Free Republic

Car bombs tore through shopping areas within minutes of each other in mainly Shiite neighborhoods of the Iraqi capital on Sunday, killing at least 37 people and wounding more than 100. The attacks come amid rising sectarian discord in Iraq and appear aimed at shaking Iraqis’ confidence in the Shiite-led government. The explosions struck at the start of the local work week and primarily targeted outdoor markets. Violence in Iraq has fallen since the height of sectarian fighting in 2006 and 2007, but insurgents still frequently launch lethal attacks against security forces and civilians. It was the third time this...

Germany has offered to provide consular services for Israelis who get in trouble in countries with which Israel does not have diplomatic relations. Berlin’s overture, which was discussed this week by diplomatic officials from both countries in Tel Aviv, comes ahead of the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2015. … Israel has diplomatic relations with 159 countries and forbids citizens from entering six enemy states, which leaves about 30 nations where Israelis could find themselves without any diplomatic or consular representation. Canada traditionally represents Israeli citizens’ interests in Cuba, but in most other countries Israelis are without an official...

Tens of thousands of Americans who cannot get health insurance because of preexisting medical problems will be blocked from a program designed to help them because funding is running low. Obama administration officials said Friday that the state-based “high-risk pools” set up under the 2010 health-care law will be closed to new applicants as soon as Saturday and no later than March 2, depending on the state. The program, which was launched in summer 2010, was always intended as a temporary bridge for the uninsured. But it was supposed to last until 2014. At that point, the health-care law will...

MANY people became rightfully upset about bailouts given to big banks during the mortgage crisis. But it turns out that they are still going on, if more quietly, through the back door. The existence of one such secret deal, struck in July between the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Bank of America, came to light just last week in court filings. That the New York Fed would shower favors on a big financial institution may not surprise. It has long shielded large banks from assertive regulation and increased capital requirements. Still, last week’s details of the undisclosed settlement...

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported that the incident occurred at Cortez park on South Citrus Avenue. According to the newspaper, police say the woman was clothed when she arrived at the park. She allegedly then stripped nude and began practicing yoga. No further information was available.

BBC journalists on Monday began a 24-hour strike in protest at compulsory redundancies, causing possible disruption to the broadcaster's television and radio output. Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) walked out at midnight (local time and GMT) at the end of Sunday's programming, over job cuts which are expected to affect BBC Scotland, Five Live, the Asian Network and the World Service. The strike was called after meetings failed to produce agreement over the redeployment of 30 employees facing compulsory redundancy. Nine of the 30 jobs are at BBC Scotland. NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet explained: "NUJ members...

PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say an investigation was underway Sunday after police officers came upon a human skull and other bones in Pasadena. Pasadena police Lt. Clawson says police responding to a “trespassing” call made the discovery about 12:50 p.m. Saturday. According to Clawson, the artifacts were found at a makeshift altar in a detached garage in the 800 block of N. Oakland Avenue. Other items, including burned artifacts and animal bones, were also recovered. The altar was adorned with incense and candles, Pasadena police said in a department statement. Authorities say they’ve since collected the items. No one arrested...

As many of you know I have a HUGE passion for couponing. I mean I eat, breath, sleep, and dream coupons. It is constantly on my mind, especially working out new coupon strategy scenarios. Like last Thursday when I figured out how to score FREE Kellogg's breakfast bars which enabled me to also score FREE BO sticks. I won't go into the exact details but the first item did allow me to score the second item FREE. However, on Saturday morning when I attempted to do this same deal again, I found out that the Kellogg's coupons had expired...

The Los Angeles Times, ever eager to implicate the LAPD in anything it can get its hands on, is now questioning whether the use of a strong tear gas that can cause a fire was the right tactic for the LAPD when they cornered alleged murderer and cop-killer Christian Dorner.

Organic products make people feel more secure about their own morality, which weakens the desire to act altruistically, the US findings suggest. The effect also makes people judge immoral behavior more harshly, psychologists report in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. But comfort foods such as chocolate can lead to us being more social and making "kinder moral judgments".

The Reason Benedict Resigned by William Fahey on February 15, 2013 ·  The Catholic world is largely shocked by the publication of Pope Benedict XVI’s letter of resignation this morning.  The secular world assumes the worst—no, it desires the worst, and by insinuation worms doubts into the minds of even the faithful.The secular world will tear through the brief letter and fixate upon the line about a “world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith.”  It will weave from these deconstructed words an existential tale of despair, scandal, and...

Country music star Mindy McCready has reportedly committed suicide. The 37-year-old singer has died Sunday night, her brother confirmed to the Daily News. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/mindy-mccready-reportedly-commits-suicide-article-1.1266650#ixzz2LDPoAFZg

"WND founder to launch national billboard campaign featuring the moral law"WASHINGTON – America has turned from God and has forgotten right from wrong, says WND founder Joseph Farah, who is announcing the launch a dramatic new national billboard campaign featuring the Ten Commandments to help awaken believers and non-believers alike to “the wickedness and evil that abound in our country.” The campaign kicks off this week with 11 major billboards – all in the heart of what some call “sin city,” Las Vegas. Farah is asking for contributions from those who recognize the Ten Commandments represent the glue that holds...

John 10:27-29 My Sheep Hear My Voice, and I Know them, and they Follow Me: And I Give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall Never Perish, Neither shall Any Man Pluck them out of My Hand. My Father, Which Gave them Me, is Greater than All; And No Man is Able to Pluck them out of My Father's Hand.

“Thy Enemy’s Customer” Intellectual Froglegs #19 Time for our weekly Frogleg injections...  form one orderly line.   Why do so many conservatives that ‘express outrage over the media’ continue to be their customer?  And why do top conservatives names insist on utilizing ‘the alienating’ subscription based programming, that limits their audience? Arg! Professor Frog discusses Media Marketing 101--- PLUS....Too Pooped 2 Pope,  The Great One 'Mark Levin'… and Lennon was no fan of Lenin… probably ANOTHER reason he a McCartney didn’t see eye to eye. Click here to Watch No. 19 Now

An American pastor is facing a federal lawsuit filed by a George Soros-funded organization alleging that the pastor’s messages on homosexuality are a “crime against humanity” – a lawsuit that some Christians fear might have far-reaching consequences for church mission groups. Scott Lively, a Massachusetts pastor known for his opposition to homosexuality, was sued by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). They claim that he incited the persecution of homosexuals in Uganda. Lively traveled to Uganda in 2009 where he delivered messages that shared his Biblical

Video at link - 3:20 minutes The extent to which GOP lawmakers are ridiculed by the MSM for trying to get to the bottom of Benghazi is unbelievable. If you missed Sen. McCain on Meet the Press today with David Gregory, it’s well worth watching now. After explaining to Gregory that there are still a number of unanswered questions regarding Benghazi, McCain concludes by saying there’ s been a massive cover-up. Gregory is confused: “A massive cover-up of what?” The crux of the interview, however, came when McCain asked Gregory whether he even cared that four Americans died (transcript via...

PRINCE EDWARD, VA (WWBT) - Prince Edward sheriff's deputies are investigating a deadly home invasion that happened early Sunday morning in Prospect. Two of the three suspects are dead, shot by the homeowner in self defense, according to investigators on scene. Meanwhile, the search continues for the third suspect. This situation began unfolding at about 4:30 a.m. in the 5000 block of Prince Edward Highway, or Route 460. Investigators told NBC12's Kelly Avellino three unknown men forced their way in the front door of the home, where a man was alone with a 2-year-old child. According to a press release...

The 2016 Elections is off to a early start. Some people feel that the building block for the Tea Party Independent Forum within the Independent Voting Floor will separate the power of the Republican Party. I am sorry but this is not true. The Foundation of this forum is to bring in new officials as well as a Independent Tea Party Officials. As States move to file for Independence and to form their own Government, this is by all means a mistake, The Separation of the States will break the Foundation Of The Constitution. Then the United Nations will be...

I am a fan, but I cant catch all of it (kids and cooking and so forth). Is there a place where we could "catch up" with the goings on? Like who is messing who up? Historical references? Maybe on FR? Thanks in advance, Jeff.