Blog Heap of Links for the day 26 June 2014

Links in this view: 9
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Untied Nations

United Nations experts said Wednesday that Detroit’s decision to cut off water to residents who haven’t paid their bills may violate international human rights. … The U.N. experts said international human rights law requires governments to take urgent measures, including financial assistance, to ensure access to essential water and sanitation. “The households which suffered unjustified disconnections must be immediately reconnected,” the U.N. statement said. [There is no situation the UN can't make worse.]

7:01pm CDT Thu 2014 Jun 26 :MW

Big Nanny

Big sodas can stay on the menu in the Big Apple after New York state's highest court refused Thursday to reinstate the city's first-of-its-kind size limit on sugary drinks. But city officials suggested they might be willing to revisit the supersize-soda ban. [Mindful Webwork Daily Doodle from 2013 Feb 20: I Drink to Bloomberg - ballpoint on styrofoam]

6:42pm CDT Thu 2014 Jun 26 :MW

Sharia Sucks

An Egyptian man was convicted and sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison along with a fine of $840 dollars for violating Egypt’s blasphemy laws, which make illegal any criticism of the Islamic religion. … Kerolos’ lawyer said, "Kerolos didn't intend to insult the Islamic religion, only he made a like on the page of Knights of the Cross on Facebook. He doesn't have much experience in the internet plus he suffers from poor eyesight. So there was not any intention for the contempt or blasphemy of Islam.”

9:41pm CDT Thu 2014 Jun 26 :MW

Impeach Obama

Smug O

The Obama administration is "not bluffing" in its intent to take executive action on immigration policy if House Republicans don't act soon, top Democratic leaders warned Thursday.

7:22pm CDT Thu 2014 Jun 26 :MW
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Bartlesville - prairie frontier town

Sooner Park Play Tower

The one-of-a-kind Sooner Park Play Tower is being refurbished after standing for more than 50 years. Designed by architect Bruce Goff, the tower was a gift from the Price family to the children of Bartlesville in the early 1960s. … Its futuristic design is reminiscent of the time it was built when Americans dreamed about landing on the moon and exploring outer space. …

6:37pm CDT Thu 2014 Jun 26 :MW
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US Military

US Flag

A Veterans Affairs nurse who spent 28 years at the embattled agency's facility in Albany, N.Y., says when she came forward to report abuse including stolen drugs and mistreatment of patients, her supervisors turned on her instead of trying to fix things.

6:55pm CDT Thu 2014 Jun 26 :MW

Opposing Tyranny

If Attorney General Eric Holder refuses to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the IRS scandal, he should be impeached, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said for the first time today. [Video here]

6:46pm CDT Thu 2014 Jun 26 :MW

US Judicial Branch

…Noel Canning v. NLRB, the Court in a majority opinion by Justice Breyer held that President Obama exceeded his authority when he claimed to recess appoint NLRB members while the Senate was holding pro forma sessions….

…McCullen v. Coakley, the Massachusetts abortion clinic speech-free zone case. In another unanimous rejection (although with three justices concurring only in the judgment because they would have gon further), the Court held that the Massachusetts law was an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment….

7:19pm CDT Thu 2014 Jun 26 :MW

US Election 2016

Guzzling Hill

"I started asking Ms. Clinton questions. Mostly policy stuff, really focused on immigration. She was responding, but seemed a little off. I figured she was just distracted and didn’t feel like it was worth her time. I kept going, but was starting to get frustrated. I decided I would ask her something I hadn’t really planned on. I said, ‘Ms. Clinton, some have suggested that you aren’t healthy enough or are too old to pursue the presidency. Do you have a comment on that?’. I knew I had crossed a line for her right away. She snapped back, ‘It’s my turn. I’ve done my time, and I deserve it.’ Then she stormed off. After she left, one of her handlers came up to me and told me he would need the recording of our interview and that it was now ‘off the record’. I was shocked and disappointed, but it was clear that it wasn’t a negotiation."

Neuroscientist and aging expert Dr. Philip Kao suggests that this angry reaction and sudden divergence from her manicured talking points may be an early sign of dementia

6:31pm CDT Thu 2014 Jun 26 :MW