Free Republic

OCALA - Less than two months after being indicted in 2006, actor Wesley Snipes sent a document to the Internal Revenue Service declaring he was a "nonresident alien" of the United States, refuting his Social Security number and warning that continued prosecution could lead to professional consequences for federal employees. IRS Frivolous Return Program senior technical advisor Shauna Henline read excerpts of the document into the record during Snipes' tax evasion trial on Thursday at prosecutors' direction. In the 600-page declaration signed by Snipes and sent Dec. 4, 2006, Snipes said he had "no ill intent or malice" and didn't...

Police arrested their most wanted man on Sunday, but suffered a setback when a court swiftly ordered his release. Amir Mullner was arrested near a Ramat Gan shopping mall early Sunday morning, along with four associates. Police said the men were suspected of conspiring to commit a crime. But when Mullner was brought before a judge to extend his remand, the latter released Mullner, saying police evidence was only barely indicative of the suspicions against him.

Unless a dramatic and historical flurry of activity occurs in the next 9 weeks, 2007 will rank as a historically inactive TC year for the Northern Hemisphere as a whole. During the past 30 years, only 1977, 1981, and 1983 have had less activity to date (January-TODAY, Accumulated Cyclone Energy). For the period of June 1 - TODAY, only 1977 has experienced LESS tropical cyclone activity than 2007. For the North Atlantic basin, Tropical Storm Noel is currently too weak to impact any of these results. However, one should always be prepared for late-season developments since hurricane season ends on...

Science Daily — PHILADELPHIA -- The "French paradox" -- the perplexing disconnect between France's rich cuisine and slender population -- can be explained in part by portions that are significantly smaller in French restaurants and supermarkets than in their American counterparts. So say researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and CNRS in Paris, who compared the size of restaurant meals, single-serve foods and cookbook portions on both sides of the Atlantic. "The French paradox is only a paradox if one assumes that dietary fat is the major cause of obesity and cardiovascular disease," said Paul Rozin, professor of psychology at...

Congrats your marriage September 1 !!!!!!

One look at his face and you can tell Wally is more than ready to retire from his 15 minutes of fame. Now, thanks to the Hugo city attorney, Wally can go right ahead. After a whirlwind three weeks the city attorney has decided that it's just not possible to prosecute a farmer whose only fault is that her 900-pound jersey steer tends to moo. That farmer, Karyl Hylle, couldn't be happier. "I mean I definitely understand where people see the humor in this, but it is a zoned farm and I can have livestock and livestock do make noise,"...

A Michigan firm that delivers meat products to Arkansas is recalling more than 64 tons of beef due to possible e-coli contamination. The USDA says Davis Creek Meats and Seafood shipped the beef between March 1 and April 30. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Recall_023_2007_Release.pdf

The birth of a deformed calf has the residents of a small town in Colombia talking. The female calf, named Paloma, was born with an extra pair of legs and an extra tail. The body parts are from a second fetus that did not develop completely. Locals have speculated on the cause of the deformities. Paloma, or pigeon, was born with two extra legs, and an extra tail. The body parts are from a second fetus. Deformed calf owner Salvador Vanegas says, "This is sort of a nature thing. It's due to lack of calcium, so the animal does not...

"Neither Denmark nor Norway has a prohibition on sex with animals, as long as the animals do not suffer. On the Internet Danish animal owners advertise openly that they offer sex with animals, without intervention from police or other authorities, Danish newspaper 24timer reports. In correspondence with the animal owners, the newspaper was told that the animals involved have many years of experience and that the animals themselves wanted sex. The cost to the client varied from DKK 500-1,000 (USD 85-170). ... According to the 24timer report, Germans, Dutchmen, Swedes and Norwegians visit the Danish bordellos, and a web site...

Much of the business of Presidents of the United States these days involves special, symbolic support and caring for causes, the injured, and the grieving. On September 11, 2006, the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, President Bush traveled from “Ground Zero” in New York City, to an empty field near Shanksville, Pa., and onward to the pentagon. At each site of loss and suffering, the president served largely a symbolic yet very meaningful role. Three days after the terror and destruction of 9/11, on September 14, 2001, the President of the United States traveled to New York City to...

Even his former running mate John Edwards pulls more of a crowd than this. And none of them appear to be under 80 years old. Poor John F'in Kerry. Guess he's not destined to be the next JFK afterall. Don't people realize he served in Vietnam???!!

Wendy's International Inc. (NYSE:WEN - news), the No. 3 U.S. hamburger chain, on Friday said it would remove the term "Biggie" from its french fries and drinks, switching to the well known terms small, medium and large.However, the new designations may confuse some diners who are used to such sizing at other restaurants.At rival McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD - news), the largest burger chain, a 32 ounce soft drink is designated a large. At Wendy's, a 32 ounce drink will now be called medium, instead of Biggie.Wendy's is also adding a 42-ounce soft drink -- the equivalent of 3-1/2 cans of...

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - A diner found a piece of human flesh on his hamburger shortly after a restaurant worker accidentally cut his finger, and a spokeswoman said the company was ``very, very sorry.'' A kitchen manager at the TGI Friday's at College Mall injured himself Tuesday and no one immediately realized he had lost part of his finger while others rushed to help him, said Amy Freshwater, a spokeswoman for the chain.

Guns are the subject of great discussion on a pheasant hunt of a few California and Utah Freepers. One liberal was converted to the truth about the need for guns by the afternoon of November 6, 2005. The contest will be how to pick him out.

John O’Neill Houston, Texas Dear Friend, Last year, when my fellow Swift Boat veterans and I spoke out about John Kerry, you rallied to our side. We will never forget your faith in our cause and your belief in our honesty. It made all the difference. Together we made history. Like most of you, I believed our mission was over. We could all move on with our lives, return to our families and homes secure in the knowledge we had done the right thing for America, and for our children’s future. Regrettably, that has not been the case for a...

Carlton Sherwood, Red, White and Blue Productions, Inc. and Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation v. John F. Kerry and Anthony T. PodestaOn October 3, 2005, Carlton Sherwood, Red, White and Blue, and the VVLF filed suit in Federal court against Sen. John Kerry and Anthony Podesta for events relating to the suppression of the documentary film Stolen Honor. Legal Documents:10/03/2005: Defamation, Defamation/Business Disparagement, Intentional and/or Negligent Interference with Prospective and Existing Contractual Relations, and Civil Conspiracy Complaint, filed in Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania [PDF: 818K]

ADA is good in theory and in theoretical principle. But, is complicated, costly, and impactical on many dimensions. How far should its reach be? How much cost can it be assigned (from society and government)? How much economic impact from this act is tolerable? What are the "States Rights" compromises that can be made in support of the ADA? It will be good to argue these issues in today's context, and especially in the context of SCOTUS nominations.

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole! Let them go! Let them go! First thread: New Zealander builds Hobbit holeSecond thread: The New Hobbit HoleThird thread: The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads! (Congratulations, we filled it up!) Fourth Thread: The Hobbit Hole IV - The Road Goes Ever On...Fifth Thread: The Hobbit Hole V - Where Many Paths and Errands Meet...Sixth Thread: The Hobbit Hole VI - And Whither Then? I Cannot Say...Seventh Thread: The Hobbit Hole VII - But not yet weary are our feet... Eighth Thread: The Hobbit Hole VIII - Still round the corner we may...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the 2005-06 budget yesterday amid an orgy of self-congratulation among California's leaders, who were proud to miss the constitutional deadline of June 15 by a few weeks instead of the usual few months. Unfortunately, while the relatively quick agreement on the budget is welcome, the $117.5 billion spending plan is anything but. If the stakes weren't so high, the Sacramento types' celebration of their new comity would seem like, well, comedy. Consider the points raised by Sen. Tom McClintock, as ever the skunk at the Capitol picnic: The 2004-05 budget had a gap of only $2...

Boy, is this gutsy, huh. Conservatism is a paranoid, fearful personal philosophy and embracing it is a sign of emotional weakness. By its very definition, conservatism is opposed to progress. Conservatives believe we ought to "conserve" existing institutions and social norms, speaking from a positions which is always on the verge of being "led astray," and reflecting with an imperfect memory on the topics of fictional "Greatest Generations" and "Golden Ages." Nothing that sets itself against progress can claim to be on the side of good. Accordingly, conservatives, however nice they might otherwise be, for turning their energies against a...