A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-17-02

JohnHuang2 and Billie

[daisyscarlett]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues;  salute
and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new
word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who
are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which
we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.  I
can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. 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 November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett

MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17

BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau

TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,

dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony

BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx

MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law

BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog

MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son

BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7,
AlasBabylon.
BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad,
Aomagrat

                     

Campaign Odyssey in Baghdad

JohnHuang2

"Whew! We dodged a bullet," a senior aid to president Saddam Hussein confided to me last night, relieved as election returns, which began pouring in at sundown, showed the Iraqi leader had handily won another 7-year mandate.

He meant 'bullet' literally.

"Not that we expected a cliff-hanger," he quickly added. "Iraq is no Florida", he said, smiling ear-to-ear. "We knew he'd trounce that old tired goat." The aid was referring to Boublous al-Dole, nominee of the hapless opposition party. (A plane carrying all 10 members mysteriously disappeared tonight. No foul play is suspected, despite a hundred witnesses who swear seeing heat-seeking missiles flying towards the plane as it cruised over downtown Baghdad. Iraq Aviation Administrator, Fakih Frank Hull Hussein, dismisses the witnesses as Great Satan Conspirators.)

And what a campaign season it's been. "This one's for the history books," crowed a jubilant staffer, firing several shots in the air in celebration. He recounted the story of how, back in February, president Hussein ordered mortar fire and tank attacks on some fledgling all-news TV station in Basra. "I guess you can say it was the opening salvo of Campaign 2002," the aid fondly recalled.

But the assault wasn't just for fun, either. Hussein strongly suspected the outlet, founded by some right-winger named Abdul-Roger al-Ailes, was working for the opposition.

"Our President hated that station with a passion," one senior aid recalled. "He called it Faux News, mockingly. There was this host who would come on weeknights at 8, griping about all the charity money being siphoned off for nukes and presidential palaces. He really hated that guy." That's Bill al-Din O'Reilly, erstwhile host of what was the highest rated show on prime-time. As punishment for spreading infidel propaganda, he got 30 years in a re-education camp. As part of his sentence, al-Din O'Reilly was ordered to read First Lady Sajida!'s, 'It Takes an A-Bomb To Raze a Village', a runaway best-seller. Her book, in fact, has straddled atop the Anthrax Times best-seller list since its publication 15 years ago, easily outselling No. 2, "Between Smoking Dope And History," by Bill Clinton.

"To President Hussein, all cowards and traitors are beneath contempt," intoned a senior aid. "He has zero-tolerance for 'em. Except for Bill Clinton. Now that's a coward and a traitor our president can live with. Our dear leader has nothing but admiration for Clinton."

No qualms that Monica was Jewish?

Shrugging his shoulders, he sighed, "well, nobody's perfect."

As for the campaign, "there were bumps along the road," said one aid, "don't get me wrong. It wasn't all smooth sailing."

For campaign staffers, the biggest scare came on the closing night of the Baath Party National Convention in Baghdad. A major sex scandal had broke, involving Saddam's senior political strategist, Duqaq Dick Musa Morris. Hussein, forced to par his acceptance speech down to 12 hours, saw his approval ratings take a tumble, plunging down to 99.9%.

"Thanks to that moron, I never got my convention 'bounce!!'," yelled an angry Hussein that night.

"But we didn't flinch," said a staffer, "no-one hit the panic button, despite those tense days."

"Our dear leader, scrappy survivor that he is, stayed focused -- like a laser beam. As punishment, Saddam ordered a sex change for Duqaq Morris, his wayward advisor."

I asked him what Morris was doing for a living now.

"Well, after his sex change, he looked so much like Helen Thomas, he now subs for her in the White House press room."

So, where's Helen, then?

"I was told she went to Pakistan, to enroll in the Madrassas. She mumbled something about wanting to understand 'why they hate us so much', 'to feel the hate', or something like that," he said.
"After graduation, then come the big plans."

Big plans?

"Yeah, she plans to marry Yasser Arafat. Rumor has it his marriage is on the rocks."

Scarey.

Oh, speaking of which, there were two other scarey moments.

Tonight, as official election returns rolled him, some exit polls in the south were showing lower-than-expected returns, some a disappointingly low 99.6%. Oh no, not another Florida. cliff-hanger.

Then, magically, the big board numbers roar back up to 100%.

"You'd be amazed at what a few bullets, parked in the right places, can do," remarked a senior official in the Republican Guard.

I poked my head out the window of my Baghdad hotel, and lo and behold, you could feel the jubilation, the festivity. The victory rallies were huge, the air filled with chants of, 'We love Saddam -- and Hitler, too! Down with the Jews! Up with the Waffen-SS!'

Close your eyes, and you swear you're in Berkley.

The difference here, of course, are all the Soviet tanks lovingly aimed at the "festive" crowd. The place was ringed with military -- everywhere.

"No big deal, just crowd control, that's all that is" one senior Iraqi official insisted. "Everyone here is free to speak his or her mind -- so long as Saddam approves."

Curious, I decided to work my way into the crowd, mixing things up a bit.

One reveler caught my attention. "I love Saddam! I love Saddam! Down with Bush! Up with Daschle and the Democrats!', she screamed.

hmmm...a typical Boston voter, I thought.

I asked her why she loves Saddam so much.

"I'm here because Bush is threatening my job, my livelihood!"

I asked what she did for a living.

"I do nuclear weapons research at a Baby Milk Factory," she told me proudly. "I used to do Anthrax, but Saddam promoted me to nukes. That's why I hate Bush -- he's threatening to diss our doomsday weapons! That means I'll be out of a job!"

Oh, I see.

The other scarey moment, you ask?

Earlier, as we were watching election returns at the presidential palace, suddenly vice president Ramadan bursts into the room, "I have a cheerful announcement: Saddam had just received a call from the U.S. president!", he shouted.

Huh?

"Yes! President Jimmy Carter called to congratulate Saddam for his victory!"

Figures.

Anyway, that's

My two cents...

THIS WEEK'S THREADs

10-14-02 Molly Pitcher
10-15-02 Dutchess
10-16-02 Anniegetyourgun, RikaStrom

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

Thanks, Mixer!

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[lodwick]

Good job with the chili - I'll be happy when it's chilly enough here to brew a batch.

With beans. Thank you very much.

[knighthawk]

Evening! I am having computer trouble also. My new one does not seem to like me at all. Glad I still have the old one.

[JustAmy]

What happened to everyone this afternoon? I keep trying to entice them but they are still no shows!!

[Flyer]

With beans. Thank you very much.

I make mine with beans, too. Usually, though, I substitute another meat for the beans.

[JustAmy]

One day old man Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the Illinois State Fair. There is this man selling plane rides in his single prop show plane for $10 per person. Stumpy looks to Martha and says, "Martha, I think I really should try that." Martha replies, "I know you want to Stumpy, but we have a lot of bills, and you know the money is tight, and $10 is $10." So Stumpy goes without.

Over the next few years they return every year, and the same thing, Stumpy wants to ride, but Martha says no money.

Finally, when Stumpy and Martha are both about 70 years old, Stumpy looks to Martha, and says, "Martha, I'm 70 now, and I don't know if I'll ever get the chance again, so I just have to have a ride in that there airplane." Martha replies in the same old fashion, and Stumpy kind of slumps down. The pilot is standing near by and overhears the conversation...

The pilot pipes up, "Excuse me folks, I couldn't help but hear your situation, and I have a deal for you. I'll take both of you up together, and if you can both make the entire trip without saying a word, or even making the slightest sound, I'll give the ride for free. But if either of you make a sound, its $10 each." Well, Martha and Stumpy look at each other, and agree to take the ride.

The pilot takes them up, and starts to do loop de loops, twists, dives, climbs and spins. No sound. The pilot lands the plane, looks back at Stumpy and says, "Sir, I have to hand it to ya, you didn't make even the slightest sound and that was my best stuff."

Stumpy looks back at the pilot and says, "Well, I was gonna say something when Martha fell out, but $10 is $10!"
************


I'll be back later; need to run some errands for JustAmy.

[lodwick]

Check the 'puter out at pcpitstop.com - free diagnostics and many "automatic" repairs there. Good luck with it.

[lodwick]

Have we caught up with each other? I freemailed you and posted on the Glocktoberfest thread. This could be a TON of fun.

[lodwick]

Good grief Frank - keeping coming. ;-)

[LadyX]

Whew!
Yes, with beans - red kidney ones here.
Just finished a bowl, and it was good!
Nights are hitting the 50's and 40's - days in the 60's - but it doesn't get really cold in this part of South Carolina until Christmas.
Many days will be in the 70's until then.

The second day, of course, the chili gets much better.
Um, ducking in case you accompany it with cornbread or biscuits, since I have saltine crackers with mine.

[Flyer]

saltine crackers

A plus for the crackers, a minus for the beans. You break even on my chili-meter.

[knighthawk]

I know what the problem is, a bad reversion of the mainboard. I got some tips on trying to resolve it, but I need to copy my files from my old computer to the new one, but I can't get the network to start for vague reasons. And I am dodging that problem for a while now. I like my old computer too much!

But thanks for the tip, I will try it sometime.

[LadyX]

The Glocktoberfest does sound grand!
Many respondng as yet, Flyer?
You're definitely going, JL?

[Flyer]

So far the response is good. We are hoping to attract some new members to the chapter with this event and I think it's going to work.

[lodwick]

I don't see how I can pass up this chance to whack some of the eeeeeevil clays - or at least startle them into staining their uni's.

[GailA]

I BACK! First a report on Rocky's adventures on his first long car ride. He did great, slept in the crate or on my lap most of the trip, did well in the motel room, only 1 accident the entire trip. He loved Matthew kept trying to kiss him and Matthew kept trying to avoid him.

Matthew was not feeling well he had been running 103 temp for the past 3 days seems he is getting incissor in. Scared his poor parents half to death as the fever was sudden onset and they couldn't get it broken.

He is still nearly bald..a little peach fuzz--white blonde hair. He was not to chipper to say the least.

Grandpa did get several photos and as soon as he down loads them out of the camera I'll post one.

[Flyer]

Welcome back and it's nice to hear that all went (mostly) well.

[LadyX]

The Legend of the Range Rovers and the Clay Army will go down in the annals right next to The Alamo..:))

Wish I had a weapon these days.
Haven't had one for seven years, but I do still have my Alaska Hunting License and moose tag from the summer of 1965!
Camped and hunted up the Steese Highway north of Fairbanks to above the Arctic Circle.
Indians told us the caribou were 5 miles in, so we turned around and went south to Mt. McKinley when it was wide open and very primitive, camping at 88 Mile.

One of my sons took his family there in June, but now it is 'modernized' with hotels and only Tour Buses (no cars allowed) to take you to the National Park; and nowhere near Mt. McKinley.

I saw that wondrous area with a vista that was so VAST you could see forever - and know with certainty Who Created it.
There aren't human words to convey the feeling ~ ~ ~

Camped out for a week in all in a tent camper from base Special Services ($2/day) and temperatures of 35 to 55 degrees, with snow flurries on August 12th.
Didn't dare keep on the small heater at night with asphixiation a common error up there.
My sons were 9 & 10, and daughter not yet 3 years old.
They were totally at home with it all, never whining nor impatient - always helpful and cheerful.
Wonderful memories...

One day out with 'the guys' a friend had a .400 H&H Savage, and I asked if I might try it.
They 'humored' the poor girl.
Noticing the kick and their cringing, I merely when I pulled the trigger moved my shoulder back with it, and had no pain at all - and outshot 'em all.
snicker, snicker - - -

[LadyX]

We're so glad to have your report, Gail.
Look forward to pictures!!

[lodwick]

Great memories - thanks for posting them. Blam! A .400 is quite a load. ;-)

[humblegunner]

They were totally at home with it all, never whining nor impatient - always helpful and cheerful.

That sounds like more fun than collie pups!!!
We'll blow off a few rounds in your name, as always!