A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-20-07....President's Day

[GodBlessUSA]

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 need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, GodBlessUSA, Aquamarine~

George Washington was born on Feb. 11, 1731, according to the Julian calendar. In 1752, however, Britain and her colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar, jumping ahead 11 days and making January the first month of the year instead of March. According to this calendar, Washington's birthday occurred on Feb. 22, 1732. The federal holiday was celebrated on Feb. 22 until 1971, when it was moved to the third Monday in February.

*George Washington's was the shortest inaugural address at 135 words. (1793)
* Washington's favorite sports were fishing and fox hunting.
* George Washington left no direct descendant. Though his wife Martha had four children by a previous marriage., Washington never sired a child to continue his line.
* Washington refused to wear a powdered wig, which was high fashion in the late 1700s. Instead, he powdered his red-brown hair and tied it in a short braid down his back.
* The nation's capital was located in Philadelphia during Washington's administration making him the only president who didn't live in Washington, D.C. during his presidency.

*Abraham Lincoln was the first to include African-Americans in his parade. (1865)
*Lincoln was the tallest president. He was 6 feet and four inches tall.
*He was the first president to be photographed at his inauguration. John Wilkes Booth (his assassin) can be seen standing close to Lincoln in the picture.
*Abraham Lincoln grew his beard out of the suggestion of an 11 year old girl.
*Lincoln was shot on Good Friday.



*Ronald Reagan's second inaugural had to compete with Super Bowl Sunday. (1985)
*Reagan was the oldest president in history. He was 69 upon his inauguration, and 77 when he left office.
*Reagan saved 77 people when he worked as a lifeguard.
*Reagan's favorite sport was horseback riding.
*Sales of jelly beans skyrocketed when Reagan told reporters that he liked them.
*He broke his thighbone in six different places when he slid into first base at a celebrity baseball game.
*President Reagan is GodBlessUSA's Hero ;)

Tribute President Ronald Reagan
President Reagan Tribute ~ Youtube

*In the 2004 election, a record voter turnout gave Bush more popular votes than any other presidential candidate in U.S. History
*He flew an F-102 fighter plane in the Texas National Guard.
*Bush was the first Texas governor to be elected to two consecutive four year terms
*George W. Bush is the second President who was a son of the President; John Q. Adams was the first.

George W. Bush: This is one of these disasters that will test our soul and test our spirit, but we're going to show the world once again that not only can we survive but we will be stronger and better for it. This is just the beginning of a huge effort.

1-09-07 ~ Hall of Fame #18

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 02-19-07 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning Texagirl4W :)

Thank you so much! My prayers for our troops and President Bush each day also.

[The Mayor]

For Immediate Release 2-20-07

Rus Thompson
http://www.nogitolls.com

The Bell tolls for the Tolls~Thruway Authority Exposed
http://albanysinsanity.com/?p=1091

Bell tolls for the Tolls~Thruway Authority Exposed

Read the whole FOIL Report
http://www.nogitolls.com/Foil.html

For years and years the people of Western New York have been asking and demanding the tolls be removed from the thruway, the 190 and the Grand Island Bridges. For years the politicians in Albany have told us that the Thruway Authority needs the toll money for the upkeep and maintenance of the roads and bridges.

Truth be told, much more of the toll dollars goes to the employment of the staffing, senior executive compensation ranging from $115,000.00 to $164,000.00. Tollbooth managers receive about $68,000.00 a year and toll takers receive approximately $20.00 per hour. Fringe benefits total 36.75% of their salary. Benefits include a very liberal health insurance plan, vision care, dental insurance, free EZ Pass for life, 401k, long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts,a tuition assistance program that pays 90% of the tuition, life insurance and more.

Even when Governor Pataki proposed legislation to establish the New York State Canal Corporation as a separate and independent entity from the Thruway Authority, saving the toll payers of Western New York $110 Million, still nothing changes.

Last year when the tolls came down in Buffalo we all praised the Albany politicians as the Republicans stepped up to take 14 Million from their pork accounts to pay the Thruway Authority for revenuse lost. Assemblyman Hoyt made a deal giving back a section of downstate thruway back to the NYSDOT, which would save the thruway Authority the 14 Million in lost revenue.

All this only came from pressure applied to our legislators from a lawsuit filed by Joel Giambra, Carl Paladino and Mike Powers. Then and only then were the tolls taken down. I do not even think the lawsuit was necessary, but they had that on their side. I think that when this information got out about this FOIL, which would have been an embarrassment enough to remove the tolls from New York State, not just Western New York.

A job that should only be worth 8 to 10 dollars an hour we now find out pays double that with benefits the regular working man and woman in this state will never see. This should be an outrage to every working person in this state. For an unelected Authority to be able to bury this state in debt while paying for the lavish life time of yet more government workers is appalling. Par for the course, but appalling by rational standards.

How many millions of dollars do we already receive from the Federal Government in Highway funds that are sent into the general fund in Albany, or how many millions have we forfeited because this state chooses to have taxpayers and commuters pay the tolls in this state.

I formerly request the Governor to remove the tolls at the Grand Island Bridges to relieve the commuters and residents of Grand Island of this commuter tax. I also ask the Attorney General and the Comptroller to investigate this critical issue.

Rus Thompson

[Lady Jag]

Super thread, GEEBEE!

[Aquamarine]

Excellent presentation, great choices on the Presidents you highlighted.

My favorite is the father of our Country ~ George Washington.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Hi GB.{{{HUGS}}}
Great thread.

[MEG33]

Beautiful presentation, GeeBee!

~Good Morning To The Finest~

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, y'all

just running through to say hello. I have a busy, short day ahead of me and can't play much today. Y'all have fun and I'll be back later.

Thanks, GB for doing the Presidents thingy!

Ms. Piggy for Queen

[The Mayor]

[MEG33]

;) Great picture..I don't think I have it.

[DollyCali]

Wonderful thread GeeBee.. I am off for Fat Tuesday & have been busy all morning but will stop back in tonight to see the posts & chat a bit..


Thank you to our Presidents Past & ESPECIALLY PRESENT


THANK YOU !!!!

[Lady Jag]

[MEG33]

[MEG33]

;)
Had it loaded and ready to post..???Great minds???

[The Mayor]

http://www.rusthompson.com/Bush04.html

[MEG33]

Loved the page..and he IS looking at you!
;)

[Lady Jag]

Absolutely brilliant, Megarooni!

[MEG33]

Of course, my dear.

;)

[dutchess]

Lovely thread today Geebee. It's obvious you spent lots of time on it. Glad to see you left out a few (un)notable prez's :o)

[dutchess]

Had it loaded and ready to post..???Great minds???

I was just heading to my files to find that picture too! Does that make me a great mind too????

[Lady Jag]