May 23, 2012

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Reminder to readers: ASND collates and concatenates the Updates by topic.

For extended (and often extensive) research on individual issues, browse the various menus above.  Hovering the mouse over individual topics branches opens most of them out into groups of secondary, tertiary and, in some cases, even quaternary sub-topics.

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“So that’s what they mean by ‘popping the trunk.‘

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1649038830001/dumbest-stuff-on-wheels-car-vs-tree?intcmp=features

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“One participant celebrated by getting a spider tattoo after having been unable to even look at photos of spiders.”

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-05-21/spider-fear/55118154/1

[Nobody Important thinks tatoos are way more gross than spiders.]

[Also, Nobody Important's older daughter handled "a huge, hairy tarantula" when she was only 9 years old.]

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The rain in Spain stays mainly in the Updates.

This week’s new Update category:

Newspeak

The Rise of Newspeak

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/03/08/leftist-newspeak-is-killing-political-discourse/print/

and…

The Lingo of the Left

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-lingo-of-the-left/?print=1

and…

A Partial Lexicon of Current Political Speech

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/11/a_partial_lexicon_of_current_p.html

and…

The AT Readers’ Complete Lexicon of Political Speech

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/11/the_at_readers_complete_lexico.html

and…

Masters of the Language

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/11/masters_of_the_language.html

and…

Orwellian Doublethink

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/02/orwellian_doublethink.html

and…

Dr. Orwell Will See You Now

http://pjmedia.com/blog/dr-orwell-will-see-you-now/?print=1

and…

Regime Appoints New Deputy Minister of Propaganda

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/05/regime_appoints_new_deputy_min.html

and…

Obama’s Doublespeak on Immigration

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obamas-doublespeak-on-immigration/?print=1

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House Dems: Closing special tax breaks not same as raising taxes

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/168501-clyburn-closing-special-tax-breaks-not-the-same-as-raising-taxes

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SEIU Memo: ‘Unions,’ ‘Employers,’ out; ‘Workers,’ ‘Corporations’ in

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1109/SEIU_Memo_Unions_Employers_out_Workers_Corporations_in.html?showall

and…

The Scourge of the Feminist Word Police

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-scourge-of-the-feminist-word-police/?print=1

and…

The Emperor Seth and Kinetic Islam

http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2011/03/26/the-emperor-seth-and-kinetic-islam/?print=1

and…

Media Matters As PC Language Police

http://www.capitalresearch.org/blog/2009/11/11/media-matters-as-pc-language-police/

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Abortion Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Culture / Abortion menu tree.]

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[Yet another ] Woman dies during abortion

http://zeenews.india.com/news/maharashtra/woman-dies-during-abortion-doctor-couple-arrested_776405.html

and…

Pro-Abortion Doctors Urge Colleagues to Break Pro-Life Laws

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/21/pro-abortion-doctors-urge-colleagues-to-break-pro-life-laws/

and…

“A taxpayer-funded pilot program in California is training people who are not physicians to do first-trimester vacuum aspiration surgical abortions – with as little as two days of instruction – and now a judge is protecting the names of everyone involved.“

http://www.wnd.com/2012/05/now-non-doctors-plan-stunning-evil-for-babies/print/

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Higher Education Update:

“… artificially cheap borrowing for higher education enable[s] students to spend more on college than they would otherwise.  That increased demand pushes up tuitions.  With more students able to afford college, schools have upped the ante by providing more and better amenities to attract them, which requires higher tuition and fees to cover those costs.  Government mandates have also added to the administrative bloat at many institutions, further raising costs and tuition.”

http://www.thefreemanonline.org/headline/bubbles-malinvestment-and-higher-education/

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Obamacare Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Barack Obama / Obamacare menu tree.]

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“… the current system of linking star ratings to bonus payments and rebate adjustments instituted by [Obamacare] (and expanded by the CMS Quality Bonus Payment Demonstration) fails to achieve that goal, and depending on its specific implementation, may even be counterproductive.“

http://americanactionforum.org/sites/default/files/Medicare%20Star%20Ratings%20Detaching%20Pay%20from%20Performance.pdf

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Euro-Economic Crystal Ball Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Economics / Euro-Economic Crystal Ball menu tree.]

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Greek Euro Exit Being Considered: Former PM Papademos

http://www.cnbc.com/id/47524590

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“Greece’s probable exit from the eurozone will have a contagious effect on the rest of Europe, as well as the world economy.”

http://www.aei.org/files/2012/05/16/-the-euro-end-game_17001871275.pdf

and…

Secret Central Bank Aid Props Up Greek Banks

http://www.cnbc.com/id/47513542

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Global Warming Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Science / Global Warming menu tree.]

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1000+ Peer-Reviewed Papers Supporting Skeptic Arguments Against AGW Alarm

http://www.populartechnology.net/2009/10/peer-reviewed-papers-supporting.html

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“Top scientists of Russia’s most prestigious academy say global warming is ending.“

http://notrickszone.com/2012/05/21/scientists-of-the-russian-academy-of-sciences-global-warming-is-coming-to-an-end-return-to-early-1980s-level/0/

[What on Earth is the deal with that picture?]

and…

Empirical Data Vs. [IPCC] Predictions

http://www.c3headlines.com/bad-predictions-failed.html

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“… the 2012 hurricane season… will begin with a record-long stretch of no intense hurricane landfalls [on the U.s.] still continuing…“

http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/05/updated-us-intense-hurricane-drought.html

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Federal Spending Update:

Federal government spent nearly $70 billion on ‘climate change activities’ since 2008

http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/17/federal-government-spent-nearly-70-billion-on-climate-change-activities-since-2008/

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“During that time the Defense Department spent nearly $4 billion on energy efficiency and climate change activities.”

http://news.investors.com/article/612092/201205181900/defense-billions-to-fight-climate-change-.htm?p=full

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Judges under fire for Maui conference have history of tropical getaways

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/22/judges-under-fire-for-maui-conference-have-history-tropical-getaways/

and…

“Not only are Americans forced to fund abortions, and potentially rationing, in the Obamacare health care scheme, but new reports reveal they are spending $20 million [of your money] on an election-year public relations plan to promote it.“

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/05/22/obama-admin-signs-20m-contract-for-obamacare-public-relations/

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Federal Debt Update:

Federal Debt Per U.S. Taxpayer [as of this Update]: $138,500

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

and…

“... those operations which succeed will create a flow of money into the federal treasury which will pay off the national debt and create real, tangible wealth which can give us honest hope again.“

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/05/real_hope_for_ending_federal_debt.html

[ASND reminds readers that each of "those operations" will bring significant environmental impacts.  Therefore ASND asks, "Which of 'those operations' are supported by the Obama administration?]

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Obama & Islam Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Barack Obama / Obama & Islam menu tree.]

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“… President Obama just cannot bring himself to focus on Islam as the enemy, and that is primarily why the war in Afghanistan cannot be won.“

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/05/afghanistan_chronicle_of_a_conundrum.html

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Hypocrisy Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Politics / Hypocrisy menu tree.]

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Democrats who cheat on their taxes want us to pay more

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/05/democrats_who_cheat_on_their_taxes_want_us_to_pay_more.html

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‘Nonviolence’ Explodes in Chicago

“Some of the alleged pacifists conspired to maim and kill Americans.”

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/05/21/nonviolence-explodes-in-chicago/print/

and…

“Democrats are always ready to invoke religion to support their big-government, taxpayer-funded initiatives (Obamacare, illegal-alien amnesty, increased education spending, and FCC regulatory expansion, for starters).  But when an independent company — thriving on its own merits in the marketplace — wears its soul on its sleeve, suddenly it’s a theocratic crisis.“

http://www.nationalreview.com/blogs/print/258646

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Liberalism & Christianity Update:

“For the Left, these Biblically based corporate principles constitute social-justice high crimes and misdemeanors.“

http://www.nationalreview.com/blogs/print/258646

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Liberal Fascism? Update:

“… the school didn’t realize that there was another machine in the school bookstore that wasn’t being turned off.  And when the food police realized it, the school was hit with a $0.75 fine per student for the duration of the offense.“

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/05/no_soda_for_you.html

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Blacks & Violence Update:

“A gang of 20 hooded [black] youths stormed a pub after the Champions League final before dragging away a 25-year old man and stabbing him to death in scenes ‘like a horror film’…  ‘There were about 20 young black guys all with their hoods up armed with sticks and bats and knives.  They just ran in the pub and started trying to attack people.‘”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2147730/Father-56-critical-condition-stabbed-trying-shield-dying-son-frenzied-attack-hoodie-gang-outside-pub.html#ixzz1vaRadwYk

[No, the "black" information wasn't reported until several paragraphs later.]

and…

“‘This is for you, you white b—-.’“

http://www.wtsp.com/news/watercooler/article/256102/58/Woman-attacked-while-ordering-lunch-at-drive-thru

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Obama The Man! Update:

“… one should never underestimate Barack Obama’s startling lack of a work ethic – a trait that has been noticeable for decades.“

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/05/obama_awol_as_always_when_a_crisis_approaches.html

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Higher Education Update:

Study suggests online courses as good as classroom

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/05/21/findings-give-boost-online-classes/qtokLQeQZvE85EMzSBG6PM/story.html

and…

Is college too easy?  As study time falls, debate rises.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/is-college-too-easy-as-study-time-falls-debate-rises/2012/05/21/gIQAp7uUgU_print.html

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U.F.O.s Update:

“Jodie Foster may have seen proof of alien lands in the 1997 Robert Zemeckis film ‘Contact,’ but the real life astronomer the filmmakers based their sci-fi odyssey on didn’t find so much as a tentacle.“

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/05/22/alien-hunter-retires-after-35-year-quest-for-et/?test=latestnews

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Homosexual Marriage Update:

Why Gay Is Not the New Black

http://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2012/05/22/why_gay_is_not_the_new_black/print

and…

The Constitution Doesn’t Settle the Marriage Debate

“It is left, rather, to the people acting on their own in referenda and initiatives in states that provide for those decision-making procedures, and through their elected representatives in the state legislatures and the Congress.  It is up to the democratic process, not the courts purporting to act in the name of the Constitution, to make the moral judgment that marriage should be retained as a conjugal partnership, or to make the competing moral judgments that would redefine marriage, whether to accommodate polygamous, polyamorous, or same sex partnerships.“

http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2012/05/the-constitution-doesnrsquot-settle-the-marriage-debate

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Christian Persecution Update:

Egypt Election: Persecution Against Christians May Worsen, Says Watchdog

http://www.christianpost.com/news/egypt-election-persecution-against-christians-may-worsen-says-watchdog-75315/print.html

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