Free Republic

Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff: Matt will embark on his 10th trip around the world starting on Nov. 7, and viewers will once again ponder one of television's greatest mysteries: Where in the World is Matt Lauer?

Firstly, teachers ARE well paid: $34.06 an Hour ~ That’s how much the average public school teachers makes. Is that “underpaid”? Who, on average, is better paid–public school teachers or architects? How about teachers or economists? You might be surprised to learn that public school teachers are better paid than these and many other professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, public school teachers earned $34.06 per hour in 2005, 36% more than the hourly wage of the average white-collar worker and 11% more than the average professional specialty or technical worker. [....] Mr. Damon is simply passing on...

1) U.S. military service disproportionately attracts enlisted personnel and officerswho do not come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Previous Heritage Foundation research demonstrated that the quality of enlisted troops has increased since the start of the Iraq war. This report demonstrates that the same is true of the officer corps. 2) Members of the all-volunteer military are significantly more likely to come from high-income neighborhoods than from low-income neighborhoods. Only 11 percent of enlisted recruits in 2007 came from the poorest one-fifth (quintile) of neighborhoods, while 25 percent came from the wealthiest quintile. These trends are even more pronounced in the Army...

Journalism can reinvent itself without government 'help' The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking ways to "reinvent" journalism, and that's a cause for concern. According to a May 28 draft proposal, the agency thinks government should be at the center of a media overhaul. The bureaucracy sees it as a problem that the Internet has introduced a wealth of information options to consumers, forcing media companies to adapt and experiment to meet changing market needs. FTC's policy staff fears this new reality. "There are reasons for concern that experimentation may not produce a robust and sustainable business model for commercial...

The financial-services industry has reportedly flooded the Capitol with more than 2,000 paid lobbyists; even veteran members are stunned by the intensity of the blitz. The companies with the most at stake are particularly well-connected. The lobbying campaign for Goldman Sachs, for instance, is being headed up by a former top staffer for Rep. Barney Frank, Michael Paese, who is coordinating some 14 different lobbying firms to fight on Goldman's behalf. The bank is also represented by Capitol Hill heavyweights like former House majority leader Dick Gephardt and former Reagan chief of staff Ken Duberstein. All told, there are at...

Alexis Houston -- the singer who held a press conference last week to announce she never had sex with "Today" show host Matt Lauer -- had some interesting yesterdays. She used to be a man who called himself Wellington Houston.

Since Doug Hoffman's electrifying campaign in last fall's wild three-way special election in upstate New York, other candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for the GOP nomination for the seat now held by Democrat Rep. Bill Owens. Among those candidates is Matt Doheny. Jude Seymour of the Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times reports that Conservative Party chairman Mike Long says he's committed to supporting Hoffman this fall... To grasp the problem now facing the GOP in NY-23 requires an understanding of New York's multi-party system. In addition to the Democratic and Republican parties, several other minor parties have ballot...

The Say-Town Lowdown MATT.org, Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together, is based in the Alamo City where Tejanos and Mexicanos once fought against each other. The non-profit describes its mission in the following manner: “To encourage Mexicans and Americans to come together to bridge the gaps in understanding and quality of life so that we may truly prosper together.” Legendary marketer and advisor to GOP presidents Lionel Sosa enthusiastically leads the organization. The group is passionate about immigration reform; the issue is at the center of everything it does. The organization launched a massive billboard and PR blitz during the 2006...

Just before the Michigan Primary this week, I (Matt Romney) decided to take a some pressure off my dad with a little comic relief. Those that know him recognize that he loves a good practical joke. I tried to figure out when he'd be breaking for food so I could videotape the call. Have a look:Click here for video.

This is quite interesting. I have been suspicious of Drudg lately. Sorry if anyone has already posted this. http://www.prezcast.com/2007/12/matt-drudge-romney-insider.html

Click here for the video.

Keith “Matt” Maupin, the only soldier listed as captured in Iraq, has been promoted to staff sergeant, the Army announced Tuesday. Maupin, of the Army Reserve’s 724th Transportation Company in Bartonville, Ill., went missing April 9, 2004, when insurgents attacked his convoy using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. Two soldiers and six American civilian truck drivers were killed in the attack outside Baghdad. Maupin was a private first class when he was captured. His 23rd birthday was July 13.

Official announcement directly from Matt Hamill to Kokonut Pundits about his new and exciting website. -See Matt challenges Mike Bisping on his website!-

CBS4) BOSTON: Turnpike Chairman Matt Amorello has agreed to resign, effective August 15th. CBS4's Jon Keller has also learned Amorello will also relinquish his spot on the turnpike board. Amorello announced his decision around 8 a.m. Thursday, an hour before a scheduled hearing in the governor's office during which Gov. Mitt Romney planned to seek his removal. He lost a bid in the state's highest court Wednesday to postpone the hearing and his ultimate dismissal. "I think this is good news for the commonwealth, the right step for Matt Amorello to have taken," Romney said. "Clearly it will save the...

Rare Post Fight Pictures of Matt Hamill and Tito Ortiz

Matt Hamill sent me pictures of himself with Tito Ortiz and his buddies. You won't find these pictures anywhere else on the internet except on ...

A fellow UFC fan emailed me about the greatest Closed Captioned faux pas ever in the history of UFC captioning, or so I believe. I honestly somehow believe that this "faux pas" closed captioning was done on purpose with malice when Matt Hughes was introduced to the crowd as "Saddam Hussein." The email sender, Dave, sent me a few pictures of the Tivo'ed shots of the CC faux pas.

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2006 – As the Army Reserve observes its 98th birthday this weekend, the commander of U.S. Army Reserve Command today took the opportunity to honor the only U.S. soldier who remains listed as captured in Iraq, Army Reserve Sgt. Keith "Matt" Maupin. Army Lt. Gen. James Helmly noted the contributions and sacrifices Army Reservists are making in support of the global war on terror during a birthday commemoration here at the Pentagon. The Army Reserve was established on April 23, 1908. More than 150,000 Army Reserve soldiers have been mobilized since Sept. 11, 2001, and more than...

MIDI - MANDY (Barry Manilow) Last week while we were in bed "Let's get Karl Rove," you said We can pull it off...the press will play What we start, I know, won't go away Together we'd be helping Hillary We'd set it up easily Wilson will comply...and so will his wife For the RNC, we'd cause so much strife Oh, Mandy...you must put on that leather pink burqa It's not my fault, you know Oh, Mandy...even with Viagra, it won't work-a If you let your face show...oh, Mandy True believers, that we are We'll be following her star We'll...

ST. PAUL - The son of a Minnesota state senator was killed in Iraq when his helicopter was shot down, officials said. It was the second tour in Iraq for Chief Warrant Officer Matt Lourey, 41, who flew helicopters with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division — though his mother, Sen. Becky Lourey, and other relatives opposed the war and had tried to talk him out of it. "He didn't want to die, but nonetheless he signed up for military service and he understood what that meant," said his brother, Tony Lourey.(snip) Chief Warrant Officer Matt Lourey, 41 (snip) When he...