A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-05-02

Billie, JohnHuang2 and daisyscarlett | John Huang2

[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: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete
MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet
MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga
BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette
MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid
BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP
MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian
BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

GROUP 5A: TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68. MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797. BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack.

GROUP 6A: 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.

GROUP 7A: 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.

GROUP 8A: 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.

      

GROUP 9A: 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.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

The Saudi Story -- The Sequel

by JohnHuang2

So lemme see if I get this straight: The Saudi Royals suddenly just rolled out of bed Tuesday morning and said, 'gee, we had no idea we were funding the fundies, but let's hold a 'We-Did-Not-Have-Charity-Relations-With-Those-Terrorists-And-We-Promise-Never-To-Do-It-Again' press conference in Washington -- all without White House prompting, right? No behind-the-scenes, 'are-you-with-us-or-with-the-terrorists?', 'get-off-the-fence' ultimatums from the Bush administration, eh? No reading of the riot act, huh?

Well, if you believe that, email me at elhombre63@yahoo.com. I've got some oil fields in Saudi Arabia to sell ya.

Besides, which is it? The 'Bush-Orchestrated-9/11-With-Help-From-The-Royal-Family' conspiracy kooks deny the White House had anything to do with this announcement. Yet they tell us the Royals and Bush are joined at the hips. (For residents of Palm Beach County, the Saudis Tuesday announced a major crack down on terrorist financing, the imposition of tough new rules on charities, creation of an agency to oversee them, an intelligence unit to secretly track charitable payments, among other reforms.)

"It's about helping ... set up systems that are effective -- policies, procedures -- so they can track not only donations that they receive but expenditures that they engage in," said Adel al-Jubeir, foreign affairs adviser to Crown Prince Abdullah, at the Saudi Embassy Tuesday in Washington.

For the anti-Bush zealots, no matter which faction/contingent or bloc, this Saudi brouhaha marks the best of all worlds. There's something here for every cabal. Yum-yum-delicious!

For 'Hate-America-Make-Love-Not-War' flag-burners, the controversy complicates at the most critical juncture anti-Saddam coalition-building for the Bush administration. Washington very much wants Saudi bases available -- or at least overflight rights -- in the event U.N. inspections fail. This dispute, Bush-haters hope, drives a wedge in U.S.-Saudi relations and strengthens the hand of anti-Western, pro-bin Laden hardliners within the Royal family, who want nothing with Washington and will glom onto this and say, 'Ah-ha! We told you so'.

For paranoid, black helicopter crackpots, the U.S.-Saudi fracas fuels their 'Bush-Knew-About-9/11-Before-9/11-But-Did-Nothing-In-Order-To-Protect-Big-Oil-And-Boost-His-Polls' fantasies/delusions.

For the 'Bush-Is-An-Idiot' media, the Saudi fracas gives them a chance to regurgitate pre-9/11 mantras, since discredited: Bush doesn't know what he doing; Bush is in over his head; Bush is too naive, blah, blah, blah.

For al-Qaeda terrorists, a rupture in U.S.-Saudi ties means Mission Accomplished. It would be everything they've worked so hard for. Quick: Why were 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers Saudis? Hmmm, was it just coincidence, or 'Divide-and-Conquer' strategy by Osama to turn his enemies against each other?

For Democrats in Congress, this rumpus, they believe, gives them an opening to attack the Bush administration knavishly on its strongest issue -- national security -- and guilefully appear to the "right" of Bush. See America? Who said we Dems are a bunch of wusses? Why, we're bigger hawks than Bush! Watch as we beat our chests loudly with our big fists!

It's a way to discredit Bush and discredit the War on Terror, they think.

To death and taxes, add a third certainty in life: D.O. -- Democrat Opportunism. Mention this Saudi hubbub, and liberals, on cue, switch into 'let-me-tell-you-why-Bush-is-no-good' mode. No surprise, of course, for no matter what Bush says or does, if Democrats aren't fussing and crabbing, they're nagging and nitpicking.

Bottom line: Dems, rejected by voters for being too soft-on-Terror, are exploiting the Saudi fracas full-tilt to gain back lost credibility.

But it won't work and the reason is simple: The inherent pandemonium of contradictions.

Compare the Democrats' 'don't-ask, don't-tell' position on Saddam with their stance vis-a-vis the Saudis. It's a maze of a contradictions. To illustrate, Dems will tell you that, on the one hand, acting unilaterally in Iraq is a no-no -- a big NO-NO. 'Build a coalition', they urge Bush. Consult our "allies". Seek U.N. approval. Be careful not to upset Arab sensibilities -- or risk inflaming the 'Arab Street'. Be mindful of Arab pride. Don't look like a bully, or act like you seek world domination. Don't act like a crusader. Don't spread our forces too thin, nor take on too many enemies at once. Iraq only diverts valuable resources away from the hunt for al-Qaeda. Oh, and don't bomb on Ramadan.

Ah, now mention Saudi Arabia, and lo and behold! Instantly! magically! 'See-No-Evil-Hear-No-Evil' Dems morph into "super-hawks". On Saudi Arabia, Dems say, 'to heck with Arab sensibilities! Take action -- now! Be unilateralist! To heck with Arab pride! Who cares about the Arab Street? To heck with consulting allies! To heck with the U.N. -- just do something, Bush! Bully the Saudis! Crusade into all their internal affairs! Oh, and while you're at it, go after Pakistan's Gen. Musharraf, too -- just keep your hands off Saddam!

Now tell me, does any of this make any sense? Imagine how it all looks to the American people. It's why Democrats have not a shred of credibility.

Don't take my word for it. Turn on the Sunday TV gabshows, and chances are you'll find big-talking Democrat Senator Bob Huffing-and-Puffing Graham of Florida lobbing his latest 'Bush-Is-A-Derelict' salvos. Gee, Bob, if your party's so tough, why are Dem trial lawyer fat-cats hankering for release of bin Laden terrorists from Gitmo? Y'all want a big Democrat-al-Qaeda family reunion, I suppose, eh? Behind every 'Bush-is-to-blame-for-9/11 lib, I suspect, lurks a bin Laden sympathizer screaming to get out.

Anyway, that's...

My two cents..

THIS WEEK'S THREADs

12-02-02 nicmarlo
12-03-02 jwfiv
12-04-02 Profile Pages #7

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 an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Time's Running Out! Get Your Pet Photos to Billie!

[WVNan]

That's where I saw that Mixer had an accident. I didn't know that. How behind am I?

[Diver Dave]

15. No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes.

If you'll excuse me for a while, I'm needed in the kitchen.

In the meantime, "I hear the train acomin'...It's rollin' down the track...

[JustAmy]

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

I hate this time of year. Not for its crass commercialism and forced frivolity, but because it's the season when the food police come out with their wagging fingers and annual tips on how to get through the holidays without gaining 10 pounds. You can't pick up a magazine without finding a list of holiday eating dos and don'ts.

Eliminate second helpings, high-calorie sauces and cookies made with butter, they say. Fill up on vegetable sticks, they say. Good grief. Is your favorite childhood memory of Christmas a carrot stick? I didn't think so. Mine isn't either. A carrot was something you left for Rudolph. I have my own list of tips for holiday eating. I assure you, if you follow them, you'll be fat and happy.

1. About those carrot sticks. Avoid them. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving Fudge.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-maltscotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up. Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip. It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnogaholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother. It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello? Remember college?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and NewYear's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. You can't leave them behind. You're not going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? LaborDay?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards, mate.

10. And one final tip. If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips. Start over.

[Mixer]

I hope you get back to "your old self" really soon. I'm worried about you!

Thanks so much for your concern {{{{{HUGS}}}}}} I am fine though. Thoughts of the cars hitting and that poor young lady's bleeding nose are still with me but I am fine.

[JustAmy]

[Mixer]

Mixer, what happened to you? I picked up that you had some kind of accident. I pray that you are alright. (34 eh? A baby, a mere baby)

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I am fine. it was an ordeal that lasted about an hour and a half yesterday morning and then some thoughts of it effected my thinking last night but I am fine and in good condition. Not a scratch on me : )

A mere baby yes, and enjoying every minute of it : )

[Aquamarine]

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Click on the pic

[WVNan]

Hi Amy, The worst job I ever had was working in a Fotomat booth. I was the only one at the Christmas party.

[Bob J]

On NOW at RadioFR!

Doug from Upland interviews JAYNA DAVIS discussing the OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING

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[WVNan]

I hear the train acomin'. That'a a bluegrass song. Hi Dave.

[WVNan]

A mere baby yes, and enjoying every minute of it : )

As well you should. I'm glad you are o.k. and that you had angels watching over you.

[MistyCA]

Ha! That last one should have been the first one! :)))) Thanks for the ping!

[jwfiv]

Beautiful tree, beautiful song...thank you...)

[Billie]

Hi, Stranger - that snow seems to be spreading it's winter wonderland all over! I like to look at it - from inside a warm house!

[MistyCA]

NAN! How are you? I miss you! I will be in and out and around and about! :) It snowed yesterday and left a beautiful layer of glistening angel dust! It was so fun to blow on the piles and see each little flake go airborne again! It's incredibly dry and at 20 it feels great outside! Only when the wind kicks up does it start to feel uncomfortable to me. My husband and I both love it! But it hasn't snowed too much. Yesterday it left a nice carpet covering everything, but today it is pretty spotty.

[Billie]

That is one beautiful tree - but boy does it look cold!

[Aquamarine]

You're not going to guess who's singing that?......it's Robert Goulet. :)

[MistyCA]

[Billie]

I like 'your' Holiday Eating Tips! Yummmmmmm! Let us eat, let us eat, let us eat! :)

[MistyCA]

Nan...I am determined to remember how to ice skate! Billie I will understand if you pull this :)