Free Republic

MANILA, Philippines – President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is considering implementing martial law in Sulu, Basilan and the entire Sulu Archipelago in an attempt to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf Group. The terrorist group has continually engaged in high-profile kidnappings throughout the southern regions of the Philippines – often abducting business owners and foreigners. Recently the group has begun decapitating its captives after ransom demands are not met. Duterte told reporters during his pre-election campaign that he would not hesitate to invade Sulu if the Abu Sayyaf Group does not surrender to his demands. ...

Most political reporters are fixated on the presidential horserace rather than the message candidates are sending to voters. Message wins all the time. Message moves polls. Message raises money. Message determines elections....

He's controversial, colorful, and occasionally crass. But there's no denying that billionaire businessman Donald Trump has struck a chord with the American electorate. Right now the economy is floundering; college students are protesting; undocumented immigrants are settling in; ISIS is growing; and Russia is plotting. It's time for a bold leader in the White House. It's time, CNN contributor Jeffrey Lord says, for President Donald Trump. ...

HAVE YOU UPDATED TO WINDOWS 10 AND HAVE A DATA CAP ON YOU INTERNET PLAN THEN YOU MUST READ THIS Windows 10 is using yourbandwidth to offer updates to others Windows 10 uses an individual’s internet connection to share updates with others across the internet. Microsoft calls the feature Windows Update Delivery Optimisation and says it is designed to help users get updates faster. It is enabled by default in Windows 10 Home and Pro editions. Windows 10 Enterprise and Education have the feature enabled, but only for the local network. This is the same way that torrents work: A...

“Immigration reform” may be the single most abused phrase in the English language. It has become a legislative honorific almost exclusively reserved for proposals which benefit everyone but actual American citizens. Consider the recent Obama-backed “immigration reform” bill rejected by Congress. That bill—the culmination of a $1.5 billion lobbying effort—doubled the influx of foreign workers to benefit corporate lobbyists, offered sweeping amnesty to benefit illegal immigrants, and collapsed enforcement to benefit groups in the Democrat political machine that advocate open borders. But for American citizens, the legislation offered nothing except lower wages, higher unemployment, and a heavier tax burden. More...

...Vargas conceded that he does "not have a single U.S. government-issued ID" and, like most of the country's eleven million illegal immigrants, does not have a driver's license. But Vargas notes ever since he came out as an illegal immigrant in a New York Times magazine profile, "I’ve been the most privileged undocumented immigrant in the country." ...

Can Roman Catholics be saved? Yes they can but not if they adhere to Roman Catholic theology. Like anyone else, salvation is found only through faith in Christ alone. ...

"No-bama, no bases, no war," chanted an angry crowd of protesters in Manila Monday, infuriated by a ten-year defense deal in which the United States promised support for the Filipino army in the event of any dispute with the country's neighbors growing violent. According to NBC News, the crowd paraded through the streets with several figurines that appeared constructed with the full detail of a parade float. The centerpiece of the protest, however, was a large dog with the face of the President of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III. The dog pulled a chariot controlled by a figurine of President...

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A tectonic 7.2 magnitude quake was recorded near Bohol Tuesday morning with aftershocks expected, authorities said. Initial reports said that four people had died. The quake was recorded from two to five kilometers southeast of Carmen town at 8:12 a.m., the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the United States Geological Service reported. Phivolcs said the earthquake had a depth of 33 kilometers. The tremor lasted for a minute and triggered a blackout. Several aftershocks were felt. According to initial reports, some houses and buildings were damaged.

MANILA, Philippines - Scores of people have been reported killed after a 2GO ferry sank in waters off Talisay City, Cebu province following a collision with a cargo vessel on Friday night. As of this posting, at least 17 people have been reported killed as rescue operations continue for hundreds of passengers of MV Thomas Aquinas, which collided with cargo vessel Sulpicio Express at Lewis Ledge at past 8 p.m.

A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent allegedly told a 15-year-old girl at Los Angeles International Airport to "cover herself" before she boarded her flight. ...

She's live and alive!

Live at 9:30 on C-Span 3, and maybe FoxNews Channel... Lois Lerner, the Internal Revenue Service official at the eye of the storm over the improper scrutiny of conservative groups, will refuse to answer questions from the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.

MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS U.S. Embassy, Manila, The Philippines April 29, 2013 THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES IS TRANSMITTING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION THROUGH THE EMBASSY WARDEN SYSTEM AS A PUBLIC SERVICE TO AMERICAN CITIZENS IN THE PHILIPPINES. PLEASE DISSEMINATE THIS MESSAGE TO ALL U.S. CITIZENS IN YOUR ORGANIZATION OR NEIGHBORHOOD. Cebu Agency Reduced Hours of Operation in May The U.S. Embassy wishes to inform U.S. citizens in the Philippines that the Consular Agency in Cebu will operate under a reduced schedule during the period May 9, 2013 through May 31, 2103. The Agency will resume its normal operating schedule...

Short notice for auction of survival supplies in Spring Valley, California. I get emails from these folks and have bought a lot of stuff in DC area. Here is a chance to maybe buy a few things...

When Michael Ferns was racing toward the end zone, the Clairsville (Ohio) St. Clairsville High star had nothing in front of him but green grass and glory. He was seemingly seconds away from scoring his 12th touchdown of the season and wrapping up a victory for St. Clairsville against area rival Richmond (Ohio) Edison High. ...

Mr. Sollecito is the much loved music teacher at Howard Wood Elementary School in Torrance, CA. He inspires his students and makes music fun, despite the fact that he doesn't have his own classroom and that most of his students can't afford instruments. Watch as the Ultimate Surprises team transforms an empty space into a dream music room that will have Mr. Sollecito and the kids singing a happy tune. They'll also get a surprise visit from a celebrity musician that's going to rock their world!

Watching Heather and Heather on FoxNews around 0545 EST, and suddenly it went out, with a messaging stating I was no longer authorized for that channel. The others work fine...

To avoid being whipped, mutilated, and jailed, women in Timbuktu now have to wear black veils and loose-fitting clothing. Radical Islamists, who took control of the city months ago, are laying down their law – Sharia law – and for the first time since they’ve arrived, they’re specifically targeting women. Over the past few weeks, Islamists from two armed groups – Ansar Dine and Mujao, who took over northern Mali in April – have increasingly made use of corporal punishment against the local population. This includes whipping, amputations, and even stoning people to death who do not obey Sharia law....