Our 2nd Quarter FReepathon is Underway!

Click to donate via FR secure server ^ | April 1, 2004 | Jim Robinson

[Jim Robinson]

Woo hoo!! Are you ready for another FReepathon!?

It's time once more for us to raise the funds that are necessary to keep Free Republic on the air.

People have asked me if the $60,000 settlement with the City of Fresno means we won't have to have a fundraiser this time. Well, I wish it could be so, but, unfortunately, it's not.

First of all, we did not actually receive $60,000. After legal fees, mediation fees and other expenses directly related to the suit, we netted approximately $34,000. Of that, we distributed over $10,000 to the members of the Fresno Chapter who were in business and their businesses suffered due to the city's libel and also to the members who met with us regularly on a weekly basis. Then, due to the fact that the city was late with their press release and no media picked it up, we paid approximately $2,000 to run ads in several valley papers announcing the city's retraction.

The approximately $22,000 left over will be used in our operations. We plan to use about $4,000 to upgrade our equipment and $10,000 or more will go for taxes. I plan to use part of the balance to beef up our insurance coverage and also will look into a health insurance plan. The remainder will be used for travel and other expenses. I still hope to visit as many chapters as I possibly can over the next year or so, but obviously won't be doing so in a motor home (you had to have been there to get the inside joke). We'll be traveling in our trusty old FReepermobile van. She's an 11 year old Mercury Villager with 150,000 miles, but she's got good rubber, purrs like a kitten and is pretty good on gas.

So, as it turns out, the settlement has strengthened Free Republic and also has strengthened the conservative position in the City of Fresno. As a result of our suit, the controversial loony peacenik chair person of the Fresno City Human Relations Commission who committed the libel against us and has also caused much turmoil within the city and the city council has resigned "to pursue other interests." Also, the loony liberal President of the Fresno City Council who made some ridiculous comments belittling the suit and the settlement in the Fresno Bee was voted out of office just a couple months later.

So, as I've said before, the settlement is a win, win, win position. It's a win for Free Republic, a win for the City of Fresno, and, ultimately, a win for the taxpayers.

At any rate, we thank all of you who participate on Free Republic and support our efforts and we look forward to another exciting election cycle.

Hope to see y'all either on our road trip and or at the Free Republic George W. Bush Inaugural Ball II in January!!

Go GWB!!

[Fawnn]

This poem always makes me cry. (Yes; I'm a wuss. LOL)

Hector the Collector

Hector the Collector
Collected bits of string,
Collected dolls with broken heads
And rusty bells that would not ring.
Bent-up nails and ice-cream sticks,
Twists of wires, worn-out tires,
Paper bags and broken bricks.
Old chipped vases, half shoelaces,
Gatlin' guns that wouldn't shoot,
Leaky boats that wouldn't float
And stopped-up horns that wouldn't toot.
Butter knives that had no handles,
Copper keys that fit no locks
Rings that were too small for fingers,
Dried-up leaves and patched-up socks.
Worn-out belts that had no buckles,
'Lectric trains that had no tracks,
Airplane models, broken bottles,
Three-legged chairs and cups with cracks.
Hector the Collector
Loved these things with all his soul--
Loved them more then shining diamonds,
Loved them more then glistenin' gold.
Hector called to all the people,
"Come and share my treasure trunk!"
And all the silly sightless people
Came and looked ... and called it junk.

--Shel Silverstein
From:
Where the Sidewalk Ends

[glock rocks]

[glock rocks]

[NormsRevenge]

A Greenpeace protestor sits on the face of London's landmark Big Ben clock tower. Two brothers who scaled the clock tower and unfurled an anti-war banner on the first anniversary of the Iraq (news - web sites) invasion will not be prosecuted, police said.(AFP/File/Odd Andersen)

[Brad’s Gramma]

Do you have the feeling that glock's giving us subtle meanings about something????

[Brad’s Gramma]

will not be prosecuted, police said......but will also not be allowed to come down from their positions near the clock.

There, that reads better!

[glock rocks]

[NormsRevenge]

Oh Man,, That's a mind warper

[Brad’s Gramma]

NO! I will NOT look! LOL!!!

[Fawnn]

will not be prosecuted, police said......but will also not be allowed to come down from their positions near the clock.......but rather shall remain perched there to serve as targets for upcoming military antiterrorism training. ;)

[glock rocks]

no... go ahead... just for five seconds. which way is it turning??

[NormsRevenge]

[Brad’s Gramma]

will not be prosecuted, police said......but will also not be allowed to come down from their positions near the clock.......but rather shall remain perched there to serve as targets for upcoming military antiterrorism training....while tied to the big hand of Big Ben.

[Brad’s Gramma]

clockwise.

[NormsRevenge]

[Brad’s Gramma]

Where was that taken? It's REALLY pretty.

[glock rocks]

slowly move your mouse pointer up and down the center of the square while following the pointer with your eyes.

[Fawnn]

while tied to the big hand of Big Ben

I'm sorry, but I have to draw the line now! (We can't risk damaging the clock!) ;)

[NormsRevenge]

OK, 2 can play that game. lol

Which way is it spinning? :-o

[Brad’s Gramma]

Don't tell anyone, but I think my mouse has had too much to drink!