Free Republic

Merchants long have tried to lure shoppers into rising at ungodly hours to snare blockbuster bargains on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. But are the deals actually better? Turns out that often they are not.

An e-mail fracas at North Seattle Community College hits on why "the most wonderful season of all" causes us so much angst. Here in Seattle, the phrase "Merry Christmas" has been largely expunged from public discourse. Haltingly and awkwardly, we wish each other happy holiday; we talk vaguely about a holiday season; we plan parties that by all appearances look like Christmas parties, but we never call them such. This despite every indication that Christmas, at least the consumerist trappings of it, is alive and well. Every Starbucks sign hawks a peppermint latte; the sound of Barbra Streisand belting out...

Los Angelenos are the most generous people in California when it comes to giving to charities. Affluent people in the Southern California metropolis gave almost twice as much as their counterparts in the Bay Area and other parts of the state in 2004, according to a new report. The study was conducted by the San Francisco philanthropic research organization NewTithing Group, based on 2004 tax data, the most recent available. It found that of Californians earning $200,000 or more, the median income tax filer in Los Angeles County gave most generously, donating nearly $5,000. That was roughly 1 percent of...

Sodpoodle found to have falsified Ping List credentials

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Almost a third of Americans plan to spend less on the holidays this year, mainly because they need to use their money for daily expenses, according to a survey released Tuesday. The Consumer Federation of America and the Credit Union National Association found 32 percent of shoppers want to spend less than they did during the 2005 holidays. About half of the survey's roughly 1,000 respondents said they would like to spend about the same. Only 15 percent intended to spend more. Video More video CNNMoney.com shows you how to properly tip for the holidays. Play video...

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I see so many people asking to be put on the 'ping list', what does that mean? I also see that you can be 'pinged' if something you are interested in is posted. Are you notified someway? Thanks

THESE ARE THE SENATORS WHO VOTED TO GIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TO ILLEGAL ALIENS REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY, THESE POLITICIANS NEED TO BE DEFEATED IN 2006, 2008 OR 2010, WHENEVER THEY NEXT COME UP FOR OFFICE. SEND THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW; THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION -- THAT IS, UNLESS THEY DO NOT MIND SHARING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY WITH FOREIGN WORKERS WHO NEVER PAID INTO IT AND AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE BEING LEFT OUT. Grouped by Home State Alabama: Alaska: Stevens (R-AK), Yea Arizona: McCain (R-AZ), Yea Arkansas: Lincoln (D-AR), Yea Pryor (D-AR),...

I am curious why none of the media covers the most important aspect of the Malvo shootings. If you look at Newspapers on the dates when the shootings are underway you discover something I find quite interesting. The shootings begin to dominate the news the day before the debate on the Iraq war starts and they catch them the day after the declaration of war??? If you ask most people "do you remember the debate about starting the second Iraq war", they will all answer "yes of course". But if you followup with the question "name one point in the...

I recently received a reply to a post that stated: "This should be beneath a "freeper". Sad." So I asked.. what is it that makes a FReeper? My reply (and I will admit was tasteless) was also questioning. It stirred controversy and was removed? Why Moderators? Can you not tell me? Did it not meet with your "FReeper" mentality? According to all posted guidelines it should be listed but no, you chose to delete it. Yes.. I'm the first one IBTZ, I'm sure you'll nick me for speaking up..

Fellow Americans, there comes a time every mans life when we must give up ourselves before we are worthy to recieve. There comes a time in this war on terror when in order to protect liberty, we have to give it up in the mean time for safty. That's right folks. Today, Americans have forsaken the creator for the creation and have decided that they would value our "civil liberties" than protecting western civilization and rich white people from the tender mercies of radical Islamic terrorists. Selfish liberals insist and whine that Bush has no right to spy on Americans...

Yaa, you repukes are not doing so well, huh? Imagine, you repukes control the presidency, both houses of Congress, and appointed 7 of the 9 Supreme Court justices. Yet the Supreme Court thre out sodomy laws in all 50 states and recognized the right of government to seize land for any reason. And you couldn't pass your Social Security changes could you? Sorry, that was your last shot. Come November, we're going to start seeing more Democratic faces in the House. It's the end for you guys. You guys are celebrating when Bush's numbers go *up* to 45%. Then Faux...

Bush’s giant Right Wing Noise Machine (RWNM) loves to preach about the Bush economic miracle. In fact, the RWNM’s current thinking is Bush doesn’t spend enough time talking about his economic triumphs. If only he did, then everyone would fall in line and believe in the great Bush economic miracle. There is one problem with this argument: it’s a lie. Any way you look at the Bush economy, it comes up short. Today, I want to compare Bush’s job creation record with other economic recoveries. As usual, Bush comes up way short. The national Bureau of Economic Research has identified...

Why does anybody support George w Bush as President? He is clearly the worst President I have ever seen -- a complete disaster. And before you say anything, I have been a registered Republican for 25 years.

After reading all of the crap that people have been saying regarding Adult Private Social Clubs, I felt that I had to post an article and give my opinion. I am sick and tired of all the religous groups that are saying that there are drugs, prostitution, minors, non-consenting people, and just immoral people at these clubs! First of all, who do these people think they are to decide what is morally right or wrong for me? I believe that I have a good set of morals. I am a law abiding, tax paying citizen, I work full time and...

To the Editor: "Last week I substituted at a local elementary school in Lebanon County. The lesson plan required me to read the 1882 poem “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore to two classes of students. While I can appreciate the poem for its literary value, the subject matter is offensive to me, and the reading of this poem to the children imposed values upon me which are against my deeply held religious beliefs. I could not in good conscience present the notion of Santa Claus as a truth to the children, and stated so. No public school...

America has a split personality when it comes to paying for a just, free society. On the one hand, there's almost universal acceptance of the sacrifices needed to defend the nation from military and terrorist threats. This has created a bipartisan consensus to devote $453 billion, well over half of all discretionary federal spending this year, to defense. Most even accept the ultimate sacrifice of our brave military servicemen and women, who give their lives defending the nation. The question is, why accept the costs of defending our country from external threats while turning our backs on domestic programs that...

Is a school in Medway stealing Christmas? That's what some parents claim. The Medway Middle School ordered children not to sing any religious songs in Friday's holiday concert. Students were also told to refer to Christmas trees as magical trees. Red hats have also been banned. The move comes after two parents complained about references to Christmas in the program. The Superintendent Richard Grandmont told the Milford Daily News that the town is embracing diversity. But one parent said he's disturbed that students can't sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Instead, they have to sing "We Wish You A...

Life is short. Gotta lighten up sometimes. :)

Lies of omission about 9/11 -- stoking fears of terrorism THEY WANT YOU TO BE AFRAID The following post was censored by freerepublic.com shortly after it was posted on their "public" forum on 9/11/04. That forum is designed to appear as though it is a community forum open to all, but this post only received three responses before it and its replies were deleted, and a repeat posting at 4 am PST on 9/20/04 didn't stay online for 5 minutes! Someone is apparently watching closely over the content of the freerepublic.com forums and censoring them 24/7 (though they might have...

I keep reading about churches that are going to be closed on Christmas day, which falls on a Sunday this year. What’s up with that? The word ‘Christmas’ comes from ‘Christ mass,’ which is the Roman Catholic service, or mass, for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas falling on a Sunday should be viewed as a special occasion, with people excitedly looking forward to going to church that particular day, not using it as an excuse to close the church doors. Churches that are deciding to not hold services on Sunday, December 25th, are making a huge mistake. Now,...

<p>Is this thing on? Plug in that cord over there. Yes that one. NO NOT INTO THAT PLUG yes that one. Thanks. Testing 1 2 3.</p> <p>Hi everyone. Your friendly neighborhood AM here.</p> <p>Keywords. You've seen them. You love them. Maybe you have even abused them.</p> <p>Please don't abuse keywords. There are children in China doing without keywords.</p> <p>1) Having who added what keyword be revealed at the whim of sadistic moderators, such as myself.</p>

video low speed Video hi speed (WSBT) The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is finding itself in a Christmas controversy One grandmother says she was stunned to find out the district no longer uses the word Christmas to describe the holiday season. Instead, it uses “winter holiday” to describe the December break and other holiday activities. Now Vicki Metzger has started a petition drive to bring the word Christmas back to the schools. “I have many people signing this petition, because many people feel as I do,” Metzger told NEWS22. “These children have a right to celebrate Christmas and know what the...

Movie night turned into fright night for an Ottawa man and his 12-year-old daughter on Sunday when when they were handed a roll of Christmas wrapping paper showing two angels locked in a naughty embrace. As Alan Dean, his girlfriend, Andrea Cochrane, and Dean's daughter, Cailin McDowell, left the 5:30 showing of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at the Coliseum, an employee handed them a roll of promotional Christmas wrapping paper. But it wasn't until Dean and Cochrane returned home after dropping Cailin off at her mother's house that they realized the paper was more naughty than nice....

LOGAN - Four Logan teenagers, two boys and two girls, turned themselves in at the police station late Tuesday, confessing that they wrote and delivered threatening letters to 14 homeowners displaying Christmas lights. The teenagers on Saturday allegedly taped threatening notes to the front doors, warning that the homes would be burned down if outdoor-decoration lights were not turned off until Dec. 14. In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Logan police Lt. Rod Peterson said officers interviewed and released five suspects, including one teenage male whose involvement appeared to be minimal. "I'm impressed that they were willing to come forward,"...

Put it here and keep it out of the threads.I don't think anyone finds it funny anymore. Someone please, add Bush's Fault to Lake Superior State University list of blacklisted words. Face the music. It's time you bite the bullet and go back to the drawing board to find something more cutting edge. No pennies for your thoughts, just better late than never because your beating a dead horse beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Many argue that communism will never be possible because of "human nature". The essence of this false argument is the belief that a communist society would consist of an all-powerful central government that would tell everybody what to do--and would therefore undermine the creative initiative of individuals and the search for happiness. • This argument is based on two false assumptions: (1) It assumes that a communist society will look like the former Soviet Union, or the current China, North Korea, etc (ie: corrupt police states with a feudal-style ruling class) (2) It assumes that people will only work in...

Gas costs so much. I cant afford it. Why want Bush do something? Don't say he can't. His daddy or his handlers could be on the phone in 2 minutes with the Rothchilds and by 1 week, oil prices would be under $20 and gas would be 1 dollar a gallon. You know it and I know it. Why want he? Do you know? Is there sombody we can call? Plaese advice.

I like feeling wanted, but over the past several months I've noticed I'm getting pinged for things that I don't know (and unfortunately don't really care) about. The only ping list I remember signing up for is PJ's DUmmie FUnnies. Most of the other stuff is interesting, and it's nice to be invited into conversations, I'm just wondering if this is a common occurance with FReepers...or am I just odd? And really most of this stuff didn't start until I started with DUmmie FUnnies... or maybe that's the only time I really started noticing it. Any answers? Thanks

Bill O'Reilly, one of the most ardent defenders of Christmas interviewed Peter Boyles of KHOW 630am radio about the talk radio and grass roots movement that put Christmas back into the annual Parade of Lights celebration here in Denver, Colorado. The local talk show hosts here in Denver who led the charge were Gunny Bob Newman, Mike Rosen, Donna Star all on KOA 850am and Dan Caplis on KHOW 630am. Add to that the coverage on FoxNews, Michelle Malkin's Lump of Coal campaign idea and the grass roots effort from the great Americans in our state and electronic activism from...

It is Christmastime, and what would Christmas be without the usual platoon of annoying pettifoggers rising annually to strip Christmas of any Christian content? -snip-

Christmas Songs For The Mentally Disturbed SCHIZOPHRENIA Do you Hear What I Hear? MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER We Three Queens Disoriented Are DEMENTIA I Think I'll Be Home for Christmas NARCISSISTIC Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me MANIC Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Busses and Trucks and Trees and Fire Hydrants and..... PARANOID Santa Claus is Coming to Get Me. PERSONALITY DISORDER You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll tell you Why. DEPRESSION Silent Anhedonia, Holy Anhedonia, All is Flat,...

Two dozen San Francisco schoolkids sporting white turtlenecks and Santa hats got a very un-Christmaslike civics lesson the other day when they showed up at Union Square hoping to delight Christmas shoppers with holiday carols. "They just wanted to set up next to the Christmas tree and sing,'' said Donna Vargas, one of the parents who escorted the fifth- and sixth-graders from San Francisco Day School on Friday's outing. Instead, they got the boot. Seems they didn't have a city permit -- so after a brief run-in with the park's security, the kids were shooed away. "How can children not...

On the Gunny Bob Newman show and the Donna Star show here in Denver on KOA 850am tonight they have been talking about Denver mayor Hickenlooper's decision to ban the words 'Merry Christmas' from the traditional Parade of Lights downtown parade as well as any 'Christmas' float.

<p>Secularist fanatics try to take "holy" out of the holidays.</p> <p>If you like your Christmases straight--i.e., "Merry Christmas" instead of "Season's Greetings"--the run-up to Dec. 25 can be a trying time. And this year the grinches are again out in full force, trying their best to strip from our public squares any hint of what most Americans will actually be celebrating come Christmas morn.</p>

This article was referenced at THE VILE blog. The blogger's comments and his critique are below. IMHO, this is PC anti-Christ madness to the extreme, being pushed on children. ----------- December 16, 2003 Students At OMS Celebrate The World This Holiday Season By Steve Yablonski/Oswego Bureau Chief 12/11/2003 A group of OMS students display the origami ornaments they made for the diversity tree. This holiday season, Oswego Middle School is celebrating the world. A diversity tree, decorated with ornaments used to celebrate the world's cultural, ethnic, and religious differences, is on display at the school explained Debbie Smith, an...

Have you wondered why the public celebration of Christmas is an endangered tradition? Stroll into many retail stores and you will soon learn that most references to “Christmas” have been eliminated. Instead, what you’ll find is a not too subtle version of censorship that attempts to expunge any association of Christmas with the holiday season. Moreover, you will notice an aggressive marketing approach that substitutes traditional Christmas nomenclature with the term “Holiday.” Most of us like to visit the festive Christmas sections of department stores, specialty shops, and nurseries in hope of finding a Christmas ornament, lighting fixture, stocking stuffer...

As heard on the hourly update from 1450 WSRQ in Sarasota, FL... The Lakewood Ranch Neighborhood Association encourages it's residents to put up "holiday" displays that are not offensive to others. They have banned the display of religious, human or mythical characters and only wish that lights are displayed. Holly Wells, the President of the neighborhood association, states that she wants "tasteful" displays which are not offensive to other's beliefs.

Apologies for the vanity post. But I want to rant a bit.In the past few months, ping lists have proliferated to the point of annoyance. And it is especially irksome to find oneself on a list without having requested inclusion. There's a word for this: .Ponder this question, Chester: Did I ask to be on your #%&@ing ping list? No? Well, then. Draw the logical conclusion. If I wish to be on your ping list, rest assured you'll be the first to know. But while you wait with bated breath for my entreaty to be a party to your wisdom,...

Gap employees have been advised to wish customers "happy holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." "This is not a policy. We are simply suggesting and encouraging our sales associates and all our employees to recognize that not everyone celebrates Christmas," said Jane Shaw, director of public relations for the company. "We are trying to be inclusive. Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Really we should be wishing people happy holidays." The advisory follows other recent controversies over "inclusive" language at Toronto City Hall, where the Christmas tree was, for a while, renamed a "holiday tree"; the Canadian Royal Mint, which ran an ad...