Free Republic

Montclair State University's food pantry is tucked away down a maze of hallways in the student center. Like the hunger problem on campus itself, the pantry is not quite out in the open. It opened on the New Jersey college's campus in April, after administrators started hearing from students who said they were hungry and didn't have enough money for food. They surveyed students, finding that more than half said they or someone they know experiences "food insecurity" -- the lack of access to affordable, nutritious food. On one Thursday in December, 33 students visited the food pantry, taking what...

With Hillary Clinton sidelined by pneumonia, U.S. President Barack Obama took up the Democrats' fight against Donald Trump on Tuesday, trying to quash the Republican presidential candidate's bid to appeal to working-class voters.Obama, whose 50 percent job approval rating could help improve the climate for the Democratic ticket in the Nov. 8 election, rallied party faithful against Trump, a 70-year-old New York real estate developer, at an outdoor event in Philadelphia."This is a guy who spent 70 years on this earth showing no concern for working people. He spent most of his life trying to stay far away from working...

Explanation: The majestic Lagoon Nebula is filled with hot gas and the home for many young stars. Spanning 100 light years across while lying only about 5000 light years distant, the Lagoon Nebula is so big and bright that it can be seen without a telescope toward the constellation of the Archer (Sagittarius). Many bright stars are visible from NGC 6530, an open cluster that formed in the nebula only several million years ago. The greater nebula, also known as M8 and NGC 6523, is named "Lagoon" for the band of dust seen to the right of the open cluster's...

Thousands of hareidim protested Thursday at the entrance to Jerusalem and in Bnei Brak over the sudden freezing of funding for all yeshivas, which was ordered retroactively by Finance Minister Yair Lapid on Wednesday. […] Hareidi MKs have responded with fury to the ruling and freeze; MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) accused the High Court Wednesday of “declaring war” on the hareidim, while MK Nissim Ze’ev (Shas) decried the “ongoing campaign of persecution. The government is attacking everything connected to religion or to the Torah world.” …

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A video has gone viral after a Long Island man recorded a police officer who threatened to ticket him if he washed his car in the driveway. As WCBS 880′s Sophia Hall reported Friday, the incident happened on Hawthorne Road in Garden City. The 24-year-old said he was washing his 1997 Volkswagen in his driveway when a police officer told him he wasn’t allowed to do that. The officer said although the car wasn’t going to be washed in the street, which is illegal, washing it in the driveway would still be in the public’s view,...

Nearly 2 million New Yorkers who rely on food stamps will have less to spend at the supermarket starting Friday — and it may only be the beginning. The average family of four on food stamps is expected to lose $36 each month, according to the Department of Agriculture, because funding added to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program in 2009 under the federal stimulus program ran out Thursday.

Starting Friday, Joyce Lewis and her family will lose $44 from their monthly food stamp benefits. The food stamps buy a lot of economical rice-based meals for the family -- four adults and a grandson who live with Lewis in Spring Hill, Florida. Occasionally, when her grocery store is running a deal, Lewis indulges the family with spare ribs or chicken. The benefit -- totaling $800 for four adults -- never lasts Lewis and her family a full month. "When I get to the end, we always run out. I try to go to all the food pantries," Lewis said....

Yoko Ono tweeted a photo of John Lennon’s bloody glasses this week. Why? Well, she was celebrating her 44th wedding anniversary to the late Beatles singer. Ono sat down to reflect about Lennon’s life and death this week and she came to the conclusion that there have been far too many gun deaths in the world in the 33 years since Lennon was assassinated. Ono wrote on Twitter: “Over 1,057,000 people have been killed by guns in the USA since John Lennon was shot and killed on 8 Dec 1980.” The singer / artist sent out several more messages about...

The successful business leaders that sit on the Chicago Board of Education must have checked their brains at the door when they went into the negotiating room with the teachers union. How else could they possibly negotiate a contract that the school district can’t possibly afford? Truth be told, if board member Penny Pritzker’s Hyatt Hotels operated that way, they’d be out of business. But, alas, this is government. They strike deals with unions and figure out how taxpayers will fund it later. Reuters tells us: “Chicago public school teachers returned to their classrooms on Wednesday but thorny questions remained...

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's announcement that "Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values" and opposition to the fast food franchise's expansion there because of CEO Dan Cathy's anti-gay politics really ruffled some feathers. Lauren Silich, the owner of Chicago's sole Chick-fil-A, is asking Emanuel to have a sit down to iron things out. The Chicago Tribune reports: [Silich] invited Emanuel to meet her, her husband and management staff at her restaurant. The mayor's office had no immediate response. In an interview today, Silich addressed Emanuel's comments. "I get it," Silich said in an interview. "I’m from here as well." "I just...

Young girls are fast becoming internet sensations not because of their vocal skills or dance moves, but because they resemble living dolls. Staring doe-eyed at the camera, with cupids bow lips and a porcelain complexion Dakota Rose has been hailed a real-life Barbie. Known to her fans as Kota Koti, she has amassed a global audience with her YouTube fashion and beauty tutorials. In most of the videos she remains silent while subtitles provide the viewer with a step-by-step guide on how to apply cosmetics, style hair or dress fashionably.

Zoo animals and art exhibits are “interesting.” Chronic unemployment is not—unless you’re President Obama. In a Google+ video conference Tuesday, President Obama told a Texas woman that it was “interesting” that her husband couldn’t find a job. The woman, Jennifer Weddel of Fort Worth, wanted to know why it was so difficult for her husband, an engineer, to find a job. President Obama proceeded to lecture her that it should actually be quite easy for her husband. “As a basic matter,” he said, “there’s a huge demand for engineers.” When Jennifer said that just wasn’t true, he responded with the...

All over america, bums illegal aliens Islamic Jihadists moochers pedophiles drunks addicts anarchists and other low life bottom feeders who make up the scum of society have been rallying and demanding the end of capitlism and freedom and in place a socialist dictatorship. Their unacceptable demands include a 20$ minimum wage, the collapse of our system, environmental laws, open borders, government restrictions on constitutionally guaranteed free speech/press and gun ownership and solidarity with Islam. With few exception the police have been quiet and done nothing when these gatherings spread into private property and/or become violent. Nudity, drug activity and public...

Here's my idea of welfare reform: comments? (document presented in language of applicant)Public Assistance Implementation and Usage Contract. This contract, entered into on (date) and expiring on (18 months from implementation date) by the (state agency) and applicant(s) listed herein (must submit names of applicant and children born to her via birth records),allows for the provision of food,housing allowance,child care and education for the purposes of job placement during the contract period,and is understood by all parties concerned that the provision of aforementioned assistance is on a one-time basis,not to be repeated or reinstated at any time for any reason...

With 8.8 percent unemployment across the country and more than 8 million people claiming unemployment benefits, one California congresswoman wants people to know they’re not the only ones facing financial hardship. Who else might be? The lawmaker herself. In an appearance on MSNBC Thursday, Democratic California Rep. Linda Sánchez talked about the downsides of a federal government shutdown. Some lawmakers, to the seriousness of the issue, have said they would forgo their paychecks in the event of that shutdown. Sanchez explained she just can’t afford to go along with that idea. “I have to tell you that I live paycheck-to-paycheck,...

With 8.8 percent unemployment across the country and more than 8 million people claiming unemployment benefits, one California congresswoman wants people to know they’re not the only ones facing financial hardship. Who else might be? The lawmaker herself. In an appearance on MSNBC Thursday, Democratic California Rep. Linda Sánchez talked about the downsides of a federal government shutdown. Some lawmakers, to the seriousness of the issue, have said they would forgo their paychecks in the event of that shutdown. Sanchez explained she just can’t afford to go along with that idea. “I have to tell you that I live paycheck-to-paycheck,...

Freudenschade, baby!Remember how a couple of weeks ago the DUmmies were proclaiming victory for the public employee unions in Wisconsin? Well, once again, their victory celebrations were premature since tonight the Wisconsin senate voted to ELIMINATE collective bargaining for public employee unions. As can be expected, the DUmmies have gone absolutely BERSERK over this as you can see in this THREAD, "The Wisconsin FULL SENATE passes anti-union bill 18-1 vote." So let us now watch the DUmmies eat crow once again in Bolshevik Red while the commentary of your humble correspondent, looking forward to much Drama Queen activity over...

Neither rookies nor seasoned veterans were spared in Tuesday's House Democratic bloodbath, which saw Republicans defeat three major committee chairmen and at least seven lawmakers who claimed 20 years' seniority or more in Congress. While the losses of 16 freshmen "Obama babies" — those elected during the president's 2008 sweep — were expected, the number of long-serving Democrats who lost re-election this week is staggering, and suggests a widespread dissatisfaction with Washington. All told, with about a dozen races still uncalled, Democrats have already shed 376 years of congressional experience, and that could go as high as 430 years if...

About 1.6million people in Britain have never worked, Iain Duncan Smith revealed yesterday. Hundreds of thousands of teenagers and adults have become used to languishing on benefit because work simply does not pay, the Work and Pensions Secretary said. He unveiled figures showing that 1.6million people aged at least 16 have never had jobs. The figure, for the third quarter of this year, excludes those aged between 16 and 24 in full-time education. Half are aged between 25 and 64 – meaning many have been unemployed or on incapacity benefits for decades... Too many people have fallen into long-term benefits...

LONDON – Angry protesters in London have attacked a car containing Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. An Associated Press photographer saw demonstrators kick the car in Regent Street, in the heart of London's shopping district. The car then drove off. -snip- Protesters angry at a huge tuition fee hike are fighting with police and smashing windows in London. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information.