Free Republic

MOSCOW, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The United States has told its citizens to leave Russia immediately due to the war in Ukraine and the risk of arbitrary arrest or harassment by Russian law enforcement agencies."U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart immediately," the U.S. embassy in Moscow said. "Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions.""Do not travel to Russia," it added."Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on spurious charges, singled out U.S. citizens in Russia for detention and harassment, denied them fair and transparent treatment, and convicted them in secret trials or without presenting...

Cardinal Tells Catholics Who Protest Pope to Become Protestants Gualtiero Bassetti's outburst hints at Francis' concern with new Catholic media PERUGIA, Italy (ChurchMilitant.com) Italy's chief archbishop lashed out at critics of Pope Francis on the feast of Saint Francis de Sales, asking them to make "other choices" and become Protestants if they are unhappy with the policies of the present pontiff.  "Our Protestant brethren have neither the pope nor the bishop — everyone makes his own choices. I told someone they could make the choice of becoming Protestant if you don't like the Catholic Church, if this boat is too narrow," Cdl. Gualtiero Bassetti, president...

Counter-Terrorism Unit further upgrades travel warning and urges Israelis not to visit Turkey, citing a high-level and concrete threat of an ISIS terror attack in the country. Israel's Counter-Terrorism Unit once again upgraded its travel warning to Turkey on Friday, urging Israelis currently in the country "to leave Turkey as soon as possible." The upgraded and urgent warning, set at level two (indicating a high level, concrete threat) comes on the heels of a warning issued by Turkish authorities a week and a half ago of an ISIS plan to attack Jewish targets in the country, including synagogues, Jewish schools...

Why do we have a Surgeon General? The position (which once used to involve running the Public Health Service) no longer carries any meaningful administrative responsibilities; it’s almost purely symbolic. The Surgeon General educates the public about various health-related issues. In practice, this generally means that Surgeons General act as secular preachers, wagging a finger at the American people for various vices like smoking and drinking. It is hard to see any real case for such a position in the federal government (a few years ago I argued in NR (subscription required) that the position should be eliminated or transformed...

“Are you a teabagger?,you must be a teabagger?” In which I respond “You must be watching some Rachel Maddow”, “Nope, are you a teabagger? That’s what you are called, right?” I was then told that teabaggers were racist, and the protesters at the rally only came out because they hate blacks. WTF!?!

The real evil of materialism is not the pursuit of things. It is, rather, seeing and treating other people as things — and therefore putting things ahead of people. Youngsters with a habit of thinking and acting this way are headed toward trouble later in life: substance abuse, professional problems, marital break-up, a life dominated by impulse and unrestrained egoism. So what can parents do with their young children now to build strong character and lead children away from materialism? Be confident of your rightful authority as a parent and insist that your children respect it. Your responsibility as...

My son is now four. He has shown a strong interest in learning how to fire my weapons. Any guidance in terms of age would be appreciated. (I've already figured out that he will fire nothing larger than a .22 under my strict supervision).