A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-20-02

Libertina, dansangel and Billie | Libertina

[dansangel]

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.

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

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

GROUP 2A: TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

      

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.

                     

Copper Miners in action

IssaquahKing Freeper since August 4, 2001

With Miner's Blood comes Love of the Land
by Libertina

IssaquahKing has a deep connection with the land and very personal reasons for his determined fight for land rights. Mom came to Alaska in 1939, dad went to Ketchikan in '46…using a dog sled to get to and from town…moose meat, fish, and a great family environment!

Crusher used in Copper Mining

IssaquahKing was raised in an America few have had the good fortune to experience. In 1968 he and his family flew into the Wrangell Mountains and located a gold/copper prospect to mine. They staked it all up, almost getting snowed in for the season - until a pilot was finally able to fly them out. Over the next few years they staked up the area, mining gold to finance the hard rock development. IssaquahKing's family knew they had been successful when exploration companies showed up to talk about buying their land and flying them around. The IssaquahKings were ready to sell.

Copper mining pit

Unfortunately, as the "exploration boys" would say: "You got government problems." Jimmy Carter, SoS Cecil Andrus and Rep Morris Udall "sold them down the river," pulling their claims. The family was prevented from "operating" and thereby selling their business. IssaquahKing's family fought the government's taking of the land through attrition, but lost. "We let the land go in 86, because we couldn't afford to hold onto a piece of property that had all the rights stolen from it… The property is now a UN Heritage site. But I knew that someday in the future we'd fight again."

Copper mining truck

IssaquahKing became an electrician, and lost some hope. But in 1998 he found FRee Republic and lurked until it dawned on him that there were others out there who cared as he did. And nothing stirred his spirit like the Klamath Basin Crisis. "It cut me right to my soul, because we had experienced the same thing in the 80's. I watched on my monitor in horror at what was being done to my fellow Americans!" It was finally time to fight again.

The rest is Freeper history. IssaquahKing joined fellow land rights activists in Oregon and did what he could to help. He saw the devastation of crops burned off at the nubs and the despairing signs posted by ruined farmers. He was there when the Freedom Cavalry Regiment rode up across the mountains and down to the head gates where the Star Spangled Banner was played - and no dry eye within a mile.

Copper mining tools

After the amazing strides made by patriots in Klamath for Land Rights, IssaquahKing joined the Sawgrass Rebellion Convoy - traveling across the country to Florida. As IssaquahKing was quoted by the AP in the 10/2/02 edition of the UK Guardian, "…miners, loggers, farmers and ranchers are making a united front." Thanks to IssaquahKing, and other Freepers and patriots, we conservatives are being heard by officials who should be protecting our land rights.

Note: You might think that IssaquahKing is so busy with land rights issues that he doesn't have time to get together with other FReepers. I'm happy to tell you that isn't so. Although we have lost IssaquahKing (WA State) to Nevada, he does sometimes make it back to party with us. Here he is on St. Patrick's Day with a nice FReeper named "Marilyn." Congratulations, IssaquahKing, for being one of FR's Finest!

IssaquahKing and his "drinking buddy" Marilyn

Please join us in welcoming another of FR's Finest...

IssaquahKing!

Thanks to Libertina for this wonderful contribution to "A Few of FR's Finest!"

Libertina

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-16-02 Christmas Is....FReeper Memories 12-17-02 FReeper Pets on Parade 12-18-02 Places In The Heart 12-19-02 "Gore Calls It Quits"...JohnHuang2 Essay

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

[ST.LOUIE1]

"I'll pass"

Yer scair't...MUD

Not "scair't', just honest. I can't figger it out. LOL

[Mudboy Slim]

"Billie doesn't look like any 'Aunty' I know."

AuntB's name is Billie...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"you're in big trouble, Mudman"

Oh yeah?! Pick a number and git in line...MUD

[ST.LOUIE1]

And a special hug it is. : )
So is this one. : )

Yes, it is indeed!!
Sugarplum smooooooooochies to my favorite LouieWolf! :-)

WOW!!!!! Thank yoooooou!

I'm soooo glad you're well, fuzzy. : )

[FreeTheHostages]

Yeah, but in every joke there's some sad truth. I'm not good with the names of drinks and I'm not good with drinks. (I have one, I'm pretty much sloshed!) So really, that's what I *would* call that drink! :D

Saw Two Towers -- it was very good!

[ST.LOUIE1]

"Billie doesn't look like any 'Aunty' I know."

AuntB's name is Billie...MUD

Didn't know that! LOL

[Pippin]

I have ti wait til Sat. or Sun. to see it! :^(

[ST.LOUIE1]

"you're in big trouble, Mudman"

Oh yeah?! Pick a number and git in line...MUD

LOL I meant with Billie.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Yeah, but in every joke there's some sad truth. I'm not good with the names of drinks and I'm not good with drinks.
(I have one, I'm pretty much sloshed!) So really, that's what I *would* call that drink! :D

Well, I'm not much better with drinks, although, I can handle more than one. LOL

[FreeTheHostages]

Will I know if I won before I leave? I'm leaving at 3:30 EST...won't be on the 'puter 'til sometime late tomorrow or early Sunday. The suspense is killing me!

Dansangel, I regret to inform you that this contest is not being run by yours truly and hence you're going to have to lower your standards a little. :) With Mudboy in charge, we don't know when it will ever end and, as timesink could tell you, you don't even know for sure that your gift will ever arrive. LOL!

Psst, here's a little inside baseball: it was past 1 a.m. in the morning and Mudboy and I were meeting on a thread to judge something when Mudboy said he would be delayed to eat some "oyster stew." Our judging conversation continued, but then was delayed again because Mudboy said he'd have to go to the store to get "oyster crackers" to go with the stew. I typed something like "Grrrrr" and then got the confession (which I *shoulda* guessed): there was something "very important" on ESPN just then. LOL! That's a guy for you. I'll swear on my deathbed that there has never, ever in the history of time been anything "important" on ESPN!! :)

So my best guess is he's watching some sports channel with his feet propped up and a beer in hand.

[FreeTheHostages]

Remember: we save our worst teasing for our best Freeper friends.

[LadyX]

Here is the URL for viewing the current picture of Fairbanks, Alaska at 09:54:09 - ALMOST SUNRISE !! - by their Live Cam:

http://wwwndo.ak.blm.gov/netcamimage/netcam.jpg

Length of Day 3 hrs 46 minutes
Sunrise 10:54 AM AKST
Sunset 2:40 PM AKST

[FreeTheHostages]

Wow! Thank you. Lord I do love the colors of sunlight on snow. Snow is never just white.

[Pippin]

LOL!!! That's funny, FTH!

[Pippin]

Spectacular!

[Mudboy Slim]

"So my best guess is he's watching some sports channel with his feet propped up and a beer in hand."

LOL...close enuff, I was working on the second phase of this contest, when the prizes get bigger and the Goals get Bolder!! We're takin' after T-Mac with a wild abandon that can only be described as BANSHEE-esque!!

Also, watchin' FReepers while not responding is every bit as entertaining as a sporting event...MUD

[LadyX]

Actually, Free, that is not sunlight, due in another HOUR!!

It is the lights from the government building upon which the Cam is set, photographing it!

On the site, you can click on the weather to get updates, and refresh it to get the current views after you are there.

Great site to maintain for those who have children.

[Mudboy Slim]

My outer skin is like that of the pachyderm and yer witticisms cannot harm the FRagile idealist within...MUD

[FreeTheHostages]

So it is with Virginians . . . .

[dansangel]

So my best guess is he's watching some sports channel with his feet propped up and a beer in hand.

Oh HO! So THAT'S the "skinny" on the Mudster, eh?

[pout]

Guess I'll have to find out in a couple of days....*drats*.

as timesink could tell you, you don't even know for sure that your gift will ever arrive. LOL!

Bu-bu-bu-but......I was really looking forward to the bumpersticker and tunes!

:-(