Free Republic

Spring has sprung! And I'm feeling rather like the dramatis personae in what is apparently now just another of those "problematic" pictures, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (although, personally, I far prefer the director's cut, Fourteen Brides for Fourteen Brothers - presumably even more problematic): Oh, the barnyard is busy In a regular tizzy And the obvious reason Is because of the season Ma Nature's lyrical With her yearly miracle Spring, Spring, Spring...In Spring a young man's fancy turns to songs about a young man's fancy. Not that you have to be homo sapiens to feel the old sap rising...

VIDEOWhat is most striking about the 2024 Marxism Conference in Melbourne, Australia that has been going on over the Easter weekend isn't the idiotic blather from the naïve Communist attendees that we've all heard before. Instead it is the photo of the audience itself revealing absolute fealty to virtue signaling COVID masking rules that most of the rest of the world has already ditched. The only reason for their demand for absolute obedience from the Commie audience is to demonstrate Commie control which reveals that was the whole purpose of the worldwide masking and mandate rules during COVID. So you...

Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) brushed off accusations that progressives are influencing President Biden’s border policy on Sunday, describing the president as “very independent” on the issue. The concerns were raised after Biden appeared to back off promises to use executive action to close the border, following mass criticism from progressives. The left wing of the Democratic Party has been critical of the president over his willingness to embrace hard-line immigration policy, which they argue is reminiscent of former President Trump.

Happy Easter! I mean Happy TRADITIONAL Easter, not a Biden weird trans celebration. Biden and Congress (Schumer, Johnson, McConnell, etc) spend and borrow like its cottage cheese. After hitting $1 trillion in late 2023, interest expense on US debt rose to a record $1.1 trillion in late March, and ii) while US debt is now rising at a pace of $1 trillion every 3 months, US interest expense is rising at a just as torrid $100 billion every 4 months (this interval will also shrink to three months very soon). he Biggest Picture: $1.1tn in interest payments on US government...

Governor Wes Moore (D-MD) said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that claiming the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was due to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies was “foolishness.” Host Dana Bash said, “Some Republicans are trying to blame the bridge collapse on policies that encourage workplace diversity. A Utah state representative who is running for governor tweeted, quote, ‘This is what happens when you have governors who prioritize diversity over the well-being and security of citizens.’ Another Republican running for Congress in Florida posted ‘DEI did this.’ What’s your response?”

An investigator with the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office is fighting for his life after being thrown from the hood of a moving car while trying to apprehend a suspect in Big Flats Friday night. On Friday, the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police were conducting a joint retail theft operation in Consumer Square, in the Town of Big Flats. At about 6:45 pm, while pursuing a larceny suspect in the Target parking lot, the subject ran towards a getaway vehicle and jumped on the hood with Inv. Mike Theetge in close pursuit tackling him on top...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are neurodegenerative diseases that commonly occur in middle-aged people. Both ALS and FTD arise from neuronal degeneration through mechanisms that remain unclear. Dr. Yun-Ru (Ruby) Chen's team recently discovered a new pathological mechanism for neuronal degeneration using synthetic peptides. They also discovered that a disaccharide can increase neuronal survival and reduce degeneration. The result provides therapeutic strategies for future treatment. ALS and FTD differ in clinical symptoms, but they share many pathological features and genetic variations. Clinical data shows that more than 90% of ALS and about 70% of FTD patients are...

The White House moved Sunday to make public its best wishes for Christians in the wake of an earlier furore arising from President Joe Biden declaring Easter Sunday “Transgender Day of Visibility.” A statement from the White House was issued to that effect, saying the power of Christ’s Resurrection is honored in the observance of Easter: Jill and I send our warmest wishes to Christians around the world celebrating Easter Sunday. Easter reminds us of the power of hope and the promise of Christ’s Resurrection. As we gather with loved ones, we remember Jesus’ sacrifice. We pray for one another...

Wales: The Welsh Refugee Council is using 12 yr old girls in ads meant to entice migrant men to come to Wales. The refugee council is a far left group.

Representative James Clyburn (D-SC) said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he believed the only way to move forward was to end the Israel-Hamas war and reach a two-state solution with Palestine. Host Kristen Welker said, “As you know, looming large over that event including with some protesters is the war in the Middle East and, in fact, a new Gallup poll now oppose Israel’s war in Gaza and approval has dropped from 50 to 36% since November. There were a number of interruptions at that fund raiser and a growing number of Democrats are calling this a genocide...

The Tories are on pace for their worst-ever election result according to a seat-by-seat survey which found that Rishi Sunak’s neo-liberal party may win as fewer than 100 seats in the upcoming general election. A poll of 15,000 people conducted by Survation on behalf of globalist Best for Britain think tank and published in The Sunday Times found that the so-called Conservatives of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would win just 98 seats in the 650 member House of Commons, compared to as many as 468 for the left-wing Labour Party of Sir Keir Starmer.

Federal authorities in the US asked Google for the names, addresses, telephone numbers and user activity of the accounts that watched certain YouTube videos between January 1 and 8, 2023, according to unsealed court documents viewed by Forbes. People who watched those videos while they weren't logged into an account weren't safe either, because the government also asked for their IP addresses. The investigators reportedly ordered Google to hand over the information as part of an investigation into someone who uses the name "elonmuskwhm" online. Authorities suspect that elonmuskwhm is selling bitcoin for cash and is, thus, breaking money laundering...

The Biden administration's Department of Energy announced Monday that it would distribute $6 billion in grant funds to a number of climate projects, according to a department press release. The funds will be dispersed to 33 projects across the country as part of Biden's "Investing in America Agenda." The grant program aims to "decarbonize energy-intensive industries, reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions, support good-paying union jobs, revitalize industrial communities, and strengthen the nation's manufacturing competitiveness." Only projects that demonstrate a commitment to an "equitable and inclusive clean energy future" by "develop[ing] and ultimately implement[ing] a comprehensive Community Benefits Plan" are eligible....

The 87-year-old pontiff led Easter Mass at the Vatican in front of thousands, despite concerns over his health. Referring to conflicts around the world, the Pope pleaded not to "yield to the logic of weapons and rearming". "Peace is never made with arms, but with outstretched hands and open hearts," he said. Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in St Peter's Square to hear the Pope.

Since 2022, demand on the global arms market has spiked, and the race has been on to secure contracts & market share. Two weeks ago we looked at the collapse of Russia's position in the market. Today, we tell the rest of the story, looking at the winners and losers so far - and emerging trends.

The liquid assets in Russia's national wealth fund fell 44% from January 2022 to December 2023. Total holdings in the fund tumbled 12% over the same period amid the war in Ukraine, per Bloomberg. Liquid assets in the fund could last just another year or two if Russia's oil export price falls below $50 a barrel, per Bloomberg Economics.

Critics are blasting a "rain tax" Toronto is proposing to charge homeowners, Newsweek reported. City officials are proposing to hit homeowners with a "stormwater charge" according to how much their properties' water runoff would impact the storm sewer system, the magazine said, adding that it's an attempt to encourage citizens to keep grass and plants on their properties rather than paving outdoor square footage. Newsweek, citing Toronto city authorities, said the charge would be based on each property's hard surface area, including roofs, driveways, parking lots, and other concrete landscaping. "Stormwater is rain and melted snow. When not absorbed into...

The glass used to create beads discovered at a prehistoric settlement dubbed "Britain's Pompeii" was probably made in Iran, analysis has revealed.The finds were among a wealth of well-preserved items unearthed at a burnt-out 3,000-year-old village at a quarry in Whittlesey, near Peterborough.Amber, shale, siltstone, faience and tin beads were also discovered...The remains of a settlement of about 10 circular wooden houses on stilts built above a river was discovered by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit between 2015 and 2016.Believed to be home to 50 to 60 people, the cause of the fire that destroyed it in 850BC is unknown. The...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Matthew 28:5–7The Lord has truly risen! Alleluia! Sin and death have been destroyed, and new life has been offered to all who cling to the Savior in faith. What a...

After US Pres. Joe Biden declared 'the rouble would be turned to rubble' by sanctions, the Russian economy looks more resilient with GDP growth hitting 3.6% in 2023 - outstripping every G7 country. America and the EU slapped Russian entities with sanctions as early as 2014 after the annexation of Crimea to deter further Russian aggression, disrupt its nefarious activities and demonstrate the West's resolve.... ...'Sanctions influenced Russia's behaviour enormously, but not in the direction of stated objectives by the sender states,' Dr. Kirkham said. 'Sanctions influenced Russia's behaviour enormously, but not in the direction of stated objectives by the...