Free Republic

"When I first started posting the comely mugshots of selected arrestees from Des Moines' Polk County Jail (h/t State 29), I had no idea so many readers shared my fascination with caged pulchritude. To commemorate the anniversary of this popular feature, I think it's finally time to select the official Hawkeye Hoosegow Honey of the Year... So please review the cavalcade of incarcerated corn country cuties, and vote for the one that sets your heart a-twitter."

Circimstances are such that I no longer need my Sig P220. I'd like something a little smaller and easier to wear concealed. A local dealer (from whom I bought the Sig, a used LEO trade-in) offered to trade outright for a brand new Walther P99 or a new Sig P232 Stainless. I was leaning toward the Walther, but welcome anyone's experience with either weapon. Thanks in advance, G

On NPR's "All Things Considered" today (1600 EST) will be a story on the closing of Winchester. I know the feeling toward NPR hereabouts, but maybe we'll learn something. G

Blog with running comments on the best things about London or the UK: sports, culture, art, music. Have a look and add your own "F*CK YEAH!" Might take a bit to load- response seems pretty heavy.

GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — The commander at the center of the biggest base expansion in U.S. Army Europe’s transformation said this week that new units, new services and new training techniques are changing more than just the physical makeup of Grafenwöhr-area bases. An expected Stryker Brigade, an initiative to export American training and a focus on new techniques will be the basis of an evolved training zone that will leave the concept of the Grafenwöhr area as a tank maneuvering playground behind, Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, commander of the 7th Army Training Command, said Tuesday... ...Giving the facility a new name,...

...You want to end terrorism? End unjust military occupations. By all means have Syria conduct an orderly withdrawal from Lebanon if that is what the Lebanese public wants. But Israel needs to withdraw from the Golan Heights, which belong to Syria, as well. The Israeli military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank must be ended. The Russian scorched earth policy in Chechnya needs to stop. Some just disposition of the Kashmir issue must be attained, and Indian enormities against Kashmiri Muslims must stop. The US needs to conduct an orderly and complete withdrawal from Iraq. And when all these...

If anyone owns or has experience with a S&W 457 or Ruger P97 I'd like to hear from you. I'm considering these models but can afford only one. Mission will be range gun with occasional carry. I live close enough to S&W to buy from the factory, which puts the Smith and this model Ruger in the same price range. Any advice concerning these weapons is welcome. Thanks in advance, g

Following the recent Asian tsunami disaster, Western media outlets commented on the apparent “stinginess” of Arabs and Arab governments compared with the “generosity” of Western governments and individuals. The numbers not only debunk this notion totally and turn it on its head, they serve to reveal to the Western world positive aspects and qualities of Arab culture that are systematically occulted in Western media, including true hallmarks of Arab culture and Arabs everywhere, like generosity, compassion and solidarity toward fellow human beings.

For the past month or so, while the media have been obsessed with the activities of Moqtada Sadr and his fighters in Najaf, much of the really important news about Iraq has gone largely unreported... Students of journalism, however, know the difference between the events that furnish most of the daily headlines and the undercurrents that shape the broader context of a society’s political life. Now what are the undercurrents that, with eyes fixed on the current events, are largely ignored? The most important is that post-liberation Iraq, defying great odds, has succeeded in carrying out its political reform agenda...

Blogger re-wording a WW2 era propaganda poster.

Looking at trip to NW Germany/Netherlands for the fall. Anyone been up that way who can recommend things to see besides what's covered in the usual touristy materials? Thinking maybe battle sites in Netherlands... Arnhem, say? Thanks in advance.

90 years ago this week the opening moves of the War to End All Wars were taken.

Has anybody thought about Republican presidential prospects for 2008?

Enjoy perilous work? Try being a conservative on a college campus in Massachusetts. This is a story of how I was--almost--done in by the politically correct crowd. In April 2000 my career as an economics teacher at Smith College looked bright. Despite my having published only one academic article in four years, my department liked my teaching and "strongly" recommended me for reappointment. I was extremely productive over the next two and a half years, publishing five additional academic articles and a book. In 2002, however, my department voted to fire me by denying tenure. Why? I believe it was...

I got to this CBS poll and results via Drudge. Check the story at the link I provided. It's at CBS news. Look at the entire right side of the screen, a whole column of "Help John Kerry Win"; Kerry buttons, take back the flag from Republicans (whatever that means), and the like. I spent a few minutes clicking on other links at the site to what other ads would appear in that right hand column. There was 1 for the RNC. Everything else (of dozens) was either Dem or neutral/non-political. Look at the very bottom of the page, under...

LOS ANGELES - For most of Sam Cohen's life, he has struggled against politicians who, in his opinion, have sacrificed good sense when it comes to the nation's defenses. Cohen is the physicist who invented the neutron bomb, the one that kills people but leaves things like tanks and buildings intact. Plans to deploy his creations in Europe during the '70s and '80s awakened the "peace movement" across that continent, stopping its deployment. With that and other battles lost, the 76-year-old Cohen finds solace in his Brentwood home, nestled high on a hill overlooking Los Angeles. There the world is...

If you are like me, something in you snaps when confronted with political hypocrisy of the holier-than-thou type. The Europeans, masters in this, are at it again. They declared that they are “against imposing democratic change” as outlined by the American plan. Rather strange, coming from those who have imposed just about everything from petty dictators to clan-run countries for almost a century now. The British, the French, the Germans and even the Italians have interfered with the domestic politics of countries around the world without any scruple or as much as the blinking of an eye. They helped set...

CAIRO, Egypt - Even before its first broadcast, a satellite television station financed by the U.S. government and directed at Arab viewers is drawing fire in the Middle East as an American attempt to destroy Islamic values and brainwash the young. Al-Hurra, or The Free One, is to start broadcasting Saturday. President Bush (news - web sites) has promised the news station, which will build up to 24-hour programming within a month, will "cut through the hateful propaganda that fills the airwaves in the Muslim world." It already has landed a one-on-one interview with Bush. White House Press Secretary Scott...

CAIRO, 10 February 2004 — Richard Perle, former chairman of the US Defense Policy Board, and George W. Bush’s former speech writer David Frum — co-authors of a book entitled “An end to evil: How to win the war on terror” — outlined their right-wing extremist views on Boston University’s WUBUR radio last Friday. Their message was loud and clear. US global dominance using military might when necessary is the only way forward. After subjecting myself to almost an hour of the Perle-Frum philosophy I quickly came to the conclusion labeling the Zionist ideologues “hawks” is an insult to a...

Monday, May 5, 2003 -- AMHERST - University of Massachusetts and town officials said today they will take steps to prevent a recurrence of Saturday's "full-fledged riot" that resulted in more than a dozen injuries and 45 arrests after several thousand college-age revelers gathered for the annual Hobart Hoedown in North Amherst. During a press conference this morning, Police Chief Charles Scherpa said, "What began as a series of parties developed into a full-fledged riot." Scherpa said town and UMass officials are assessing how to prevent such problems in the future. Also at today's press conference, UMass Police Chief Barbara...