A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-17-03....Florida~The Sunshine State

dansangel

[dansangel]

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

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear, Aquamarine ~

~The "Sunshine State"~

Florida became the 27th state of the Union in 1845.

To me, Florida is the most beautiful and compelling state in the United States. Of course, I'm just a *tad* biased. Although I wasn't born there, I consider myself a Floridian after spending most of my adult life there. After this current (and definitely temporary) leave of absence, I intend to make Florida my home state once again.

The Florida peninsula itself boasts approximately 1200 miles of coastline (source: NOAA). Factoring in the coastal area of all of its islands and keys, this total grows to over 8,000 miles (source: the U.S. DEA). From Jacksonville in the north to Key West at its southernmost tip, Florida is packed with history and rare beauty.

Are you a history buff? Take a trip to St. Augustine. Located in northeast Florida, it is our nation's oldest city. On March 27 1513, Don Juan Ponce de Leon sighted land while sailing towards the "New World" from Spain. He claimed this land for Spain, naming it "La Florida," meaning "Land of Flowers."

In 1564, the French succeeded in establishing a fort on the St. Johns River, threatening the safety of Spain's treasure fleets. In 1565, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles arrived off the coast of Florida. Eleven days after the Feast of St. Augustine (August 28) he founded the city of St. Augustine and set about reclaiming the territory from the French. With the help of a hurricane, he defeated the French, destroyed their fort and fleet and began building the city of St. Augustine.

Today, St. Augustine is a popular tourist spot due to its many museums, its lighthouse and, of course, the oldest house and the oldest schoolhouse in the country. With more than 4 centuries of history to share, St. Augustine is a must-see on any trip to Florida.

Key Deer

The Florida Keys comprise the southernmost portion of the Florida territory. Stretching out over the ocean beginning just south of Homestead, the keys serve as a gateway from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. From Key Largo to Key West, all of the keys connected by 113 miles of U.S. Highway 1 boast their own beauty and attractions. Key deer, no larger than a large dog, can be found on Big Pine Key. Swim with tame dolphins off of Islamorada. Or, visit Ernest Hemingway's house in rustic and festive Key West. The sunset viewed from Mallory Dock off of Duval Street is like none other viewed anywhere else in the world.

Florida Everglades

Finally, the Everglades and their own delicate and unique ecosystem is described eloquently by Jeff Ripple as found on the Florida Everglades Website:

"The Everglades and the Ten Thousand Islands is a rare and beautiful place. It is one of North America's unsung wild places - a beautiful, rugged, subtropical landscape experienced by a relatively few adventurous souls each year. Many who appreciate the unique qualities of this wilderness will argue that it is a place better kept secret. Perhaps, in my quest for solitude and a deeply personal communion with nature, I might ordinarily agree. But I also feel that it is a resource important not only for its natural heritage and spiritually enriching powers, but for its commercial and recreational values as well."



The peace and serenity in the Everglades is beyond description. Once you venture out, it is difficult to return to civilization. We have a duty to preserve the delicate balance of flora and fauna so that generations to come will benefit from its beauty.

There are many other points of interest in Florida not mentioned here. From the white sands of its pristine beaches to the protected habitats of the Everglades, Florida is definitely one of those places where, once you visit, you may just want to call it "home."

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 09-15-03 Military Monday 09-16-03 This One's For You T Man

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

God Bless Our Military

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Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.....................nephew ValerieUSA................2 sons Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................activve duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty StarCMC......................brother Atomic Conspiracy...........half-brother Atomic Conspiracy............niece, nephew

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son kimmie7...............brother Tiffee4Bob.............boyfriend Explorer89............brother TexKat...........son and stepson

[LadyX]

"I'm just glad you're on the Florida team!! :-)"

Team name = Super Patriots, eh?

This one's for you, Joe - -

Hugs,

[WVNan]

Oh goody. Maybe we can work on it slowly over time. MB, I think both of us are very busy people. Folks, don't expect this any time soon.

[Mama_Bear]

I would like to do West Virginia with someone...

Hi Nan! That would be me! I would love your help! Please start getting ideas together of what you would like to spotlight in your state, and I will get back to you real soon. :-) HUGS!!

[WVNan]

gunner, I know a state that's bigger than Texas and Alaska. If West Va. was flattened out it would cover half the USA.

[Mama_Bear]

Maybe we can work on it slowly over time. MB

Sounds good. I can do West Virginia any time you are ready.

[WVNan]

Hummmm. I'm keeping NZ in mind in case hillary becomes president.

[WVNan]

Smooches Sistah. I see you've been edumacatun the troops again. Ever the teacher, are you not?

[shaggy eel]

Australia has over 100 of poisonous snakes (most are the worlds most deadly) how the heck did you keep them out of New Zealand?

,,, biosecurity is a big deal in New Zealand. More than 60% of our export receipts are generated from primary produce and derivatives, so we're kind of careful about snakes, fruit flies and other exotic intruders. If snakes got in, as some have, they may not adapt too well to our climate. This place is quite temperate, but generally too cold for snakes finding their way after a long journey without food and water in a dark container. If you ever come down here, you'll note a procedure before you exit the plane. Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries officers board inbound flights when they connect with skybridges and they spray aerosol insecticides thru the aircraft cabin. People wonder what's going on and many think it's a joke, but it's serious business here. Some of the insects out of Hong Kong, Taiwan and Aussie could decimate our orchards. To date, isolation was a disadvantage for NZ - that's turned around though since Sept 11.

[humblegunner]

If West Va. was flattened out it would cover half the USA.

I can believe that!
I was looking at some acreage out west for hunting and noticed that
something might claim to be 25 acres on a map...

but if you walk it, it's more like 75 acres in mountain country.

[JoeSixPack1]

Wait, wait, we're not done...

The first cattle probably arrived in Florida in 1513. When Juan Ponce de Leon landed just south of Ft. Meyers, he brought a small herd of Andalusian cattle native to his homeland. After voyages back to Spain, he returned to the New World. In 1521, he sailed from Puerto Rico and attempted to form a colony in Florida. Caloosa Indians forced the explorer back to his ship and he received a mortal wound, but it is believed the cattle remained, to run wild.

By 1540, there were cattle in the Panhandle. Don Diego Maldonado brought a large herd of Andalusians to Pensacola Bay in order to supply the expedition of Hernando DeSoto. Many of the cattle were either stolen by the Indians or lost, running wild in the timber. When St. Augustine was founded in 1565, 200 heifer calves were shipped to the garrison to augment the rations of the soldiers.

Real beef production began when Jesuit and Franciscan friars set up a network of missions across north and north-central Florida. The missions were to convert Indians to Christianity, but the friars also used Indian labor to tend to livestock. By 1618, Florida's governors were seriously expanding beef production on ranchos carved from Florida's immense prairies and grasslands.

Trouble developed around this time, when producers began to smuggle cattle to Cuba. Rather than pay a cattle tax to Spain or buy cattle from Spain as required by law, the ranchers shipped them off to Cuba, an enterprise that lasted for 300 years. By 1698, there were more than 30 privately owned ranchos in Florida. The largest, grazing more than 1,000 head of cattle, was called Rancho de la Chua.

Alachua County derived its name from the rancho. Criollos (people born in Florida to Spanish parents) worked as vaqueros on the ranchos of Florida. A 1647 clash between the Criollos and Indians was probably the first cowboys and Indians fight in North America. A cattle boom occurred in the late 17th century, when more than 20,000 head of Spanish cattle were counted on a census prepared by Spanish tax collectors. Later as Britain, France and Spain vied for control of the (future) state, cattle flourished.

Florida supplied beef to the Confederacy during the Civil War. Later, the cattlemen, left with worthless Confederate dollars, began to demand gold doubloons for their herds. It is said that there were tumbledown pine shacks with chests full of gold standing in the corners. Florida was America's leading exporter of cattle in the mid-1800's.

After a few hundred years in mosquitoes, ticks, heat, flash floods, hurricanes and grass fires, the cattle evolved into what are now called Cracker Cattle - small but tough. Sometimes that toughness had a double meaning. Fifty years ago, "scrub cattle" and "Florida cattle" were derogatory terms given to the bovine.

All of Florida was open range until fence laws were enacted in the late 1940's. In 1968, Florida's Department of Agriculture began to build its own herd of Cracker Cattle, which is now substantial. In 1987, then Agriculture Commissioner Doyle Conner, Sr., founded an organization to preserve and promote these cattle.

Today the Florida Cracker Cattle Breeders Association is actively involved with educating the public as to the prominent role these cattle have played in Florida's history. Membership in the Florida Cracker Cattle Association is open to anyone. The Florida Park Service maintains Cracker Cattle at Payne's Prairie State Preserve and Lake Kissimmee State Park. Currently the Crescent J. Ranch at Forever Florida has the largest private stock of Spanish descent cattle in the world.

[MEG33]

It's Florida's day in the sun.We Texans can afford to be gracious!!

[WVNan]

You wouldn't believe the number of mountains in WV.

[LadyX]

~ Maggie Malone Exclusive ~

Happen to have a friend of 31 years - a Marine Korean veteran, too, who lives at Emerald Isle, NC. He and his wife kindly let us use their beach house in past years; retired to a permanent home there, and we visited them ten years ago.

Emerald Isle is located on the island strip of land at the lower right part of North Carolina, a few miles west of Atlantic Beach, being featured on Fox News.

I asked Bernie to feed me news of the hurricane as it gets there tomorrow, and here is his Initial Report, just for us Freepers, entitled From The Dunes of Emerald Isle, North Carolina:

Hi, Margaret!

Here is some live feed from your favorite beach bum.

The first announcement of a hurricane being named has little effect on us old salts. We don't begin to get involved until we find the storm stands a good chance of heading in our direction. That always gives us a good number of days for preparations. Once we see the storm is really targeted for our shoreline we begin to get serious about preparing. We will remain in our house (on the island) for a Category II or a small Category III unless that storm is directly off our shoreline. We can handle 100-120 mph storms and have for many years. The town will order a mandatory evacuation but you are allowed to stay if you wish. Sometimes, the town officials will come around and give you a direct warning and if you still want to stay they will ask you for a list of next-of-kin.

Our preparations are many and varied. Here is the list of activities:

Check out generator.
Fill large gasoline containers for generator.
Buy foods that can be easily cooked on a camp stove.
Gather prescription medicines in one place.
Gather insurance policies, Wills/Trusts/Living Will/Power of Attorney(s).
Collect loose/hidden money in house.
Cash/deposit any checks, keeping enough cash for two weeks living expenses.
Gather tax statements (IRS Records).
Computers and client files will be loaded in trunk of one car and that car stored safely.
Fill up both cars with gasoline.
Fill water jugs (1-gallon milk cartons. 1-per day for each person.
Fill bath tub with water for use in flushing commodes.
Check batteries for flashlights and radio use.
Remove flag pole, deck furniture, bird feeder, bird bath. Put away garden hoses.
Turn off outside propane tank.
Tie down or store outside deck gas grill.
Charge up cell phones.
Store outside garbage containers.
Check for kerosene/propane for lamps and cook stove.
Store up ice.
The final thing is to place storm panels in windows and sliding glass doors.

I cannot describe the feeling of being in a totally dark house for a day or two. You feel like you are being held in solitary confinement. You are so happy to step outside into the sunlight and breathe in clean, fresh air. If it is night when you finally get out of the house then you look up into the sky and thank God for the sky, stars and moon.

There are different rules for living on this island.
Other than the mandatory evacuation the town lets you know that the bridge will be closed when the wind speed reaches 45 mph. The other rule is that if your car, truck or trailer (boat or materials) should break down on the bridge during evacuation, that vehicle will be pushed over the side of the bridge. The county officials and town officials have made it known that there will be no emergency help available on the island after a mandatory evacuation has been ordered. This means police, fire or EMT employees will be unavailable to you. Most of these people will have gone to the mainland during the storm.

Right now, the waves are beginning their long, deep rolls. You can see the wave force building in the ocean and there is a quietness all up and down the shoreline. A few people will walk to the top of the dunes and brave the current winds to see the waves come ashore. The winds are slight right now but they will build as Isabel skirts our Emerald Isle coast, but I have seen those winds so forceful that they have sand blasted old dune walkways back down to a new wood surface. When the wind and waves reach their top strength they will swoop down the beach and remove every set of steps and decks and deposit all the lumber along the shore. Our dunes are fifteen to 20 high and I have seen water splash over the top of these dunes. One storm can remove twenty to 30 feet of dune in no time. I know of no other force as mighty as that ocean when her depths are tickled by a hurricane.

Okay, Margaret, that's all for now. I'll try to keep you posted, but we really aren't expecting a very large storm here. I will be surprised if our winds get much over 75 mph.

Bernie

======================================================

Written like a Marine, eh, JoeSixPack?!
All bases covered - troops prepared - ready to face it.

Of course, this was the drill growing up in Florida, and in the two hurricanes that brushed by Parris Island when I was there, necessitating us (two blocks from the ocean) to move to the second floor of the barracks) - and two in Virginia and remnants of others in the South.

My ISP is going to be off during the night doing an upgrade, but I should have more info tomorrow from him as Isabel moved in.....

[LadyX]

Hi, Sistah!
Had to let gunner know what is what..:))
Florida is so much more than touristas and orange groves.

[shaggy eel]

Hummmm. I'm keeping NZ in mind in case hillary becomes president.

,,, you and a few others.

[Calpernia]

Ok, ammonia for the bite. What do I take for the hebbie-jebbies they give me?

[WVNan]

Bourbon?

[deadhead]

"Written like a Marine, eh, JoeSixPack?! "

Sure does, LOL. (Sounds like a few Marines I know.)

My best to your friends. Sounds like they have been through this a few times.

[humblegunner]

After a few hundred years in mosquitoes, ticks, heat, flash floods, hurricanes and grass fires, the cattle evolved into what are now called Cracker Cattle - small but tough. Sometimes that toughness had a double meaning. Fifty years ago, "scrub cattle" and "Florida cattle" were derogatory terms given to the bovine.

Ah, well.. maybe they weren't very good cattle, but you can still be proud of them!

I respect that.

[deadhead]

No popcorn tonight, in the spirit of Florida: