How many warnings should Elizabeth Warren get? 3? 5/ 7? Â Warren was silenced from speaking further at Jeff Sessions confirmation hearing.
How many warnings should Elizabeth Warren get? Â 5? 7? 9?
The senator has impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama, as warned by the chair,” McConnell said on the floor.
“She has been warned multiple times (not just today),” McConnell spokesman Don Stewart told NBC News. “And after additional warning today, she was found in violation of the rule. She appealed the ruling and lost.”
McConnell and other Republicans said Warren violated Senate rules. The rule, No. 19, says senators cannot “directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator.”
The  Pipleine camp had been occupied by thousands of environmentalists and Native Americans who were demonstrating against the pipeline project.
It was the Native Americans who requested help with the Pipeline cleanup. Â Massive amounts of garbage, human waste, teepees, and abandoned vehicles must be removed before the spring thaw when flooding is expected.
Clean-up crews are racing to clear acres of debris at the largest Dakota Access protest camp before the spring thaw turns the snowy, trash-covered plains into an environmental disaster area.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Friday that the camp, located on federal land, would be closed Feb. 22 in order to “prevent injuries and significant environmental damage in the likely event of flooding in this area†at the mouth of the Cannonball River in North Dakota.
“Without proper remediation, debris, trash, and untreated waste will wash into the Cannonball River and Lake Oahe,†the Corps said in its statement.
Those involved in the clean-up effort, led by the Standing Rock Sioux, say it could take weeks for private sanitation companies and volunteers to clear the expanse of abandoned tents, tepees,sleeping bags
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Firenze Sage: Â These morons couldn’t even dig a latrine. Imagine walking around in a kennel.
No fencing around — yes  — border security will be strengthened fairly soon.  So says Ryan and the new Homeland Security Secretary.
The new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), retired Marine General John Kelly, believes he can make good on President Donald Trump’s promise to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border in 2 years or less.
In an interview with Fox News late Wednesday, Secretary Kelly said, “The wall will be built where it’s needed first, and then it will be filled in. That’s the way I look at it. I really hope to have it done within the next two years.â€
Kelly’s attitude toward border enforcement is 180 degrees from previous heads of DHS — even under President Bush, whose Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson halted all interior enforcement in Southern California due to political outcry back in 2004.
As a General, Kelly is as accustomed to giving orders as following them.
While it may be an ambitious schedule, unlike his predecessors, Secretary Kelly will not have to fight the executive branch in order to secure the border. In the same interview, he sounded optimistic about Congress, saying that the money will come.
“I think the funding will come relatively quickly and like I said, we will build it where it’s needed first as identified by the men and women who work the border,†Kelly emphasized.
“We have already authorized this, meaning the law was passed almost 10 years ago,†Ryan said. “And then we will give the financing to Secretary Kelly and the border security plan. So, it’s really up to them as to how fast they can execute this policy. I think that’s great. He’s the kind of guy that can get this sort of thing done. He will have the funding to do it and he already has the authorization to do it.â€
Ryan is referring to the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which was passed by Congress, signed into law by President Bush, but never adequately funded and never fully executed.
According to a Yahoo News story, cost estimates are all over the map: “Trump has said that his cost estimates for building the wall range from $4 to $10 billion, but other estimates put the price at $11 billion for 400 more miles of fencing. The MIT Technology Review estimated that a 1,000 mile steel and concrete wall would cost $27 to $40 billion.â€
Whatever the cost, a wall is only one part of the solution — but according to those charged with securing the border, it is a critically important and welcome tool in their arsenal.
Even though Democrats are likely to throw up road blocks, citing environmental and other concerns—which have succeeded in the past in delaying construction indefinitely—Secretary Kelly has the backing of the President and his advisors. Whatever roadblocks arise, the retired Marine General is likely to steamroll over, tunnel under or just blow up.
Until today, the single most important component required to complete the border wall has not been money or materials, but political will.
Tim Donnelly is a former California State Assemblyman.
There’s quite a few  owl  box homes  waiting for owl families in the Aptos CA area.
Aptos Community Garden put up a barn owl home a couple years ago.  Coastlands Church in Aptos put  up three owl boxes a year ago. And there are other owl boxes in Aptos waiting for owls.
Ideas how to ‘hoot’ for barn owl  hoots? Moss Landing has a new owl family growing.  Complete with video to watch them grow:
“At dusk, the large owl with the heart-shaped face stretches her wings, taking a much-needed break from sitting on her brood of eight eggs. Throughout the evening, her mate brings her loving gifts of field mice and voles. And anyone with an Internet connection can now watch this wildlife romance in action.
“Live streaming from an infrared videocamera shows what’s going on inside the owl box 24/7.  If the links don’t work go to YouTube and search under:  owls moss landing Ca
This is a live feed from inside a nest box where two wild barn owls have taken up residency. The female, named Lotte, is currently brooding a clutch of 8 eggs.The first one hatched February 4th. The especially large owl box was designed, built and installed by Humane Wildlife Control. Video streaming by TerraFox Networks.
“We’ve had such a positive reaction to the owls,†said cafe chef and owner Kim Solano. “It’s so uplifting — such a privilege to see them up close.â€
“And with egg hatching imminent, the Haute Enchilada has decided to host a special event Feb. 11 that includes a special presentation on the owls, light appetizers and perhaps even a glimpse of the owls at twilight.
“The new residents — named Teco and Lotte, a play on tecolote, the Spanish word for owl — took over the box soon after it was installed by the husband-and-wife team of Duane Titus and Rebecca Dmytryk, who own the local company Humane Wildlife Control.
“Lotte has laid an above-average clutch,†said Dmytryk, who notes that barn owls are cavity nesters, and if they can’t find a hollow tree or barn to nest in, will attempt to make a home in inadequate places — palm trees, for instance, where the babies are in danger of falling out.
“Because hollow trees are not as plentiful as they used to be, due to human intervention, barn owls are happy to find the owl boxes and move in.
“It’s all part of the effort to make the Haute Enchilada complex a more sustainable venture, said Solano. The restaurant strives to serve only sustainable seafood, natural and free-range meat and poultry, and locally sourced organic produce whenever possible.
“The Haute Enchilada also distributes paper straws rather than plastic to help reduce plastic in landfills and oceans; the staff uses eco-friendly cleaning products; and the property has its own beehive, maintained by Carmel Honey Co.
“Last year, Solano was concerned about rodent problems on the property, which includes the cafe, a studio and art gallery, and the Social Club, an event venue. She contacted Titus and Dmytryk, who then built and installed the box, which has been painted in bright colors by Solano’s artist husband, Luis Solano.
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“Why is it important to provide a home for owls? Aside from the rodent control aspect, it’s a way to help these magnificent birds survive. Their numbers are beginning to decline, due in part to loss of habitat.
“There are a few conditions, though, for inviting in barn owls to your environs. If you install a box, you need to give up using poison to control mouse, rat, gopher and ground squirrel problems, because owls that eat the poisoned rodents could sicken and die.
Also, keep in mind that nothing keeps every rodent away, but the owls do keep them in check.
“It’s mostly about control. You’re not getting rid of all rodents,†Dmytryk said. “It’s a process.â€
“People interested in barn owl boxes can also build their own, although Dmytryk cautions that not all the plans available on the Internet are adequate for barn owl needs. Boxes should have a minimum floor size of 29 by 24 inches, an entry hole that’s 5.5 by 4.5 inches, and an entry hole at least 14 inches off the floor, so that the babies can’t get out before they’re ready to fly.
To get on the waiting list for the Hatch Party on Feb. 11, call 831-760-0952 or email hauteenchilada@gmail.com. The cafe is also planning an Earth Day fundraiser for March 19 to celebrate earth-friendly sustainable practices, with an art auction and costume contest. Proceeds will be donated to The Last Plastic Straw program, which is aimed at reducing single-use plastics.
Do you have questions or tips about sustainable living around the Central Coast? Send them to Kathryn McKenzie at kathymckenziewriter@gmail.com. Follow Kathryn McKenzie at www.facebook.com/kathrynmckenziewriter.
“If you breathe air, drink water, eat food, take medicine or in any other way, interact with the courts, this is a very bad decision,†Pelosi said during a CNN town hall gathering.
Come on now!  Does God through Jesus  and the Holy Spirit actually heal?
Can someone – Jesus –  help your  aching back?  Do people actually  get healed today — like the healing that happened to Saul  healed of blindness  by a lay person?
Ananias — a lay person heals Saul of blindness                     Acts 9:17
Does the laying on of hands with Christian pray help? Â Find out ….
Michael DeArmond addresses those attending the six week  series  ‘Who do you say I am?’ held 2/1/2017 at St. John the Baptist in Aptos, CA.
Michael  tells  some of his spiritual journey.  And, he describes remarkable, immediate  physical healings which  he has witnessed. On himself  — through prayer and the  laying on of hands — and  the healing of  another.
Next meeting  is Wed. Feb. 8 from 7 PM- 8:30 PM.   A 15 minute Personal Story is  followed by time for individual reflection on portions of the Gospel of John. Groups of five at a table  share their thoughts.
Contact adbooks@aol.com for more information.
Joanne Peterson
Joanne Peterson shares her story next week.
The Feb. 2 meeting started with readings from the Gospel of John including: Â
John 3:1-21New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.â€
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]â€
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?†Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!â€
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit.7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.â€[d]
9 “How can this be?†Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,†said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[e]14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f]15 that everyone who believesmay have eternal life in him.â€[g]
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
We don’t enforce immigration laws says Santa Cruz County sheriff Sgt. Clark because “that enhances a victim’s willingness to report crime and for us to keep our community safe.”
The TRUTH act effective Jan. 1, 2017 requires that local law enforcement get written voluntary release from detainees before the federal government (ICE) can interview them while they are in custody in jail.
So how many of the 8,700 booked during 2016 have no legal documentation? Â Law enforcement does not keep track.
What say?  Is it time that local  government keeps track of the legal and / or illegal status of those booked into jail?
Federal Laws trump state & local laws on immigration. Â Will sanctuary cities comply?
Immigration and terrorism were top issues in the USA elections. Â Identifying and deporting illegal felons from the USA is a federal government prerogative.
So — if sanctuary cities don’t want to comply with federal laws — yes it’s time to cut off funding. Â Simple. Â The federal government is not telling the sanctuary cities to do anything specific except comply with existing federal laws regarding immigration. Sensible? What do you think? Â This is from the WSJ Monday, Jan. 30, 2017:
 “A thicket of U.S. Supreme Court rulings could limit the reach of the executive order issued by President Donald Trump last week meant to prod “sanctuary cities†into helping the federal government enforce immigration law.
Some local and state officials, including in New York, have promised to fight the order, which says cities that fail to turn over information about illegal immigrants “are not eligible to receive federal grants.â€
Legal experts said the Supreme Court has given them many tools for resistance.
The court has ruled that the U.S. Constitution bars the federal government from commandeering state officials or using federal funds to “coerce†states into doing the bidding of Washington.
As recently as 2012, the court held that the federal government couldn’t expel states from Medicaid if they refused to expand eligibility for the federal-state health program, curtailing a key provision of the Affordable Care Act.
“If the denial of Medicaid funding alone was coercive, the denial of all federal funding of any kind for refusing to cooperate in enforcement of immigration law must be coercive,†said Dale Carpenter, a constitutional law professor at Southern Methodist University.
The federal government can withhold a grant from a city or state, but it must do so for reasons related to that grant’s purpose, legal experts said. For example, the Trump administration likely couldn’t deny grants for highways to a city for defying Mr. Trump’s executive order on immigration, because the two are unconnected, said Michael McConnell, a former federal appeals judge who now teaches at Stanford Law School.
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An executive order to strip federal grant money from sanctuary cities has put the Trump administration on a collision course with Mayor Bill de Blasio and other city mayors. Photo: Reuters
The rules have some flexibility, legal experts said. The U.S. Supreme Court said in a 1987 case that the federal government could withhold highway funding from states that refused to raise their minimum drinking age to 21 years, reasoning that the funding and the condition both promoted highway safety.
Jonathan Adler, a professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, said the Constitution permits the U.S. government to ensure that “federal money is not undermining the purposes for which that money is allocated in the first place.â€
The Supreme Court has also likened federal-state grant laws to contracts: They are valid only if the state knowingly and voluntarily accepts the terms. Some legal experts interpret that to mean that conditions on federal grants have to be spelled out in the text of a law passed by Congress, while others say cities and states could be put on notice with federal regulations.
Regardless, said Ilya Somin, a constitutional law professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, “the president can’t impose additional conditions on its own.â€
Other experts, however, said Mr. Trump’s order bypasses trip wires set down by the Supreme Court, because it demands only information from cities in return for federal money, not action.
David Rivkin, a lawyer at law firm BakerHosteler who served in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, pointed to a 2000 U.S. Supreme Court case involving a federal law that imposed restrictions on the disclosure by states of drivers’ personal information.
In upholding the law, the court noted approvingly that it didn’t “require state officials to assist in the enforcement of federal statutes regulating private individuals.â€
Mr. Rivkin said Mr. Trump’s order, likewise, passes muster because “it’s not telling city officials to carry out any particular actions.â€
Who Do You Say I Am?  continues on Wednesdays at  7:00 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Aptos.  Address:  125 Cantebury Drive.  email Alliee DeArmond at adbooks@aol.com for more info.  Please SHARE  info with friends.
Late PM Prayers at St. John’s:  You can’t pour from an empty cup.  Take care for yourself first.
Swiss welfare pays for  refugee migrants  to holiday home to  Eritrea, Africa. Picture of beach in Eritrea.
Swiss cheese and immigration policy have holes:
Swiss cheese & immigration policies have holes.
 Migrants allowed  to remain in Switzerland because  they  risk death in their homelands are using welfare money to fund holidays back home in Eritrea.  That’s wht  the Basler Zeitung reports.
The Swiss newspaper notes that thousands of migrants each year go to Eritrea for their holidays each year — despite their having supposedly fled the northeast African nation in fear of their lives.
Although a large proportion of Eritreans in Switzerland have been refused asylum, authorities are powerless to deport them because their homelands are deemed to be too dangerous by the country’s refugee policy.
While there are no direct flights to Eritrea, the Basler Zeitung says it found that up to fifty people a day are leaving Switzerland in order to holiday in the African country.
It typically costs around 599 Swiss Francs (£475) in January or 650 Swiss Francs (£516) in high season for a return journey to Eritrea according to the German language daily.
The paper  notes that taxpayer stipends to migrants must be quite generous as the vast majority of Eritreans residing in Switzerland live on welfare.
Firenze Sage: Â Has the whole world gone nuts? Â This scam is standard fare now. Taxpayer funded holidays to alleged war zones.
