Free Republic

There's high anxiety under the redwoods in Monte Rio as more than 2,000 wealthy men begin arriving today for their annual retreat — to be greeted by an unknown number of people protesting their presence along the tranquil Russian River. But it's not the plutocrats and power brokers of the Bohemian Club who have Monte Rio residents and merchants on edge. It's the demonstrators, who haven't always been polite, or good for business. "There have been some really nice people, and some jerks," said Suzi Schaffert, who has run the Rio Theater since 1993. "I don't know what we're in...

A Santa Rosa man pleaded guilty Thursday to a crosswalk hit-and-run crash that killed a 4-year-old boy and rekindled the debate about unlicensed drivers. Marcos Lopez Garcia, 24, admitted guilt for the three charges against him in the Aug. 18 death of Christopher “Buddy” Rowe near Santa Rosa’s Jacobs Park. Garcia, whose trial was scheduled to begin today, now faces a maximum 5-1/2 years in prison at his June 29 sentencing. The boy’s mother, Michelle Rowe, who was walking Buddy and his two sisters across West Ninth Street at the time of the crash, wiped her eyes with a tissue...

Photos from the Tea Party Express Bus Tour Launch, Napa, CA, Saturday August 27.

Video of Gov. Rick Perry Teaching a Texas Blogger How to Shoot http://blog.chron.com/texassparkle/2011/08/gov-perry-teaches-me-to-shoot/

Chris Matthews tries to bully Rep. Joe Walsh on MSNBC today. Walsh is having none of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Hg9jWx2TE

Please excuse this shameless vanity. A family member is co-creator of "Triple Rush," a new reality show about NYC bike messengers and the companies that employ them. Its first three episodes repeat today on the Travel Channel beginning at 5 p.m. Pacific.

Please excuse this shameless vanity. A family member is co-creator of a new "reality" show about NYC bike messengers -- "Triple Rush" debuts at 10 p.m. tonight on the Travel Channel. If you like bike riding, bike messengers, New York City, or just reality shows, this may be for you! Preview is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sslzevxwpg&feature=related

Below are photos (if I do it right...photo newbie here) taken at the Santa Rosa, Calif. Tea Party, held April 15 in the city's Old Courthouse Square. One organizer estimated the crowd at 500 -- a very good turnout given the liberal bent of Sonoma County. Invited speakers included Catherine Bragg, who last year became something of a YouTube sensation when she blasted Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D - CA 6th District) at a town hall meeting in nearby Petaluma, Calif. Given our experience at past pro-troop rallies, it was a surprise to encounter no disruptors whatsoever -- just patriotic Americans...

Can some sharp FReeper direct me to a link(s) summarizing the college and postgrad degrees achieved by President Bush, AlGore and the SinkMeister? I searched but to no avail as of yet.