Free Republic

Far-left billionaire kingmaker George Soros has funneled more than $15 million since 2016 to groups behind this month’s pro-Palestine protests, where demonstrators openly cheered Hamas militants’ craven terrorist attacks on Israel. ... Soros’ grant-making network gave $13.7 million of the money through Tides Center, a deep-pocketed lefty advocacy group that sponsors several nonprofits who’ve justified Hamas’ bloody attacks while claiming Palestinians obsessed with the eradication of the Jewish state are the real victims. Tides’ beneficiaries include Illinois-based Adalah Justice Project, which on the day of the Oct. 7 massacre posted a photo on Instagram of a bulldozer tearing part of...

Excerpts from "Fife and Drum Music of the American Revolution: Military Music in America series, vol. 1," produced by the Company of Military Collectors & Historians, Washington, D.C. with George P. Carroll, Director of Music -- from about 1976. (Improved audio from my earlier upload of this same.)

RIVIERA BEACH — A phosphorus grenade and a 55-gallon drum of hydrogen fluoride washed ashore on Singer Island Wednesday, Riviera Beach Fire Rescue reports. A beachgoer found the material along the shore in Singer Island at about 11 a.m. The area has since been cleared and blocked off by city police and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s hazardous material unit, said fire rescue spokesman Dwayne Watson. The drum of hydrogen fluoride was open, but investigators are unsure if it leaked into the water, Watson said.

The AP said more than 1000 birds fell from the sky, but CNN put the number at up to 5000.

Kevin Drum, who I recently learned lives not far from me, has some thoughts on yesterday’s Obamacare decision and the enumerated powers of the Constitution: The state of Massachusetts can basically do anything it wants as long as it’s arguably rational and not specifically prohibited or reserved to the federal government. And this works out fine, which is why it’s so odd to hear opponents of a federal individual mandate chatter so furiously about slippery slopes and tyranny. After all, the argument goes, if the commerce clause of the constitution is interpreted to mean the federal government can force you...

BOSTON — A New Hampshire woman who is critically ill with gastrointestinal anthrax most likely swallowed spores while participating in a community drumming circle, state health officials said Tuesday...The woman was among some 60 people who attended the drumming session on Dec. 4 at the United Campus Ministry near the University of New Hampshire in Durham...Investigators found traces of anthrax on two African drums and an electrical outlet in the room where the event took place, Dr. Talbot said, and are theorizing that the woman swallowed spores that were aerosolized by the drumming. The state has not identified the woman...

A Strafford County woman with gastrointestinal anthrax is in critical condition in an out-of-state hospital. State health officials say the infection may have been caused by naturally occurring spores carried in African instruments used at a monthly drum circle at United Campus Ministry at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. The woman is the state's first confirmed case of anthrax infection in more than 50 years. The last cases occurred in 1957, when nine employees of Arms Textile Mill in Manchester were infected.

Tribute to the Drummer - streaming now Good stuff with the drummer in mind playing now until 9 eastern tonight: Winamp or iTunes: ListenWindows Media: Listen

MANCHESTER, Mo.- A music teacher who twice ordered a seven-year-old pupil to hit himself in the head with drum mallets will not return to the Parkway School District next year. The incident happened on February Ninth in teacher Paul Provencio's music class at Carman Trails Elementary School in suburban St. Louis. State officials say the 36-year-old teacher intended the head-banging as a lesson to Justin Barricklow about hitting the drums too hard.

U.S. Army Col. Larry D. Wyche (left) and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Brian S. Connie stand ready to unfurl the 10th Sustainment Brigade colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 6, 2006. Wyche assumed command of the Joint Logistics Command, which provides logistical support to Coalition forces throughout Afghanistan. Connie is the command sergeant major for the command. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Michael Rautio 'Muleskinners' Assume Joint Logistics Command Mission U.S. soldiers from the 10th Sustainment Brigade, known as the “Muleskinners," will ensure troops on the front lines have everything...

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Feb. 21, 2006 – The 10th Mountain Division assumed command of Combined Joint Task Force 76 at a ceremony here today, replacing the Southern European Task Force. Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, 10th Mountain Division commander, assumes command of Combined Joint Task Force 76 in Afghanistan as he receives flag from Army Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry, commander of Combined Forces Command Afghanistan, at Bagram Air Base Feb. 21. Army Maj. Gen. Jason K. Kamiya (second from left), who heads Southern European Task Force, is the outgoing CJTF 76 commander. Photo by Sgt. Douglas...

KABUL , Afghanistan, Nov. 23, 2005 —Senior Afghan National Police officers recently returned from a trip to the United States where they met with key leaders from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division and officers from several U.S. law enforcement agencies. "We have the policemen, now we need the systems that help police do their jobs," Afghan Brig. Gen. Sahki Baiani, Afghan National Police, Afghan Brig. Gen. Sahki Baiani, special advisor to the chief of the Afghan National Police (ANP), and Col. Wasim Azimi, chief of Operations for the Afghan Ministry of Interior, toured Fort Drum, N.Y., and local law...

HYDERABAD, India (Reuters) - Tax defaulters in southern India are being forced to face the music after city authorities hired drummers to play non-stop outside their homes until they pay up. After many residents ignored repeated demands to settle overdue property taxes. authorities in a city in Andhra Pradesh state have sent 20 groups of drummers to play outside offenders' houses for the past week. "They put up a spectacle outside the houses of defaulters, draw them out and explain their dues to them and the need to clear it at the earliest," said T.S.R. Anjaneyulu, municipal commissioner of Rajahmundry...

FORT HUACHUCA - With the screams of his fellow soldiers from Fort Huachuca, Nathaniel Hicks used of barrage of punches in the final round to claim a 25-18 decision over Paul Eghareva of Fort Drum, N.Y., on Saturday night at the All Army Boxing Championships at Barnes Field House. "It motivated me when they started to scream my name, and it gave me more power to go out there and do good," Hicks said. Hicks, however, won't be advancing to the Armed Forces Championship, Feb. 17-19 at Fort Huachuca in the 165-weight class, but he did walk away with the...