Free Republic

According to a global happiness index released in North Korea, the country and its allies are the most cheerful countries in the world. Naturally, the "American Empire" strikes Pyongyang as just plain sad. Shanghaiist reports that North Korea's Chosun Central Television recently came out with a happiness index compiled by local researchers. Their findings? China is the happiest place on the planet, earning 100 points (a perfect score!). At number two is none other than North Korea itself. Cuba, Iran and Venezuela (in that order) round out the top five.

Hillary to suspend campaign in DC Saturday By Salena Zito TRIBUNE-REVIEW Thursday, June 5, 2008 Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will announce the suspension of her campaign and her endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic Party's nominee, Saturday, in Washington D.C according to a statement issued Wednesday evening. The statement did not officially confirm her decision but said Clinton would be hosting an event in Washington, DC to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity. According to the statement, the event will be held on Saturday to accommodate more of Senator Clinton's supporters...

Hope for haters of "the media" of whatever stripe or flavor! Judging from recent events, they may not have much media to kick around any more. Things are definitely on the droop in news-media land. One reason morale is down is reportorial work is getting exceedingly dangerous. In recent weeks Anna Politkovskaya, an investigative journalist, was murdered in Moscow; so far this year in Iraq twenty-six journalists have been killed; and just the other day, according to the Associated Press, "Misael Tamayo Hernandez, editor of El Despertar de la Costa, was found nearly naked, with his hands tied behind his...

CHICAGO The New York Times Co. reported Thursday that its third-quarter 2006 profit from continuing operations plunged 39.2% on costs related to its job cuts and a loss on its sale of its 50% stake in the Discovery Times Channel. Meanwhile, Belo, publisher of The Dallas Morning News, said net income for the quarter fell to $19.2 million, or 19 cents per share, compared to $22.1 million, or 20 cents per share, during the same period last year. At the New York Times Co., 3Q operating profit was down 48% from the same period in 2005 to $20.5 million on...

Presented for your morning chuckle...When the Dixie Chicks emerged this spring, three years after lead singer Natalie Maines' jabs at President Bush ignited a nationwide controversy, the title of the trio's comeback single said it all: "Not Ready to Make Nice." And in a subsequent series of high-profile interviews, the Chicks defiantly declared they were ready to ditch mainstream country music. The problem, however, is that in mounting the "Accidents and Accusations" tour, they continued to act like, well, a mainstream country act, planning a full-scale arena romp with the assumption they could instantly replace all those former followers. Soft...

Dubai Ports Worls to divest itself of all American interests

<p>'We are waging a nuclear war in Iraq right now. That country is contaminated. It will be contaminated for practically eternity now'...</p>

On June 24, 2005, the Supreme Court put a big UP FOR GRABS sign on your home. The Court said it’s perfectly OK, under the U.S. Constitution, to take your home or business and give it to a politically connected private developer because that developer might be able to produce more taxes and more jobs off of your land. In the face of this disgraceful decision upholding takings for private development, it might seem like the fight is over. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have been overwhelmed by emails and phone calls from citizens who are shocked...

They're already flocking to Clark Wes Clark mania threatens to go nuclear next week if, as expected, he becomes the 10th and last candidate to join the nine other running for the Democratic presidential nomination. Whispers learns that once in, top Democratic elected officials, strategists and donors are ready to join the Clark Brigade. Many of Clark's team-in-waiting are Clintonistas , like the former president's handyman, Bruce Lindsey, scandal spokesman Mark Fabiani, and maybe even ex-deputy chief of staff Harold Ickes, who's close to New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Also, New York Rep. Charles Rangel has pledged to round...