Free Republic

Is it me or is Russia and Iran putting the squeeze play on boundary obstacles between them (like mutual democratic neighbors)? Iran has big ambitions about being the de facto nuclear power provider to the entire middle east and nearby 'Stans and Caucausus. Also being the nuclear weapons and missile provider as well to regimes that think like them. Ditto for their natural gas projects as well, more Russian arms, etc. It seems to me that long term, Russia wants a "smooth road" directly to Iran, with no democratic influence in between. So the next step would be puppetizing/removing Azerbajan...

"Once again, the Europeans, and their friends in the pusillanimous wing of the US Left, have demonstrated that, when it come to those postmodern Olympian sports of synchronized self-loathing, team hand-wringing and lightweight posturing, they know how to sweep gold, silver and bronze."

32 point lead

There are two Saturday conferences this month for Catholic Christian men - for any Christian man actually - in Florida, including the first ever in Jacksonville. West Palm beach is the other location. Check the links for more information on these two events. Speakers include Ralph Martin, Scott Hahn, Tim Staples, among others. http://www.floridacatholicmen.org/index2.htm http://www.catholicmenforjesus.com/tix_05.htm

During and after the Cold War, there have been a bunch of video games, and films/TV shows dealing with the United States chief ideological and international opponent, the Soviet Union.

I just saw it on F/X. If you enjoy mixed martial arts films - with real expert martial artists not just actors learning how to kick - and Russian culture context with a Rocky-ish hero fights the system theme, rent it and watch it now!

My grandfather passed away on Saturday morning at 96 years old after a five week hospital stay. Born in Salem, Mass, graduated Boston College with a Masters in Physics and a four year letterman in football (defensive tackle at 175 lbs!) track and basketball....

Where have all the sci-fi films gone? Those simple, thought-provoking speculative tales about how people respond to something new, what kind of moral choices they make, keeping traditions in the face of technological change. Essentially, the kind of films that were thought provoking and story/character driven - Day the Earth Stood Still, Planet of Apes, 12 Monkeys, Minority Report (more action though but good), etc. The "Superhero and Fantasy Genre Craze" since Spiderman and LOTR has really eaten up a lot of support for original sci-fi works to film... For 2008, we have two horror/slasher types "I Am Legend" (Omega...

"Liberal activists are stepping up their campaign against Fox News Channel by pressuring advertisers not to patronize the network. MoveOn.org, the Campaign for America's Future and liberal blogs like DailyKos.com are asking thousands of supporters to monitor who is advertising on the network. Once a database is gathered, an organized phone-calling campaign will begin, said Jim Gilliam, vice president of media strategy for Brave New Films, a company that has made anti-Fox videos. The groups have successfully pressured Democratic presidential candidates not to appear at any debate sponsored by Fox, and are also trying to get Home Depot Inc. to...

" Caracas, Venezuela · Venezuela is studying buying Russian submarines that would transform the South American country into the top naval force in the region, a military adviser to President Hugo Chavez said Thursday. Gen. Alberto Muller, responding to a Russian newspaper report that Chavez plans to sign a deal for five diesel submarines, said the government is "analyzing the possibilities" but that the money has not yet been set aside. Oil-rich Venezuela has already purchased $3 billion worth of arms from Russia, including 53 military helicopters, 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles and 24 SU-30 Sukhoi fighter jets."

"In two previous books, Osama's Revenge and The Al Qaeda Connection, seasoned investigative reporter Paul Williams revealed the alarming potential for nuclear terrorism on U.S. soil and the sinister connections among organized crime, illegal immigrants, and al Qaeda. Now, Williams broadens his focus beyond al Qaeda to provide readers with newly uncovered information on terrorist activities in Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, other Muslim countries--and our neighbor Canada! What emerges is a harrowing picture of international terrorist activities, all aimed at the destruction of the United States and the collapse of the Western world. This cataclysm will usher in "the Day of...

"Under the agreement, Venezuela will cover shipping costs, aid in the development of distribution infrastructure and storage sites, contribute to the formation of state-controlled facilities, and provide fuel-efficient systems in member countries. The one catch is PetroCaribe will only deal with a state controlled entity, meaning that the PetroCaribe agreement is based on eliminating all intermediaries. “We’re not talking about discounts…We’re talking about financial facilities, direct deliveries of products, [and] infrastructure,” said Energy and Petroleum Minister and President of PDVSA, Rafael Ramírez; the goal is to cut down on unnecessary, middlemen costs......"

"Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning met in Caracas yesterday to sign an energy agreement between the two oil producing countries. Despite previous conflicts regarding regional energy agreements, the two nations took a historical step forward in terms of economic integration, agreeing to unify the oil and gas reserves found along their maritime border...."

This isn't Sorbo's first time playing a man of God. He portrays a priest in the upcoming Sci Fi Channel movie "Something Beneath," he guest-starred as a former priest on UPN's "Love, Inc," and played a priest in the indie film "Clipping Adam." Sorbo, best known for playing the title role in "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," also starred in "Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda."

This is a re-broadcast from earlier this week. He was asked about Abortion from a woman in the diner, and he said "It should be up to the states, should be a state's choice, I don't believe in a roe v. wade type decision for all the states". Regarding health care and other stuff, he said they "found a way to make it work in their state" (Massachussets?)

On AMC now.

"U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will visit Damascus next week for talks with Syrian officials, a U.S. Embassy official said Friday, making her the highest-ranking American politician to come to Syria since relations began souring in 2003. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said Pelosi would be leading a delegation of members of Congress and would arrive on Tuesday and leave Wednesday."

New York City will be protected by a ring of devices to detect nuclear or dirty bombs before the end of the year, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday. A dirty bomb is one that spreads radiation without employing a nuclear explosion. The Department of Homeland Security hopes the circle of sensors will give warning if a bomb is transported into the city by land.

They are calling homes for questions on the 2010 Census, on the Media's coverage of the Iran, Iraq, Global warming, the Patriot Act. Takes about 7-10 min, but good opportunity to get the conservative voice out there and show support on certain topics.

I apologize in advance for the breech of protocol, a bit of a timely matter here. I am using a 2003 CRS report on Judicial Nominations for a debate. Does anyone have a link to a more up to date table(s) showing the percentage of President Bush's nominees have been confirmed and/or received a vote?