Free Republic

BILLIONAIRE Richard Branson has refused to leave his private Necker Island in the British Virgin Island despite Hurricane Irma threatening to strike. Virgin boss Mr Branson said he would not leave the island he owns to escape the Hurricane Irma storm, which is becoming one of the largest on record, bringing with it 185mph winds. The National Hurricane Centre has warned the rainfall could cause life-threatening flash floods, torrential rain, fierce winds and mudslides. Earlier today the hurricane was upgraded to a Category 5 storm. Writing on his blog, Mr Branson said: “The devastation that hurricanes can cause cannot be...

In what turned out to be a nightmare for the defendant, a federal jury on Thursday ruled that Jammie Thomas-Rasset willfully violated the copyrights on 24 songs. Record companies were awarded $80,000 per song, for a total of $1.92 million. This is the second time Thomas-Rasset went to trial on the matter. The single mother from Minnesota had planned to appeal the first ruling that came down from a different federal court in October 2007. But the judge in that case decided he had given the jury erroneous instructions and a new trial was ordered. Thomas-Rasset may wish she had...

Bruce Dickson a contestant on American Idol Dallas, Jan 24, 2008 / 02:07 am (CNA).- A 19-year-old contestant for the “American Idol” singing competition faced scrutiny from judges and celebrity commentators after revealing he is a virgin who has never kissed a girl, Cybercast News Service reports.Bruce Dickson, a show contestant from Bostrop, Texas, at the American Idol Dallas auditions was asked to share something interesting about himself.   He told the judges he had never kissed a girl."What?" Randy Jackson asked. "On purpose?" “On purpose," Dickson said. "On my wedding day, that will be my first kiss." Jackson's advice to...