Free Republic

In a rare display of bipartisan unity, the United States Senate voted 68-29 to confirm resident Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, Johnathan Kanter. The confirmation of Kanter to lead the powerful Antitrust division means that, along with Lina Khan at the Federal Trade Commission and Timothy Wu serving on the National Economic Council, critics of big tech now control key antitrust enforcement positions. While Kanter’s confirmation was widely expected by those who closely follow Washington’s war on big tech, his ascension to lead the DOJ’s antitrust division provides further evidence that lawmakers seek to...

A piece of history from the long war between Islam and Christendom was recently unearthed: a mass grave of 25 Crusaders who were attacked from behind and/or beheaded in the thirteenth century. According to one report:A team of international archaeologists uncovered the gruesome scene at Sidon Castle on the eastern Mediterranean coast of south Lebanon. Wounds on the remains suggests the soldiers died at the end of swords, maces and arrows, and charring on some bones means they were burned after being dropped into the pit. Other remains show markings on the neck, which likely means these individuals were captured...

https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspxSCOTUSBlog page

The recent rollout of the Omicron Covid strain has prompted me to point out a few salient facts which may have escaped the notice of others. An advantage of viewing life from the cheap seats is a certain degree of perspective which is denied those who move and shake the times, or even those who watch closer to the field of play. Now, I realize that the aforementioned Omicron should actually be named the Xi strain, Xi being the next Greek letter in the on-deck circle for the never-ending cavalcade of Covid mutations in the batting order. However, the coach...

Bill Nye The Science Guy is getting roasted online for his TikTok video touting the Biden administration’s “Build Back Better” agenda as “cool” — and featuring a cameo from President Biden himself. “Consider the following… #infrastructure is #cool,” Nye captioned the more than 1-minute clip Tuesday. The TV scientist is referred to as a “science icon” before he descends into a speech about the recently signed bill, emphasizing the importance for repairing America’s infrastructure and providing funding for climate change. Biden joins Nye about halfway through — and is introduced as “Amtrak Joe.”

In early October, Bright Sheng, a professor of music at the University of Michigan, played the 1965 rendition of Shakespeare’s Othello for his undergraduate class. The film starred Laurence Olivier, who was wearing black makeup, as the titular character. Having no concern for context or artistry, the university community revolted, deeming the film (and Sheng by association) racist. As a result, Sheng was temporarily removed from the classroom, and placed under investigation. Michigan administrators knew that Sheng had done nothing wrong. He showed his class a movie that cannot, in any sense of the word, be considered obscene, and Sheng...

Fox News’s Bill Melugin has broken a big and very disturbing story about COVID testing in Los Angeles County. It turns out that the county gave all COVID vaccination data rights to a company that has links to China and that freely admits that it saves and disseminates personal information it obtains through its work. The LA County Sheriff is refusing to let his employees participate, but the County isn’t backing down. Instead, it insists that everything is under control.Los Angeles County employs more than 100,000 people. On August 4, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors mandated that all...

Well known but his real political positions aren't. If he gets nominated we will be doing what the democrats do: putting up our pretty boy against theirs(Lamb). Pennsylvania will be difficult to keep. The more well known the better our chances. The worst he can do as a senator is stab us in the back like Toomey. Like JD Vance I think we'll have to take our chances. I sent JD Vance a few bucks. This guy needs none. Celebrities need the limelight. It's their job to make sure the money is there. What do we have to lose? Suburban...

This week, governments around the globe spun into full-scale panic thanks to the revelation of the so-called omicron variant of COVID-19. As of this writing, we know that omicron is likely more transmissible than prior variants. We have no evidence, however, that omicron is more deadly. To the contrary, Dr. Angelique Coetzee, chairwoman of the South African Medical Association, explained that the symptoms associated with omicron were "mild," explaining, "we don't see severely ill patients." Were that true, that would make omicron a cause for optimism. That's because delta is already highly infectious and herd immunity seems to be a...

Can you believe it’s Feather Day already?Detail from a Scandinavian Barbizon School paintingIt seems like yesterday was just Thanksgiving. On the other hand I’ve already forgotten half the things I remembered to be thankful for. I do recall however that learning how to think rather than what to think was on my list. I rather doubt that entry will make the grade, so to speak, for a place on the lists of future generations. The quality of education seems to be devolving at an ever increasing speed. We’ve whizzed right past the “what to think” stage all the way to...

In the upside-down morality of the left, it is perfectly acceptable for criminal gangs to target high-end stores free of consequences. At once ascribing poverty, immoral historical legacies, and contemporary systemic racism, we are supposed to believe that what is happening is actually a form of justice. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is no moral or humanitarian justification for the now-daily shoplifting and burglary sprees witnessed time and again in various California cities and across the country. Are the black youths hungry? Are they robbing a grocery store? Are they impoverished, thereby stealing the jewelry to sell?...

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, the Republican who maintained the enduring support of his blue state constituents through boom times, the Trump presidency, and in the face of mass death during the COVID-19 pandemic, is telling allies he will not seek a third term in 2022, according to people with knowledge of the conversations.

In a social media feed yesterday, I came across a 1979 60 Minutes segment on the propaganda surrounding the 1976 swine flu scare. Many of us had already heard about how the event was reminiscent of today's COVID-19 con, but actually watching the segment drives home how striking the parallels between the two disease scares are. Exaggerations of the bugs' severity, media propaganda and fear-mongering, an effort to vaccinate the whole nation, serious vaccine-coincident side-effects, and an apparent government cover-up of the latter were all elements of the '76 fiasco just as they epitomize what's occurring today.The segment opened with...

“Fire Fauci” should be the campaign slogan for every Republican, as the policies pursued by health official Anthony Fauci concerning Covid-19 have been a complete disaster. The emergence of a new variant should have been anticipated, but instead we learn that current vaccines may be ineffective against it. Approaching two years into this pandemic, Americans are fed up with the pompous Fauci still in control while disrupting our daily lives. On Sunday he accused Republicans of lying, but he is the one who has put our country on a path of never-ending government control over our work, travel, and even...

In 1932 and 1933, 7 Million (estimated) Ukrainians were massacred by genocidal famine ordered by the Bolshevik government. Many were Christians. Students do not learn about the Holodomor in middle school, high school, or even college. There aren’t dozens of major Hollywood films depicting the horrific events that took place.

The Monthly Fiber Arts Thread is a monthly gathering of people that love yarn and fabric of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first project, to experienced fiber artists and beyond, we would love to hear from you. It is impossible to hijack the Monthly Fiber Arts Thread. Knitting, crochet, quilting, weaving, general crafting - there is no telling where it will go, and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to our Fiber Arts...

VIDEOYes, just one day made all the difference for Fredo aka Chris Cuomo at CNN. He is now destined to be as forgotten at that network as Dan Rather is at CBS.

Lighting up your screen with its Forest Green Metallic hue is a rarity. This 1993 Toyota Deluxe Pickup has all of 94 miles, 80 of which from its first owner. This perfectly preserved truck is ready for a new home. Be careful, just staring at it can put a damper on the rest of your day. Old Toyota pickups get used so much and so hard that seeing one all beat up, rusted out and with the better half of a million miles is common. These trucks work so hard that they’re famous for their longevity. That’s why seeing this...

The Michigan school shooting suspect allegedly posted a picture of the semi-automatic handgun used in the massacre on social media before he opened fire on classmates and teachers at Oxford High School, according to the local sheriff. “It’s my understanding, again, that this was a recent weapon purchase,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said Tuesday night about the 9mm Sig Sauer SP 2022 pistol the suspect’s father bought on Black Friday. “He had been shooting with it and posted pictures of a target and the weapon. That’s all part of what’s being looked at. We’re going to do a deep...

One of my correspondents is an incredibly acute observer of the Democrats' non-stop assaults on the State of California, especially in the transportation industry. He recently sent me an email about the fact that California didn't stop with its attack on trucking. Instead, California Democrats are also going after the shipping industry. He gave me permission to reproduce his email here:Did you know that, in addition, to all the other wanton destruction in this state, such as the electric car mandate (for which no infrastructure is yet being built), Democrats have similarly deliberately destructive plans for shipping? In 2027, they're...