Blog Heap of Links for the day 5 May 2015

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration… has formed an "alliance" with a "national social justice advocacy organization for transgender people" primarily to promote gender-appropriate restroom access. …part of a larger OSHA program to partner with groups "committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses." …

With the state facing a $611 million budget hole, more than 90 Oklahoma businesses, foundations and nonprofit agencies are asking the governor and Republican legislative leaders to halt a scheduled income tax cut. … from 5.25 percent to 5 percent, beginning Jan. 1 … The governor and legislative leaders have consistently said they have no plans to stop the tax cut from taking effect. …

[The budget should be balanced, but what would be best is to cut the income tax altogether and let the resultant influx of business boost the economy.

[They're only dri

…Egypt is formally charging both Obama and Hillary for conspiring with the Muslim Brotherhood in the overthrow of their government.…

New York Times: …It is still not entirely clear what led the two men — Elton Simpson, 30, and Nadir Hamid Soofi, 34, who lived in the same apartment complex in Phoenix — to come to this Dallas suburb and open fire Sunday outside a gathering that showcased artwork and cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.…

"For the first time since the beginning of his trial, Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev dropped his icy, indifferent demeanor and broke down in tears as his relatives and friends testified as part of the penalty phase, describing him as a once-time wunderkind with a kind heart and goofy side to him. …

"Photos of lost limbs and murdered children shown in court earlier had elicited no such response from the mass killer." …

…The Islamic Community Center of Phoenix however is controlled by the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) which is a Muslim Brotherhood front group.

It featured an appearance by terrorist supporter Lauren Booth, a convert to Islam and employee of Iran's PressTV, who has propagandized on behalf of Hamas and Hezbollah, terror groups sponsored by Iran. Booth has spread the claim that the Boston Marathon bombing was staged…

Speech given by Geert Wilders at Draw Mohammed gathering. Video and transcript.

"…Your statement, my statement, the statement of every single person present in this room here tonight is clear: We will never allow barbarism, we will never allow Islam to rob us of our freedom of speech! Never!…"

“Keeping meat consumption to levels recommended by health authorities would lower emissions and reduce heart disease, cancer, and other diseases,” Annan told The Guardian Sunday.

“And of course there are alternative sources of protein. For example, raising insects as an animal protein source,” Annan said. “Insects have a very good conversion rate from feed to meat. They make up part of the diet of two billion people and are commonly eaten in many parts of the world.”

“Eating insects is good for the environment and balanced diets,” Annan said.

[Daily Caller c/o WZ]

The Tulsa Fire Department tells FOX23 a house fire Friday, near Highway 169 and East 28th Street, was the largest pet rescue in the department's recent history. … fire crews said they brought out more than twenty pets that were living in the home with two people.

"It was daunting because of the amount of resuscitations that were going on," District Chief Glenn Brigan said. "Because as each animal is coming out, we're trying to work on them. I would say we had one if not two companies working just on that." …

Final salute for a fallen hero: Hundreds of NYPD officers stand in honor guard for 'exceptional' 25-year-old cop 'shot dead by career criminal' as his body is taken out from hospital
• Officer Moore, 25, has died of his injuries at Queens General Hospital
• Demetrius Blackwell fired gun 'at least twice' on cop, it is alleged
• Officer Brian Moore shot in head and chest
• Suspect spent years behind bars for attempted murder conviction in 2000, after he shot at another man in a car
• He was charged Sunday with two counts of attempted murder of an officer
• He is also facing weapons and assault charges and remains in custody

…"They shocked me," Lopez said. "About seven shocks later, I finally came to." … Though he has a humble and astounding sense of humor about his near-death experience, he considers it a miracle he didn't have to leave his wife and 11-month-old son behind for good. His mother, Penny, said it is all thanks to faith, the Oklahoma standard and the U.S. Army. …

[GoFundMe account set up for him]

This is what Army Strong means… The video shows US Army Captain Sarah Cudd, who was finishing the grueling final 12-mile road march for her Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB). …

[Video, 1:04, Sixty-Eight Whiskey, YouTube]

Everyone should publish one of these cartoons. They cannot kill us all.

Pete celebrates this grand holiday commemorating the invention of the Margarita. News, pix, links, vids.

"Note to self:don’t try to post after having burritos for lunch."

The two deceased suspects in the Garland, Texas Motoon shooting have been identified as Elton Simpson, a.k.a. Abu Hussaini al-Britani, and Nadir Soofi. The two men were roommates in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Simpson reportedly converted to Islam at an early age.

In other news, for the first time the Greek government has referred to “other national currencies” and not just euros as possible repayment currencies for its debt instruments. Meanwhile, in possibly unrelated news, Greece will ask for additional funding from the EU to help it cope with the influx of refugees in the Mediterranean migrant crisis.