Free Republic

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gifted President Trump a gilded framed copy of his grandfather’s birth certificate during their first face-to-face meeting at the White House Thursday. The gold-encased present, a reflection of the president’s signature Oval Office décor, paid tribute to Friedrich Trump, who was born in Kallstadt, Germany, in 1869 and later immigrated to the United States. “That’s serious German,” Trump said in response to the gesture. “I want to thank you for that. That’s beautiful. Thank you very much. Fantastic. We’ll put it up in a place of honor.” Trump was previously gifted a “golden pager” from Israeli...

Letters sent to Gold Country Media newspapers claiming to be from the eco-terrorist Earth Liberation Front and declaring responsibility for the recent firebomb plantings in Lincoln and Auburn were reportedly sent by an Emma Goldman from Sacramento. Letters were received Jan. 18 by the Lincoln News Messenger and Auburn Journal and on Jan. 19 by the Roseville Press-Tribune. Only the letter sent to the Journal was opened and the others were turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigations. "We appreciate the newspapers' cooperation," said Karen Ernst, spokeswoman for the Sacramento FBI office. "We are not going to comment on...

Lately, Chavez declared himself a member of a charismatic congregation, thus allegedly belonging to his country's fastest-growing branch of Christianity. But then he angered the country's National Catholic Bishops Conference by communing at a Mass organized by a priest of pro-Communist leanings. Should you have any doubt that Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is in serious decline, consider this: His bust is being removed from the altars of his country's popular religion, a renowned anthropologist told United Press International on Monday. Less than four years ago, the syncretistic Maria Lionza cult celebrated Chavez as the reincarnation of Simon Bolivar, (1783-1830),...

The following 1869 Harvard entrance exam was supposed to be a breeze, believe it or not (via GOOD). In those days colleges had to go out of their way to attract students. Harvard pointed out in a newspaper ad that 185 of 210 candidates passed the entrance test and were accepted in the previous year. But those candidates had the benefit of a focused prep school education. You will find this exam, which ranges from geography to geometry to Latin, extremely difficult. Take a stab at the answers in the comment section.