Free Republic

If you bid "Desperate Housewives" a fond farewell last week, did you also mourn "Unforgettable," "Harry's Law" "Terra Nova" and "Ringer"?

Los Angeles Police Department officials say four officers scheduled to attend a conference and training session in Tucson next month will not go, sparking anger among police union leaders. The trip to the annual Airborne Law Enforcement Assn. conference was thrown into question last month after the Los Angeles City Council voted to suspend most travel to Arizona as part of its protest of that state's law dealing with illegal immigration. Two councilmembers sought an exception but that vote will now be tabled. Paul Weber, head of the Police Protective League, calls it a mistake to sacrifice public safety for...

NEW YORK (AP) -- The venerable police-courtroom drama "Law & Order" has been axed. NBC announced Friday that the show would end its historic 20-season run on May 24, with a season finale that was never meant to bring the saga to a close. The show starred an ensemble cast currently consisting of Jeremy Sisto, Anthony Anderson, Linus Roache, Alana De La Garza, Sam Waterston and S. Epatha Merkerson, who, unrelated to the show's abrupt cancellation, had already announced she was moving on. Even as it issued a death sentence to the original "Law & Order," NBC announced a new...

No one reporting on the Global War on Terror has done a more effective or honest job than Michael Yon. For one thing he knows the military, having served in U.S. Army Special Forces. With his camera and his pen, he enabled readers to see aspects of war corporate media could or would not divulge. On Saturday, April 10, Yon posted a message on his magazine-style website. “[A] message came from military that this embed has ended.” He headed off to pack his bags.

And, the play is off again. We really shouldn't be surprised at this point, but a controversial play that depicts Jesus Christ as a gay man is once again canceled. We reported Thursday that the play, Corpus Christi, was back on and was going to be held on a Fort Worth stage. The play had originally been scheduled to play at Stephenville's Tarleton State University, where student director John Jordan Otte attends school. The school later rescheduled and then canceled the play over safety concerns. On Thursday, Adam Adolfo, executive director of the Rose Marine Theater, offered the theater free...

OTTAWA — Concerns for "public safety" forced the cancellation of American conservative commentator Ann Coulter's speaking engagement at the University of Ottawa Tuesday night. Several hundred people, including students from both Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, showed up prior to Coulter's speech. The loudest and most vociferous were protesting her presence, drowning out a smaller group of pro-Coulter demonstrators. Ottawa police had more than nine squad cars at the scene, at the university's Marion Hall. But the event was cancelled about 8:15 p.m. — before Coulter had a chance to speak. "It's a public safety issue," said Sgt....

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2010 – The commander of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific ordered the return of Pearl Harbor-based ships that sortied today. USS Crommelin, USS O'Kane, USS Chafee and USS Chung-Hoon departed Pearl Harbor this morning in response to a tsunami warning for the Hawaii Islands issued in the wake of an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile today. No injuries or damage have been reported in Hawaii. Access will be restored to previously evacuated areas. The Ford Island Bridge in Hawaii has reopened, and the Fleet and Family Support Center has stood down its family...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2009 – An Army brigade slated to deploy to Iraq in January was relieved of its deployment orders this weekend without current plans for a new mission, Pentagon and Army officials said here today. The 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team was off-ramped by Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, because of the improved security situation there, and not to bolster forces in Afghanistan, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters. “This [decision] is based on General Odierno’s assessment of the security environment in Iraq,” Whitman explained. “It reflects the continuing improvements...

Tonight Fox will run the series finale of King of the Hill, the saga of Hank Hill and his gang of associates living in their exurb paradise of Arlen, Texas.... The beauty of King is that while it pokes fun at Hank’s myriad foibles, it understands the creepy nature of those who dedicate their lives to interfering in the lives of others, always claiming the moral high ground yet inevitably maximizing their own personal power and advantage. From snooty school guidance counselors to pompous college professors to lazy municipal clerks, Hank is constantly beset by nimrods trying to force him...

There'll be no fireworks over A-Mountain this Fourth of July. The city has decided to scrap the holiday celebration , which included the mountaintop fireworks and related events at the Tucson Convention Center Downtown. Canceling the event will save the city at least $51,000, Asst. City Manager Richard Miranda said in a news release Wednesday. Rodney Campbell, spokesman for Marana, expects the town will benefit. "I'm sure we'll get more people" he said, noting that the town suspected Tucson would cancel and has taken that into account for planning. Campbell said it will be great for the Marana businesses in...

EDMONTON - The Comic Strip at West Edmonton Mall has cancelled an appearance by comedian Doug Benson after the club received threats in response to his remarks on an American TV show about Canada's military. Greg Gutfield, the host of Red Eye, which airs on Fox at 3 a.m. weekdays, has since apologized for comments that caused a firestorm in Canada as the country mourns the recent loss of four soldiers in Afghanistan. On the show, Gutfeld mocked comments from Canada’s commander of land forces, Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, who said on March 10 that the military would need a year...

NEW YORK -- The NFL plans to cancel a scheduled exhibition game in China between Seattle and New England, Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site. SI.com, citing unidentified sources, said Sunday the league will announce the decision to cancel the China Bowl early this week. The Seahawks and Patriots are scheduled to play Aug. 7 at Workers Stadium. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined to comment Sunday to The Associated Press. Patriots spokesman Stacey James told the AP that a team delegation had twice postponed a trip to China for planning.

AUSTIN, Texas, March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The cancellation in the past two days of two planned nationally televised debates because of candidates' "scheduling conflicts" and unwillingness to participate smacks of "manipulation by some candidates who would rather run and hide than defend their records and their positions on the war," Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said today while campaigning in Texas. Widely publicized Presidential debates in New Hampshire in April and in Nevada in August were cancelled after some candidates either backed out after agreeing to participate or declined invitations to attend. "Whatever their excuses, some candidates...

Airbus suffered another setback in its A380 freighter program Monday when the world's largest aviation leasing company canceled orders for five planes. Instead of the freighters, International Lease Finance Corp. will take five more A380 passenger planes, doubling its order total for that model. But ILFC will defer delivery of all 10 planes for several years -- and that's still more bad news for a program that has been rocked by delays. The development could give The Boeing Co. an opportunity to sell more 747-8 freighters, a plane that is under development and has been selling well. United Parcel Service...

Wal-Mart blacklisted for Black Friday Shoppers urged to boycott No. 1 retailer due to pro-homosexual commitments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: November 21, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern By Bob Unruh © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com Group wants to save Wal-Mart from pro-homosexual activists The Friday after Thanksgiving typically is the biggest single shopping day of the year, and has been known to make or break a holiday season for many a retailer. This year, for Wal-Mart Friday will be even bigger than that. The American Family Association, as WND reported earlier, already asked its several million supporters to boycott the stores that day. And now...

Mozart Opera Canceled for Muhammad Scene A leading opera house in Berlin, Germany canceled a 3-year-old production of Mozart's "Idomeneo" that included a scene showing the severed head of the Prophet Muhammad, unleashing a furious debate over free speech. In a statement late Monday, the Deutsche Oper said it decided "with great regret" to cancel the production of the 225-year-old opera after Berlin security officials warned of an "incalculable risk" stemming from the scene. After its premiere in 2003, the production by Hans Neuenfels drew widespread criticism over the scene in which King Idomeneo presents the severed heads not only...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Several concerts on the Dixie Chicks' "Accidents & Accusations" tour have been canceled after slow ticket sales, but the group says it has replaced them with other dates. Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, Memphis and Knoxville are among 14 cities no longer on the original schedule released in May, according to a revised itinerary posted Thursday on the Dixie Chick's Web site. Other shows, including Nashville, Los Angeles, Denver and Phoenix, have been pushed back to later dates. The North American leg of the tour kicked off July 21 in Detroit. Billboard magazine and other trade publications...

Looks like a good start to for the 4th of July Weekend....

CYCLONE Monica has forced the cancellation of Darwin's Anzac Day dawn service and march. The maximum strength, category five cyclone is about 550km east, north-east of Darwin and should reach Arnhem Land's west coast later today. Monica, which has winds of up to 350km/h at its core, is expected to reach Darwin and the Tiwi Islands by tomorrow. The cyclone has prompted the Darwin RSL to announce tomorrow's Anzac Day dawn service will be cancelled along with the 10am (AEST) march through Darwin's main streets. Darwin RSL manager Mussy Shaw today said the decision was made to protect both marchers...

The three-day festival at the University of Minnesota-Duluth was supposed to begin Friday. But it was postponed until next Friday because of the cold snap. The event includes snow-shoeing, homemade sledding, a snow sculpture contest, and a Polar Plunge. There's also cross-country ski and snowshoe race called the Yeti Challenge. The event is designed to raise money for youth scholarships. The National Weather Service said highs in Duluth on Friday were expected to be about 10 degrees below

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Hundreds of people were turned away Thursday from an open casting call for NBC's hit weight-loss show "The Biggest Loser" because the venue couldn't accommodate the immense crowd. "Today's San Diego casting call for 'The Biggest Loser' had to be canceled due to the overwhelming response from potential candidates for the show," NBC publicist Joanne Parks said. Approximately 1,500 people waited on the street to enter restaurant Dave & Buster's for the audition, police spokesman Dave Cohen said. Arguments broke out, but no one was arrested, he said. Messages left for the restaurant's management Thursday were...

WARNING: This thread contains spoilers. Back in 2004, singer Linda Ronstadt, who was romantically linked in the seventies with Democratic then-California Governor Jerry Brown but had never previously displayed any signs of traditional celebrity political activism, began ending her concerts by dedicating the song "Desperado" to Michael Moore, the blame-America-first filmmaker/author. When she did so at the Aladdin hotel in Las Vegas, a mini-riot ensued, and she and her band was escorted from the premises shortly afterward by the hotel's miffed manager. Less than a week later, Ronstadt was interviewed before an upcoming concert in San Diego about whether she...

"The limo driver rang the bell. I went for my jacket. The phone rang. Scarborough's producer said "don't get into the car." "Why," I asked as politely as I could. "Every segment tonight has been cancelled; we're doing the full hour on the Pope." I guess MSNBC calculated that John Paul II was better for ratings than Holzer. So tonight on Scarborough, you may see Prince Charles, but you won't see Professor Holzer. Sorry for what turned out to be a false alarm. But that's show business!" HMH

Getting away with cultural cleansing...

Mom's Boyfriend Has Taken Lie Detector Test POSTED: 4:52 am EST December 9, 2004 UPDATED: 8:26 am EST December 9, 2004 COLUMBUS -- Police say they're treating the disappearance of 5-year-old Columbus area girl as a kidnapping after two days of searching with dogs and helicopters failed to turn up any trace of her. Emily Rimel vanished from her bed in her home in the Columbus suburb of Madison Township early Tuesday morning. Her mother's boyfriend, Brent Copley, said he put the child to bed shortly after midnight and she was gone when her mother, Jane, returned home from her...

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - NBC has made changes to its Tuesday and Thursday schedules to make room for the new midseason comedy "The Tracy Morgan Show," while ABC and the WB network have bid farewell to "L.A. Dragnet" and "Tarzan," respectively. Meanwhile, NBC has cut back the order for its sophomore series "American Dreams" from 22 to 18 episodes. In other scheduling news, CBS has announced that it will replace the first part of its canceled four-hour miniseries "The Reagans" on Nov. 16 with a rerun of a two-episode arc of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (news - Y! TV)."...

Students at a New Zealand high school have been told not to send Valentine's Day gifts there. The head teacher at Rangitoto College in Auckland says deliveries of flowers and chocolates could be a distraction to pupils. Allan Peachey has sent a reminder to parents and friends asking that gifts be sent to home addresses instead. He said: "Youngsters come to school to do English, math and science, that sort of thing, not to have their attention disrupted. "We are not talking about a mini workplace with half a dozen employees. We have nearly 3,000 students."

Professor Hawking, we have a problem. Nasa, the American space agency, is expected to announce this week that it has proved the existence of "dark energy", a cosmic force that counteracts gravity and will keep the universe expanding forever. The announcement will effectively demolish the theory that life will be wiped out in a "Big Crunch" when the universe collapses, and should end decades of academic dispute over the forces at work on the universe. In the past, scientists ranging from Prof Stephen Hawking, the Cambridge University physicist, to Albert Einstein, have argued that the universe eventually will stop expanding...

DORSET, Vt.Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs receiving federal assistance, may be in for an overhaul. This week a committee appointed by the Bush administration will hold its final meetings before submitting its recommendations for changing the law to Secretary of Education Rod Paige. Since Title IX was enacted in 1972, it has been the subject of debate — much of it misguided — about its application to college athletics. At issue now is how to alter the law — or not — so that, as Secretary Paige has put it, we can find...

Miss Marple tipped me off to this on the running commentary from the National Review Online Site.Anyone have more details?

Due to an oxygen leak , today's launch of Shuttle Endeavour on STS-113 has been postponed. Stay tuned to our Live Countdown Coverage for further information.

<p>NEW YORK (AP) --  ABC is canceling Bill Maher's late-night topical talk show, "Politically Incorrect," and replacing it with an entertainment show led by Comedy Central's Jimmy Kimmel.</p> <p>Maher's show, which starts at 12:05 a.m., has aired on ABC since 1997 and started on Comedy Central in 1993.</p>

Over, 'Once' & For All ABC cancels drama after three seasons By RICHARD HUFF Daily News TV Editor ABC's "Once and Again" has run out of time. Put to Bed: Sela Ward and Billy Campbell in 'Once and Again' The critically acclaimed but ratings-anemic drama will end its run on the network for good on April 15, leaving behind brokenhearted fans and frustrated programming executives, who could never figure out what to do with the show. The hour-long series stars Sela Ward and Billy Campbell as fortysomethings working on their second marriage and attempting to blend their two families. "Once...