So you want to check me out. Welcome. I'm a retired first class beach bum, watching the surfers in So. Orange County. I started Lurking after I heard Rush mention FR. Then I watched Jim Robinson wheel across the grass beside the Washington Monument at the 'March for Justice' in Oct. 1998, with so many people marching behind him with flags from their various states. I knew then, for sure, that the work of FreeRepublic was life changing. But it was not until the Red Cross would not let kids sing "God Bless America", at their luncheon (3/2002) in Irvine, Ca., that I climbed out of my comfort zone and registered, and freeped those bums! I intend to take advantage of all the opportunities that FR can give me, by being informed and fighting for Conservative issues.