Free Republic

RAMALLAH, West Bank — The shy Palestinian teenager raised her flute and dispatched the courtly melodies and cascading runs of an 18th-century concerto with surprising self-assurance. Over just three years of study the flute had become a near obsession for Dalia Moukarker, 16. She was practicing so hard — sometimes retreating to a bathroom in her crowded apartment, sometimes skipping meals — that her wrist filled with pain, limiting her to two hours a day. But in a classroom here recently, the discomfort was nowhere to be seen. For she had earned an almost surreal reward: a master class with...

Check out the returns from today's CA election. EVERY ONE of the props are a big "NO" except for the last one, 1F. Let's see how the libs handle this one. Popcorn, anyone?

Poland's Krystian Zimerman, widely regarded as one of the finest pianists in the world, created a furor Sunday night in his debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall when he announced this would be his last performance in America because of the nation's military policies overseas. Before playing the final work on his recital, Karol Szymanowski’s "Variations on a Polish Folk Theme," Zimerman sat silently at the piano for a moment, almost began to play, but then turned to the audience. In a quiet but angry voice that did not project well, he indicated that he could no longer play in...

As a new resident, I have been wondering about my options for firearm ownership and concealed carry in the state of California. Yea, it's an anti-gun state, and there must be more than a few obstacles for law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to bear arms, but I am willing to jump through the hoops. Specifically, I would like to know 1) what restrictions are there in regards to assault rifles, 2) are these restrictions limited to certain counties, 3) is concealed carry even an option, and 4) what would you recommend for maximum home protection in this state, without...