December 23, 2012

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 topical branches opens most of them out into groups of secondary, tertiary and, in some cases, even quaternary sub-topics.

Here’s something you don’t see every day. A fish tornado. Really.

http://www.weather.com/news/underwater-fish-tornado-20121216

——————

Can your dog do this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWAK0J8Uhzk

——————

And can your father do this?

http://www.snotr.com/video/8965/

——————

And can your dog do this?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/dog-fetches-cat-favorite-video-2012-214051168.html

——————

UPS guy steals homeowner’s FedEx package — on video

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-ups-fedex-package-theft-20121221,0,3979360.story

[ASND wonders if there is anything else about UPS we should know.]

——————

“… she fell asleep on the couch and didn’t realize a tornado had ripped off part of her roof and damaged most of the home until firefighters and neighbors came to check on her.“

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/12/21/alabama-woman-sleeps-through-tornado-ripping-off-roof/

[ASND can understand if she was sleeping the way Nobody Important does -- wearing earplugs.]

——————

“… his ‘uncontrollable flatulence’… created an ‘intolerable’ and ‘hostile’ environment for coworkers…“

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/coworkers-attacked-by-gas-645132

[ Nobody Important is glad none of those "coworkers" have to work here at ASND.]

——————

Just FYI

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2252051/Forget-Mayan-Apocalypse-new-date-doomsday-January-1-2017-claim-Sword-God-cult.html?printingPage=true

[You're welcome.]

——————

You can milk just about anything with Updates.

——————

Economics Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Economics menu tree.]

New Study Finds CRA ‘Clearly’ Did Lead To Risky Lending

http://news.investors.com/print/ibd-editorials-perspective/122012-637924-faults-community-reinvestment-act-cra-mortgage-defaults.aspx

——————

Obamanomics Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Barack Obama / Obamanomics menu tree.]

The federal government has emerged as one of the most potent factors driving income inequality in the United States – especially in the nation’s capital.

http://www.reuters.com/subjects/income-inequality/washington

and…

Empty cabinet job shows economy apathy [on part of President]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/19/obamas-secretary-of-commerce-mia-empty-cabinet-job/#ixzz2Fak079YF

and…

Foreign holdings of US debt hit record $5.48T

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FOREIGN_HOLDINGS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-17-09-44-48

and…

Prosperity: US Drops Out of Top Ten

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/12/prosperity-us-drops-out-of-top-ten.php

[Hmm... ASND wonders how on Earth that could have happened.]

[Very curious.]

and…

Obama Sandy aid bill filled with holiday goodies unrelated to storm damage

http://www.nypost.com/f/print/news/national/little_help_here_1kW6aQ8fElj4CKwbheEV0N#axzz2FGyZuz7v

and…

[Barack Obama] Books 50% [Taxpayer] Loss As Government Motors Buys Back 200MM Shares From [U.S. Treasury]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-12-19/gm-buys-back-200mm-shares-us-government-uncle-sam-divest-remaining-stake-50-loss

——————

Taxes Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Economics / Taxes menu tree.]

Do higher taxes slow economic growth?

http://blog.heritage.org/2012/04/25/of-course-higher-taxes-slow-growth-a-response-to-diamond-and-saez/

——————

Media Bias Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Politics / Media Bias menu tree.]

PolitiFact Is The Liar Of The Year

http://www.openmarket.org/2012/12/14/politifact-is-the-liar-of-the-year/

and…

BBC BLASTED OVER CLIMATE CHANGE ‘BIAS’

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/365640/BBC-blasted-over-climate-change-bias

——————

Liberalism Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Philosophy / Liberalism menu tree.]

Obamish Update

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/12/obamish_update.html

and…

Barney Frank on Balancing the Budget: ‘I Don’t Think Balance is Logical’

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/barney-frank-balancing-budget-i-don-t-think-balance-logical

[Barney Frank, for those who don't know, is the homosexual former House Financial Services Committe chair [under Nancy Pelosi's Speakership] who promoted for many years and then oversaw the near collapse of the U.S. financial system in 2008.]

and…

[Swedish] Court terminates parental rights in homeschool case

Appeals panel hands down family-court decision described as ‘death penalty’

http://mobile.wnd.com/2012/12/court-terminates-parental-rights-in-homeschool-case/

and…

“Governments across the world appear stuck in what Michael Lind describes as an era of ‘turboparalysis’ — all motion, no progress. But outside government, progress has been nothing short of spectacular.“

http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-week/leading-article/8789981/glad-tidings/

and…

“Gun crime has almost doubled since Labour came to power [in the U.K.] as a culture of extreme gang violence has taken hold.“

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1223193/Culture-violence-Gun-crime-goes-89-decade.html?printingPage=true

and…

New FOI curbs could make [U.K.] Government more secret

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/leveson-inquiry/9753884/New-FOI-curbs-could-make-Government-more-secret.html

and…

The most violent country in Europe: Britain is also worse than South Africa and U.S.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196941/The-violent-country-Europe-Britain-worse-South-Africa-U-S.html?printingPage=true

and…

Christianity being ‘airbrushed’ out of [British] Christmas cards

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9758454/Christianity-being-airbrushed-out-of-Christmas-cards.html

——————

Liberal Fascism? Update:

[Obama's] Attorney General [Holder] Secretly Granted Gov. Ability to Develop and Store Dossiers on Innocent Americans

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/12/gov-dossiers-on-us-citizens/

and…

AG Holder in ’95: Schools Should ‘Brainwash’ People Into Thinking About Guns Differently

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/ag-holder-95-schools-should-brainwash-people-thinking-about-guns-differently

——————

Abortion Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Culture / Abortion menu tree.]

Planned Parenthood Study: One Woman Injured From Abortion Drug Daily

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/21/planned-parenthood-study-one-woman-injured-from-abortion-drug-daily/

and…

They Said NO: When 12 Nurses Refused to Do Abortions

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/17/they-said-no-when-12-nurses-refused-to-do-abortions/

and…

Mom Changes Mind About Abortion After Newtown Shooting

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/21/mom-changes-mind-about-abortion-after-newtown-shooting/

and…

Report: 1 in 6 Babies in Denmark Survive Failed Abortions

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/18/report-1-in-6-babies-in-denmark-survive-failed-abortions/

and…

Human Cloning: The Unethical Manufacturing of Human Life

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/21/human-cloning-the-unethical-manufacturing-of-human-life/

—————–

Scientific Fraud Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Science / Scientific Fraud menu tree.]

[Obama's] CDC Report Severely Undercounts Number of Abortions Nationwide

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/17/cdcs-report-severely-undercounts-number-of-abortions-nationwide/

and…

IPCC Declares Its Intent to Circumvent Expert Reviewers

http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2012/12/15/ipcc-declares-its-intent-to-circumvent-expert-reviewers/

and…

New paper finds IPCC climate models substantially exaggerate wind speeds

http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.com/2012/12/new-paper-finds-ipcc-climate-models.html

and…

“… an IPCC insider told InterAcademy Council investigators that scientists who wish to include certain information in IPCC reports sometimes manufacture made-to-order journal articles.“

http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2012/12/20/this-is-called-cheating-part-1/

and…

“What would you name a paper which purports to discover that heat waves stress pregnant women and thus cause birth defects but which never once measures the actual exposure of pregnant women to heat?“

http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=6870

——————

Global Warming Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Science / Global Warming menu tree.]

No Long-Term Trend in Frequency, Strength of Landfalling Hurricanes

http://www.globalwarming.org/2012/12/17/no-long-term-trend-in-frequency-strength-of-landfalling-hurricanes/

and…

IPCC Forced To Backtrack On Bogus Claims That Global Warming Causes Severe Weather

http://www.c3headlines.com/2012/12/ipcc-forced-to-backtrack-on-bogus-claims-that-global-warming-causes-severe-weather.html

and…

“More bad news for warmists: ‘infectious diseases, maternal and child illness, and malnutrition now cause fewer deaths and less illness than they did twenty years ago…’“

http://tomnelson.blogspot.com/2012/12/more-bad-news-for-warmists-diseases.html

and…

Fourteen Consecutive Months Of Above Normal Antarctic Sea Ice

http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/fourteen-consecutive-months-of-above-normal-antarctic-sea-ice/

and…

Crystal Mountain Ski Area – 90 inches of snow since Sunday

http://iceagenow.info/2012/12/crystal-mountain-ski-area-90-inches-snow-sunday/

and…

Mt Baker closed – too much snow and fallen trees

http://iceagenow.info/2012/12/mt-baker-closed-snow-fallen-trees/

and…

Russians freeze to death as strongest-in-decades winter hits

http://rt.com/news/russia-freeze-cold-temperature-379/

and…

Cold Blast Claims Over 600 Lives Across Eastern Europe/Russia…”Death Toll Keeps Rising…State Of Emergency”

http://notrickszone.com/2012/12/21/cold-blast-claims-over-600-lives-across-eastern-europe/

——————

Cohabitation Update:

Married women are less likely to suffer depression than cohabiters or singletons

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2248212/Married-women-likely-suffer-depression-cohabiters-singletons.html?printingPage=true

——————

Homosexual Marriage Update:

“… AFTAH has only skimmed the surface in exposing the tragic reality of the homosexual lifestyle.“

http://americansfortruth.com/2012/12/20/homosexual-man-responds-to-it-gets-better-campaign-with-video-it-got-worse/

and…

“… the [new] study shows that [homosexuals as a group] are significantly better off [financially] than heterosexuals.”

http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2012/12/10/prudential-study-shows-lgbt-wealth/

and…

Jesus Never Said Anything about Homosexuality

http://www.str.org/site/PageServer?pagename=PL_article_jesus_never_said_anything_about_homosexuality

and…

Unpacking the Queen James Bible

http://www.logosapologia.org/?p=4405

and…

“As Bible versions go, this is a rather bizarre one. Legitimate Bibles are translated and thoroughly discussed by a team of scholars whose identities and credentials are freely cited. The identity of the QJV editors [though] is completely opaque… The editors changed the wording on eight verses that prohibit gay and lesbian practice…“

http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.8481231/k.B8DE/Queen_James_Bible.htm

——————

Environmentalism Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Philosophy / Environmentalism menu tree.]

“The past half-century of disciplined and dematerializing demand and more intense and efficient land use encourage a rational hope that humanity’s pressure will not overwhelm nature.“

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/scientists-see-promise-for-people-and-nature-in-peak-farmland/

and…

Growing Consumption Of Coal Continues To Eradicate Poverty Worldwide – With No Impact On Climate!

http://notrickszone.com/2012/12/18/good-news-consumption-of-affordable-coal-continues-to-eradicate-poverty-worldwide-with-no-impact-on-climate/

——————

Pornography Update:

Study: Watching Porn Tied To Short-Term Memory Loss

http://lasvegas.cbslocal.com/2012/12/17/study-watching-porn-tied-to-short-term-memory-loss/

and…

The Harms Of Pornography

http://unitedfamilies.org/default.asp?contentID=34

and…

Porn Use Linked to [Homosexual] Marriage Support, Researcher Finds

http://www.christianpost.com/news/porn-use-linked-to-gay-marriage-support-researcher-finds-87008/print.html

[Why is ANSD not surprised to see this report?]

——————

Marijuana Update:

“The risk of [marijuana] addiction goes from about 1 in 11 overall to about 1 in 6 for those who start using in their teens, and even higher among daily smokers.“

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121219152701.htm

——————

Government Schools Update:

2 MI school districts cancel classes due to end of the world nonsense

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/12/2_mi_school_district_cancels_classes_due_to_end_of_the_world_nonsense.html

and…

Education or Indoctrination?

The Treatment of Islam in 6th through 12th Grade American Textbooks

http://www.actforamericaeducation.com/downloads/textbook_research/full_report/Full_Report_version_7.31.12.pdf

——————

Obama’s “Schools” Update:

“… educators are waving red flags about the Common Core’s literature requirements—or lack thereof.“

http://blog.heritage.org/2012/12/15/national-education-standards-trade-literature-for-reading-government-documents/

——————

Higher Education Update:

“… accepted students [into medical schools] with an MCAT of 27 or lower had an overall attrition rate of 2.5% in the first two years of medical school. This is more than double the 1.1% attrition rate for those who scored a 28 or above. Despite these statistics, 42.6% of minority applicants with a score of 21-23 (and a marginal GPA) were accepted.“

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/12/even_in_medical_school_affirmative_action_rules.html

and…

[State-employed] Professor calls for murder of NRA president

“Professor Loomis… has a history of violent rhetoric against conservatives…“

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/12/caution_contains_obscene_language_quoting.html

[ASND wonders if Barack Obama's DHS has developed a dossier yet on Dr. Loomis.]

[Oh, sorry. Our bad. Those dossiers are only for violent critics of liberalism.]

——————

Government Employment Update:

More than 171 Postal workers arrested in 2012

http://www.washingtonguardian.com/signed-sealed-deliveredto-prison

——————

Hypocrisy Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Politics / Hypocrisy menu tree.]

“[Where is] the logic of the Left… [seeking] to have their 2nd Amendment weapons forcibly taken from them when the same political crowd not only endures the staggering volume of termination of innocent life on a scale that would make Hitler cringe, but glories in it.“

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/12/as_long_as_we_are_banning_stuff.html

and…

“Five luxury homes, [a] 76-foot yacht, [a super-size] SUV, and a private jet: John Kerry models the lifestyle of a liberal who allegedly believed James Hansen’s 1988 carbon dioxide warning…”

https://www.facebook.com/messages/b2thak3

and…

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2010 Extolled the Virtues of Guns:

“I Carried a Gun Every Place I Went.”

http://freedomslighthouse.net/2012/12/18/democratic-senate-majority-leader-harry-reid-in-2010-extolled-the-virtues-of-guns-i-carried-a-gun-every-place-i-went-but-for-me-guns-are-more-than-that-about-self-defense-video-2010/

and…

Obama, Democrats Are “Pro-Choice” on Abortion But Nothing Else

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/18/obama-democrats-are-pro-choice-on-abortion-but-nothing-else/

and…

“Despite his calls for greater gun control, including a new assault weapons ban that extends to handguns, President Obama’s administration has turned away from enforcing gun laws, cutting weapons prosecutions some 40 percent since a high of about 11,000 under former President Bush.“

http://washingtonexaminer.com/gun-prosecutions-under-obama-down-over-40-percent-percent/article/2516175#.UM-M1ndCN8G

and…

[Obama's] Double Standards on Death

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/lloyd-billingsley/double-standards-on-death/print/

and…

[Obama]Feds look other way as wind farms kill birds — but haul oil and gas firms to court

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/17/us-wind-farms-under-fire-for-bird-kills/?test=latestnews

and…

Expected liberal behavior on display

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/12/expected_liberal_behavior_on_display.html

——————

Obama the Man! Update:

Obama: Sandy Hook shooting reminds us of big struggles, such as climate change

http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama-sandy-hook-shooting-reminds-us-of-big-struggles-such-as-climate-change/article/2516513#.UNR1-ndCN8E

and…

Obama Uses Funeral Service to Talk About Himself

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-uses-funeral-service-talk-about-himself_690960.html

——————

Black Culture Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Culture / Black Culture menu tree.]

Blacks Enslaving Themselves

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/mark-tapson/blacks-enslaving-themselves/print/

and…

“… a small riot occurred surrounding the release of the new Retro Air Jordan shoes.“

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/12/21/rush-for-shoes-at-texas-mall-ends-with-pepper-spray/

and…

Couple Accused Of Slapping Elderly Best Buy Employee

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/12/21/couple-accused-of-slapping-elderly-best-buy-employee/

——————

Hollywood Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Culture / Hollywood menu tree.]

Politically potent Hollywood escapes heavy scrutiny in wake of shooting

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/21/violent-movies-avoid-scrutiny-following-mass-shootings/

[ASND reminds readers, though, that Hollywood is only "politically potent" with one America's two major political parties.]

——————

Self Defense Update:

Cops: Woman shoots 17-year-old who broke into house, tried to stab her

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/dncrime/Cops-Woman-shoots-17-year-old-who-broke-into-house-tried-to-stab-her.html

and…

How Often Are Firearms Used in Self-Defense?

http://www.guncite.com/gun_control_gcdguse.html

——————

Gun Control Update:

“Last week’s shootings, which killed [20 children and 7 adults], demonstrated once again the folly of ‘gun-free zones,’ which attract and assist people bent on mass murder instead of deterring them.“

http://reason.com/archives/2009/11/11/the-folly-of-unilateral-disarm

[For those who won't bother to actually read it, that story wasn't actually about the Newtown, CT massacre, which was "last week" as of this writing. That article was originally about another massacre (on a U.S. military base, no less) which, like the Newtown massacre, could have been greatly limited had there been armed adults in the building (as there are in Israeli schools ). It probably comes as no surprise to learn that firearm-trained teachers are prohibited from carrying those weapons of mass protection into government schools. But how many of you knew that trained U.S. soldiers are also not allowed to carry their own weapons on military bases?]

and…

Guns actually SAVED many people’s lives — including children’s lives — in Newtown, CT.

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/sandy-hook-killer-alive-police-arrived-school-article-1.1221488?print

[What a crying shame they weren't available to anyone who was there when the shooting started.]

and…

[Obama's Own] DOJ: Murders of School-Age Children Down 42%; Only 1% Take Place at School

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/doj-murders-school-age-children-down-42-only-1-take-place-school

and…

Gun-control laws failed Connecticut children

Facts of crime reveal shooter violated at least 3 statutes already in place

http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/gun-control-laws-failed-connecticut-children/print/

and…

“Arming Campus Cops is Elementary. Never call an unarmed man ‘security’… Our problem is not money. It is denial [of the real problem -- lack of protection for children in public schools].“

http://www.policeone.com/active-shooter/articles/2058168-Lt-Col-Dave-Grossman-to-cops-The-enemy-is-denial/

and…

Gun free [school] zones invite mad mass-murderers, say law officers

http://www.examiner.com/article/newtown-gun-free-zones-invite-mad-mass-murderers-say-law-officers

and…

What if 1 of the teachers had a gun?

http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/what-if-1-of-the-teachers-had-a-gun/print/

and…

“There are unconfirmed reports (from an uncle and a neighbor) that Adam Lanza was medicated at the time of the attack, perhaps taking the anti-psychotic drug Fanapt. If that turns out to be the case, he will join a dismaying list of school shooters and other cold-blooded murderers who were taking or withdrawing from various psychotropic drugs.“

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/12/was_it_the_meds.html

and…

“In 2011, Connecticut was ranked the fifth-toughest state by the pro-gun control Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.“

http://pjmedia.com/blog/last-state-ban-against-concealed-carry-struck-down-by-appeals-court/?print=1

and…

“… there have already been a whole pile of [gun control] proposals [following the Newtown massacre], and they all uniformly have one thing in common: they wouldn’t have prevented the killings in Newtown.”

http://pjmedia.com/blog/a-gun-crime-proposal-that-might-actually-help/?print=1

and…

“With just one single exception, the attack on congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson in 2011, every public shooting since at least 1950 in the U.S. in which more than three people have been killed has taken place where citizens are not allowed to carry guns.”

http://www.nationalreview.com/blogs/print/335739

and…

“… gun-control efforts, while noble, would only have a modest impact on the rate of gun violence in America. Why? Because it’s too late. There are an estimated 280 million to 300 million guns in private hands in America — many legally owned, many not. Each year, more than 4 million new guns enter the market… America’s level of gun ownership means that even if the Supreme Court — which ruled in 2008 that the Second Amendment gives citizens the individual right to own firearms, as gun advocates have long insisted — suddenly reversed itself and ruled that the individual ownership of handguns was illegal, there would be no practical way for a democratic country to locate and seize those guns.”

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/12/the-case-for-more-guns-and-more-gun-control/309161/?single_page=true

and…

“One may infer from [the U.N.'s global homicide vs. gun ownership] data that homicide, including massacres, is not a matter of hardware but rather of software: weapons are not conducive to violence; what makes them dangerous is a violence-oriented culture.“

http://pjmedia.com/blog/gun-control-its-the-software-stupid-not-the-hardware/?print=1

and…

The Assault Weapons Ban: How Silly Was It?

http://pjmedia.com/blog/assault-weapons-ban/?print=1

and…

“… an off duty sheriff’s deputy who was working security at the theater shot [the armed assailant] once.“

http://radio.woai.com/cc-common/mainheadlines3.html?feed=119078&article=10644119

[Hmm... ASND wonders if the victim could have saved his own life by doing the same thing.]

[Oh, right. He likely not allowed to protect himself.]

[Sorry about that.]

and…

Gun Control in England

“… in the six years since the 1997 handgun ban, crimes with the very weapons banned have more than doubled, and firearm crime has increased markedly. In 2002, for the fourth consecutive year, gun crime in England and Wales rose — by 35 percent for all firearms, and by a whopping 46 percent for the banned handguns. Nearly 10,000 firearms offences were committed.“

http://www.saf.org/journal/16/guncontrolinengland.pdf

and…

Australia’s Gun Laws: Little Effect

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1736501,00.html

——————

Republicans? Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Politics / Republicans menu tree.]

“Boehner has conceded to Obama on taxes, entitlement reform – and now the debt ceiling.“

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/12/boehner_desperate_for_deal_takes_debt_ceiling_vote_off_the_table.html

and…

Gingrich: GOP Must ‘Accommodate and Deal With Reality’ on Same-sex Marriage

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/gingrich-gop-must-accommodate-and-deal-reality-same-sex-marriage

——————

Conservatism Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Politics / Conservatism menu tree.]

“A third or more of what the US spends annually may be wasteful.“

http://www.healthaffairs.org/healthpolicybriefs/brief.php?brief_id=82

[OOH! Ooh, I know. Let's nationalize health care. That'll add efficiency!]

and…

“… after the [Bush] tax cuts, the rich overall wound up paying a larger dollar amount in income taxes. That’s mainly because the incomes of the wealthy kept climbing. The top quintile paid 15 percent more in taxes but made 30 percent more money in 2006 than in 1996…“

http://www.reuters.com/subjects/income-inequality/washington

——————

Obama’s Foreign Policy Update:

Obama’s Middle East Mess

http://pjmedia.com/blog/obamas-middle-east-mess/?print=1

——————

U.N. Update:

More outrages at the UN’s Human Wrongs Council

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/12/more_outrages_at_the_uns_human_wrongs_council.html

——————

Obama & National Security Update:

“[Obama's] Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers is criticized for giving sensitive information to the filmmakers behind ‘Zero Dark Thirty’.”

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/12/sources-say-dod-inspector-general-report-criticizes-vickers-in-discussions-with-filmmakers/

——————

Islam Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Religion / Islam menu tree.]

Kuwait Passes Law to Execute Those Who Slander Islam and the Prophet

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/kuwait-passes-law-to-execute-those-who-slander-islam-and-the-prophet/

[ASND reminds readers that Kuwait is the country the U.S. liberated from Saddam Hussesin's Iraq during the Persian Gulf War .]

and…

[U.S.] Army acknowledges pedophilia part of Islam

Manual warns soldiers in Afghanistan not to talk about certain subjects

http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/army-acknowledges-pedophilia-part-of-islam/print/

and…

Muslim terrorists picking off targets at girls schools

Death toll based on attacks on ‘soft targets’

http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/muslim-terrorists-picking-off-targets-at-girls-schools/print/

and…

“Jerusalem is mentioned in the Qur’an zero times [and] ‘Palestine’ is not mentioned either… [T]he Holy Land is mentioned in the Qur’an as the land that was [given] by Allah to Israel (5:21) and even tells that the Jews will return to their land (17:104).”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xU9CauJP4Pg

and…

Know Hamas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GqHPHYzVKXU

and…

The Islamization of Copenhagen

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/bruce-bawer/the-islamization-of-copenhagen/print/

and…

Fraud and Racketeering at CAIR

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/dgreenfield/fraud-and-racketeering-at-cair/print/

and…

CAIR Leader Mimics Hamas in Calling for Israel’s Destruction

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/joe-kaufman/cair-leader-mimics-hamas-in-calling-for-israels-destruction/print/

—————–

Obama & Islam Update:

Obamappointees Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Barack Obama / Obamappointees menu tree.]

Obama Cabinet Picks Bode Poorly For U.S.-Israeli Relations

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/ari-lieberman/obama-cabinet-picks-bode-poorly-for-u-s-israeli-relations/print/

and…

“The historical record informs us that not only has John Kerry been on the wrong side of every major foreign policy issue for most of his adult life, including Iraq, Nicaragua and most recently in Syria, but he has routinely engaged in deception to conceal his folly. What’s worse, Kerry has a clear record of giving aid and comfort to America’s enemies, all the while never missing an opportunity to viciously trash our brave forces fighting against them.“

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/john-perazzo/john-kerry-a-hate-america-veteran-reporting-for-duty/print/

——————

Syrian Civil War Update:

“… light is not waiting at the end of the [Syrian civil war] tunnel. Islamist hordes are.“

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/ryan-mauro/assad-if-i-go-none-of-syria-remains/print/

and…

[Islamist] Syrian Rebels Now Have Chemical Weapons

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/theodore-and-walid-shoebat/syrian-rebels-now-have-chemical-weapons/print/

——————

Israel & Iran Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Religion / Islam / Israel & Iran menu tree.]

Iran making anthrax at secret plant

Weaponization efforts also include deadly encephalitis, ‘yellow grain’

http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/iran-making-anthrax-at-secret-plant/print/

——————

Israel vs. Iran & Obama? Update:

“The trend in these types of settlements suggests that they have become commonplace and raises serious questions about whether the [Obama administration] treats financial institutions as if they are ‘too big to jail’ – even when they aid [Iran] and [drug] cartels.“

http://pjmedia.com/blog/are-banks-that-violate-sanctions-getting-off-with-slaps-on-the-wrist/?print=1

——————

Christian Persecution Update:

Kids of Courage

Exchanging Strength with Christian Children Around the World who Risk All for Jesus Christ

http://www.kidsofcourage.com/

and…

AZERBAIJAN: Authorities Raid Homes of Former Prisoners of Conscience

www.be-a-voice.net/prayerbulletinpdfs/6912/275_AzerbaijanHomesRaided_11x85_p.pdf

and…

Iraqi Christians: Out of frying pan into fire

Flee Islamic terror only to now face genocide in Syria

http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/iraqi-christians-out-of-frying-pan-into-fire/print/

and…

VOM-USA Prayer Update

https://www.vomgroups.com/qry/forum/td_index.taf?_function=topic&tdttopc_uid1=101

——————

Evolutionism Update:

“This [new] approach [to origin-of-life research] is exactly what advocates of ID have been stressing from the beginning.”

http://www.evolutionnews.org/2012/12/accounting_for067461.html

“The distributed nature of biological information leads Davies and Walker to introduce a principle that happens to be key to intelligent-design theory: the idea that information is a fundamental, non-physical property that can be expressed in disparate contexts without altering the message.”

http://www.evolutionnews.org/2012/12/assessing_the_a067541.html

and…

The chairman of the biology department at the University of San Francisco reveals details of the Cambrian explosion, a biological puzzle that confounds the Darwinists

http://www.leaderu.com/real/ri9701/chien.html

and…

“Evidence for Fusion in a Human Chromosome Tells you LITTLE TO NOTHING about whether Humans Share a Common Ancestor with Living Apes“

http://www.ideacenter.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/1392

Why The Chromosomal Fusion Argument Doesn’t Wash

http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/why-the-chromosomal-fusion-argument-doesnt-wash/

What the Literature Says about Chromosomal Fusion and Why It Says It

http://www.evolutionnews.org/2012/07/what_the_litera_1062521.html

——————

Atheism Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Religion / Atheism menu tree.]

Is the ‘God Hypothesis’ a Good One if We Can’t Observe That Which It Proposes?

http://ratiochristi.org/uk/blog/post/is-the-god-hypothesis-a-good-one-if-we-cant-observe-it

and…

The Logical Failure of Moral Evolution

http://godneighbor.wordpress.com/2012/12/19/the-logical-failure-of-moral-evolution/

and…

“… if Moran had wanted to find out whether Craig’s arguments were respected or not, there were several easy avenues of investigation open to him.“

http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/larry-moran-asks-do-philosophers-take-william-lane-craigs-arguments-seriously/

and…

Hawking on God and Creation

http://commonsenseatheism.com/uploads/Craig%20-%20%27What%20Place,%20Then,%20for%20a%20Creator%20%27%20Hawking%20on%20God%20and%20Creation.pdf

and…

“Without presupposing the existence of God, one cannot account for analytic assessments.“

http://thelordgodexists.com/2012/12/reson-requires-god-kants-transcendental-program-falls-short/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reson-requires-god-kants-transcendental-program-falls-short

and…

Atheists Say Richard Dawkins is an Embarrassment and Troublesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lQ69VVR4gc

and…

ASND wonders how many atheists know that thoroughly secular Sweden has a nearly 300% higher larceny rate (per 1,000 in the population), about 175% more rape victims (per 1,000 in the population), over 100% more murder and aggravated assault vicitms (per 1,000 in the population), and a 17% higher total crime victim rate than the considerably more Christian United States.

http://www.nationmaster.com/compare/Sweden/United-States/Crime

http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rwinslow/europe/sweden.html

[Hmm...]

and…

Answering Atheists: Is Religion Evil? Is Christianity Good or Bad for Mankind?

http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4496493/k.5E96/Charity_and_Compassion_Christianity_Is_Good_for_Culture.htm

and…

An Atheist Defends the Value of Religion

http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/09/an_atheist_defends_the_value_of_religion.html

——————

Occultism Update:

Cornish ‘white witches’ guilty of ritual sex abuse on girls

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/14/cornish-white-witches-guilty-ritual-abuse?religionnewsblog.com

and…

“Labeled a dangerous cult by some, it has been reported that Visarion and his followers believe in [extra-terrestrial] aliens, think suicide is A-OK, and believe that the end of the World is immanent. There are rules here that I was warned about: no cussing, no tobacco, no alcohol, no meat…“

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Cv5hZfOmk

and…

The Occult: The Authority of the Believer Over the Powers of Darkness

http://joshmcdowellmedia.org/FreeBooks/The%20Occult.pdf

and…

Territorial Spirits and Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical Perspective

http://www.equip.org/articles/territorial-spirits-and-spiritual-warfare-a-biblical-perspective/

——————

Judaism Update:

The [Old Testament] is About Jesus

http://pleaseconvinceme.blogspot.com/2009/12/bible-is-about-jesus.html

and…

Prince of Peace – What Peace?

“The Old Testament prophecies claiming the Messiah would be the Prince of Peace were referring to peace with God through the new covenant of peace. Through this covenant, the Messiah would justify sinners through His sacrifice as the guilt offering of God.”

http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/peace.html

and…

The Jewish Background of the Incarnation in The Gospel of John

http://chab123.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/the-jewish-background-of-the-incarnation-in-the-gospel-of-john/

——————

Mormonism Update:

“… every single person who is a minority activist should be shot… in the face… point blank… GET OVER YOURSELVES.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-mormon-women-pants-facebook-20121214,0,3860687.story?religionnewsblog.com

[Yes, in case you're wondering, that was a Mormon who wrote that.]

and…

Mormon epistemology

http://philochristos.blogspot.com/2008/09/mormon-epistemology-part-1.html

http://philochristos.blogspot.com/search?q=Mormon+epistemology

——————

Jehovah’s Witnesses Update:

Jehovah’s Witnesses’ History

http://carm.org/jehovahs-witnesses-history

and…

Questions for Jehovah’s Witnesses

http://carm.org/questions-for-jehovahs-witnesses

and…

A Biblical Response to Jehovah’s Witnesses

http://carm.org/biblical-response-to-jehovahs-witnesses

——————

Eschatology Update:

Thinking About ‘Future Things’

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-1-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-2-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-3-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-4-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-5-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-6-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-7-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-8-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-9-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-10-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-11-of-12

http://www.reasons.org/articles/thinking-about-future-things-part-12-of-12

and…

God’s Plan for Humanity—Paradise Restored or Paradise Replaced?

http://www.reasons.org/articles/gods-plan-for-humanity-paradise-restored-or-paradise-replaced

——————

The Bible Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Religion / Christianity / The Bible menu tree.]

Is There Archaeological Evidence for the Exodus?

http://1peter315.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-there-archaeological-evidence-for.html

and…

Moral vs. Civil & Ceremonial Laws

http://carm.org/leviticus-follow-all-laws-or-not

and…

Why Were The Sailors Afraid Of The Syrtis Sands (Acts 27:17)?

http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2011/01/05/Why-Were-The-Sailors-Afraid-Of-The-Syrtis-Sands-%28Acts-2717%29.aspx#Article

and…

Has God Promised You New Revelation?

“These verses… promised the inspiration of the Word of God we now have in the New Testament. Instead of wishing for new words from God, maybe we should cherish the words He has already given us.“

http://www.toughquestionsanswered.org/2010/11/12/has-god-promised-you-new-revelation/

——————

Christianity Update:

[Several subtopics are available for further study on the

Religion / Christianity menu tree.]

Why Isn’t the Evidence Clearer?

http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4223593/k.3971/Why_Isnt_the_Evidence_Clearer.htm

and…

A Test: Do you have the True Jesus?

http://carm.org/do-you-have-the-true-jesus

and…

What are the 12 days of Christmas?