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President Barack Obama took to the Detroit auto show today for a victory lap around the industry his administration saved in the depths of the financial crisis. There’s no doubt that the American car business today reflects the goals Obama set seven years ago. Detroit automakers enjoy record sales and huge profits, while employing more workers and building more efficient models. The question now is: How long will it last? During his visit, Obama noted how unpopular his plan was at the time: putting General Motors and Chrysler through bankruptcy in 2009, merging Chrysler with Fiat and spending $50 billion...

Officials say a dog owner is in trouble with the law after allegedly trying to trick the SPCA into putting down an innocent dog. According to FOX 19, Jason Dotson’s dog was not on a leash when it attacked a therapy dog and its owner as they were walking. Police say the pit bull caused severe injuries to the therapy dog, who has been healing for the last few months. Dotson was eventually charged with failing to confine his animal and he was ordered to put the dog down. When he brought the dog to the SPCA for euthanization, officials...

A maverick surgeon who plans to transplant a human head onto another body has successfully performed the operation on a monkey, he claims. Sergio Canavero made the shocking claim after a series of experiments on animals and human corpses, according to New Scientist. Canavero said, 'The monkey fully survived the procedure without any neurological injury of whatever kind.' Canavero claims that researchers led by Xiaoping Ren at Harbin Medical University connected up the blood supply between the head and the new body. They did not attempt to connect the spinal cord, and the monkey died 22 hours later - but...

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Driving the increase was a mysterious surge in mishaps involving the Air Force's newest and most advanced "hunter-killer" drone, the Reaper, which has become the Pentagon's favored weapon for conducting surveillance and airstrikes against the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and other militant groups. The Reaper has been bedeviled by a rash of sudden electrical failures that have caused the 21/2-ton drone to lose power and drop from the sky, according to accident-investigation documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Investigators have traced the problem to a faulty starter-generator, but have been unable to pinpoint why it goes haywire or devise...

Yesterday, a proposal by South Carolina state representative Mike Pitts floated the idea of requiring journalists to register with the state to ensure a responsible approach to the First Amendment. As someone who has more than a passing familiarity with Second Amendment activism, the "South Carolina Responsible Journalism Registry Law" was immediately recognizable as a provocation to the media over its reporting on gun control demands. Unfortunately, a number of journalists showed themselves to be woefully unfamiliar with the gun-rights argument about regulating the First Amendment to match the way gun-control advocates want to regulate the Second Amendment, as could...

FULL TITLE: Washington state lawmaker shocks high school pupils by asking them about their virginity during Planned Parenthood meeting A state lawmaker has shocked high school pupils in Washington after asking them about their virginity during a Planned Parenthood meeting. Republican Mary Dye from Pomeroy, in rural southeastern Washington meet with six students from the Pullman area teen council chapter of Planned Parenthood. They had been visiting Dye's office with Rachel Todd, a worker from Planned Parenthood, so the politician could give them a deeper understanding of laws and advocacy. But the teenagers were left stunned when Dye asked if...

A video reportedly shows an Afghan migrant riding a bus in Sweden and threatening violence if he’s deported from the country. The footage shows the man going on an anti-Sweden rant before threatening to kill 10 people, claiming it’s “important to take the lives of others.”

Robotics are going to cause changes to the workforce in the next five years, but don't start running with those robot-takeover conspiracy theories just yet. About 5.1 million jobs will be lost by the year 2020 because of "disruptive labour market changes," predicts the World Economic Forum in a new study. Many of the factors driving change are technological, like the Internet, big data and robotics. The types of jobs most negatively affected by market disruptions are office and administrative, manufacturing and production and construction and extraction, according to the study. One of the biggest changes workers can expect to...

FReepers, are working diligently on a new film - HILLARY CLINTON: Above the Law. Her prosecution will be in a courtroom with you, the audience, sitting in the jury box. We need help with social media --- Facebook, Twitter, etc. An intern would be nice, but we may have a budget through a crowd funding launch that will happen shortly. If you can help, please send FReepmail and let's talk. This woman must be stopped. THANKS!

Forbes put together the definitive wealth list of the 2016 presidential candidates. Looking at both major parties, we have come up with net worth estimates for the 20 top Republican and Democratic contenders. To piece together a precise picture of their individual wealth, Forbes used a variety of documents, starting with financial disclosure with the Federal Election Commission. Candidates are only required to report their net worth in ranges, so the Forbes wealth team dug deep, looking through property records, mortgage papers, and tax records when available. We called experts and checked with county clerks. Finally, we called the candidates...

Donald Trump holds a 20-point lead in the New Hampshire Republican primary, a new CNN/WMUR poll shows. Behind him, there's still a scrum for second place -- with support for No. 2, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, on the rise. Trump is backed by 34% of those likely to vote in New Hampshire's February 9 GOP primary, more than double his nearest contender, Cruz, who has 14% support. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio are tied for third with 10% each. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul are each...

The Legacy Lives On! Mark’s Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation “Conservatism is the antidote to tyranny precisely because its principles are the founding principles.” --Mark Levin in Liberty and Tyranny Welcome to “The Levin Lounge”… Step in and have a virtual FRink.Taking the country by storm, one radio station at a time – and kicking the BUTTS of the competition! Welcome all, to the most FUN LIVE THREAD on FreeRepublic.com! You can call Mark’s show: 1-877-381-3811

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole has endorsed Jeb Bush for president and will serve as the former Florida governor's National Veterans' Chairman, according to the campaign. Dole said that while almost all of the candidates are his friends, he believes Bush is the most qualified. "Jeb has the proven leadership skills and executive experience needed to fix the problems facing our country - from the anemic economy to America's weakened standing among world leaders," Dole said in a statement.

Romney set himself up to lose the last election. Trump has not done so. Here's a 2012 video by Bill Whittle. He argues that among the reasons Romney did not win the election is that he apologized for, rather than articulate and praise, what (should have been) Republican principles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgxlp2UJI5I Trump does not apologize for his business successes; he is proud of them and emphasizes them. Trump should watch and listen closely to Whittle's remarks. They go well beyond financial success. The other candidates (if they have the intestinal fortitude to follow Whittle's advice) might also learn something useful.

In Roman Britain the weather was warmer than it is now, and this warmer climate allowed extensive vine growing throughout Britain's Roman period, and for a long time after. By 1086 when the Domesday survey was carried out there were thirty nine vineyards officially recorded in England, although the actual figure may have been much higher. Then temperatures began to drop in the second half of the sixteenth century causing a retreat of vine growing from the north and east of Europe.

Scenes from the Hierarchical liturgy held for children in Christ the Savior Cathedral.

Former Senate Majority Leader and 1996 GOP standard bearer Bob Dole appears to have endorsed Donald Trump. SNIP Nevertheless, Dole praised Trump stating he could “probably work with Congress, because he’s, you know, he’s got the right personality and he’s kind of a deal-maker.” SNIP

"Walk . . . with all . . . gentleness" (Ephesians 4:1-2). To become more gentle, begin by looking closely at your attitudes. We've determined that gentleness is essential for those who want to walk worthy. How can you tell if you're gentle? I'll give you some practical questions so you can evaluate yourself honestly. First of all, are you self-controlled? Do you rule your own spirit (Prov. 16:32), or does your temper often flare up? When someone accuses you of something, do you immediately defend yourself, or are you more inclined to consider whether there's any truth in what's...

Before anyone gets mad, I've posted this in 'chat' - not 'news' or any of the other high-volume threads. I had a post pulled (that's fine - FRs prerogative), but now *all* of my 'pings' and comments are gone. Been a FReeper for 16 years and this has never happened to me before.