Free Republic

Buried in new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a bearish sign for a college education, the first time we’ve seen this in 50 years. Trade workers without a college education are gaining new advantages in employment stability and even in earnings. On paper, a college degree still earns more but that edge is slipping too.W. Scott McGill/ShutterstockThe Cleveland Fed explains: “For decades, college graduates have typically faced lower unemployment rates, found jobs faster, and experienced more stable employment than high school graduates without college experience. Combined with higher expected wages, these advantages reinforced higher education as...

I was listening to an episode of the Rob Lowe podcast Literally!, which featured fellow actor Adam Scott. I wanted to hear the two as they bandied about their time together on the former NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. It promised to be a cool listen, as the genuine friends kicked back and discussed a variety of topics in the industry, but the host let slip a surprising nugget.He currently is the host of the Fox Network game show The Floor, and Scott was jarred when Rob let it be known that they film the program entirely in Dublin, Ireland....

Per the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, a person has been detained in connection with the kidnapping of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of TODAY co-host Savannah Guthrie. Earlier on Tuesday, the FBI’s elite hostage rescue team was deployed on the ground in Tucson, along with the mobilization of several SWAT teams in multiple counties. This was following the FBI's release of images and video showing a masked individual approaching Guthrie's front door and making efforts to obscure the Nest camera. BREAKING: The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the FBI, has detained...

According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported that nine people were found dead as a result of a mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in the small rural British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge. RCMP confirmed that the shooter was also found dead from a "self-inflicted injury."Six of the victims were discovered inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, with one victim who was rushed to the hospital dying en route. Two other victims were found dead at a residence near to the school. CBC further reported that 25 other persons were injured, and...

If Helen of Troy were meant to be an African woman, Homer might have told his readers that fact in his telling of the greatest and most timeless epic poems in Western history – The Iliad and The Odyssey. Her appearance being so contrary to everyone else in the Greek world certainly would have warranted a mention. This much, at least, should be obvious to everyone. Imagining Helen’s appearance to be that of an African woman is just farcical, if one has any respect for the source material at all. It would make no sense for a high-budget production to...

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A woman says she was fired from the Kalamazoo YMCA for wearing an “ICE out” pin, but officials from the YMCA say there’s more to the story. Abbey Thompson posted a picture of herself wearing an “ICE OUT” pin and flipping off the camera on Facebook on Thursday, Feb. 5. The post has received almost 600 reactions, comments and shares. “I just got fired from YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo for wearing this because a member complained to the CEO - in case anybody wanted to know how they feel about immigrants, refugees and human rights,” Thompson said...

When someone becomes the president of the United States, the attention is not only on them, but also on their family. This includes the first lady and their children. It can be especially hard if those sons and daughters are still kids. Malia and Sasha Obama know all about this, as does Barron Trump. The same was true of Chelsea Clinton. When her father, Bill Clinton, was the leader of the free world, Chelsea was often mocked for her looks. Thankfully, she overcame it, outgrew her difficult teen years, and became a confident woman who refused to be held...

An introduction to one of the most important songwriters of the 20th century.Antonio Carlos Jobim, better known as “Tom Jobim” in his homeland, is arguably one of the most important songwriters of the 20th century, rivaling Gershwin, Porter, McCartney & Lennon, and Wonder for sheer consistency and diversity of output. The sheer number of cover versions in circulation since the 60s keeps Jobim relevant globally among jazz and pop musicians. While Jobim will forever be associated with the Bossa Nova style he helped create alongside Vinicius de Moraes and João Gilberto, his legacy cannot be contained in one genre....

A grand jury has refused to indict several former military and intelligence lawmakers who made a video urging military members to disobey illegal orders, according to multiple reports. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, under Jeanine Pirro, sought an indictment related to a video featuring six U.S. lawmakers, including Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ). It was not immediately clear which of the lawmakers were targeted in the failed indictment, according to the New York Times and NBC News.

[Catholic Caucus] The Long Shadow of Vatican II: Ambiguity as Ecclesial CancerOn February 8, Bishop Bernard Fellay of the Society of Saint Pius X delivered a sermon in which he spoke of the necessity for the Society to consecrate new bishops. The purpose of this piece is not to address the merits or challenges of that decision, but rather to focus on some of the problems he identified as plaguing the Church today and how these flow from a reading of the Second Vatican Council that has led to profound confusion—confusion that was aggravated by Pope Francis. The Second Vatican...

...it'll just keep recording and storing whatever it sees, forever?

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Agri-Business; End to Sex Slavery; Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14) 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...

Multi award-winning film composer John Williams has created a stunning legacy that has changed the way soundtracks are thought of. We trace his genius.The term “genius” is far too often, bandied about – alongside its catchall companion, “icon.” But in the case of John Williams both words apply, while barely doing justice to the magnitude of his talent. John Williams isn’t just a soundtrack composer, he is the undisputed master of the film score. He is also a creator of contemporary classical music with a post-romantic style, and a grand conductor, pianist, and jazz buff who used to play...

Singapore's economy has grown above 5 per cent for two consecutive years – a feat last achieved in 2010 and 2011.SNIP MTI attributed 2025's robust GDP expansion primarily to manufacturing, wholesale trade, and finance and insurance sectors. The electronics cluster and machinery, equipment and supplies segment experienced particularly strong growth, driven by surging demand for artificial intelligence-related electronics. Accommodative financial conditions supported growth in the finance and insurance sector.

Montana linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu will return for the 2026 season after being granted a ninth year of eligibility by the NCAA. The school announced Tuliaupupu's return on social media Monday alongside sixth-year offensive lineman Dylan Jemtegaard. Tuliaupupu is entering his second season at Montana after starting his collegiate career at USC in 2018. He was sidelined for his entire undergraduate campaign at USC after two surgery-requiring injuries impacting his foot (2018) and knee (2020). The linebacker's first season at Montana -- and eighth overall -- was just his second full season played and third with game action. He saw the...

LeBron James, who was among several Lakers players who weren’t available Tuesday night, will missed his 18th game of the season when he sat against the San Antonio Spurs, likely bringing an end to a legendary record. James’ absence against the Spurs will prevent him from reaching the NBA’s 65-game threshold for end-of-season award considerations, meaning he won’t be eligible for All-NBA honors. The 41-year-old James has been named to league-record 21 consecutive All-NBA teams, starting with second team honors following 2004-05, his second season in the league, and continuing through 2024-25, when he was also named to the second...

Nine people, including the gunman, were killed and dozens were injured in a shooting at a school in Canada's British Columbia on Wednesday, police said. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said a suspect has been found dead with what is believed to be a self-inflicted injury, AFP reported. The Tumbler Ridge police issued an alert after the incident at 1.20 pm local time at the Tumber Ridge Secondary School. Cops continue to ascertain if a second suspect was involved and the number of possible victims.

RCMP say 10 people are dead after a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.: nine victims and one suspect. Six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, one died on the way to the hospital and two more were found dead in a residence in the community. Police said the suspect was also found dead inside the school from "a self-inflicted injury." Two people were airlifted to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries. A shelter-in-place order for the district and surrounding communities was lifted around 6:45 p.m. MT. SNIP

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the FBI, has detained an individual for questioning in connection with the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told ABC News. SNIP

Informant calls O'Keefe the most evil person on earth. Wished that it was O'Keefe who was killed instead of Charlie Kirk. Said he wants to see Donald Trump, Jr. in jail. Wrote a book with a picture of O'Keefe on the cover with a bullet hole in his chest.