http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/society-chat/ en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:40:24 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2418262/posts A correction officer at a Long Island jail was busted for having his own harem of female inmates that he extorted sex from, authorities said. Nassau DA Kathleen Rice said Correction Officer Mark Barber, 47, of Levittown, was charged with 58 crimes -- including rape and sex ual abuse. The chubby, bald Barber faces a maxi mum sentence of up to 16 years behind bars if con victed on all counts of sexually abusing six inmates "in various places throughout the facility" -- three of whom he had intercourse with, said Rice. New York Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2418262/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:40:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2418097/posts Vanity http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2418097/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:44:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2418033/posts According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, College of Education officials recently established the “Race, Culture, Class and Gender Task Group.” It’s charged with helping to devise a new system for training prospective K-12 teachers, because current teachers lack “cultural competence,” a factor officials believe contributes to the poor performance of minority students. The task force “recommended that aspiring teachers must repudiate the notion of the ‘American Dream’ and instead “must embrace – and be prepared to teach our state’s kids – the task force’s own vision of America as an oppressive hellhole: racist, sexist and homophobic,” according to writer Katherine... biggovernment.com/ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2418033/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:40:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417888/posts Here is video about a "Christmas Miracle" mother and baby who officials say "died" during labor. The doctors performed an emergency C-section when she went into cardiac arrest and immediately after delivering the baby, the mother's pulse returned. She had no hearbeat for four minutes. The baby was initially limp and lifeless when delivered, but doctors worked on the baby boy, and he "came to life" in his dad's arms. All are now doing well. Doctors have no explanation for what happened: Believers would call it a Christmas miracle: A mother dies in labor on Christmas Eve. Her child is... Freedom's Lighthouse http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417888/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:02:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417793/posts When the new year rolls around, the US population will be 308,400,408, give or take a Gosselin. The Census Bureau released the projection today, noting a jump of 2.6 million, or about 1%, over last year. The population is growing by 1 person every 14 seconds—that's 1 birth every 8 seconds, 1 death every 12 seconds, and one new immigrant every 37 seconds, reports Bloomberg Newser http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417793/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:44:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417759/posts “A charismatic leader can seize the opportunity and project himself as an agent of change and a revolutionary leader. Often, people, tired of the status quo, do not have the patience to examine the nature of the proposed change. All they want is change. “During 1979, when the Iranians were tired of the dictatorial regime of the late Shah, they embraced Khomeini, not because they wanted Islam, but because he promised them change. The word in the street was, ‘anything is better than the Shah.’ They found their error when it was too late.” Townhall http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417759/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:50:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417727/posts Conservatism (Latin: conservare, to "save" or "preserve")[1] is a political attitude and philosophy that advocates institutions and traditional practices that have developed organically,[2][3] thus emphasizing stability and continuity.[3] The first established use of the term in a political context was by François-René de Chateaubriand in 1819, following the French Revolution.[4] The term has since been used to describe a variety of politicians with a wide range of views. In Western politics, the term conservatism often refers to the school of thought based on British politician Edmund Burke's criticism of the French Revolution. Though his legacy as a conservative is disputed,... wikipedia http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417727/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:57:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417688/posts Remember these headlines in the Sentinel from three years ago? " FBI: Murder rate soars in Orlando." "Armed robberies shatter calm." They make headlines such as these from recent weeks all the more striking. "Odd recession perk: Crime actually falls." "FBI: Orlando violent crime drops 30%." Crime is down in most cities across the nation this year, despite the job loss and other hardships created by the recession. New York, the nation's largest city, is headed for its lowest murder count since 1962. Theories behind the crime drop include better security measures, stiffer sentencing and an aging population. But it... Orlando Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417688/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:14:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417613/posts SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INCOME Allow me to ask the above-mentioned skeptics whether they would hire me after learning during their search process that I was hospitalized seven times for bipolar disorder, lost numerous jobs because of agitated manic-depressive episodes, and was expelled from law school on the very day that the Dean learned that I have bipolar disorder. To those who say that I should get off my dead behind, get a job, and go to work, I say, “Hire me. I dare ya!” I had bipolar disorder prior to the day in 1976 when I started a summer job... Fantastic Book Reviews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417613/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:41:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417548/posts The Freshman Class Council has run into controversy with its T-shirts for The Game. The FCC has decided to change the design of its shirts after the original design, which was submitted by students and voted on by the freshman class, sparked outcry from members within the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. The original design, which won out over five other entries, displayed an F. Scott Fitzgerald quote in the front — “I think of all Harvard men as sissies” — in bold white letters. The back of the long-sleeved, navy blue T-shirt said “WE AGREE” in capital letters,... Yale Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417548/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:42:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417418/posts I got into an argument the other day with someone who was a liberal multiculturalist, they were telling me that the spread of Islam in Europe was just part of the evolution of Europe and that it should be embraced. I was appalled, then I thought for a second what it means to be a believer Multiculturalism. Usually the image that first strikes in my mind is of some white liberal banging on some prayer circle drum singing kumbaya to a bunch of dimwitted followers while prattling on that we must accept and embrace any behavior from anyone else as... From the Mind of GraceG http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417418/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:24:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417375/posts In 1988, the film “Rain Man,” about an autistic savant played by Dustin Hoffman, shed a humane light on the travails of autism while revealing the extraordinary powers of memory that a small number of otherwise mentally disabled people possess, ostensibly as a side effect of their disability. The film won four Oscars, including best picture, best actor and, for Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass, best original screenplay. But it never would have been made if Mr. Morrow had not had a chance meeting with Kim Peek, who inspired him to write the film. New York Time http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417375/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:51:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417306/posts MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — Authorities say they confiscated a teddy bear at a Southern California toy store that was stuffed with marijuana. The owner of Toy Town said Monday that he got the package last week, opened it up and found a 2-foot-tall blue teddy bear that felt "hard and crinkly." The bear turned out to be stuffed with three large, vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana. Owner Joshua Vecchione says he called Orange County sheriff's officials. The package was addressed to someone in Colorado and mailed from Thousand Oaks with the toy store, in Ladera Ranch, as the return address. Grand Junction Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417306/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:39:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417300/posts Interesting changes in Denver. Self http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417300/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:30:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417246/posts Charlie Sheen's wife told police the actor pinned her on a bed, put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her in a Christmas Day fight in Aspen that began when she said she wanted a divorce.Charlie Sheen told police he "became very upset with this threat (of divorce) because of prior experiences." He went through a bitter divorce and custody battle with his previous wife, actress Denise Richards.Police say Charlie Sheen surrendered a folding knife with a 4-inch blade. Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417246/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:14:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417224/posts Note: The following text is a quote: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-original-classification-authority Home • Briefing Room • Presidential Actions • Executive Orders The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release December 29, 2009 Executive Order - Original Classification Authority Pursuant to the provisions of section 1.3 of the Executive Order issued today, entitled "Classified National Security Information" (Executive Order), I hereby designate the following officials to classify information originally as "Top Secret" or "Secret": TOP SECRET Executive Office of the President: The Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (National Security... WHITEHOUSE.gov http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417224/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:35:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417217/posts PICTURE GALLERY: Car Show Models These Girls Make A Living Posing In Front Of The World's Hottest Cars [Pics in URL] LATimes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417217/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:14:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417207/posts Excerpts: JANUARY...The No. 1 item on the agenda is fixing the economy, so the new administration immediately sets about the daunting task of trying to nominate somebody -- anybody -- to a high-level government post who actually remembered to pay his or her taxes. Among those who forgot this pesky chore is Obama's nominee for Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, who sheepishly admits that he failed to pay $35,000 in federal self-employment taxes. He says that the error was a result of his using TurboTax, which he also blames for his involvement in an eight-state spree of bank robberies. He is... Miami Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417207/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:01:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417188/posts The New York Daily News has posted a story on the "Twenty Most Viral Videos of the Decade." They have a poll where you can vote on which of the twenty is your favorite. These are all videos that went "viral" at some point during this decade. Here are four of the twenty that are listed - "The Grape Lady," "Keyboard Cat," "Miss Teen South Carolina," and "Howard Dean's Scream" . . . (VIDEOS) Freedom's Lighthouse http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417188/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:30:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417164/posts DAYTON — A man without legs threatened another man, telling him he would “throw a bomb through your window” on Monday, Dec. 28, according to Dayton Police. The 46-year-old man told police that the legless man drove into his yard in a Jeep Grand Cherokee at about 1 p.m. and said, “Where is my money? If you don’t have my money, I will throw a bomb through your window.” The man making the threat operated the vehicle’s foot pedals with sticks or some other apparatus, according to a Dayton police report. Dayton Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417164/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:01:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417148/posts HELSINKI (Reuters) - The world's top mobile phone maker Nokia launched a new patent broadside against Apple, escalating a battle for control of the smartphone market that has already led to a flurry of lawsuits. Nokia filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Tuesday alleging that Apple infringes Nokia patents in "virtually all of its mobile phones, portable music players, and computers" sold. The seven patents at issue relate to Nokia technology being used by Apple to create features in user interface, camera, antenna and power management technologies, it said in a statement. A Nokia spokesman... yahoo tech news http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417148/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:39:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417089/posts > The list of powerful individuals whose marital transgressions came out this year includes Tiger Woods, David Letterman, former senator John Edwards and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. > "People don't necessarily practice what they preach," said Lawrence Josephs, a clinical psychologist at Adelphi University in New York. "It's not clear to what extent people's ethical values are actually running what they do or don't do." > Live Science http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417089/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:56:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417085/posts The recent events have brought some questions. The shooting at Ft. Hood, the failed Christmas Day attack, the disruptive passenger on the same flight a day later. At least two (Ft.Hood and the Christmas flight) have ties to the Yemen operative base of Al Qaeda. Both are tied to a former US Islamic preacher Anwar al-Awlaki. It seems as if Yemen is the new Afghanistan as far as extremist assaults on the US. They started with the USS Cole. Huntington Political Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417085/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:44:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417002/posts There is increased evidence that the Arctic could face seasonally ice-free conditions and much warmer temperatures in the future. Scientists documented evidence that the Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas were too warm to support summer sea ice during the mid-Pliocene warm period (3.3 to 3 million years ago). This period is characterized by warm temperatures similar to those projected for the end of this century, and is used as an analog to understand future conditions. The U.S. Geological Survey found that summer sea-surface temperatures in the Arctic were between 10 to 18°C (50 to 64°F) during the mid-Pliocene, while current... U.S. Geological Survey http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2417002/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:37:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2416976/posts Here is a video report on news that China has executed a British citizen for "Drug Smuggling," despite pleas from the British Government and his family to spare his life. Akmal Shaikh was arrested and charged with possessing heroin in 2007. Shaikh's family said he was mentally ill, and appealed to the Chinese to not execute him. The Chinese ambassador Fu Ying has been summoned to the Foreign Office amid a growing row between the UK and China over the execution of a British man. Akmal Shaikh, 53, a father-of-three from London, was executed in China after being convicted of... Freedom's Lighthouse http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2416976/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:52:28 GMT