Free Republic

The Armed Services YMCA celebrates military families around the world during November. Armed Services YMCA branches and program centers and civilian community YMCAs across the nation join with military leaders on installations in celebrating military families the dedication and sacrifices that are the hallmark of service men and women and their families. Military Family Month provides an opportunity to focus on the valuable contributions that families make to our nation and it offers an opportunity for local communities to express their appreciation.

<p>BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The number of packs of cigarettes sold in Indiana has dropped by millions a month since the state's cigarette tax increased in July.</p> <p>While state officials say they are not sure why sales have dropped by more than 15 percent, anti-smoking advocates hope it means more people are kicking the habit.</p>

Las Cruces Smokers Rally People in Las Cruces are still fighting over the issue of smoking in public places. Sunday, November 17, 2002 -- A large group of smoking ban opponents have turned in enough petition signatures to suspend the smoking ordinance. The opposing side--the anti-smokers--rallied Saturday to keep the town smoke-free. Members of the Tobacco Free Coalition are speaking out in support of the smoking ban. In October, the Las Cruces City Council voted to ban smoking in bars, clubs, parks and truck stops. But people against the smoking ban were able to get more than 3,000 signatures on...

A British chemist is disputing research showing almost 400 New Zealanders a year die of passive smoking. The research has contributed to expectations that New Zealand could become the first country in the world to ban smoking in pubs and clubs. But Chris Proctor, head of science and regulation at British American Tobacco, said yesterday it had not been scientifically proven that passive smoking killed. He said the New Zealand research was based on overseas studies of questionable scientific merit. "When you look at those studies overall the majority don't show a statistically significant increase in risk. What that means...

Military Jokes & Humor Camouflage Uniform Wear Policies MARINES: Work uniform, to be worn only during training and in field situations. ARMY: Will wear it anytime, anywhere. NAVY: Will not wear camouflage uniforms, they do not camouflage you on a ship. (Ship Captains will make every effort to attempt to explain this to sailors.) AIR FORCE: Will defeat the purpose of camouflage uniforms by putting blue and silver chevrons and colorful squadron patches all over them. An Army General, a Marine General and a Navy Admiral are all sitting around discussing whose's service is better and whose troops are the...

Dear Canteen Visitors First of All let me say Thank You for stopping in to help show support for our military, our allies military, military families and veterans. As many of you now know I have taken over the responsibility of keeping the Canteen doors open each day. This was done after Jim Robinson asked for someone to step forward. I was at work last Sunday when this request was made and when I got home hours later no one answered. I then pinged everyone on my list in my response to him and asked if anyone objected if I...

<p>There's a lot to think about this week--the rise of Nancy Pelosi, the meaning of the Republican triumph--but my thoughts keep tugging toward a group of people who are abused, ostracized and facing a cold winter. It's not right what we do to them, and we should pay attention.</p>

UK Sunday Telegraph... Passive Smoking Doesn't Cause Cancer - Official Headline: Passive Smoking Doesn't Cause Cancer - Official Byline: Victoria MacDonald, Health Correspondent Dateline: March 8, 1998 The world's leading health organization has withheld from publication a study which shows that not only might there be no link between passive smoking and lung cancer but that it could even have a protective effect. The astounding results are set to throw wide open the debate on passive smoking health risks. The World Health Organization, which commissioned the 12-centre, seven-country European study has failed to make the findings public, and has...

Click on any emblem above to visit their Home Page Military Lurkers: Feel free to e-mail me at seaside611@hotmail.com your ideas about what you would like to see in the Canteen. FReepers please post your ideas on what you would like to see in the Canteen.

Kudos to the Healthy Maine Partnership for their recent print and television ad campaigns taking aim at the soft drink industry. The Healthy Maine Partnership has been more visible for their admirable work in promoting tobacco use prevention and cessation, but with obesity and diabetes becoming increasing public health problems in our state and our country, those who sell super-size servings of empty calories to our increasingly sedentary children are just as culpable as tobacco companies. Kudos also to Gov.-elect John Baldacci, who recently stated his commitment to continuing to use the joint tobacco settlement funds to underwrite the...

.. The USO Canteen FReeper Style Delivering a Touch of Home . .. . A Touch of Home . This is how I think of the USO Canteen Freeper Style. It is like a cottage down a road, a place where a weary veteran can spend the night. Since it opened, it is magical how so many Freepers who post here, feel it too. It has been so dear how the Freepers kept making it a cottage - a home-type of place that had a huge living room for them to visit in and a dance floor, a library, etc....

In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of “word for the day”. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the “word of the day”; in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-) Practice makes perfect.....post on.... circumambient/sur-kuhm-AM-bee-uhnt\, adjective: 1. Surrounding; being on all sides; encompassing. Etymology: Circumambient is from Latin circum , "around, round about, on all sides" + ambire , "to go around, to surround," from amb- ,...

http://www.state.sd.us/sos/results/statwide.shtml U S SENATE (L) EVANS KURT 2974 1 816 844 (D) JOHNSON TIM 160809 49 816 844 (R) THUNE JOHN 162492 50 816 844

We can't say "Thank You" enough for your hard work and efforts. We know the results of the elections last night was a personal goal for you as indicated by many of your posts, as well as one of the goals of FreeRepublic, and you worked hard towards that end.Congratulations, and thank you. FR played an important role in getting out the truth and facts, tearing down the lies and spin, in spite of the odds from Dems, disruptors, AF'ers and those on other sites whose goal it was to derail you.

Well, we have come to the point where the rubber meets the road. We all have our opinions or gut feelings about what is going to happen in this election. Here is your chance to carve your opinions into stone, or at least, into FR's data base. Tomorrow, or whenever we find out the results, wouldn't it be nice to have the whole world know that you nailed it on the head? I've picked ten races, just to make the post election math easier. Wanna play? Hutchinson (R) - Pryor (D) Senate in Arkansas Chambliss (R) - Cleland (D) Senate...

Here is the cute kitty that plays with the mouse. Click on the web site link. Cat MOVE YOUR MOUSE AROUND AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

ZOGBY's final numbers (which include polling from tonight) will be made available to subscriber's only between 9:45 PM and Midnight. I am a subscriber and will update my fellow freepers ASAP after getting the latest numbers. I have listened to Zogby a lot today and he seems to be indicating a swing back to the Republicans after suprisingly poor republican numbers this weekend. One note, Zogby does internal polling for Sunnunu and will not release these numbers unless Sunnunu is up beyond the margin of error- something to look for. I was pessimistic this weekend but now believe- Repubs +1...

. . If you know a Veteran, someone in your family, friend of the family, neighbor, who served their country, take a brief moment of your day to thank them. Thank them for the sacrifice they made for the better good of their country. We at Free Republic, and the USO Canteen FReeper Style, are thankful for every service member in our military, who has served our great nation. So, to the men and women who answered the call, in both times of war and peace, thank you.   Message from Snow Bunny to all those who visit the Canteen....

Fox will air the debate if it happens. Please ping interested parties?

. . . . Although we are always aware that the Canteen is operatingin Cyberspace, we want the troops and anyone who is on the receiving end of prayers at the Canteen,to know that these prayers are very real. I hope the troops and Canteenersalike, will view this Canteen Chapel, as a place where you might go in times of trouble or times of joy to be with your God. "Come unto me all ye who are weary and burdened,and I shall give you rest." (Matt: 11:28). .. .. . George W. Bush: A President of Faith . A Man...