Free Republic

If you are old enough to remember a world where computers didn't exist, then you probably remember the Smurfs, a lovable bunch of blue creatures who lived in mushrooms and dabbled in magic. Well the guy who helped bring the Smurfs to U.S. audiences lives in Aventura and he's been feeling the blues lately. Stuart R. Ross pleaded guilty in August to attempted grand larceny, admitting he tried to extort $11 million from his son-in-law by threatening to destroy his son-in-law's professional reputation and offering to give up access to Ross' grandchildren. But now Ross is having a change of...

The Blue Man Group were in Columbia last night and it was the first time I ever saw them live. Anyone seen them and how do you like the live performances?

3 Gitmo Detainees Reportedly Hang Selves (AP) WASHINGTON Three Guantanamo Bay detainees hanged themselves with nooses made of sheets and clothes, the commander of the detention center said Saturday. They were the first reported deaths among the hundreds of men held at the base in Cuba — some of them for up to 4 1/2 years and without charge. Two men from Saudi Arabia and one from Yemen were found "unresponsive and not breathing in their cells" early Saturday, according to a statement from the Miami-based U.S. Southern Command, which has jurisdiction over the prison. Attempts were made to revive...

Why Did the AFL-CIO Self-Destruct? The 96th Convention of the American Federation of Musicians — a unit of the AFL-CIO — gathered in Las Vegas July 17-20. I wasn’t there; but I have seen the write-up of the public meetings described in International Musician, the flagship periodical of the AFM. I wanted to “file a report” on these proceedings. So in the interest of full disclosure, I need to give some background here. My husband has been a member of the AFM since he was 16 years old; but then he’s a fulltime working musician, and having a union card...