Free Republic

<p>Going to school these days isn’t what it used to be. Kids are marched through metal detectors on the way to a disappointing lunch of arugula with a side of alfalfa sprouts. Now they’re ruining recess. Swings in Seattle are now forbidden.</p>

Master Sgt. Ronald Petersen looks on as Master Sgt. Paul Julbes and Master Sgt. Marvin Wagoner push children on a swing set the airmen just built at the Umut-Nadjeshda Children's Rehabilitation Center Aug. 20 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Les Waters Airmen Swing into Action Top Three Council delivers, sets up swing set for children. By Staff Sgt. Les Waters 376th Air Expeditionary Wing BAGHDAD, Aug. 30, 2007 — What do you get when you combine 11 airmen, a swing set and about 60 children? A recipe for success. Members from the Manas Air...

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Atoning for a year in which California voters turned against him, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger confessed to a litany of political sins last month but took solace in a few words, "I led from my heart." A lot of voters might wonder what that means. After executing political pirouettes to the right and left, Schwarzenegger is struggling to re-establish the centrist appeal that helped elect him to office in 2003. Last year, he pushed a slate of losing ballot measures that alienated independents and Democrats. Shortly after the election, he angered conservatives within his own party by...

A key panel of the California Public Employees' Retirement System endorsed a plan Tuesday to reduce wild swings in government contributions, following calls for a pension overhaul by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other critics. Under the plan, CalPERS would revamp a formula used to calculate annual pension contribution rates for the state, cities and other government agencies. It would also spread investment gains and losses over a 15-year period instead of three years, as it does now. At the same time, trustees agreed to explore legislation to create reserve accounts that government officials can tap to meet their pension payments...