Scrolling around...September 18, 2012

Stats: Homeschooling by the numbers
Amazing-this infographic compares national average percentile scores of homeschoolers with public and private education...

Sacrificing journalism on altar of gay advocacy
...What happens when you cover something like a cause rather than a news subject is that the journalism suffers. We saw the eleventy billionth example of that with a puffier than puffy one-sided hagiography of a gay Christian activist named Matthew Vines. Headlined “Turned Away, He Turned to the Bible” with the url “matthew-vines-wont-rest-in-defending-gay-christians.”
It seemed, from the piece that ran in — of all things — the “Fashion & Style” section of the paper that an interesting story could have been written about the man and his advocacy work in favor of changing traditional Christian teaching on homosexuality. But because it read like a press release rather than a news story, we didn’t get the chance to have an interesting story that really engaged the work...

Cairo: Muslim cleric desecrates Bible
...“I tore it apart and threw it to the demonstrators to step on it with their shoes,” Abdullah told an Egyptian newspaper, adding, "next time I will make my grandson urinate on it, as the saying goes, an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth and the starter is at fault.”...

Growing up with married parents is as important as a good education to escaping poverty
Growing up with married parents vastly increases a child’s prospects of escaping poverty, a study has revealed.
A stable home was found to raise a child’s chances of escaping the poverty trap by 82 per cent.
When equally well-educated families were compared, marriage increased a child’s chance of living above the poverty line by 75 per cent...

More Americans opting out of banking system
In the aftermath of one of the worst recessions in history, more Americans have limited or no interaction with banks, instead relying on check cashers and payday lenders to manage their finances, according to a new federal report.
Not only are these Americans more vulnerable to high fees and interest rates, but they are also cut off from credit to buy a car or a home or pay for college, the report from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said. ...

Report: Top Obama Bundlers Bag Millions in Taxpayer Money
An investigation by the Government Accountability Institute found that more than half of the most politically active 50 campaign bundlers for President Obama were either appointed to a presidential council, committee, board, or other White House post. Many bundlers’ businesses or relatives' businesses also received millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded federal contracts, grants, loans, or other crony perks...

8,786,049: Yet Another Record for Americans Collecting Disability
The Social Security Administration has released new data revealing that 8,786,049 American workers are collecting federal disability insurance payments in September. That sets yet another record for the number of Americans on disability...

Professor Made Students Sign ‘Vote for Obama’ Pledge
A Florida community college has launched an investigation and placed a tenured professor on leave over reports that she made students in a math class sign a pledge to vote for President Obama.
A spokesman for Brevard Community College told Fox News that Sharon Sweet was placed on an unpaid leave of absence effective immediately after they received a call from a concerned parent...

Parents steam as strike rolls on
As Chicago children missed yet another day of school Monday, residents throughout the city chanted, cheered and waved signs to let their feelings about the ongoing teachers strike be known...

Ageing businessmen fuel boom in 'voice-lifts' as they seek to restore authority in boardroom discussions
Surgeons inject stomach fat into vocal cords to strengthen speech...

'Last Ounce of Courage' Has Largest Theater Debut Since 'The Passion'
Last Ounce of Courage, a freedom, family and faith film that premiered on 600 screens across America on 9/11 in commemoration of Patriot Day, will release nationally in more than 1,400 theaters on Sept. 14, making it the largest opening weekend for a faith-based film since "The Passion of the Christ."..[ Rotten Tomatoes critics (so far) unanimously gave the film a 0% rating-however, audience approval was 75%-PD]

British NHS Issues DNR for Man With Down Syndrome Without Consent
...An NHS hospital is being sued by a family who say doctors placed a “do not resuscitate” order on their relative, denying him potentially life-saving treatment, because he has Down’s syndrome...