Free Republic

It is a cliché that if we do not study the past we are condemned to repeat it. Almost equally certain, however, is that if there are lessons to be learned from an historical episode, the political class will draw all the wrong ones — and often deliberately so. Far from viewing the past as a potential source of wisdom and insight, political regimes have a habit of employing history as an ideological weapon, to be distorted and manipulated in the service of present-day ambitions. That's what Winston Churchill meant when he described the history of the Soviet Union as...

Nordstrom Wool Cloche with Patent Band The Roaring 20s have become one of the great inspirations for designers in their fall/winter collections. The item we are most obsessed with right now, is the cloche hat, a perfect investment for the upcoming season. It’s feminine and classic, but when worn with a pair of jeans and a perfectly tailored jacket, endows a cool modern twist, especially if the young woman doesn’t want to look like a dame. Urban Outfitters Flower Cloche

One of my favorite comic strips, "Blondie," is celebrating its 75th anniversary, so now seems as good a time as any to talk about some of the things that have always puzzled me about the strip.