Free Republic

New LAPD flashlights are too small to be used as weaponsLOS ANGELES The L-A-P-D has decided that smaller is better when it comes to flashlights.Police Chief William Bratton is scheduled to unveil new flashlights today that are brighter than the ones they use now, but too small to be used as a weapon.  The idea for the new ten-inch torch was conceived just days after news cameras broadcast images of L-A-P-D officers beating a car-theft suspect with a two-pound, two-foot long standard issue flashlight.  Bratton banned the large flashlights after the 2004 beating and called for manufacturers to create...

The driver was sober. The bird he hit may have been under the influence. A California brown pelican flew through the windshield of a motorist on the Pacific Coast Highway in Orange County Thursday, and wildlife officials said the bird was probably intoxicated by a chemical in the water. Though toxicology tests take several weeks, the odd bird behavior was likely the result of poisoning from domoic acid, which has been found in the ocean in the area, said Lisa Birkle, assistant wildlife director at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach. Birds can be poisoned through eating...

BATON ROUGE, La. (Army News Service, Sept. 5, 2005) – Units from across the nation have descended on Louisiana and Mississippi in response to Hurricane Katrina as part of the unprecedented call-up of National Guard and other military forces for a natural disaster. “It’s state helping state and neighbor helping neighbor,” said Florida Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Michael Fleming. Fleming, who is in Louisiana because of his extensive experience from the four hurricanes which struck Florida last year, said the National Guard’s primary focus is to save lives, provide security, and evacuate residents. Approximately 38,000 Guardsmen operating in the...

Jeff David: Democrats respond to GOP with more of Brand X Let's pretend for a moment. Let's make believe we're all Democrats here. I know that's a stretch of the imagination in a parish that went for Bush with 77 percent, but even if you're a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, try to think for one moment like the opposition. Here you are. You're in Louisiana. You're an active Democrat. You got Mary Landrieu elected. You got Kathleen Blanco elected. But there's a strange feeling creeping over you. Like something is slipping away. Creeping old age? Yes, but everyone suffers from that. The...

<p>One way or the other, Louisiana is going to end up with a first following Saturday's gubernatorial election.</p> <p>The Pelican State has a historic choice: electing its first woman governor ever, the current Democratic Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, or the first non-white governor since Reconstruction, Indian-American Bobby Jindal.</p>

**Exclusive Details** Famed Hollywood attorney Bert Fields has been questioned by the FBI in connection with a grand jury probe of techniques and practices by Anthony 'Pelican' Pellicano, onetime private investigator to the stars. Now in the possession of the FBI are an astounding 2 billion double-spaced pages of text which was gleaned from Pellicano computer files. Included in those 2 billion pages, DRUDGE has learned, are alleged wiretap transcripts. MORE Last month, Pellicano pleaded guilty to illegally possessing C-4 plastic explosives and two modified hand grenades. According to Thursday runs of DAILY VARIETY, Fields, who has used Pellicano on...

Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 August 29 The Pelican in the Swan Credit & Copyright: Robert Gendler Explanation: The Pelican Nebula, also known as IC 5070, lies about 2,000 light-years away in the high and far-off constellation of Cygnus, the Swan. This picture spans a portion of the magnificent nebula about 30 light-years wide. Fittingly, this cosmic pelican is found just off the east "coast" of the North America Nebula, another surprisingly...