Free Republic

Donte Stallworth was on his morning commute last month, a five-block morning ritual in this attempt at a new life, when he walked past the White House’s north lawn. He smiled as he recalled an old memory. Back in his old life — way, way back — when he was a football player, he and his University of Tennessee teammates were national champions and guests at the White House. Stallworth, a talented freshman wide receiver, hadn’t played that 1998 season, sitting out as a redshirt, but he joined his team anyway as it presented President Bill Clinton and Vice President...

The 44-year-old drove his van into crowds at Christmas market in Nantes Within seconds of the incident the man stabbed himself nine times On Sunday a psychiatric patient drove into pedestrians in city of Dijon The 40-year-old was heard proclaiming allegiance to Islam in Arabic Another shot dead on Saturday after attacking police station with knife Prosecutors in Nantes say most recent case is 'an isolated incident' Dozens have been injured after a man ploughed a van into a mulled wine stand at a Christmas market in the French city of Nantes. Five people were seriously hurt when the man...

It started as a continuation of the misadventures of the Griswold family; it ended up becoming one of the most surprisingly popular and oft-quoted holiday movies of all time. This month marks the 25th anniversary of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, in which beleaguered patriarch Clark Griswold — played by the inimitable Chevy Chase — tries to engineer the picture-perfect seasonal festivities: the best naturally procured tree, the biggest and brightest (literally) Christmas-light display on the block, the end-of-the-year bonus from his Scrooge-like boss. It's the only comedy to appeal to those who live for that deck-the-halls spirit, viewers who are...

Guinness Commercial: Empty Chair video (don't know when this 1st aired)

Ah, yesteryear, when Mom was pleased as punch to see each of her three strapping young lads brandishing a gun he got for Christmas. After the jump, check out five such vintage Christmas ads for guns, including one that offers advice to men whose wives worry that little Ralphie will shoot his eye out—and not just with a BB gun... "Suppose you want to give a Winchester 22 to your 12-year-old. But the wife says, "It's too dangerous now. Wait till he's older." What do you tell her? First, tell her exactly why you think a boy should learn to...

A typical Christmas shopping list usually consists of toys, electronics, gift cards, etc. But now, some women are adding positive pregnancy tests to their list -- and checking it twice. Women across the country are selling and buying positive pregnancy tests on Craigslist. One post from Claremore, Oklahoma offered a positive pregnancy test for $20. The advertisement stated: 'I have positive pregnancy test for those of you who need a little help holding onto your man through the holidays, shoot me a message for $20 each.'

After a rough day at work, it's hard to beat coming home to people a happy household. Baby Isaiah can barely stand up, but patiently waits at the window for his daddy to come home. When he sees his car, he waves and then speed-crawls his way to greet his hero. That's a worthwhile homecoming.

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell met with “faith organizations from across the country” last week to ask them to help people enroll in federal health care insurance plans created through the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. […] While addressing reporters, Burwell was flanked by two people who attended the meeting: Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, National Catholic Social Justice Lobby and Amy Cotton, senior policy manager at the National Council of Jewish Women. Campbell supported liberal causes, including the reelection of President Barack Obama. In September, Campbell and other nun activists did their third tour to...

Earlier this week, a woman wrote in to Slate's Dear Prudence advice chat asking whether it's considered lying to allow her daughter, who is three, to continue to believe in Santa Claus. Prudie's take: Nah. "Reality will eventually out," wrote the columnist, Emily Yoffe, "but there’s so much reality in this life, that one of the delights of childhood, and of being a parent, is to spread a little fairy dust occasionally." Later in the chat, though, another person wrote in saying that his or her parents kept the Santa thing going until the writer was nine, at which point...

Christians and Satanists put up competing displays Sunday on the Michigan Capitol grounds as Christmas week got underway. The Detroit chapter of the Satanic Temple set up its “Snaketivity Scene” featuring a snake offering a book called “Revolt of the Angels” as a gift. The snake is wrapped around the Satanic cross on the 3-feet-by-3-feet display. Capitol rules require that displays have to be taken down each night. In a videotaped interview with the Lansing State Journal, Satanic Temple spokeswoman Jex Blackmore said her group doesn’t worship Satan but does promote individuality, compassion and views that differ from Christian and...

Folks, I have been a bit under the weather lately....so maybe my mood is reflected by my sickness. I log on to Drudge and see Obama is going UP in Gallup....meanwhile, the society is hurtling toward hell. Sodomy is celebrated and enabled by SCOTUS (the state of Florida's constitution is about to be shredded--to the delight of the liberal media), jobs are being lost, racism is exploding, and all during the season wherein we are to remember our Saviour. My mind and heart struggle to remember God has ALL THINGS in His control. His providence is working all events and...

After England and Wales changed their laws about same-sex marriage in March, the pair have now converted their 2005 civil partnership to become legally wed. ‘Share the love,’ John wrote on Instagram. BY ZAYDA RIVERA NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Sunday, December 21, 2014, 10:32 AM A A A It's official! Elton John and his longtime love, David Furnish, are officially a married couple. "That's the legal bit done," the famed musician captioned a photo of them signing paperwork. "Now on to the ceremony! #ShareTheLove @DavidFurnish" ‘It's beginning!! The Registrar welcomes our guests. #ShareTheLove,’ John wrote on this Instagram photo. ELTONJOHN...

A Maryland Appeals Court judge handed down a verdict awarding emotional damages payment be given to a family that had their dog shot and killed by one of its deputies. The original verdict did state that the officers did intend to cause harm, and based on that the family was allowed to collect $200,000. The decision is a shift in legal precedent. Usually, pets are considered by the court to be “property” and only worth their “fair market value.” The 42-page court opinion decreased the original amount the family had sought by $400,000. The findings that involved the officers in...

We asked you what you thought of Christmas music and while most of you love it – early appearances not withstanding – there are a few songs that just get under your skin. Here are the tunes that iVillage.ca readers voted as the worst (read: most annoying) Christmas songs ever. 10. Run, Rudolph, Run This rockabilly jingle is a bluesy take on Christmas. “Run, run, Rudolph, whizzin’ like a merry-go-round,” croons Chuck Berry, as we imagine frenzied shoppers running in all directions to satisfy Christmas desires. 9. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus This song might be perceived as being...

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) -- What's the best movie ever made? A subjective question, if ever there was one. That's the magic of movies: some folks will enjoy a film that may seem an endurance test for others. While "Casablanca," "Citizen Kane" or "Lawrence of Arabia" may be prime examples of technical and artistic innovators, I challenge you to suggest a more important message than that found in "It's A Wonderful Life." In this film about an angel sent to Earth to rescue a man on the brink of suicide, James Stewart's George Bailey is given the opportunity to see...

It would be a nice touch if some of the players did that, and in a small measure it would help to bring the country together. But no, I don't think that anyone will make the gesture.

Much has alrteady been said of the alleged choke hold employed by officer Panatelo against Eric Garner and the resulting turn of events that ultimately ended with Garner's death. I have watched the video dozens of time and would like to offer my own perspective, as an ER nurse, of what happened. I will include two You Tube video links as references.In video number 1, we observe the initial confrontation between Garner and the police. At 38 seconds, officer Pantaleo has attempted to subdue Garner and we see his left arm going around Garner's neck. This is the beginning of...

Whether you agree with his politics or not, and despite being vilified by the left for the better part of eight years, there’s no doubting that George W. Bush is a class act. The former president, dressed as Santa, visited the Dallas’ Children’s Medical Center recently to spread a little Christmas cheer with the young patients. And just as he does in his many activities with wounded veterans, Bush did so sans media.

De Blasio Accused Of Having 'Blood On His Hands': Thousands attack New York City Mayor for backing anti-cop protesters before two officers were shot dead 'in revenge for Garner' A Move On petition demanding that Mayor de Blasio resign already has thousands of signatures Sharpton has released a statement saying, 'We plan to hold a press conference in the morning to express our outrage and our condolences to the families and the police department' Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik said, 'De Blasio, Sharpton and all those who encouraged this anti-cop, racist mentality all have blood on their...

Detroit News survey asking women if they would have an abortion if the baby had down syndrome. One respondent said yes: “Let’s be practical. I am not giving up 80% or more of my life to care for a Down Syndrome baby that will be depend on me through his/her adult life. “Corkey” was lucky and probably the only cast to get ratings to play on the hearts of others. Let me be as upfront as possible……This is the ‘Me’ generation, and with health costs increasing endlessly, who has the money?” Quoted in the blog JivinJehosephat Over 95% of all...