Free Republic

Enlarge ImageOutlier. Astronomers think they have found an intermediate-mass black hole (bright blue object) just outside a distant galaxy. Credit: Heidi Sagerud Heavyweight and lightweight black holes abound in the universe, but nobody has detected a middleweight--and some scientists argue they don't exist. Now, astronomers say they have found the first conclusive evidence for one of these elusive objects at the fringe of a distant galaxy. Estimated to be at least 500 times more massive than the sun, the discovery could plug a large gap in the cosmic menagerie, though it leaves unanswered questions about this type of black...

(LEAD) N. Korean missile launches aimed at improving accuracy: official SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's latest missile launches appear to have been aimed at improving the missiles' accuracy, a South Korean official said Sunday, noting the launches may have provided some results. "Five out of seven missiles North Korea fired yesterday landed within the same area in the East Sea, about 420 kilometers from the launch site," the official said, asking not to be identified. "This means the accuracy of North Korean missiles is improving," the official added. North Korea is said to have about 1,000 ballistic missiles...

North Korea Promotes 'healthy' Beer Click the following link to see the commerical Yahoo! version http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=14302166&ch=4226714&src=news Youtube version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g48n48rY03E

MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has used an interview with a Russian opposition newspaper to support Kremlin chief Dmitry Medvedev's publicly declared aim of building a freer society in Russia. Medvedev, who was sworn in as Russian president in May 2008, has sought to strike a more liberal tone than his predecessor and mentor, ex-KGB spy Vladimir Putin, though officials say Russia's two leaders are united on all major issues. In an interview to be published in Novaya Gazeta newspaper on Monday, the first day of Obama's trip to Moscow, the U.S. leader said he supported Medvedev's statements on...

Using a clinical technique pioneered by his laboratory in Israel, Dr. Michael Shechter of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine and the Heart Institute of Sheba Medical Center was able to visualize what happens inside our arteries before, during and after eating high carb foods. Doctors have known for decades that foods like white bread and corn flakes aren’t good for cardiac health. But, this new landmark study shows exactly how these high carb foods increase the risk for heart problems.

Venezuelan official: Radio licenses to be revokedThe head of Venezuela's telecommunications regulatory agency said Friday that 240 radio stations will have their licenses revoked for failing to update their registrations with the government. Critics warn the move could be aimed at punishing radio stations that are critical of the government. A total of 86 AM radio stations and 154 FM stations have failed to turn in required documents, said Diosdado Cabello, who heads the telecommunications agency. He said "an administrative proceeding is being opened immediately" and will lead to the "recovery of all those concessions by the state." Cabello, a...

Any politician willing to treat their job as a temporary one is a politician worth looking at. Like most everyone else, I sat back and scratched my head in consternation at the announcement that Sarah Palin was resigning as governor of Alaska. Its either a bold or stupid move, I thought. I placed it on the slow cook burner in my brain and let it soak in. At first glance, you say “Well thats a mistake! She shot herself in the foot!” Then I asked myself “What happens when you decide you dont want to run for re election?” Are...

Fresno, CA (KFSN) -- Before setting off fireworks Saturday night, a few thousand Central Valley residents met in Tulare to rally against the use of state and the federal taxes. Organizers said 15,000 ralliers showed up in Tulare Saturday ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqpDmc1HYWY

Australia probes navy 'sex game' HMAS Success carries a crew of 220 male and female sailors An investigation is under way in Australia over claims that navy sailors competed with each other to bed their female colleagues for cash prizes. According to Channel Seven news, sailors on board HMAS Success put a cash value on each woman's head. Sleeping with a female officer or a lesbian, or having sex in a strange place, won more money, the report said. The Defence Department confirmed that a number of individuals had been sent back to Australia for interviews. HMAS Success, which has...

Those who wish to keep the internet free and open had best dust off their legal arguments. One of America's most influential conservative judges, Richard Posner, has proposed a ban on linking to online content without permission. The idea, he said in a blog post last week, is to prevent aggregators and bloggers from linking to newspaper websites without paying: Expanding copyright law to bar online access to copyrighted materials without the copyright holder's consent, or to bar linking to or paraphrasing copyrighted materials without the copyright holder's consent, might be necessary to keep free riding on content financed by...

The Jefferson Area Tea Party is rallying against Fifth District Congressman Tom Perriello. Thursday afternoon, the group held a protest at Perriello's office on Second Street in Charlottesville. They are upset with Perriello's support of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The group says the bill, which still being debated by the Senate, is an energy tax. Those people who support the initiative say it reduces the amount of carbon that electric utilities, oil refiners, and certain industries can emit. Perriello voted for the so-called "cap and trade bill", which passed the House 219 to 212.

JULY 3, 2009 New Evidence on the Foreclosure Crisis Zero money down, not subprime loans, led to the mortgage meltdown. Article STAN LIEBOWITZ. What is really behind the mushrooming rate of mortgage foreclosures since 2007? The evidence from a huge national database containing millions of individual loans strongly suggests that the single most important factor is whether the homeowner has negative equity in a house -- that is, the balance of the mortgage is greater than the value of the house. This means that most government policies being discussed to remedy woes in the housing market are misdirected. Many policy...

Reports: Former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry Arrested The charges against Barry reportedly involve a domestic situation, but allegations against him are unclear. FOXNews.com Sunday, July 05, 2009 Washington D.C. councilman and former mayor Marion Barry was arrested Saturday night, police told NBC 4 in Washington. "It's my understanding that he was taken into custody," Park Police Chief Sal Lauro told the Washington Post. The charges against Barry reportedly involve a domestic situation, but allegations against him are unclear. Barry served four terms as mayor and is known for brushes with the law.

I want to wait until after Independence Day was over before I posted this. Obama didn't do much in the way of appearances today -- but he did send an email to his 'supporters.' He "rewrites" history in the following email. "Friend -- This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let's also remember the remarkable story that led to this day. Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when...

The Band View from the playground: I could not back up far enough to go get the whole crowd into the shot. People were spread out everywhere: Viva la Raspa!

Bomb Blast Near South Philippine Cathedral Kills 3 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS July 5, 2009 MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Suspected Muslim guerrillas detonated a bomb near a Roman Catholic cathedral in the southern Philippines on Sunday, killing at least three people and wounding more than two dozen others. The bomb exploded outside the Immaculate Conception cathedral in Cotabato city as churchgoers walked out after attending Mass. Two passers-by were killed instantly in the attack and a third died on the way to a hospital, said regional military commander Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton. The improvised explosive was hidden near a row...

Global warming is so last century Obama, Democrats willing to wreck U.S. economy to battle a nonthreat. President Barack Obama was supposed to be "cool." But he isn't. He's square. Not just mildly so, but embarrassingly square. He's squaresville squared. It's like you're having a party with your friends, and he's the cringe-making middle-age parent who wants to show he digs where the young people are at by grooving around in the middle of the dance floor all night long. How do I know? I've been there, and I've been square. By "there," I mean I've been in places that...

Secret “doomsday” plans for 20% cuts in public spending are being prepared by senior civil servants, who fear politicians are failing to confront the scale of the budget black hole. Whitehall mandarins have begun creating detailed dossiers containing reductions in expenditure that are far deeper than the more modest savings being proposed by Labour and Conservative politicians. The disclosure comes as Gordon Brown faces a mutiny inside No 10 over his failure to admit that a future Labour government would have to reduce public spending. Downing Street advisers have warned the prime minister they are ready to quit unless he...

DALLAS - Celebrating Independence Day for one group means voicing their frustration with the government. Tea party rallies were held in cities across the country and one of the largest took place at Southfork Ranch near Plano. Even the youngest generation got involved this Independence Day. They took part in America's Tea Party, a growing and conservative grass roots movement trying to put a stop to what it calls a "tax and spend" government. "This whole thing transcends party lines. It's important for everyone to stick up for their freedom," said 18-year-old Beau Brehm of McKinney. Brehm and his friends...