Free Republic

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.;