Free Republic

A Kansas hunter was accidentally shot dead by a dog that stepped on a rifle in the back of the pickup they were in, according to officials. The victim — who has not been identified — was in the front passenger seat of the truck in Geuda Springs late Saturday with a dog in the back with the hunting gear, including a rifle. “The fired round struck the passenger who died of his injuries on scene.” It was not immediately clear if the dead man was the owner of the pickup or if someone else was with them in the...

From Farmington Hills, MI: Obama told the crowd that McCain and Palin spent most of the convention talking about their biographies. Palin's bio is "compelling," Obama said. The crowd booed. "No, it's an interesting story." More boos. "No, no, it is. I mean that sincerely. Mother, governor, moose shooter." The crowd broke out in laughter. "That's cool. That's cool. That's cool stuff," Obama said.

Watching the coverage of the Dick Cheney hunting accident over the last few days, I can't help but wonder how Dan Rather would be reporting the story, were he still sitting at the anchor desk.

SAN DIEGO -- Animal control officers in Hollister, Calif., are a little worried after they received two litters of puppies in the last couple of weeks that show signs of what they consider inbreeding. Some of the puppies were born with no front legs. But one little pup doesn't seem to mind at all. She was seen playing with her mom like any other healthy, happy puppy. With a tail that was constantly wagging, the happy little camper chased her momma and even leaped across the cage onto her momma. This story has a very happy ending for all the...

Mothership is last chance for Beagle 2 13:17 06 January 04 NewScientist.com news service Europe's Mars Express spacecraft is gearing up for a last-ditch attempt to make contact with the missing Beagle 2 lander. Beagle 2 has been completely silent since it entered the Martian atmosphere on Christmas Day. Several attempts by NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter and the 76-metre Jodrell Bank radio dish in the UK have failed to pick up any signals from the British lander. Scientists say their best hope is that Mars Express, Beagle 2's mothership, will pick up transmissions from the lander when it flies over...