The Danger Is Real - The Plot To Destabilize The Nation Is Working By John & Nisha Whitehead October 31, 2024 Share If the three-ring circus that is the looming presidential election proves anything, it is that the Deep State’s plot to destabilize the nation is working. The danger is real. Caught up in the heavily dramatized electoral showdown between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Americans have become oblivious to the multitude of ways in which the government is goose stepping all over our freedoms on a daily basis. Especially alarming is the extent to which those on both sides are allowing themselves to be gaslighted by both Trump and Harris about critical issues of the day, selectively choosing to hear only what they want to hear when it casts the opposition in a negative light. This is true whether you’re talking about Immigration and Border Control, Health Care, National Security, the nation’s endless wars, protections for FREE Speech, or the militarization of the U.S. Government. For starters, there’s the FREE Speech double standard, what my good friend Nat Hentoff used to refer to as the “FREE Speech for me but not for thee” phenomenon in which the First Amendment’s protections only apply to those with whom we might agree. Despite her claims to being a champion for the rule of law, which in our case is the U.S. Constitution, Harris isn’t averse to policing so-called “hate” speech. In this, Harris is not unlike those on both the Right and the Left who continue to express a distaste for unregulated, FREE Speech online, especially when it comes to speech with which they might disagree. Then there’s Trump, never a fan of FREE Speech protections for his critics, who has been particularly vocal about his desire to see the military vanquish “radical left lunatics,” which he has dubbed “the enemy from within.” If it were only about muzzling FREE Speech activities, that would be concerning enough. But Trump’s enthusiasm for using the military to target domestic enemies of the state should send off warning bells, especially coinciding as it does with the Department of Defense’s recent re-issuance of Directive 5240.01, which empowers the military to assist law enforcement “in situations where a confrontation between civilian law enforcement and civilian individuals or groups is reasonably anticipated.” This is what martial law looks like—a government of force that relies on the military to enforce its authority—and it’s exactly what America’s founders feared, which is why they opted for a republic bound by the rule of law: the U.S. Constitution. Responding to concerns that the military would be used for domestic policing, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act in 1878, which makes it a crime for the government to use the military to carry out arrests, searches, seizure of evidence and other activities normally handled by a civilian police force. The increasing militarization of the police, the use of sophisticated weaponry against Americans and the government’s increasing tendency to employ military personnel domestically have all but eviscerated historic prohibitions such as the Posse Comitatus Act. Yet sometime over the course of the past 240-plus years that constitutional republic has been transformed into a military dictatorship disguised as a democracy. Unfortunately, most Americans seem relatively untroubled by the fact that our constitutional republic is being transformed into a military dictatorship disguised as a democracy. The seeds of chaos that have been sown in recent years are all part of the Deep State’s plans to usher in martial law. Just take a look at “Megacities: Urban Future, the Emerging Complexity,” a Pentagon training video created by the Army for U.S. Special Operations Command. The training video is only five minutes long, but it says a lot about the government’s mindset, the way it views the citizenry, and the so-called “problems” that the government must be prepared to address in the near future through the use of martial law. Even more troubling, however, is what this military video doesn’t say about the Constitution, about the rights of the citizenry, and about the dangers of locking down the nation and using the military to address political and social problems. The training video anticipates that all hell will break loose by 2030, but the future is here ahead of schedule. We’re already witnessing a breakdown of society on virtually every front. The danger signs are screaming out a message. The government is anticipating trouble (read: civil unrest), which is code for anything that challenges the government’s authority, wealth and power. According to the Pentagon, the training video created by the Army for the U.S. Special Operations Command, the U.S. government is grooming its armed forces to solve future domestic political and social problems. What they’re really talking about is martial law, packaged as a well-meaning and overriding concern for the nation’s security. The chilling five-minute training video, obtained by The Intercept through a FOIA request and made available online, paints an ominous picture of the future — a future the military is preparing for — bedeviled by “criminal networks,” “substandard Infrastructure,” “religious and ethnic tensions,” “impoverishment, slums,” “open landfills, overburdened sewers,” a “growing mass of unemployed,” and an urban landscape in which the prosperous economic elite must be protected from the impoverishment of the have nots. And then comes the kicker. Three-and-a-half minutes into the Pentagon’s dystopian training video, the ominous voice of the narrator speaks of a need to “drain the swamps.” Now the government has adopted its own plans for swamp-draining, only it wants to use the military to drain the swamps of futuristic urban American cities of “noncombatants and engage the remaining adversaries in high intensity conflict within.” And who are these noncombatants, a military term that refers to civilians who are not engaged in fighting? They are, according to the Pentagon, “adversaries.” They are “threats.” They are the “enemy.” They are people who don’t support the government. Mind you, by “government,” I’m not referring to the highly partisan, two-party bureaucracy of the Republicans and Democrats. I’m referring to “government” with a capital “G,” the entrenched Deep State that is unaffected by elections, unaltered by populist movements, and has set itself beyond the reach of the law. Be warned: in the future envisioned by the government, we will not be viewed as Republicans or Democrats. Rather, “we the people” will be enemies of the state. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, we’re already enemies of the state. It’s time to wake up and stop being deceived by Deep State propaganda. Editor’s Note: John Whitehead is an Attorney and Author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of Constitutional Law, Human Rights and Popular Culture. John Whitehead's Commentary are his views and he is open for discussion, he can be contacted at: johnw@rutherford.org . Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at: www.rutherford.org . < Previous News Next News >

Aristo Sham Has Dazzled Audiences On Five Continents Wed Feb 21 2024 17:12:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Modern Stormwater Master Plan is Being Implemented in Hollywood By Hollywood Mayor - Josh Levy April 20, 2023 Share Dear Residents, With the recent rainfall event that brought us about one-third of our annual rainfall in one day, resulting in unprecedented flooding in many parts of our city, I’d like to inform you about the very large initiatives that our city is in the midst of undertaking regarding stormwater management. South Florida's annual rainy season has historically been between the months of June and October. During this time, South Florida is accustomed to intermittent flood conditions, especially after a large amount of rain falls over a short period of time or during a tropical system event. That was how it's always been, but these days, with more frequent “history-making” rainfall events coupled with higher water tables caused in part by sea level rise, South Florida cities evermore recognize that we need to shore up our stormwater defenses. All cities have storm water management systems that work to contain and control rain water in order to minimize flooding and enable the community to live through rain events with as little interruption to our daily lives as possible. In Hollywood, the stormwater system includes miles of pipes, channels, ditches, swales, natural waterways and drainage easements. It also includes thousands of manholes and inlets, various pumping stations, and retention and detention basins. Stormwater systems always need maintenance and frequently need updating, especially when they no longer deliver an adequate level of service for a community experiencing changing climate conditions. The good news for us on this front in the City of Hollywood is that we’re in the final period of a 2-year project that our City Commission embarked upon - to create a comprehensive Stormwater Master Plan for the city. Following 2 years of engineering analysis, the plan provides us with a list of projects, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood, enabling us to better address stormwater management throughout the city - with consideration to Flood Control, Water Quality Protection, Aquifer Recharge, Supply Conservation and Reuse Conservation, Operation and Maintenance Stormwater Utility Sufficiency, Long Term Financing, Community Acceptance, Adaptability, Resiliency, Fairness in execution and Sustainability. To reach a better level of service for our city, the 20-year Stormwater Master Plan itemizes and recommends selection of $980 Million to $1.9 Billion Dollars of Infrastructure improvement projects, including the upgrading and addition of our Exfiltration Systems, Gravity Pipe Collection Systems and Inlets, Stormwater Pump Stations, Outfalls, Stormwater Gravity and Injection Wells, Storage and Detention Storage, Swales, Backflow Prevention Devices, Raise Seawalls / Shoreline Armoring, and Road Raising in conjunction with new collection systems. Once the Stormwater Master Plan is formally adopted, our next steps will be to determine the near-term budget and select initial projects within the budget. We’ll also need to determine the city’s long-term financing plan and continue to pursue regional, state and federal grants in parallel. The same need exists for the hopes of converting and connecting our many septic-tank neighborhoods to our city sewer system for proper wastewater treatment. Lots of necessary projects, with a magnitude of dollars beyond the capability of our city government to self-fund, but we are up to the task of chipping away at the list of recommended projects year-after-year to achieve the level of service goals that we desire. In the meantime, thank you to everyone for your patience during last week’s rainfall event, and thank you to all the city crews from Public Utilities, Public works, Police, Fire Rescue and more, who worked to keep us safe during that time. Yours in service, Josh Levy Mayor < Previous News Next News >

“Ode to Joy” SFSO’s Milestone Musical Performance of Beethoven’s Choral Masterpiece February 15, 2024 Share South Florida Symphony Orchestra will celebrate 26 years of excellence in the arts at its “Ode to Joy” Gala on Sunday, March 3, at Broward Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA). The black-tie optional event, commencing at 5 p.m., prior to SFSO’s milestone musical performance of Beethoven’s choral masterpiece, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 and Grand Opera Arias, will honor this year’s “Sound of Success” regional arts advocates. “We invite patrons to join us as we mark 26 years of uniting our communities through the joy of classical music and honor those arts advocates who inspire, innovate and advocate for the arts in South Florida” said Jacqueline Lorber, President and CEO of South Florida Symphony Orchestra. “This year’s gala will recreate the ambiance of Vienna’s Romantic era as we commemorate 200 years of Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony and revel in the most beloved grand opera arias while celebrating the Symphony’s triumph as the region’s largest professional orchestra.” SFSO’s 2024 “Sound of Success” honorees from Fort Lauderdale and Miami are Marc Grossman, Marie and Robert Gallager, Francis Buckely and Bill Wolfolk (in memoriam), Robert Smith, Sandra Simon, T.J. Walsh, Robert Wilson and Peter Zupcofska, and Dr. Alan Mason. This year’s gala will include pre-show Champagne and hors d’oeuvres on the Wendt Terraces and a 6 p.m. multi-course dinner in the Porter Riverview Ballroom. Immediately following will be the 7:30 p.m. musical milestone performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 featuring one hundred voices from South Florida Symphony Chorus, directed by Dr. Giselle Elgarresta Rios, including talented singers from Barry University, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida, and the community. Soloists Elizabeth Caballero (soprano), Rebecca Ringle Kamarei (mezzo-soprano), Adam Diegel (tenor), and Luis Ledesma (baritone) will also perform grand opera arias from Bizet’s Carmen, Verdi’s Rigoletto, Puccini’s Turandot and Tosca, and Delibes’ Lakmé. A post-concert dessert reception will take place in the Porter Riverview Ballroom. Following its highly acclaimed 25th anniversary season, including sold-out shows, the launch of its “Sound of Success” recognition awards, and a celebrated performance accompanying award-winning alt-rock indie vocalist Natalie Merchant, South Florida’s largest symphonic orchestra is continuing its musical journey of excellence inspiring audiences of all ages. Tickets for SFSO’s “Ode to Joy” Gala start at $350 for the pre-show reception, dinner and post- show reception and $475 (with a prime seating concert ticket) and are available to purchase at https://bit.ly/OdeToJoyGala. For additional information, visit: https://southfloridasymphony.org/ - Or call: (954) 522-8445. Or email: info@southfloridasymphony.org . About South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) Founded in 1997 in Key West by Music Director Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso, the now Wilton Manors-based South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) is celebrating its 26th season. SFSO is dedicated to providing enriching cultural music experiences to residents and visitors in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Guided by the belief that music is pivotal to thriving communities, SFSO brings vibrancy and engagement with the arts via innovative programming and transformative educational initiatives. A pioneer in its commitment to symphonic music for underserved communities, its Symphony in the Schools program has touched the lives of 100,000 students since its inception in 1997. SFSO was recently named the first Partner in the Arts for The Parker by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and has been recognized by the Broward County Cultural Division as a “Major Cultural Institution,” one of only a handful of organizations to be so honored. For a performance schedule and season tickets, visit: https://southfloridasymphony.org/ - Call: (954) 522-8445. Or email: info@southfloridasymphony.org . < Previous News Next News >

Zaka Modern Japanese Cuisine: Head North or South For This Upscale All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Experience Tue Sep 19 2023 16:07:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

75 Years In The Promised Land: At The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Thu Aug 17 2023 16:10:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

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Voices For Children Of Broward County To Host Back-To-School Extravaganza South Florida Sun Times Jul 9, 2026 Back To School, Back To Saving The Day! Voices For Children Of Broward County (Voices) Is Hosting A Back-To-School Extravaganza At Old Navy In Oakwood Plaza In Hollywood On Sunday, August 2nd, 2026 From 9:00 a.m. To 11 a.m. The Back-to-School Extravaganza Is A Part Of Voices’ Year-Long 15th Anniversary Celebration And Expands Its Mission To Ensure That Every Child And Young Adult In Broward County Who Has Experienced Abuse, Neglect, Or Abandonment Has Access To Essential Resources And Programs That Promote Long-Term Stability And Well-Being. Over 100 children in foster care will have the opportunity to shop for their back-to-school essentials alongside real-life superheroes, including Voices volunteers, Hollywood Police Department, City of Hollywood Fire Rescue & Beach Safety, Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Spiderman, Disney Encanto’s Mirabel and KPop Star Rumi. Attendees will enjoy a fun-filled morning, including breakfast, face painting, activities, and a surprise appearance by Florida Panthers Stanley C. Panther. Each child will receive brand-new clothes, a backpack full of first-day essentials and the reminder that their community sees them as the heroes they truly are. “The start of a new school year should feel exciting, not overwhelming, but for many children, showing up without the right supplies, clothing, or resources can make that first day feel out of reach,” said Voices President and CEO Erica Herman. “A backpack stocked with school supplies represents so much more than pencils and notebooks. It sends a powerful message to a child that they matter, that they are seen, and that someone is in their corner rooting for their success.” Additionally, with the 2026-2027 School Year right around the corner, Voices is collecting backpacks, school supplies, and monetary donations to help children in foster care start the year feeling prepared, supported, and excited for what is ahead. The community can help bring big smiles and bright futures to children in foster care by becoming a sponsor, making a monetary donation, hosting a donation drive, or purchasing supplies from Voices’ Amazon Wishlist. The Back-to-School Extravaganza is a part of Voices’ longstanding signature program, Dream Big Days, and is designed for children in foster care. Voices’ Dream Big Days is a transformative program designed to provide enriching experiences and core memory-making opportunities for children in foster care. Through a series of specially curated events and activities, Dream Big Days aims to broaden horizons, ignite curiosity, and foster personal growth among participants. These immersive experiences offer children the chance to explore new interests, discover hidden talents, and create lasting memories that transcend the challenges of their circumstances. When: Sunday, August 2nd, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Where: Old Navy Oakwood Plaza 3801 Oakwood Boulevard Hollywood, Florida 33020 How: For more information or to make a donation, visit: https://voicesbroward.org/back-to-school/ . For sponsorship opportunities, please email: carhsea@voicesbroward.org . To view the Amazon Wishlist, search: "Voices for Children Back to School- Voices for Children" in the apps gift registry. Or visit: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/LE2TQG8XXY0C?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ggr-subnav-share_HSJ4QXGQSENDK6B0VXG8%20 About Voices for Children of Broward County (Voices): Each year, Voices for Children of Broward County (Voices) works to make the foster care experience better for over 2,500 children in the South Florida community, so they can rise with strength, dignity, and hope. Voices is dedicated to ensuring that every child and young adult who is a victim of abuse, neglect, and abandonment in Broward County has access to the resources and programs needed to support their health, educational, and social well-being. Through its core programs, Voices provides advocacy, case management, age-appropriate referrals, and wraparound services that work to create an abuse-free future for every child. In collaboration with the 17th Judicial Circuit Dependency Court Division and community partners, Voices serves children with open dependency court cases, committed to meeting their essential needs and ensuring they have a voice throughout the court process. Voices is located at 2903 Northwest 28th Street, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 33311. For more information, visit: www.voicesbroward.org . Or follow along on Social Media at: Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Contact Voices at: (954) 367-9185. Or: info@voicesbroward.org . Previous Next

Inflation Abandonment: The Humane Society of Greater Miami is Over Capacity and Asking For Support Thu Jul 21 2022 04:12:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Sunny Isles Beach Celebrates First Night Of Hanukkah With Unity And Hope Wed Jan 08 2025 18:45:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Ketamine and Other Anesthetics Emerge as Treatments for Depression October 18, 2024 Share Ketamine and other anesthetic drugs have emerged as a powerful new tool to rapidly treat depression, especially for people who don't benefit from traditional therapies. With conversations regarding these drugs circulating in the news and online, anesthesiologists - physicians who are experts in using them to sedate patients during surgery - are shedding light on the latest research and recommendations to ensure they are used safely as a mental health treatment. More than one in five U.S. adults lives with a mental health illness (57.8 million) and over 21 million Americans had at least one major depressive episode in 2021. Many individuals with depression experience symptom relief with psychotherapy and antidepressants, but for nearly one-third (30%) of patients these therapies are ineffective, known as treatment-resistant depression. "The current research into these drugs offers hope to people with a common, debilitating and potentially fatal mood disorder," said Peter Nagele, M.D., an editor at Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). "With this new use for common anesthetics, we believe it is important to use our knowledge and training, working collaboratively with psychiatrists, to advance patient care and safety. This includes ensuring patients receive this treatment under the supervision of a physician and in an accredited clinic following established safety standards." On World Mental Health Day, ASA shares the latest information on the various anesthetics being repurposed, how anesthesiologists and psychiatrists may be able to increase their collaboration, and questions patients should ask. Anesthetics Being Repurposed for Treatment of Depression Ketamine's unique benefits include working in minutes or hours vs. weeks, compared to traditional antidepressants, and its persistent positive effects on mood. Ketamine originally was developed to induce and maintain anesthesia and its antidepressant effects were first identified in 2000. When used to treat depression, it is administered at a low dose intravenously (IV therapy), as a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved nasal spray or a combination of both in a series of treatments given over a few days or once a week. After a single treatment, a patient's symptoms may improve for days or even weeks. While most studies have focused on ketamine, researchers are also looking into nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, and IV propofol, a common anesthetic used during medical procedures, among others. As with ketamine, patients' depression scores have improved during preliminary trials, and there is evidence nitrous oxide's effects last beyond the initial treatment. Further research is needed to fully understand why these drugs are so effective against depression. Scientists believe it may be because they act on different receptors and address imbalances between chemicals in the brain. How Anesthesiologists and Psychiatrists are Partnering to Help Patients The authors of a special article recently published in Anesthesiology recommend anesthesiologists take a more active role in the repurposing of anesthetic drugs as antidepressants. They propose developing a subspecialty focused on anesthetic neuropsychiatry that includes physicians and researchers who can serve as liaisons between these two specialties and help collaborate activities including: • facilitating joint research training with an emphasis on postgraduate degree programs, • sharing in the design of clinical trials, • conducting interdisciplinary departmental rounds, and, • combining efforts to advance technologies in brain imaging. What Patients Need to Know While ketamine and other anesthetics show great promise in treating depression and anxiety for certain patients, they may have side effects and can be dangerous if not used or administered correctly. ASA encourages patients interested in these drugs to ask the following: • Is this treatment right for me? These drugs do not offer a universal cure and patients need to be evaluated and selected carefully by a psychiatrist for these treatments. • Where will I receive my treatment? Patients should receive the medications only under medical supervision, such as in an accredited clinic with established safety standards. • Who is prescribing my treatment? These drugs need to be prescribed, administered and carefully managed by skilled physicians. To learn more about anesthesiologists, anesthesia 101, pain management and more, visit: https://madeforthismoment.asahq.org/. < Previous News Next News >

Picasso & Max: These Two Will Will Start Your Year Off With Love Wed Dec 27 2023 17:01:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)