Free Republic

Obama Flees US, Seeks Asylum In Iran !...says personal views on religion have evolved.

Announcing Surface 3 When we developed Surface Pro 3, we set out to design the tablet that can truly replace your laptop – even your high-end laptop. Today we feel both fortunate and proud that the vision of Surface has become a reality with so many people using Pro 3 and loving the experience... he result is Surface 3, as well as a mobile-broadband version, Surface 3 (4G LTE). It’s the thinnest and lightest Surface we’ve ever shipped. It runs full Windows, including desktop applications. It includes a one-year subscription to Office 365 to help you really get down to...

Astrophysicist and cosmologist Neil DeGrasse Tyson is defending Scientology in light of HBO's highly critical documentary on the church. HBO's documentary "Going Clear" did not show the church in an entirely positive light — Scientology has a built a reputation for tormenting members who leave it either by surveillance or harassment. The film highlights the celebrities who made the religion intriguing to the world as well as the horrific stories of abuse from former members. But Tyson, in an interview with The Daily Beast, declined to bash the controversial church, saying people are free to believe whatever they want. "So,...

The family of a Clemson student who died last year has filed a $25 million lawsuit against the school and three fraternity members, including the son of Delaware U.S. Rep. John Carney. Tucker Hipps, a 19-year-old sophomore, died after going over a bridge railing and into Lake Hartwell on Sept. 22. His family’s lawsuit alleges that Hipps was the victim of a fraternity hazing ritual, according to Columbia, S.C.’s newspaper, The State. Hipps was one of 27 Sigma Phi Epsilon pledges embarking on a pre-dawn pledge run. The suit names Clemson University as well as fraternity members Thomas Carter King,...

CLEMSON, SC — The family of the late Clemson student Tucker Hipps on Monday filed lawsuits seeking more than $50 million in damages from Clemson University, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and three individual fraternity members. The lawsuits allege that the 19-year-old Hipps was the victim of a harassing hazing incident during a 2014 pre-dawn pledge run and that Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers attempted to cover up their role in his death by deleting text messages, cellphone calls and – in one case – changing phone numbers. There has been no ruling on the manner of death, according to Oconee County...

The great conundrum of the U.S. economy today is that we have record numbers of working age people out of the labor ‎force at the same time we have businesses desperately trying to find workers. As an example, the American Transportation Research Institute estimates there are 30,000 – 35,000 trucker jobs that could be filled tomorrow if workers would take these jobs–a shortage that could rise to 240,000 by 2022. While the jobs market overall remains weak, demand is high for in certain sectors. For skilled and reliable mechanics, welders, engineers, electricians, plumbers, computer technicians, and nurses, jobs are plentiful;...

The University of North Dakota is looking for suggestions for a new nickname. The school's nickname committee will be accepting submissions beginning Wednesday until the end of the April. The names must be 25 characters or less. The committee says it is looking for nicknames that are unique, promote pride and strength, represent the state and region, honor the traditions and heritage of the past, and can be a unifying and rallying symbol. A consulting group will research the suggestions for any trademark or copyright infringement. The committee will narrow down the choices for a public vote. The school's Fighting...

A better camera, sharper display and faster charging put Samsung’s new flagship phones ahead in the smartphone race. In this unpredictable world, it’s the constants in life that I can count on. The sun rises in the East, Starbucks lattes always taste the same, and Apple’s iPhones are always better than Samsung’s Galaxy phones. Since the dawn of the smartphone wars, there have been basic truths about Samsungs: They’re made of flimsy plastic, their cameras can’t keep up with the iPhone’s, and their modified Android software is ugly and intolerably cluttered. With the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, which arrive...

Selfie sticks? So lame. Now you can take awesome self portraits with the Selfie Shoe

When a county worker knocked on Abraham Joshua's front door Tuesday morning, he only expected notice that maintenance on a clogged culvert was complete. So, the 70-year-old Grand Rapids resident shuffled over, still dressed in pajamas. "It was still early," Joshua laughed. The news - that a crew from the Kent County Road Commission had found a cherished ring missing for about 20 years - was an awakening. "The man goes, 'Does this belong to you?'" Joshua said. The ring, even after a couple decades buried in dirt, still shined and a cut out of a cross was still visible....

The organization says dogs can help improve their owner’s physical and mental health, so they’re holding a dog-friendly event to celebrate National Walking Day.Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, people can walk a dog or one can be provided at Warm Memorial Park. There will be music and prizes.Leaders with the American Heart Association say inactive people can double their risk of heart disease, which is the number one killer of Americans. To combat that, they recommend everyone get 30 minutes of exercise five times a week. Dog owners are 50-percent more likely to fit...

Snip money quote: However, is it really fair to force a private sector business owner to do something against their First Amendment right to the freedom of religion and the free exercise thereof? And sadly, we have charlatans like Al Sharpton who will try to equate this to race — incomparable. When I walk into an establishment there are two identifying characteristics — male, black. There are no other behavioral aspects that are known, unless, I feel so compelled to broadcast such in an attention-grabbing stunt.

House Speaker John A. Boehner criticized Obama's decision. "The NLRB's ambush election rule is an assault on the rights and privacy protections of American workers," Boehner said. "With his veto, the president has once again put the interests of his political allies ahead of the small-business owners and hardworking Americans who create jobs and build a stronger economy." The rule was a victory for unions, which have long complained that the process is too long. AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka, using language similar to Obama, has said that the board's "modest but important reforms" will help reduce delays and make it...

Tomatoes - A complete planting guide including state specific planting dates and varieties, tips for soil preparation, planting, watering,fertilizing, insect and weed control...

Alex Martin, 25, was pursued by Border Patrol in Pine Valley, California The agents were in unmarked cars They used a spike strip to pull Martin over, smashed his passenger window and then fired a Taser into the car The shot ignited the interior and the car exploded Dashcam footage shows the agents fleeing the scene and not helping Martin burned to death His family are now suing the US federal government The family of a 25-year-old man who died in a car fire in California is now suing the US federal government, claiming a Taser shot by Border Control...

Federal authorities on Tuesday identified the driver killed while trying to ram a stolen SUV through a security checkpoint at the National Security Agency headquarters as a Baltimore resident with a criminal history for robbery and prostitution.. The FBI named Ricky Shawatza Hall, 27, as the driver who died. According to police, Hall and another person ended up at the gates of the huge spy agency Monday morning after stealing the vehicle from a 60-year-old man with whom they had traveled to a budget motel in nearby Elkridge.

In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of “Word for the Day”. VenalAdjective 1. a. Open to bribery; mercenary: a venal police officer. b. Characterized by corrupt dealings, especially bribery: a venal arrangement between the police and the drug dealers. 2. Archaic Obtainable for a price. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-) Practice makes...

Saturn. Rhea spans some 950 miles across, which is less than a third of Titan's diameter. It possesses very high reflective properties mainly caused by water ice that's harder than rock on the moon's extremely frigid surface battered by temperatures of -300 degrees Fahrenheit. Rhea is also heavily pockmarked by huge craters, which is a sign of the extremely ancient beginnings of the solar system. The Cassini mission was launched in 1997 and is a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency. It arrived in Saturn in June 2004. ... Cassini is already on its last legs and...

The Inbox team meanwhile showed us Smartbox - "a better, smarter mailbox that fuses physical mail with everything you love about the electronic kind."

“Joni was found unconscious in her home (Tuesday) afternoon. She regained consciousness on the ambulance ride to an L.A. area hospital,” according to her official website. “She is currently in intensive care undergoing tests and is awake and in good spirits. More updates to come as we hear them. Light a candle and sing a song, let’s all send good wishes her way.” Some of Mitchell’s best-known songs are “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Help Me” and “Free Man in Paris,” but she has penned hits for other artists too.