Random links of interest, concern or curiosity from the past week or so, that deserve at least a SHORT mention:
VA spent $20M on art as ailing veterans languished, report finds ~ Progressive priorities ~
The taxpayer watchdog group Open the Books teamed up with COX Media Washington, D.C., for an oversight report on spending at the VA, finding numerous frivolous expenditures on artwork, including six-figure dollar sculptures at facilities for the blind.
Convert Your Mower Into A Survival Generator ~ A little prepper tip that may just come in handy some day. 
Students Learn Climate Change Advocacy, Not Climate Science ~ — explains how many of our colleges are actually working against scientific literacy for students ~
How can students understand and put into perspective their influence on the Earth’s climate if they don’t understand the myriad of processes that affect our climate—or understand the complexity of climate itself? And if they don’t understand these processes, how can they possibly comprehend how climate influences them and society in general?
Exactly the goal. Indoctrination makes it that much easier to dupe them later on ~
Ignoring science to convince the public that we’re doomed by climate change ~
(The alarmists) will say almost anything, however bogus, which pushes their message of climate doom. This campaign will reshape public opinion. [For more information see Why skeptics will lose the US climate policy debate.]
Robert Spencer in PJ Media: Few Muslims Show Up at ‘Muslims Against ISIS’ Rally, as Usual ~ If terrorism were just an aberration and Islam truly was a religion-of-peace wouldn’t we see some actual evidence? Like thousands of Musims rallying against the violence? You’d think.
Justice Department Knew of IRS Scandal 2 Years Before Congress but Did Nothing ~
Yes, there is a “Washington Cartel.” Unfortunately there weren’t enough conservatives willing to support the presidential candidate who coined that term ~
The administration won’t deal with the situation, said House Freedom Caucus Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. The episode, he told The Daily Signal, shows that “there are two sets of rules in this country—one for ‘we, the people’ and another for the politically connected.”
Texas McDonald’s worker is fired for refusing to serve an off-duty cop ~ A teachable moment for similarly-confused #BlackLivesMatter folk ~
(Brenham Police Chief Craig Goodman )said that the officer who this happened to is one of the best in their department and is also a former Marine. He shared that they aren’t judging McDonald’s for what happened based ‘on the action of this one worker. The actions of that one employee do not reflect the beliefs or opinions of management, the owners, or the McDonald’s company as a whole,’ he said. ‘We would like to thank the owners of McDonald’s for their continued support and for seeing that this issue has been resolved.’
A few thoughts on Trump’s apparent threat to fund super PACs against Cruz and Kasich ~ Is vindictiveness really what we’re looking for in a president? ~
(T)his is a demonstration that Trump acts out of pique and will pursue nonstrategic vendettas. How might that work out when Trump feels disrespected by a foreign leader and has the ability to launch nuclear weapons?
Gov’t dependency a ‘narcotic’ enabling racial tensions ~ From Abraham Hamilton III, a public policy analyst, who just happens to be black ~
“There are some who benefit from keeping this division at bay,” Hamilton continues. “The people who benefit don’t want a lot of Americans to know that if it wasn’t for Christians – dare I say, white Christians – there would have been no abolitionist movement because slaves don’t have the ability to free themselves.”
Divine Design in the Tangled Tapestry of Your Life ~ Although at times it’s often very difficult to see, God does have a plan for your life. As Deacon Keith Fournier tells us in this article, He has a divine design in mind. And the best way to discern its pattern is by allowing the Holy Spirit to awaken living faith in Jesus Christ.
