Although not free, for around $15-$35 you can find a private label content provider with limited distribution.
They provide 200-300 fresh articles per month that you can use straight out the box or re-write and add to them.
I find it easier to rewrite articles already written than trying from scratch. I'll usually add updates, real life examples, and sometimes combine topics to make them unique.
To quickly populate a site a new, I'll grab 50 or so articles and use them as is. This allows you to start seo and link campaigns and maybe some adwords and adsense income until you can add your own original content.
Although you could just read articles from directories and re-write them, You would have to substantially change them to the point that it would pass any copywrite violation test.
Here is an article on private label content:
http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-Pr...rt-1&id=136215
Here are some of my favorite places for FREE public domain content.
http://gutenberg.net/
http://www.firstgov.gov
http://www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Graphics.shtml
http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/