Free Republic

A Brookline business that lets customers roll their own cigarettes has banned "pipe tobacco" from its rolling machines in response to a judge's order, the shop's lawyers said yesterday. The court order takes away only a portion of the business Tobacco Haven has been doing, but it is a portion that is of particular concern to the state. The state Attorney General's Office, which sued the retailer in August, alleges it is illegal for Tobacco Haven to stuff "pipe tobacco" into cigarettes unless the company pays taxes on it. The state has also argued that "pipe tobacco" is singularly

An Oregon apartment complex is banning its residents from flying American flags, not only from their dwellings but also their vehicles, KATU in Portland reported..... Sharron White, a long-time resident, was told by management to take down the flag she's flown on her car for eight years because "someone might get offended."

The novelist and children's writer Philip Pullman has been showered with awards that include a CBE, a Carnegie Medal and several honorary professorships. This week he notched up a new distinction: he is ranked second in the top 10 books that people have tried to ban across America. Pullman's fantasy trilogy, His Dark Materials, has leapt to the top of the target list of would-be censors in the new rankings issued this week by the American Library Association. Several schools across America faced requests from parents to remove the book. One challenge at a school in Winchester, Kentucky was made...

See attached video

How ironic it is that when news emerges of Governor Palin's book becoming available prior to its expected date, she shows up in my school's library. No, she didn't show up in person and no, there was no announcement to inform interested students about her book, which reportedly is already number one on the Barnes and Noble list. She showed up in the center of a display highlighting Banned Books Week.

Hard-edged propaganda now suffuses America's history textbooks. A thorough cover-to-cover reading of almost any high school history text leaves you with the impression that the United States is at best embarrassing, and at worst a menace to world peace. I think I was in fifth grade when I began to suspect that textbooks weren't entirely on the level. The first tip-off came from the word problems in math class. They typically began with scenarios that, even to a 10-year-old, seemed a little unlikely: "Julio's mom is a welder. His father is a pediatric nurse. If his mom welds for 9...

Apparently, more than ever before, it’s in vogue to compare people to Hitler. Though some of the collations may be stretching at times, it seems that a Russian citizen found the connection between Winnie the Pooh and the National Socialist Workers’ Party so startling (probably saw this video) that he decked out his Winnie – the Pooh that is – with swastikas. The Russian Justice Ministry, instead of maybe questioning the sanity of a grown man who owns and dresses up a Pooh doll, took prudent action and added “Winnie the Pooh with a swastika” to its list of banned...

The Speaker of Iran’s eight Majlis Ali Larijani denied allegations of sexual abuse of detainees yesterday while several Majlis lawmakers confirmed such reports in interviews with Rooz. They added, however, that they had been banned from discussing the matter. Meanwhile, pro-government media outlets demanded the prosecution of Karoubi for disclosing the existence of rape in prisons. These debates are broiling while one Majlis lawmaker told Rooz, “During the special Majlis committee’s visit of the Evin Prison, several prisoners openly talked about sexual abuse; even though they did not specifically use the word ‘rape’ and only spoke about sexual abuse.” Expressing...

. He'd never have made the elementary error of putting the real reasons for banning Savage in a confidential e-mail. He'd know that the final destination of confidential Labor government mail is the front page of the conservative Daily Mail. Which is where the internal Home Office e-mails relating to Savage's exclusion from Britain ended up this week. ---------------------------------- The answer is that naming and shaming Savage was a low exercise in cheap politics all too characteristic of the Brown government

Official correspondence, released under the United Kingdom's Freedom of Information law, reveals that U.S. radio talk-show host Michael Savage's name was placed on a list of people banned from Britain in order to provide "balance" to a "least wanted" list dominated by Muslim extremists, and the decision was made "at the highest level of government," the London Daily Mail reported today. "We will want to ensure that the names disclosed reflect the broad range of cases and are not all Islamic extremists," reads a draft recommendation, marked "Restricted," that was obtained as part of Savage's libel lawsuit against the government...

Dr. Michael Savage confirmed on his radio show "The Savage Nation" last night, that he is still banned from the United Kingdom, and also drops a potential bombshell that in his words is "a very dangerous situation that will put a chill through every fair minded American and that will set off a shockwave through the British and American governments." According to Savage, after researching the information he and his lawyers obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, there is significant evidence to suggest that there are more American talk show personalities whose names are also on the United Kingdom's...

A mother has been banned from a primary school after confronting a bully who used her five-year- old son as a 'human punch bag'. Christine Hart, 38, calmly asked the pupil to 'please stop hitting' her son Arthur after he endured months of bullying despite several complaints to teachers. But a teaching assistant saw and hauled her off to the headmistress, who told her not to cross the school gates and to attend a hearing with the governors to discuss her conduct.

Remember CANDIDATE Barack Obama? The guy who “wasn’t going to take away our guns”? Well, guess what? Less than 100 days into his administration, he’s never met a gun he didn’t hate. A week ago, Obama went to Mexico, whined about the United States, and bemoaned (before the whole world) the fact that he didn’t have the political power to take away our semi-automatics. Nevertheless, that didn’t keep him from pushing additional restrictions on American gun owners. It’s called the Inter-American Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials. To be sure, this...

I've been a proud FReeper since 2005, but haven't posted before because I've been intimidated by the whole process. Okay, I admit it - I'm lame. But I just got banned from LGF. I know there are other FReepers out there who have been banned. Care to commiserate?

On behalf of Michael Savage, the Thomas More Law Center respectfully demands that you call upon the government of the United Kingdom ... (link brings up the letter)

A quick tour of the internet shows that the England has NO PROBLEM WITH ALLOWING U.S. RAP/HIP HOP PERFORMERS enter UK territory for concerts, business deals, etc. despite their filthy lyrics including extremely racist and sexist as well as lewd and violence-inciting comments.

This thing is going global (rough FR translation since original site is only in Chinese): Major Chinese website, seen by millions, is running the story.人民网5月6日讯 �美国有线电视新闻网报�，英国政府日�公布了一份22人的“��欢迎者”��，其中白人至上主义者，伊斯兰神�人员，一�堪�斯州神父以�美国脱�秀主�人�因“煽动仇�”榜上有�。 ("According to British Press reports, the UK government has made a prohibition of 22 people to enter the country, among them are white supremicists, fundamentalist Islamists, an extremist preachers, but also a famous American talk show host.") 　　英国内政部表示他们将至少在数月内拒�这些人入境。内政部仅公布了其中16�“上榜”人士的信�，然而他们拒��露其他六人的姓�。 ("This is a report by the Home Ministry which prohibits certain people from entering British territory. 16 of the names were made public, but 6 names were not made public.") 　　在这份��中最被人熟知的莫过于美国脱�秀主�人Michael Savage，其本�Michael Alan Wiener赫然在��之列。他的电�脱�秀全美排�第三，这�主�人以他�对堕胎，�对�性�婚姻，�对移民的观点备�争议。("A famous...

It is going global now. 英公布“��欢迎人士”�� 美脱�秀主�人榜上有� 2009年05月06日08:56 ��：人民网-国际频� �字� 大 中 �】 打� 留言 论� 网摘 手机点评 纠错 E-mail推�: 　　人民网5月6日讯 �美国有线电视新闻网报�，英国政府日�公布了一份22人的“��欢迎者”��，其中白人至上主义者，伊斯兰神�人员，一�堪�斯州神父以�美国脱�秀主�人�因“煽动仇�”榜上有�。 　　英国内政部表示他们将至少在数月内拒�这些人入境。内政部仅公布了其中16�“上榜”人士的信�，然而他们拒��露其他六人的姓�。 　　在这份��中最被人熟知的莫过于美国脱�秀主�人Michael Savage，其本�Michael Alan Wiener< 赫然在��之列。他的电�脱�秀全美排�第三，这�主�人以他�对堕胎，�对�性�婚姻，�对移民的观点备�争议。

by Jack Lee "I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it" -Voltaire This famous quote is the basis for what is often heralded as our most fundamental inalienable right, and why so many Americans were offended when England's Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith (shown right), banned radio talk show host Michael Savage from travel to the misty isles. Savage is well known for his provocative in your face style, frequently done as a sort of verbal assault on liberals, illegals and Islamic extremism. But, he has never advocated...

The names of some of the people barred from entering the UK for fostering extremism or hatred have been published for the first time. Islamic extremists, white supremacists and a US radio host (Michael Savage)are among the 16 of 22 excluded in the five months to March to have been named by the Home Office.

There is a debate beginning in Canada over whether or not to uphold a ban on a European car commercial. I would like to know the American perspective.

WND YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK Congress bans incandescent bulbs Massive energy bill phases out Edison's invention by 2014 Posted: December 19, 2007 7:18 pm Eastern © 2009 WorldNetDaily.com Incandescent light bulb In addition to raising auto fuel efficiency standards 40 percent, an energy bill passed by Congress yesterday bans the incandescent light bulb by 2014. President Bush signed the 822-page measure into law today after it was sent up Pennsylvania Avenue in a Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle. The House passed the bill by a 314-100 vote after approval by the Senate last week. Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich., chairman of...

You may or may not be aware that Harry Potter, The Anarchist Cookbook and Stephen King books have been banned from schools around the country. But where do we draw the line? We want to protect our children, but what about freedom of speech, artistic expression, etc.? It is pretty strange to consider Shakespeare has not only been banned from public schools over sexual themes, but that censored editions have been out since the 1700s. Was there offensive material in them? Yes, but there is offensive material in Walmart too, not to mention offensive odors. Did Lolita make me sick...

Like banishing beads and masks from Mardi Gras or removing the red carpet and gold statues from the Academy Awards, the banning of floats, beer and nudity at this year's Bay to Breakers will take all the fun out of it, many longtime revelers say. City leaders and sponsors of the 98th annual wacky footrace announced several major changes Wednesday that detractors say will turn the over-the-top, only-in-San Francisco party into a 12K footrace like any other race in any other city in the world. At the May 17 event, police will cite or arrest anybody openly drinking alcohol or...

A Southwest Florida man who in past years has been allowed to distribute free Bibles to high school students on Religious Freedom Day was turned down this year by the district's superintendent. Jerry Rutherford, president of World Changers, appeared before the Collier County School Board on Thursday to ask for a reversal of the decision but received the same response. "This rejection is a slap in the face," said Rutherford, according to Naples News. "The decision to deny access to community groups that are religious in nature is censorship and bias." In November, Rutherford routinely submitted his request to set...

Censuring Obama’s grandmother: She is being censured by the police so that she does not say anything - a slip of a tongue may occur - that may reveal the identity and birth place of her grandson. If she were to say something in the line of - another citizenship, or that he was born in Kenya or Hawaii and adopted by a foreigner, and Obama is elected, that may create a constitutional crisis in the US because that will open for lawsuits to ensure Obama is not sworn in as President.

WASILLA, Alaska- Back in 1996, when she first became mayor, Sarah Palin asked the city librarian if she would be all right with censoring library books should she be asked to do so. According to news coverage at the time, the librarian said she would definitely not be all right with it. A few months later, the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, got a letter from Palin telling her she was going to be fired. The censorship issue was not mentioned as a reason for the firing. The letter just said the new mayor felt Emmons didn't fully support her and...

With privately bought drugs proving to be up to five times as effective as NHS treatments, The Sunday Times reports on the suffering the co-payments ban is inflicting on patients... The National Health Service is providing dying cancer patients with drugs that are five times less effective than those available privately and is refusing to treat them if they try to buy medicines themselves. One drug for kidney cancer, routinely available through public health systems in most European countries but not to British patients, can reduce the size of tumours in 31% of patients, compared with just 6% of those...

I have been a member since 1999. I have been suspended at least twice and kicked off "for good" once. I deserved to be suspended once. I believe that FR is a force for good in the world. Debate between people who consider themselves conservative, right or wrong, is a good thing. I believe that FR would prosper more, that more would donate, if they really believed that they had a stake in the site. The risk, that I now expose myself to, that you can be booted forever for speaking your honestly conservative mind in accordance with the rules,...

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - It may not be kosher, but the Hoopoe was chosen Thursday as Israel's national bird. The Hoopoe, or "Duchifat" in Hebrew, is listed in the Old Testament as unclean and forbidden food for Jews. President Shimon Peres declared the pink, black and white-crested bird the winner of a competition timed to coincide with Israel's 60th anniversary. It beat out rivals such as the Yellow-vented Bulbul and the Palestine Sunbird. The Book of Leviticus groups the Hoopoe with birds such as the eagle, vulture and pelican that are "abhorrent, not to be eaten." Israel is a main crossroads...

Naomi Campbell banned by British Airways By Anita Singh and agencies Last Updated: 12:17pm BST 08/04/2008 Naomi Campbell has been banned from flying with British Airways following a row about lost baggage. Miss Campbell has been involved in disruptions at Heathrow before The supermodel, famed for her fiery temper, was removed from a BA flight last Thursday and arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5. Miss Campbell, 37, allegedly spat at the officer during a furious dispute with airline staff. A British Airways spokesman declined to comment, saying: "We do not comment in detail...

A Malaysian newspaper is reporting that Christians in that Muslim nation are being banned from using the word "Allah." "We cannot let other religions use it because it will confuse people," Malaysia's Deputy Internal Security Minister, Johari Baharum, told the DNAIndia publication. He said "only Muslims can use the word 'Allah.'" The issue erupted when a Catholic publication used the now-banned-for-Christians word. Herald, the Catholic Church's weekly newsletter, used the word and was warned it is at risk now of losing its publication permit.

A federal judge has ordered a Louisiana city to stop enforcing an ordinance that banned a Christian man from warning bar patrons about the consequences of their actions, concluding the First Amendment trumps the local law. "Zachary (La.) has no legitimate governmental interest in restricting speech that is too 'annoying' or 'offensive' to listeners," said U.S. District Judge James Brady, who issued a preliminary injunction preventing the city from continuing to enforce its restriction. The case was brought by the Alliance Defense Fund on behalf of John Netherland, a man who had been targeted by authorities in the city of...

Vote at the Holy Observer.

I just received the strangest FReeper email from a "Be4Fred." I'll post it below. And did FReeper "pissant" really get banned for showing support for Duncan Hunter? This whole thing gave me a creepy feeling. ... Subject: Last Warning hello, this is a friendly reminder that you have not yet contributed to FRed’s campaign this month. Please take the time to do so now: https://www.fred08.com/contribute.aspx?RefererID=c637caaa-315c-4b4c-9967-08d864cd0791 And remember, we are coming down the final stretch and we must all rally behind FRed. Now is the time to say NO to RINOS like Duncan Hunter and Mitt Romney. Any show of support...

Midland Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Camp is among lawmakers objecting because the U.S. Capitol's architect won't allow God to be mentioned in certificates of authenticity accompanying flags flown over the Capitol and bought by constitutents. "This is as insulting as it is absurd," Camp said in a prepared statement. "The architect has gone way too far. If we can put 'in God we trust' on our money, then we can certainly put it on a flag certificate when a citizen wants it there." Camp and dozens of other lawmakers are sending a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi...

U.S. Rep. Dave Camp is among lawmakers objecting because the U.S. Capitol's architect won't allow God to be mentioned in certificates of authenticity accompanying flags flown over the Capitol and bought by constitutents. "This is as insulting as it is absurd," Camp said in a prepared statement. "The architect has gone way too far. If we can put 'in God we trust' on our money, then we can certainly put it on a flag certificate when a citizen wants it there." Camp and dozens of other lawmakers are sending a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi calling for...

SACRAMENTO -- Having already laid down the law for his two teenage daughters, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Thursday that will prohibit the rest of Californians under age 18 from using cellphones, text message devices and laptop computers while driving. Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-me-cellphones14sep14,1,4297013.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Tailgating: It's all in the preparationSerious fans set up shop early in Athens as season begins By JENNIFER BRETT The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 09/01/07 Athens — Long before game time, the fields were full of action. Grassy quads throughout the University of Georgia campus started filling up Saturday morning as tailgating season, a cherished Bulldog tradition, began. "Most of this group was here this morning at 9," said Kim Folsom of Sugar Hill, breaking bread with a group of about 50 friends, relatives and co-workers. With relatively mild weather following the recent bout of withering heat, fans turned Athens...

A couple weeks ago I searched The Path To 9/11 on Amazon, and discovered the DVD is listed but not available. A week later on Hannity's America it was mentioned that the maker of the movie keeps asking ABC when the DVD will be available, and he thinks he's getting the run-a-round and that the Clintons might have something to do with it, figuring they will keep it off the market until the election is over! Does anyone have any connections or knowledge about this?

Banned by PBS: Muslims Against Jihad Saturday, June 23 at 9 p.m. ET Repeats Sunday, June 24 at 3 a.m. ET Hosted by E.D. Hill Tune in this weekend, as FOX News Channel presents the documentary the Public Broadcasting System didn't want you to see.

The Banned Bunch Questions are raised as to legitimacy of bannings Erik Myers 4/27/07 They are the unwanted, the unwelcome, and until earlier this week, they were unknown to most of the campus community. These are the University of Northern Colorado's banned individuals: 24 people whose names, along with a mug shots in some cases, have been posted on the UNC Police Department Web site. These are individuals who have been issued persona non grata orders, and are not allowed to step foot onto university property. Those listed on the page include former students and faculty, as well as individuals...

Snoop Dogg banned from Australia Snoop Dogg was also recently denied a UK visa Rapper Snoop Dogg has been banned from entering Australia after failing a character test, according to officials. The star - real name Calvin Broadus - was due to co-host the MTV Australian Video Music Awards on Sunday. The 35-year-old had his visa cancelled after recently pleading no contest to gun and drug charges in the US. "He doesn't seem the sort of bloke we want in this country," Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews told Sydney's Macquarie Radio. Incidents "This man has been a member of a Los...

A soothing summer sound may be making its way back onto Des Moines streets. The City Council will discuss the possibility of allowing ice cream trucks back into neighborhoods. The trucks were banned several years ago when a 9 year-old girl was killed when she was hit by a car while crossing the street. The meeting is scheduled for 4:30 this evening at City Hall.

(CBS) NEW YORK First it was cell phones in cars, then trans fats. Now, a new plan is on the table to ban gadget use while crossing city streets. We all seem to have one -- an iPod, a BlackBerry, a cell phone -- taking up more and more of our time, but can they make us too distracted to walk safely? Some people think so. If you use them in the crosswalk, your favorite electronic devices could be in the crosshairs. Legislation will be introduced in Albany on Wednesday to lay a $100 fine on pedestrians succumbing to what...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Even during this time of year, not everyone is welcoming Santa. A Florida man who looks a lot like Kris Kringle found that out on a recent visit to Walt Disney World, WESH 2 News reported. J.D. Worley, 60, lives in Tampa. During a trip last weekend to Disney, he got a lot of attention from kids and adults, and he played along pretending to be Santa. But then someone complained to Disney management. "I needed to either alter my appearance or I needed to leave the park, because I was impersonating Santa Claus," Worley...

Is there a list of newspapers, magazines, media sources that we are only allowed to excerpt, or link to? Couldn't find a list on the home page. Is one available? Thanks.

Banned: Police ordered to stop calling young tearaways 'yobs' By Ben Leapman, Home Affairs Correspondent (Filed: 01/10/2006) They are the menacing youths who hang about in gangs, causing trouble. For decades they have been known as "yobs". It has been rare for anybody to have a good word to say about them. But now, it seems, police officers are going to have to find a more "polite" way to describe the nation's troublemakers, because Scotland Yard has banned its officers from using the word "yob", for fear that it might alienate young people. The edict has the backing of Sir...

The saga of a Lakeville South High School student banned from home football games took another turn Wednesday -- he'll get to sit in the stands with his friends during football games after all. Donovan Sullivan was kicked out of the stadium two weeks ago for holding up a sign supporting the opposing team. Lakeville south was playing Lakeville North. He said he was bored with the game and did it as a joke. The dean personally removed Sullivan from the game. The school initially told the student that because of what he did, he would no longer be able...

Eugene, Ore., social service agency salvages airport toiletries The Associated Press   EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Airport discards in the response to a terror plot have turned into balm for the homeless in Eugene. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County has started picking up some of the things people have jettisoned for security reasons as they board flights at the Eugene Airport. Charley Harvey, assistant executive director of the charity, dug through trash bags Tuesday and took every bottle of shampoo and shaving cream he could find. The items will be distributed at the organization's First Place...