Free Republic

What if we could simply have advised everyone last March to supplement with vitamin D (and active forms of D for those with absorption issues)? An endless stream of academic research demonstrates that not only would such an approach have worked much better than the vaccines, but rather than coming with sundry known and unknown negative side effects, it would have induced immeasurable positive side effects in the population for an array of other health concerns. I recently changed doctors in search of a physician who actually follows science rather than political protocols from government and Big Pharma. My wife...

The Greek government will fine all unvaccinated people aged 60 and over €100 (£85/$113) every month after mandatory jabs are enforced from next month. The new policy came as part of an amendment to existing legislation on the mandatory vaccine policies introduced by the government earlier this week and will see anyone born prior to December 31st, 1961, unless they can prove they have recovered from the Wuhan virus in the last six months or have particular vulnerability to vaccine side-effects, newspaper Ekathimerini reports.

Minnesota public health authorities confirmed Thursday what appears to be the second U.S. case of the omicron Covid variant in a resident who recently returned from New York City, the state’s department of health said. The man, who was fully vaccinated and has since recovered, traveled to New York City to attend the Anime NYC 2021 convention at the Javits Center from Nov. 19-21, the department said in a statement. The first omicron case was confirmed in California by U.S. officials Wednesday in a person who recently returned to San Francisco from a trip to South Africa. New York health...

Let's say you owned a catering business hired to set up an outdoor wedding. Rain is forecast, and you can cover only 70% of the seats with tents. If the rain came, would you expect to have more dry seats with the tents or without? You would say, "Obviously, you'd have 70% fewer wet seats if you used the tents." And in a pre-COVID world, you would be right. Yet 70% of the citizens in Germany have been fully vaccinated against COVID, and still they are reporting record or near-record high daily numbers of new COVID cases. When it wanes,...

(Looks like they took the pictures down) Police in Florida have arrested a man they described as a “homeless drifter” in the stabbing death of a 14-year-old boy whose body was found near an interstate overpass. Semmie Lee Williams, 39, was arrested Wednesday in Miami and charged with first degree murder in the death of Ryan Rogers. “He appears to be a homeless drifter spending most of his time in the streets of Miami,” Palm Beach Gardens Chief of Police Clinton Shannon said of Williams at a press conference Thursday. Ryan, a high school freshman, went missing on Nov. 15,...

If America’s journalists once spoke truth to power, today America’s journalists are the powerful, a tightly knit caste both highly educated and affluent. “Elite journalists resemble senators, billionaires, and World Economic Forum attendees in terms of educational attainment,” a recent study found. Politicians and journalists go to the same schools and live in the same neighborhoods — especially liberal journalists. Reporters didn’t used to be celebrities. But cable news and Twitter have changed the equation. Social media offer journalists a lower-grade but still-fulfilling form of attention, the ersatz celebrity of our age — internet fame — provided you can write...

In a 29-page order, U.S. district judge Gregory Van Tatenhove actually got it right on vaccine mandates — but not for reasons cited by either side of this contentious issue. The George W. Bush nominee wrote, "This is not a case about whether vaccines are effective. They are. Nor is this a case about whether the government, at some level and in some circumstances, can require citizens to obtain vaccines. It can." Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove further made his case, writing, "The question presented here is narrow. Can the president use congressionally delegated authority to manage the federal procurement of...

For Kamala Harris, she must be uttering the rich lady's lament right about now: you just can't get good staff anymore.This time, a big one has flown the coop, a veritable whale of a woman in significance, spokeswoman Symone Sanders. She's by far the highest-ranking Kamala official now to get the heck out of Dodge. Her exit follows a lot of other exits, which I wrote about here. And apparently, it's not going to be the last one. These guys plan to leave after Sanders leaves.Why would she do that? Two reasons stand out.One, working for Kamala Harris is hell.Back...

Harris County commissioners voted Tuesday to demolish and rebuild parts of the under-construction Beltway 8 bridge over the Houston Ship Channel after the original designs were found to have "significant" flaws. The setback will cost the county $291 million, including $50 million to demolish some sections that have already been built, according to the Houston Chronicle's Dug Begley. Work on the new Beltway 8 Bridge began in 2018, the same year another FIGG-constructed bridge collapsed near Florida International University in Miami, killing six people and putting the company's practices into question. COWI determined that there were 21 different "significant" design...

Fast-moving Amazon is pushing for slow-growing chickens that animal-rights groups say are more ethically raised — but they could end up costing consumers more. The US poultry industry will boost its production of the chickens, which are said to have fewer health issues, in a nod to a powerful animal-welfare organization that’s backed by Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market. The Global Animal Partnership unveiled a list of 11 breeds of chicken on Wednesday that meet its certification criteria. The latest list is down from 27 breeds. GAP says that top-tier companies like Chipotle and Popeyes Louisiana Chicken have signed on to...

Germany on Thursday imposed restrictions on the unvaccinated as it sought to break a dramatic surge in daily coronavirus infections exacerbated by the discovery of the Omicron strain. Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successor Olaf Scholz agreed with leaders of Germany's 16 states to bar the unvaccinated from access to all but the most essential businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and bakeries. They also agreed to pass legislation in the national parliament to make vaccination mandatory.

Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke recently announced his candidacy for governor of Texas against incumbent Greg Abbott after the former's failed campaigns for U.S. Senate in 2018 and president in 2020. One issue that has followed him was his arrest report of a DUI hit-and-run in 1998, released August 2018 by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express. Up until that time, he had admitted to the DUI without mentioning the accident and fleeing the scene. During a debate in September with eventual victor Ted Cruz, a moderator brought it up, and O'Rourke said, "I did not try to leave the...

A student identified among the victims of Tuesday’s shooting at Oxford High School reportedly sacrificed his life during the incident, according to witnesses. Student witnesses say that 16-year-old Tate Myre was shot while attempting to disarm the 15-year-old suspect, Ethan Crumbley, during the shooting, according to Newsweek. Myre later succumbed to his injuries. A star running back for the Oxford Wildcats football team, Myre received praise from his team on Twitter, who said he was a “great young man.” “Tate was on varsity since freshman year and was an honor student. Tate was a great young man with a bright...

The 2022 Australian Open is set to begin on Jan. 17, and it might take place without one of tennis’ biggest stars. Srdjan Djokovic, father of Novak Djokovic appeared on Serbian TV over the weekend to go on a mammoth rant against Australian officials, who are requiring all players at the tournament to be vaccinated prior to entering the country. Srdjan’s comments began with the common refrain that vaccination is a personal choice, and that the Australian Open shouldn’t have a say in what his son does with his body. Then, things went out the window. “As far as vaccines...

Migrants seeking to enter the United States will again have to stay in Mexico as they await immigration hearings, as the Biden administration reluctantly announced plans Thursday to comply with a court order and accept conditions set out by Mexico for resuming the Trump-era policy. Mexico’s foreign relations secretary said Mexico will allow returns, beginning next week, in light of U.S. concessions “for humanitarian reasons and for temporary stays.” Revival of the “Remain in Mexico” policy comes under a court order even as the Biden administration maneuvers to end it in a way that survives legal scrutiny. President Joe Biden...

Former President Donald Trump has denied rumors that his wife, Melania, has no desire to return to the White House should he win the presidency in 2024, describing the claims as “more fake news” in a Thursday interview. “Is it true,” asked “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade, “that the former first lady, Melania Trump, has told you ‘I’m not going back if you run again’?” “No, that’s not true. That’s an interesting one. More fake news,” Trump chuckled in response, before repeating: “No, that’s not true.”

The Russian military has deployed coastal defense missile systems near Pacific islands also claimed by Japan, a move intended to underline Moscow's firm stance in the dispute. The Bastion systems were moved to Matua, a deserted volcanic island in the middle of the Kuril Islands chain. Japan claims four southernmost islands. Russia's Defense Ministry posted a video Thursday showing massive missile carriers moving ashore from amphibious landing vessels and driving along the coast of the volcanic island to take firing positions as part of drills.

unar New Year is just about here: It's the time for food, family, and traditions. And...dumplings. Because what better way is there to celebrate? Indeed, in Chinese culture, jiaozi, or steamed dumplings, are typically folded and eaten on New Year's Eve; they're said to symbolize luck and prosperity for the year ahead. They also symbolize deliciousness. I, myself, am an equal-opportunity dumpling eater, year-round. But for some reason, making dumplings at home has never really occurred to me, but it's actually the perfect weekend project. It's a time investment, sure, but so are those sweet rolls I made this past...

MSNBC regular and The Nation’s justice correspondent Elie Mystal said Wednesday on “The ReidOut” that conservatives believe a fetus “should have the same legal rights as full-grown black people” while reacting to the Supreme Court oral arguments on Mississippi’s law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

In Australia there is a culture of silence surrounding injustices done to individuals by police and the courts. Yesterday, the 2nd December, while the government of Socialist Left premier Daniel Andrews accrues more and more power, one woman in Victoria's state parliament spoke up against physical abuse of one man by an arrogant normally unaccountable police force. I was present when the man (who wishes to remain anonymous) was dragged out of his bed in the early morning on December 1st at a round the clock protest against legislation passed the next day which concentrates power to call lockdowns in...