Free Republic

Looking over the edge of the Grand Canyon. Check. Seeing the iconic park by foot? That might have to wait. Alan and Leana Platt spent six months planning their three-day trip to the Grand Canyon. But they will have to settle for seeing it from a helicopter — instead of on foot or in a Jeep — if lawmakers fail to reach an agreement on the federal budget by Tuesday and park workers are temporarily furloughed. "If people have gone to great lengths to come to the gate, there's a lot of cost in planning," said Alan Platt, of Pretoria,...

WELCOME RACE FANS Welcome to the offseason withdrawal thread which is here for everyone to post racing news during the time between Nov 19, 2007 and Feb 9, 2008 when The Budweiser Shootout begins the new season. As always this thread is dedicated to our military men and women serving our country. A big thank you to all of them. Hugs and prayers to those who have been wounded and are recuperating at Walter Reed, Bethesda and Brooke Army Med Center. And, to those combat field medics who care for them - THANK YOU!!

There are some who walk it like they talk it. Eric Mangini and Scott Pioli are presented a chance to chase the dough. Both pass. Just like so many of the three-time Super Bowl champion Patriots players are asked to do when they come to New England, these two key components of the New England success are taking less to stay. Yesterday, Mangini accepted the Patriots' defensive coordinator position after being lured by Nick Saban in Miami and Romeo Crennel in Cleveland. Both places offered Mangini more money to leave. He will stay. The Patriots, meanwhile, reportedly gave the Seattle...