Free Republic

The federal government will no longer forgive student loans in exchange for public service if that service is related to religion, according to a new Education Department rule from the Obama administration. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program announced the change Jan. 31 with little fanfare, while most of Washington was focused on the new ObamaCare rule requiring religious organizations to provide free birth control through health insurance. “Generally, the type or nature of employment with the organization does not matter for PSLF purposes,” reads the new language. “However, if you work for a nonprofit organization, your employment will...

Anyone else experience this? It's just on Free Republic only.

NewSpring Church, a five campus megachurch in Anderson, S.C., is canceling its Sunday night services due to the Super Bowl this weekend. Lead Pastor Perry Noble explained the reason in his blog. "I've been in church work for over 20 years and the one thing I can say is that attendance on Super Bowl Sunday night in church has always been awful! (and…the people who are there are pretending to be looking at youversion on their phone…but they are really checking the score of the game!)," he wrote. Noble said the church has always tried to compete with the Super...

< snip > ..... If Republicans have an opening this year, it is with the white working class, a crowd the Democratic Party has been hemorrhaging for decades. Barack Obama did better than John Kerry or Al Gore with these voters, though even he earned just 43% of their vote. ..... < snip > ..... The white working class will make up as much as 55% of the vote in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania. ..... < snip > ..... And so at the heart of the Santorum agenda are policies designed to give special handouts to the working class,...

The head of the National Park Service defended his decision to let Occupy protesters camp out in a park in the middle of Washington, D.C., though he said Tuesday the group will be given one last warning before being evicted. NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis testified to the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on the District of Columbia that protests are a right under the First Amendment, although he acknowledged that some homeless people "have taken advantage of the situation." He added that this is not the first time the Park Service has allowed protesters to remain for weeks at...

The Secret Service says it is looking into a recent op-ed from an Atlanta publisher that floated the idea of green-lighting Israeli Mossad agents to assassinate President Obama in order to improve Israel's security against enemies like Iran. The publisher and author, Andrew Adler, reportedly has apologized. But Jewish advocacy groups condemned his comments as "outrageous," and Secret Service spokesman George Ogilvie said the agency is "aware" of the incident. "We're conducting the appropriate investigative steps," he told FoxNews.com. Ogilvie would not comment on whether Adler has been contacted or whether his column was deemed a potential threat to the...

“You can’t tell me that America is not exceptional. You can't tell me that because I've seen it” "Rick Perry has always remained faithful." -- First Lieutenant Daniel P. Moran [6:45] Medal recipients tell of their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their fellow heroes -- and why they support Rick Perry. Even if you don't support Gov. Perry, please watch these men and hear their words.

Medal of Honor recipient and former Marine Dakota Meyer has signed on as a co-chairman of Veterans for Perry, a group throwing its support behind Texas Gov. Rick Perry in his run for president. "As the only presidential candidate who volunteered to serve his country, the way that I did, I am confident that Gov. Perry will be an advocate for veterans like myself as president of the United States," Meyer said in a statement released by the Perry campaign Thursday. Perry was an Air Force C-130 Hercules pilot from 1972 to 1977. Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor...

(Reuters) - Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords served a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday to Air Force personnel in her first constituent event since she was shot in the head in January, her office said. Giffords dished out turkey with tongs as she stood between Brigadier General Jon Norman and her husband Mark Kelly, said Giffords' spokesman Mark Kimble. The event at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base was expected to draw more than 400 people, mostly U.S. Air Force personnel, retired service members and their families. Giffords was shot on January 8 at an event for constituents at a Tucson supermarket. College dropout Jared...

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The ISM non-manufacturing index inched lower to 52.9% from 53.0% in September. The decrease was unexpected. Economists were looking the index to increase to 53.5%.

He doesn’t think it’s too much to ask of a job seeker. A resume, a statement of salary expectations and a single written paragraph that answers a question like, “What do you believe a good customer service representative’s attitude should be?” (snip) Stories are legion of inept or half-hearted applicants who submit resumes marred by misspellings, show up at interviews dressed for a beach party, make inappropriate jokes, fail to learn basic details about the job and company in question, and otherwise leave hiring managers aghast. (snip) “Who the hell is going to hire these people?” asks Heinemeier Hansson. “Who...

It is 13 months from our next Presidential election. Obama received Secret Service protection 18 months before the election. Herman Cain needs Secret Service protection now.

First lady Michelle Obama made a rare trip to Secret Service headquarters Wednesday, where she glimpsed the intricate work that goes into protecting her family — and the potential danger of that mission. After an hourlong tour of the agency’s protective intelligence division and the joint operations center, Obama called the daily tasks performed by the Secret Service “pretty scary.”

Link only - OnStar Tracks Your Car Even When You Cancel Service

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a McDonald’s manager who punched a customer in the face for bringing a service dog into the restaurant.

August 19, 2011 Funeral in Greenville today for fallen firefighter By BRAD KELLAR CNHI GREENVILLE — Hundreds of firefighters are expected to be in Greenville today, to pay their respects to a fallen comrade. Hundreds more people are expected to line the route of the funeral procession for Lt. Todd Krodle of Caddo Mills. Krodle, who’d served with the Dallas Fire Department since September 1993, died Sunday afternoon while fighting an apartment complex blaze. The cemetery itself has been adorned with special ribbons in honor of the fallen hero. Krodle’s funeral will be conducted at Highland Terrace Baptist Church, 3939...

After a delay of more than two days, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has "decided to follow the law" and release the names, ranks, hometowns and units of those killed in the Aug. 6 Chinook helicopter crash in Afghanistan, Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said Wednesday. The names will be released in the next 24 hours. Panetta "never intended not to release the names," Lapan said, explaining that a delay in their release was the result of a request from military commanders in the Special Operations community who wanted to review the policy of releasing names "because of possible (security) implications

A year ago, I had an unpleasant experience at a shipping store. Last week, the unpleasant experience repeated itself. I, many times a year, ago to a shipping store and have had great customer service, and enthusiastic help from every employee. Over a year’s time, I may spend four to six hundred with these people. A year ago, when I was ten or twelve miles away from the great shipping store, I tried another shipping store with the same name. I needed four copies of one document and two of another. First, the price of each copy was almost 25%...

The U.S. Secret Service does more than protect Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. — the agency also pays him rent. Since April, Mr. Biden has collected more than $13,000 from the agency charged with protecting him and his family, for use of a rental cottage adjacent to the waterfront home he owns in a Wilmington, Del., neighborhood. Mr. Biden, listed not as vice president in federal purchasing documents but as “vendor,” is eligible for up to $66,000 by the time the government contract expires in the fall of 2013, the records show. Officials say the arrangement came about when...

A Marietta McDonald's manager is accused of punching a mother who brought a service dog and autistic children into the restaurant. A Cobb County warrant charges Tiffany Denise Allen with simple battery, simple assault fear and disorderly conduct. According to the warrant, Jennifer Schwenker entered the Marietta McDonald's located at 1291 Bells Ferry Road with her children and service dog on July 12. Allen, off-duty at the time, became irate that the dog was in the restaurant, the warrant says. Schwenker explained to Allen the dog's purpose and told the manager the dog was legally allowed to be inside the...

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22)

Rank: Retired as a captain Hometown: Haskell Crew job: C-130 aircraft commander Served in the Air Force: 1972 to 1977 Dyess AFB tour: March 4, 1974, to Feb. 28, 1977 His story: Way back before he was governor of Texas, Rick Perry had two choices as a young member of the Air Force. He could either follow his dream and work toward becoming an instructor pilot in the sleek T-38, or he could fly the hulking C-130, planes that affectionately were referred to as "trash haulers" by Perry and his cohorts. "It was one of the great adventures of my...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEwEZJXYcLg&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL A video by a friend of mine. Warning: contains language.;

Media blackout: CIA director accused of links to Communist spy contact -- scandal ignored Wes Vernon June 13, 2011 If you have been depending on the mainstream media for your news the past few days, you are probably learning here for the first time that CIA Director Leon Panetta has been called out for his links to an important open member of the Communist Party. Some background When this writer first arrived in Washington, D.C., as a reporter in 1968, one of my assignments was to cover the congressional delegation from Washington State. Occasionally, both Democrat and Republican members of...

NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Boo and Riley are more than affectionate, protective family pets. To their owners, the specially trained dogs are a furry layer of security to sniff out peanut products and other life-threatening allergens. ... "Our goal is for the dog to be with her everywhere she goes," Gianna's mother said. "I don't expect people to change their world for us, but I do expect them to allow us to protect our child in the way we need to."

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- A stock sell-off gained momentum Wednesday after a report showed a sharp drop in U.S. manufacturing activity and exacerbated growing fears of a slowing economic recovery. The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) fell 136 points, or 1.1%, with all but one of the blue chip index's 30 components lagging. Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500), Caterpillar (CAT, Fortune 500) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500) were the worst performing stocks on the blue-chip index. The S&P 500 (SPX) shed 14 points, or 1%, and the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) slid 23 points, or 0.8%. Stocks were under...

A spokesman for the Secret Service said it’s not out of the ordinary for agents to “monitor” Fox News — or any other news organization. An employee of the Secret Service on Wednesday accidentally Tweeted on the agency’s Twitter account a complaint about having to “monitor Fox for a story” and not being able to deal with the network’s “blathering.” The Tweet was promptly removed and the Secret Service offered an apology, blaming it on someone who thought he or she was posting to a personal account. But why was the law enforcement agency that provides protection to the president...

On the 6th of this month I sent my 7 or 8 year old GPS72 to the Garmin service center in Kansas. It had been a reliable tool but was showing signs of failure and died on a recent trip to Fort Benning, Georgia.I got it back today, looks and works like new again and it only cost me about 70 bucks including UPS to Garmin.I know I could have bought a new one but I like the old beast just fine.

"Thousands gathered to remember their pastor, spiritual father, counselor and friend, Rev. David Wilkerson, during a memorial service at his Times Square Church in New York City, Saturday. The May 14 service marked a candid event for all to remember the man who had impacted so many lives. Pastor Carter Conlon, leader of Times Square Church, described Wilkerson as a "dear friend" who loved doing the work of God." For those who may have missed watching the memorial service live-streamed yesterday, here is a link to video of it at Times Square Church site: http://www.tscnyc.org/david-wilkerson-memorial-service.php

Just curious, but does anyone know what the ratio of Obama's attendance to Church is to the number of golf games he's played since becoming President?

Just heard a promo on Fox that O'reilly will investigate whether Obama deep sixed his college and selective service records. The show airs tonight, April 12th. Well whada ya know....

Global Economy? 23 Facts Which Prove That Globalism Is Pushing The Standard Of Living Of The Middle Class Down To Third World Levels From now on, whenever you hear the term "the global economy" you should immediately equate it with the destruction of the U.S. middle class. Over the past several decades, the American economy has been slowly but surely merged into the emerging one world economic system. Unfortunately for the middle class, much of the rest of the world does not have the same minimum wage laws and worker protections that we do. Therefore, the massive global corporations that...

I think one of the least utilized assets in all of America is the Clergy, how can you have a pool of College Educated, or Scripturally Wise men and granted, some Women, and shuttle them off to the side as if the knowledge accumulated is akin to those whom are expert at variations of color of sea snails? I also do believe in the concept of "whomsoever" as in a Sheepskin does not a wise man make, in that sense Christians who have served in Congregations worthily should also be included. A roll call perhaps? To the topic, even Lay...

JPMorgan Chase on Tuesday announced new programs geared toward military customers and veterans, and apologized for overcharging thousands of active-duty service members on mortgages and improperly foreclosing on more than a dozen. The steps include a program making certain military personnel eligible for reduced-rate mortgages; enhancing a mortgage modification program for personnel who are having trouble making payments; and a pledge not to foreclose on any active personnel while they're deployed. JPMorgan Chase [JPM Loading... () ] Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon said those programs and other initiatives "are a start, but in no way a finish" to the bank's...

The Presidential Protective Detail is the holiest of holies. Everything stops for the presidential motorcade . . . The prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was not so understanding. His motorcade was arriving at the Sheraton Hotel while a “POTUS Freeze” was in place. The Secret Service agent in charge of Erdogan’s detail asked him to wait until Obama’s motorcade had departed, but the Turkish prime minister did not heed the advice. He opened the door to his car, and armed Turkish agents began exiting the other vehicles in the motorcade. “Don’t do that!” the American detail leader shouted....

What observers took to be a gaffe was vigorously defended by Obama adviser Valerie Jarret. At a dinner hosted by the Alfalfa Club, Jarret asked a passing uniformed general to “bring me another glass of wine.” “They’re called ‘service men’ for Pete’s sake,” Jarret argued. “I’m a high-ranking advisor to their Commander-in-Chief. If I ask for something I should be served. It’s not like I’m asking them to take a bullet for me, although I believe it would be their duty to honor such a request.” read more... http://azconserv1.wordpress.com/2011/02/05/senator-urges-president-to-ignore-court-ruling/

U.S. Postal Service to close 2,000 post officesBy Dow Jones Newswires-Wall Street Journal Posted today at 7:13 a.m. With red ink showing no sign of stopping, the U.S. Postal Service is hoping to ramp up a cost-cutting program that is already eliciting yelps of pain around the country. Beginning in March, the agency will start the process of closing as many as 2,000 post offices, on top of the 491 it said it would close starting at the end of last year. In addition, it is reviewing another 16,000 — half of the nation’s existing post offices — that are...

Everyone’s concept of the perfect day is different. My perfect day would likely involve a whole lot of fish, hiking, sports, good food, a campfire, and board games. The surroundings would be a few select friends, the ocean, and the mountains. It would be warm enough not to need a sweater, but cool enough to be completely comfortable! That is the kind of day which should not end. Let the sun just sit on the horizon and never go down. The truth of the matter is the sun does go down each day. It will continue doing so until God...

That slide above is no joke -- it comes from a marketing webinar put on by two companies that count Verizon, AT&T and Vodafone as clients, and it describes a system that identifies customer internet activity and charges a different rate for using Facebook than watching YouTube, while allowing access to Vodafone services for free. Yes, that's basically the nightmare scenario for net neutrality advocates. The two companies behind the slide are Allot Communications and Openet, which sell subscriber-management tools to carriers around the world -- tools that Allot's director of marketing says can scan even encrypted packets to determine...

An Archdiocese Spanning the Globe December 10th, 2010 by George WeigelAsked to name the most populous American dioceses, alert Catholics would likely name Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. I rather doubt that most of us would rank Brooklyn (the country’s only completely urban diocese) as high on the league table as it in fact is, and I’m willing to wager that not 1 in 20 Catholics would put Rockville Centre (New York) and Orange (California) in the top 10. Then there is the real sleeper, which is the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA—a global jurisdiction whose congregants include...

Just got my mail and it was junk mail from the Postal Service advertising for their flat rate mailers. It's so sad to see the once great U. S. Post Office reduced to this.

Cong. Jim Moran of Virginia says that his opponent has no "public service", but opponent (Col. Patrick Murray - US Army-Ret.) served in military for 24 years!

In 2009, 146,365 members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul served 14,582,339 people. They gave 7,659,373 hours of service to their friends, the Poor.Members made 644,000 home visits, plus more than 910,000 visits to prisons, hospitals, elderly, and to others in need.The Society obtained jobs for more than 8,000 people, gave travelers aid to 83,000, and provided referrals for 382,000 people.Expenditures in service to the Poor totaled $329,447,590. In kind value of food, clothing and furniture totaled an estimated $80 million. The total value of Vincentian services across the USA is more than half a billion dollars....

<p>WELLESLEY — Wellesley’s school superintendent apologized today for allowing middle school students to participate in a prayer service during a field trip to a Roxbury mosque last spring. The apology to parents came after a group critical of the Islamic Society of Boston Community Center — New England’s largest mosque and Muslim cultural center — released a 10-minute long video featuring footage of Wellesley students bowing their heads during a prayer service.</p>

I am looking for recipes for a good cookout meat this Saturday. Anyone?

Why Systems Crumple? by Ari Bussel We were going out to dinner in Tel Aviv, where there are thousands of restaurants catering to every taste and pocketbook. Living the moment has its benefits – midweek, eleven o’clock at night and all the restaurants are full. But the story is not about the economic success of Israel, nor is it about the culinary experience that was quite enticing. Rather, it is about the failure of attention to details, and people who simply do not care and do not take pride in their work and their word. Israel has excelled in promises,...

No birthday cake for Obama as Secret Service steps inAugust 5, 2010, 1:29pm WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama said Wednesday his security staff put the kibosh on a birthday cake that was to be offered by union leaders for his 49th birthday. Obama, who spoke at an AFL-CIO labor federation meeting in Washington, said that "it's good to spend my birthday with some good friends," but that "the Secret Service nixed the cake." AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka had offered the US head of state birthday wishes and said the powerful labor group wanted to provide a cake for...

Heard an interview author gave about the SS views on past presidents..Most liked Ronaldo Magnus, because he treated them with respect.worst--the Peanut Man because he treated them like hired help, the red-headed step-child.One example was that Jimma would appear to be carrying his own luggage but it was empty, only did it for publicity. When the camera's were off, he made them carry the real heavy ones.

“Those who want slavery should have the grace to name it by its proper name. They must face the full meaning of that which they are advocating or condoning; the full, exact, specific meaning of collectivism, of its logical implications, of the principles upon which it is based, and of the ultimate consequences to which these principles will lead.” - Ayn Rand, “Anthem” As of last week, Charles Rangel, D-New York, has introduced a bill, H.R. 5741, the “Universal National Service Act,” into Congress - and the provisions and implications of this bill are drastic and far-reaching indeed: “To require...