I browse FR at this address
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/browse
It's hard not to "read about it" when a good number of what you hope are legit threads are actually silly vanites. Like this one.
Who is forcing you to click the threads? Or how about this? Since you are into only 'real' news, just look at the breaking news bar.
My mistake...you are not criticizing the story itself, but the single-thought vanities. A legitimate complaint.
Please accept my apologies.
SD