Free Republic

Photo: Honda Both the new and used car market is a hot mess right now, and will be for sometime. Just how hot of a mess are we talking? Well, a writer for The Verge managed to sell his 2014 Honda Fit to Carvana sight-unseen for $20,905—$90.20 more than he paid for it brand new off a dealer lot. That’s a mighty caliente market. How could such an old car possibly be worth more today than when it had 23 miles and still smelled like plastic? How could a company that buys such cars at such high prices before even...

My devotional today should probably not be written after my blood pressure got jacked. But, perhaps the timeliness of writing is better than allowing a cooling off period before venting. Peanut and I sat down to eat lunch. Yes, my dog and I eat lunch together. And, we usually watch something on television for a few minutes. Today, an episode of M*A*S*H was just finishing before Bonanza began. You remember the show, don’t you? Starring Loren Greene, Michael Landon, Pernell Roberts, and Dan Bloker, the setting is in the 1860s. The Cartwrights of Virginia City, Nevada have a 1,000 square...

Dan Blocker, aka”Hoss,” was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War. He had basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Dan Davis Blocker (December 10, 1928 – May 13, 1972) was an American television actor and Korean War veteran. He is best remembered for his role as Hoss Cartwright in the NBC western television series Bonanza. Hoss served as an infantry sergeant in F Company, 2nd Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division in Korea, December 1951 to August 1952

The American Association for Justice Convention at the Hilton in San Francisco this week has brought hords to town — hords of politicians. And we’re betting they’re not so much interested in AAJC’s panel discussions on more kinds of litigation than you ever thought possible — from Super Storm Sandy to bladder cancer, antidepressants to motorcycle lawsuits — than they are in being here in the Mother Lode of political fundraising. After all, the convention is conveniently located just a stone’s throw from Google, Facebook, Twitter, and all that Silicon Valley money — not to mention America’s Cup action that...

Richard Collins, a screenwriter during the McCarthy era who was blacklisted for several years before he cooperated with the Communist-hunting House Un-American Activities Committee, died Thursday in Ventura. The onetime Communist Party member was 98 and the last of the group of left-leaning writers and directors known as the Hollywood 19, 10 of whom went to prison for refusing to name names before the committee.

David Dortort, who created "Bonanza," the top-rated Western that aired for 14 years on NBC with family values as its centerpiece, died Sept. 5 in his apartment in Westwood. He was 93.

Pernell was married 4 times. He had 1 child, a son named Johnathan Christopher Roberts by his first wife, Vera Mowry. Christopher died at age 38 in a motorcycle accident.

Pernell Roberts, an original cast member of one of television's classic westerns, "Bonanza," died at his Malibu home Sunday. He was 81. His death from cancer was confirmed by his wife, Eleanor Criswell. Roberts was known to fans as the handsome and smart eldest son of the Cartwright clan, Adam. He played the role from its inception in 1959, but tired of the role after six years and left the show to act in films and resume a stage career that had brought him a 1955 Drama Desk Award for best actor in a production of "Macbeth." In 1979, he...

LONDON (AFP) - Some 77 million documents dating from the 16th to the 20th centuries and including the ancestors of David Beckham and Britney Spears are to go online, under a service launched Thursday. The archives from the London Historical Records feature details of around 165 million of the British capital's citizens over the centuries, including head of state Oliver Cromwell and poet William Blake. Around 250,000 records are currently available, with all 77 million uploaded by 2011. The final collection will include parish and workhouse records, electoral rolls, wills, land tax records and school reports. Tracing the family history...

ALAMEDA — Police say they removed an unusually large amount of guns, including several assault weapons, from the streets last month. Of the 13 guns confiscated in March, many were discovered by patrol officers during routine traffic stops, Lt. David Boersma said. "We've had a dramatic increase in weapons violations during the past month," he said. A patrol officer making a routine traffic stop March 19 on Central Avenue discovered a Tech-9 machine pistol in the driver's waistband, Boersma said. The officer ordered the driver out of the car because he appeared fidgety and kept touching his waistband, Boersma said....

Nevada's Ponderosa Ranch has faded into the sunset. The 570-acre Western theme park overlooking Lake Tahoe and made famous by the 1960s television series "Bonanza" shut its gates Sunday after nearly four decades.

The bible has inspired many to have faith in heavenly joy, but now an Israeli company believes it has helped it find wealth on earth. In an announcement that could shift the power balance in the Middle East, it claims to have discovered a £3 billion oilfield in the centre of Israel. But Tovia Lushkin says his company, Givat Olam, needs £18 million to develop wells and extract the oil. The find comes as instability in Saudi Arabia and Iraq has forced oil prices to a 15-year high which may yet slow global economic growth.

HARRISON, Ark. (AP) - A lawyer who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge filed by Whitewater prosecutors died Thursday when the small plane he was piloting crashed while trying to land at an airport, officials said. John Haley, 72, who was once the personal lawyer of former Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker, had recently joined a new law firm. A partner, Peter B. Heister, confirmed Haley's death. One passenger, Farish Kincaid, 70, also was killed in the crash. Authorities said the men, both from the Little Rock area, apparently were due at a business meeting in Harrison. Haley and Tucker...

A couple from Marina del Rey were among the five people who died Friday when a light plane crashed into an apartment building in the Fairfax district, relatives said Monday. Tony Vinatieri, 42, and Bonnie Vinatieri, 41, had joined the flight to Sun Valley, Idaho, because the pilot, Jeffrey T. Siegel, was a contractor who wanted to show them houses he had built there, John Vinatieri of Napa said.

<p>Pre-ordering the new "Harry Potter" installment is a snap. Through bookseller Barnes & Noble, you can do it online, over the phone or in stores.</p> <p>Only in the store, however, will the bookseller ask you to pay the state sales tax.</p>

Former friend says 'Bin Laden loved Bonanza and picnics' A Saudi newspaper editor who grew up with Osama bin Laden says the al-Qaida leader loved Bonanza.Dr Khaled Batarfi says his former neighbour watched television until he was 17. He added: "He loved action movies, particularly karate and cowboy movies."There was a movie, a series called Fury. It was American. Fury was a horse like his. He watched that. And he liked also Bonanza. That was one of the favourites. He says bin Laden didn't appear to be anti-American then and later took his son there for treatment when he...