Free Republic

The Schwarzenegger administration has quietly shut down virtually all expansion of California's state parks -- even land paid for with private donations, the Mercury News has learned. Saying the state cannot afford new rangers, fences, signs and maintenance, Schwarzenegger officials in the state Department of Finance are refusing to buy almost any new land or accept new scenic beaches, forests and historic sites into public ownership. The policy was put into place by the state Public Works Board, an obscure panel appointed by the governor that approves funding for state buildings, college classrooms, prisons, parks and other facilities.

This year, firework enthusiasts can get their hands on some of the world's most notorious terrorists at some of the firework stands. Stars and Stripes at the corner of 23rd Street and 33rd Avenue carries the new "Exploding Terrorist Heads." These cone-shaped devices have cartoon images of Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and Yasser Arafat on them - all with a fuse located atop each fountain head. "We don't show them or promote them," said Tammi Gotschall, who was in charge of sales Tuesday afternoon. "People will see them."

Beijing - Beer bottles that exploded in the hot summer weather were one of the biggest health risks Chinese consumers faced last year, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. Complaints about food safety rose by nearly 25 percent in 2003 as newly wealthy Chinese consumers looked for quality and spoke out if they were disappointed, Xinhua quoted a leading consumer group as saying. "Personal injury, foreign matter in food, outdated or undated food and children's food safety were the chief (causes of) complaint," said Wang Qianhu, director of the China Consumers' Association's complaint and law department. "...Beer bottle explosions were...

A donkey laden with explosives blew up next to an Israeli bus along the Jerusalem-Etzyon Bloc road near Al-Khidr, Israel radio reported on 26 January. The radio said there were no casualties but first aid crews were treating several people suffering from shock.

  Jeeze, I discover this fine article by an environmental wacko and I have to go out and clean up the yard. What the heck am I thinking about posting it at this time? Most of the time these people will try to scare you with stuff like FAMINE, DROUGHT, THE INUNDATION OF CITIES (New York, Los Angeles, …) DUE TO SEA LEVEL RISE, PLAQUE, and other assorted disasters. So, what is the ultimate tactic? How far are they willing to go? Here's the answer from the deep edge!!GIVE UP YOUR SUVs YOU IDIOTS!!!THE PLANET IS A NUCLEAR REACTOR!!!Text of the...