Free Republic

Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859) was an influential historian, minor Victorian politician and the author of India's legal code. His educational reforms in India are largely the reason why English is the tongue that unites the subcontinent today. His greatest literary legacy was the "History of England From the Accession of James II," which established the Whig or "progressive" view of history. In all, a life of influence in many spheres, and generally for the good. ................................ Yet despite almost superhuman diligence, Mr. Sullivan has a tin ear for Victorian discourse, both public and private, which has led him into making...

If the King of Pop Converts to Islam by Daniel Pipes March 7, 2006 Michael Jackson, the king of pop, is "on the verge" of converting to Islam, CBS News reported last week. If that's true, it fits into a recurring and important African-American pattern. Rumors of Mr. Jackson's conversion first surfaced in November 2003, a month after his arrest on child-molestation charges. Saeed Shabazz, a reporter for the Nation of Islam's publication, The Final Call, announced that Mr. Jackson had joined the organization. He added that NoI's leader, Louis Farrakhan, "sees a lot of spirituality in Michael." But the...

Oklahoma cops pop "Home Alone" star for pot, pill possession SEPTEMBER 17--In a week that has already included news about the arrests of former child stars Tracey Gold and Edward Furlong, comes word from Oklahoma that Macaulay Culkin was popped this afternoon on drug charges. The 24-year-old actor, best known for starring in the "Home Alone" movies, was nabbed for possession of marijuana and a "controlled dangerous substance" for which he did not have a prescription. A bleary-eyed Culkin is pictured below in an Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office mug shot. Arrested following a traffic stop, Culkin was jailed on $4,000...

Producers are currently casting The Lecter Variation which follows the character - famous for tucking into some fava beans and a nice glass of Chianti - from the age of 12 to 25. They think the Home Alone star would be the perfect choice after seeing him play a drug-taking gay killer in his new film Party Monster. But if Macaulay takes the role he will have a job to fill Sir Anthony Hopkins' shoes. In 1991, Hopkins won an Academy award for his portrayal of the bloodthirsty cannibal Dr Hannibal Lecter in the Silence of the Lambs.