Free Republic

It struck me earlier today that I have NOT written a regular check in years. Yes, I have written a few bank checks but as far as personal checks I can't think of any that I have written any in at least 5 and more likely 10 or more years. At one time in my life and in the lives of many others, writing checks were a frequent activity. However, after the onset of the Internet and doing transactions over the web my check writing activities dwindled further and further until it has reached ZERO except for the few times...

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Federal taxpayers helped build a $2.2 billion solar plant — now electricity customers are on the hook to keep it running. The Ivanpah Solar Power Plant, a sprawling facility near the California-Nevada border built with billions in federal support during the Obama-era economic stimulus program, is stuck in a costly dilemma. Both the Trump and Biden administrations — along with the utility company that buys its power — have sought to shut it down, saying it underperforms, produces expensive electricity and has been overtaken by cheaper energy sources. But California regulators have refused to allow it...

Graham Linehan has demanded that the police stop acting as a “goon squad” for trans activists. The Father Ted co-creator, 57, claimed police were being used as “useful idiots” after accusing them of failing to “properly and fairly investigate” allegations made against him by trans activist Sophia Brooks. Mr Linehan was cleared of harassing Ms Brooks on social media but convicted of criminal damage after snatching the complainant’s mobile phone and throwing it to the ground outside the Battle of Ideas conference on Oct 19, 2024. The Irish comedy writer has now had his criminal damage conviction overturned after Mrs...

Explanation: Shrouded in a thick atmosphere, the surface of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is really hard to see. Small particles suspended in Titan's upper atmosphere cause an almost impenetrable haze, strongly scattering light at visible wavelengths and hiding surface features from prying eyes. Still, Titan's surface is better imaged at infrared wavelengths, where scattering is weaker and atmospheric absorption is reduced. Arrayed around this visible light image (center) of Titan are some of the clearest global infrared views of the tantalizing moon so far. In false color, the six panels present a consistent processing of 13 years of infrared image...

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson laughed off what she termed "their futile effort to escape social justice. They think they will preserve their wealth and their income by relocating to states that respect private property and the so-called right to keep what they earn. At best, they will only temporarily spare themselves the retribution they so richly deserve." Wilson predicted "when Democrats sweep the November elections and achieve veto-proof majorities in Congress, the redistribution of wealth prescribed by Karl Marx in his "Communist Manifesto" of 1848 will go national. Everyone will be taxed based on the ability to pay. Everyone will...

"He comes from a place called Cuba, which we will be taking over almost immediately. Now, Cuba's got problems. We'll finish one first. I like to finish a job. On the way back from Iran, we'll have one of our big, maybe the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, the biggest in the word. We'll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore, and they'll say, 'Thank you very much. We give up.'"

Ibezim pleaded guilty to attempting to submit fraudulent voter registrations to Union County election officials. According to a state grand jury, the Democrat politician showed up at a local post office with a trash bag containing 954 fraudulent voter registration applications.

Rubén Rocha Moya, the Mexican governor indicted by the United States this week, said Friday night that he would temporarily step down from his post, expanding the political fallout from accusations that he aided a powerful drug cartel for years. Mr. Rocha, 76, said in a two-minute recorded statement late Friday that he was innocent but would take “a temporary leave of absence” as governor of the Mexican state of Sinaloa to focus on defending himself from the accusations.

By Dr. John BergsmaSince the beginning of time, human beings have sought to construct buildings that would bridge the gap between the temporal and eternal, earthly and heavenly planes of existence. These temples have taken widely differing forms in many cultures. One of the greatest was the Jerusalem temple begun by Herod the Great (73–4 BC), an architectural marvel of the ancient world while it stood. The authors of the New Testament texts in this Sunday’s Readings were well familiar with Herod’s great temple, yet they were convinced that God had begun the construction new and greater dwelling place for...

[Catholic Caucus] Legal Positivism and Liberalism Drive Hatred of the SSPXThe Catholic faith certainly requires obedience. But obedience to what?Just imagine waking up every day of your life and telling yourself that you have to be obedient and in communion with Cardinal Victor “Tucho” Fernandez for the salvation of your soul because of a title he holds at the Vatican.Now imagine having to convince yourself that Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, a respected Archbishop in good standing with the Catholic Church for decades, excommunicated himself and became schismatic because he needed to find a way to preserve the faith as it always...

British Imperial Expert: The Force Behind King Charles, Iran & Every War Since 1900 | PBD #788 Susan Kokinda of Prometheian Action joins Patrick Bet-David to expose what nobody is saying - Trump's war with Iran is actually a 200-year war against the British Empire. In this interview she breaks down how the City of London has been charging Americans a hidden terror tax on every gallon of gas, why Trump's Iran blockade is really about destroying Britain's 300-year oil monopoly, how British Intelligence engineered the MAGA civil war through Tucker Carlson and Qatar's billions, why Mueller prosecuted LaRouche for...

MEMBERS OF THE UK Labour Party are preparing to challenge their embattled leader, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to multiple reports published in the British media today. Starmer has been under pressure over his numerous U-turns on policy decisions since taking office in 2024. Having appeared to fend moves against him from senior members of his party earlier this year, Starmer has found himself in the spotlight again recently over the appointment of Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. Now, with a number of elections looming across the UK, and polling indicating a blowout for...

It is not a book you need. It’s not anywhere near the top of your to-read list. But you have to buy it. You already know where you’ll put it: on top of the pile of books on your bedside table.

The F-15 Eagle fighter has been, since its adoption by the United States Air Force in 1974, one of the world's premier air-superiority fighters. It's not stealthy, but it's fast, big, and carries a huge variety of weapons. It's gone through several revisions and upgrades since its Cold War birth, and the latest, the F-15EX, is in production now, making it over half a century of F-15 production. But the new F-15EX is a very different bird than the original Cold War fighter, and now, the United States Air Force is looking to ramp up the numbers of these magnificent...

The White House is arguing to lawmakers that President Donald Trump does not need to disengage troops from the conflict with Iran in order to comply with the War Powers Act because an extended ceasefire has effectively ended military hostilities. The Trump administration faced a Friday deadline under the 1973 law that is designed to end military operations after 60 days unless Congress has formally blessed the mission. The White House essentially states that the 60-day clock no longer applies, in letters sent Friday to Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President Pro Tempore Charles E. Grassley and obtained by CQ...

Champion. Fighter. Friend. Alex Zanardi was relentless in pursuit, fearless in spirit, and unmatched in heart. His legacy reached far beyond the track as an inspiration to many. To us, he was family. Rest in peace, Alex.

2 May 2026 Saint Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor on Saturday of the 4th week of Eastertide St. Athanasius Byzantine Catholic Church, Indianapolis, INReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingActs 13:44-52Since you have rejected the word of God, we must turn to the pagansThe next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had to proclaim the word of...

The chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Service committees on Saturday expressed they are “very concerned” about the withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany amid President Trump’s feud with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump on Wednesday had announced that he was reviewing a possible reduction of U.S. troops in Germany. “We are very concerned by the decision to withdraw a U.S. brigade from Germany,” the chairs, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), said in a joint statement. “Germany has stepped up in response to President Trump’s call for greater burden sharing, significantly increasing defense spending...

Can anyone recommend a good online resource to upload photos for discussion on this site? No NSA/CIA please, but not necessarily super-secure either. Thanks.

Today, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) introduced the End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026, which would pause the issuance of H-1B visas for three years and implement significant reforms when the program resumes. Reps. Brian Babin (R-TX), Brandon Gill (R-TX), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Keith Self (R-TX), and Andy Ogles (R-TN) have signed on as original cosponsors. Following growing concern about companies turning to foreign labor instead of American workers, Rep. Crane drafted legislation to reset and reform the H-1B system. In addition to the three-year pause, the bill includes reforms such as: Reducing the...