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When "Transformers" hit the big screen in 2007, audiences knew to expect a turbocharged bunch of feuding robots, backed by an arsenal of CGI wizardry. What they also got was the impossibly hourglass-shaped Megan Fox bending over the engine of hero Sam Witwicky's bumblebee-yellow Camaro. The mechanically savvy Mikaela still holds the crown as every robotics nerd's dream date. But starting today, she better watch out. In "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," she faces competition that comes with sweeter weaponry than the average Decepticon. Australian hottie Isabel Lucas joins the franchise as Alice, an alluring classmate Sam (Shia LaBeouf)...

The actions of Pima County Legal Defender Isabel Garcia at a protest last month against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio are "under review" after top county officials were flooded with complaints. Garcia, who is active with the immigrant rights group Derechos Humanos, participated in a protest at a signing event at a Barnes & Noble bookstore promoting a book by Arpaio, who has a national reputation for anti-illegal-immigrant raids and tough jail conditions. Videos posted on YouTube show Garcia picking up the head of a piñata representing Arpaio after several teenagers smashed it, and carrying around the head. Photo:...

Our Monday post highlighting a Cuban flag with the super-imposed face of psychotic Marxist Che Guevara hanging in Barack Obama’s Houston HQ’s has caused quite a kerfuffle, which we are happy to inflame further with today’s update.

JAMES CITY -- Despite a staggering estimate of $11.4 million in damages, Colonial National Historical Park representatives insist that artifacts flooded in the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center by Hurricane Isabel will be restored and ready when a new collections building opens by 2007. Let's hope so, because Congress is watching. “I'm going to be anxiously waiting to see what they find,” Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-1st) said this week, referring to a National Park Service investigation into the flooding. “I'm hoping we didn't do anything wrong, and we can learn from it if we were to have another disaster.” Elaine...

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Hurricane Isabel flooded classrooms and laboratories at the Naval Academy, destroying electrical systems and computers and causing tens of millions of dollars in damage on the military college's waterfront campus.</p> <p>Half of the academy's classroom space was still unusable yesterday and midshipmen had to move to the auditorium, field house and basketball arena for some classes, said Cmdr. Rod Gibbons, an academy spokesman.</p>

Watch exclusive video of Hurricane Isabel hitting Hampton Roads - before, during and after the storm. Before the Storm: Locals hunker down for Isabel's onslaught (Requires Real Player Plug-in) During the Storm: Hurricane Isabel hits the region (Requires Real Player Plug-in) After the Storm: Local residents clean up after the hurricane (Requires Real Player Plug-in)

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world. A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in...

Mr D'Agata received a rare and special -- albeit mysterious -- gift on his porch from what was Hurricane Isabel Friday. About 10 a.m. he was sitting on his porch reading a newspaper when he heard a sudden burst. "I thought it was hail and I said to my wife, ‘Ginger, it’s hailing,’" he said. "I went back to reading my paper and then I saw the things were still there and were not melting. I went out and saw hundred of these white things." The ‘things’ appeared to be eggs of some sort, the size of a pearl, he...

Solomons Island, MDcenter right is the Tiki Bar, at low tide the next morning:Solomon's Pier -- there used to be a gazebo & bar at the end: Norfolk, VANaval base fleet parking lot: Anne Arundel County, MD St. Mary's County, MDColtons Point Marina -- yacht broke through Havre de Grace, MDWhat's left of the promenade: Baltimore Inner HarborHard Rock Cafe:Pratt St. crosswalk Old Town Alexandria, VA Northern VAD.C. Takoma Park, MD (downed power line)Portsmouth, VA

WHITE HOUSE LETTER President Bush spends hours each day of his Texas vacation with his trusty chain saw, happily cutting up the cedar trees that he is determined to clear one of these decades from his 1,600-acre ranch. Clearly, putting in time with the saw is recreation for Mr. Bush, a sweat-through-the-T-shirt kind of guy activity that clears his head and helps him relax. Because when it came to clearing the North Lawn of the White House last week of a big linden tree felled by Hurricane Isabel, Mr. Bush left the chain-sawing to the National Park Service and stayed...

As the tattered remains of Hurricane Isabel blew off over Canada last week, the once formidable Category 5 storm left in its wake not only flooded streets, downed power lines and grieving families but also a sense of rising menace. That's because a growing number of scientists believe that conditions favorable for brewing more and even bigger hurricanes in the Atlantic locked into place about eight years ago and will probably persist for at least a decade and maybe longer. "We're not talking about a minor little increase," says Stanley Goldenberg, a hurricane expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric...

With a brand of racing that is as intimate as it is intense, there's no wonder why people continue to flock to "The Monster Mile." Dover, with seating for more than 140,000, is one of the most popular race destinations in the Northeast and hosts some of the biggest crowds to see a sporting event between New York and North Carolina. This thread is dedicated to our Armed Forces members and their families worldwide and to the victims of Hurricane Isabel. God Bless America and God Bless FRee Republic.

<p>For such a large, messy storm, Hurricane Isabel picked its victims with precision, and Tormeka Daughtery was one of them.</p> <p>With the winds of up to 100 mph gone, Daughtery lined up with dozens of others in front of a Salvation Army kitchen staffed with Asheville workers.</p>

At about 12:17 p.m., a tree fell on the home of Ashley Stephenson, who lives in Pamlico Village off River Road, taking out the home's power box.

<p>RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Hurricane Isabel knocked out power to more than 4.5 million people as it weakened into a tropical depression after swamping tidal communities along Chesapeake Bay, uprooting trees, disrupting air traffic and shutting down the nation's capital.</p>

Guards at Tomb of the Unknowns Stand Tall Fri Sep 19, 3:03 AM ET By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer ARLINGTON, Va. - As the winds from Hurricane Isabel swept over Arlington National Cemetery, the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns were given — for the first time in history — permission to abandon their posts and seek shelter. "They told us that. But that's not what's going to happen," said Sgt. Christopher Holmes, standing vigil on overnight duty. "That's never an option for us. It went in one ear and right out the other." The monument was...

Isabel Pounds Eastern Seaboard; 14 Dead By BOB LEWIS, Associated Press Writer RICHMOND, Va. - Hurricane Isabel knocked out power to more than 3.5 million people as it weakened into a tropical storm and raced up the Eastern Seaboard on Friday, swamping tidal communities along Chesapeake Bay, uprooting trees, disrupting air traffic and shutting down the nation's capital. The massive storm was blamed for at least 14 deaths: nine in Virginia; two in Maryland and one each in New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The storm plowed into North Carolina's Outer Banks on Thursday night with winds of about 100...

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. - Hurricane Isabel plowed into North Carolina's Outer Banks with 100 mph winds and pushed its way Thursday up the Eastern Seaboard, weakening to a tropical storm by evening but not before swamping roads and knocking out power to more than 2.5 million people. Isabel was blamed for at least two traffic deaths and the electrocution of a utility employee. The storm that had once threatened 160 mph winds and a 12-foot storm surge rolled in around midday just south of isolated Ocracoke Island with a 5-foot surge and gusts that rattled plywood boards spray-painted "Bring...

Isabel was downgraded to a tropical storm tonight after it left two dead, nearly 1.8 million homes and businesses without power. Air travel was disrupted across the East as the storm crossed North Carolina's Outer Banks and headed north of Roanoke Rapids. A utility worker with the Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative was electrocuted while restoring power. Harold T. Anderson Jr., 48, of Salter Path, left behind a wife and two children. In Virginia, a motorist on Interstate 95 near Richmond died in a crash blamed on heavy rains. "This is the worst I've seen in 35 years," said J.D. Brickhouse, Tyrrell...

Before the game, the Orioles announced that Thursday's series finale has been moved up from 7:05 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. in hopes of getting the game in and allowing the Yankees to catch their flight to Tampa Bay afterward. The announcement came only 12 hours after a team spokesman insisted there was no chance it would be changed. No doubt the decision also had to do with the bottom line: If the game is played Thursday, the Orioles get to keep the gate, but if the game is postponed, it will be made up next weekend at Yankee Stadium, with...

Miramar-based Maritime Telecommunications Network, which earlier this year built for NBC the satellite-based mobile communications platform widely known as the "Bloommobile," today announced the special-purpose truck is helping the NBC network in its live coverage of Hurricane Isabel. MTN, which makes satellite-based communications, networking and other services for the cruise and offshore oil and gas industries, designed the vehicle NBC reporter David Bloom used to broadcast live reports from the war zone in Iraq before his death there April 6. "NBC's use of the Bloommobile further confirms the versatility and value of this unique satellite-based mobile communications platform," said David...

When the going gets tough, the tough get wet.

When the going gets tough, the tough get wet.

Hurricane Isabel Advisory Number 48 Statement as of 11:00 PM EDT on September 17, 2003 ...Outer bands of Hurricane Isabel moving onshore...weather should gradually worsen... A Hurricane Warning remains in effect from Cape Fear North Carolina to Chincoteague Virginia...including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds...and the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area...generally within 24 hours. All preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the Hurricane Warning area. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect south of Cape Fear to South Santee River South Carolina...and...

U.S. government closing its offices Thursday in entire Washington metropolitan area due to Hurricane Isabel (Reuters)

Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- More than 200 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean, a floating data platform directly in the path of Hurricane Isabel is secured to the seabed by a 4-ton anchor. The unmanned station, known as Buoy 41002, gathers weather information for forecasters, mariners and scientists. It also has its own unique Internet address. The National Data Buoy Center operates 79 data buoys scattered in the oceans, gulfs and seas that ring the U.S., and all of them send hourly updates to the Internet. During hurricane season, they collect information, direct and unfiltered, that draws hundreds of thousands...

For the hurricane/weather geeks out there. The closest data buoy to Isabel is #41002, which is 250nm east of Charleston, SC. Right now, the hurricane is 297nm to the SSE of the buoy. As far as I can tell, the Isabel will pass to the east of this buoy. Still, you should be able to get a very good idea of the actual strength of Isabel for the next 12 hrs.

BULLETIN HURRICANE ISABEL INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 43A NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 8 PM EDT TUE SEP 16 2003 ...WARNINGS LIKELY AT 11 PM... A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LITTLE RIVER INLET SOUTH CAROLINA TO CHINCOTEAGUE VIRGINIA...INCLUDING THE PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS...CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF NORTH BEACH MARYLAND...AND THE TIDAL POTOMAC. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NORTH BEACH NORTHWARD. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH OF CHINCOTEAGUE TO LITTLE EGG INLET NEW JERSEY... INCLUDING DELAWARD BAY. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH OF LITTLE RIVER...

<p>NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - It should be no surprise that big storms, including hurricanes and tropical storms, can cause big damage. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused $16 billion in insured losses.</p> <p>But as Isabel, a category 2 hurricane, bears down on the Eastern seaboard, homeowners in the storm's path should brace themselves for an even bigger financial hit than they might have expected in prior years from a similar storm.</p>

000 WTNT33 KNHC 161442 TCPAT3 BULLETIN HURRICANE ISABEL ADVISORY NUMBER 42 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 11 AM EDT TUE SEP 16 2003 ...HURRICANE WATCH ISSUED AS ISABEL MOVES NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD... AT 11 AM EDT...1500Z...A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LITTLE RIVER INLET SOUTH CAROLINA TO CHINCOTEAGUE VIRGINIA...INCLUDING THE PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE SOUNDS...CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF NORTH BEACH MARYLAND...AND THE TIDAL POTOMAC. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. HURRICANE WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT. AT 11 AM EDT...A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT SOUTH OF...

Date/Time: 9/16/03 7:55:42 AM Bulletin Text: The Dare County Control Group has issued a mandatory evacuation for Dare County beginning at 12:00 p.m. today (Tuesday, September 16, 2003). Residents and visitors on Hatteras Island are urged to make final preparations and leave the area prior to noon, if possible, since Highway 12 is prone to flooding and provides the only access south of Oregon Inlet. The northeast quadrant of Hurricane Isabel will cause damage along the oceanfront as the hurricane moves closer to shore. Ocean overwash is expected as early as today, particularly along the southern beaches. Soundside flooding will...

Hurricane Isabel is falling apart and fast. Re-Con planes have been flying in the storm since midnight and the entire west quad of the storm has disappeared. The eastern portion of the storm has a wind around 110KTS. There is discussion that re-strengthening will occour within 24 hours though so this still remains a threat. Pressure has dramatically risen as well. Discussion currently is Isabel making landfall in either Northern South Carolina or Southern North Carolina and a due north move after landfall. Thinking is a landfalling Category 2 minimal 3 storm.

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2003 September 16 Hurricane Isabel Approaches Credit: Terra Satellite, EOS, NASA Explanation: Where will Hurricane Isabel go? One of the stronger storm systems of modern times appears headed for one the more populated seaboards on planet Earth -- the east coast of the USA. Hurricane Isabel, pictured yesteday as it passed east of the Bahamas, has flirted with category 5 status, the most powerful hurricane category. Hurricanes are...

Headline says it all. More TK...

Inspite of all the forecast models, Isabel could make landfall anywhere along the SE seaboard. It is now approximately 600NM east of South Florida with a heading of 290 degrees.

000 WTNT33 KNHC 130842 TCPAT3 BULLETIN HURRICANE ISABEL ADVISORY NUMBER 29 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 5 AM AST SAT SEP 13 2003 ...ISABEL WEAKENED A BIT...STILL VERY POWERFULL... AT 5 AM AST...0900Z...THE EYE OF HURRICANE ISABEL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 22.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 60.4 WEST OR ABOUT 455 MILES...730 KM...NORTHEAST OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO. ISABEL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 9 MPH...15 KM/HR...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 150 MPH...240 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24...

BULLETIN HURRICANE ISABEL ADVISORY NUMBER 23 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 5 PM AST THU SEP 11 2003 ...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISABEL NOW AT CATEGORY FIVE INTENSITY... SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT HURRICANE ISABEL HAS CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN...AND HAS REACHED CATEGORY FIVE INTENSITY ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE. ISABEL IS THE FIRST CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN SINCE MITCH OF 1998. AT 5 PM AST...2100Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ISABEL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.6 NORTH... LONGITUDE 55.3 WEST OR ABOUT 500 MILES...805 KM...EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLAND. ISABEL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 9 MPH...15 KM/HR...AND THIS...

Click here, select visible image, and animate the loop. The track could take it from S. Florida to the Carolinas. Regardless where it goes, it will be a monster storm.

HURRICANE ISABEL DISCUSSION NUMBER 20 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 11 PM EDT WED SEP 10 2003 SATELLITE INTENSITY ESTIMATES ARE A CONSENSUS T6.5...127 KT...AND SO THE ADVISORY INTENSITY IS INCREASED TO 125 KT. THE MOST RECENT 3-HR AVERAGE OBJECTIVE DVORAK INTENSITY ESTIMATE WAS JUST BELOW 130 KT. ALTHOUGH THERE IS CURRENTLY NO UPPER-LEVEL OUTFLOW TO THE NORTH... THERE ARE TWO VERY EFFICIENT OUTFLOW CHANNELS OPERATING TO THE WEST AND EAST OF THE HURRICANE. ISABEL IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A MAJOR HURRICANE THROUGHOUT THE FORECAST PERIOD. WIND RADII HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY INWARD BASED ON A RECENT QUIKSCAT PASS....

BULLETIN HURRICANE ISABEL ADVISORY NUMBER 12 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 11 PM AST MON SEP 08 2003 ...ISABEL NOW A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE... AT 11 PM AST...0300Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ISABEL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.5 NORTH... LONGITUDE 44.5 WEST OR ABOUT 1135 MILES...1825 KM...EAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS. ISABEL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH ...20 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED AND ARE NOW NEAR 135 MPH...215 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THIS MAKES ISABEL A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON...

MIAMI -- Isabel strengthened from a tropical storm into the fourth Atlantic hurricane of the season today, but forecasters said it was still several days from reaching land. Hurricane Fabian, meanwhile, was losing strength but gaining speed in the northern Atlantic, two days after plowing through Bermuda. Forecasters said the other major Atlantic storm, the tropical depression that passed over Florida Saturday, could strengthen back into Tropical Storm Henri. At 10 a.m. CDT, Isabel had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, just above the 74 mph threshold for a hurricane. The storm was 1,610 miles east of the Leeward Islands...