Free Republic

Why the world faces a serious paradigm crisis ... In his "The Lexus and the Olive Tree," published in 1999, American columnist Thomas Friedman propounded his "Golden Arches Theory," which holds that "no two countries that both had McDonald's had fought a war against each other since each got its McDonald's." This theory claims there can no longer be a big war because the former Soviet Union and East European countries have become democracies and market economies, creating a globalized and integrated world economy with people, goods and money moving around freely. This view was also reflected in the policy...

Potatoes tend to be a dieting no-no for people laying off of starchy foods and carbohydrates. In that same light, French fries often fall into the “junk food” category as eaters cover them in ketchup and salt. Now, a new study finds this popular vegetable may be getting a bum rap. Researchers from Purdue University say eating more potatoes can actually help keep blood pressure under control better than taking certain supplements.

am truly, truly tickled with this one. This may be the most exquisitely beautiful illustration of irony I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. President Obama, try as he might, just cannot improve upon our horribly sluggish economy and thinks that bringing down millionaires, billionaires, and big corporations with more taxes will provide the answer (he may want to reconsider those Keynesian economics at some point). First Lady Obama has been trying her darndest to eradicate America's childhood obesity epidemic, lecturing on healthy nutrition habits with her "Let's Move!" campaign. Husband and wife both have some grand ambitions, but often...

Michelle Obama is a cover girl this week – see the new issue of Better Homes and Gardens – and it’s just what her husband needs. In fact, here’s a pretty good rule of thumb for any president: When the going gets tough, put the inevitably more-popular first lady out front – preferably doing something fun and breezy. Give the public a break from all that stressful talk of debt ceilings and economic calamity and scorching heat.

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama buys French fries and fat cakes at a restaurant in a Botswana village. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.Video at

In what must have been one of his most painful tasks in office, UNLV President Neal Smatresk warned faculty leaders Tuesday to prepare for a budget catastrophe — news that left some in tears. (SNIP) The faculty was angry and indignant. “I’m sick we are destroying much of what we’ve built,” said Cecilia Maldonado, an educational-leadership professor and chairwoman of the Senate. (SNIP) The emotion built again when Maldonado read a list of grievances, each beginning with “I’m sick.” She said she is sick of politicians caricaturing professors with “our fat salaries and easy living.” She said she is sick...

The University of Colorado has sent letters to the 400 students signed up to live next year in the Cheyenne Arapaho dorm — saying they must take a 101 course, or move to another hall. The wide-ranging course explores the history of higher education, and touches on topics including diversity, binge-drinking and the psychology of going away to college... But some professors — who say they support a more tolerant campus — are concerned with how the university is rolling the CU 101 course into its curriculum. Hadley Brown, a newly elected CU student-body president, and the others on her...

Would you like fashion with your fries? Ramping up its bid for a hipper, more youthful image, McDonald's plans to hire top designers to remake its uniforms. The Oak Brook-based hamburger giant recently hired a marketing whiz with ties to the hip-hop community and is contemplating deals with fashion figures ranging from Sean "P. Diddy" Combs to Tommy Hilfiger. "It would be pretty cool if our employees liked their uniforms so much that they would also want to wear them while they were not working," said McDonald's spokesman Bill Whitman. McDonald's successful "I'm lovin' it" ad campaign, launched in 2003,...

Students Turn to Fast Food for Cleaner Fuel RecipeVa. Chemistry Class Creates Biodiesel Out of Used Fry Oil Excerpt: "We were interested in putting together a hands-on project to enhance chemistry" lessons, Peery said. "I was booting around the Internet when I found information on biodiesels. I thought, 'How hard could this be to make?' " Apparently, not too hard for junior high school students. Using two-liter plastic soda bottles -- affectionately known in biodiesel circles as the "Dr Pepper technique" -- the teenagers combined a prepared mixture of lye (sodium hydroxide) and methyl alcohol with the waste vegetable oil...

Woman jailed for rubbing hot chips in boy's face A Maryland woman who rubbed hot chips in a young boy's face in a McDonald's restaurant has been sent to jail for four days. Milikia Hayes, from Rockville, who was nine months pregnant at the time, could have faced up to 10 years, reports The Denver Channel. The four-year-old boy had accidently spilled ice cream on Hayes' top in a McDonald's restaurant in Gaithersburg. Hayes screamed at him, then chased him around the restaurant before putting him in a headlock and rubbing hot french fries in his face. Doug Gansler, Montgomery...

Since I am approaching my one year anniversary of being a "freeper" and since I have never contributed a dime to FR, jim or the republican party, I am going to beat the powers to be at FR and voluntarily leave, rather than have them come up with one of the cock and bull stories to ban me. Been fun,Bye