Free Republic

... USS Kidd deck log...several mentions of UAVs, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or drones. Although those single-line reports of drones don’t really stand out in the middle of mundane navigation details, contextual information and details make the whole matter more puzzling. Those sightings happened at night and SNOOPIE teams were deployed each time UAVs were observed from the USS Kidd deck.... “The ship’s nautical or otherwise photographic intelligence exploitation (SNOOPIE) team is a reaction team that records and photographs unknown contacts that approach the ship within visual range for both intelligence gathering and documentation." ... USS Kidd deck log...found mentions of...

A Downey mall was shut down Saturday as police attempted to calm a crowd of 2,000 teenagers arriving to see two professional skateboarders scheduled to appear at a local clothing store. Stonewood Center shopping mall, located in the 200 block of Stonewood Street, was swarmed with fans of professional skateboarders Steven Fernandez, 15, and Keelan Dadd, 27. Downey police say hundreds converged inside the shopping center while thousands formed a line outside its doors.

Before her remarks, Landrieu was spotted riding the escalator alone up from the Senate trains that carry lawmakers between their offices and the Capitol, toward a row of elevators. She was stone-faced and declined to answer questions from reporters. Once she reached the top level and stepped off, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), one of his party’s top campaign strategists, walked over. Smiling, he asked Landrieu to step aside for a private conversation. She shook her head and moved briskly toward the elevator. As she did, she pointed to her phone, saying she had a call. Schumer paused for a...

Trent Lott on Friday succumbed to pressure to confront the television cameras and make a full-blown apology, in an attempt to cling on to his position as Republican leader in the Senate. During a 10-minute speech in his home territory of Pascagoula, Mississippi, Mr Lott called racism and segregation "a stain on our nation’s soul" that "represents one of the lowest moments in our nation’s history". But, while he promised to "work to undo the hurt that I have caused", Mr Lott made little comment regarding the future during his prepared remarks. "I am not about to resign for an...