Free Republic

Hi, friends: I want to mount flags out of my apartment windows, on horizontal or diagonal poles, perpendicular to the wall exterior. Can you suggest no-drill hardware or clamps that allow me to attached these to the upper part of the casement, so I can lower the upper part of the window to properly adjust and maintain the flags? I rent, and want to make this relatively uncomplicated, seasonal, and remove the hardware if I vacate one day. The landlord and neighbors will not be an issue. I just want a simple way to fly our beautiful flag out a...

Everyone, do you remember the YouTuber or blogger who was actively posting about the Clinton Foundation not too many years ago? I seem to remember they had an ally investigator who was distinguished in accounting, if I remember correctly. They often would go live on Sunday nights, and I think they kept a website with records. I used to listen faithfully, and now I’m having a devils time remembering who they were, and I can’t find it by searching Google. Thank you! Missing you all… Just being…

Dear Diary: A T-bone steak was riding the uptown 1 train on the evening of July 5. I noticed this oddity when I boarded at 34th Street. The steak sat alone at the end of a row of orange seats: fresh, bright red and grocery-wrapped in plastic on a white, plastic foam tray. Passengers were fully distancing themselves, almost shunning this conspicuous item. (It looked fine, actually.) I broke the ice. “Look, a T-bone.” --snip--

Well, time to check in and report the goings-on in Sillyville. I'm still in NYC, still writing, and reaching 10 years with my employer (Woo-har!). CURRENT PASSIONS: DEGOOGLED PHONES and internet privacy are very important these days, and I'm enjoying the community over at Brax.Me. Nice to have a non-political ally in Rob Braxman; I hope you're familiar with him and supportive. Favorite phone: Original Google edition Pixel and Pixel XL (2016). (In Very Silver and Quite Black, respectively. BRAX.ME reminds me somewhat of FR, and I've run into some Freepers there. NY TIMES MET DIARY writing is — just...

Dear Diary: My friend Leslie, a retired teacher, invited me to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts one Saturday to watch a film of a Broadway musical. I told her if it was being shown at the Theater on Film and Tape Archive, it was restricted to researchers and professionals. I found the title in the online catalog, and verified that “all viewers must have a valid reason for viewing and a library card.” But Leslie insisted, and I agreed to meet. Before entering the screening room, I stopped to quietly caution her. “Volunteer no information,” I...

Dear Diary: Location: A bookshelf in Gramercy Thrift Shop Occasion: Bargain hunting with my mother Observation: Three juxtaposed titles “The Death of Feminism: What’s Next in the Struggle for Women’s Freedom,” by Phyllis Chesler “How to Be a Party Girl,” by Pat Montandon “Mr. Boston: Official Bartender’s and Party Guide” — Paul Klenk

Dear Diary: I was downstairs at the Duane Reade in the Chanin Building one evening after work, making my way to the back exit, a convenient entrance to the subway. The sales floor was abandoned. A lone man wandered out of the grocery aisle in the same direction I was headed. The doors to the subway passage were locked. I had made the trip downstairs for nothing. “Subway’s locked,” I said to the man. “Beer’s locked, too,” he said with a sigh, and then walked off with his little red shopping basket. — Paul Klenk

When I learned GAB's domain registration for its website GAB.ai, the free speech alternative to Twitter, was being shut down weeks ago, with only a day's warning, I was outraged. I was very saddened to hear that GoDaddy was the culprit and caving in to anti-freedom forces. I have been a customer since at least 2002, probably long before. Free speech is extremely important to me, and if Gab can get shut down, so can I. So I have begun moving all of my domain registratations to Epik.com, which I have found is not only cheaper, but does NOT charge...

Dear Diary: On Saturday mornings when my windows are open, I sometimes hear a trumpet player practicing as I’m waking up. The silvery tones ring through several courtyards on my block. I cannot pinpoint the source. The musician is clearly a professional. Scales fly up and down, one impeccable glissando at a time, pausing briefly before climbing to the next half-step. One day, at the top of an octave, the mystery trumpeter added an unexpected flourish… [snip]

This morning, someone in Googleplex, Google’s sprawling facility in Mountain View, California, visited this Web site. I know because their company name and IP address, originating from 1600 Ampitheatre Parkway, appeared in my visitor log tracked by my statistics analytics service. (See graphic below.) Perhaps I should be pleased to see that LoudCitizen.org has attracted their interest. But the increasing suppression of free speech from tech giants like Google, Facebook and Twitter only makes me wonder if I am on their radar like so many others. I haven’t been this concerned since 2010, when I reported on Ray Kelly’s speech...

A invitation from New York Congressman Peter T. King (R) was waiting in my mailbox today. It was for a fundraiser, and included a list of things he is fighting for. I respect Congressman King, but noticed how weak his language was when talking about North Korea and Iran, MS-13, taxes, and the treatment of police. We need to call things what they are. It is time to stop describing the deadliest people and worst injustices in muted, inoffensive language. People will not viscerally connect with these real threats, and they certainly will not connect with the leader claiming to...

It’s official. Senator Paul Ryan is insane. I received a letter in the mail from him today on the letterhead of the National Republican Congressional Committee. The letter is dated “Monday Morning” (?) and came in a large envelope bearing a 3¢ stamp and two 1¢ stamps (depicting strawberries and peaches) but no date on the postmark — in fact, no date of any kind, anywhere in the materials. The first page of Speaker Ryan’s letter contained a long code [000AG002392] and an urgent warning: “If for any reason the number on your State of the Nation Survey...” (which he...

Dear Senator Gillibrand: I am a constituent of yours, and am writing to express my dismay and outrage for your opposition to James Mattis as our new Secretary of Defense. Our country is in the longest war of its history, and needs the very best talent we have. Ret. General Mattis is not only exceptional, he is needed, and our troops are particularly excited to have someone in command who knows what he is doing. We have waivers for a reason -- to make sure we get the best people available under extreme circumstances. Your vote today, and your unfortunate...

Tonight I e-mailed the office of Chuck Schumer requesting tickets to Donald Trump's swearing-in at the Capitol on Jan. 20. Excited! Just for luck, I asked for tickets in a seating area. Hey, it's worth a try, right? And if we can't sit, we can lie down. See you all in Washington on January 20! Still being, Silly

Below is the verbatim e-mail I sent to Crown Forum’s publicity office* at Random House on Wednesday, August 10, 2016: SUBJECT: Likely plagiarism by Crown author in form of “refactoring” To the publisher of “Barons of the Beltway: Inside the Princely World of Our Washington Elite—and How to Overthrow Them” Dear Sir or Madam: In case you have not yet been alerted, serious allegations of plagiarism — in the form of the refactoring of others’ work without citations, in lieu of original work of her own — are being made on the Internet about the Michelle Fields book referenced above,...

Hey, Manhattan Freepers! “Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party” has returned to the AMC Empire 25 theatre on 42nd Street in Manhattan (New York City). It was showing a week or so ago, and when after I saw it, it was gone from the theatre the next day. AMC 25 was the only Manhattan theatre that was showing it. Good news: It’s back this week through Wednesday, Aug. 3. This would be event to share with your friends, and plan a get-together with other area Freepers. If you live locally, you can use Facebook and your e-mail...

Hi, all, very excited I joined NRA with their EasyPayLife plan on Friday. Now I'm want to move forward. As I select a handgun, I do plan to try different models at gun ranges and talk with close friends who shoot. I know in time I will find something that I really connect with. And before I purchase, I will have lots of solid training and hopefully some sort of certification(s) under my belt (suggest a few if you think of them). Meanwhile, I would appreciate suggestions. I want a model that is classic, easy to care for, good power,...

I predict live-streaming of jihad attacks will be the next big recruitment tool for Muslim groups waging jihad in the cause of Islam. The videos are very effective recruiting tools and are widely shared among devout Muslims. Remember Mohammed Merah, the French Muslim who opened fire on a Jewish day school in France? He uploaded the slaughter of the children almost immediately. Live-streaming martyrdom operations and suicide attacks is jihad propaganda 2.0. FULL STORY AT SITE

Burying the lede — the suspect, a current or former Walmart employee, was said to be a Somalian man wearing khaki pants, KFDA-TV reports. Police said in a press release at 12:25 local time that no victims had been found inside the building and there is no ongoing shooting “at this moment.” It is not known if anyone was wounded elsewhere. The initial call was for a suspect who was actively shooting inside the store, according to police radio dispatches. You can listen to the initial police and fire radio dispatches below:

Mitt Romney, the anti-Trump: No balls, no fire, no guts, no fight What a revelation it was to hear Mitt Romney, in his own words, betray his true nature as a pious coward and a privileged guardian of the status quo (Friday, June 10, CNN). It is now nauseatingly obvious why he failed to defeat Barack Obama after his trifling first term, and why the wealthy GOPe selected him in 2012 as one of our pre-approved candidates. Mitt is so desperate to “go along to get along” that he will stand and watch his country get hollowed out, then sold...