Free Republic

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Fresh data on Thursday showed the US economy limping toward the end of 2010, its fitness much improved over last year, but with the recovery still hobbled by high unemployment and weak demand. When President Barack Obama gave an end-of-year press conference on Wednesday, his assessment was that the world's largest economy "had passed the crisis point." A slew of unemployment, inflation, consumer spending, factory and housing data on Thursday seemed to back up that assessment. But it also showed the distance left to travel. The Labor Department reported new claims for unemployment benefits -- an important...

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, July 14, 2009 – Joint operations have become a key term for U.S. and Afghan forces, particularly for soldiers assigned to the Cherokee Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, here. U.S. soldiers from Cherokee Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, and Afghan National Army soldiers near the end of a two-day patrol into the western Kherwar district of Afghanistan’s Logar province, July 2, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jaime' D. DeLeon  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The soldiers patrol local villages nearly every day, typically with Afghan security forces by their side. “Seventy percent of...

Djiboutian Town Brighter with Task Force Help The Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa project to improve streetlights included fixing broken power poles and replacing cable. By U.S. Army Sgt. Sam Smith Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa ADAILOU, Djibouti, April 28, 2006 — Life in the small African township here is a little brighter now because Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa assisted with improvements to streetlights in the town. The project included fixing eight broken power poles, replacing electrical cable and providing a diesel generator. "This project is an investment in your future," said U.S. Navy Rear...

Fish diet 'brings a brighter baby' By Roger Highfield, Science Editor (Filed: 20/01/2006) Pregnant women who eat more fish, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, tend to have brighter, more sociable children, claim researchers. The amount of omega-3 helps to determine the child's intelligence, fine motor skills - the ability to manipulate small objects and hand and eye co-ordination - and the propensity to anti-social behaviour, says a study by Dr Joseph Hibbeln, of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.Omega-3 is found in oily fish like salmon The findings, which were presented to a meeting in London this week, show...

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (Nov. 17, 2005) -- With only six weeks until Christmas, many people have started their holiday shopping. However, not everyone can afford to spend hundreds of dollars on presents. For those Marines and sailors – E-5 and below – on Marine Corps Base Quantico who might be a little tight on cash this holiday season, the Adopt-A-Family program is ready to help. The program, which was started in 1989 by the Personal Readiness and Community Services Center here, is designed to support readiness and enhance the morale of the leathernecks and sailors on base during...

It's no joke - blondes are simply brighter October 01 2003 at 02:32AM By Lee Rondganger In response to the age-old dumb-blonde jokes, fairer-haired women are fighting back and having the last laugh. This is according to a survey in FHM magazine which found that blondes are better than brunettes. The results are part of fun research to establish which kind of woman makes the better girlfriend. The findings will be published in the November edition. FHM put a team of blonde and brunette celebrities through a series of nine challenges. These ranged from general knowledge and drinking to endurance...