Free Republic

A Ukrainian military officer claims he managed to get Russia to provide tech support for a broken down tank that was captured from Putin's forces. A Ukrainian tank operator with the callsign 'Kochevnik' ran into problems with his captured Russian T-72B3, and cheekily decided to call the manufacturer's helpline. To his surprise, a person from Uralvagonzavod, the tank's manufacturer, picked up and began giving him advice and support over the phone, he claims.

As a former member of that, ummmm, organization, I have a standing open offer to answer any FReeper's qusetions about Scientology, either in open forum, or via FReepmail. I will do my best to answer as promptly, concisely and accurately as possible, but as I left some time ago, I'm not always privy to the latest wrinkles. Still, from what I can gather from my few remaining contacts not that much has really changed!

BRUSSELS - Iran could improve its chances of playing a role on the sidelines of Syria peace talks this month by working with Damascus to stop the bombardment of civilians and improve humanitarian access, US officials said on Monday. "There are ... steps that Iran could take to show the international community that they are serious about playing a positive role," one of the officials said in Brussels. "Those include calling for an end to the bombardment by the Syrian regime of their own people. It includes calling for and encouraging humanitarian access." Another official made clear that the comment...

PLEASANT HILL -- A gay teenager denied his Eagle Scout award because of his sexuality turned in an online petition with more than 400,000 signatures Wednesday urging the National Boy Scouts of America to change its policies against allowing gay members. Ryan Andresen of Moraga marched into the front office of the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council on Ellinwood Way along with his parents and a former member of the same Boy Scout troop who came out as gay two weeks ago. Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, also attended and presented Andresen with a resolution honoring his achievements with the Boy Scouts....

A playful and rightful arrangement! Enjoy

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq, Nov. 19, 2008 – Being separated from family can trigger stress and anxiety for deployed servicemembers, especially when children are involved. Army Maj. Allan Dollison of the 4th Infantry Division and Multinational Division Baghdad’s 425th Civil Affairs Battalion credits Military OneSource with making his deployment easier on him and his family. U.S. Army photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. But one military family has found a valuable source of help online. The Military OneSource site offers around-the-clock information on parenting, child care, military life, relocation, work, education programs and more. “Military OneSource was described to...

RACINE - Racine Unified School District principals will decide if the National Rifle Association's "Eddie Eagle" coloring books will be used in their elementary schools, the district said Thursday. But to get the controversial coloring books - which were approved for Racine Police Department officers to use in gun-safety training classes by the City Council this week - an elementary principal would have to ask the Police Department to bring the books to their school. If that's done, the material would go before the district's curriculum committee, which would determine whether the books meet curriculum standards. "The district then could...

VANNROX Bookmarks 2004.7Bookmarks collected During Spring and Summer of 2004 Here are links to older bookmarks: 1999.A Bookmark Archives.2000.A Bookmark Archives.2001.A Bookmark Archives.2002.1 Bookmark Archives.2002.3 Bookmark Archives.2002.5 Bookmark Archives.2002.E Bookmark Archives.2003.2 Bookmark Archives.2003.4 Bookmark Archives.2003.12 Bookmark Archives FREE REPUBLIC BUMP LIST Assault weapons ban faces expiration Proponents accuse Bush of political trickery http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085863/posts CNN is reporting new threats..http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1068641/posts Code name from '84 movie "Operation Red Dawn"http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1040242/posts List of Liberal Code Phraseshttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1115231/posts MIT's Zuber [Meet the scientists on Bush's Space Commission]http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1073309/posts Nigerian army 'offered nukes'http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1090417/posts Private Initiative for Inflatable Space Habitat Lures Chinese Interesthttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1166597/posts Private Initiative for Inflatable Space Habitat...