Free Republic

Giant-pumpkin growers at the Topsfield Fair broke the world record this weekend for heaviest pumpkin - twice. For just a moment, Bill Rodonis, of Litchfield, N.H., held the title with a 1,566-pound pumpkin. Then Joe Jutras, of Scituate, R.I., crushed it with a pumpkin weighing 1,689 pounds. Both men beat last year's record of 1,502 pounds, but only Jutras will make it in the Guinness Book of Records. "To be that much over the world record from last year is incredible," Jutras said. He also received a $3,500 check for first place and he will probably make double that amount...

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world. A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in...

Ron Dell'Osso is the king of splat when it comes to pumpkins. Nearly 100,000 people will make a pilgrimage to his family's pumpkin patch during October starting Saturday. Sure, they enjoy the 40-acre corn maze as well as the numerous wholesome activities such as tricycle races and hay rides. And they probably will end up buying a pumpkin or two. But the real draw are 10 pumpkin blasters. The air-powered weapons of mass pumpkin destruction can hurl a miniature gourd at speeds in excess of 110 mph for upwards of 200 yards. The quarter-inch steel targets that shooters aim at...

Even the Pumpkins are voting for Bush in NH!

John Kerry's campaign insists the Democrat will keep cheering his hometown Boston Red Sox to World Series victory, curse or no curse. The curse of the Bambino? No, not THAT curse. Kerry is defying a folk legend — though one with a high error rate — that a World Series victory by an American League baseball team like the Red Sox forecasts GOP triumph on Election Day. "It's a new century, and John Kerry believes it's a fresh start," says Michael Meehan, a Kerry-Edwards campaign spokesman. "The Red Sox will win the World Series, and he'll win the White House."...

Floydada boasts heapin' helping of punkin picking BY P. CHRISTINE SMITH AVALANCHE-JOURNAL It would be difficult to dispute Floydada's title of "Pumpkin Capital, U.S.A." when area farmers produce 10 million to 15 million pumpkins per year and ship them all over the country. And this year's crop might just be on the large side. "For us, we've got an excellent crop this year," said Hulon Carthel, who co-owns a 3,000-acre farm with his brother, Gary Carthel. The pumpkins, Hulon Carthel said, are good quality with a good yield this year. The Carthels dedicate about 300 acres of their farm to...