Free Republic

David Johansen, best known as the lead singer of pioneering punk band New York Dolls and their last surviving original member, has died at the age of 75. A spokesperson for the singer confirmed the news in a statement. "David Johansen died at home in New York City on Friday afternoon holding hands with his wife Mara Hennessey and daughter Leah, surrounded by music, flowers and love," they said. "He was 75 years old and died of natural causes after nearly a decade of illness." News of Johansen's death broke less than three weeks after he went public with his...

This December, on courthouse lawns and other public places across America, you’ll see decorative lights, Santa and his reindeer, snowmen, “holiday trees,” and maybe even an angel or two. The only guest who’ll probably be missing from this birthday party is the guest of honor himself. Oddly, there’s even room for elves, tin soldiers, candy canes, and sugarplums — just no room for Christ. The lunacy of celebrating a holiday called Christmas that commemorates the birth of Christ without recognizing Christ could only happen in the philosophically inconsistent but politically correct America. Think of it: You can openly celebrate Christmas...

Siemens to cut 720 jobs Bellefontaine, Urbana plants to close; company to outsource Saturday, December 09, 2006 Paul Wilson THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio — When Lisa Plikerd arrived at work yesterday, the single mother was stunned by the news that her job will be eliminated. She was among 720 employees at Siemens Energy & Automation plants here and in nearby Urbana who learned their plants would close, with the first job cuts likely in August. The news hit hard across both communities, coming just a couple of weeks before the holidays. "We just had a meeting where everything was...