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

 
Ten Common Core Promoters Laughing All The Way To The Bank ~ Follow the money… (disappointing to see Former Education Secretary Bill Bennett on the list)

… the evidence suggests Common Core will spectacularly fail children and society. Shouldn’t people earn money only for demonstrated success, instead of promised success? In a free market, they would.

 
Cultural psychology: How Islam managed to stay medieval for 1,400 years ~ Interesting (and politically incorrect) analysis of the religion-of-pertpetual-outrage from a psychologist, Nicolai Sennels ~

While non-Muslim scientists invent new fantastic medicines and technologies daily; discover the most amazing things about the universe, its building blocks and inhabitants; and Western voters and politicians have created the most humane, rich and free societies in world history – most Islamic countries are still amputating limbs for theft; stoning women and homosexuals; heavily inbred; denying people free speech and democracy; and contributing absolutely nothing when it comes to science, human rights or peace.

 
Gorbachev warns of major war in Europe over Ukraine ~ Alarmist? The former Soviet leader says tensions between Russia and Western alliances over Ukraine and Crimea actually have the potential to go nuclear. 😯

 
9 of 10 Worst Countries for Persecution of Christians Have 50% or Greater Muslim Populations ~ According to Open Doors International, the only nation worse than a Muslim one is that hellhole of North Korea.

 
Neuroscience has proved that porn is literally making men’s brains more childish. Seriously. ~ No wonder the majority of new films, games and TV shows seem created for – and by – hormonal, adolescent males ~

… (those) indulging pornographic media and other forms of commercial sex are hardly befitting of the adjective “adult.”

 
Is the White House a ‘Sleeper Cell’? ~ Hmmm… Roger L Simon at P.J.Media is only being partially facetious.

 
The people who shut down traffic in Boston for hours yesterday (Thursday) ~ … are pathetically deluded. They embrace an evil ideology predicated on radical distortions of history, aimed at undermining free-market capitalism and ultimately destroying the civil society. (Not surprising that much of the funding for their anarchist activities comes courtesy of George $oros.)
Up-date 1-18-15: And a bunch of them are spoiled rich kids living with mommy & daddy.
 
What Not Even the King of England Could Do ~ A federal researcher points out George III couldn’t suspend laws — as many say Obama just did. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) is one of the few U.S. senators condemning the president’s unconstitutional suspension of immigration laws.

Sessions wrote a 23 page “Immigration Handbook” which he distributed to his fellow GOP senators on Monday, Jan. 12th. In the publication, subtitled “for the New Republican Majority,” he reminds the legislators that Congress’ first priority should be their constituents – American citizens – not illegal immigrants.
 
Incest: The next frontier in ‘reproductive freedom’ ~ Just the latest signpost down the steep slippery slope of sexual perversion ~

Like a plastic Piggly Wiggly bag fluttering about in the alley, those untethered from God’s natural law are violently tossed to and fro by the gusting winds of moral relativism.

[Warning: stomach-turning narrative ]