Free Republic

There are few areas of science more fiercely contested than the issue of what makes us who we are. Are we products of our environments or the embodiment of our genes? Is nature the governing force behind our behaviour or is it nurture? While almost everyone agrees that it’s a mixture of both, there has been no end of disagreement about which is the dominant influence. And it’s a disagreement that has been made yet more fraught by the political concerns that often underlie it. Traditionally, those on the left have tended to see the environment as the critical factor...

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Citizens in two west Fresno County towns are outraged after learning potentially thousands of library books -- have been intentionally tossed in the trash. This story involves public libraries in Huron and Coalinga. But the head librarian says the book dump isn't what it seems. Some residents in Coalinga are worried about the future of the library and their upset over the fact that thousands of books have literally been thrown away. But the director tells me it's a necessary step to bring this place up to code. Book lovers joined forces Thursday night angry over...

A 60's radical who's name became major part of the 2008 presidential campaign is on his way to Fresno. Bill Ayers, the co-founder of the Weather Underground, is slated to make an appearance in downtown Fresno this Thursday evening. The event is free to the public.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/5107/They-didnt-study

Let us bend over and kiss our ass goodbye. Our 28-year conservative opportunity to fix the moral and practical boundaries of government is gone--gone with the bear market and the Bear Stearns and the bear that's headed off to do you-know-what in the woods on our philosophy. An entire generation has been born, grown up, and had families of its own since Ronald Reagan was elected. And where is the world we promised these children of the Conservative Age? Where is this land of freedom and responsibility, knowledge, opportunity, accomplishment, honor, truth, trust, and one boring hour each week spent...

Hundreds of Marines were conducting a combat training mission in the Mojave Desert when an air patrol spotted something kicking up dust: A civilian pickup truck speeding across the barren landscape. Behind the wheel was a suspected scrap metal thief who had been combing the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center for spent brass shell casings. His intrusion onto the base was the 12th time in six months that scavengers had inadvertently halted combat exercises. Bombing ranges have become prime hunting grounds for so-called "scrappers," who are motivated by soaring commodity prices to take greater risks in their quest for...

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee tonight condemned a brutal assault by busloads of purple cloaked staff of the Service Employees International Union who smashed into a conference of union members Saturday night in Dearborn, Mi. and physically assaulted women and union members who stood in their path. "I am deeply concerned about this heightened attack on women and nurses, directed by SEIU President Andrew Stern," said CNA/NNOC Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro, who was scheduled to speak about the campaign for genuine healthcare reform at the banquet. DeMoro cancelled her appearance at the event to coordinate support for...

LONDON - Some people bring flowers, others bring balloons. When Melvyn Reed's three wives showed up to visit him at the hospital, they brought an unexpected curtain call to his years as a double bigamist. British police confirmed that after Melvyn Reed woke from his triple bypass heart operation earlier this year, his complicated marital affairs took a turn for a worse. All three of his spouses had turned up at the same time, despite his efforts to stagger their visits. Media reports say that, upon realizing that something was amiss, the wives held a meeting in the parking lot,...

Letters sent to Gold Country Media newspapers claiming to be from the eco-terrorist Earth Liberation Front and declaring responsibility for the recent firebomb plantings in Lincoln and Auburn were reportedly sent by an Emma Goldman from Sacramento. Letters were received Jan. 18 by the Lincoln News Messenger and Auburn Journal and on Jan. 19 by the Roseville Press-Tribune. Only the letter sent to the Journal was opened and the others were turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigations. "We appreciate the newspapers' cooperation," said Karen Ernst, spokeswoman for the Sacramento FBI office. "We are not going to comment on...

Grades bar students from ceremony, trip Corcoran eighth-graders fail algebra, other classes. By Denny Boyles The Fresno Bee (Updated Saturday, June 5, 2004, 5:54 AM) E-mail This Article Printer-Friendly Format Receive the Daily Bulletin Subscribe to Print Join a Forum CORCORAN -- Students and parents at John Muir Middle School in Corcoran were surprised and angry to learn this week that students would not be able to participate in either the graduation ceremony or the eighth-grade trip to Magic Mountain because of failing grades in algebra and other classes. Administrators say the news shouldn't have been a surprise and that...

I was a human shield by Daniel Pepper • Tuesday March 25, 2003 at 06:19 PM Why I regret being a human shield. 'I was a fool to be a human shield for Saddam', By Daniel Pepper Advertisement I wanted to join the human shields in Baghdad because it was direct action which had a chance of bringing the anti-war movement to the forefront of world attention. It was inspiring: the human shield volunteers were making a sacrifice for their political views much more of a personal investment than going to a demonstration in Washington or London. It was simple...

Yellow is a fine color, but it does not rock. The threat of rain Friday brought thousands of rubberized all-weather outfits to Pacific Bell Park for the first Rolling Stones show of three in the Bay Area. The sea of parkas and fisherman's raincoats only accentuated the gulf between the audience and its leather-clad heroes, the self-proclaimed World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band. Other vintage rock acts can still draw a crowd -- Paul McCartney's recent tour has been a blockbuster, and fans of the Grateful Dead are buzzing about the survivors' latest reunion dates. But no band with that...

BRITISH TO RETAKE AMERICA? DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE DISMISSED!! By: Doug Sefried Associated Press (Jun 26, 03:38 PM) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today declared the United States Declaration of Independence as null and void because it has several references to God.The decision left many Americans stunned and angry and the future of the once great country in doubt. A United Nations world court will now determine if America will be returned to the British, the country that the United States declared its Independence from on July 4th, 1776. Yesterday, the United Nations declared martial law...

It was a wonderful way to spend a cool evening by the bluffs of the San Joaquin river. A local organization, The Middleeast Connection, held a rally in Woodward Park in Fresno, CA last night to show the community that what Israel fights against is the same extremism that our country is now facing. We were treated to a wide range of experts in middle eastern affairs and political and commentators who spoke about our common goals, enemies, culture and faith in God.List of speakers:Dr Bruce Thornton, California State University FresnoBill Manders, Author and Broadcaster KMJ Radio Gen Shimon Erem...

It was a warm 90 degrees this evening as the patriots gathered for our weekly counterprotes, facing off again against the pacifists, peaceniks, leftist, and America is Wrong crowd on Blackstone and Shaw Aves. Gee, it seems like only a few weeks ago that we were shivering. JustAmy, your hats are a blessing!The response from the passing traffic as usual was supportive, however, at first light. I guess it was because traffic was really heavy. I think there was a FSU game. The pacifists seemed to have experianced a technical glitch this evening. Their signs did not arrive until ten...

Fresno Schools Just Says No To PETAOkay, let's give some credit where credit is due. Finally, a principal with enough cajones to tell the political correctness nazi's where to go jump off.Click here for storyI guess he didn't want irate parents on his doorstep after they come home with this PETA propaganda.

Fresno Schools Just Says No To PETAOkay, let's give some credit where credit is due. Finally, a principal with enough cajones to tell the political correctness nazi's where to go jump off.Click here for storyI guess he didn't want irate parents on his doorstep after they come home with this PETA propaganda.

The family of an 11-year-old Modesto boy killed in his home during a narcotics sweep last Setember has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in federal court in Fresno, charging that officers should have known here were children in the home at the time they raided it.Alberto Sepulveda was shot in the back as he obeyed an officer's commands to lie down during a SWAT raid of the family home on McAdoo avenue in Modesto.The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the boy's family by San Francisco lawyers Arturo J. Gonzalez and Robert Y. Chan, the same legal team that won a ...

Or knives, or sharp pencils, or bent paper clips they might stick into electrical sockets. And we think Leonard Oak and Richard Lavoie of St. Johnsbury, VT belong at the top of that list.These two good ole' boys used to play this game of chicken where they would chase each other around Lavoie's house, shooting as close to each other as they could with their rifles without hitting each other.Apparently they had some kind of "understanding" that they should't shoot to close to each others heads because, well, you know, that could be dangerous.It seems Richard violated that rule when ...