Free Republic

Trouble brewing for traditional pubs Mon Feb 24,12:24 AM ET LONDON (Reuters) - One of the great bastions of Britishness, the pub, is under threat and dwindling at the rate of 20 per month, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) says. With property prices soaring, many pub chains are calling time on marginal pubs in desirable village locations and selling them off for conversion. "Although it was encouraging to see that nearly 30 percent of UK adults visit the pub once a week or more, CAMRA was surprised to find that over a quarter of adults never visit pubs," campaigns...

Pub and club revelers face a drugs test as soon as they enter the premises. Anyone going into a bar, whether they arouse suspicion or not, will be asked to take a swab test, which highlights any drug use. The scheme is being run by police in south Staffordshire and will initially cover the towns of Cannock and Stafford. Police have warned that anyone refusing will automatically arouse suspicion and have told establishments that do not co-operate that it will be held against them when their licenses come up for renewal. Liberty, the civil rights pressure group, said it...

Look at his face... you can see for yourself, this attempt to eliminate Strom Thurmond was nearly a success!! U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond, R-SC, shares a laugh with Meg Gregory, (L) and Rainey Chancellor, staff assistants to Senator Trent Lott (R), R-MS, at Lott's office on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 24, 2002. Thurmond, who will turn 100-years-old in December, was being recognized by Lott and Majority Leader Tom Daschle (not pictured) for Thurmond's 48 years in the Congress. REUTERS/Hyungwon Kang Tue Sep 24, 5:12 PM ET That last photo is a riot.