Free Republic

At last, it’s beginning to feel like summer! We’ve had a week of sunshine and warm days here in the Susitna Valley, and much as we love the peaceful, lovely winters here, it’s always nice to have a few sunny, t-shirt days in the summertime. On to some interesting stuff from the Great Land and beyond: It’s always great to see the nation’s two biggest states working together in a good cause. A group of 39 students at the University of Texas at Austin, split into two smaller teams, are currently seventeen days into a 70-day odyssey from Austin to...

In A Nutshell A major review found no link between naturally occurring dairy trans fats and higher risk of heart disease or type 2 diabetes. Unlike artificial trans fats in processed foods, dairy trans fats appear to behave differently in the body. Some studies found that people with higher blood levels of a dairy-specific trans fat were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, though the evidence is not conclusive. Several of the study’s authors have ties to the dairy industry, a conflict of interest the researchers disclosed and that independent replication would help address. ============================================================================ For decades, “trans fat”...

Americans long have leavened their powerful global image with goofiness, a cheerful confidence that can deflect international wonder over certain strains of ignorance into a smile. Behold, for example, the cheesehead hat. Made of sofa foam and sunny yellow defiance, the hat was created in the late 1980s in response to the taunting faced by supporters of sports teams in Wisconsin, which has long called itself America’s dairyland. “Cheeseheads!” residents of neighboring Illinois said. The insult was embraced and, yes, turned on its head — particularly in the realm of a certain football team named the Green Bay Packers. Soon,...

Brad & Lex trying to figure out WHEN this song is relevant to.. Brad is good to get a general idea, while Lex actually looks it up. (I was 1 year off, btw..)....

Brad & Lex back for another reaction video.. This time with Pink Floyd. AND, I believe with Lex's mother along for the ride. Lex gets emotional this time. Brad, as usual, is thinking things through, while Lex lets the feelings get to her.

In A Nutshell Researchers found bacteria with probiotic potential in three British artisan cheeses. The hay-aged cheese had the biggest increase in bacterial diversity as it matured. Lactose was largely gone by maturity, which may matter for lactose-sensitive readers. The study is promising, but it does not prove these cheeses improve gut health in people. ========================================================================== For most people, cheese is a guilty pleasure: something delicious but probably not great for you. That assumption may be worth revisiting. A recent study took a close look at three traditional British artisan cheeses and tracked how their bacterial communities and chemical profiles...

A North Carolina woman allegedly shot two lawyers handling a civil lawsuit she filed against police as they were leaving the courthouse. Gwendolyn White, 57, is charged with two counts of attempted murder after she allegedly shot two attorneys on Friday who were representing the Rolesville Police Department in a civil suit she filed, the News & Observer reports. The victims, Mary Harris and Jeffrey Whitley, were leaving the Wake County Courthouse when White allegedly shot them in an alleyway. First

Cheese is one of the world’s most beloved foods, enjoyed by millions of people across countless cultures and cuisines. Credit: Shutterstock Scientists have traced the changing microbial communities inside three artisan British cheeses, revealing how bacteria shape their flavor, texture, and potential benefits for gut health. Cheese can seem like a simple pleasure, but every bite is the result of a microscopic transformation. As milk becomes cheese, bacteria and fungi break down sugars, proteins, and fats, creating the flavors, aromas, and textures that make each variety distinct. New research suggests that some of these tiny cheesemakers may do more than...

@ky_statesman I've lived in KY-04 my entire life and closely follow the election results here. There is no way that the turnout legitimately doubled. This was election fraud carried out by the highest levels of our state & federal governments.

As herds of elk have overtaken a beach in a small Oregon coastal town, tourists have tried to put their children on them to ride and others attempt to feed them carrots. “We have visitors who don't know elk are wild animals,” said the local chamber. It’s a sight most in Wyoming would consider extremely odd: herds of elk lounging around the beach. That’s what’s happening in the small Oregon coastal town of Cannon Beach, where elk are taking over the beaches, looking completely out of context in the sand and surf. And as in Yellowstone National Park, Estes Park,...

Freepers, where's gasdr? He touted the wonderfulness of the covid vaccine and defended it vociferously. He was also a welcome poster on other topics. I note he hasn't posted anything since 10/31/25 and it's worrisome. gasdr, if you're out there, plaase pick up the courtesy phone and let us know all is well. Thank you.

Back again for another weekly Reaction vid.. Was going to do one on the reactions about "White Rabbit", but it was WAY over the listener's heads (the younger ones have NO idea about the draft and Vietnam)... So.. replaced it with a song a little more upbeat.

My Weekly Reaction Brad & Lex at it again (4 years ago) with Metallica: Master of Puppets

Interesting to watch them react to something NOT in English.. 😁 Brad always too serious, while Lex is bubbly, as always.

Trump: All Your Safe Space Are Belong to Us. The inauguration of President Trump destroys every safe space and protest in Washington DC. The Invasion of the Deplorables has begun. You have no place to hide, stream your crying. All Your Base Are Belong to Us. All Your Base Are Belong To Trump

I miss Biden

Hilarious! "Baby Trump Visits Minnesota & The Somalian Daycares! Ft. Ilhan Omar and Tim Walz"

Explanation: Does the road to our galaxy's center go through Monument Valley? It doesn't have to, but if your road does -- take a picture. In this case, the road is US Route 163 and iconic buttes on the Navajo National Reservation populate the horizon. The band of Milky Way Galaxy stretches down from the sky and appears to be a continuation of the road on Earth. Filaments of dust darken the Milky Way, in contrast to billions of bright stars and several colorful glowing gas clouds including the Lagoon and Trifid nebulas. The featured picture is a composite of...

(Photo by Önder Örtel on Unsplash) =============================================================== When it comes to brain health, not all dietary dairy is equal. In A Nutshell * Swedish researchers followed nearly 28,000 people for up to 30 years and found those eating 50+ grams daily of high-fat cheese (more than 20% fat) had a 13% lower dementia risk compared to light consumers * Not all dairy showed benefits — milk, yogurt, low-fat cheese, and low-fat cream had no clear link to dementia risk, while butter showed mixed results depending on overall diet quality * Vascular dementia saw the biggest drop — people eating the...

Ahh yes, the study the cheeseheads have been looking for! Rejoice! People who regularly ate higher-fat cheese and cream had a lower risk of developing dementia over 25 years, according to a new study. https://t.co/zN2g8XcEua pic.twitter.com/0gyvIcDQ91— ABC News (@ABC) December 18, 2025I didn't even have to be told this. I guess my body's constant desire for fatty cream and whole milk was just a natural desire to fight off dementia. Here's the ABC report: People who regularly ate higher-fat cheese and cream had a lower risk of developing dementia over 25 years, while low-fat dairy and other dairy foods showed...