Blog Heap of Links for the day 1 March 2015

ISIS supporters on Sunday called on jihadists around the world to kill Twitter employees because of the company’s frequent blocking of their social media accounts.

“Your virtual war on us will cause a real war on you,” reads an online post addressed to Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and shared by ISIS supporters.

The post, whose authorship is unclear, was accompanied by a digitally altered image of Dorsey in the cross sights of a gun.

[Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott] said new laws would remedy failings on the immigration, welfare, policing and intelligence fronts by clamping down on supporters of radicals, especially welfare recipients. … The laws will also target so-called "hate preachers", Abbott said, citing as an example the radical but non-violent Islamist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir. … He explicitly linked welfare to terrorism, accusing dozens of Australians fighting in Syria and Iraq of having been on the dole, and adding that payments to "individuals assessed to be a threat to security" could soon be cancelled.

"People who come to this country are free to live as they choose. Provided they don't steal that same freedom from others," he said.

"The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) has decried as unconstitutional the distribution of Bibles in several public schools in Oklahoma. Freedom from religion is a non-profit organisation that advocates the Constitutional provision on the separation of Church and State as well as educating the public on nontheism. … Andrew Seidel, staff attorney of the organisation… said that under the Constitution, Bibles can only be given to students after they leave campus." (He must have a different copy of the Constitution than mine.)

"On almost every measure, things are looking good for polar bears. Scientists are finding that they are well distributed throughout their range and adapting well to changes in sea ice. Health indicators are good and they are benefiting from abundant prey. …" [Quoting GWPF Report - PDF file]

SEATTLE - Like the Supersonics, Seattle's two remaining elephants are being relocated to Oklahoma City. …Oklahoma City Zoo was selected as the Asian elephants' new home after a careful selection process over the past three months. The Oklahoma facility has a family of Asian elephants including multi-generations. … a state-of-the-art facility with a healthy environment free of active infectious disease, a high-caliber elephant keeper and veterinary staff, a restricted contact management system and an established history of stable finances and leadership.

“We are delighted to be able to provide Bamboo and Chai a great new home with a family,” said Woodland Park Zoo Board Chair Laurie Stewart. “They will be with a larger, multi-generational herd, which is a primary recommendation of our Elephant Task Force."

[Video]

Archaeologists have unearthed an ancient bathtub in a first-century mansion… situated on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, would have belonged to wealthy owners, signified by its size and features such as intricate carvings, a luxurious oven and the bathtub… built close to the walls of the Second TempleL… could have been home to… a man belonging to the Sadducees class… another expedition has found a town where Jesus is believed to have stayed following the feeding of the 5,000 miracle… Dalmanutha…"

"On the eve of his Washington trip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the strength of US-Israeli relations will prevail over current disagreements.

"PM Netanyahu went and prayed at the Western Wall before his speech before historic speech before Congress in Washington DC. …"

[Video, 1:05, Reuters on YouTube]

The Bethlehem-based news agency Ma’an has cited a Kuwaiti newspaper report Saturday, that US President Barack Obama thwarted an Israeli military attack against Iran's nuclear facilities in 2014 by threatening to shoot down Israeli jets before they could reach their targets in Iran.

Following Obama's threat, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was reportedly forced to abort the planned Iran attack.…

Vic does not cool off for Sunday. Links and comments begin here.

"…We have learned two things from this. (1) Democrats do not give a damn about the law or the Constitution and Congress even then would not hold their feet to the fire and (2) for the Ukraine; never trust the word of a lying Democrat."