Free Republic

The British Prime Minister’s speech on January 23 on the future of relations between his country and the EU has made the front pages of most European newspapers. The idea of a UK exit provokes reactions ranging from outrage to—more frequently—understanding. There are also many newspapers that, like much of the British press, recognize that Cameron has raised legitimate questions that deserve answers at both the national and European levels. …

It’s fair to say that Jonathan Grahm, known in some circles as “the chocolate prince,” is big in Japan. Years ago, the Los Angeles-based chocolatier won a competition in Tokyo – the only American in a sea of Old World European expertise – and has been racing to keep up with demand there ever since. His refined truffles are available in department stores across Japan, and this year he had 72 Valentine’s Day popup shops.Chocolatier Jonathan Grahm, president of Compartes“In Japan, they thought American chocolate was M&Ms, and it’s nice to shatter those stereotypes,” says Grahm.While other international projects –...

The Very Rev. Gary Hall, dean of the National Cathedral in Washington, said Thursday morning that "people of faith" should come together to fight for gun control against the "gun lobby."

“There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity...You can smell it. It smells like death.”                                       Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof “What difference does it make!!” (snip)Hillary has always been a good student. This was evidenced again yesterday as she maneuvered the Benghazi obstacle course with legendary Clintonian skill; managing to take 100% responsibility with 0% blame. She was a master of the parsed phrase; the queen of evasion,   prevarication, scout’s honor misrepresentation, so help me God and deflection. How dare you suggest… In short: a monument of mendacity. Peace in our time, I...

Chris Matthews on Hillary Clinton's "performance" yesterday during the Benghazi hearing: “Venturing forth in unprotected waters today, she showed how not to be defensive, how not to sweat [and] also how to exhibit humanity and yes, compassion. Even when the witnesses are looking desperately — those people around her — to target her weaknesses. Again, it was a magnificent display of smarts, I think, guts definitely and caring. She looked every bit like a person who could run for president, run well, win big and serve confidently. What a day it’s been for the progressive side of American politics. What...

List of Firearms Prohibited by Name: Rifles:All AK types, including the following:AK, AK47, AK47S, AK–74, AKM, AKS, ARM, MAK90, MISR, NHM90, NHM91, Rock River Arms LAR–47, SA85, SA93, Vector Arms AK–47, VEPR, WASR–10, and WUM, IZHMASH Saiga AK, MAADI AK47 and ARM, Norinco 56S, 56S2, 84S, and 86S, Poly Technologies AK47 and AKS; All AR types, including the following: AR–10, AR–15, Armalite M15 22LR Carbine, Armalite M15–T, Barrett REC7, Beretta AR–70, Bushmaster ACR, Bushmaster Carbon 15, Bushmaster MOE series, Bushmaster XM15, Colt Match Target Rifles, DoubleStar AR rifles, DPMS Tactical Rifles, Heckler & Koch MR556, Olympic Arms, Remington R–15 rifles,...

(13-WHAM, Evan White) Early Tuesday morning, Christopher Boise heard a noise coming from the basement. As he walked toward the source of that noise, the RIT student noticed two men standing in the downstairs portion of his apartment. "They were waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs," said Boise. One of them had a handgun trained on Boise. Read more: http://www.wham1180.com/pages/localnews.html?feed=122742&article=10722226#ixzz2IvO1OFTT

What today’s closing graph may look like: A Tiljander-Mann hockey stickHmmm, looks like they might read WUWT, that headline below looks familiar.CO2 prices in freefall as traders despair over EU vote 24 Jan 2013 11:26 Last updated: 24 Jan 2013 13:44LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters Point Carbon) – European carbon prices went into freefall on Thursday, dropping 40 percent at one point to a record low 2.81 euros, after members of the EU Parliament’s industry committee voted against a plan to rescue the ailing market.  http://www.pointcarbon.com/news/reutersnews/1.2151825==============================================================Yesterday’s close was 4.74 euros. The market hasn’t closed yet, so there could be some...

We had a critical shipment of machinery due out of Michigan yesterday. The truck line which our vendor booked said the roads were bad and they wouldn't be able to pick up for at least an extra day. Normally, our plant is a beehive of activity and I would have shrugged this off and waited the day. However, since the shipment was critical, I decided to check out the story. Our vendor reported the roads weren't nice, but passable and the truck line was making an excuse due to some arcane union rules.I asked the vendor to fire them on...

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Since our founding, the United States is been a nation that respects all favorites, we reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. But there is absolutely no justifications for this type of senseless violence, none. CLINTON: Let me state very clearly, and I hope it is obvious, that the United States government had absolutely nothing to do with this video. We absolutely reject its contents and message. America's commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: Senator, that's eight days after the attack, 14 days...

Pursuant to my earlier story today about the article in Spiegel, Bjørn Lomborg writes on his Facebook page:Real German electricity prices for households have increased 61% since 2000. One quarter of household costs now stems directly from renewable energy. Also, the increase is *not* because of increasing production costs (which have actually slightly declined since 1978).The increase is due to dramatically increasing taxes, most noticeably from the Renewable Energy Act (EEG). In 2013 the EEG will increase 50% to 6.28 euro-cent (5.28 cents plus 19% VAT).  In June 2011, Chancellor Angela Merkel famously promised to keep EEG prices stable, but...

“More than ever, foreign policy is economic policy,” Kerry continued. “The world is competing for resources and global markets. Every day that goes by where America is uncertain about engaging in that arena or unwilling to put our best foot forward and win, unwilling to demonstrate our resolve to lead, is a day in which we weaken our nation itself. Kerry did not explain “economic patriotism,” but it was frequently a term used in the 2012 campaign by both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as a means for raising taxes.

•Requires owners of existing “assault weapons” to register them with the federal government under the National Firearms Act (NFA). The NFA imposes a $200 tax per firearm, and requires an owner to submit photographs and fingerprints to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), to inform the BATFE of the address where the firearm will be kept, and to obtain the BATFE’s permission to transport the firearm across state lines. •Prohibits the transfer of “assault weapons.” Owners of other firearms, including those covered by the NFA, are permitted to sell them or pass them to heirs. However, under...

BECOMING EUROPE: ECONOMIC DECLINE, CULTURE, AND HOW AMERICA CAN AVOID A EUROPEAN FUTURE By Samuel Gregg Encounter Books, $25.99, 384 pages “Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess,” declared Margaret Thatcher in a television interview before she became Britain’s prime minister. “They always run out of others people’s money. It’s quite a characteristic of them.” The Iron Lady’s words rang true back in 1976 as Britain faced bankruptcy under the Labor government of Harold Wilson. They are just as relevant today as economies across Europe are reeling from decades of mismanagement, heavy overspending, excessive government regulation and over-taxation. The...

When dung beetles roll their tiny balls of poop across the sands of South Africa on a moonless night, they look to the glow of our Milky Way galaxy as a navigational aid, researchers report. "Even on clear, moonless nights, many dung beetles still manage to orientate along straight paths," Marie Dacke, a biologist at Sweden's Lund University, said in a news release. "This led us to suspect that the beetles exploit the starry sky for orientation — a feat that had, to our knowledge, never before been demonstrated in an insect."

The debate is over: According to a White House official, singer Beyonce lip-synced her performance of The Star Spangled Banner at Monday’s presidential inauguration. “She did not sing live,” an inaugural official told CNN, adding that what audience members and home viewers heard was a pre-recorded version of the U.S. national anthem, which was sung by Beyonce. Beyonce herself has not commented

Immigration fallout from saying no to 'Obamacare' WASHINGTON (AP) — Governors who reject health insurance for the poor under the federal health care overhaul could wind up in a politically awkward position on immigration: A quirk in the law means some U.S. citizens would be forced to go without coverage, while legal immigrants residing in the same state could still get it. It's an unintended consequence of how last year's Supreme Court decision changed the Medicaid provisions of President Barack Obama's health care law. The overhaul expanded the federal-state program for low-income and disabled people. The Supreme Court made the...

From the Telegraph:The discovery in central Australia was reported by Linc Energy to the stock exchange and was based on two consultants reports, though it is not yet known how commercially viable it will be to access the oil. The reports estimated the company’s 16 million acres of land in the Arckaringa Basin in South Australia contain between 133 billion and 233 billion barrels of shale oil trapped in the region’s rocks. The find was likened to the Bakken and Eagle Ford shale oil projects in the US, which have resulted in massive outflows and have led to predictions that...

SALEM, OR (KPTV) - If you're a regular smoker, you may want to keep an eye on a new bill in the Oregon Legislature. Rep. Mitch Greenlick, from Portland, is sponsoring a bill that makes cigarettes a Schedule III controlled substance, meaning it would be illegal to possess or distribute cigarettes without a doctor's prescription. Under the proposal, offenders would face maximum punishments of one year in prison, a $6,250 fine or both. Other drugs and substances that are considered Schedule III controlled substances are ketamine, lysergic acid and anabolic steroids. "The State Board of Pharmacy may adopt rules placing...

Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 The legislation bans the sale, transfer, manufacturing and importation of: 1. All semiautomatic rifles that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least one military feature: pistol grip; forward grip; folding, telescoping, or detachable stock; grenade launcher or rocket launcher; barrel shroud; or threaded barrel. 2. All semiautomatic pistols that can accept a detachable magazine and have at least one military feature: threaded barrel; second pistol grip; barrel shroud; capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip; or semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm. 3. All semiautomatic rifles...