Free Republic

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has approved a policy change that, under strictly delineated conditions, allows media filming of dignified transfer operations of fallen servicemembers’ remains at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The new policy is slated to be implemented April 6, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters today. If immediate family members consent to media coverage, Whitman said, reporters would be provided the basic information on the servicemember and the expected time of arrival of the flight bearing the remains. “The core of the policy,” Whitman said, “is built around the desires of...

Spanish vultures are hungry, even starving — and the regional government in Madrid plans to do something about it. EU laws aimed at halting the spread of mad cow disease require the countryside to be kept clear of dead livestock even if they died of natural causes. But Juan Carlos Atienza of the Spanish Ornithological Organization says the lack of animal corpses since the law was introduced in Spain in 2002 has hit certain vultures very hard. Esperanza Aguirre, president of Madrid's regional government, said Monday the capital aims to ease the vultures' hunger by allowing some dead animals to...

Coverage of Steve Jobs' health issues has not been journalism's finest hour What is it about Steve Jobs that makes otherwise sensible journalists completely lose their marbles? This week’s coverage of Steve Jobs’ health woes has hit some surprising new lows in journalistic IQ. The latest example is a story on Newser.com by media reporter Michael Wolff, headlined Apple Dies. Its premise: “the logical answer to what happens at Apple without Jobs is that it dies. What you have, demonstrably, is a company without any managerial wherewithal beyond Jobs.” What is demonstrable is that Michael Wolff doesn’t know what he’s...

The other day I heard my mother call downstairs to my father, “Honey, there are a bunch of roosters out in the front yard.” Lest you think we live on a farm or out in rural America, let me set you straight. We live in suburban America where houses are stamped next to each other every hundred feet or so. We don’t get many roosters walking in our neighborhood, and if we did they would be cited for jaywalking. So it was no surprise that curiosity got the best of my father as he ran up the stairs to check...

AP photographer Rahmatullah Naikzad was a witness to a Taliban murder. The two women were alleged to have been prostitutes who served Western clientèle. Two unidentified Afghan Women chat with each other a few minutes before they were executed by Taliban in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, on late Saturday, July 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Rahmatullah Naikzad) [original here] Local people watch two Afghan women shot and killed by Taliban in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, on Sunday, July 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Rahmatullah Naikzad) (original here) This page from the AP seems to suggest that Rahmatullah Naikzad also took a snuff video of the two...

COLLEGE STATION — Maybe if they were pretty, the ubiquitous buzzards that soar over Texas and elsewhere before landing to dine on some carcass wouldn't be viewed with such repugnance or considered a nuisance. "Unquestionably, they're as ugly as sin," says Ian Tizard, a Texas A&M University professor of immunology and director of the school's Schubot Exotic Bird Center. The birds range over much of the United States, and their March return to Hinckley, Ohio, for instance, is welcomed annually as a sure sign of spring. But their proliferation as pests is making them unwelcome from high-rises in Florida to...

A nice-sounding bill called the "Global Poverty Act," sponsored by Democratic presidential candidate and Senator Barack Obama, is up for a Senate vote on Thursday and could result in the imposition of a global tax on the United States. The bill, which has the support of many liberal religious groups, makes levels of U.S. foreign aid spending subservient to the dictates of the United Nations. Senator Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has not endorsed either Senator Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton in the presidential race. But on Thursday, February 14, he is trying to rush Obama's...

NEWBERRY COUNTY, SC (WIS) - "They're very rude," Alexis tells WIS News 10. "They stink," says Sonny. They've been called a lot of names by a lot of people, especially by the Harmons. "I would have to say they're ugly as anything," says Alexis. But one thing you won't find these two calling them, is nice. "They're big, mean, and black," says Alexis. We call them vultures, a name "Sonny" Harmon has grown to hate. "They've become a nuisance." They've started invading her yard "200 at a time," she says. "It's like something you'd see in a Stephen King movie,"...

When a French pensioner died of a brain haemorrhage during a walk in the Pyrenees this summer, vultures started circling low over the body. “His three friends were really frightened,” said a local resident. “They were convinced the vultures were going to attack. They shouted and waved their arms and, in the end, they managed to scare the birds away. But they were in a complete panic.” There have been reports from across the French Pyrenees this year of a radical change in the way the region’s vultures behave. A programme to incinerate animal carcasses in Spain has deprived “les...

HOPKINTON, R.I. - The house is for sale well below its assessed value, has four bedrooms and sits on more than a half acre of land. It's also got lots of vultures, and that's made it a tough sell. The trees around the Hopkinton house are a year-round nesting ground for turkey and black vultures. The previous owners blamed the birds for polluting their well, scaring their children and causing various illnesses. But real estate agent Patrick Murray said he's optimistic it could make a good home for the right buyer. It's listed at $189,900, below the assessed value of...

Today's Roll Call has a very disturbing quote from a Democrat operative in Wyoming on Monday’s passing of Senator Craig Thomas. [...] It is disgusting to think that Democrats see Senator Craig's death as a political opportunity for the Democrats, but sadly this seems to be just another reflection of how they view the entire world.

Park City, Jan 27: Last year`s big road-trip tale at the Sundance Film Festival was greeted with guffaws. This year`s has met with sobs. Both "Little Miss Sunshine" from last year and the current Sundance entry "Grace Is Gone" are highway heartbreakers, "Sunshine" showing a family that comes together through hilarious adversity, "Grace" depicting a family shattered by the cruelest of tragedies. Starring John Cusack, "Grace" tells the story of a stern, loving but emotionally distant father who learns his wife, an Army sergeant, has been killed in Iraq. Unable to tell his two young daughters, he takes them on...

LAFAYETTE - The display of crosses across from the Lafayette BART station is now more visible at night. Organizers added a neon sign with the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq. The new electric-powered neon sign sits on the lower portion of the large white sign that carries a running count of fallen troops in black numbers. There has been some discussion over whether the neon sign is "tacky" and fits the memorial, said organizer Jeff Heaton. But organizers decided to install it in light of President Bush's stated intention to send more troops to Iraq. Heaton said he...

U.S. fatalities in war equal those from Sept. 11 - Military deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan reach 2,973 WASHINGTON - Now the death toll is 9/11 times two. U.S. military deaths from Iraq and Afghanistan now match those of the most devastating terrorist attack in America’s history, the trigger for what came next. Add casualties from chasing terrorists elsewhere in the world, and the total has passed the Sept. 11 figure. The latest milestone for a country at war comes without commemoration. It also may well come without the precision of knowing who is the 2,973rd man or woman of arms...

SEATTLE (AP) — The Association of Trial Lawyers of America voted during its convention this week to change its name to the American Association for Justice. Spokeswoman Chris Mather said there was overwhelming support for the change, and that the new name "reflects whose side we're on in the fight for justice." The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, a critic of the trial lawyers group, called it "an astounding admission of the unpopularity of trial lawyers in America." The 60-year-old association has 65,000 members.

Ad Showing Troop Coffins Causes Clash of the Parties By ANNE E. KORNBLUT, The New York Times WASHINGTON, July 13 — In an echo of the last election cycle, political operatives are at odds over a Democratic advertisement featuring coffins coming home from war. The advertisement, a short film posted on the Web site of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is being attacked by Republicans as tasteless and disrespectful of American troops in Iraq. In 2004, President Bush’s campaign released an advertisement showing a flag-draped body being removed from the site of the World Trade Center after the terrorist attack...

WASHINGTON (ap) _ Republicans are howling over a Democratic political Web site ad that displays flag-draped coffins and a fake police mug shot of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, arguing that the ad politicizes war casualties and is an insult to the families of the troops killed in Iraq. The 75-second ad by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee begins with a somber musical score and images of war, high gas prices, the coffins, pollution, breached levees, followed by pictures of Texas Republican DeLay, disgraced GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff, President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. "Washington Republicans have sold...

(MONONGAHELA, July 12) – Washington County Commissioner and Pennsylvania 12th district Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey – responding to a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraising video using images of caskets of fallen American soldiers – today released the following statement: “The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this week sent out a fundraising video using images of caskets of fallen American soldiers. Raising campaign cash off the deaths of our honored dead is revolting. Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel should be ashamed of themselves – and so should any Democrat who stands for this. “Consequently, I have a new question for Jack...

http://www.dccc.org/multimedia/archives/new_directions/

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — When a vulture had the misfortune to glide over the rocketing space shuttle Discovery during its launch last year, there was no doubt about who would win. But the bird became more than a splat on a fuel tank: It kick-started an entire movement. Although the vulture didn't damage the shuttle, NASA officials are worried enough about another big-bird incident that they are trying several unorthodox schemes to keep the carrion-eaters from the launch pad during Saturday's scheduled liftoff. Methods like removing dead animals from the area. And luring dozens of vultures into a cage. Officials...

<p>I have uploaded the video I made of this event on Google Video, and you can view it HERE. It's twenty minutes long. For the twelve Freepers and lurkers still using dial-up, here's a recap of the events...</p> <p>I got word (from an anonymous source) a week ago that Code Pink was going to have another Moonbat parade in DC on Flag Day (June 14th for those of you in Rio Linda), to celebrate the 2500th US military death in Iraq. It didn't matter to Gael Murphy when she announced the parade that the death toll might not be at 2500; she must have been really bummed by Zarqawi's untimely demise on June 7th (HOOAH! and AirPower!) and needed to do something to lift her out of the funk she was in. And a blood dance was just the ticket, apparently.</p>

This morning's newspaper informs us that we have lost 2,493 of our best and bravest young men and women serving this United States in Iraq. I asked a member of my staff to check when we lost 2,000 soldiers, and the date was October 25 of last year. It appears that in a very short period of time, we will pass the 2,500 mark. At the time that we recorded the 2,000th military death in Iraq, I asked, along with other Senators, for a moment of silence on the floor of the U.S. Senate to acknowledge their great contribution to...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -- The number of U.S. military deaths in Iraq has reached 2,500, the Pentagon said on Thursday, more than three years into a conflict that finds U.S.-led forces locked in a struggle with a resilient Sunni Arab insurgency. The news came after a senior Iraqi official in Baghdad said his country's security forces had seized al Qaeda in Iraq documents giving key information about the militant group's network and the whereabouts of its leaders. "We believe this is the beginning of the end of al Qaeda in Iraq," national security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie told a televised news...

Just wanted to share a photoshop I came up with, depicting the vultures in White House Press Room, under the new Snow regime.

The state board that investigates lawyer misconduct says it is on record pace for disciplining Minnesota attorneys this year. The Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board says the number of sanctions, ranging from public reprimands to disbarments, is up and it is only spring. If the trend continues, it could lead to the highest number of sanctions leveled against Minnesota lawyers in over five years. St. Paul, Minn. — Many of the complaints the Lawyer's Board investigates get dismissed. Those include a large number filed by clients upset simply because their attorney lost. Every year, however, there a few attorneys the board...

NYT: CHENEY FACES GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION IF MAN DIES... In Texas, Carlos Valdez, the district attorney in Kleberg County, said a fatality would immediately spur a new report from the local sheriff and, most likely, a grand jury investigation... MORE...

By E&P Staff Published: February 08, 2006 7:45 AM ET NEW YORK Reports continue today that MediaNews Group is discussing a possible alliance with Gannett to acquire Knight Ridder, which has put itself up for sale under pressure from shareholders. Even so, it is unclear if the aim would be to buy all or parts of the newspaper company and its 32 papers. MediaNews needs partners to finance a bid for Knight Ridder and has already teamed up with three private equity firms. Knight Ridder spokesman Polk Laffoon declined to comment on a possible Gannett-MediaNews alliance. Other possible buyers include...

With every disaster or crisis, it seems that the public, press and politicians require a remedial course in Economics 101. In fact, apparently we need an ongoing educational campaign even when there is no catastrophe, as demonstrated by the recent foolish legislation in the state of Hawaii to cap wholesale fuel prices. Note the subhead in the linked story: "Some analysts warn move may spur supply problems." Really? Only "some"? Maybe they need to be more careful about which "analysts" they listen to. Whatever would we do without those other "analysts"?Imagine the headlines, "Legislature Mandates Pi To Equal 3.00000 --...

A group of blacks sued the Waffle House chain Tuesday, claiming they were discriminated against at restaurants in three Georgia cities. The Georgia lawsuit joins three others recently filed in North Carolina, Alabama and Virginia against the Norcross, Ga.-based company and its franchisees, who are accused of maintaining a pattern of discrimination and violating federal civil rights laws (search). The Plaintiffs in the cases allege that Servers used racial epithets, refused to wait on minority patrons, provided them with slow service and poor quality food while providing whites with prompt service and quality food. Wafflehouse spokesman Pat Warner has pointed...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. NEW DELHI: Epicenter Technologies, the business process outsourcing company specialising in collections space, is looking for acquisitions in the North American market and plans to increase its headcount in India by 1,000. "We are looking to acquire small to medium BPO companies with revenues of $10-15 million in the collection space. Through acquisition, we want to deepen our expertise in our business and be a multi-location company," told chief operating officer of Epicenter Navnit. He said Epicenter, which is ranked 15th on the Nasscom list of top BPO companies, has identified...

The MoveOn.org liberals are trying to exploit our fallen troops. Their disengenuous greif, using this milestone to further their hatred of our Commander in Chief is disgusting. Let's not allow them to dishonor our heros, who have paid the ultimate sacrafice in service to the country they loved. Please organize locally and show them that we recognize their fraud and won't allow them to hijack the memories of our military men and women. As an active duty military officer, I will be in Philadelphia letting them know how repulsive there actions are (and I'm not going to give it to...

'Texans for Truth' is getting its turn at bat today, just in time for the 60 Minutet II interview with Former Texas Lt. Governor Ben Barnes tonight. 'Texans for Truth' is an arm of Drive Democracy, an Austin based group that got its initial funding from the liberal group Moveon.Org.The Moveon PAC and Moveon Voter Fund have spent about $7 million since March 1 on anti Bush TV ads.Drive Democracy is run by Glenn Smith who managed the unsuccessful 2002 Texas gubernatorial campaign of Democrat Tony Sanchez.Smith is a former managing director at the consulting firm Public Strategies, which employs...

CNN has a JUST IN banner up announcing the 1,000th death in Iraq.

College shouldn't be difficult for Joaquin, who mastered Advanced Placement classes in a language he learned only four years ago and recently graduated 12th in his high school class. But paying for it will be. The 19-year-old is an undocumented immigrant. He doesn't qualify for federal financial aid, which makes up 90 percent of the average Texas college student's aid package... Congress is considering the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which would make some undocumented immigrant students eligible for federal loans, but not grants. The bill would make students who immigrated here five or more years ago...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) -- Amid rising hopes for a high-tech turnaround, there's this sobering sign: Martin Pichinson - a man who has buried nearly 150 failed startups since 1999 - has swooped into Silicon Valley like a vulture lurking over a pack of wounded animals. Pichinson, a self-described "doctor of reality" who helps liquidate companies, says he wouldn't have moved from Los Angeles to Palo Alto a few months ago had he not smelled more high-tech trouble looming. "Sadly, it looks like 2004 is going to be another busy year...

Sunday, October 5, 2003Vultures' onslaught terrorizes livestock -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Increase in flocks depletes Ohio farms By John Seewer The Associated Press Hear the black vulture's call AKA: Black buzzard, carrion crow; SIZE: 23 to 27 inches; WINGSPAN: 54 to 60 inches COSHOCTON, Ohio - Alan Brinker couldn't figure out why all of his newborn lambs were dying. "We'd have 10 new babies, and the next day I'd go out and we had 10 dead ones," the central Ohio farmer said. Suspecting that a flock of black vultures may be to blame, he drove out to a hillside where a lone ewe...

There's something horribly disconcerting about flying with an airline that has been losing more than $10m a day. Call me paranoid, but the awful question that nags away is: if this company can't make enough money to keep up its own trousers, why should I believe that it'll keep me aloft at 25,000ft?These were my doubts as I flew to Washington DC with United Airlines last Monday. Fellow nervous flyers will recognise my angst. Mercifully, it was totally unfounded.Indeed, given United's parlous financial condition - it's in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection - the flight was remarkably good. Certainly the service...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats remained silent for months as the United States waged war in Afghanistan, wary of challenging a popular commander in chief. But if terrorists strike again on U.S. soil, many of President Bush's rivals have the standing to question whether his administration has done enough to protect the nation. Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman pushed for creation of a Homeland Security agency months before Bush embraced the idea and proposed establishment of a department with a Cabinet-level secretary. Florida's Bob Graham, the former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has repeatedly argued that the administration is focused too...

It didn't take long for many Americans to try to cash in on the space shuttle Columbia disaster, with numerous postings of shuttle memorabilia on eBay – with some claiming to be actual debris. Columbia radio offered on eBay The online auctioneer yanked a handful of listings purporting to be remnants of the orbiter which disintegrated yesterday morning during its descent into the atmosphere. EBay's Kevin Pursglove says executives are considering reporting the sellers to federal authorities who are looking to gather Columbia's pieces for their investigation. It's a federal offense to take pieces of an aircraft involved in an...

Ebay has since cancelled the auction but the page was archived by someone else for the curious to view. Can anyone tell if the item is real or bogus. http://www.jgumby.com/columbia-ebay/

TEXAS authorities are investigating reports that people are trying to sell debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia, which disintegrated over eastern Texas earlier today. "We have a zero tolerance policy for this sort of thing," said Mike Shelby, the US Attorney for the southern district of Texas, after hearing a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report that attempts had been made to sell debris on ebay, an internet auction website. Shelby said that he and his colleague Matt Arwig, the US attorney for the eastern district of Texas, would cooperate with authorities in an investigation. Those attempting to sell...

Of all the questions science wants to answer, one of the most important is where Democrats originated. Anthropologists all agree that they are distantly related to the human species, but are from a different animal relative....(snip) For the full article, please click here (no full posting of article)