Free Republic

Charles Barkley has blamed politicians for dividing Americans and criticized both Republicans and Democrats exacerbating problems between white and Black people in the U.S. The former NBA star, who is now a sports analyst with TNT, made the remarks on Saturday before a Final Four game between Baylor and Houston. He appears to have been responding to footage of Robert F. Kennedy announcing the news of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968. Kennedy, who was also assassinated later that year, spoke movingly about King's death in famous remarks delivered in Indianapolis, which is the location of the 2021...

Born and raised in the SF Bay Area of California. I’ve fought the good fight for over 50 years but I’m over it and it’s time to go. We’re OUTTA here tomorrow morning!!! Tampa, Florida here we come!

As a long time fan, I find myself consuming less pro football then ever before. The product is becoming unwatchable. It wasn't always like this. No one knows that a catch is. No one knows what PI is. QB's are off limits because of their brand potential.I fear we're witnessing the death by a thousand cuts in real time. It's turning into my personal salsa nightmare. Okay, let me explain. I used to frequent a little Mexican joint here in LA - they had this amazing black salsa. Over time, I noticed the salsa losing it's kick, as if they...

Your iPhone is keeping a record of everywhere you've been since June. This data is stored on your phone (or iPad) and computer, easily available to anyone who gets their hands on it. Why? Apple won't say. We're creeped out. The enormous privacy startle, apparently enabled by this summer's iOS 4 release, was discovered by two security researchers, one of whom claims he was an Apple employee for five years. They're equally puzzled and disturbed by the location collection: "By passively logging your location without your permission, Apple have made it possible for anyone from a jealous spouse to a...

Eleven charts that explain everything that's wrong with America.

Go ahead, say it. It's no longer mere fantasy or sheer folly to do so. A rare mix of veteran rejects and budding stars completed an unlikely ascent to the Major League summit Monday night, allowing all to repeat a five-word phrase never before heard: World Series champion San Francisco Giants. The Giants made franchise history with a 3-1 triumph over the Rangers in Game 5 of the World Series, ignoring their underdog status to capture the 106th Fall Classic, four games to one. An unlikely hero combined with a likely one to elevate San Francisco to new heights.

Standing on the side of Old Redwood Highway, just south of Jay Palm's saddle shop in Penngrove, a Latina held up a colorful sign with the word “Reten” written twice. About 500 yards down the road, local attorney Alicia Roman held up a similar sign. For Spanish-speaking illegal immigrants, the meaning — “checkpoint” — was clear that Friday evening. Some took heed and quickly turned off at Goodwin Avenue. Those who ignored the warning, or did not understand it, suddenly found themselves amid a sea of orange cones as Petaluma police officers slowed traffic and guided drivers through a stop...

After a four-day faceoff with the U.S. government ended Wednesday, the Iroquois Nationals encountered another obstacle: the British government. As a result, the team must forfeit its Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships opener against host England in Manchester on Thursday.

The owner of a tiny but famous Sacramento burger joint said a lawsuit about handicapped access could shut him down. The Squeeze Inn, known for huge mounds of melted cheese on its burgers, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the lawsuit alleges. Kimberly Block, who says she has severly limited use of her legs, argues she suffered "embarrassment and humiliation" and that her civil rights were violated because of inadequate access inside the Fruitridge Road restaurant.

I'm sure there are some fellow Freepers out there that have encountered a similar circumstance. This is a very simplistic description of the circumstances... I have 60 year old friend that's been an active Christian all of her life. A few days ago, her ailing mother announced that she was now an athiest. She took my friend to several places on the web and showed her why Jesus, G-d, etc, are all just a clever scheme invented to control the people. You should see my friend, she is devastated, and her whole faith and belief system has been shaken. She...

Apple has joined Google in publicly opposing a California ballot initiative that would deny marriage rights to same-sex couples. The company announced Friday that it would donate $100,000 to the No on Prop 8 campaign, which opposes a measure to ban gay marriage that California voters will consider a week from Tuesday. Google has also spoken out against the ballot measure.

Yesterday I stopped by my local Safeway Grocery Store in the Washington Square shopping center in Petaluma, California. Right next to each entrance were Obama booths selling t-shirts, button, bumperstickers, etc. When I got home, we called Safeway and asked the "Store Manager of the Day" (his words) why they are allowing these partisan booths in front of the store. His response was (paraphrased) that they didn't do it, and that their landlord has the right to rent spots on their sidewalk. So, we called the Fulcrum Group, out of the Sacramento Area, and asked them if they rented this...

Even a broken clock is right twice a day... Look what I said on June 7th, 2008... McCain needs to pick a younger, charismatic, and (above all) conservative woman for the VP spot.

48% to 48% Interviews with 1,022 adult Americans conducted by telephone by Opinion Research Corporation on September 5-7, 2008. The margin of sampling error for results based on the total sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

This morning I heard the pundits talk about the lack of experience of former Vice President Dan Quayle. They were talking about how improtant Obama's VP pick would be, whether the VP would be too inexperienced, or overshadow the messiah. Then it dawned on me... Dan Quayle had MORE experience when he became Vice President than Barack Obama has right now! Quayle: 8 years in the US Senate as Senator from Indiana. 4 years in the US House of Representatives as the Rep from Indiana's 4th District. Obama: 3 years in the US Senate as Senator from Illinois. 7 years...

http://www.thestreet.com/video/index.html?bcpid=1078966384&bclid=1137812485&bctid=1420178886

The entire solar system appears to be warming up lately. What's the root cause? As an update to my story earlier this month on the discovery of global warming on Mars, I thought it appropriate to survey the rest of the solar system. Global warming was detected on Jupiter last year, and the warming is apparently behind the formation of a second red spot. Global warming on Neptune's moon Triton has also been noted, with severe atmospheric changes as a result. And even tiny Pluto has experienced moderate warming in recent years, with temperatures rising a full 3.5 degrees. The...

The Sonoma County Sheriff has released the Karr documents.

European Commission said a full investigation may follow Just when we think that Blu-ray and HD DVD will start showing up in mass production, the two formats enter into more trouble, this time with the European Commission. According to reports, the European Commission believes that the companies that are backing each format may have licensing terms that breach European competition rules. The report said that the European Commission launched an unofficial antitrust probe this month. Toshiba, the leading company behind HD DVD and Sony the leading company behind Blu-ray both received letters from the European Commission earlier this month. According...

Our sources tell us that Intel has applied for a license with the Vietnamese government to open a fab in Vietnam Hot on the heels of announcing the reopening of Fab 12, our sources in Asia tells us that Intel has applied for a license with the Communist Party of Vietnam to open a brand new plant. There hasn’t been a name released for the new plant or information about what it will produce but we know that it will be located in Ho Chi Minh City, which is Vietnam’s capital -- previously known as Saigon. The southern part of...