Free Republic

Anti-abortion group must pay legal fees UNION-TRIBUNE A judge has ordered an anti-abortion group to pay $77,835 in legal fees that Planned Parenthood incurred while fighting a lawsuit that would have required counselors to tell women that abortions increase the risk of breast cancer. The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Thomas More Law Center filed the suit on behalf of three California women. Superior Court Judge Ronald Prager dismissed the suit in March, saying it infringed upon Planned Parenthood's free-speech rights. The judge also said there was little likelihood the lawsuit would succeed. Last week, he ordered the Thomas More Center to...

(snip)...Can it be true that these PBS clowns, like sponges, have no conscious awareness of what they do or say? Like motile sponges, they seem to lurch through life reacting to stimuli at the most basic level. Yet, the attribution of political theory to sponges is quite clear here. Sponges which compete are bad capitalist sponges. They would attend a football game if they were human.Sponges which cooperate are good socialist sponges. The very essence of communalism. They would support a no-grade system in a public school -- thus relieving union (communally-acting) teachers of the necessity of lowering standards to...

"Generations before you We destroyed when they did wrong: their apostles came to them with clear-signs, but they would not believe! thus do We requite those who sin! " The Quran, Yunus, 13The increasing demands by leading American analysts, asking the US administration to intensify the “war of ideas,” clearly show that they have somehow assumed that the US has the best ideas and it has the best way of life. The Muslim world in particular has to accept these ideas and this way of life. The US must get engaged in a “war of ideas” through a “war within...

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) -- The FBI is advising law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for terrorists who possibly are plotting to use fuel tankers in attacks against Jewish neighborhoods and synagogues, a federal law enforcement official said.</p> <p>This official, who asked not to be identified, said the warning was sent out to local police agencies Friday.</p>

This is TROA's legislative update for Friday, June 21, 2002. Issue 1:  Senate Approves Concurrent Receipt Amendment.  The Senate hasadopted an amendment to the FY 2003 Defense Authorization Bill which wouldfully eliminate the VA disability compensation offset to military retiredpay for all disabled retirees with 20 or more years of service, effectiveOctober 1, 2002. Issue 2:  Administration Issues Veto Threat.  A letter released by theOffice of Management and Budget on June 19 said the President's advisorswould recommend that he veto the FY2003 Defense Authorization Bill if itincludes a plan for partially or fully eliminating the disability offsetto military retired pay. ...

<p>A 17-year-old died after he jumped from the Route 528 bridge into Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park.</p> <p>State police in Butler reported they received a call from the boy's companions when he didn't emerge from the water. The Prospect Volunteer Fire Department found the boy after a short search.</p>

CAIRO, Egypt -- Statements on a Web site attributed to al-Qaida's spokesman claim that Osama bin Laden will soon make a televised addressed to the Muslim world. The remarks, purportedly made by Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, appeared on an Arabic-language Web site that issues daily updates on the war in Afghanistan. "We assure Muslims that Sheik Osama bin Laden is in good health, and all that has been reported about his sickness or his being injured in Tora Bora is completely false. The sheik will address the (Muslim) community soon in a televised interview," Abu Ghaith was quoted as saying....

NEW YORKERS are spoiling for a fight. When Buddhist actor Richard Gere urged a concert crowd in Madison Square Garden last October to meet terrorism with "love, compassion and understanding," the audience booed and jeered. This month, Rabbi Yakove Lloyd announced that – in response to terrorist threats – Jews would begin patrolling Brooklyn neighborhoods with shotguns. Call it the "Spirit of 9-11." A silent mobilization is sweeping the city. New Yorkers, young and old, are coming to grips with the fact that it is better to die fighting than to simply die. Unfortunately, city officials don’t agree. The gap...

The Republicans beat the Democrats 9-2 in Thursday night's annual Congressional baseball game. Some of the Republicans in the stands heckled the Democrats for not having any women on this year's team. Earlier Story: (CNSNews.com) - For the first time in years, there will be no women playing for the Democrats and three women playing for the Republicans in Thursday night's 41st annual congressional baseball game. Democrats have fielded women on their team since the game went co-ed in 1993. Playing for the GOP are Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, Heather Wilson of New Mexico and first-term lawmaker Shelley Moore...

<p>CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jurors in the trial of two brothers accused being part of a Hezbollah cell sent questions to the judge Friday indicating they are deadlocked on at least one charge.</p> <p>When they ended deliberations Thursday, jurors had said they thought they might have a verdict by lunchtime Friday.</p>

<p>CAIRO, Egypt (AP) --  Statements on a Web site attributed to al-Qaida's spokesman claim that Osama bin Laden will soon make a televised addressed to the Muslim world.</p> <p>The remarks, purportedly made by Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, appeared on an Arabic-language Web site that issues daily updates on the war in Afghanistan.</p>

IN ITS MOST RECENT IMPOTENT attempt to put an end to the suicidal butchery arriving from the Palestinian territories, the Israeli government has proposed a fence that would run from the Salem checkpoint in the north to Kafr Qasem in the south, while another stretch of fence would run through the Jerusalem area. The planned length of the entire fence is around 115 kilometers, and it will cost around $1 million per kilometer. There has already been impassioned disagreement over how advantageous such a fence would be, considering it seemingly abandons Jews on the wrong side of the green...

Would a Nader run in 2004 snatch FL away from the Dems again??? Friday, June 21, 2002 Nader to be in Portland; might run again for office Press Herald Staff Reporter, Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. PORTLAND - Ralph Nader, the consumer advocate turned Green Party presidential candidate who has been accused by some Democrats of being a spoiler in the 2000 election, is apologizing to no one. In fact, the well-known political activist, who will make an appearance in Portland at the end of the month, is considering another presidential run in two years. "Let's see who...

Rainbow Sports, a division of the Rainbow/PUSH Wall Street Project, will salute black coaches at its Sports Awards Banquet July 23, 2002 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 151 E. Wacker Drive in Chicago. The awards banquet will be part of the Rainbow/PUSH Annual Conference and Trade Exposition July 20-24 at the Hyatt Regency. Those scheduled to receive awards include Male Coach of the Year Mike Davis, men's basketball coach at Indiana University who took his team to the college championship game this year; Female Coach of the Year Marianna Freeman, women's basketball coach at Syracuse University; Male Athlete of the...

<p>Meanwhile, Israeli forces mistakenly fired at a crowd with tank shells Friday, killing four Palestinians, including three children, the Israel Defense Forces said.</p> <p>In Tel Aviv, the Israeli Security Cabinet voted to give the IDF the green light to re-enter towns and villages it occupied during Operation Defensive Shield -- Israel's campaign to eliminate what it said was a terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank -- and stay as long as necessary, government sources said.</p>

Bob Peeler vs. Mark Sanford. They're the two candidates in a run-off next week to be the Republican nominee for governor of South Carolina. For some reason, Sanford is often described as the moderate in the race and Peeler as the conservative. It's true that Sanford backed McCain and Peeler backed Bush in 2000, and that became, especially in South Carolina, a moderate-vs.-conservative fight (although it wasn't obvious in 1999 that it would turn out that way). But Sanford is in fact an exemplary conservative. Elected in 1994, he quickly became one of the leading lights of the "Republican revolution."...

I was just watching Fox News Channel, and they had a story about "Love Life", a program in South Africa that is responding to the AIDS crisis by encouraging teenagers to opt for oral sex instead of penetrative sex to help reduce the risk of exposure and transmission.I couldn't find a FR thread on this, and this ceratinly seems like a topic that should be here. Here's a link to the International Planned Parenthood Federation's promotional page for the program. The headline? Young People are sexual beings This seems like a simple concept, yet for many people it is difficult...

List of 2004 Democratic Candidates   By The Associated Press Jun 21, 2002 : 2:45 am ET Democrats talked about as 2004 presidential candidates:THE CORE GROUPTOM DASCHLE: The Senate majority leader from South Dakota is always mentioned because of his role as the top elected Democrat. Associates say he is preoccupied with keeping the Senate in Democratic hands, but his work carries him to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, states that have competitive Senate races and early presidential contests.HOWARD DEAN: The Vermont governor is among the most active of the potential candidates though many consider him a long...

<p>MILWAUKEE - It's the most famous motorized sausage in the nation, but even the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile can't drive on a restricted road next to the Pentagon.</p> <p>The crew of the 27-foot-long hot dog on wheels got grilled by police when it mistakenly traveled on a road closed to commercial traffic.</p>

Thousands of mysterious objects land on shore BY STEVE JUSSEAUME sjusseaume@seacoastonline.com HAMPTON - Maritime tumbleweed? Whelk egg cases? Plastic fishing line? Extraterrestrial seed pods? Natural cleansers? Everyone has a theory over the tens of thousands of round Brillo pad-like balls washed up with the incoming tide last weekend along the coast off Hampton. What they exactly are has caused a debate among beach-goers, marine scientists and casual viewers alike this week. The soft, spongy balls, the size of golf or tennis balls, appeared with the incoming tide along a 300-yard stretch of sandy beach beginning at Northside Beach, just north...