Free Republic

The episode was filmed during Letterman’s visit to Kyiv in October. The venue is the Maidan Nezalezhnosti metro station.The clip shows Letterman arriving in Kyiv by train, as well as archive footage of Zelenskyy and his team after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.“I’ve never done anything quite like this,” Letterman said in the clip as he was descending the escalator in the Kyiv Metro.In addition, the clip shows the first seconds of the conversation with the Ukrainian president.

Thursday 8 December 2022The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Solemnity Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church Mumbai, India. Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(I).First readingGenesis 3:9-15,20 ©The mother of all those who liveAfter Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was...

President Biden’s job approval rating is holding steady in the wake of the midterm elections, with around 43 percent of Americans still supporting him, according to a new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. An October AP-NORC poll found a similar 43 percent approval rating for the president. The polling shows there hasn’t been much change, at least for Biden, since the midterm elections, when Democrats exceeded some observers’ expectations — beating back a red wave in the House and capturing the Senate. Taking a step back, Biden has dropped from a 48 percent approval rating a year...

Pray For The Peace of JerusalemMatthew 17Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief._______________________________________________________ New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.God Bless America.ML/LTOS

The law will go into effect once proper signs and notices are in place Nantucket has approved a bylaw amendment that will allow people to go topless on beaches regardless of gender. "In order to promote equality for all persons, any person shall be allowed to be topless on any public or private beach within the Town of Nantucket," the new amendment to the Protection of Coastal Areas and Open Spaces bylaw states. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey approved the bylaw on Tuesday, but it will only go into effect once the town meets appropriate posting and publishing requirements, according...

On Wednesday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “All In,” Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Democrats want to pass an omnibus spending bill to cover government spending for the whole next year so that way, they can “avoid the problem” of a House Republican majority under Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) “having any control” over spending legislation and Democrats are helped in their push for an omnibus spending bill by the fact that “Republican hawks on military stuff realize that if we had a CR, a continuing resolution, that would really hurt our troops, our military readiness, etc.” Schumer stated, “Well,...

NATIONAL BROWNIE DAY Each year on December 8th, brownie lovers across the nation enjoy one of their favorite baked goods on National Brownie Day. #NationalBrownieDay In the United States, the chocolate brownie is a favorite, with the blonde brownie running a close second. A blonde brownie is made with brown sugar and no chocolate and is often called a blondie. The earliest recipes for brownies we are familiar with today are found published in regional cookbooks and newspapers around the turn of the last century. The 1904 Laconia, NH Home Cookery, the 1904 Chicago, IL Service Club Cook Book, and...

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) continued his mission to further divide Republicans when he mockingly endorsed Ronna McDaniel for RNC chair on Wednesday. “I don’t know about you but I think Ronna McDaniel is doing an outstanding job running the RNC … 4 more years! 4 more years!” Swalwell tweeted on Wednesday.

SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Luke 1:26–38 Friends, today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.In 1854, Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception—the truth that Mary, through a special grace, was preserved free from original sin from the first moment of her conception.Were this not the case, the angel would not have referred to her at the Annunciation as Kecharitomene (full of grace). Why would God do such a thing? And wouldn’t this imply that Mary does not need to be redeemed?The traditional answer is...

(Free link) The battle for Bakhmut has become a bloodbath for both sides as Russia steps up its attempts to take what used to be a quaint, tree-lined city. Ukrainian defense officials said Moscow is losing around 50 soldiers a day to maintain a slow, bruising advance to reach the city’s easternmost gates. Snip If the Russians break through to take control of Bakhmut, it would open a path to the political and economic centers of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk in the Ukrainian-held portions of the Donbas area, once one of the country’s main industrial regions. Moscow tried to seize the...

MOSCOW, Russia — Houston native and WNBA star Brittney Griner has been freed as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia, according to the White House. Griner was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, labeled the “Merchant of Death.” This was a one-for-one swap. American and Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan was not part of the exchange. [Snip]

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre embarrassed herself again this week when she accidentally read the wrong scripted response to a question during Monday’s White House press briefing. A reporter pointed out that Sen. Jean Shaheen (D-N.H.) is upset with Joe Biden for supporting a proposal that would put South Carolina ahead of New Hampshire in the primary schedule, and that Shaheen believes that New Hampshire “is now vulnerable for her party” because of that. “Does the president have a response to that?” the reporter asked. “So, look, we honor — we honor the Hatch Act, as I mentioned many...

We describe the autopsy findings and common characteristics of myocarditis in untreated persons who received anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Standardized autopsies were performed on 25 persons who had died unexpectedly and within 20 days after anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. In four patients who received a mRNA vaccination, we identified acute (epi-)myocarditis without detection of another significant disease or health constellation that may have caused an unexpected death.

A 38-year-old Border Patrol agent was killed in Texas Wednesday morning during a high speed chase with illegal immigrants. "On December 7, 2022, at approximately 1:00 am, a Border Patrol agent assigned to the McAllen Station patrolling the international boundary on an all-terrain vehicle was tracking a group of subjects that illegally crossed the border when he was involved in a crash near Mission, Texas. He was found unresponsive by fellow agents who immediately initiated life-saving efforts and requested EMS. The agent was taken to an area hospital by ambulance where he later passed away. Further information to follow," U.S....

More than three million low-income households cannot afford to heat their homes during the current spell of cold weather - putting their health at risk, according to new research. It comes as the Met Office warns of the Arctic blast hitting the UK, which could cause overnight temperatures as low as -10C by the end of the week. The UK Health and Security Agency has issued a Level 3 cold weather alert - and says vulnerable people should heat their homes to at least 18C, wear extra layers of clothing, and eat hot food to protect themselves. But about 710,000...

Given events since Trump’s departure, he should be in the driver’s seat. But he is not. Team Trump has sometimes compared Donald Trump’s current quest for a nonsequential second term to two-term President Grover Cleveland’s similar three election bids. Cleveland remains our only elected (1884) president to have lost a reelection bid (1888)—in a disputed vote—only to be reelected four years later (1892). Yet Trump seems determined instead to follow a different, and bullheaded, Teddy Roosevelt model. Roosevelt left the presidency (1908), sat out four years, and then lost a reelection bid in 1912, split and alienated the Republican Party,...

Sunday, Dec. 7, 1862. There has been no field movements to-day. Officers, well informed, state that JACKSON has arrived near Fredericksburgh and joined his forces with those already there. They also report that the enemy have extended their lines several miles further down the Rappahannock. Last night was intensely cold, and some of the soldiers suffered for want of blankets. Ice formed in Potomac and Aquia Creeks from one and a half to two inches thick. To-day the sun came out fair and cheering, but the air continued piercing cold. The roads are hard, and very rough. The report that...

Forget EVM. Forget Mail-in Voting.

Actor and Christian activist Kirk Cameron is claiming that more than 50 public libraries have rejected his applications to hold a “story hour” to promote his new faith-based children’s book, accusing them of indulging the “woke left.” The “Growing Pains” star says he hasn’t been given a story hour slot in public libraries, claiming that his publisher, Brave Books, has been told the messaging of his faith-based book, “As You Grow,” “does not align” with the LGBTQ-welcoming institutions. Dozens of public libraries in the US have reportedly rejected or not responded to his publisher’s request for the former child star...

Has our society transitioned to a period of “post-truth”? And, if so, what does it mean, where is it taking us, is it permanent, and can we fight it? The online Cambridge dictionary defines “post-truth” to mean “relating to a situation in which people are more likely to accept an argument based on their emotions and beliefs, rather than one based on facts.” Given this definition, I personally believe much of the United States has transitioned to a “post-truth” society, and many of us will become casualties of this new paradigm before harsh reality steers our nation back to an...