Free Republic

He continued, "So, ultimately, if Mitch McConnell or John Boehner say that we need to go to catch a plane, I can't have Secret Service block the door way, right?" The comment was in response to a reporter's question.

A U.S. intelligence bulletin warned today that the violent outrage aimed at U.S. embassies spawned by a movie mocking the Prophet Mohammed could be spread to America by extremist groups eager to "exploit anger." The Joint Intelligence Bulletin issued by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said "the risk of violence could increase both at home and abroad as the film continues to gain attention." "First responders should remain aware of the potential for spontaneous large crowds and protests that could overwhelm resources and should be vigilant for possible efforts to encourage peaceful protesters to commit acts of...

Fears of a global banking crisis swept across markets, driving stocks sharply lower, Treasury yields to record lows, and gold to record highs. The dramatic reflex to run for safety also propped up the U.S. dollar, which was stronger against a whole group of currencies. The yield on the U.S. 10-year note fell below the psychologically key 2 percent level temporarily, a level it has not seen since possibly the Eisenhower era. The Dow tumbled more than 500 points at the day's lows, and the industrial and commodities stocks that rely on global growth fell the hardest. Like an out-of-control...

As I type this, the Dow is down over 600 points. Gold shot from $1,660 on Sunday to $1,717 currently, while silver dropped last Friday to $38.32, then up to above $40 on Sunday, and has dropped today down to $38.94 currently. What's driving the whipsaw pricing on silver? Thoughts were Friday's downturn was driven by forced sales of silver investors needing to cover other positions, then Sunday saw overseas markets drive price back above $40. Is today's market slide causing more forced silver sales to cover other positions today, or are there other dynamics at work? I read earlier...

On the rare occasion that New Yorkers talk about farming, it's usually something along the lines of what sort of organic kale to plant in the vanity garden at the second house in the Adirondacks. But on a recent afternoon, The Observer had a conversation of a different sort about agricultural pursuits with a hedge fund manager he'd met at one of the many dark-paneled private clubs in midtown a few weeks prior. "A friend of mine is actually the largest owner of agricultural land in Uruguay," said the hedge fund manager. "He's a year older than I am. We're...

Silver down over $2 per ounce in this morning's trading. That's over 5%. Will it retest recent lows from last week? Soliciting thoughts from FR experts. Also, see the following article.Silver Likely to Drop to Around $31

At least seven deaths have been reported in connection with a series of tornadoes and severe weather that ripped through several states from Kentucky to Tennessee Monday, authorities said. Forecasters expect more rain and storms today to slam across the Midwest, as the system moves east. In Arkansas, three people were killed in rising floodwaters and two died in a town where a possible tornado barreled through Monday, according to the Associated Press. In Vilonia, Ark., north of Little Rock, where a possible tornado killed two people....

Following is an email I received today from a close friend & co-worker. Her dad who was a career military man and a veteran (of WWII, Korea and Nam, I think)passed away in December 2010. This account of our government's actions towards this hero and his now widowed wife of 65 years makes my blood boil towards this thugocracy that now rules over us. If anyone has any suggestions I can pass along to my friend that may help her mother in any way, it would be much appreciated. - OB1 Begin Email: By the way, I just heard about...

The latest from AP: NEW YORK (AP) – Stocks fell sharply Tuesday as the nuclear crisis in Japan weighed on global markets. The stock market dropped at the start of trading on news that dangerous levels of radiation were leaking from a crippled nuclear plant. The plant was damaged in last week’s earthquake and tsunami. Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, accounts for 10 percent of US exports. Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at New York-based brokerage house Avalon Partners, said fear had taken hold in the market. “It’s a situation where you sell, and you ask questions later,” he said....

News of a serious radiation leak at the Fukushima nuclear plant has sparked panic buying in Tokyo, as some residents started to leave the capital to escape potential contamination.... People in the capital, home to 12 million, snapped up radios, torches, candles, fuel containers and sleeping bags, while for the fourth day there was a run on bread, canned goods, instant noodles, bottled water and other foodstuffs at supermarkets...... Fears are rising that if the hoarding frenzy continues it will affect the ability to deliver emergency supplies to the disaster zone. "The situation is hysterical," said Tomonao Matsuo, a spokesman...

Prayers for the innocent.

A GREAT EXAMPLE OF obama's SKILL... It seems like a miracle that our beloved leader was able to convince BP to establish a $20 billion slush (oops, escrow) fund to compensate those hurt by the ongoing oil plume in the Gulf of Mexico. After all, he had no constitutional power to force them to do so; so had to resort to Chicago-style negotiating. But, let us take a closer look at the effect on BP’s finances: 1. BP will establish a $20 billion fund, but will pay only $7 billion into it during 2010. 2. BP is a British corporation,...

A Southwest Airlines employee called police after finding 40 to 60 human heads in a package set to be transported to a Fort Worth medical research company, the airline said. "It wasn't labeled or packaged properly," said Ashley Rogers, a Southwest spokeswoman. "They called the local authorities." The incident happened in Little Rock, Ark., last Wednesday, she said. Little Rock police turned the heads over to the county coroner, who questions where they came from and if they were properly obtained.

Protesters have clashed with police as they tried to break through the gates of the Irish parliament during a march against bank bailouts. Police have said no arrests were made during the scuffles Dozens of people broke away from the demonstration and ran at the gates of Leinster House, the parliament's main building. They wrestled with police who tried to force them back in a bid to secure the gate..........

The Collapse of 2010 In November of 2007, we predicted the "Panic of ’08." There was a panic. In November of 2008, we forecast the "Collapse of ’09." In March ‘09, the global equity markets collapsed. But before they could crash all the way to the ground, a scaffold of emergency props was erected. An unparalleled array of government cash infusions, rescue packages, bailouts and incentives papered over the crisis. Today, even as government spokesmen and the major media proclaim that the world is emerging from its near-cataclysmic recession, we predict the "Crash of 2010." The rising equity markets, on...

HAPPY OBAMA FOOLS DAY! THIS IS BETTER THAN THE "IT'S FRIDAY" FUN THREAD!

OBAMA WINS !OBAMA WINS !OBAMA WINS !

Obama was quoted as saying, " The cure was in front of the citizens all along. One just simply has to touch the hem of my garment and voila! You are cured!

Calling all medical field FReepers. I need to get to the bottom of an issue currently being debated by our corporate pandemic planning team. Is there or is there not a blood test that doctor offices can do to determine if there someone is infected with H1N1? If yes, then what is the specific test name? Information given says the nasal/throat swab test is only 70-75% accurate. Is a blood test more accurate and can it be requested by patients in the doctor's office? Thanks - OB1