Free Republic

Hollywood really does seem to be running out of new ideas. British big-budget director Christopher Nolan had his successes a few years ago with yet another round of Batman movies, but his expensive, visually lavish, films have otherwise not drawn large audiences. His new release, about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who helped build the first atomic bombs, seems very much just another thin remake of a story long told. It is based on a 17-year-old book, American Prometheus, that was itself started way back in 1980. The late Cold War era featured miniseries, movies, documentaries, and plays all about...

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ The Washington Post is projected to lose around $100 million in 2023, two individuals familiar with the Post’s finances told The New York Times. Additionally, two other individuals briefed on the matter disclosed that the Post is projected to fall short of anticipated advertising revenue for 2023, according to the NYT. The Post has faced challenges in expanding its paid customer base since the 2020 election when it reached a peak of 3 million digital subscriptions compared to about 2.5 million now.

First of all, much to the dismay of many, I did not die tonight. Secondly, I've seen these funeral threads before where people mourn the FReeper and talk about what they meant to them (and more than a few FReepers who celebrate the death). But what's the point of that? Does the dead FReeper know anything, or see any of the kind or crass remarks about them? No. Pointless. We should have these sort of threads BEFORE they die. So that's why I'm doing my obituary thread tonight. Plus, there is the added advantage of me knowing the exact date...

Judge Traci Soderstrom, a new state judge elected in November, oversaw a brutal murder trial that began last month. The case involved 32-year-old Khristian Tyler Martzall, who was accused of beating his then-girlfriend's 2-year-old son, Braxton Danker, to death, according to The Oklahoman, which first reported on Soderstrom's courtroom conduct. this was Soderstrom's first case. She began the trial by instructing the jury members to turn off all electronic devices — a common courtroom protocol — so that they could "concentrate on the evidence without interruption" Soon, Soderstrom proceeded to check her phone. Footage from a ceiling security camera pointed...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wXNHym7MwI

This week in France's National Assembly National Rally (RN) lawmaker Julien Odoul introducing legislation to require athletes to compete using the sex registered on their birth certificate. Odoul says the legislation is needed to "preserve women's sport" and to combat what amounts to "a form of legalized doping" that enables athletes born male to have a physiological advantage. On Thursday a reshuffling of the cabinet in France... In Marseille four police officers indicted and one placed in custody in connection with the beating of a 21-year-old man during the violent incidents on France's streets just weeks ago... There was a...

“Joe Biden has been selling access to our enemies for decades — long before [first son Hunter Biden] was involved,” Comer said. “We have more bank records that we’ve received,” Rep. James Comer (R-Ken.) told Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx.) Friday on Cruz’s “The Verdict” podcast. “We’re working on a third memorandum. They will show transactions from Ukraine and Russia.” “Joe Biden has been selling access to our enemies for decades — long before [first son Hunter Biden] was involved,” Comer said. At least two unnamed Russian oligarchs have inexplicably escaped US economic sanctions during Biden’s presidency, the Republican said —...

Music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido has received knocks from a section of Muslim faithful over the video of his artiste which was shot in a mosque-like scene that some found offensive. The video was shared by Davido on Friday as the singer urged his fans to enjoy visuals to the popular single, Jaye Lo, released by DMW’s music act, Logosolori. In a series of tweets viewed by Per Second News, Davido was asked to pull down the video as they claimed it was “hurtful, harmful and disrespect to their faith.” In his comment, Ahmed said: “ There...

Wants HIPAA expanded to undermine state laws ...The Biden administration is preparing an expansion to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)... ...the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is preparing the final draft of the new rule, called the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy, under the Office of Civil Rights... ...At least 18 attorneys general have already begun demanding that the Biden administration refrain from implementing the new rule. “The administration has sought to wrest control over abortion back from the people in defiance of the Constitution and Dobbs,”

TEMECULA, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California school board has voted to approve a social studies curriculum for elementary students, resolving a dispute with Gov. Gavin Newsom over lesson plans that mentioned the state’s first openly gay elected public official.

As the joint chamber of Congress waited for Israeli President Herzog to enter, and as members were seated in their respective areas, Kristen Sinema, striking a rather voluptuous pose, was seen chatting with Republican Senator from Utah Mike Lee. From the time she entered until she sat down, she was not seen talking to any Democrat.

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Religion Forum Threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind.

Update from Ukraine | Ukrainian army Hits Hard! Clusters id use | Drone Video Confirmation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bcR6eUoc8I The summary of the situation of Russian re-invasion to Ukraine. “Writing about Ukrainian Forces and the war since 2017. Join our growing community” The site began life as a database of Ukrainian regular and volunteer units, but over the years it has grown to cover a whole range of topics. https://militaryland.net/maps/ *** Great interactive map with viewer controlled Map magnification tool to use for each Front! https://militaryland.net/maps/

You didn't have to be alive in the 1970s to know how crazy they were. John Travolta was disco dancing in bellbottoms and shag was a desirable feature for a rug, not just something you did on it. Serious news from Watergate and the war in Vietnam heavily impacted, well, everything, but ultimately didn't put a damper on style. The cars reflected all of it, from garish excess to the automotive dark ages when the Oil Crisis and the advent of emissions standards combined to cause as much muscle-car agony as Burt Reynolds selling his beloved Bandit. Some of the...

The Last Italian Bishop Present at Vatican II DiesArticles by Borgo Pio from La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, (18 July 2023 and 19 July 2023, originals in Italian)The funeral of Bishop Emeritus Msgr. Luigi Bettazzi, who died last Sunday at age 99, will be held today in Ivrea Cathedral, celebrated by his current successor Msgr. Edoardo Cerrato. Born in 1923, Msgr. Bettazzi was the only Italian bishop still alive to have participated in the Second Vatican Council (he was consecrated bishop in 1963, as auxiliary of Bologna, later becoming ordinary of Ivrea in 1966).He was the last Italian exponent of Vatican...

LIVE! SpaceX Starlink 6-6 Launch Set to go live in 60 minutes as of this posting.

Vatican Authority Explains How the Commission for the New Martyrs Will FunctionPope Francis has taken a significant step in the search for and recognition of the martyrs of the 21st century by establishing the Commission for the New Martyrs - Witnesses of the Faith. The primary purpose of this commission is to investigate and honor those who have been persecuted and killed for their faith in Christ."This new Commission marks a further milestone in the pursuit of unity with other Christian denominations," said Father Bogusław Turek, the Undersecretary of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, in an interview...

Trump prosecutor Jack Smith has been investigating the process of sending alternate electors for possible prosecution. This week, far-left Democrat Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged 16 of the 2020 Trump electors with eight felonies each. Many of the Michigan Trump electors are retirees in the 70s and 80s. The charges against the Michigan electors include: Forgery Election Law Forgery Utterance Conspiracy The media has engaged in systemic journalistic malpractice by endlessly referring to the alternate electors as ‘fake’ electors, in order to make them seem guilty of innocent conduct. Now Mike Benz, Executive Director of the Foundation for Freedom...

"More than 30,000 tons of chemical munitions have been disposed of over nearly three decades. Years behind schedule and several times over budget, the United States’ declared chemical weapons stock is fully destroyed. The last batch of munitions containing sarin gas, a deadly nerve agent, were disarmed on Friday, July 7 at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in Kentucky. The destruction was verified by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons."... ..."Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, the military was supposed to have eliminated its stockpile in 2007, almost two decades ago. It was granted a five-year extension...

What a shock. This is so unfair to girls. Why is it being allowed to happen? From the YAF blog: Surprise! Girl’s Frisbee Team Dominates State Tournament After Adding Males to the Roster Middleton High School’s “Girl’s/Non-Binary Varsity Ultimate Frisbee Team” defeated its competition for a second year in a row at the state championship tournament, two years after allowing biological males who identify as female or “non-binary” to join the team. In the spring of 2022, the girl’s team tacked “non-binary” onto its name and has been winning game after game ever since. The team’s first-place win at the...