Free Republic

The Janus ruling was earth-shaking (in a hugely positive way). Way past time for out-of-control government unions (aka Democrat money-laundering machines) to be taken down at least one peg. But I thought the more important takeaway was SCOTUS putting in writing the idea that precedent is insufficient grounds for preserving bad law that conflicts with fundamental constitutional tenets. "Fundamental free speech rights are at stake...and [prior precedent] Abood [v. Detroit Bd of Ed.] was poorly reasoned." - Justice Alito It's really bad news for the lefties, who always scream about "settled law" and stare decisis. This ruling has huge implications...

Hello all. I saw this (below) on the intertubes ... can any of you masters of DC intrigue tell us whether or not this is accurate? I am pasting it exactly as I found it. ============= It’s not an official ‘Federal Budget’. It’s an Omnibus bill…not a Budget…He outsmarted them again…Congress basically screwed themselves by not passing a Budget… Per the Constitution…the President must adhere to a Budget set forth by Congress and direct the expenditures as provided therein. This is another one of those big Porkulus Bills, like they gave Obama for 8 years. This is not a Budget.....

Howdy folks. A few years ago, I purchased a refurb Dell PC through Staples. Today, I'm stuck in the infinite startup-and-repair loop. With the refurb PCs, they don't supply physical media. I made a bootable USB on my laptop, but that doesn't work. I can repair only if I have an installation disc. Now, if I had purchased this software directly from MS, MS would allow me to directly download the ISO image after inputting my product key on the website. I have the product key -- the refurb company put a new label on the side of the PC....

When Cathy Newman’s absurdly hilarious interview with Jordan Peterson exploded across the internet, it wasn’t just because it was so funny. To a lot of conservatives, myself included, it sounded way too familiar. What we’ve known for a long time, Cathy Newman made blindingly obvious: Liberals really don’t listen. Maybe liberals can’t listen. I’m seeing again it in a book I’m reading on the history of America’s culture wars. Conservatives’ opposition to new views on morality in the 1910s and 20s was “driven by fear,” the author says. Never mind that when the Pope Pius XI weighed in on the...

I fully expect the GOP and Trump to approve release of the Democrat memo. That alone will do a lot of damage, since the Dems are screaming so loud that they're going to get stifled by the GOP. But you know what would be even better? Releasing the Dem memo 5 minutes before a scheduled press conference ... and then having Trump read -- and dismantle -- the Dem memo, live in front of all the TV cameras.

MCALLEN, Texas — Federal authorities arrested a Democrat Texas state judge after a series of raids on his courtroom and his home. Information on the charges and other details of the investigation remain sealed. The judge is expected to be presented in federal court on Monday.

Wish I'd recorded it... There was one moment when the reaction camera was focused on Pelosi. She angrily looked back at the Dems -- was someone clapping without permission?? It was the kind of look a mom gives a toddler, to warn that the toddler is about 10 seconds away from the spanking of his life.

Howdy, FR experts... I would like to e-file my federal taxes. (I qualify.) This is my first time doing this. I went to the IRS site, selected one of the free options, and started the process. It is using the "interview" method and asking me questions about every number I enter. I have already completed the tax form on my computer. I would like to simply enter my numbers on a virtual tax form and file. Are there any simple options like that, or is every site going to ask me (for example) to enter the name and date of...

Hello all. I haven't used Skype in about two years. I just downloaded the app to my new-ish tablet and put in my old handle (username) -- but Skype didn't recognize it. So, I tried to login with the email associated with my account -- and this time, the login worked. Did Microsoft make some change to Skype in the last two years, eliminating the use of usernames? If so, this is annoying, as my username is what I've been putting on my resume for the last year. Thanks all.

Remember this from last week? -- "Mark My Words, The House is Going To Be Rocked in The Coming 72 Hours" I wasn't really holding my breath. But I really wish journalists (who are supposedly on "our" side) would stop writing tripe like this.

The state of New Jersey is doing a non-existent job of publicizing this new tax exemption for veterans, so I'm trying to spread the word.http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/newexemptionveterans.shtml

Howdy FReepers. I found a vendor (a legitimate one) in the UK that sells the license for MS Office 2016. The way it works is that they send you the download link at the MS web site and download the installation sofware (I've seen the download page before, so I know it's real). Then, when you purchase, they send you the product key. My question: is there any reason why a UK-generated product key would *not* work on software installed on a US computer?

For those you have engaged in public advocacy in the past: what is the right/best way to petition the county sheriff's office or local police departments, to ask them to issue a public statement saying "We will not obey or enforce any illegal or unconstitutional laws"? Hoping that some of you have been through something similar in the past and can offer good solid advice. Thanks FReepers. PS: if your answer is "Move to another state" or "It's too late for your state" -- that's not helpful. Yes, we know the long-term solution -- but some still want to put...

Want to listen to something creepy tonight? I have the answer for you.... Back in 1948, radios in American homes outnumbered televisions by about 900 to 1. Radio programs were very popular and covered every genre ... including horror. In August 1948, the radio program "Quiet, Please" broadcast an episode titled "The Thing on the Fourble Board." Many people familiar with the history of radio describe this episode as one of the best radio horror programs ever broadcast; some cite it as one of the best examples of radio drama as a whole. It isn't gory or explicitly violent --...

Do any music-minded FReepers know: does Rush Limbaugh release an official listing of the songs he uses as bumper music? I did a google search on his domain but couldn't find anything relevant. There's a tune he's using that I'd like to identify. It's instrumental -- sounds a lot (but not completely) like the music portion of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," but with a faster and more energetic tempo.

Trying to find an unused retail version (on eBay, etc.) of older versions of Creative Suite is next to impossible, unless you've got a lot of $$. I read that, if a person has a Creative Cloud subscription, he can download legacy versions of Creative Suite from http://www.adobe.com/downloads/other-downloads.html I have two questions about things that aren't clear: 1. Does the user have to own a previous license for CS6 (or other legacy version), or does the CC license qualify to use both CC and the legacy version? 2. If a user stops the CC subscription after a year, is he...

(Very long article, so I excerpted only the conclusions graphic)

Haven't been able to find this information anywhere, so I'll ask the greatest group of detectives I know: the members of FreeRepublic. Does anyone know the identity of the lovely young lady who held the Bible for Mattis during his swearing-in ceremony?

"New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has announced plans to completely renovate the state house. Christie said Tuesday that staff will be moved into other office space in Trenton by July for a four-year, $300 million project. Parts of the building date to the 18th century."

Vetoes Propose Deleting “Justifiable Need” As a Carry Permit Requirement, and Clean Repeal of the Smart Gun Law Mandate with No Strings Attached! “Conditional Veto” Format Would Allow the Legislature To Accept Governor Christie’s Conditions and Immediately Implement Them Please Tell Legislators to Accept Governor Christie’s Conditions! Wednesday August 24, 2016: In a blockbuster announcement today, Governor Christie conditionally vetoed two pieces of anti-gun legislation (A3689 and S816), imposing dramatic conditions that would change them into pro-gun measures establishing shall-issue right-to-carry and repealing New Jersey’s 2002 “smart gun” law mandate with no strings attached. Copies of the vetoes are available...