Random links of interest, concern or curiosity from the past week or so, that deserve at least a SHORT mention:

 
Ambassador Nikki Haley Lays Down the Law at UN: ‘No More Free Passes for Bullies’ ~ Wow. It’s so refreshing to see America stand up for Israel against the thug nations that seek to destroy her ~

“Israel must be treated like any other normal country. It cannot be the case that in an organization with 193 countries, the United Nations spends half of its time attacking only one country. We will not turn a blind eye to it!”

 
In the meantime, the UN anti-Semites continue their defiance (of reality!) ~ Non-Existent ‘State of Palestine’ to Head Bloc of 135 Nations at UN ~

The non-existent, geo-political construct known as the “State of Palestine” will next year preside over the largest bloc of developing nations at the United Nations.
 
The Group of 77, which has grown to encompass 135 countries since its formation in 1964, was formed as a collective to represent its members’ economic interests and boost their bargaining power through mutual agreement. It now represents a total 80 per cent of the world’s population.

 
Victory: Judge throws out disgraced New York AG’s lawsuit against pro-life activists ~ NY Former Attorney General Schneiderman actually accused peaceful sidewalk counselors outside abortion clinics of “a weekly pattern of threatening, obstructive and violent activity.” Happily, the judge saw through his outrageous distortion of the facts.

 
Swedish Social Worker: Migrants See Child Brides ‘As Their Sons’ Tickets To Europe’ ~ More on Sweden’s islamification ~

Swedish authorities report growing problems with migrants sending young daughters to marry older men abroad, both as a strategy to avoid assimilation and to gain European citizenship. While underage marriage is essentially banned in Sweden, the country recognizes underage marriages conducted abroad.
 
“People see young girls as their sons’ tickets to Europe,” social worker Zubeyde Demirörs told Politico for a recent article. Demirörs, now 45, was herself forcibly married to a Turkish man 22 years her senior when she was 15.

 
Media Gaslighting Can’t Hide Fact Trump Campaign Was Spied On ~ As Mollie Hemingway at The Federalist points out the truth can no longer be denied ~

• the FBI used an unverified Clinton campaign document to secure a wiretap against an American citizen
• the application for the wiretap used circular reporting and lacked verification for its central claims
• the application made materially false claims related to the source’s credibility.

 
ACLU’s New Guidelines for Taking Cases Elevate ‘Values,’ Downplay the Constitution ~ In case you thought the ACLU was still focused on their founding mission of defending the Constitution; some values are more equal than others ~

The ACLU doesn’t even follow its own guidelines. It says it will not represent someone who seeks to engage in or promote violence. The radical leftist group Antifa commits violence. Yet the ACLU represents them.
 
Another guideline says to avoid representing protesters who carry weapons. Antifa carries knives, brass knuckles, axes, crowbars and more deadly objects. An ACLU field director recently defended Antifa’s methods. He glossed over the violence. “It really is going to take a diversity of skills and tactics.”

Oh, well OK then.

 
Dem Gov Restores “Voting Rights” of “Voodoo Child Rapist” ~ Fueling the mobocracy. When animals like this are given the franchise, your vote definitely doesn’t count ~

In New York, Governor Cuomo is leading the way by restoring the voting rights of the voodoo rapist.
 
Dozens of convicted sexual predators deemed too dangerous to be returned to the community after their release from prison are among the thousands who received conditional pardons from Gov. Cuomo, giving them the right to vote, the Daily News has learned.
 
When you’re soliciting voters, you can’t be picky.
 
At least 77 sexual predators sent to civil confinement in state psychiatric hospitals after their prison time was up are affected by the widespread pardons, various records show.

 
Portland Food Cart That Helps The Homeless Shut Down After Alleged Harassment From Occupy ICE Protesters ~ The Happy Camper food cart had been raising funds to help the homeless. Now thanks to the oh-so-tolerant Left, they can’t do that anymore ~

“Unfortunately over the last month, we have been threatened and verbally attacked for not backing the immigration agenda at the DHS location and wanting to stay neutral and serve all who are hungry.” […]
 
The protesters threatened to burn down the cart “at least three times,” (owner Scott Hakes) told Fox 12 on Sunday. Harassment toward the customers also got so bad that business went down by 80 percent.

 
Opinion | The Children of Flint Were Not ‘Poisoned’ This is an NYT opinion piece but it is based on facts – not the hyperbole we were all subjected to for months and months ~

People were understandably dismayed by the government’s apparent failure to act quickly to switch back the water once concerns were raised in Flint. But based on this more comprehensive view of the data, we are forced to admit that the furor over this issue seems way out of proportion to the actual dangers to the children from lead exposure.

On the other hand –

Right now in Michigan, 8.8 percent of children in Detroit, 8.1 percent of children in Grand Rapids and an astounding 14 percent of children in Highland Park surpass the C.D.C. reference level. Flint is at 2.4 percent. A comprehensive analysis of blood lead levels across the United States reveals at least eight states with blood lead levels higher than Flint’s were during the water switch.

 
The Crimes Committed By Illegals This Month You Probably Didn’t Hear About ~ Video at the Daily Caller with news the mainstreams missed ~

The liberal media has been too busy breathlessly reporting on the Trump administration’s “Zero Tolerance” policy to give attention to the heinous crimes committed by people who shouldn’t be in this country in the first place.

 
Boosting Films that Foster a Culture of Life ~ “Running for Grace,” a new release promoted by Movie to Movement looks to be inspiring. Faith-based and life-affirming, the premiere was a big hit in Hawaii ~

This is a film for the entire family with themes of identity, adoption, perseverance, struggle and romance. It was 100 percent made in Hawaii and shares an important chapter of Hawaii’s immigrant story.

 
Bulls, horses, competition, and camaraderie — without the selfies ~ Nice article from Salena Zito at the Washington Examiner. Comforting to know there are still Americans out there simply and enthusiastically living . Who haven’t been consumed by the superficial, vapid, herd mentality of social media ~

It was as though there were two different universes I had traversed in one day, the one in the mid-afternoon in downtown Pittsburgh at a local coffee shop where everyone’s head was buried in their smartphone, to this place where the smartphone was put in its place, in their pocket, pocketbook, or in the car while they enjoyed their lives.