Free Republic

Any helicopter experts out there? Maybe someone with ties to the industry? I'm looking for statistical information about helicopter use, or someone who can point me to a web source with reliable stats.

The videos, which aired during a federal court hearing over Orleans jail reforms, show one inmate shooting up heroin. Others freely snort drugs behind bars and chat on cell phones. Another inmate releases bullets from a long-barreled handgun onto the ground inside the jail, behind bars.

I don't normally do this, but this poll could be turned around quick. It would also mess with the minds of some biomed scientists. Currently at 58.3% for BHO and 36.5% for Mitt. You will find it on the lower right hand side of the page.

It was a big week for John Besh, even by his eventful standards.... Apparently, several attendees of the “workshop” took Besh to task for lecturing about healthy eating on one hand while serving high calorie food at his restaurants on the other. “I went on to address a complex issue in very simple terms only to only be heckled by those that feel we can regulate restaurants to the point that our children will be happy and healthy,” Besh writes in his blog, which appears on epicurious.com. “In response to these suggestions, I pointed to a variety of other options...

My 6 year old DSL modem is apparently dying. Turning the power on and off to the modem immediately brings it back for a while, but it is unreliable. I added on a router for a workstation and a hardwired network printing and an access point for wireless, but I would like to replace all of these pieces with a single unit. Requirements are compatibility with AT&T DSL, a hardwired network printer and workstation, and N and G wireless. Anyone have suggestions? Thanks.

THIBODAUX, La. – Police are investigating a gruesome homicide involving a 7-year-old boy whose decapitated body was found near the road outside his home in Thibodaux, police said. The 30-year-old live-in boyfriend of the victim's mother is the suspect and had confessed to the crime, according to police. The victim is identified as Jori Lirette, a special needs child who police said had cerebral palsy. (excerpt - more at wwltv.com)

US Rep Rodney Alexander says the only thing Palin's bus tour has accomplished has been "Burning a lot of fuel and adding taxes to our transportation system that we need"

Wind turbines wring energy out of a free-flowing fuel ­supply that may be losing some of its punch. Surface winds appear to be weakening across the Northern Hemisphere, including in the United States, Western Europe, and China—the world's top three markets for wind power. And climate change threatens to weaken them further during this century as faster warming over northern ­latitudes trims the temperature gradients that energize airflows.

Washington—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today launched the first phase of DHS' nationwide "See Something, Say Something" campaign and announced a new national information-sharing partnership with Amtrak as part of the Department's nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) initiative during a whistlestop train tour—highlighting the public's role in keeping our country safe and the Obama administration's commitment to bolstering surface transportation security. ...snip... The reporting system does not and will not focus on the gender or ethnicity of individuals.

NEW ORLEANS -- A longtime Hollywood star is now in the Metro area and in the business of cleaning up oil. Motivated by the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, Kevin Costner began assembling a team of scientists to construct a machine that could clean up massive spills. A decade and a half later, that technology might now be put to use off the coast of Louisiana. A massive oil slick creeping to the coast, vulnerable Louisiana wildlife just miles from its path, and Kevin Costner mingling on the lakefront. These are unusual times, and the Hollywood star is introducing his unusual machine...

Mitch Landrieu appears to be winning election in a landslide (~60%).

What goals and priorities do you think should inform (sic) our nation's Homeland Security policies for the next four years? Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano invites you to participate in the National Dialogue on the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR). This groundbreaking, web-based interactive dialogue is designed to allow a broader range of opinions and ideas to inform the QHSR process, and to strengthen the Department's relationship with its vast array of partners and stakeholders, including other federal agencies, state, local, and tribal governments, law enforcement professionals, first responders, academic institutions, and the business community.

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's minority center-right government lost a vote of confidence on Tuesday, forcing it out of office and undermining policy-making during the global economic downturn.

WASHINGTON -- When the time for voting on the $787 billion economic stimulus bill in the House expired, indicating that all 176 Republicans had voted no, the first exchange in the House press gallery went as follows: Reporter No. 1: "Cao voted no." Reporter No. 2: "Who?"

I heard a series of loud booms coming from the Stennis Space Center tonight before midnight local time, followed by what sounded like claxon horns. Looked out the back door and saw numerous bright flashes reflected from the clouds along with loud booms. Looked like a thunderstorm, but there are no storms in the area. Cold and dry here. Explosions eventually died out after a half hour as did the horns. I'm thinking there was something unexpected going on at Stennis. It is normal to hear rocket tests during the day, but have never before heard anything in the middle...

I was watching the local Fox news affiliate tonight and noticed that when they were showing video of the Pope visiting the synagogue in New York City, that they pixelated the crucifix that he wears. Did anyone else see this? Does Fox have a policy of blurring out religious symbols?

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley on Tuesday used the floor of the Superdome to display more than $1 million in new armament and other equipment, largely for use by the SWAT squad in emergency and riot situations, including a fully equipped mobile command post, two armored cars and modern assault rifles.