Blog Heap of Links for the day 18 May 2015

In a speech today in South Korea, Secretary of State John Kerry said that the Internet "needs rules to be able to flourish and work properly." This, according to Kerry, is necessary even for "a technology founded on freedom." … [Doublespeak]

…"Every one of our enemies, Russia, China, Cuba, Iran, everybody. They've hacked in to that unsecured server. She's totally compromised…. Russians… knew about Monica long before you did… needed 26 billion dollars… everybody was set against it… Clinton… transferred… 4.6 billion dollars in hard cash that disappeared. … The Muslim Brotherhood started penetrating our government starting in the 1960s. Today, they have been able to penetrate every national security and intelligence agency in our government. …

Extreme athlete Dean Potter…renowned for his daring and sometimes rogue climbs and BASE jumps, was one of two men killed after [illegally] jumping from a 7,500-foot promontory in Yosemite National Park.…

The Oklahoma Historical Society celebrates the launch of 46 Star Records tonight at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. Their first release will be unearthed radio sessions of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys on 180-gram vinyl records.

Josiah Duncan thought he was going to enjoy a simple meal at the Waffle House in Prattville, Ala., with his mom Ava Faulk. But before enjoying any food of his own, the five-year-old boy immediately spotted a homeless man sitting by himself. … But with a little persuading from both Josiah and Ava, the hungry man felt comfortable to order anything he wanted. "Can I have bacon?" … Before taking a bite, Josiah had one last surprise that shocked the rest of the diners observing the random act of kindness. The young boy wanted to share his faith with the stranger he just met. "God our Father, God our Father, we thank you," Josiah sang in front of at least 11 customers. "We thank you, for our many blessings, for our many blessings, Amen, Amen." …

…The 700 pastors who make up the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya recently released a statement decrying Obama’s defense of homosexuality during previous trips to Africa.

"President Barack Obama is welcome to visit Kenya this summer," the statement read, "—but please, leave the preaching to us." …

A tornado outside Tipton, Oklahoma, unleashes hail stones big enough to shatter the windshield of a car from which two people are filming.…

One Marine was killed and 21 others were hospitalized Sunday after an Osprey aircraft made a hard landing in Hawaii, causing a fire that sent dark smoke billowing into the sky. …

Google Inc should not have to remove an anti-Islamic film from its YouTube website because a woman complained that she was duped into performing in the film that depicted the Prophet Mohammed as a pedophile, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Monday.…

• Obama Scandals • Gun Rights
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Opinion

Pete's collection of links, graphics, and toons for today.

"Why does it seem like the journey from Monday to Friday is a marathon and from Friday to Monday is a sprint?…"

Mujahideen for the Islamic State succeeded in overrunning the city of Ramadi in western Iraq, driving out the last of the Iraqi military forces. However, the Syrian army managed to push back ISIS forces from Palmyra, so that the UNESCO world heritage site is safe for the moment.

In other news, a few days after a fierce battle between police and KLA terrorists in the Macedonian town of Kumanovo, thousands of demonstrators marched in the capital, Skopje. The protesters were supporters of the opposition, and demanded the resignation of the current government.

[Much more]

Vic is back, and he didn't forget to bring the news with him.

"…On this day in 1927 a series of violent attacks and bombings were perpetrated by Andrew Kehoe in Bath Township, Michigan, that killed 38 elementary school children and six adults and injured at least 58 other people. Up until 9-11 this was the largest mass murder in US history.…"