Free Republic

Asked his definition of "rich," McCain tossed off "$5 million," then seemed to recognize comments he had tossed off in the past that had come back to him in ads by the opposition. "I'm sure that comment will be distorted," McCain said. "The point is we want to keep people's taxes low. ... I don't want to raised anybody's taxes." McCain, who in the past has rarely talked about his captivity during the Vietnam War after he crashed as a Navy aviator, spoke of the mistreatment by guards — and of the guard he showed his faith by tracing a...

This is a short video of an animated morning dove standing on a branch and it's coo.

Earth gives off a relentless hum of countless notes completely imperceptible to the human ear, like a giant, exceptionally quiet symphony, but the origin of this sound remains a mystery. Now unexpected powerful tunes have been discovered in this hum. These new findings could shed light on the source of this enigma. The planet emanates a constant rumble far below the limits of human hearing, even when the ground isn't shaking from an earthquake. (It does not cause the ringing in the ear linked with tinnitus.) This sound, first discovered a decade ago, is one that only scientific instruments -...

The Sci Fi Sounds Quiz: Identify sounds from science fiction movies and TV. How much of a Sci-Fi geek are you?

CONWAY, N.H. - John Edwards tried to shore up his New Hampshire support Wednesday with promises of fighting the establishment, changing Washington — and even speaking with a Southern accent. The former North Carolina senator, on a 300-mile, one-day campaign tour through New Hampshire, stuck to populist themes for what he hopes will be an Edwards presidency. "You'd better choose someone as your candidate who's ready for this battle. Nice words will not change anything," Edwards said in this northern New England town. He also cited his small-town, Southern roots as an asset. "The last two Democratic presidents, Bill Clinton...

Sounds from outer space are weird, if not downright spooky. Be ready for a goosebump or two as you feast your ears on some of the greatest sounds gathered during the exploration of the Saturnian system. To play the sounds and for more information about them, click on the links below.

China bans "sexual sounds" on airwavesWed Sep 26, 2007 11:31am EDT BEIJING (Reuters) - China has banned "sexually provocative sounds" on television and pulled the plug on a show reconstructing infamous crimes by women ahead of a major Communist Party meeting next month. The order, issued by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, is the latest in a raft of measures which have included axing reality shows featuring sex changes and plastic surgery and banning talent contests during prime-time. "Sexually suggestive advertisements and scenes showing how women are influenced into a life of crime are detrimental to society,"...

Child actress Dakota Fanning is set to shock fans in new movie 'Hounddog.' The film features Dakota semi-nude in child rape scenes. The controversial film written and directed by Deborah Kampmeier is a dark and violent story set in American's rural south and the 12-year-old's mother and agent are convinced her gritty performance is Oscar-worthy. Agent Joy Osbrink was quoted in the New York Daily News, "It's not just the rape scene the whole story is challenging Dakota as an actress. And I've never been so proud of her in my life. I've seen the dailies, and in every scene...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-- (March 10, 2006) -- More than 65 percent of the approximate 27,000 Marines who deployed with II Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of the Global War on Terrorism, have completed the redeployment process. As Marines return to their families and loved ones, so does their mail. Care packages intended for use in the Iraqi deserts have been routed back to the rear in anticipation of the recipient’s relocation. “Our mail room in H-24 is about to blow up,” said II Marine Headquarters Group company first sergeant, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Kapla. “It’s important that every...

'Survey' sounds like an act of desperation Jack Markowitz FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW Thursday, June 2, 2005 Here, in the mail, comes an invitation -- but not to clear economic thinking. To class envy, maybe. Or even to the old Marxist cry of class struggle. "Protecting Social Security retirement benefits promised to America's seniors is more important than keeping the tax cuts promised to America's wealthiest. Agree? Disagree? Not sure?" That purports to be a survey question. Democrats are receiving it all across the land. But what do tax cuts have to do with Social Security? **SNIP** President Bush has a...

<p>Back in the prehistoric 1970s, one of life's little pleasures was the ability to slam down a telephone on annoying callers. Now, thanks to the rise of cordless phones, the best you can do is fiercely poke the off button — or, if money is no object, throw the receiver into a wall.</p>

<p>The sound of fingernails scraping a dusty chalkboard makes a listener immediately squirm and cover her ears.</p> <p>One company believes that there is real science behind such a reaction to sounds. NeuroPop is integrating neurosensory algorithms into music to create a certain mood and evoke more intense responses from listeners. The company hopes to market its compositions to the movie industry and video game companies.</p>

It's often said that in space, you can't hear yourself scream. True enough, more or less, but rather misleading. Recently, several SPACE.com readers wrote to ask how a B-flat emanating from a black hole could be detected from 250 million light-years away, as we reported earlier this month. The answer, along with related interesting facts, reveals that silence is in the ear of the beholder, and ears come in a variety of configurations. Sound can travel through space, because space is not the total vacuum it's often made out to be. Atoms of gas give the universe a ubiquitous atmosphere...

<p>Republican businessman Bill Simon made a whirlwind tour of Sacramento on Wednesday, acting and sounding very much like he'll run again against Gov. Gray Davis if there is a recall election.</p> <p>"As I sit here today," he said after a series of meetings in and around the Capitol, "I think we could do it. I'm open to running again. My family's open to running again. There's no show stoppers from a personal perspective."</p>

There’s a direct connection between one’s age and how soon Christmas gets here. For children, it’s excruciatingly slow in arriving. The week before Christmas is the longest time of the year. Little wonder so many succumb to the temptation of cracking open a gift or two and oh-so-carefully rewrapping them. For adults, Christmas comes much too soon. There’s not enough time, and at the last minute we remember something we should have done but now it’s too late and we pledge to be better organized next year. For most of us, this is an annual vow. I’m one of those...