Free Republic

Eddie Mekka, the Tony-nominated actor best known for his role as Carmine “The Big Ragu” Ragusa of “Laverne & Shirley,” has died. He was 69. The veteran TV and stage actor reportedly passed away on Nov. 27 at his home in Newhall, California, according to friend and fellow Berklee College of Music alum, Pat Benti, who did not share a cause of death in his tribute on Facebook. Asking that all inquiries into Mekka’s death “be withheld during his family’s time of grief,” Benti also said, “We welcome you to share your memories of Eddie and your condolences to his...

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WASHINGTON – Mayor Lori Lightfoot is in DC through Friday, kicking off her visit on Tuesday night with a dinner Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., hosted for the delegation in his Capitol office, and – to my surprise – since usually only Democrats show up at this sort of thing – in walked GOP Rep. Rodney Davis.

President Joe Biden’s administration on Wednesday released its 2022–2025 HIV/AIDS Strategy, which includes the claim racism is “a serious public health threat that directly affects the well-being of millions of Americans.” The summary of the strategy continues: Racism is not only the discrimination against one group based on the color of their skin or their race or ethnicity, but also the structural barriers that impact racial and ethnic groups differently to influence where a person lives, where they work, where they play, and where they gather as a community. Over generations, these structural inequities have resulted in racial and ethnic...

Various Tucker Carlson guests describe how our educational elites live in gated communities, have armed private security (so they don't have to dirty their hands with guns), favor open borders ("compassion" so they can have nannies for their kids going to private school away from immigrant kids, can have gardeners & servants), and despise the working people of flyover country with their guns & bibles. The "better people" favor gun confiscation, compassion for murderers, and abortion "rights". When Candace Owens roasted gun-controller Alec Baldwin for his fatal gun accident, I was against it because, how could Baldwin convert his wrong...

On December 1, I stood outside of the United States Supreme Court 21 weeks pregnant, emceeing a rally in support of Mississippi’s pro-life law at the heart of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. The law challenges the court to reconsider Roe v. Wade and its companion cases. During oral arguments inside the Court on December 1, the Mississippi Attorney General defended her state’s “Gestational Age Act,” a law aimed at protecting Mississippi children in utero before the age of “viability.” This law — and the Supreme Court case it spurred — is especially personal to me as...

"Northern Territory police say they don't believe three teenagers who allegedly absconded from Darwin's Howard Springs COVID-19 quarantine facility this morning came into contact with members of the community.At a COVID update press conference, NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner confirmed the teenagers, aged 15, 16 and 17, tested negative for the virus yesterday." (snip) "The escape comes days after a 27-year-old man escaped the facility by scaling a fence and heading for the Mitchell Street party strip in a waiting vehicle.The man tested negative for the virus but the incident is still under investigation, with police searching for the driver...

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Christmas might be a dive bar lover's (DBL, for short) favorite season. Think about how great the Christmas lights always look in a dive bar! Or the way that proprietors always manage to make Christmas drink specials — usually involving Baileys or peppermint schnapps — that fill you with holiday cheer without taking all of your shopping money? Needless to say, DBLs around the world probably leapt for joy when Miller High Life announced its latest holiday endeavor, and you'll be delighted to hear that it's not fruit cake-flavored beer. Rather, the brewer has decided to add gingerbread construction to...

Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel, alongside successor Olaf Scholz, announced Thursday that unvaccinated citizens will be prohibited from entering nonessential public places, according to BBC News. Those who are unvaccinated will be barred from places such as restaurants, shops, bars or events, with the exception being if they have recently recovered from a case of COVID-19. "Culture and leisure nationwide will be open only to those who have been vaccinated or recovered," Merkel saidin announcing the lockdown.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments for and against a Mississippi law that would ban abortions after 15 weeks. The arguments -- pro and con -- are familiar, but there is a greater argument to be made for upholding the law and, should a majority of justices decide to do so, overturn Roe v. Wade. That greater argument begins with several questions that may be connected to abortion. They include: Why is there so much looting? Why the indiscriminate destruction of property? Why are there so many shootings in our major cities? Disrespect for and devaluing babies yet...

A three-year study found that the risk of delayed intracranial hemorrhage and death following head trauma was significantly higher for adults taking older blood thinning medications including clopidogrel (Plavix) and warfarin (Coumadin), according to research. Taking aspirin concurrently with any blood thinner may increase the risk of delayed hemorrhage. Intracranial hemorrhage occurs when blood vessels within the brain rupture, releasing blood into the brain tissue. In a delayed traumatic intracranial hemorrhage, bleeding in the brain occurs after the initial trauma, usually within 48 hours, after an initial negative head CT. High blood pressure, head injury and the use of blood...

Dr. Anthony Fauci has been the target of criticism due to his handling or rather mishandling of the coronavirus. As the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci has flip-flopped his stance on the efficacy of using masks and has voiced warnings about using Ivermectin to treat COVID, while other doctors and also other countries have proof that it is effective against the virus and reduces the mortality rate. Fauci has also been a proponent of the vaccine amidst controversy that the vaccine has not been tested enough to fully understand its efficacy and possible...

COPENHAGEN (AP) – At least 50 people in and around Norway’s capital have been infected with the omicron coronavirus variant and the cases are connected to a Norwegian company’s Christmas party in an Oslo restaurant, officials said Thursday. “More cases are expected. Effective tracing is being done to limit transmission routes and prevent major outbreaks,” the Oslo Municipality said in a statement.

As I’ve grown older, I’ll often hear people my age say things like “they just don’t make good music like they used to.” Why does this happen? Luckily, my background as a psychologist has given me some insights into this puzzle. We know that musical tastes begin to crystallize as early as age 13 or 14. By the time we’re in our early 20s, these tastes get locked into place pretty firmly. In fact, studies have found that by the time we turn 33, most of us have stopped listening to new music. Meanwhile, popular songs released when you’re in...

In last week's column, I provided examples of damage that the left is doing to America and forcefully pleaded with patriotic Americans to fight for their country, including sending a powerful message in next year's midterm elections. Some felt this was insufficient. One disgruntled reader commented, "So, you present us with a nauseating litany of the kinds of evil and destruction that our now clearly communist government and every miserable, disgusting and depraved loser who can crawl from under their rock or out of their cesspool feels free to commit. And then you say the answer is to vote. Are...

The Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk believes that septuagenarians are too old to run for high office. In what could be a dig at President Joe Biden or his predecessor Donald Trump, Musk said that there must come a point when a politician's time is up. "Let's set an age limit after which you can't run for political office, perhaps a number just below 70..." said his tweet which as of Thursday morning had been liked more than 76,000 times. Musk did not specify whether he was referring to the U.S. presidency, which has a lower age limit of...

The conservative news site I have operated for the last 15 years is undergoing persistent bot attacks which leave site unable to load and me unable to post news. Does anyone out there have experience with this?

Just reading through the senators twitter feeds and there appears to be a MASSIVE split. Some want to go all out and STOP the vaccine mandate including shutting down the government until the Demoncrats agree to stop funding it. Then you have McConnell going on Fox saying it's not happening! I wonder how many of those seeking to defund the mandate appreciate this! BIG move by Mitch because I'd say nearly half his members want to shut down the government including some reliable establishment types like Roger Marshall from Kansas (who is spearheading it, funnily enough). This could easily boil...

A Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling has set a formidable precedent for judicial scrutiny of Biden administration policies concerning Covid, as well as constitutional questions in general. ================================================================================= It was with scorn and constitutional alarm that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on November 12 turned aside the Biden administration’s attempt to require Covid vaccinations for the nation’s workforce. The ruling has set a formidable precedent for judicial scrutiny of Biden administration policies concerning Covid, as well as constitutional questions in general. In order to avoid the drawn-out and detailed procedures, including public comment, required by executive-branch administrative law,...