Free Republic

The risk for newly diagnosed gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is increased for patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) versus peritoneal dialysis (PD), according to a study. Chieh-Hsin Huang and colleagues examined whether HD and PD confer different incidence of GI bleeding in a retrospective cohort study involving all incident dialysis patients older than 18 years of age from the National Health Insurance database in Taiwan from 1998 to 2013. A total of 6,296 matched pairs of HD and PD patients were identified. To minimize selection bias, a propensity score-matching method was used. The researchers found that in the HD group, the adjusted hazard...

The Biden administration’s weak case for abruptly imposing new rules and taxes on firearms long free from them is giving hope to some Second Amendment advocates that decades of gun laws dating to Al Capone’s days will finally be killed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The about-face on regulating millions of AR-15 style “pistols” and forcing owners to register them or face jail and fines is already being challenged as an overreach by fervently anti-gun President Joe Biden and his Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “The part I’m actually excited about is that we have a Supreme Court...

In response to your recent December news release statement concerning “Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions” and request for public comments, I have the following comment to your board. The intended purpose of the Federal Reserve is formulating U.S. monetary policy through the control of currency and interest rates, as well as promoting financial stability through the regulating of financial institutions. If members of the Federal Reserve are so concerned about climate, environmental and energy policies, then I strongly suggest that those members resign from the Federal Reserve. These former members could then simply seek other...

Coast guards rescued three divers off the northern coast of Poland over the weekend whose dubious explanation of their night-time dive near critical energy infrastructure, along with their mysterious identities, has reportedly sparked a cross-agency investigation. The three men, who told authorities they were Spanish nationals, were rescued near the Polish coastal city of Gdansk on Saturday night after their small motorboat broke down and they couldn't return to shore. Since then, doubts over their intentions have mounted. They were rescued not far from the Naftoport facility at the Port of Gdansk, which receives tanker shipments of oil and other...

The Continental Assembly in Prague is the worldwide synodal process and the ten German participants who will be present digitally are now also known. According to the list of participants completed on Friday and published by the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), they are....

The US Treasury Department will designate the Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group as a “transnational criminal organization” and will impose additional sanctions next week against the group and its support network across the world, the White House said on Friday. “These actions recognize the transcontinental threat that Wagner poses, including through its ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity,” National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told reporters on Friday, ahead of the Treasury Department announcement. Along with the new sanctions, the US has released newly declassified photos of Russian railcars traveling from Russia to North Korea and back...

More than a dozen House Republicans introduced legislation declaring that the COVID-19 pandemic is over. The Pandemic Is Over Act, from Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., simply states that the public health emergency declared by the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2020 in response to COVID "shall terminate on the date of enactment of this Act." [snip] "The COVID-19 pandemic is over," Guthrie said. "Despite President Biden admitting this in September, his administration just authorized the 12th extension of the COVID-19 public health emergency. It is long overdue for President Biden to end the COVID-19 public health emergency...

"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved...

GROZNY, January 20. /TASS/. The Chechen authorities are negotiating the launch of the production of a light military vehicle at the Chechenavto plant, an official with the government of the Chechen republic told TASS. The official added that the vehicle will be called the "Jihad Machine" and will subsequently be tested at the Russian University of Special Forces. "The day before, the Chairman of the Government of the Chechen Republic, Muslim Khuchiev, and the Minister of Industry and Energy of the region, Adam Khakimov, held a number of working meetings with the leadership of the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry....

Some Pink Floyd fans are up in arms about the rainbow colors that have accompanied the band's classic Dark Side of the Moon album artwork for nearly five decades. The legendary music group announced Thursday that it was releasing a special 50th anniversary edition of what is already one of the best-selling albums of all time. The announcement was made on social media networks including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, featuring an adapted image of the iconic album cover with the prism and rainbow colors.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre attacked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) over the state rejecting a new AP (Advanced Placement) African American Studies course. The curriculum’s content includes sections on “Black Queer Studies,” cultural appropriation, reparations, and the “global influence of the Black Lives Matter” movement. “It is incomprehensible to see — this block — that DeSantis has put forward. If you think about the study of black Americans, that is what he wants to block,” Jean-Pierre claimed during a press conference on Friday. The White House Press Secretary then went on to complain about how Florida has also...

Former President Donald Trump laid pressure on Republicans in Congress not to cut Medicare and Social Security. Trump said the Washington bureaucrats should bear the pain of President Biden’s reckless spending on “left-wing lunacy,” not senior citizens.

Senior U.S. officials are advising Ukraine to hold off on launching a major offensive against Russian forces until the latest supply of U.S. weaponry is in place and training has been provided, a senior Biden administration official said on Friday. The official, speaking to a small group of reporters on condition of anonymity, said the United States was holding fast to its decision not to provide Abrams tanks to Ukraine at this time, amid a controversy with Germany over tanks. U.S. talks with Ukraine about any counter-offensive have been in the context of ensuring the Ukrainians devote enough time first...

Former President Donald Trump on Friday released a video telling GOP lawmakers to "cut waste, fraud and abuse everywhere" and to save Social Security as "the Democrats are looking to destroy" the program."Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security to help pay for Joe Biden's reckless spending spree. Which is more reckless than anyone has ever done - or had - in the history of our country," Trump said.WATCH: Trump: We must protect Medicare and Social Security"Biden has blown out the federal budget, wasted trillions on left-wing lunacy and the ridiculous...

Gay couple charged with molesting their adopted sons also pimped them out to pedophile ring, report claims A gay couple from Georgia charged with molesting their two adopted sons and using them to record child porn also allegedly pimped them out to members of a local pedophile ring, according to a disturbing new report. A months-long investigation by Townhall revealed that William Dale Zulock, 33, and Zachary Jacoby Zulock, 35, allegedly used social media to prostitute their two elementary-aged sons. William Zulock, a government worker, and Zachary Zulock, a banker, were indicted in August 2022 on charges of of incest,...

A Cooked-Up Nanny State CrockpotThe left wants you driving an electric car and now cooking on an electric stove, as they want to ban gas stoves. Richard Trumka of the Biden administration’s Consumer Product Safety Commission said gas stoves should be banned under the guise of public-health.This is the same administration claiming the border is secure and inflation under control. We are $31 trillion in debt with Social Security heading toward insolvency and the left wants to know what you cook on. We are $31 trillion in debt with Social Security heading toward insolvency and the left wants to know...

Supporters of taxes on the very rich contend that people are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic with a bigger appetite for what they’re calling “tax justice.” Bills announced Thursday in California, New York, Illinois, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington and Connecticut vary in their approaches to hiking taxes, but all revolve around the idea that the richest Americans need to pay more. All of the proposals face questionable prospects. Similar legislation has died in state legislatures and Congress. But the new push shows that the political left isn’t ready to give up on the populist argument that government can and should...

An Indo-Russian joint venture (Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited– IRRPL) has started the manufacturing process of AK-203 assault rifles in Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh (UP). This makes India the first country outside Russia which has started the production of AK-200 series assault rifles of the world-famous brand. These assault rifles are meant for the Indian Army and later there are possibilities of supplying these rifles to the paramilitary forces in the country. AK 203 Rosoboronexport had told Financial Express Online earlier that the AK-203 rifles are fitted with integral Picatinny rails. These are for easy and...

Most of us are still dumb creatures looking to the future for fulfillment. We think some future event or change in our circumstances will bring us peace and joy. We say, “Just wait; my day is coming. Somehow, someday, somewhere…I don’t know what is out there for me, but it will happen.” We are like children waiting for Christmas and counting the days. David once wrote during a mournful, introspective season in his life that he felt the time was going too fast. He had accomplished so little, he thought. Everything at the time seemed to be in vain. “Surely...

"You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance" (Eph. 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit is God’s first installment on your eternal inheritance. The Holy Spirit's ministry in your life is multifaceted and profound. Among other things He brings salvation, conviction, guidance, and strength. He indwells and equips you for spiritual service and gives assurance of your salvation. He is your Helper and Advocate. He is the Spirit of promise, who seals you until the day when your redemption is fully realized (Eph. 4:30). Sealing speaks of security, authenticity, ownership,...