Free Republic

PLATTSBURGH -- Carl Roberts was enjoying a pleasant evening with friends Thursday while fishing at Wilcox Dock. They had been casting their lines since 6 p.m. and had caught quite a few perch, but the fish unexpectedly stopped biting around 8 p.m. The wind was calm, the sun was still shining above the western horizon, and Lake Champlain was as tranquil as could be. RAPID MOVEMENT But then, a movement out on the lake caught the angler's attention. Something in the water was moving rapidly from left to right about 100 yards beyond the dock. "It had to be 50...

BURLINGTON, Vt.- A cell-phone video of a mysterious object in Lake Champlain has some wondering if it's "Champ," a legendary Loch Ness-style monster said to roam the lake's depths. The video, taken by Eric Olsen, of Burlington, shows an object moving through the water in a small cove, apparently swimming and raising its head above the surface several times.

NEW ORLEANS - Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti looked down at the litter of empty oyster shells in front of him and savored the sweet taste of victory. For Crazy Legs Conti, the bitter taste of defeat could be washed away only by beer. The Acme World Oyster Eating championship belt — leather, with a silver dish featuring an oyster on the half-shell — hung on Bertoletti's skinny hips. The 22-year-old Chicago resident took the title Saturday by slurping 35 dozen of the big bivalves in eight minutes. "I could probably do a couple dozen more, especially if they were charbroiled,"...

HARACTER COUNTS; some- times it counts in the count. In Florida, Arizona Sen. John McCain yesterday won the Republican primary, overcoming big disadvantages favoring former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. What disadvantages? Let us, well, count. Mr. Romney built a huge campaign apparatus in Florida over the last year, while Mr. McCain, since his campaign nearly expired last summer, was able to do very little organizationally in the Sunshine State. Many Floridians voted early--before Mr. McCain picked up the endorsements of Florida U.S. Sen. Mel Marinez and the state's governor, John Crist (to say nothing of Sly Stallone). The number of...

On July 25, 2007, Congress introduced The Childrens' Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act of 2007 (H.R. 3162) which attacks physician hospitals. Section 651 of the CHAMP bill has the effect of abolishing the right of physicians to own and operate hospitals. All referrals by physicians to hospitals in which they have an ownership interest would be banned under passages in the late pages of the initial draft. Additionally, all existing physician hospitals would be prevented from any growth or expansion, and would face severe curtailment in ownership, funding, and operating abilities.

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Despite opposition from pro-life groups because of concerns that it could lead to taxpayer-funding of abortions or euthanasia, the House approved the CHAMP bill Wednesday night that revises the SCHIP program for health care for poor children. The House eventually approved the bill by a mostly party-line vote of 225 to 204. Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican, outlined the concerns pro-life advocates had about the proposal.His top concern was the scrapping of the Unborn Child Rule, which the Bush administration put in place to give states the option of providing medical coverage to pregnant...

Anti-life "HillaryCare" Socialized Med Scheme Back as House Passes CHAMP Bill; Senate Follows Suit Today Cuts funding for abstinence, covers abortifacient drugs, leaves Seniors with less options By Peter J. Smith WASHINGTON, D.C., August 2, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The advent of socialized health care and massive taxpayer abortion subsidies may take the United States by stealth, unless the new health care bill proposed by Democrats Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Rep. John Dingle (D-MI) is vetoed by President Bush. Today the US House of Representatives voted 225-204 for a massive expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a...

The Senate is now debating a bill to take low-income children (including illegals and children of illegals) off of state-run health insurance programs in order to stick them on some new federal health insurance program. Trent Lott just said the proposal before them is already $60 billion over "the baseline"..."and that's before it's even gone to committee." Sorry I couldn't fit a BOHICA alert in the title, but still thought some of you might want to know this is going on right now, live.

(CNSNews.com) - House Republicans said Thursday they hope to block provisions of a Democratic bill to expand health care coverage for poor children that could open up the coverage to illegal immigrants. The Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act would expand the existing State Children's Health Insurance Program - more than doubling it in size - and "improve beneficiary protections under the Medicare, Medicaid and the [SCHIP] program." As Cybercast News Service previously reported, the bill has come under fire from Republicans who view its expansions in coverage as a step toward nationalized health care. Republicans are now also...

LAS VEGAS – Diego Corrales, a former world champion boxer who scored one of the most memorable knockouts in boxing history, died Monday in a three-vehicle accident near his Las Vegas home. Corrales was driving a 2007 Suzuki 1000 motorcycle, traveling northbound on Fort Apache Road in the southwest part of the city, when it inexplicably struck the back of a 1997 Honda Accord, Las Vegas police spokesman Sgt. Tracy McDonald said. McDonald said the motorcycle careened into the southbound lane and, at some point, he was tossed off the bike. A 2004 Mercedes-Benz traveling in the southbound lane was...

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - April 23, 2007 - Think Rock, Paper, Scissors is just a kids' game? Try telling that to Ray Scott, a burly 64-year-old retiree.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Former WBA heavyweight champion Greg Page, who sustained brain damage during a 2001 fight, remained on life support Saturday. The 47-year-old boxer was in the intensive care unit at Jewish Hospital. He has acute respiratory failure, sepsis, hypothermia and seizures. "His fever has gone down a bit, but he's still on the ventilator," hospital spokeswoman Angie Rose said. Page was left with brain injuries from his fight five years ago against Dale Crowe. He slipped into a coma, then had a stroke during post-fight surgery. He is paralyzed on his left side and uses a wheelchair. Last...

Residents near Lake Champlain in New York say they have their own Loch Ness monster. They call it Champ, and it's a local legend. It is the inspiration for parade floats, T-shirts, key chains, minor-league baseball team mascots, and wild stories. ABC News obtained exclusive video of something just under the surface of the lake that some say may be Champ. The video was taken by two fishermen with their digital camera last summer. Before their supposed sighting, they were Champ skeptics. "It was as big around as my thigh," said fisherman Peter Bodette. "I'm 100 percent sure of what...

Vermonters Wonder What They Saw in Lake CHARLOTTE, Vt. (AP) -- Two Vermonters fishing for salmon last month just beyond the mouth of the Ausable River on the New York side of the lake saw ripples on the smooth surface. Later, when they saw it again, Dick Affolter and Pete Bodette, Affolter's 34-year-old stepson, used a digital camera to take pictures and video. "We saw something on that lake we've never seen before," said Bodette. "Is what we saw the same thing other people saw, and they called Champ? I don't know." Champ is the name that has been given...

BEAVER, Okla. - James Pratt has a chip on his shoulder -- a cow chip. The local fire chief is ready to defend his title Saturday at the World Champion Cow Chip Throwing Contest. About 150 people usually compete in the event, choosing from about 230 cow chips. Each contestant gets two throws, with the longest distance winning. Pratt throws with an overhand, baseball-like motion. "I've seen people throw like a discus and under their leg," he said. "They've tried everything." He says he doesn't practice but takes care selecting his chips, looking for those that are about 6 inches...

I have become responsible for two dogs due to a death in the family.

<p>BURLINGTON, Vt. -- On a chilly morning in June, a team of scientists using underwater microphones picked up a series of strangely high-pitched ticking and chirping noises, similar to what a dolphin or Beluga whale would make. Trouble is, they were miles from the ocean, on Lake Champlain.</p>