Free Republic

It may be safe. But will it be fun? That’s the big question frequent cruisers are asking about upcoming cruises as they look ahead to the resumption of sailings in more parts of the world. And the answer for a lot of them — including me, I think — might be, “Not as much as before.” Cruise lines in recent months have announced all sorts of new, coronavirus-related rules and restrictions they plan to implement when cruising resumes in earnest around the globe — everything from mask-wearing requirements to limitations on touring in ports. And some of them could have...

President Joe Biden will continue his strategy Tuesday of making a public display of his focus on the coronavirus – rather than the historic impeachment trial set to consume political Washington. The second impeachment of President Donald Trump on a charge of 'incitement of insurrection' begins in earnest Tuesday, as Democratic managers clash with the president's team over whether it is constitutional to try a former president. Biden, though, will be publicly showing his determination to boost the economy despite the pandemic that continues to ravage the nation. He will be joined by business leaders and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen,...

Total Doses Delivered: 62,898,775 Number of People Receiving 1 or More Doses: 32,867,213 Number of People Receiving 2 Doses: 9,840,429

TAMPA, FL—Sarah Thomas, the first female referee to officiate in a Super Bowl, threw a flag on a play in the second quarter but refused to say what was wrong."Penalty, on the offense -- you know what, never mind. It's fine," she said after throwing a flag on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."Wait -- what'd I do wrong?" asked Tom Brady indignantly."Nothing. I said it was fine," she said, folding her arms."It doesn't seem like it's fine. You threw a flag!" Brady responded.She shrugged and turned away. "No, it's totally fine. Go and play football with your friends. It's fine."Play proceeded...

The Border Patrol’s aerostat program in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley — the “eyes in the sky” tethered surveillance blimps that have for years dotted the skyline of South Texas — are being dismantled, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, told Border Report... Cuellar told Border Report via phone. “It costs too much money.” The actual blimps are owned by the federal government and are Army surplus, most having been used in Afghanistan and the Middle East. The contractors hired by the operating companies are, in many cases, veterans who were trained by the federal government when they were in active military...

Gun violence across Philadelphia left seven people, including a 15-year-old boy, dead on Monday, Philadephia police told Fox News in an email, as homicides in the city continue to soar. The murders brought the city's homicide count to 62 for the year, according to the department's crime statistics, showing a sharp rise over the 40 homicides recorded up to the same date last year. It was a 55% increase in homicides compared to 2018 during the same 39-day period.

As the war on the rich continues to escalate on both coasts, it's the middle-class residents of blue states that will be stuck with the tab.The war on the rich is escalating on both coasts. While Democrats argue they’re righteously demanding the wealthy pay their fair share, it’s the middle class who will pay the biggest price. Legislation labeled a “wealth tax” targets the wealthy. In Washington state, billionaires would be hit with a 1 percent tax on intangible assets. New York’s legislation includes tax hikes on income, capital gains, inheritance, and even stock trades. Seattle state Rep. Noel Frame...

Kirk and Spock. One of my favorite old videos with the music of one of my favorite singers. There's so much power in her voice. The scenes are from the old Star Trek movies and the Star Trek remake.

Former NFL star and freshman Utah GOP Rep. Burgess Owens says the NFL has gotten too political and he will continue to boycott the National Football League until Commissioner Roger Goodell is fired. Owens played for the New York Jets in the 1970's and helped bring the Los Angeles Raiders to their championship Super Bowl win in 1984. Owens, who now represents Utah's fourth Congressional district, has since become a sharp critic of the modern-day NFL. He told "Just the News AM" on Monday that Goodell is taking away the elements of sports that united fans and instead making the...

[Catholic Caucus] French bishops should examine their own attitude to traditional Catholics and the ancient MassThe traditional Catholic organization, Una Voce France, say that the bishops regard them as 'narrow-minded beings, without theology, without charity'February 8, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) — As LifeSiteNews has reported, a document emanating from the French Bishops’ Conference has found its way into the public domain on the subject of the Traditional Mass or Extraordinary Form (EF). It describes itself as a summary of the responses made by individual bishops on the application of Summorum Pontificum, the 2007 Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI which made it...

'When the government says on television that it’s ‘preventable and controllable,’ and when experts say there’s no human-to-human transmission, many ordinary people believe them.’More than a year after the Wuhan coronavirus exploded on to the global scene, an international team of investigators has—finally—gone to China to examine and investigate its causes. But as a new PBS documentary explores, they may not find much during their visit, because China’s Communist government has concealed or destroyed the evidence.The 90-minute “Frontline” episode, “China’s COVID Secrets,” provides additional details to a story most observers in the Western world have broadly learned since last spring:...

As the 14-year Israeli blockade continues to inflict hardship, Palestinians in the coastal enclave are finding innovative sources of income. Khan Younis, Gaza Strip – Some people here are finding creative new ways to earn a living in the face of high unemployment that is destroying the present and future of many. Ibrahim Abu Odeh, 34, from the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, is one of them. Refusing to lose hope even as unemployment reached nearly 50 percent, he started the first quail farm in the besieged coastal enclave. unting migrating quail on their way from...

A suspect is in custody after a shooting at the Allina Health Clinic Crossroads campus in Buffalo, Minnesota, on Tuesday, the Buffalo police said. The police chief told ABC affiliate KSTP that there are victims, although "we don't know of any fatalities right now." f Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is sending agents to the scene, where they said there are "multiple victims."

The popular Motown group recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.The Motown legend's death takes place just days after the legendary girl group, of whom she was...Read More The music industry is mourning the death of Mary Wilson, a Motown legend and co-founder of The Supremes. She was 76. The legendary girl group, of which she was the longest-running member, recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. Wilson's longtime friend and publicist, Jay Schwartz, confirmed her death early Tuesday. Berry Gordy, founder of Motown, openly grieved the late legend in a public statement, writing, "I was always proud of Mary. She was quite...

Ursuline Sisters join growing list of US bishops telling LGBT youth that ‘God is on your side’The statement appears to contradict Catholic teaching that holds that God does not make anyone homosexualFebruary 8, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) – A group of U.S. religious sisters have joined a slowly growing list of U.S. bishops who are telling young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender that “God is on your side.”LifeSiteNews reported Jan. 25 that seven bishops and one cardinal had signed a statement in partnership with the pro-homosexual advocacy group Tyler Clementi Foundation in support of young people who identify...

If institutions like the Times continue endorsing these standards, they will put more and more people out of work and smear more and more people as bigots.The New York Times employed Donald McNeil from 1976 until last Friday.The Daily Beast reported Jan. 28 that on a 2019 student excursion to Peru, which was sponsored by the Times, “McNeil repeatedly made racist and sexist remarks throughout the trip including, according to two complaints, using the ‘n-word.'”Here are more details from the report:[A]t least six students or their parents told the tour company that partnered with the Times that McNeil used racially...

Sadiq Khan was today accused of 'reducing London's history to politics' after unveiling his diversity taskforce to review landmarks in the capital. The 15-strong team includes an academic who implied that all international examples of white supremacy can be traced back to Britain, and a campaigner who once confronted the Queen to demand she apologise for historical injustices. The project has come under fire from politicians concerned that figures of our national past could be erased by 'unelected activists'.

If big tech continues censoring conservatives, that means our days on these platforms may be numbered. Please take a minute to sign up to our mailing list so we can stay in touch with you, our community. Subscribe Now! A new app called "Block The New York Times" allows Twitter users to block 800 corporate journalists for free with just one click in the "fight against disinformation." "It's time to block," the app's official Twitter account tweeted Monday for the first time on the platform. "Twitter users have begun mass-blocking New York Times-linked accounts to control the flood of corporate...

With their recent Super Bowl win, residents of Tampa, Florida, have cause to celebrate right now. But not everyone. “I’m proud to say that the majority of individuals that I saw out and about enjoying the festivities…were complying,” Mayor Jane Castor, a Democrat, told reporters at a press conference on Monday, referring to the mask directive she put in place before Sunday’s big event. “But those few bad actors will be identified, and the Tampa Police Department will handle it.” Video below: LinkCastor’s executive order, which is in effect from January 28 to February 13, notes that “every person working,...

I have not heard explained any outcomes based on a theoretical situation where it is proven that the election was illegitimately handed to Biden through massive, systemic election fraud. What is to be done about it? I know what will likely be the case. But I want thoughtful, legal input as to the remedy available to Trump and Republicans if undeniable, rock-solid fraud is proven.