Free Republic 4th Qtr 2025 Fundraising Target: $81,000 Receipts & Pledges to-date: $17,478
21%  
Woo hoo!! And now only $342 to reach 22%!! Thank you all very much!! God bless.

Hobbies (General/Chat)

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  • Toys ‘R’ Us opening stores nationwide, including Southern California

    10/27/2025 12:13:44 PM PDT · by BFW · 30 replies
    KTLA5 ^ | Oct 23, 2025 | Lily Dallow
    The beloved and former toy industry leader, Toys “R” Us, is revamping its brand ahead of the holiday season with new stores across the country, including two in California. The company announced a nationwide expansion on Oct. 16, unveiling 30 new locations. The rollout includes a flagship store at the Camarillo Premium Outlets in Ventura County and a seasonal holiday shop at Bay Street Emeryville Mall in the Bay Area. According to the company, the new stores are designed as convenient, family-friendly destinations featuring popular toy brands such as LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels, NERF and Paw Patrol.
  • X-ray tables, marked cards and the Mafia: How the FBI says poker games were rigged play

    10/26/2025 3:18:55 PM PDT · by Libloather · 24 replies
    ESPN ^ | 10/24/25 | Doug Greenberg
    A Basketball Hall of Famer. X-ray poker tables. The Mafia. They were all purportedly crucial to an alleged yearslong illegal poker rigging scheme that resulted in 31 federal indictments this week. The case focused on rigged poker games is one of two announced that allegedly involve prominent NBA figures. Investigators state that the scheme to defraud players at a poker table began in April 2019 when defendant Robert "Black Rob" Stroud and other co-conspirators began devising a ruse to use technology to rig illegal poker games, usually Texas Hold 'em, against unwitting, wealthy players whom they called "fish" or "whales,"...
  • Cozy 'Grandma' Hobbies Are Trending—and They Have Surprising Benefits for Your Mental Health and Well-Being

    10/24/2025 6:09:28 PM PDT · by Diana in Wisconsin · 80 replies
    Real Simple Magazine ^ | April, 20205 | Lisa Milbrand
    There's probably a lot going on in your life that can be turning you into a ball of stress (guilty!). But what if all it took to help you unravel that stress ball was a little yarn, a favorite feel-good book, or a great cookie recipe? If you're looking for a low-cost, high-reward self-care treat, taking up a grandma-inspired hobby may be just what the doctor ordered to help you unwind after a busy or stressful day. And it turns out, knitting, baking, and other cozy pursuits can have plenty of benefits for you (beyond a cute scarf or a...
  • 1958 Porsche-Diesel Junior 108L Tractor w/Cultivator (SOLD!)

    10/24/2025 9:49:57 AM PDT · by ProtectOurFreedom · 41 replies
    Bring a Trailer ^ | October 22, 2025 | Frosty
    This 1958 Porsche-Diesel Junior 108L tractor is said to have been purchased by the seller out of Germany in 2020 and has been refurbished. The tractor is finished in red with beige wheels, and power is from an air-cooled 822cc diesel single paired with a dual-range three-speed manual transmission. Equipment includes headlights, turn signals, taillights, a hinged engine cover, dual power take-offs, a drawbar, front and rear pin hitches, a red and tan-painted steel seat, a fender-mounted jump seat, and a two-row cultivator. This Porsche-Diesel tractor is now offered in Pennsylvania with a bill of sale. Porsche-Diesel Junior tractors were...
  • FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX of MEXICO 2025 (Mexico City)

    10/23/2025 1:38:50 PM PDT · by Carriage Hill · 29 replies
    Formula One ^ | 10.23.2025 | Carriage Hill
    FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO 2025 (Mexico City). Circuit: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, (Mexico City) First Grand Prix: 1963, Number of Laps: 71, Circuit Length: 4.304 km, Race Distance: 305.354 km, Lap Record: 1:17.774 Valtteri Bottas (2021)
  • Jetson ONE - Let the Jetson Air Games begin!

    10/21/2025 11:00:32 AM PDT · by Red Badger · 22 replies
    YouTube ^ | October 13, 2025 | Jetson Aero, Inc.
    3:04 VIDEO AT LINK.................... We are thrilled to unveil "Jetson Air Games" Concept with Electrifying Aerial Showcase at UP.Summit 2025. the Jetson Air Games, a competitive format designed to redefine personal air mobility through dynamic aerial sport. For the first time ever, Jetson executed a 4-ship formation flight, followed by a high-speed pylon race, culminating in a solo aerial display by Jetson Co-Founder and CTO Tomasz Patan, who took the controls himself and participated in both the formation and the race. The performance, set against the backdrop of the UP.Summit’s Community Day airshow, was a powerful demonstration of Jetson’s technological...
  • CHESS MATE Chess influencer & Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky dies at 29 leaving gaming community gutted over loss of ‘genius player’

    10/20/2025 12:55:35 PM PDT · by E. Pluribus Unum · 37 replies
    The Sun ^ | 15:16, 20 Oct 2025 | Updated: 15:45, 20 Oct 2025 | Arshi Qureshi ,
    THE chess world has been left heartbroken after the sudden death of beloved grandmaster and commentator Daniel Naroditsky at just 29.The shocking news was confirmed earlier this morning, sending waves of grief through players and fans across the globe.Beloved chess grandmaster and commentator Daniel Naroditsky has tragically died at 29Credit: YouTube/Daniel NaroditskyNaroditsky was known not only for his skills on the board but also for his warmth, humor, and teachingCredit: YouTube/Daniel NaroditskyThe shocking news was confirmed earlier this morningCredit: X/ Daniel NaroditskyNaroditsky, who lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, had been serving as Grandmaster-in-Residence at the Charlotte Chess Center since 2020.“It...
  • Runner fends off a bear while training in Japan

    10/20/2025 12:31:49 PM PDT · by E. Pluribus Unum · 25 replies
    Running Magazine ^ | October 20, 2025 | Keeley Milne
    Billy Halloran's peaceful trail run in Japan turned into a fight for survivalWhen Billy Halloran set out on a training run in the forest surrounding Myoko, a mountain town in central Japan, one morning in early October, he was expecting little more than a quiet workout among the trees. That changed when he noticed movement in the undergrowth—two Asiatic black bears staring back at him from less than 30 metres away. Bear encounters in Japan have surged this year, with more than a hundred people injured and at least seven killed, the highest toll since tracking began in 2006, as...
  • PBS: From Rails to Trails . . . The 60-year struggle to convert thousands of miles of abandoned railroads into trails for cycling and walking

    10/19/2025 5:29:08 PM PDT · by Texan4Life · 43 replies
    PBS ^ | 10/15/2025 | Edward Norton
    The story of one of the most unlikely social movements in American history: the struggle to convert thousands of miles of abandoned railroads into trails for cycling and walking. Facing fierce opposition and legal challenges from private property owners, leaders fought to reclaim these corridors for the public, creating a national network of scenic, car-free paths.
  • I Test Drove a Flying Car. Get Ready, They’re Here.

    10/19/2025 4:50:23 PM PDT · by E. Pluribus Unum · 71 replies
    The Wall Street Journal ^ | Oct. 17, 2025 11:30 am ET | Dan Neil
    Welcome, and congratulations. You’ve lived long enough to see the age of flying cars—privately owned, solo-piloted aircraft, free to operate in unrestricted airspace, much as automobiles can take to the open road. And they’re all electric. I knew you’d be thrilled.Here in the future, we call them ultralight eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles). Of course, they don’t much resemble the levitating Studebakers and auto-gyrating Chevys foretold in pulp science fiction. The Pivotal BlackFly—the first series-produced ultralight eVTOL to reach the consumer market (2023)—doesn’t even have wheels. It takes off and lands on its curved keel. It’s also amphibious,...
  • Longtime activist reflects on decades of protest, the current political climate ahead of No Kings rally (WI)

    10/17/2025 7:01:43 PM PDT · by Diana in Wisconsin · 54 replies
    WTMJ News ^ | October 17, 2025 | WTMJ Staff
    MILWAUKEE, WI — A Wisconsin activist who began protesting the Vietnam War in the 1960s says today's political tensions remind her of the anger and frustration she witnessed during that turbulent era. Connie Hughes, who has participated in demonstrations for more than five decades, recalls her first protest at the University of Wisconsin with about 100 people expressing outrage over young Americans being sent to war. "There were probably about 100 people, as I recall, and a lot of anger, because, of course, the people that were going to the war were our age, and they were being killed," Hughes...
  • NATIONAL MULLIGAN DAY (Oct 17)

    10/17/2025 1:02:34 PM PDT · by Kid Shelleen · 1 replies
    HolidayToday.Org ^ | 10/17/2025 | staff
    The National Mulligan Day is observed every year on October 17. It’s a day dedicated to the idea of a “mulligan” — a second chance, a do‑over — not just in golf but in life. On this day, people are encouraged to try again at something they wish had gone differently, to offer forgiveness, or to treat themselves or others with a bit more grace.
  • FORMULA 1 MSC Cruises UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2025 Live Thread.

    10/16/2025 3:57:44 PM PDT · by Carriage Hill · 41 replies
    Carriage Hill ^ | 10.16.2025 | Carriage Hill
    FORMULA 1 MSC Cruises UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2025. Circuit: COTA (Circuit Of The Americas), First Grand Prix: 2012, Number of Laps: 56, Circuit Length: 5.513 km, Race Distance: 308.728km, Lap Record: 1:36.169 Charles Leclerc (2019) Race: Sunday, October 21, 3:00PM ET
  • Easter Island Moai Statues Were Once ‘Walked’ to Their Platforms, New Study Finds

    10/13/2025 2:18:43 PM PDT · by nickcarraway · 22 replies
    ARTnews ^ | October 13, 2025 | Francesca Aton
    Many questions about the famous moai statues on Easter Island, Chile, have long eluded scholars—from their cultural significance to how they were made and transported. A recent study in the Journal of Archaeological Science by archaeologists Carl Lipo of Binghamton University and Terry Hunt of the University of Arizona poses the theory that the 92-ton statues were transported in a vertical position, with movers using ropes to “walk” the moai across the island and onto their ahu, or platforms. This theory is supported by the oral traditions of the island’s Indigenous Rapa Nui people, which reference the moai “walking” from...
  • [vanity] seeking leather sling for 'new' Henry 30-30

    10/13/2025 12:41:15 PM PDT · by Blueflag · 29 replies
    Free Republic Vanity ^ | 10/13/2025 | Blueflag
    At a recent gun show I picked up a still-in-the-box Henry Steel Lever 30-30. The gent selling it had shoulder replacement and was unloading the rifle a a good price. He said he had fired it less than 10 times. Not a mark on it. So it came home with me. My question for the group here is this - what's the 'right' leather sling for this rifle? This rifle will not see hard use - my old faithful Marlin 336R is my rifle for short range stands. It'll go in the woods in two weeks for modern firearm season....
  • RECOGNIZING NEW MLB CHAMPIONS, JUST FOR FUN

    10/13/2025 10:29:51 AM PDT · by Hebrews 11:6 · 49 replies
    Vanity
    With two of the four remaining playoff-contenders, the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners, being among the five teams (Padres/Rays/Rockies) which still have never won a World Serious, I thought a quick look-back is in order at all the recent first-time champions, including three of the most recent eight years:2023 TEXAS RANGERS2019 WASHINGTON NATIONALS (nee MONTREAL EXPOS)2017 HOUSTON ASTROS 2002 ANAHEIM ANGELS 2001 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS 1997 FLORIDA MARLINS 1992 TORONTO BLUE JAYS 1980 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES * 1985 KANSAS CITY ROYALS 1969 NEW YORK METS 1966 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (nee ST. LOUIS BROWNS) * 1955 BROOKLYN DODGERS ** ‎The Dodgers, Orioles and finally...
  • The AI 'Big Bang' Study 2025: Best AI Chatbots and What 55.88 Billion Visits Reveal

    10/11/2025 8:33:06 AM PDT · by fireman15 · 11 replies
    onelittleweb.com ^ | August 8, 2025 | Sujan Sarkar
    Every month, over 60,000 people search for terms like “best AI chatbot,” “top AI chatbots,” or “what is the best AI chatbot?” — and the number keeps rising. In many ways, we’re living through AI’s version of the Big Bang. What started as a handful of tools has rapidly expanded into a vast, ever-evolving universe of thousands of AI platforms — each claiming to be the next breakthrough. With so many tools available and countless generic lists floating online, it’s no surprise users feel overwhelmed trying to choose the right AI chatbot. Professionals, students, educators, marketers — people from all...
  • Build-A-Bear employee rejects teenage girl's request to name teddy bear after Charlie Kirk

    10/05/2025 4:47:15 AM PDT · by MarlonRando · 47 replies
    Daily Mail ^ | 10-5-25 | Sophie Gable
    When she went to check out, she says an employee at the store told her: 'We're not doing this,' Evi revealed to local NBC affiliate, KING5. The teen claimed that the employee then tore up the birth certificate and threw it away. Evi's mom, Amber, told KING5 that she called Build-A-Bear's corporate office and was offered a $20 gift card for the experience.
  • A life-long car lover recreated the Griswold’s famous station wagon

    10/02/2025 6:45:46 PM PDT · by Diana in Wisconsin · 63 replies
    Popular Science ^ | October 1, 2025 | Laura Biasas
    If you find yourself driving along the scenic New York State Thruway near Lake George, you might get a sudden urge to sing the song “Holiday Road.” The popular Northeast vacation destination is home to a small fleet of cars associated with another very popular vacation: the fictional Griswold family’s trek to Walley World in the 1983 classic National Lampoon’s Vacation. The accidentally-purchased 1987 Ford Country Squire owned by Tom and Chrissey Dittus of Lake George. Over the past several years, he’s made the car look like the cross-country driving station wagon from the film. It’s has garnered thousands of...
  • The Garden Thread - October, 2025

    10/01/2025 5:23:58 AM PDT · by Diana in Wisconsin · 767 replies
    October 1, 2025 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam
    The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack the...