Blog Heap of Links for the day 2 July 2015

…Did Wilson love black people? No. He loved black votes.…

[Obama:] "…Kerry will travel to Havana formally to proudly raise the American flag over our embassy once more.”

I must disagree, there is nothing proud about having our American flag raised in a country that still has political prisoners. There is nothing proud about having the American flag flying over a country that is harboring Americans who have fled our nation and are guilty of crimes.…

…So when members of New Covenant Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado began getting threaten racist notes, the mostly black congregation was rightfully scared. Given the backdrop of the Charleston, SC shooting, Pastor Roland Joyner locked the church doors as a precaution. As it turns out, the person leaving the notes is black. … hasn’t yet given a reason.…

ENID, Okla. — U.S. Sen. James Lankford said new trade legislation signed into law this week will be a boon for Oklahoma.… “For us to increase the number of people that take our products, whether it be wheat, beef, pork poultry or cotton — all those are major exports out of Oklahoma,” he said. “Service products for oil field products, that’s a major export out of Oklahoma. We’re opening up fields in Australia, New Zealand, Chile … those are big markets for our products. That’s a big win for us that got passed, and it allows us to take the next step to finalize the negotiation and see where it goes from there.”… In regard to the federal budgeting process, Lankford said it is moving along well, …

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, alleging its proposed Clean Power Plan contradicts at least three statutory bars and two constitutional limits on federal power.… "The Clean Power Plan is an unlawful attempt to expand federal bureaucrats’ authority over states’ energy economies in order to shutter coal-fired power plants and eventually other sources of fossil-fuel generated electricity."…

SALEM, Ore. (July 2, 2015) On Tuesday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a bill into law that prohibits law enforcement from obtaining information from electronic devices without a warrant in most cases. The new law will not only protect privacy in Oregon, but will also address a practical effect of federal spying.…

…Well, you can’t call them “crazy” anymore, because then you’re stigmatizing the mentally ill, and stigma is bad. Probably not as bad as getting bashed in the face with a hammer, however.…

A woman with amnesia found semiconscious in Southern California earlier this year finally knows her identity. … She now knows she was born in Pennsylvania, has lived in Flagstaff, Arizona and Southern California, has never been married and has sisters in Colorado and Maryland. …

"From the moment I woke up in the hospital ... I was speaking with an accent, a British or Australian they thought.

"All of my initial dreams had to do with a lap pool swimming in a salt water pool in Perth, then Icebergs in New South Wales and in Cairns in Queensland and Byron Bay.

"I also had many dreams of Hawaii living in a contemporary home there. Both Australia and Hawaii are extremely familiar to me.

"I remember having breakky almost every morning at the organic restaurant across from the ocean in Cottesloe Beach outside Perth, and dining for months at the restaurants in Byron Bay.

"I also found myself meditating naturally for extended periods … I also remember being on a boat for a long time.

"Not a cruise ship but smaller boat with a crew." …

…Instead of going back to the pharmaceuticals, Kristoffer’s wife says the man grew six small marijuana plants in the family’s home that were only used for personal treatment… in June, 2014, when officers were called to the family’s home for a domestic disturbance call after the man had a PTSD flare-up, Lewandowski was arrested for felony marijuana cultivation, possession of drug paraphernalia, and a domestic violence offense, which is punishable by up to life in prison. …

What Is The Best Thing To Do When A Grenade Is Thrown At You? … Head first. Your Kevlar helmet is specifically designed to stop shrapnel, …

…On this day in 1897 Guglielmo Marconi obtained a patent for the radio in London. Widespread use of the radio for commercial broadcasting began in the 20s.…

…When the dozen or so activists began burning the flag, a group of counter-protesters approached them and they scattered like scalded dogs. One man, John Carroll, a resident of Ridgewood, Queens rescued the flag and challenged the little pricks calling them cowards. Watching the video warmed my heart.…

The FBI has canceled all vacations for agents over the 4th of July weekend. … According to our inside source — FBI agents are telling their friends and family members to avoid “official celebrations.” … federal agencies have sent out warnings to police departments around the country.…

…Planning on enjoying fireworks this Fourth of July? Thank America’s first veep: John Adams.

The Boston-born Founding Father, who would later serve as the country’s second president, was the one who spurred the idea to light up the skies each Independence Day.…

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.…