Feds Propose To Build Fence - For Mice

From The Daily Signal:

For more than a century, the Lucero family has grazed livestock in the majestic landscape near Fenton Lakein the Santa Fe National Forest. They started with sheep and, in the 1920s, switched to cattle.

But that may all come to an end because of an endangered mouse.

“You’re taking a lot of heritage away,” said Mike Lucero, as he looks over the creek that cuts through the meadow. He was accompanied by his brother Manuel and cousin Orlando, who have brought their family’s cattle to this spot since they were children.

If built, the fences will be eight feet tall, and according to at least some local ranchers, have an effect on where their cattle can graze.  Why the feds are willing to build a fence to protect mice from cattle but not to protect Americans from border jumpers has not been explained.

Read the full story at the above link.  It seems that the Luceros might soon be quoting a certain cartoon cat.

Nicaragua Canal Route Approved

The Nicaraguan government has approved a route for a canal across that country, to be built by the Hong Kong-based company HKND Group.  If the canal is completed as planned, it will be 173 miles long and will cost about $40 billion.  The Nicaragua Canal will also be much longer, wider and deeper than the Panama Canal, which is 48 miles long.  The new canal will run between the mouth of the Rio Brito on the Pacific coast and the mouth of the Rio Punta Gorda on the Caribbean coast.  The route will go through Lake Nicaragua, which has caused some environmental concern, since the Lake is a major source of fresh water.

Read the story at America Online, The Independent, USA Today, Reuters and BBC News.

Tour De France Fans, Cool It With The Selfies

Via Truth Revolt:

The participants in this year's Tour de France bicycle race have been dealing with a new obstacle, spectators who jump into the road in order to take a "selfie" that will include riders in the picture.  American rider Tejay van Garderen attributes an accident in which he fell off his bike to one such "selfie-taking" fan.

Read the full story at Velo News, and if you're fortunate enough to watch any stage of the Tour de France in person, stay out of the road, s'il vous plaît.

A Few Random Musings #2

A few ideas that have crossed my mind recently:

On one hand it's considered wrong to judge Muslims in general for the violent attacks carried out by Muslim terrorists.  On the other hand, it seems perfectly acceptable to judge every white person, especially white males, as having received an undeserved privilege.  Why is such generalizing OK for some groups but not others?  And why isn't judging all whites as being "privileged" considered to be a form of racial profiling?

I have come to believe that one of the biggest lies in human history is the saying that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.  When you kidnap girls, use children as suicide bombers, use civilians as human shields, or deliberately target non-combatants, you are as far away from a freedom fighter as the KKK is from Dr. King.

Colleges and universities that have small "free speech zones", while restricting speech on most of the campus, have it backwards.  If they are government schools, their entire campuses should be free speech zones.  For any students who cannot bear hearing opinions that differ from their own, the school could establish "sensitivity zones".  For example, for those who can't stand hearing the term "illegal alien", an "undocumented" sensitivity zone could be provided.

An Open Condemnation Of The Murder Of Mohammed Abu Khdeir

This letter condemning the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir appears at Monkey In The Middle:

We unequivocally condemn the horrific murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir. It was unjustifiable under any circumstances. The killing was reprehensible and we hope that the criminals who did this sickening act are found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Israel is a country run by the rule of law. There are reports that Jews have been arrested for this crime. If a trial finds that Jews are indeed guilty of this unconscionable killing, our condemnation is redoubled. The idea that Jews could do such an act fills us with shame and horror.

The people who murdered Mohammed do not represent us in any way. It is not enough to dissociate ourselves from the dreadful act; we must also ensure that crimes like this are never repeated.

Just as the appalling murders of Naftali Fraenkel, Eyal Yifrach and Gilad Shaar do not in any way justify the hideous murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, neither does Khdeir's murder justify the violence, terrorism, destruction and incitement we have seen over the past few days against Israelis and Jews. 

We hope and pray that everyone, Arab and Jew, lives in peace and security in the region.

If you agree with this, go over to Monkey In The Middle and add your name by placing a comment on the post.

Happy Independence Day, America

July 4th, 1776 is the day America remembers for our Founders declaring their independence from Great Britain.  Every year, we celebrate the anniversary with fireworks and concerts full of patriotic music.  Here are the Voices of Liberty with their rendition of one such song - with obvious British roots - which includes a speech speculating what future archaeologists might learn about our country, from just one of its artifacts.

In today's news and commentary:

From Fox News, after lashing the coast of North Carolina, Hurricane Arthur moves northeastward and weakens.

From the Mail Online, the mother of a student in France stabs her son's teacher to death in front of a room full of students.

From Catholic Education Daily, the Supreme Court has upheld a temporary injunction against the HHS mandate for Wheaton College.

From The New York Times, conservative billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife has died of cancer at age 82.

From Canada Free Press, supporters of amnesty for illegal immigrant children will meet with Senate staff.

In Frontpage Mag, Callista Gingrich calls us today to remember American exceptionalism.

And in National Review, Charles Cooks calls the Revolution an "English war for American independence".

It's Never Too Late To Graduate

In 1941, George Hulka Jr. was drafted into the U.S. Army.  He left his family's farm in Saratoga Springs, NY, after achieving only an eighth grade education, to fight in numerous battles in northern Africa and Europe, including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge.  This past Saturday, at the age of 100, Hulka finally completed his education by getting his high school diploma, graduating with his teenage great-grandson.

Read the story at Scout Warrior.

Links For Canada Day

July 1st is Canada Day, when our friends to the north celebrate the establishment of their country by the uniting of three colonies within the British Empire.  Here's some of what's currently going on:

From the New York Post, in the latest twist on the Amanda Knox murder case, her former boyfriend and co-defendant claims that they were not together during part of the night of the murder.

From Fox News, brain shrinkage and cognitive decline have been tied to decreased amount of sleep.

Also from Fox News, a soccer referee in Michigan dies after being punched in the head.

From The Washington Times, the Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to deploy 150 agents to southern Texas.

From CBS DFW, Texas officials believe that illegal aliens are renting children to cross the border.

From the Pew Research Center, violence and poverty in three Central American countries are driving children to flee.

From CBS Boston, a Vietnam veteran finally gets an appointment with a VA doctor - two years after he died.

From Ynet News, the IDF strikes 34 terrorist targets in Gaza.

From Reuters, minority investors in Alstrom are criticizing its planned deal with General Electric.

From The Christian Science Monitor, a math error causes the U.S. Treasury to lose $5 billion in revenue.

From WCPO, horses seized in an animal cruelty case in Kentucky will be put up for adoption.

From CNN Politics, Monica Lewinsky calls herself "a virgin to humiliation of that level".

And from Truth Revolt, figurines bow down to Valerie Jarrett.

SCOTUS Rules In Favor Of Hobby Lobby

In a 5-4 decision the Supreme Court has ruled that Hobby Lobby does not have to pay for contraception and abortion-inducing drugs in their employ health insurance plans, thus allowing businesses to operate without violating the religious convictions of their owners.

Read more at LifeNews, the Chicago Tribune and The Dallas Morning News.

UPDATE:  Via Hot Air, the attorney for Hobby Lobby's owners talks with a CNN reporter.

100 Years Ago: Gavrilo Princip Assassinates Austrian Archduke

One hundred years ago today, a previously unknown teenage Bosnian Serb named Gavrilo Princip assassinated Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie as their motorcade drove through the Bosnian city of Sarajevo.  At the time, Bosnia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  The shooting would soon lead to the onset of World War I, after Austria Hungary accused neighboring Serbia of being involved.

Princip, his actions, his victim, and his legacy have been remembered today:

ABC News in Australia has an article about Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

B92 reports on a monument to Princip in Sarajevo.

The Telegraph reports on today's events in Sarajevo.

The Guardian tells about how the people of Sarajevo are "split" in their views of Princip.

Fox News similarly tells about how Bosnians are divided over Princip's legacy.

Daijiworld has a historical report on Princip, the assassination, and its aftermath.

The American Conservative opines that the conditions that led to World War I are with us today.