Free Republic

BRUSSELS - The European Union set the stage for a stepped-up crackdown on big tech companies with an agreement on landmark digital rules to rein in online “gatekeepers” such as Google and Facebook parent Meta. EU officials agreed late Thursday on wording for the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, part of a long-awaited overhaul of its digital rulebook. The act, which still needs other approvals, seeks to prevent tech giants from dominating digital markets, with the threat of whopping fines or even the possibility of a company breakup. For instance, they face tighter restrictions on using people’s data for targeted online...

Every major update since Windows 8 has come with a major redesign of the Start menu, and Windows 11 is no exception. This time, though, Microsoft went rather radical: The taskbar is centered, the Start menu is devoid of live tiles, and there are only two sections—pinned apps, and recommendations. If you find yourself unhappy with the new look and feel of it, there are changes you can make to improve it or remove it altogether. Let’s start by customizing what is now the only major part of the Start menu (RIP Live Tiles). In the Pinned section, you can...

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, fresh off his botched handling of freedom convoy protests of his government's policies surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, may have thought a trip abroad to address the European Parliament would be a nice reprieve from criticism at home. But that's not what he got. At all. Instead, two members of the European Parliament laid into Trudeau, comparing him to a dictator and attacking his gall to speak about threats to Democracy after his own actions in Canada. "It would have been more appropriate for Mr. Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, to address this house according to...

In September 2020, Michael Every of Rabobank floated the question: What possible disruption is coming that requires China to start massive stockpiling of all possible commodities? It was no secret by 2021, China panic hoarded half of the world’s maize and other grains resulting in increased food inflation. China’s buying spree of all commodities left many market observers puzzled by Beijing’s stockpiling motives. Now we understand the second-largest economy in the world was forecasting a global catastrophe of widespread famine due to disrupted food supply chains. Global food supplies were already tight on a post-COVID basis due to snarled supply...

The existence of a speech by Biden's Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, praising Derrick Bell, the godfather of critical race theory, and citing his book, “Faces At the Bottom of a Well”, as an influence has been widely reported. Conservatives have covered Bell's racist views, his praise for Farrakhan, his antisemitism, and attacks on America. Much of this was already hashed out during the exposure of the relationship between Barack Obama and Derrick Bell. But it's important to specifically focus on Jackson's interest in "Faces At the Bottom of the Well." In her speech, Jackson mentions that Bell, whom...

Delaware officials say they are planning to send $300 in direct payments to taxpayers in the state. News outlets reported Thursday that the payments are part of the state's plan for using a $1 billion budget surplus at a time when inflation is rising and gas prices also are high. Lawmakers said they will introduce legislation within a week. A vote could happen next month. Officials say more than 600,000 Delaware residents are likely to receive these payments, which will cost $186.6 million.

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado is mostly known for both his flashy defense and his ability to drive in runners with his bat. On Wednesday, he made headlines for a different reason. In a photo posted to Twitter by KUSI-TV in San Diego, Machado was seen smiling in sunglasses and a T-shirt during the Padres’ spring training in Arizona. Adorning the shirt in big, bold letters was the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon.”

New documents obtained through an open records request show how far Democrats in Georgia have gone in their attempts to demonize practices that make elections more secure and set themselves up for future victories by pushing their messages to the rising generation of voters. In short, the records uncovered show that an organization founded by Stacey Abrams partnered with Atlanta public schools to uncritically teach students that election security provisions such as requiring ID to vote are discriminatory in nature, while the lax protocols implemented amid the COVID-19 pandemic should become permanent. The lesson plans and curriculum used in the...

The Bible In Paintings 2 ENCOURAGEMENT FOR APPRECIATING AND APPLYING GOD'S MESSAGE N U M B E R S CHAPTER 22 Now Balak, king of Moab, was filled with dread because of the Israelites. So Balak sent messengers to summon Balaam. Balak said: “Now come and put a curse on these people. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.” “Spend the night here,” Balaam said, “and I will bring you back the answer the LORD gives me.” That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to...

Consuming artificial sweetener could increase the risk of developing cancer, a large-scale study suggested Thursday, but experts not involved in the research said it was not enough proof to consider changing current health advice. Sweeteners are consumed by millions every day in products like diet soda, partly as a way to avoid weight gain from sugar – but how healthy these substitutes are themselves has long been a matter of controversy. To assess the cancer risk of sweeteners, researchers analyzed the data of more than 100,000 people in France who self-reported their diet, lifestyle and medical history in intervals between...

We’ve got Trouble in Potomac City! The US Treasury 10Y-5Y curve is going deeper into inversion. The short end of the Treasury curve is rising, as expected, but declining at the 5 year tenor and beyond. The aggregate Treasury Index is plunging as Fed Funds Futures signal 8.341 rate hikes over the next year. Mortgage rates? Climbing as mortgage refinancing applications fall (as expected). Is The Federal Reserve actually run by The Office’s Michael Scott?

BRUSSELS/BERLIN, March 25 (Reuters) - The United States will work to supply 15 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the European Union this year to help it wean off Russian energy supplies, the transatlantic partners said on Friday. The EU is aiming to cut its dependency on Russian gas by two-thirds this year and end all Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia supplies around 40% of Europe's gas needs. Concerns over security of supply were reinforced this week after Russia ordered the switch of gas contract payments to roubles, raising...

Significant war news we may have missed... Moscow (AsiaNews) - "Those who hear, but do not hear, those who see, but do not see, those who are there, were there and will be there, will not forget my word: raise the strength of Russia, direct our president Vladimir Putin on the path of justice". This is the invocation of Aljona Polin, Russia's leading witch, founder of the 'Great Witches of Russia' association, who held a general council of witches in support of Putin on the evening of 12 March.

n 2014, Ukrainian soldiers fighting in Crimea knew that the sight of Russian drones would soon be followed by a heavy barrage of Russian artillery. During that war, the Russian military integrated drones into tactical missions, using them to hunt for Ukrainian forces, whom they then pounded with artillery and cannon fire. Russian drones weren’t as advanced as those of their Western counterparts, but the Russian military’s integration of drones into their battlefield tactics was second to none. Eight years later, the Russians are again invading Ukraine. And since the earlier incursion, the Russian military has spent approximately US $9...

The contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop have exposed, among other things, the extent to which Hunter Biden personally profited from peddling his father’s influence while he was Vice President of the United States. After calling the Hunter laptop scandal ‘Russian disinformation’ for the last year and a half, the New York Times finally acknowledged its legitimacy last week. Beyond exposing Hunter’s degenerate acts and profiteering off of his father’s political influence, personal emails and texts show that Hunter cut his father in on some of his shady dealings. Latest: Check Out Joe Biden's Stunning Jump In Income While His Crack-Smoking...

Friday 25 March 2022 The Annunciation of the Lord, Solemnity St. Dismas Church, Waukegan, IL Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White.First readingIsaiah 7:10-14,8:10 ©The maiden is with childThe Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’ Then Isaiah said:‘Listen now, House of David:are you not satisfied with trying the patience of menwithout trying the patience of my God, too?The Lord himself, therefore,will give you a sign.It is this: the...

Blown up russian equipment, fire, Ukrainian troops after fierce battle,... and in walks a Ukrainian girl with a Kalashnikov, no helmet, no bullet proof vest, sunglasses, who is fighting with the battalion.

Germany has made significant progress towards reducing its exposure to imports of Russian gas, oil and coal since Russia invaded Ukraine, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Friday. Germany is trying to wean itself off Russian energy in the wake of the Ukraine crisis, but this is an uphill battle after decades of relying on Russia for energy supplies. Habeck said imports of Russian oil now accounted for 25% of German imports, down from 35% before the invasion, and gas imports have been cut to 40% from 55%. Russian hard coal imports were down to 25% from 50% before the...

The Illinois Firearms Owner Identification (FOID) requirement came in with the enormous gun control push done by Democrats in 1968, during the Johnson administration. In 2017, an Illinois state judge, T. Scott Webb, of White County, found the FOID unconstitutional. The case made it to the Illinois Supreme Court, where it was sent back to the District Court for clarification.In 2021, it was found to be unconstitutional again and has again made its way back to the Illinois Supreme court. From the decision, Case 17-CM-60, 26 April 2021:“A citizen in the State of Illinois is not born with a Second...

SAN ANTONIO — Bexar County leaders will study whether Elon Musk's Boring Co. can drill a 9-mile tunnel where automated Teslas would ferry people between the airport and downtown. Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) board members voted Wednesday to negotiate a project plan with the billionaire's company. "The board has continually sought innovative ways to finance transportation projects to ensure a bright future for the community in a way that bridges technology and accelerates the delivery of needed projects," chairman Mike Lynd said in a statement. "Today's board action is the first of many discussions," he added. Musk's company already...