Worried About Toy Recalls? Keep Your Kids Safe This Holiday Season.

News of toxic toys have rocked the headlines this year, leaving parents reeling with possibilities that their children may have been exposed to lead poisoning. Millions of toys manufactured in China, many from brand-name companies such as Mattel and KB toys, have been shown to have toxic levels of lead. The recognition that the industry has an appallingly low lack of oversight has left parents not only worried about their children's health, but also wondering what safe toy-buying options they have left.

As the holiday season approaches, it is time for parents to restock the toy box with safer toys- and to many parents that means toys not produced in China. So where to look? According to the Toy Industry Association, toys made in China make up to 80% of all toys sold in the United States. With statistics like that, parents need to do a little research before shopping for the holidays.

There are still several options for parents wanting to buy American made toys- but be prepared to pay a little more. Safety should come before finance, and it's beginning to be clear just why those toys could be sold so cheap. For American toys, think Vermont Teddy Bears, Louisville Slugger baseball bats, Silly Putty, and Wiffle Ball. There are several websites where parents can find US made toys, most offering a wide selection. The website www.usmadetoys.com is perhaps the most well-known, but is far from the only one. Also check out www.stillmadeinusa.com for a huge assortment of items- toys, clothes, tools, etc. For a size-able list of American toy companies, check out www.toysmadeinamerica.com.

Obama Illegally Names Himself As UN Security Council Chairman

While We Were Looking The Other Way–Obama To Be First President To Chair UN Security Council

Some unprecedented news today, folks. Never in the history of the United Nations has a U.S. President taken the chairmanship of the powerful UN Security Council. Perhaps it is because of what could arguably be a Constitutional prohibition against doing so. To wit: Section 9 of the Constitution says:

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

The UN has a standing military force, we are held to it’s global policies, and we have an Ambassador to the UN just as we do to other foreign States. Clearly the argument can be made that the UN can be considered a foreign State. Our heads of State don’t serve at the UN, Ambassadors do.

Nonetheless, the rotating chairmanship of the UN Security Council goes to the U.S. this month. The normal course of business would have U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice take the gavel. However, this time will be different. Constitution be damned, Barack Hussein Obama has decided to put HIMSELF in the drivers seat, and will preside over global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament talks slated to begin September 24th. The Financial Times says:

Barack Obama will cement the new co-operative relationship between the US and the United Nations this month when he becomes the first American president to chair its 15-member Security Council.

The topic for the summit-level session of the council on September 24 is nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament – one of several global challenges that the US now wants to see addressed at a multinational level.

UN officials also hope a climate change debate on September 22 will give fresh impetus to the search for a global climate deal at Copenhagen in December. There are also hopes a possible meeting between Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, and Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority president, that Mr. Obama would host, could lead to a breakthrough about a timetable for Middle East peace.

Here is what the UN Security Council does. Picture Obama as the Chair of this committee with this power.

Under the UN Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:

* to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations;
* to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction;
* to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
* to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
* to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken;
* to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
* to take military action against an aggressor;
* to recommend the admission of new Members;
* to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in “strategic areas”;
* to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.

No American president has ever attempted to acquire the image of King of the Universe by officiating at a meeting of the UN’s highest body. Obama apparently believes that being flanked by council-member heads of state like Col. Moammar Qaddafi — who is expected to be seated five seats to Obama’s right — will cast a sufficiently blinding spell on Americans.

He undoubtedly hopes that the horrid state of the nation’s economy, turmoil over health care, and a summer of racial scapegoating will pale by comparison. This role as UN Security Council chair will allow him to make decisions, influence legislation and resolutions, and set the agenda.

Right Soup will be closely following this very unsettling turn of events. Like I always say, pay attention to what Obama DOES.

Share this Right Soup with others:

http://rightsoup.com/while-we-were-looking-the-other-way-obama-t o-be-first-president-to-chair-un-security-council/

About Tiger Woods and that "Car Accident"

According to TMZ there was no car accident only a woman's scorn.

It looks like the Tiger has been prowling around, in the QT. Seems like Mrs. Tiger has some claws of her own

Tiger Woods did not suffer facial lacerations from a car accident. They were inflicted by his wife, Elin Nordegren -- according to a conversation Woods had Friday after the accident.

Tiger has yet to be formally interviewed by the Florida Highway Patrol -- that should happen this afternoon. But we're told Tiger had a conversation Friday -- with a non-law enforcement type -- detailing what went down before his Escalade hit a fire hydrant.

We're told he said his wife had confronted him about reports that he was seeing another woman. The argument got heated and, according to our source, she scratched his face up. We're told it was then Woods beat a hasty retreat for his SUV -- but according to our source, Woods says his wife followed behind with a golf club. As Tiger drove away, she struck the vehicle several times with the club.

We're told Woods became "distracted," thought the vehicle was stopped, and looked to see what had happened. At that point the SUV hit the fire hydrant and then hit a tree.

We're also told Woods had said during the conversation Friday he had been taking prescription pain medication for an injury, which could explain why he seemed somewhat out of it at the scene

http://www.tmz.com/2009/11/28/tiger-woods-elin-nordegren-fight-a ccident-suv-lacerations/

So anyway the girlfriend shrugs her shoulders:

Tiger Woods’ alleged mistress says his accident has nothing to do with her. Usmagazine.com reports that Rachel Uchitel who is the alleged mistress of famous golfer, Tiger Woods, insists that she did not have an affair with Tiger. She stated, “I did not have an affair with Tiger Woods.” She adds: “I met him twice and have not heard from him since.”

“Us magazine” says that Rachel talked with them,just minutes after Tiger Woods car accident yesterday morning, and she said that this has nothing to do with her. She stated, “this has nothing to do with me. I don’t understand why anyone would think this is anything to do with me.”
She also declared that she didn’t have an affair with Tiger Woods, days before his accident. She said she knows these rumors all over the place ,but people make up rumors about her all the time. She stated, “I have not had an affair with him. I understand that there’s rumors all over because everybody’s talking about it. But I’m telling you, people say rumors about me all the time. People will say a ton of things about me. I did not have an affair with Tiger Woods. The things that were said from the source in the Enquirer are in fact, not true.”

Rachel also said that she offered to give the Enquirer a polygraph test,but they refused it. She stated, “and they refused it,They told me it was too late and the story was running anyway.”


Source

MD State Police Hit in Ocean City, Md

MD News Trooper Struck by Car While Making Arrest – ABC2 News: WEST OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) -- A Maryland State Trooper
http://bit.ly/8SS7Lf

BREAKING NEWS

KING5-TV reports that four police officers have been shot at a coffee shop in Parkland, Washington. No further info.

UPDATE:
BULLETIN -- SPOKESMAN: FOUR POLICE OFFICERS DEAD AFTER SHOOTING AT COFFEE SHOP IN PARKLAND, WA.

TAX CAP VERSES REVENUE CAP . . . . YOU DECIDE

Several years ago (1978) Talbot County instituted a TAX CAP after a similar hugely unacceptable tax increase to Wicomico County incensed the voters to action. From 1978 until 1995 ballot questions were put before the voters to remove the TAX CAP. Finally, in January of 1995 a Coalition of SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - Board of Education, Chamber of Commerce, PTA, NAACP, League of Women Voters, and other individuals SUED to overturn the TAX CAP and they won! The TAX CAP was ruled unconstitional.

Do you think VOICE should have gone for a TAX CAP? That certainly would have been an easy 'kneejerk' thing to do in light of the Court's decision.

After the TAX CAP was ruled unconstitutional in January 1995, The Talbot County Council in May raised the property tax by 46%. That's right they raised the property taxes by almost 50 percent! But they - SPECIAL INTEREST - didn't have enough! The next year, in 1996 they raised it another 46.3%!!! And we - Wicomico Residents- think 23.7% is bad. Now let's try and add this up. . . .What’s 46.1% and 46.3% over two years? Let's hold the math until the end of this lesson.

The Talbot voters were so incensed they searched for a way to stop these run-a-way politicos and came up with the Revenue Cap concept. The voters rallied to get it on the ballot and it was passed in 1996 by 72.21% of the voters! It stands as law today in that County. Even after MANY attempts to have it removed. VOICE used the EXACT wording in their petition as was used in Talbot County. It's exactly the same language that is LAW in Talbot now.

So what have we learned today? Hopefully we've learned that from the time a TAX CAP was ruled unconstitutional and was replaced by a REVENUE CAP in Talbot County (1995 - 1996) - property taxes went up 92.4%!!! Actually that would not be entirely accurate as I'm told that before the REVENUE CAP could become law the actual true tax increase was 113.8%

The next question is a bit more subjective - after this current events history lesson - is the Daily Times staunch reason for objecting to the REVENUE CAP . . . do you now feel the VOICE proposals are obviously not well thought out?"

If your property tax increased by 113.8%, would the difference be greater or less than your recent pay raise?

"THOSE WHO IGNORE HISTORY ARE DESTINED TO REPEAT IT"


Sent to me from VOICE

Gore Flees in Panic from Chicago Book Signing

I was enjoying a relaxing evening after the Boat parade tonight, but I just couldn't resist this.

Al Gore runs like the liar he is in this clip.

Awesomeness! LOLOLOLOL



Gore Flees in Panic from Chicago Book Signing
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November 25, 2009 (LPAC)—Not since Henry Kissinger fled a team of LaRouche organizers, in the back of a delivery truck in New York City's Central Park in the early 1980s, has an obese fascist moved so fast to escape an angry crowd, as Al Gore did today in Chicago. Appearing at a bookstore in the downtown Loop, Gore was confronted by a team of demonstrators from a grass roots group called "We Are Change," as he was signing his latest fascist screed on the global warming swindle. Gore bolted from the bookstore, raced down an alley, jumped into a waiting car, and tried to speed off, with protesters chasing after him and banging on the car. Midwest LYM organizers, who were also on the scene to confront the global warming swindler, provided an eyewitness account of Fat Albert's flight of fear.

Make no mistake about it. This little encounter is typical of the kinds of things going on all over the country, as the fascists who brought you the near-destruction of the United States and an onrushing global Dark Age, are no longer walking the streets, smug in the belief that they are literally getting away with murder. The mass strike dynamic is playing out in thousands of ways, every day, and the recent revelations about the "smoking gun" emails from the East Anglia University global warming propaganda center, have made Al Gore's life a little more miserable.

http://www.larouchepac.com/node/12520

LOL Reminds me of that scene where Kramer is running down the tarmac.

More in U.S. Say Health Coverage Is Not Gov’t. Responsibility

November 13, 2009
More in U.S. Say Health Coverage Is Not Gov’t. Responsibility
Marks significant shift from the attitudes of the past decade
by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -- More Americans now say it is not the federal government's responsibility to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage (50%) than say it is (47%). This is a first since Gallup began tracking this question, and a significant shift from as recently as three years ago, when two-thirds said ensuring healthcare coverage was the government's responsibility.

Gallup has asked this question each November since 2001 as part of the Gallup Poll Social Series, and most recently in its Nov. 5-8 Health and Healthcare survey. There have been some fluctuations from year to year, but this year marks the first time in the history of this trend that less than half of Americans say ensuring healthcare coverage for all is the federal government's responsibility.

The high point for the "government responsibility" viewpoint occurred in 2006, when 69% of Americans agreed. In 2008, this percentage fell to 54%, its previous low reading. This year, in the midst of robust debate on a potentially imminent healthcare reform law, the percentage of Americans agreeing that it is the government's responsibility to make sure everyone has health insurance has fallen even further, by seven points, to 47%. Half of Americans now say this is not the government's responsibility.

The reason behind this shift is unknown. Certainly the federal government's role in the nation's healthcare system has been widely and vigorously debated over the last several months, including much focus on the "public option." These data suggest that one result of the debate has been a net decrease in Americans' agreement that ensuring all Americans have healthcare coverage is an appropriate role for the federal government.

There are major differences in views on this issue by partisanship, as would be expected given the major partisan differences on most issues relating to the role of government in the U.S. today. The views of Republicans and independents who lean Republican about the government's healthcare role are almost a precise mirror image of the views of Democrats and independents who lean Democratic.

For the rest of the stats and story

Christmas Decorating Ideas and Tips

'Tis the season and all that and since I'm taking down my thanksgiving decorations and turning and eye to the yule tide, I thought I'd post some tree ideas, starting with two of my own from last year. Mine are pretty basic combining pine cones and flowers with traditional red and gold bulbs and beads.

I'm thinking of some variations this year so I thought I'd start posting some different ideas and tips to kick off the season.


Decorating your home or any space for the holidays can be both thrilling and challenging. Holiday decorations enhance the feeling of the season and are a lot of fun to create. Here are some ideas to make decorating your space a little easier.







Instructions
Things You'll Need:

Holiday decorations such as: stockings An evergreen or fake tree
An evergreen wreath
Poinsettia plants
Step 1
Consider the space to be decorated a zone and work on each zone in stages. Your home may have more than one zone, therefore start by listing all of your zones. The idea is that you will work on each zone a little at a time.

Step 2
Pull out your holiday decorations you do have from the year before and go through them. Quickly jot down or sketch your ideas for this holiday season. Make a list of any items that you do not have and will need to make your holiday design complete.

Step 3
Start with the holiday basics and build from there. Trim the tree (or the main tree if you plan to have more than one) and decorate your front door. Start with the first zone and then move from that zone on to the next. Zones are rooms or could be specific parts of a room, these include: the living room, the front door, staircase, the fireplace, dining room table, the exterior of your home etc.

Step 4
Work on the basics of each zone. Start with the basic decorations first: a tree, a wreath, poinsettia plants, stockings, and then embellish with accents and details: balls, angels, candles and candy canes. Work on it a little every day, adding more to your design in each zone, until you have fulfilled your decorative vision. Be sure to get help and not get overwhelmed with all of your work.

Step 5
For ideas, look at pictures of holiday decorations in magazines, storefront windows and other people's homes.

If you are looking to try something different, consider using a theme this holiday season. Or add color by using faux colored trees, these trees come in colors such as pink, white or blue. Consider purchasing odd knick-knacks or kitsch items that may act as conversational pieces.

The overall idea here is that there is no wrong or right way to decorate for the holiday. Trust your instincts and be creative. Don't be afraid to try something different or enhance your family's traditions with experimental designs or your own creative ideas.

ACORN gets payback for the Election

Someone asked me "You can't really hold Obama responsible for ACORN, can you?" More like the other way around - ACORN created Obama, in a way. Part of the "community organizing" of which Obama boasted was for ACORN. He also represented ACORN in court as an attorney. For years, he volunteered as a trainer for ACORN's voter registration workers. When he ran for the Illinois State Senate in 1996, Obama was a member of a fringe political party, the New Party, which was co-founded by ACORN. Obama's Presidential campaign hired a division of the "non-partisan" ACORN to "get out the vote" in the Democratic primaries. The new director of "non-partisan" ACORN officially endorsed Obama for President! (How non-partisan can you get?) - Jerry Breen www.newbreen.com


WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has concluded that the Obama administration can lawfully pay the community group Acorn for services provided under contracts signed before Congress banned the government from providing money to the group.

The department’s conclusion, laid out in a recently disclosed five-page memorandum from David Barron, the acting assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel, adds a new wrinkle to a sharp political debate over the antipoverty group’s activities and recent efforts to distance the government from it.

Since 1994, Acorn, which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has received about $53 million in federal aid, much of it grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for providing various services related to affordable housing.

But the group has become a prime target for conservative critics, and on Oct. 1, President Obama signed into law a spending bill that included a provision that said no taxpayer money — including money authorized by previous legislation — could be “provided to” the group or its affiliates.

A Housing and Urban Development Department lawyer asked the Justice Department whether the new law meant that pre-existing contracts with Acorn should be broken. And in a memorandum signed Oct. 23 and posted online this week, Mr. Barron said the government should continue to make payments to Acorn as required by such contracts.

The new law “should not be read as directing or authorizing HUD to breach a pre-existing binding contractual obligation to make payments to Acorn or its affiliates, subsidiaries or allied organizations where doing so would give rise to contractual liability,” Mr. Barron wrote.

The deputy director of national operations for Acorn, Brian Kettenring, praised Mr. Barron’s decision.

“We are pleased that commitments will be honored relative to Acorn’s work to help keep America’s working families facing foreclosure in their homes,” Mr. Kettenring said.

Mr. Barron said he had based his conclusion on the statute’s phrase “provided to.” This phrase, he said, has no clearly defined meaning in the realm of government spending — unlike words like “obligate” and “expend.”

Citing dictionary and thesaurus entries, he said “provided to” could be interpreted as meaning only instances in which an official was making “discretionary choices” about whether to give the group money, rather than instances in which the transfer of money to Acorn was required to satisfy contractual obligations.

Since there are two possible ways to construe the term “provided to,” Mr. Barron wrote, it makes sense to pick the interpretation that allows the government to avoid breaching contracts.

Moreover, he argued, requiring the government to cancel contracts with a specifically named entity — “including even in cases where performance has already been completed but payment has not been rendered” — would raise constitutional concerns best avoided by interpreting the law differently.

The Constitution prohibits “bills of attainder” — legislation intended to punish specific people or groups. Acorn has filed a lawsuit arguing that the statute banning the government from providing it money amounts to a bill of attainder.

Read More Here

REPORT: TIGER WOODS' AGENT SAYS THE GOLFER IS "FINE" AFTER CRASH

WESH-TV sources say Tiger Woods has been treated for facial lacerations after car crash, says alcohol was not involved.

Early reports said Tiger Woods was in "serious" condition after he hit a fire hydrant and then a tree outside his Florida home.

Patrol says charges in the accident involving Tiger Woods are pending, happened around 2.25 a.m. EST.

WESH-TV: Tiger Woods 29 minutes ago from BNO Headquarters

Give that man a Heisman Trophy already

I swear this man can't stay off TV or miss a photo op to feed his ego. Seriously, is nothing sacred? Can we not escape this man at all? People watch sports in general for the love of the game and to escape the daily minutia of life. Yet at every opportunity he is popping up just to remind you of how you should live and that he is ultra cool. Give that man a Heisman Trophy already or better yet, a Vince Lombardi trophy.

The Winter Wonderland Lights Ceremony this Saturday

The Salisbury city park will be filled with the sounds of the season and the familiar sight of Christmas lights.

The Lighting Ceremony is Saturday begining at 5 pm
•Feet of Fire Dance Academy
•Wicomico Day School Chorus
•Footsteps Cance Academy
•Bethesda United Methodist Church's Bell Choir
•Food, coffee, and hot chocolate will be available for sale
•We will have a very special guest visit us during this celebration!

The Winter Wonderland Lights Committe is working hard to raise money, support, and volunteers to ensure the continuation of the holiday ligths in the Salisbury City Park.

* Donations can be made to:

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore
P.O. Box 152,
Salisbury, MD 21803
410-742-9911

The Community Foundation has set up and endownment fund for the Winter Wonderland of Lights to create a permanent source of funding for the annual holiday lights in the Salisbury City Park.


The Winter Wonderland display will run through Jan. 1 and will light up the park from dusk to midnight.

Also a part of the festivities to ring in the season will be the Wicomico Yacht Club's boat parade. The annual holiday procession has been done by the club since 1987.

Man Hunt - Thanksgiving Day Tragedy

While most of us were enjoying a lovely time with our families over a holiday meal, tragedy loomed at a home in Jupiter, Florida. I can't even imagine what this family is going through and as a parent I'm just sickened by the child being killed as she slept in her bed.

Police are looking for the suspect; Paul Merhige, who is believed to be driving a blue 2007 4-door Toyota Camry with Florida license plate W42 7JT. The vehicle would look much like this photo below. There's no telling where this guy is or is headed, but most certainly he is still somewhere on the east coast today. If you happen to see this vehicle call authorities immediately.

From the AP :Here is the story


JUPITER, Fla. (AP) - Four people including a child in bed were shot to death during a family Thanksgiving gathering and a manhunt was under way across South Florida early Friday for a male relative suspected in the slayings.

Police said that 17 relatives were in the house when the shootings were reported around 10 p.m. Thursday in Jupiter, a small coastal town about 90 miles north of Miami.

Jupiter Police Sgt. Scott Pascarella said they were looking for Paul Michael Merhige, 35, of Miami. Merhige is a cousin of the 6-year-old victim, McKayla Sitton, police said.

The others killed were all women. They were named as Raymonde Joseph, 76, Carla Merhige and Lisa Merhige. The two women were 33-year-old twin sisters, and sisters of Paul Merhige.

Authorities said a fifth victim, Patrick McKnight, was being treated at a hospital. His condition was not available.

Pascarella said police received a 911 call from a neighbor shortly after 10 p.m. Police then received a second 911 call from someone within the home. Pascarella says the shootings took place inside the house.

"What led to this incident, we're not quite sure," said Pascarella. "It did not appear there was any altercation prior to this shooting."

Police said the home was owned by Jim Sitton, a photojournalist for WPTV-TV and father of the little girl killed. Sitton told WPTV his daughter was in bed when she was shot. He was at the party at the time of the shooting but was not wounded.

Sitton told local media that his daughter was supposed to perform Friday in a holiday production of the Nutcracker.

"God packed a lot of sweetness into that little body," Sitton said. "She's just our life. I don't know how we are ever going to recover."

The relationship between Sitton and Paul Merhige was unclear, police said.

Police across South Florida and the U.S. Marshals Service were searching for Merhige. Pascarella said Merhige is believed to be driving a blue 2007 4-door Toyota Camry with Florida license plate W42 7JT.

"The word we're trying to get out to the public is that this individual is considered armed and dangerous," said Pascarella.

Phone calls to a number listed for Paul Merhige were not answered.

(This version CORRECTS that all three adult victims were women; corrects one name to 'Raymonde.')

Black Friday

I don't shop on Black Friday. I hate shopping anyway. Especially in crowds who think their getting some kind of deal on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I'll probably continue my endeavor to clean out the garage and see what I can donate.

However, I kid you not, at the Thanksgiving table tonight, after the sweet potato pie and everything, uncle Doug pulls out the paper packed with sales flyers and starts handing out the appropriate pages to those he thought may have interest for Friday's sale that started at midnight. Hubby got the Gander Mountain section, which made me ponder who he was buying for this season.

Anyway, if your shopping on Black Friday. Good Luck and get me something nice. (not from Gander Mountain tyvm.)

AMA /American Idol/ABC Pride Parade??

If you don't feel like putting yourself through what is a really really bad song, the cliffs are; whats his name, runner up from American Idol, falls really bad on stage, kisses the dude playing the keyboard, and grabs another performer's face and puts it in his crotch in prime time on ABC.

Is this a San Francisco Gay Pride Parade or the AMA's? Is this what tolerance looks like? Can't the guy be gay without having some sort of display of dungeon sex slaves to prove it? I really don't think this does much to help the cause of gay marriage.

Then, as reported by reuters: he says it's not his fault, as he's not a babysitter. Bla bla bla, we need to just accept him or some trifle crap.

Jennifer Vanasco, editor in chief of website 365gay.com, said his performance hurt the cause of gay marriage in the eyes of mainstream Americans "who think gay life is exactly what (he) portrayed on the American Music Awards."

It's worse than Madonna's attention whoring and that was way badddddddddddd.

On another note; his records are selling really well.

Oh OOoooops Just a teeeny tiny SECURITY Breach.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Unfortunately Obama bin Biden has screwed up yet again, this time with White House security, to further the embarrassment jackass Joe took two pictures with these clowns while smiling from ear to ear.

was this a case of another reality TV show wanna be's, or maybe just some ding bat crazy fans or perhaps...?

From the comment section of this video:

There may be more to this:

"...The American Task Force for Palestine (ATFP), however, has removed from its website Tareq (Tarek) Salahi, the most famous party crasher in the world... "

Y'know Muslims doctors won't use alcohol hand wipes.

But Tareq Salahi "owns" a winery. Is he a Lebanese Maronite (Christian), or a Palestinian Catholic?

Or does he have a trophy wife and is actually a Muslim Brotherhood jihadi or a Iranian Helbollah-nik?

Let's wait to see how the scorecard gets filled out.

Here's the AP video:



Oh here's their facebook page and all the pictures

Christmas on the Delmarva Peninsula

I was searching for festive things to do over the holiday and I ran across this list at the delmarva town crier and I thought it was worth re posting in it's entirety.

Berlin’s Victorian Christmas
December 3-25
Celebrations include life-sized storybook window displays, horse & carriage rides, house tours, concerts, parade. Victorian fashion show & teas. Santa visits weekends at the Atlantic Hotel & music fills the streets. Fee for some events. Carol Kenney, 410-641-4775.

Cambridge, Maryland
December 1 – 31
Christmas Garden of Trains
Holiday-themed model train display at the Cambridge Rescue and Fire Company in downtown Cambridge, MD.
www.rescuefirecompany.org

December 5, 2009
Christmas Parade
http://www.christmasparade.org/

Centreville, Maryland
December 4, 2009
Christmas Parade
Christmas nighttime parade celebrating the Holiday Season with antique cars, bands, lighted floats, fire engines, clowns & more!

Chesapeake City, Maryland
December 12, 2009 – 5:00-9:00 PM
Candlelight House Tour
Historic District, South Chesapeake City
19th century holiday walking tour of historic homes, inns, and churches. Once a year home owners open their home to the public for this festive event. You will enjoy refreshments and strolling Victorian dressed carollers. Ticket price $10 – $15. Limited Handicap accessible.
Contact: 443-553-0071; Email: mary@innatthecanal.com

Chestertown, Maryland
November 27 to 29
Home for the Holidays
Chestertown’s Winterfest Weekend
Enjoy a weekend filled with holiday events. The official lighting of Downtown Chestertown for the holidays, Kent County Marching Band, Santa arrives @ 7pm on Friday by fire truck, pictures taken with Santa, Caroling in fountain park, downtown stores open late. Annual Jaycees Christmas Parade is at 10 am on Saturday. For more information visit http://www.chestertown.com/


Chincoteague, Virginia
Dec. 5, 2009
Chincoteague Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade – 7:00 p.m.
Christmas parade featuring floats, marching bands, color guards, Saltwater Cowboys, Fire Companies from around the Eastern Shore, and a special visit from Santa.
Contact: Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce at 757-336-6161.

Crisfield, Maryland
December 12
Christmas Parade – 6 pm.
Crisfield Area C of C 410-968-2500/800-782-3913 http://www.crisfieldchamber.com/

Crumpton, Maryland
December 13, 2009
Breakfast with Santa
Crumpton Volunteer Fire Department, 8:00 am to 11:00 am
For more information call: (410)778-6100

Earleville, Maryland
Yuletide Manor House Tour
The elegant brick Georgian Manor House at Mount Harmon will be decorated for the holidays with festive wreaths and decorative arrangements, in the style of Colonial Williamsburg. Mount Harmon’s Colonial history will come to life with hearth cooking demonstrations in the Colonial kitchen, given by costumed interpreters. Visitors will delight in sampling freshly made ginger bread cooked on the hearth and Mount Harmon’s special Wassail Punch. Proceeds benefit Mount Harmon Plantation. FOMH Member Price: $10 each, Non-members: $15 each.Contact:410-275-8819 info@mountharmon.org

Easton, Maryland
November 28 – December 1, 2009
Festival of Trees
This multi-event festival benefits Friends of Hospice and includes
decorated trees, Candy Cane Lane and Home Tours.
For more information go to www.talbothospice.org/friends_of_hospice.html


December 5
Old Tyme Christmas Parade
Downtown Easton will hold its annual Christmas parade with floats, fire trucks, horses, antique cars, bands, and folks of all ages dressed up in Victorian costumes.

December 31, 2009
First Night Talbot
Easton, Maryland
www.easternshore.com/firstnighttalbot


Elkton, Maryland
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 04, 2009 – 5 pm
Christmas in Elkton. Santa will arrive by fire truck to Union Hospital where he will light the tree and continue to Elkton Visitors’ Center where he will light the town tree. Carolers. Free event. Handicap accessible. Pictures with Santa for a fee.
Contact: 410-398-5076; Email: info@elktonalliance.org
http://www.elktonalliance.org/


December 12 & 13, 2009 and December 19 & 20, 2009
Free Photo w/ Santa & Mrs. Claus
Milburn Orchards, 1495 Appleton Road, Elkton, MD
Free photo (per family) with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Gift baskets galore for gift giving. Ready made or special order. Handicap accessible.
Contact: 410-398-1349; Email: info@milburnorchards.com
http://www.milburnorchards.com/


Fruitland, Maryland
November 30, 2009
The Fruitland Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Christmas Lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Galena, Maryland
December 6
Christmas Tree Lighting
Come and enjoy our old fashion Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Georgetown, Delaware
The 2009 Georgetown Christmas Parade is set for Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. This years theme, “A Delaware Christmas” should make it very interesting and fund with lots of mascots and Delaware items in the parade, along with some balloons and lots of music.
www.georgetowncoc.com/event/georgetown-christmas-parade.htm

Festival of Trees
Delaware Technical Community College, Georgetown, DE
December 4,2009 – December 6,2009
302-855-2344 – http://www.delawarehospice.org/


Hurlock, Maryland
December 12, 2009
Christmas Parade
hurlockchristmasparade.org

Lewes, Delaware
December 5, 2009
Christmas Parade

Milford, Delaware
Holiday Stroll
December 4,2009
http://www.downtownmilford.org/


Millsboro, Delaware
Christmas Parade & Santa Shop
December 5,2009
302-934-6777, http://www.millsborochamber.com/


New Castle, Delaware
December 12, 2009
Spirit of Christmas
Town–wide event with tours of historic buildings, concerts, shopping and other festivities. Free. Sponsored by New Castle Presbyterian Church, (302) 328-3279

North East, Maryland
November 27, 2009
Christmas Tree Lighting – 5:30 pm
Walnut Street, North East Community Park, North East, MD
Tree lighting with Santa and music. Free event. Handicap accessible.
Contact: 410-287-5801, Email: abarker@northeastmd.org
http://www.northeastmd.org/

November 27 – 29, 2009
Open House Weekend
Merchants host open house, Christmas/holiday decorations, refreshments, free event, handicap accessible.

Santa’s House
Weekends
Fridays 6 pm – 7:30 pm. Saturdays 10 am – noon and 1 pm – 3 pm. Sundays 1 pm – 3 pm.
122 South Main St., North East, MD
Visit with Santa; pictures permitted; free event; handicap accessible.

December 5, 2009
Cecil County Christmas Parade
Bands, floats, Santa, antique vehicles, and more. Free event. Handicap accessible.
Contact: 410-287-5801; Email: abarker@northeastmd.org
http://www.northeastmd.org/

December 19 & 20, 2009
Live Christmas Nativity
Harts Amphitheater, 3203 Turkey Point Road, North East, MD (6 miles south of town)
The Christmas story comes alive with live characters and animals. Free event. Free warm drinks and snacks. Handicap accessible.
Contact: Hank Passi at 410-287-2650
www.gbgm-umc.org/harts.umc


December 31, 2009
New Year’s Eve Extravaganza
Countdown to 2010 on the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay. Fee. Handicap accessible.
Contact: 800-234-2683; Email: info@sandycove.org
http://www.sandycove.org/


Odessa, Delaware
December 5, 2009
Christmas In Odessa
A self-guided walking tour of private homes and public buildings, many dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, decorated for the holidays. In addition to the house tour, we have many special events which are included in the ticket price.
christmasinodessa.com\

Ocean City, Maryland
November 19 – January 2, 2010
Winterfest of Lights

December 5
Christmas Parade
North Ocean City
Wonderful holiday parade with high school bands, floats & marching units. Many activities in Gold Coast Mall following the parade. Saturday, 11 a.m. Parade route to be announced. Honey Jarvis, 410-524-9000. Honijarvis@cs.com

Onancock, Virginia
December 12, 2009
Christmas Homes Tour and Music Festival
Hours for the home tour are 2pm to 6pm, and for the music at Cokesbury Church 4pm to 8pm. Enjoy houses decorated for the season and wonderful Christmas music in a historic setting. Transportation between homes is included in the price of your ticket.
www.onancock.org/christmas

December 19, 2009
Christmas Parade
www.onancock.com/christmas_parade.html

Oxford, Maryland
December 4, 2009
Oxford’s “Christmas on the Creek”
Oxford will host the third annual “Christmas on the Creek” – a true taste of small town America. The weekend long event celebrating the holiday spirit offers residents and visitors alike many fun, family oriented holiday events.

Christmas Caroling – 6:30pm
The Holiday festivities begin with community caroling at the Wesleyan
Church on Morris Street at 6:30pm on Friday, December 4, that are sure to put everyone in a festive mood! A full schedule will be posted soon at http://www.oxfordmd.net/

Parksley, Virginia
December 4, 2009
Parksley Old Fashioned Christmas
Santa arrives by fire truck. Hayrides, musical performances, and face painting. http://www.parksley.com/

Perryville, Maryland
December 5, 2009
Holly Tree Lighting Ceremony
B&O Railroad’s Travelers Christmas Tree. The American Legion Honor Guard, the Perryville High School Marching Band and Santa will be in the processional. Local soloists and choral groups will be performing throughout the evening. Handicapped Accessible. Museum will be open the same hours as the visitation of the tree.
Contact: 410-996-8104; Email: eslicer@ccgov.org
www.ccgov.org/dept_parks

Princess Anne, Maryland
December 5, 2009
Parade, followed by lunch and pictures with Santa, arts & crafts for children, and a holiday movie. ADA. Princess Anne C of C (Sharon Harris) 410-651-0422

Christmas Candlelight Tour
Tour of private homes in historic district followed by holiday reception at Teackle Mansion. Advance tickets available. Somerset County Historical Society 410-651-2238
http://www.teackle.mansion.museum/


Port Deposit, Maryland
December 5, 2009
Candlelight Tour
Visit Historic Port Deposit homes; concert; boutique. Ticket price $15. Not handicap accessible. Benefit Port Deposit Heritage Corp.
Contact: 410-378-2121

Rock Hall, Maryland
December 5, 2009
Lighted Boat Parade and Arrival of Santa
Join Santa as he arrives at the Rock Hall bulkhead in the company of bands and lighted boats. Boats come through the Rock Hall Harbor jetty at 6pm. For more information call 410-639-7611 or visit http://www.rockhallmd.com/


Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
November 27, 2009
Holiday Tree Lighting Sing-A-Long
Capping the “Black Friday” shopping day, gather at the bandstand for the holiday tree lighting and to sing holiday songs. It’s a hometown tradition!
http://www.rehobothbandstand.com/
/or call 302-644-2288.

December 7, 2009
Christmas Parade
Along Rehoboth Avenue beginning at 6:30 PM

December 13, 2009
The Rehoboth Beach Farmers’ Market Holiday Market
Many area’s favorite vendors will be there. Holiday decorations and Holiday goodies will be available.

Selbyville, Delaware
Christmas Parade
December 4,2009
302-539-2100, http://www.thequietresorts.com/

Snow Hill, Maryland
December 5
Victorian Christmas Celebration
Julia A. Purnell Museum

Experience a 19th century Christmas celebration with live music, sweets, mulled cider & a Victorian Christmas tree. Admission. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Claire Otterbein, 410-632-0515. http://www.purnellmuseum.com/.


Seaford, Delaware
December 5, 2009.
Christmas Parade – 7:00 pm

For more information they can call Frank Raskauskas at (302) 628-2828 or Sharon Drugash at (302) 629-9173. www.mychristmasparade.com/

St. Michael’s, Maryland
December 12, 2009
Breakfast with Santa – 9 AM
Parade – 10:30 AM
Santa’s Wonderland – 11 AM
Tour of Homes – Noon
www.christmasinstmichaels.org
Sudlersville, Maryland
December 5 and 12, 2009
Old Fashioned Christmas – Model Train,
Museum Open – Model Train Running, Refreshments, Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Sudlersville Train Station Museum, 101 Linden Street, Sudlersville
Call 410.438.3501, Mary Godfrey, for more information

Worton, Maryland
December 5
Santa’s Workshop – Worton Arena
Ages 4-12. Pre-registration $7 from Nov. 2 to 27, $9 after Nov. 27. Worton Arena. 1-4pm. For more information call Kent County Parks & Recreation 410-778-2083 or visit kentparksandrec.org.

*****
List is thought to be accurate, but mistakes, cancellations or changes made be made. Please contact presenting organizations before making final plans.

Do you know of a Christmas Event that is not listed here, please let us know via a comment on this site of email us at events@shoretobefun.com

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 3:35 pm and is filed under Delaware, Delmarva, Events, Maryland, Virginia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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What would Thanksgiving Be without a Little Alice?

The Real Story of Thanksgiving

The story of the Pilgrims begins in the early part of the seventeenth century. The Church of England under King James I was persecuting anyone and everyone who did not recognize its absolute civil and spiritual authority. Those who challenged ecclesiastical authority and those who believed strongly in freedom of worship were hunted down, imprisoned, and sometimes executed for their beliefs.

A group of separatists first fled to Holland and established a community. After eleven years, about forty of them agreed to make a perilous journey to the New World, where they would certainly face hardships, but could live and worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences.

On August 1, 1620, the Mayflower set sail. It carried a total of 102 passengers, including forty Pilgrims led by William Bradford. On the journey, Bradford set up an agreement, a contract, that established just and equal laws for all members of the new community, irrespective of their religious beliefs. Where did the revolutionary ideas expressed in the Mayflower Compact come from? From the Bible.

The Pilgrims were a people completely steeped in the lessons of the Old and New Testaments. They looked to the ancient Israelites for their example. And, because of the biblical precedents set forth in Scripture, they never doubted that their experiment would work.

But this was no pleasure cruise, friends. The journey to the New World was a long and arduous one. And when the Pilgrims landed in New England in November, they found, according to Bradford's detailed journal, a cold, barren, desolate wilderness. There were no friends to greet them, he wrote. There were no houses to shelter them. There were no inns where they could refresh themselves.
And the sacrifice they had made for freedom was just beginning. During the first winter, half the Pilgrims – including Bradford's own wife – died of either starvation, sickness or exposure. When spring finally came, Indians taught the settlers how to plant corn, fish for cod and skin beavers for coats. Life improved for the Pilgrims, but they did not yet prosper!

This is important to understand because this is where modern American history lessons often end. Thanksgiving is actually explained in some textbooks as a holiday for which the Pilgrims gave thanks to the Indians for saving their lives, rather than as a devout expression of gratitude grounded in the tradition of both the Old and New Testaments.

Here is the part that has been omitted: The original contract the Pilgrims had entered into with their merchant-sponsors in London called for everything they produced to go into a common store, and each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belong to the community as well.

They were going to distribute it equally. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belonged to the community as well. Nobody owned anything. They just had a share in it. It was a commune, folks. It was the forerunner to the communes we saw in the '60s and '70s out in California – and it was complete with organic vegetables, by the way.

Bradford, who had become the new governor of the colony, recognized that this form of collectivism was as costly and destructive to the Pilgrims as that first harsh winter, which had taken so many lives. He decided to take bold action. Bradford assigned a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of the marketplace.

That's right. Long before Karl Marx was even born, the Pilgrims had discovered and experimented with what could only be described as socialism. And what happened? It didn't work! Surprise, surprise, huh? What Bradford and his community found was that the most creative and industrious people had no incentive to work any harder than anyone else, unless they could utilize the power of personal motivation!
But while most of the rest of the world has been experimenting with socialism for well over a hundred years – trying to refine it, perfect it, and re-invent it – the Pilgrims decided early on to scrap it permanently. What Bradford wrote about this social experiment should be in every schoolchild's history lesson If it were, we might prevent much needless suffering in the future.

"The experience that we had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years...that by taking away property, and bringing community into a common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing – as if they were wiser than God," Bradford wrote. "For this community [so far as it was] was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense...that was thought injustice."

Why should you work for other people when you can't work for yourself? What's the point?

Do you hear what he was saying, ladies and gentlemen? The Pilgrims found that people could not be expected to do their best work without incentive. So what did Bradford's community try next? They unharnessed the power of good old free enterprise by invoking the undergirding capitalistic principle of private property. Every family was assigned its own plot of land to work and permitted to market its own crops and products. And what was the result?

"This had very good success," wrote Bradford, "for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been." Is it possible that supply-side economics could have existed before the 1980s? Yes. Read the story of Joseph and Pharaoh in Genesis 41. Following Joseph's suggestion (Gen 41:34), Pharaoh reduced the tax on Egyptians to 20% during the "seven years of plenty" and the "Earth brought forth in heaps." (Gen. 41:47)

In no time, the Pilgrims found they had more food than they could eat themselves.

Now, this is where it gets really good, folks, if you're laboring under the misconception that I was, as I was taught in school.

So they set up trading posts and exchanged goods with the Indians. The profits allowed them to pay off their debts to the merchants in London. And the success and prosperity of the Plymouth settlement attracted more Europeans and began what came to be known as the "Great Puritan Migration."

Now, I don't think this lesson is still being taught to children -- and if not, why not? I mean, is there a more important lesson one could derive from the Pilgrim experience than this? Thanksgiving, in other words, is not thanks to the Indians, and it's not thanks to William Bradford. It's not thanks to the merchants of London. Thanksgiving is thanks to God, pure and simple. Go read the first Thanksgiving proclamation from George Washington and you'll get the point. The word "God" is mentioned in that first Thanksgiving proclamation more times... If you read it aloud to an ACLU member, you'll get thrown in jail, but that's what the first Thanksgiving was all about. Get it. I'm telling you, read it.

See George Washington's first Thanksgiving Proclamation, below.

Folks, if you haven't read that, you need to read it. It will tell you the true story of Thanksgiving. I'm happy to share it with you each and every year as a tradition.

Happy Thanksgiving To All

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;

and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:

"Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

Proclamation of Thanksgiving
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America's national day of Thanksgiving. During his administration, President Lincoln issued many orders like this. For example, on November 28, 1861, he ordered government departments closed for a local day of thanksgiving.

Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on 28, 1863, urging him to have the "day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival." She wrote, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution." The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise."

According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President Lincoln's secretaries, this document was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and the original was in his handwriting. On October 3, 1863, fellow Cabinet member Gideon Welles recorded in his diary that he complimented Seward on his work. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops.

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Source

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

This one is a little different.... Two Different
Versions.................
Two Different Morals

OLD VERSION
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his
house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and
plays the summer away..

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!

MODERN VERSION
The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long,
building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and
plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and
demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he
is cold and starving.

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the
shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a
table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor
grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody
cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'

Acorn stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news
stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.' Rev. Jeremiah
Wright then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's
sake.

President Obama condemns the ant and blames President Bush, President
Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that
the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for
an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act
retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green
bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is
confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends
finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house
he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house,
crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the
house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the
ramshackle, once prosperous and once peaceful, neighborhood.

The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with it.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.

My Thanksgiving

It's thanksgiving time again. A time for family to get together and reconnect over the uniquely traditional American meal of Turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the trimmings. It is a time to thank God for our blessings and be grateful for all we have. In this country; we are grateful to be in the most free country of all the world.

For myself, I am most grateful for my children and my husband, my extended family and friends, and the kindred spirits I have met and will meet along this journey. I am grateful for the gentle kindness of strangers and the success I have enjoyed as well as the opportunity to work for that success. I thank God for my health and the safety and protection of those I love, as I know how fragile this life is. I am grateful for the great timeless document, called the constitution. I have such gratitude for the brave men and women who risk their lives and at times give the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Those who fought tyranny and paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we may live free today. I am in awe of the rich history of this country and the amazing people who have shaped it. I pray for those who are alone at this time and have no family to celebrate with. I pray for those in service to this great nation who will spend this day away from their loved ones. I pray for those in need and those that hurt.

I am so very thankful for elections and free speech. I am also very grateful the 2010 election is coming and that 2012 is not far behind.

As I count my blessings; I am stunned at a few actions of the President today. First, I'm a bit disgusted by his state dinner last night, flush with Hollywood celebrities, designer gowns, and opulence, while the countries unemployment rate climbs to nearly 18%. All the while, Obama Shatters Spending Record for First-Year Presidents. Next he announces hewill be traveling to Copenhagen to promise the world dramatic cuts in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. This in light of the exposure that Global Warming is a out and out hoax. But it gets better. Obama now thinks he invented Thanksgiving, making this proclamation. I guess the guy doesn't know that Washington and Lincoln already did that over 100 years ago.

and finally this "Thanksgiving wish from BOTUS:

So when we gather tomorrow, let us also use the occasion to renew our commitment to building a more peaceful and prosperous future that every American family can enjoy.

It seems like a lifetime ago that a crowd met on a frigid February morning in Springfield, Illinois to set out on an improbable course to change our nation.

In the years since, Michelle and I have been blessed with the support and friendship of the millions of Americans who have come together to form this ongoing movement for change.

You have been there through victories and setbacks. You have given of yourselves beyond measure. You have enabled all that we have accomplished -- and you have had the courage to dream yet bigger dreams for what we can still achieve.

So in this season of thanks giving, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to you, and my anticipation of the brighter future we are creating together.

I want to know; how he's creating a brighter more properious future to Americans exactly? It sure isn't looking so goood so far. In fact, it looks bleak as he continues his path of economic distruction. Why is it still feels he needs to "CHANGE" this great nation? What is it that he found so wrong that he felt he needed to bankrupt it to bring it's economy to it's knees to "change" it? What accomplishments is he refering to?

As I mull these thoughts around, yes, I am grateful for elections. I have "hope" that the rich history of this great country will survive this period of time and that my fellow countrymen and women will understand what is at stake here. I am so very thankful for all the patriots out there willing to let their voices be heard and fight against what is clearly the wrong direction for this country. You have my respect, my admiration and my thanks.

I am thankful to God for a brighter day, for the hope of a new day. That with each new day there brings new challenges and with those challenges opportunity to contribute and do good. Life is short my friends. The next generations still live on. I thank God that we still have the opportunity to give them a brighter tomorrow.

God Bless everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!

Run Away