Free Republic

Dear (Technoman): Thank you for contacting me about gas prices and offshore drilling, issues that have polarized public opinion in recent months. The high cost of gas has become a major burden for families across the country, but we're seeing two very different ideas for how to address this problem. Republicans, led by a few hearty voices in the House of Representatives, are suggesting that the only solution to this problem is to plant as many oil rigs off our coastline as possible, no matter the consequences. Democrats are countering that while we must harness our national resources, we gain...

Call Congress back to have an up-or-down vote on a comprehensive energy bill which includes expanded drilling for oil. There is a petition here: http://www.callbackcongress.com/

CARMEL, N.Y. --A 72-year-old man feared for his life after his dog overturned his small boat - but the springer spaniel made up for it by swimming 400 yards to shore to fetch help. Al Lotrecchiano was fishing on Lake Gilead on Wednesday and had just caught what he said was the largest bass in his life. As he was throwing the fish back in the water, the dog put its paw on the side of the boat, flipping it over. "My life flashed before me," Lotrecchiano recalled Thursday. Lotrecchiano started swimming to shore but, figuring he'd never make it,...

Jim Marshall vote’s for it after he votes against itTakes the lesson out of John Kerry’s Election Playbook(Warner Robins, GA)- Jim Marshall was recently ranked the 407th least effective member of Congress by Knowlegis, a government relations information management company, which surveyed all U.S. Senators and Congressman and ranked them in accordance with how effective they are in advancing a particular agenda. Yesterday, Jim Marshall demonstrated why he deserves one of the lowest rankings in the House of Representatives. The Timeline:May 18th 2006 – Jim Marshall votes against the Poe of Texas Amendments which would have allowed for environmentally friendly...

Mysterious Fish 'Party' Near N.C. Shore By The Associated Press posted: 27 February 2006 11:38 am ET JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP)—State and local wildlife experts are trying to figure out what led more than a thousand flounder, spot and pin fish to beach themselves at the Marine Corps' New River air base—and then swim away. They believe it may be related to a popular phenomenon known in coastal Alabama as "jubilee.''The fish surfaced in shallow water Friday morning. They were lethargic, but alive. "It's kind of strange,'' said Mike Sanderford, New River Riverkeeper. "It's a bunch of fish up here, but...

Two California entrepreneurs are developing an IT services business plan that reads like a CIO's paradise: sharply lower IT prices coupled with easy access to software and engineering outsourcing developers just a short boat ride away. It's the "Code Boat," a plan by David Cook and Roger Green, the founders of SeaCode. Their venture calls for staffing a cruise ship three miles off the Southern California coast with customer IT specialists and then making the ship available to IT headquarters staffers through a short water taxi ride. "We're getting a good reception," said Green, a veteran software developer and executive....

North Shore Businesses Singing DNC Blues 18 minutes ago WCVB TheBostonChannel.com There have been plenty of complaints from Boston companies about the hassles created by the Democratic National Convention, and the business blues seem to be spreading. NewsCenter 5's Kelley Tuthill reported that North Shore companies anticipating a mini-boom in late July are now looking at a bust. Paul Pasquale's banquet hall may be located in Lawrence, but he said he lost a lucrative conference because of the DNC. "She said they canceled because they didn't want to be in Boston in the month of July," he said. There's no...

IT'S almost unheard of at the Jersey Shore: a beach with free parking and no beach tags. But now, thanks to a decision by state officials, this summer's visitors to Cape May Point State Park will find those perks come with a major catch - no swimming. The ban was already being flouted this week by swimmers who promised that, like the early heat wave, their defiance was just a preview of things to come. "It's unfair," said a disgusted Joanie Kane of Lower Township, Cape May County, as she headed for the surf to keep an eye on her...