Free Republic

A federal appeals court had ruled in favor of The Slants, but the Obama administration appealed to the Supreme Court. The institute explained the background: Simon Shiao Tam is the front man for the band. He is of Asian descent and heritage and has said the name was chosen because he and the other members wanted to “take on” the stereotypes of Asians and “own them.” He also said he is proud of the Asian heritage, and the response he’s gotten to the band’s name from the Asian community has been positive. The government, however, said it was refusing permission...

When Amazon launched its Amazon Home Services this week, the stars of the new initiative were …Goats.Seattle goats, specifically, ready to trim back your pesky shrubbery. “We bring the goats and unload him,” said Tammy Dunakin, head goat wrangler and owner of Rent-A-Ruminant LLC. “The second they hit the ground, they’re eating. It’s incredible to watch. It’s kind of like watching marbles scatter when you drop them on the pavement. And the goats start eating everything in sight."And it sounds like ... Dunakin's goats do work for the city – you may have seen them munching on hills alongside Interstate...

The Obama administration is planning an Olympic-size ad blitz to push health coverage during the winter games next month. **SNIP** The ads, which will run in markets like these across the country, will be aimed at young uninsured people and their families, an HHS official confirmed. POLITICO also confirmed that ads will run in North Carolina. According to HHS, ratings for typical primetime and sports programming dip during the Olympics, so the administration moved some of its paid media budget to the NBC Olympic inventory to maximize viewership. No word on the images that might be used along with the...

MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia - Thousands of people fled the fertile slopes of Indonesia's most dangerous volcano Saturday as glowing lava oozed down the side and ash and rock spewed from the mountaintop, leading authorities to warn that an eruption could come soon. Villages on Mount Merapi were left virtually empty. Women, children and the elderly filled buses and trucks to be driven to shelters set up at government buildings and schools in nearby towns on the island of Java. Throughout the day, volcanic tremors shook the ground, some strong enough to send people running in fear. After nightfall, fiery magma...

VAIL, Colo., March 3, 2006 – Twenty-four servicemembers who lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan are here reaping the hospitality of a community first established by returning World War II veterans and to schuss down the slopes of this world-class ski resort. The guests, all patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., along with their spouses or guests, are participating in the third annual Vail Veterans Program that kicked off March 1 and continues through March 5. The all-expenses-paid program is hosted by Vail Mountain and the Vail community and gives wounded war veterans an opportunity to...