Free Republic

Some families in the U.S. are taking to social media to share their dislike for Santa Claus. Like Sierra McKenzie, who has three children aged three weeks to three years and went on TikTok to exclaim why she is against Jolly Old Saint Nick. McKenzie, 23, had more to say. “Telling kids that Santa is real is a lie, and I don’t believe in building my kids up on a lie,” McKenzie, who hails from North Dakota, told The New York Post. “Your kids can still enjoy the magic of Christmas without believing in Santa,” she said, adding that the...

One in five Americans are unsure if they will be able to cover the costs of Thanksgiving this year, and one in four plan to skip it to save money, a recent Personal Capital survey found. The state of economic affairs in President Joe Biden’s America is affecting Americans’ holiday plans. According to the survey, one quarter of Americans are planning to skip Thanksgiving this year to save money, and one in five “doubted they would have enough money to cover the costs of Thanksgiving this year.”

PITTSBURGH Eighty-eight former students who were sexually molested by a Franciscan friar who worked as an athletic trainer at a Catholic high school have settled their legal claims for $8 million, according to two attorneys who represent more than half the victims.

Now, Florida waiters, who have nothing to do with the Trayvon Martin decision, are being punished for the Zimmerman verdict. At least, that is what happened at one Florida restaurant. Diners leave no tip – because of Trayvon verdict. No Justice – No Tip

ORLANDO, Fla.--It's total newt-iny on the Gingrich campaign press bus. For each caucus or primary during the 2012 presidential campaign, Gingrich's campaign has organized transportation for the reporters assigned to cover him--as is customary for nearly every presidential candidate. [snip] That working relationship pretty much stopped working this weekend, two days before the Florida primary. The trouble began when Daniel Malloy, a reporter for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, started to do some simple math, [another snip] Sitting in the back of the bus that day, the penny pinching press got to thinking: [yet another snip] One by one, the reporters...

Cops booted an unruly group of city teachers union officials from a posh Albany eatery after they caused a ruckus over their dinner tab. Paul Egan, the union's political and legislative director, set off the fracas - claiming the quail he was served, and finished, wasn't large enough. Egan and about two dozen other members of the United Federation of Teachers spread over three tables at the swank bistro Marché inside 74 State, a boutique hotel down the block from the state Capitol. And with Egan apparently worked into a froth over the size of his quail in the $40...

You've no doubt heard the commercial "What would you do for a Klondike Bar?". Well, Dairy Queen is asking you what would you do for a free Blizzard on Christmas Eve. The chain is offering the frozen treat Dec. 24 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., but there's a catch. To get the free Reindeer Bites Blizzard, you have to bring a real, living, breathing reindeer to participating Dairy Queen or DQ Grill & Chill restaurant. There are several locations across Connecticut. "We've put out the call for fans to stop by with their reindeer to fuel up before the...

I'm making do on a small Social Security pension and felt obligated to make a small donation to FR because of all the news and fun it gives me during the year. If I can do it, I know all you youngsters with jobs out there can give something. After I made my donation, a screen appeared that showed the top states in donations and the disgustingly small number of FREEPERS who care enough to donate to keep our site going. It's an outrage.

US President Barack Obama is getting "sports stuff" for Christmas. But the president, an avid golfer and basketball player, will have to wait until December 25 to find out exactly what it is. First lady Michelle Obama gave the hint on Tuesday during a trip to the Children's National Medical Centre. She visited privately with young patients in the heart and kidney unit, then came downstairs to the atrium to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to dozens more. Daughters Malia, 11, and Sasha, 8, helped their mother deliver that dose of holiday cheer, along with family dog Bo, who...

LACEY, Wash. – Employees of a pizza delivery shop say the owners have cut off the heat in the store. And they say if the workers don’t like it, they can leave.

(CBS) It was a tempting sight for struggling landscaper Eli Estrada: a bag filled with $140,000 on a Cerritos street. There was his credit card debt, upcoming wedding and making ends meet with his artificial grass and landscaping business. But turning it over to Long Beach police last month was the right thing to do, he said. The 40-year-old Estrada admits that some days "I think I was nuts," but he adds, "I know in my gut that to keep that money would be wrong." The Bank of America money bag was lost March 11 by Brinks Armored truck drivers. The...

California is packed with wealthy people, but when it comes to charitable giving, they're relative cheapskates, according to a study by a nonprofit philanthropic research organization. The state has 407,000 households with $200,000 or more in adjusted gross income, according to a review of IRS data for tax years 1999 to 2004 by NewTithing Group of San Francisco. That means the nation's most-populous state also accounts for the largest number of wealthy households. New York, with 231,000 households in that income bracket, and Florida, with 157,000, came next. Those Californians hold $1.04 trillion in investment assets, such as stocks and...

Bad tippers and bitter waitressesBy Jack Kemp (not the politician) Nov. 26, 2005 Once, years ago, I heard a heard a lecture by a rabbi on dating. He advised that if your date treats a waiter/waitress or a busboy in a condescending and mean manner, that is the way they will treat you after a while – if you were to marry them. Today's New York Post had an article about cheap celebrity tippers listed on the website www.bitterwaitress.com. I went there to see how many well known political "champions of the little guy and gal" rated. I cross referenced the...

With a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price of less than $10,000, the 2006 Chevrolet Aveo is the lowest-priced new car in the United States. Low price doesn't mean skimping on safety equipment anymore; some lowest-priced new cars include six standard airbags. ****** Snip ****** Small cars dominate the list of lowest-priced new vehicles for the 2006 model year. ***** Snip **************** The Honda Insight, with a starting MSRP of $19,330, is the lowest-priced gas-electric hybrid for 2006. This two-seat coupe also is the top fuel sipper in the country, with a rating of 61 miles per gallon in city driving...

DCCC list exposes lawmakers in arrearsHouse Democratic leaders have chastised members of their caucus who have not paid their dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). At yesterday’s Democratic leadership lunch, lawmakers were given a seven-page document, listing how much each lawmaker has given. The list makes it abundantly clear which members of “A” committees have not ponied up their requisite dues to the DCCC. Ranking Democrats are required to give 150,000 to the DCCC and members of top committees need to give $100,000. The document lists Reps. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and William Jefferson (D-La.)...

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's top police spokesman says it's OK for undercover cops to get certain sexual favours from prostitutes during investigations aimed at cracking down on solicitation, but has declined to comment on allegations some officers are demanding sex for free. Chief Superintendent Tang How-kong was responding to a growing furor over allegations that some police were using their positions to demand free services from prostitutes in Hong Kong, where prostitution is legal but brothels and solicitation are not Tang insisted that the police are behaving professionally - with no pleasure involved - in their limited contact with prostitutes...