Scrolling around... October 25, 2012

Hacking the President’s DNA
The U.S. government is surreptitiously collecting the DNA of world leaders, and is reportedly protecting that of Barack Obama. Decoded, these genetic blueprints could provide compromising information. In the not-too-distant future, they may provide something more as well—the basis for the creation of personalized bioweapons that could take down a president and leave no trace...

Woman says she was kicked out of the Air Force for being pregnant, told she could have served if she’d had an abortion

Rebecca Edmonds was rejected from the Air Force and had her $92,000 scholarship revoked after she told her commanding officers she was pregnant, due to a policy against single moms. She has appealed and her case is under review...

Loyola Chicago to Host Drag Show
...Last year, the University defended the drag show to The Cardinal Newman Society. Maeve Kiley, Director of Communications at Loyola University said the university “encourages open discussion” and added that the Jesuit institution, “relishes the opportunity to engage ideas and different points of view.”...

Planned Parenthood Has Spent $12 Million to Re-Elect Obama
 ...Actually, government grants and funding to Planned Parenthood in the last reported year 2009-2010 was $487.4 million—and so far $12 million from the non-profit has been given to re-elect President Obama. That’s right. This organization that cares so much about your cervix cares more about it’s proverbial booty....

Suit Challenges Utah College's Treatment Of Christian Student Group
In Utah yesterday, a federal lawsuit was filed against Utah's Snow College (a public 2-year college) by a Christian student group that claims a school policy unconstitutionally treats student groups affiliated with religious institutions differently than other student groups. The complaint (full text) in Solid Rock Christian Club v. Wyatt, (D UT, filed 10/22/2012) challenges both the rule that relegates to "affiliate" status student groups that are affiliated with commercial, for-profit or religious institutions, as well as limitations placed on plaintiffs' participation in the "Paint the Town" Homecoming activity. In the activity, student groups get to paint the windows of participating local businesses to reflect the Homecoming spirit-- with this year's theme being "Then, Now and Forever." School officials told Solid Rock Christian Club that it could not use religious symbols in the designs it painted on store windows...

Double-secret probation: Student threatened with punishment after filming Democratic congressman’s abortion answer
Kate Engstrom, a 20-year-old in the school’s College Republicans, had other ideas. With the help of an unidentified collaborator, Engstrom approached Peterson after the event and recorded as he spoke candidly and controversially about losing the endorsement of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL).
Peterson bashed the group, calling MCCL “a bunch of extremists.”



NOAA to East: Beware of coming 'Frankenstorm' as Hurricane Sandy meets arctic air
Emergency management teams and utilities along the East Coast are bracing for what could be a $1 billion punch as Hurricane Sandy's 100 mph winds barrel toward the heavily populated region between the Carolina coast and Cape Cod.

The Category 2 storm, which has killed two in the Caribbean as it swept through Cuba and blew toward the Bahamas, may combine with other, rain-heavy weather systems to create what meteorologists are calling a "perfect storm" that could wreak havoc from North Carolina to Massachusetts early next week. Sandy will likely maintain its hurricane status as it passes over the Bahamas later Thursday and may bring tropical storm conditions along Florida’s southeastern coast by early Friday... image

NOAA: DESPITE A MODEST CLUSTER OF OUTLYING DETERMINISTIC SOLUTIONS AND ENSEMBLE MEMBERS FROM THE VARIOUS MODELING CENTERS, THE LION'S SHARE OF GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT THE CIRCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE SANDY WILL PASS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE AMPLIFYING POLAR TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN UNITED STATES TO BECOME INCORPORATED INTO A HYBRID VORTEX OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST NEXT TUESDAY. THE HIGH DEGREE OF BLOCKING FROM EASTERN NORTH AMERICA ACROSS THE ENTIRE ATLANTIC BASIN IS EXPECTED TO ALLOW THIS UNUSUAL MERGER TO TAKE PLACE, AND ONCE THE COMBINED GYRE MATERIALIZES, IT SHOULD SETTLE BACK TOWARD THE INTERIOR NORTHEAST THROUGH HALLOWEEN, INVITING PERHAPS A GHOULISH NICKNAME FOR THE CYCLONE ALONG THE LINES OF "FRANKENSTORM", AN ALLUSION TO MARY SHELLEY'S GOTHIC CREATURE OF SYNTHESIZED ELEMENTS.