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

Amazing buildings made from ice around the world ~ Brrrrrr. Some chilling constructions.
 

As Egypt Calls Muslim Brotherhood ‘Terrorists,’ Petition to WH Remains Unanswered ~ Common sense prevails in a country that recognizes a terrorist when they see one.
Now if the Obama administration would just be so astute. Instead, four months after the fact, the White House petition site still hasn’t made good on its promise to respond formally to any petition – which garners over 100,000 signatures – within 30 days (Petition to Declare Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization).
 
♂♂ Warning: Rose Parade 2014 not so rosy for family viewing – If watching two men swap spit and exchange marriage vows really isn’t something you have the stomach for, you’ll probably want to take a pass on the Rose Bowl Parade on Wednesday ~

On New Year’s Day in the world-famous Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, these two practitioners of homosexuality will illogically proclaim themselves “husband and husband,” and kiss on the lips to be seen by every child watching.

If you find this more than a bit unsettling, you might want to take more pro-active measures than just switching channels ~ Protest the Rose Parade ‘gay wedding.’
 
Greggs forced to rename their Cornish pasties because they contain peas and carrots ~ The European Union: nanny-state on steroids.

Cornish pasties now have “PGI” status; Protected Geographical Indication status prevents anything that is made outside the designated region from using the traditional name.

Does this mean no more Belgian waffles? German potato salad? French fries? 😯

VA hospital refuses to accept ‘Merry Christmas’ cards ~ Hand-made cards from 4th graders! The War on Christmas, as well as the military’s hostility to Christianity, is definitely escalating.
 

Christmastime and the Family Structure ~ So sad – but true.

… it is an uncomfortable truth that children of divorce and children with unmarried parents tend to do much worse in life than children of two-parent families […] (Same-sex households are not much better according to the latest research.)
 
Growing up outside a two-parent family means not just lower incomes and less social mobility […]
 
It also reduces human capital — “the knowledge, education, habits, willpower — all the internal stuff that is largely intangible a person has that helps produce an income.

And more and more, those married couples with the wherewithal to produce and raise a family are opting not to.
 
Young People: Are You Amusing Yourself to Hell? ~ Larry Tomczak, writing at Charisma News, has some warnings for today’s youth against immersing themselves in our sick pop culture ~

Nobody’s saying we need to write off all music and music videos as being corrupt, yet some of the most popular stars of pop culture today couldn’t care less about your eternal destiny! Their songs and lifestyle demonstrate a callous disregard for you and your well-being […]
 
With your entire future on the line, you cannot afford to simply set your life on cruise control and amuse yourself to hell.

[This would be a great resource/discussion topic for youth leaders]

 
Eye-catching photos of the year: A collection of the most striking images from around the world in 2013 ~ These really are some cool pix!
Tip: You might want to skip #65 (♂♂).
 

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

 
Lesbian boss ‘fired me for being straight’ ~ Guess things have come full circle huh? Only now the minority gets to dictate its morality to the majority.
Oddly enough, the NYC Upper West Side private school is named “Trinity.” They really should rename it to something a bit less socially offensive.
 
The Daily Flag ~ A new almanac I recently happened upon. Providing a daily dose of American history; each factoid receives its own special flag salute.
 
Apartheid South Africa: Reality vs. libertarian fantasy – From Ilana Mercer who is South African by birth and has written extensively on this subject ~

As the pesky facts attest, black dysfunction in racially desegregated South Africa is way worse than it was during state-enforced segregation. In fact, it now resembles that of the rest of Africa.
 
Apartheid was reprehensible. But dogma denuded of data does nothing to bolster this uncontested, incontrovertible position[…]
 
The unvarnished truth about democratic South Africa is that it is “now preponderantly overrun by elements, both within and without government, which make a safe and thriving civil society impossible to sustain.”

 
As further evidence of Mercer’s last statement, elsewhere in Africa ~ Bible Translator Gunned Down While Trying to Protect His Family in War-Torn African Country ~

The situation in the Central African Republic, a nation in central Africa, continues to be dire. Following a coup in March by a coalition of mostly Islamic rebel groups known as Seleka, the political situation has been chaotic and unpredictable.

 
A&E declares war on ‘Duck Dynasty’s’ Christian values ~ What the controversy’s really all about. “Nothing says tolerance and diversity (quite like) silencing the Christians and shoving them in a closet.”

Meanwhile, here’s the Robertson Family Official Statement.
 
Yummy-sounding Christmas baking recipes ~ from King Arthur Flour. Warning – you may gain a couple pounds just by looking. 🙂

 
Chuckle of the week; The Dynamic Duo of Empty Gestures ~