Free Republic

Contestants go for the centerfold Playmate-in-Waiting By Jody Callahan callahan@gomemphis.com May 16, 2003 Erica Moore drove hundreds of miles to Memphis, just for the slim chance to take her clothes off for hundreds of thousands of people. So did Kimberlee Adams. A Playboy photographer and a former centerfold are in Memphis this week, searching for the woman who will earn $50,000 as the magazine's 50th anniversary Playmate. The search continues from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Jillian's in downtown's Peabody Place. Dozens of women from the Memphis area showed up, hoping to be the one chosen from thousands...

GLASSPORT, Pa. - Borough officials here learned just how behind the times they were when they noticed that their American flag was missing two stars. At 48 stars, Glassport's Old Glory was a little too old for council members' liking. While no one knows how long the old flag had been draped around a flag stand in the council chambers, it's a good bet it has been at least 44 years. The 48-star flag — which dates back to 1912 — was replaced with the 49-star flag in 1959, with the addition of Alaska to the United States. A year...

Troops discover the high cost of battle: $50 for a pack of cigarettes By Charles Arthur 07 April 2003 Stretched supply lines, desperate attempts to replenish tanks and troops; it's a familiar tale for a war. But while the US and British logistics crews are doing sterling work in getting fuel and food, razors, soap and shaving cream, one thing is desperately needed, yet isn't getting to the front lines: tobacco. Two weeks after leaving their frontline camps in Kuwait, the troops' rations are running out. Meals are getting scarce, sometimes limited to two a day. The cigarettes and chewing...

Husband turns 50 tomorrow. Need suggestions for something silly to put on his cake. Older than dirt is all I could think of.

Kirk: Fighting the Klingon terrorists is wrong. It will unfairly hurt minorities. Anyone proposing this attack on Klingons doesn't care about minorities. Sulu, set course for home. Full warp speed, Mr. Sulu. We don't want any sneak attacks as we gain ground to a safe port. Keep minorities in safety pods. Mr. Spock: Captain. Your statement is most illogical. Logic dictates that minorities in the Federation benefit from fighting terrorism even more than non-minorities. The large urban areas are prime terrorist targets. Kirk: Don't confuse me with the facts! As I see it, we are not retreating from the war....

50 BILLS BLOCKED!The House has approved 50 substantive bills that have yet to be either approved or rejected by the Senate. The Senate should act on the DASCHLE-50. Senator Daschle pledged to pass a budget by Memorial Day, but no budget has been passed in the Senate. Failure to pass a budget in the Senate would mark a historic first since the Budget Act of 1974 began requiring them. In the midst of a judicial crisis, only 27% of the President's initial federal judicial nominees have been confirmed. Nominees for executive branch positions who are still waiting confirmation include U.S....

My younger brother who is a "black gun" enthusiast has decided to buy a .50 BMG bolt action with his next commission check. He has asked me to "loan" part of the financing. I am unfamiliar with the .50s but have read up on most of them. I agree with him that the time to buy one is now since the future looks possibly bleak for these guns. I would appreciate any advice from anyone who has hands on experience with any of the various makes. Further advice on suitable optics would likewise be welcome. Thanks to all.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is harassing gun owners whose names were found on a confiscated gun list, basically scaring them into stamping serial numbers on their receivers. The list of gun owners they are "notifying" was confiscated from Arizona gunkit maker Bob Stewart, who is now sitting in a federal prison in Florence, Arizona awaiting sentencing. Mr. Stewart was found guilty by a jury of his non-peers of being a felon in possession of firearms and of possessing unregistered machineguns -- neither of which was a crime before the NRA-supported National Firearms Act of 1934 and the...