

But YOUR VOTE could make the difference!

You may not live in Nevada.  And so you may be thinking, “Why should I take action on an out-of-state bill?”

The reason is that what happens in Nevada wont’ stay in Nevada!

U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) has been on the fence in regard to universal background checks.  He voted right on a key vote back in April, but we had to put a LOT of pressure on him in the state to get him to do so.

Every vote count that the Left made public had Sen. Heller as a possible pick up for their side.  And that’s why we need to keep Nevada from adopting a universal background check bill.  If the Republican Governor signs this bill, it becomes much more likely that this U.S. Senator from Nevada will vote to strap the rest of the country with gun control.

So please call the Governor’s hotline number -- no matter where you live!

ACTION.  Call 775-684-5670 and press “2” -- to vote AGAINST the universal background check bill (SB 221).  Again, you don’t have to live in the state.  As noted above, you don’t even have to give your name or address -- the entire process is automated and it will take you less than 13 seconds.  So no matter where you live, please make this call for the sake of freedom!

Also, please distribute this alert to EVERY PRO-GUN PERSON you know -- your family and friends, even your enemies -- as long as they are pro-gun!  We need to flood this hotline with people pressing “2.”

BILL HIGHLIGHTS. There are a lot of problems with SB 221, but these are the key ones for Nevada residents:

* SB 221 would expand background checks -- and hence the framework for gun registration -- to most private gun sales.  Even if you live hundreds of miles from a gun shop, if you want to transfer your gun to your next-door neighbor, you and he have to travel together to the gun shop (even if the buyer holds a concealed carry permit!).

* Under most circumstances, when you and your neighbor travel to the gun shop, he’s going to have to get a check with the FBI.  Given that 8% of these checks result in “false denials” -- normally because his name is like someone else’s -- you’ll have to stick around the gun shop for three days. Most likely, your neighbor will effectively be denied the right to own a firearm.

* Even if you’re a purchaser with a CCW, the dealer has to make a 4473 on you -- and, increasingly, ATF is going around to gun shops and copying (a.k.a., registering) that information.

* If you go through the entire Brady Check procedure and it turns out the purchaser of your firearm -- unbeknownst to you (or the Brady System) -- is a marijuana user, you go to prison.

Bottom line:  This is a horrible bill! 
Please call 775-684-5670 and press “2.”

Rape suspect buried alive in Bolivia

 

A man suspected of rape has been buried alive by villagers in the southern highlands of Bolivia. 

Police had identified the 17-year-old as the possible culprit in the rape and murder of a 35-year-old woman near the municipality of Colquechaca.

The chief prosecutor says more than 200 furious local people seized Santos Ramos and buried him in the grave of his alleged victim.

He says residents blocked roads into the village to stop police arriving.

A reporter for a local radio station, who would only speak anonymously for fear of reprisals, told the media that Mr Ramos was tied up at the woman's funeral.

He said mourners threw him into the open grave alongside the woman's coffin and filled the grave with earth.

More @ BBC

Campus bans guns, tells people to nod at attackers

Via WiscoDave

 

In lieu of guns, people who find themselves in dangerous situations at or near the University of Arkansas at Little Rock should defend themselves by glancing and nodding, said a university safety expert.

Earlier this year, the Arkansas legislature approved a concealed carry law, but gave school administrators permission to override the law and ban guns on campuses. Most Arkansas universities, including the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University, opted to prohibit concealed carry, according to The College Fix.

But disarmed faculty and staff members are vulnerable to attack when traveling to and from campus, according to a chain of emails sent between UALR staff members, one of whom was assaulted by three teenagers on his way to class.

“I had not gone very far before I was attacked from behind by two of them and received a number of blows to the back of my head,” wrote the faculty member, a UALR professor of biology, in an e-mail. “Given the proximity to this campus and the fact that a number of our students, faculty and staff walk through this very same area on both a daily and nightly basis I felt it prudent to share this info with you and to advise you to be on your guard while in the vicinity.”

Another faculty remember responded to the email saying that a student had been attacked in the same area.
Sharon Houlette, a detective with the UALR Department of Public Safety, responded to the thread with advice for avoiding being attacked, which included a suggestion to “glance or nod” at possible attackers.

“A glance or a nod will help you show anyone who might think that you are not paying attention, and you are aware of their presence,” she wrote.

More @ The Daily Caller

SPITFIRE 944

Via Dave

In 2005, an 83 year-old World War II pilot is surprised to see 16mm footage of his 1944 Spitfire crash for the first time.

SPITFIRE 944 was put on YouTube as part of the Sundance Film Festival Memorial Day observance through from May 22 through June 5, 2013 (UPDATE, ShortsHD is allowing the film to stay on youtube for the moment:) The Sundance portal is here: http://www.sundance.org/stories/artic...

My son: Victim of 'Knockout Game'

 

While on my lunch break this week, I read Colin Flaherty’s WND story on the Syracuse man who died from the malicious “Knockout Game” – in which black youth search for a beat a lone white person. I thought to myself, God cannot come back soon enough.

I then thought how I would feel if this happened to anyone in my family or, heaven forbid, one of my children. Well, now I know: The same day, around 4 p.m., my son called me from a friend’s house with his voice shaking as he described to me EXACTLY what I had just read about in Flaherty’s article.

Dominic was riding over to a friend’s house to show him his new lacrosse stick. Two black youths, or possibly even young adults, jumped out from behind a tree, knocked my 12-year-old son off his bike, grabbed his lacrosse stick and hit him in the face with it.

Before he could get to his feet, the blow to his face made him fall back down, and blood profusely flowed. The two blacks then laughed as my son lay on the ground bleeding.

The one kid handed the stick to the other who then threw it at my son’s head before laughing some more and running off. My son was riding a $500 mountain bike and carrying a shiny new silver and red lacrosse stick.
Did my son know these two hoodlums, you ask? Never seen them before. Did they take anything? Nope.

More @ WND

Representative Trey Gowdy's EPIC Takedown of IRS at Hearing

Via NC Renegade

Bill Whittle -- Happiness

A Bang For Your School Breakfast

Via Blue

 

$8.75