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text:
Troop Pullout Not The End Of U.S. Presence In Iraq
This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. About 5,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, and they will all leave by the end of this month. Yesterday, President Obama marked the end of the nearly nine-year-long war as a campaign promise kept. He stood beside Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki yesterday and reflected on the costs and said U.S. troops will leave with their heads held high.
NPR commentator Ted Koppel recently visited Iraq on assignment for NBC's "Rock Center" with Brian Williams. His report aired last night. His conclusion: The United States is not leaving. The largest U.S. embassy in the world, two huge consulates and more than 16,000 officials and contractors will remain behind.
Ted Koppel ran it by U.S. Ambassador Jim Jeffrey.
TED KOPPEL, BYLINE: I realize you can't go into it in any detail, but I would assume that there is a healthy CIA mission here. I would assume that JSOC may still be active in this country, the Joint Special Operations. You've got FBI here. You've got DEA here. Can you give me sort of a menu of who all falls under your control?
JAMES JEFFREY: You're actually doing pretty well, were I authorized to talk about half of this stuff...
CONAN: If you've been in Iraq, what are we leaving behind? Our phone number, 800-989-8255. Email firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also join the conversation on our website. Go to npr.org. Click on TALK OF THE NATION. Later in the program, we'll talk with Dr. Donald Berwick, who recently stepped down as the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. But Ted Koppel joins us now here in Studio 3A. Nice to have you in the studio.
KOPPEL: Well, it's nice to actually see you, Neal.
CONAN: Though the president cheers his accomplishment, you say not so fast.
KOPPEL: I do say not so fast, and I think he knows better. But he's right, he did make the campaign promise to get all the troops out, and all the troops will be out, save 157 who will be guarding the embassy, and a few hundred U.S. military trainers.
But as you pointed out, 16 to 17 thousand others will be remaining behind, and the extraordinary thing, Neal, is we're hearing echoes now of what we heard nine years ago. You know, we can't have that smoking gun be a mushroom cloud. No one is actually using that particular formulation anymore, but the fear of nuclear weapons.
The danger of a nation that is supporting terrorism. Oil, which was the great unspoken issue in 2002 and 2003, very much a part of this. The difference, of course, now is that the target is Iran, not Iraq. But the two are very close to one another, and the fact of the matter is that Iran is exercising an enormous influence throughout Iraq.
And the oil fields, which have under the surface, they have something - I believe it's the second-largest reserves of any country in the world. That's all very close to Iran, and if Iran were to exercise significant political, let alone military, control in that region, together with their own oil and gas, they would have the capacity to wreak havoc on Western economies.
CONAN: So one of the things we are leaving behind is, despite those 16 to 17 thousand people, a vacuum.
KOPPEL: Well, one hopes that it won't be a vacuum. I mean, I asked the ambassador what would happen in the event of an out and out assault, a frontal assault, on the U.S. consulate that is down in Basra. And I should add parenthetically, Neal, the U.S. consulate down in Basra is rocketed two or three times a week.
The first thing that happens when you arrive there is they hand you a cup of coffee and they say we've got to give you a security briefing. And the security briefing is brief enough that I can give you here and now: When you hear the alarm, hit the deck face down. Put your hands over your ears, keep your mouth open, cross your legs.
When you ask how long it is between the time that the alarm goes off and the rockets hit, the answer is, well, not very long. I said, well, what do you mean, 30 seconds? Eventually you realize that you have about two seconds.
CONAN: That is the most peculiar-looking structure too. To call it a structure is incorrect. There are all of these - seeing it last night on TV - trailers covered by these extraordinary roofs.
KOPPEL: That's exactly right. And the roofs are there for one reason and one reason only, and that's the rocket attacks. The consulate in Basra is hit by rockets two to three times a week on an average week. The rocket attacks can consist of two or three rockets, sometimes 10 or 15 rockets.
Fortunately, rockets are not easily or well-aimed. So they just kind of hit a general area. But these roofs that you reference over the different living centers of the consulate are designed so that they will absorb the impact of flying shrapnel so that people beneath the roofs, at least, will be safe.
It looks very - I mean, it's almost like a - what's the architect's name, was it Saarinen, who designed the beautiful airport at Dulles in Northern Virginia, it looks rather like that except what you have beneath those roofs are very ordinary trailers, container housing units they call them, CHUs. And it's not a particularly elegant place to live, but at least under those roofs it's reasonably safe.
CONAN: We're talking with commentator Ted Koppel, just back from a visit to Baghdad and Basra. If you've been to Iraq in the uniform or not, give us a call. What do you think we're leaving behind? 800-989-8255. Email email@example.com. And Richard's on the line calling from Wichita.
RICHARD: Yeah, I had a concern with those 16,000 contractors and civilians that we're leaving behind, basically without military protection. Are we setting up for another Iranian hostage crisis? And I don't mean the first one that everybody's forgotten about that was diffused nicely under Ambassador William Sullivan, but the second one that basically started Ted Koppel's fame as the leader of "Nightline," which was essentially to report on the Iranian hostage crisis that brought down a presidency.
KOPPEL: Well, you have a good memory on all accounts. I remember the first hostage-taking. I remember Ambassador Sullivan, and of course I will never forget - Jimmy Carter once said to me that there were only two people in the world who had benefitted from the hostage-taking: the Ayatollah Khomeini and me. And I can't really disagree with him.
CONAN: August company.
KOPPEL: Well, if you get a chance to pick your company, I would pick otherwise, but your question is very well-founded. That is the fear: What happens if there is something more than just a rocket attack on the consulate down there in Basra? What happens if there is - go ahead, sir.
RICHARD: (Unintelligible) army - wouldn't they be perfect pawns for the ayatollah – the ayatollah who heads the Mahdi Army?
CONAN: The Mahdi Army, you're talking about Mr. Sadr?
RICHARD: Yeah, and his goal to have, you know, extraordinary powers and...
CONAN: Muqtada al-Sadr, yes. But Ted?
KOPPEL: Muqtada al-Sadr is - he and his party are now actually coalition partners with the Iraqi prime minister, who stood next to President Obama just yesterday. And it's interesting to point out - I mean your question is right on the money because Muqtada al-Sadr told his followers that when the U.S. troops leave - and this is not the exact formulation but pretty close - that those who remain behind, the U.S. diplomats who remain behind and the contractors who remain behind, should be regarded by his followers as foreign occupiers who must be driven out of Iraq.
So you're exactly right. The idea of taking hostages I'm sure has occurred to him.
CONAN: Richard, thanks very much for the call.
RICHARD: Thank you.
CONAN: Let's see if we can go next to - this is James and James with us from Wisconsin.
JAMES: Yeah, hi, thanks for taking my call. What we're really talking about is pulling out from Iraq and then pulling our major influence out of Iraq. And my question is, I'm wondering how much influence are we really pulling out of there? You talk about we're leaving so much behind as far as that 16,000 personnel in the embassy and the CIA influence and all these other influences.
Now, they've been training the Iraqi military for 10 years now, building them up. Are we pulling out our American troops and really the Iraqis are going to be able to take that place, but they'll still be under the same command and control, American influence that we have had over there? Is our influence really leaving that region?
KOPPEL: They're - I mean, first of all, there continues to be an American influence in the sense that we have just sold the Iraqis 140 M1A1 tanks. We are in the process - I think the announcement was made just yesterday - of selling I think another 14 F16 fighter jets.
JAMES: Yeah, so with our money and our trade and our influence, and really like I say, with the money that we're supporting them and the weapons, and our ground personnel, they're kind of the lower, you know, echelons of the influence there, so they can switch nationalities, pull the Americans out and replace them with the Iraqis, but the power influential structure will still pretty much be in place, won't it?
KOPPEL: Well, I'd be a little cautious about that. To this day, a good deal of Iran's military hardware is American, dating back to the time that we sold all the advanced weapon systems that we could to the shah of Iran. Weapons are entirely neutral on who operates them. They don't care if they're operated by friends or foes.
What we have in Iraq today are many, many hundreds, possibly even thousands, of civilian contractors who together with military trainers - the M1A1 tank for example is built by General Dynamics, and the people who are there are General Dynamics personnel who are training the Iraqis.
But that's - in many respects, that's a purely commercial proposition. The Iraqis over this past year or two have purchased, I think, $7.5 billion worth of weapons, and we have transferred another $2.5 billion under a foreign aid package.
JAMES: Okay, thanks for taking my call.
CONAN: All right, James, thanks very much. Yet we have to remember that Iran and Iraq fought a bloody war, a million dead counting both sides, and it was to the surprise of the Iraqis, who started it, that the Arab in Iran did not rise to join their cause but remained loyal to the Iranians, and then it was a surprise to the Iranians that the Shias in Iraq did not rise to their cause when they were ascendant. And yet these two have a bitter history.
KOPPEL: They have a very bitter history, but if you'll recall, Neal, on the front page of yesterday's New York Times there was a photograph of bodies and the remains of people who died during that war, which was back in the 1980s, being exchanged at the border of Iran and Iraq. In a manner of speaking, it was a symbolic way of saying that war is over, we are now friends.
CONAN: We're talking with NPR commentator Ted Koppel about how the country will look once U.S. troops leave Iraq. More in a moment. Stay with us. I'm Neal Conan. It's the TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News.
CONAN: This is TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. I'm Neal Conan. When Ted Koppel visited Iraq recently on assignment for NBC's "Rock Center with Brian Williams," he spoke with one of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's official spokesmen who assured Koppel that the age-old Sunni-Shiite divide in Iraq is no longer an issue in his national forces.
Koppel then asked several uniformed officers about, some Sunni, some Shiite. At least one did not feel comfortable answering what to him was a sensitive question. Tensions have risen since the arrest of hundreds of former Baathists in the last couple of days. Some Iraqis fear the American withdrawal will leave room for divisions between Sunnis and Shiites to destabilize the country.
If you've been in Iraq, what are we leaving behind? 800-989-8255. Email email@example.com. You can also join the conversation on our website. That's at npr.org. Click on TALK OF THE NATION.
And I wanted to follow up with you, Ted, on that Shiite-Sunni divide. There was a - to call it a civil war is probably not exaggerating. Back in 2005, 2006, 2007, many, many were dead. And it is the Shiites who are ascendant. The Sunnis, of course, under Saddam Hussein were ascendant. And many fear the withdrawal of the referee, as you will, the Americans, will provide the opportunity for this war to erupt again.
KOPPEL: Interestingly enough, back during the height of that fighting, some of the worst of it was down in Basra, that area that we were just talking about.
CONAN: Very heavily Shiite.
KOPPEL: Very heavily Shiite. And Prime Minister Maliki went down there ostensibly to suppress, and indeed ultimately they did suppress, the Shiite forces who were largely supported by the Iranians. But that was done, although not much was made of it at the time, with very heavy U.S. military involvement. And without that U.S. military involvement, I don't think A, Maliki would have gone down and B, would not have been successful.
CONAN: And there is much talk of federalism in Iraq, which is more that constitutional musing. It is the Kurds who want to keep, pretty much, their own autonomy in the northern part of the country, the old...
KOPPEL: Or more. They may want to nationalize altogether.
CONAN: And then the - in Basra, the southern oil-rich part of the country, they would like to set up their own province much like Kurdistan.
KOPPEL: And the Sunni talking about doing some of the same things in the center of the country. So you're absolutely right. There is that, and I don't think it would take very much for Iraq to blow up again.
CONAN: Lets' go next to Gaea(ph), Gaea with us from Tallahassee.
GAEA: Yes, thank you for taking my call. I lived in Iran prior to the hostage takeover, and Iran prides itself on not initiating or being the aggressor, but they're very good and very crafty in provoking another nation to engage in war, and then they strike. And I feel that that will happen over the oil in Iraq. I'd like your comments on that.
KOPPEL: Well, I hear what you're saying, and I don't disagree with what you're saying, but I'm not sure how they provoke the Iraqis to do something along the border that will enable Iran then to move into Iraq. That sort of seems a little bit backwards.
I think the provocations are already ample in that the rockets that are being fired and the militia that are firing those rockets, the rockets are supplied by the Iranians, the militia are trained by the Iranians.
CONAN: And the military officer - U.S. military officers you spoke with, made no bones about this.
KOPPEL: Absolutely, absolutely. No, there was a lieutenant colonel down there who had been there for the purpose of facilitating the turnover from the military to the civilians, and he said - I asked him who's the enemy, and he said the enemy, you know, the enemy is clearly Iran, and it's the Iranian-backed militia, and the weapons are coming across the border.
GAEA: I see. I was thinking more along the lines of provoking another nation over Iraq.
KOPPEL: Which nation did you have in mind?
GAEA: Israel or perhaps (unintelligible).
KOPPEL: Ah, I see. Well, you know, that's a very interesting point. I heard a lot of talk among, particularly the U.S. military over there, that they are concerned about - not always concerned in a negative way - but feel that there is a very real possibility that the Israelis will attack Iran's nuclear facilities. And where that would lead, good lord only knows.
GAEA: Right.
CONAN: Gaea, thanks very much.
GAEA: Thank you.
CONAN: Let's go next to - this is Conrad(ph), Conrad with us from Scottsdale, Arizona.
CONRAD: Hi, gentlemen, thank you. I was wondering what the general state of Iraq is to become a sovereign nation, practical things like their electricity and finances and their Chapter 7 sanctions and the hydrocarbon law that's been kind of looming for many years.
CONAN: Chapter 7 was of course the United Nations sanctions that were applied to Iraq back in the 1990s up until 2003. They, of course, have been lifted since the U.S. invasion. But the other questions, Ted?
KOPPEL: I'm so glad you answered that one, Neal.
CONRAD: (Unintelligible).
CONAN: Pardon me?
CONRAD: I don't think it's completely...
CONAN: I believe you're incorrect. I think they have all been lifted. Go ahead, Ted.
KOPPEL: All right, now, the rest of the question, I'm sorry, I was so focused on - so focused on what I didn't know that...
CONRAD: What's the state of them being a sovereign nation, the practical stuff like their economy, I know they have problems with electricity being on 24 hours a day, it's only four or five hours a day, and then just their dinar is basically worthless, and I believe they're using American dollars. So as far as the practicalness of, you know, building roads and just rebuilding the nation.
KOPPEL: Well, the practicality in terms of rebuilding the nation, there are all kinds of volunteers who are willing. And when I say volunteers, I mean governments in addition to our own. The Chinese are there. The Germans are there. The British are there. The French are there.
There is a whiff of money in the air. Again, I saw an item I think in the paper just this morning in which it may have been President Obama who yesterday made reference to the fact that the Iraqi economy is growing faster than the economy of India. That's quite extraordinary when you think about it.
CONAN: Oil helps. Conrad, thanks very much for the call. Here's an email from Ken(ph) in Portland: A lot of talk about Iranian-supported attacks on the consulate in Basra. Does Ted see any danger of outright Iranian invasion of Iraq, from there, threatening Saudi Arabia? Do they have the military capability for something like that? Do you think the U.S. would be willing to redeploy to the region with sufficient force to counter if that happens?
KOPPEL: Well, first of all, no I don't think the Iranians are going to launch an all-out attack, unless, of course, what one of our earlier callers suggested were to happen, and that is if the Israelis were to bomb the nuclear facilities in Iran, then I think all bets would be off, and there's no telling where the Iranians might try to strike back.
So, you know, the issue of do I think there will be an all-out attack, no. Do I think we have sufficient forces in the region? Certainly CENTCOM believes that it has adequate forces in the region. We have a huge Naval/Marine presence in the Persian Gulf. There is a growing U.S. military presence in Kuwait.
You have, of course, the naval headquarters in Bahrain, and there are ample U.S. forces in the area for, certainly, an initial response. And if it were just for the rescue of Americans, there would be an awkward moment because when I asked the ambassador, you know, what do we do if people come under direct attack, he said that's the responsibility of the Iraqi government.
I asked him: Are you confident that they would respond? And he said yes. I pointed out last night that that is what ambassadors are expected to do, and that is to be polite to their hosts. The military leaders that I interviewed were a little more blunt about it, and they made it quite clear that they think CENTCOM has adequate forces in the region to be able to respond and that they would.
CONAN: Let's go next to Chris(ph), and Chris is calling us from Fort Bragg.
CHRIS: Hey, how are you doing?
CONAN: Good, thanks.
CHRIS: Well, thanks for taking my call. I'd like to make the point - well, I just left Iraq a couple months ago, and so I was in an intel position, and so I understand a little bit about the issue. First I'd like to talk about U.S. influence. One of the callers suggested that we might be losing influence by leaving or he asked what we might be losing.
So I want to point out that U.S. ground forces really haven't been doing a whole lot outside of their bases for quite some time. I don't know - I mean, at least eight or 10 months since there's been really any kind of, you know, major operations or anything outside of the bases except, you know, maybe a few Special Operations things.
So pulling out those forces probably isn't going to lose a whole lot of influence for us. The other thing I want to touch on is - and this kind of goes to the point, you know, would Iran invade Iraq, I think if you really look at it, you can see that Iran has successfully gained a lot of political influence in Iraq. They have a lot of, you know, Iraqi elected officials who are, you know, Shia and very supportive of Iran, and there are a lot of ties already between the Iraqi government and the Iranian government. And so I don't think it makes a lot of sense for them to attack all out anyway. They have quite a bit of political will as it is. So I would say that, you know, I just want to make the point that Iran already has a major influence in Iraq. And by us leaving, we may be giving up a little bit of our, you know, share of influence in that nation. I guess that's the point I would make for now.
KOPPEL: Well, I think it's an interesting point, but let me point out to you in return that we still have tens of thousands of troops in South Korea. They haven't engaged in any military action either for almost 60 years. The fact of the matter is they are left there as a sign of U.S. commitment to South Korea. They are left there with the clear understanding that if anything were to happen and North Korea were to attack, that they would be the tripwire that would bring in other U.S. force. The fact that U.S. troops are being pulled out of Iran altogether...
CONAN: Iraq.
KOPPEL: Out of Iraq, I'm sorry. Out of Iraq altogether, I agree with you. They haven't been used in any military fashion for almost a year now. Doesn't matter. The knowledge that they were there was important. The knowledge that they are leaving is also important.
CHRIS: OK. I guess, you know, that's a pretty fair point. I would just say, though, that also, you know, Iran has a strong political influence over Iraq and so...
KOPPEL: Oh, I totally agree with you on that. You're absolutely right about that.
CHRIS: OK. Well, thank you very much.
CONAN: Chris, welcome home. Thanks very much for the call.
CHRIS: Thanks.
CONAN: We're talking with NPR commentator Ted Koppel, just back from a trip to Iraq on assignment from "Rock Center with Brian Williams" for NBC. His piece aired last night. This is TALK OF THE NATION coming to you from NPR News. And let's see - we go next to - this is Corey(ph) . Corey with us from Phoenix.
COREY: Hi. Thanks for having me on your show.
CONAN: Go ahead please.
COREY: Yes. The question I have for Mr. Koppel in terms of our - what we're leaving behind, I think two questions that we haven't really addressed where I'm hoping that maybe you have some information on how we're addressing it in terms of our legacy. The first is the economic impact of having all of our military leave the country. I was over there twice and I believe what we saw was that it was actually a very large economic impact in terms of what we gave to the local economy.
And I'm wondering if there's a phased economic withdrawal or any kind of stimulus plan for us leaving to alleviate that economic impact. And my second question is in terms of women's rights in Iraq. As something that, of course, is a laudable goal, it is traditionally antithetical to Muslim culture, the idea of women being equal and having the freedom to be at the same level as men. Is that something that we've looked at in terms of revolution down the road, causing possibly the same kind of extremism that came out of the brain drain in the '50s and '60s where a lot of their cultures were Westernized?
And then the pendulum swung the other way and led to a lot of the extremism in the '70s. Have we looked at seeing if there's a possibility for that happening now as we pull out?
KOPPEL: Boy, I don't think that that is one of Iraq's major problems. The fact of the matter is that even under Saddam Hussein, perhaps particularly under Saddam Hussein, Iraq was not a particularly fundamentalist kind of country. It was far more sectarian. And as far as the economic impact of the United States is concerned, you know, the previous caller made the point and made it accurately, as I said, that for the past year or so, Americans have remained almost - I'm talking about the troops - have remained almost entirely on their bases where they are supplied largely by food and material that comes from the United States or from Western Europe. I don't know how much they actually purchased on the local Iraqi market, but I doubt that it will make much of a difference.
CONAN: There was a lot of reconstruction projects, the provincial reconstruction teams, that sort of aid...
KOPPEL: But they've been pulled out, and that is - you're absolutely right, Neal, to draw attention to that - that's having an impact.
COREY: Thank you.
CONAN: All right. Thanks very much, Corey. Let's see if we go next to one more call. Doug. Doug with us from Kansas City.
DOUG: Hi. Thanks for having me on.
CONAN: Sure.
DOUG: My question surrounds the historic rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. My understanding is the Saudi Arabian government by and large is very comfortable with an American presence in Iraq to counter Iranian influence in the region. And I wonder if you had any insights into how they feel with us pulling out of the region. Are they going to be significantly concerned with growing Iranian influence in Iraq? And I'll take my comments off the air.
CONAN: Thanks, Doug.
KOPPEL: It's an interesting question because you're absolutely right. No love is lost between Iraq - between Iran, rather, and Saudi Arabia. And you may recall that when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, the fear was that that the next step would be that he was going to invade Saudi Arabia. There were some sense of movement of Iraqi troops, but you're talking about Iran and Saudi Arabia. I'm sure the Saudis are concerned about the departure of Americans altogether from Iraq.
Whether the presence that we now have in the Persian Gulf and in places like Kuwait is going to be sufficient to put their minds at ease, I don't know. But let me simply raise one more point that indicates the kind of political influence that Iran has on Iraq right now. We the United States and the Arab League wanted to impose sanctions on Syria because of everything that is happening in that country today. Almost the entire Arab League was willing to go along with it.
There were only two countries and one faction - Hezbollah in Lebanon, the government of Iran, and interestingly enough the government of Iraq - that refused to go along.
CONAN: Ted Koppel just back from Basra and Baghdad. His report aired on "30" - not "30 Rock" but "Rock Center with Brian Williams."
CONAN: I'm sure I'm not the first person to make that mistake.
KOPPEL: They have better ratings.
CONAN: And, well, you were one of two debuts last night on "Rock Center."
KOPPEL: Exactly.
CONAN: One of them got a little bit more attention.
CONAN: But in any case, congratulations on the piece, Ted, and nice to have you back here in Studio 3A.
KOPPEL: Thank you, Neal. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Because He Came
Before I express my prepared remarks, I should like to use two words. Someone said they are the most important words in the English language. I'd like to say thank you to all of you who have made a great effort to attend this evening. I'd like to say thank you to all of you who are listening in. I'd like to say thank you to all of the employees of the Church and to those in the offices of the General Authorities, who are so helpful to us and who give us such devoted attention and skilled work.
I truly believe the Spirit of the Lord is here tonight. And I would testify to you that in all the world, I had the responsibility to choose counselors. I prayed mightily. There were many who could serve; all had ability. I knew some better than others, but I waited until the Lord told me in Spirit who should serve by my side. And I thank them—and all who work with them—and all of you who are participating this evening.
Tonight we are once again gathered as brothers and sisters in what has become our traditional Christmas devotional. We have truly been touched as we've listened to heavenly music and inspiring messages. What a beautiful depiction of the Savior's birth we have seen on video.
I, with you, have witnessed during the past few days and weeks what has become over the years the annual commercialization of Christmas. I am saddened to see Christmas becoming less and less about Christ and more and more about marketing and sales, parties and presents.
And yet, Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christmas.
For almost as long as I can remember, I have had a particular tradition at Christmastime. My family knows that just before Christmas I will read again my Christmas treasury of books and ponder the wondrous words of the authors. First will be the Gospel of Luke—even the Christmas story. This will be followed by a reading of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens and, lastly, rereading The Mansion, by Henry Van Dyke.
I always must wipe my eyes when reading these inspired writings. They touch my inner soul and bring to me the Spirit of our Savior.
In A Christmas Carol, we read the timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and of the visits he receives from Jacob Marley, his deceased business partner, and the ghosts of Christmas past, Christmas present, and Christmas yet to come. Scrooge is such an unpleasant soul that his name has become a universally accepted term for a mean or miserly person.
During the course of the night before Christmas, Scrooge is shown what he once had in his life, what he has in the present, and what his life will be if he remains on the path he has thus far chosen. He is able to recognize the error of his ways. He learns that happiness can come to us if we will forget self and worldly gain, concentrating instead on helping others and learning to embrace the love of family and friends. Now converted to a life of selflessness and service, Scrooge declares at the last: "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."1 This touching account never fails to inspire me.
The last of my reading—The Mansion, by Henry Van Dyke—is similar in nature to the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, but featured is one John Weightman, a man of fortune, a dispenser of political power, a successful citizen.
One evening John sat in his library in a comfortable chair contemplating his wealth. Before him were spread descriptions and pictures of the Weightman wing of the hospital and the Weightman Chair of Political Jurisprudence, as well as an account of the opening of the Weightman Grammar School. John Weightman felt satisfied. He had built a large fortune, and when he gave, he wanted to be recognized. His philosophy toward giving could be summed up in his own statement: "No pennies in beggars' hats! … Try to put your gifts where they can be identified."
He picked up the family Bible which lay on the table, turned to a passage, and read to himself the words:
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19–20).
The book seemed to float away from him. He leaned forward upon the table, his head resting on his folded hands. He slipped into a deep sleep.
As he dreamed, John Weightman was transported to the heavenly city. A guide met him and others whom he had known in life and advised that he would conduct them to their heavenly homes.
A devoted husband of an invalid wife was shown a lovely mansion, as was a mother, early widowed, who reared an outstanding family. A paralyzed young woman who had lain for 30 years upon her bed—"helpless but not hopeless"—received a lovely mansion. She had succeeded "by a miracle of courage in her single aim, never to complain, but always to impart a bit of her joy and peace to everyone who came near her."
Pausing before a beautiful mansion, the guide said, "This is [the home] for you, [Dr. McLean.] Go in; there is no more [sickness] here, no more death, nor sorrow, nor [pain]; for your old enemies are all conquered. But all the good that you have done for others, all the help that you have given, all the comfort that you have brought, all the strength and love that you bestowed upon the suffering, are here; for we have built them all into this mansion for you."
One after another the travelers were led to their own mansions and went in gladly; and from within, through the open doorways, came sweet voices of welcome.
By this time, John Weightman was impatient to see what mansion awaited him. As he and the guide walked on, the homes became smaller. At last they reached an open field, bare and lonely looking. In the center of the field was a tiny hut. Said the guide, "This is your mansion, John Weightman."
Shocked, John Weightman told the guide that he must have confused him with some other John Weightman. With resentment in his voice, he cried, "Is this a suitable mansion for one so well known and devoted? Why is it so pitifully small and mean? Why have you not built it large and fair, like the others?"
Replied the guide, "That is all the material you sent us."
John Weightman was mortified. "Have you not heard that I have built a school-house; the wing of a hospital; … three … churches."
"Wait," the guide cautioned. "… They were not ill done. But they were all marked and used as foundations for the name and mansion of John Weightman in the world. … Verily, you have had your reward for them. Would you be paid twice?"
A sadder but wiser John Weightman posed a sincere question: "What is it that counts here?"
Came the reply: "Only that which is truly given. … Only that good which is done for the love of doing it. Only those plans in which the welfare of others is the master thought. Only those labors in which the sacrifice is greater than the reward. Only those gifts in which the giver forgets himself."
The voice trailed off as John Weightman was awakened by the sound of the clock chiming the hour. "Thin, pale strips of the city morning were falling into the room through the narrow partings of the heavy curtains." He had slept the night through. Changed by the message of his dream, he yet had a life to live, love to share, and gifts to give.2
These readings never fail to bring to me the spirit of Christmas. The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things.
The spirit of Christmas is something I hope all of us would have within our hearts and within our lives, not only at this particular season but also throughout the years.
A wise Christian once urged, "Let us not spend Christmas … but let us keep Christmas in our hearts and in our lives."3
This is my plea tonight, because when we keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the Spirit of Christ, for the Christmas spirit is the Christ Spirit.4 It will block out all the distractions around us which can diminish Christmas and swallow up its true meaning.
There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ.
Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.
Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.
Because He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or distress, wherever they may be.
Because He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again because He came.
Because He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life.
Because He came, we are gathered tonight to worship Him, in bonds of brotherhood and love.
May His precious Spirit be with us, and may He ever be the center of our celebrations and indeed of our very lives, I pray in His holy name, amen.


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Instead of making preparations for the 2012 London Olympics, the United Kingdom seems to be preparing for war — fueling even more the speculations of a false flag terrorist attack.
The UK's military is currently deploying some of the most effective surface-to-air missiles in the world, the Rapier missile systems, at a number of sites across the capital. This makes me wonder: what kind of "terrorists" are they really expecting, and why is the press allowed to disclose the location of the AA installations?
"The Iranian network Press TV published an interview on its website, with the US Military analyst Gordon Duff, who says he has highly credible information that Israel might pull out a false flag attack during the London Olympics and blame it on Iran, to push the US into war with the Persian country.
In the same day that Press TV published it, Sky News released a video interviewing an insider at G4S firm, who says the private security of the London Olympics is a joke and there's a 50% chance of deadly weapons get snuck into the Olympic village."
1. Olympics Whistleblower Reveals Identity For Safety Concerns;
2. Is the Olympic star Lolo Jones a SACRIFICIAL VIRGIN of the Illuminati?
3. 7/7 Whistleblower Fired For Exposing False Flag + London Olympics Warning;


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106 People Who Have Mastered The Art Of Snow
Snow can suck if you've got to drive to work or shovel your sidewalk, but it can also provide creative people with an excellent opportunity to express themselves through snow art! As long as there are tons of snow lying around, why not turn it into a creative snow sculpture?
If you, like the Bartz brothers, have created an awesome snowman or snow sculpture, we'd love to see it! You can add your photo to this list and vote for your favorites as well.
This post may include affiliate links.
Marshmallow And Fire
Giant Turtle
Giant Snow Dragon Sculpture
Mail Box Snow Man
Snoopy And His House
Shark Snow Sculpture
AT-AT Snow Sculpture
Totoro And His Children Snow Sculpture
Giant Godzilla Snow Sculpture
Minion Snow Sculptures
Melted Snow Woman Sculpture
Snow Peter Griffin
Totoro Snow Sculpture
Which One Is The Real Dog?
Adventure Time Snow Sculpture
Impaled Snow Man
Star Wars Tauntaun Snow Sculpture
Snow Dalek
Realistic Cat Snow Sculpture
What??!!! Love the imagination! What was used forr the coloring?


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As we're counting down to Super Bowl Sunday in New Jersey, whether you're rooting for the Seattle Seahawks or the Denver Broncos, one thing is for sure, it's going to be an emotional and exciting two weeks for both men and women alike.
Some questions I always hear from women are, "Do men hate Valentine's?" Guys want to know, "Do women really love the Super Bowl halftime show, or do they act enthusiastically to keep their guys happy or to met men?
I've gone on record as saying the Valentine's Day for Women is like the Super Bowl for Men. It's a double-header this month, so enjoy the ride and guys, don't wait until the last minute to invite the object of your affection or digital crush out for Valentine's Day.
This weekend is sacred for most American men. It's showtime as most guys count down the days, hours, and even minutes to their favorite television day of the year, Super Bowl Sunday.
Meanwhile, across the hall, women have their own favorite holiday to think about, Valentine?s Day. With these two major events less that two weeks apart, it's become obvious that the Super Bowl for men is revered in the same way as Valentine's Day is for women. Whether you're a sports fan or a hopeless romantic, comparing the two will help you understand how important these days are for the opposite sex.
Why do I think the Super Bowl for men is like Valentine's Day for women? Quite simply, both men and women put all of their emotional energies into these two bigger-than-life events. Often, a woman doesn't understand why watching two teams trying to score is so important to her guy. He just can't miss this game. Guys on the other hand, simply don't understand that if you're dating a woman and forget to plan something, just anything for Valentine's Day, you probably won't get a date with her on February 15th, or shortly thereafter.
Men wait all year for the Super Bowl, this big day in television. Women wait for Valentine's Day with the hope that their special guy will either propose, offer to take his online dating profile down, or say 'I love you' for the first time. Women even secretly hope that the guy they are dating might want to change his Facebook status from 'Single' to 'In a Relationship.'
Men are very prepared for the Super Bowl. They decide which venue and with whom they would like to spend watching the big game. In January, many women start giving little hints about their favorite romantic restaurants, hoping their guy will take the cue and book a reservation before the venue becomes full.
However in contrast, when a man's favorite team loses the Super Bowl, he will be disappointed but will get over it. He'll know there's another chance next year and will spend the entire football season rooting for his team. If a woman's favorite beau or someone she is dating doesn't ask her out for Valentine?s Day, she won't get over it. She'll assume he's romancing another woman and will know she's not on the top of his list. Chances are, his shelf life as her number one guy will immediately expire. Unless he's out of town on business or in a long-distance relationship, he won't get another chance to romance her. No woman wants to be at the bottom of the totem pole, especially on Valentine's Day. Expect to be unfriended, or don't be surprised if she doesn't return your phone calls or texts.
So whether you like football or not, love or hate Valentine's Day, remember to talk to the person you are dating about what these days mean to you. If you're single, use this opportunity to accept all invitations for both the Super Bowl and Valentine's singles mixers. Even if your team loses and you?re dateless on the 14th, you'll be casting a wider net and expanding your social circle.
So go ahead and accept that Super Bowl party invitation. If you're single, you just might find a date in time for Valentine's as well. It's a win-win for everyone. If you need help with your profile or online dating advice, our special 15 Magic Minutes is going on through Valentine's Day.
And speaking of Valentine's Day, here are some gift ideas to embrace and those Valentine's gifts to ignore.
Related: Social Media Rules for Valentine's Day
Which team will you be rooting for this Super Bowl?
Julie Spira is an online dating expert and author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. For more dating advice follow @JulieSpira on Twitter, sign up for our Weekly Flirt and like us at Facebook.com/CyberDatingExpert.
Julie Spira is America's Top Online Dating Expert. She's an award-winning dating coach who's been helping singles find love online for 25+ years. Follow @JulieSpira on IG.


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The internet has changed the way that we all do business and having a website is now an essential marketing tool for every company. Whether you are looking for a website that showcases your products and services or a full e-commerce solution we can help.
Although it can seem quite bewildering at first as to all the options available we will spend time to understand what you want to achieve with your website and will guide you all of the way.
We won't baffle with you with jargon and we'll make sure your new website ties in with all your other marketing material.
If your website is outdated and needs an overhaul, or worse still, you don't have a website, then you are really missing out on potential new business.
In an economic climate where markets are crowded and highly competitive, you need to do everything possible to attract the attention of would-be customers.
A professional and well-designed website is absolutely essential if you want your business to grow and move forward.
Once your site is built we can also help with updating the site in the future. Adding new content and images is good for both returning visitors as well as helping you in your search engine results page. These are just some of the ways we can help your business to be found online....
So, if your website isn't bringing in the biz why not talk to Kall Kwik? We work with businesses across all parts of Harrogate, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Ripon, Otley, Yorkshire and beyond.
We'll review your existing site and spend time to understand what you want to achieve. We'll then come up with proposals to help you attract new business and design you a website that gives your business a significant sales tool.


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EP earns nearly 5 million plays on SoundCloud and is gaining momentum on Spotify, Apple Music and many more streaming channels.
NASHVILLE, TN, October 05, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ — It's 9:15 am on a Sunday in the middle of the first long leg of a 75+ US city solo tour for musician Rhonda Funk. A text message buzzes way too loudly on the iPhone resting on the hotel bedside table. It's a note from her record label's head that says: "GM and CONGRATS, we are happy to confirm that "Ain't Your Momma" is on the Ballot for a Grammy Nomination for Best Americana Album!" Says she: "I had hoped for this moment for so long, it almost didn't seem real when it actually happened. My next reaction was to FaceTime my parents to share the news … and they were very proud to be the first to know as they are strong supporters of my music career."
"Ain't Your Momma" is Funk's fourth and most successful album to date. Produced by the team of John L. Heithaus and Peter Young for the Pure Music Nashville label, it was primarily tracked in January at White Rock Studios with assistance from our creative consultant – and world class bassist and touring pro – David Santos (Billy Joel, Melissa Etheridge, CSN.)
The EP features six new songs, five of which Funk wrote or co-wrote from recent personal experience and co-writer's inspirations. Rhonda (Lead and Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar) was joined by two notable recent Grammy winners – multi-keys genius Brother Paul Brown, from the Waterboys, and the legendary Time Jumper fiddler Joe Spivey. Producers Bassist Heithaus and drummer Young (who also Engineered, Mixed and Mastered the project) and guitar legend Tom Britt (Vince Gill) rounded out the house band. Vocalists Clare Cunningham and Casey Parnell added wonderful backing vocals.
Funk continues: "We've all been impacted by the Pandemic and, naturally, it's been a very challenging road for me this year. Just as we completed the EP, I decided to actively tour and perform within proper safety guidelines. Audiences have been so happy to see live entertainment and it's been so good for my soul to perform and share my stories. And then comes being named the 2020 ISSA Silver Award Winner for USA Female Single of the Year which was a blessing and the news of making it on the Grammy Ballot made it sweeter. I'm booked to tour through 2021 on the "Ain't Your Momma" Tour to connect with my fans to share music for all to enjoy!"
Heithaus added "It was a labor of love to handpick five songs from Rhonda's recent library of over 100 and we could not have been more pleased with the outcome. Her strong and warm voice, powerful songs and heartfelt lyrics resulted in a truly authentic and Americana vibe. And along with our PMN House Band, David's (Santos) contributions on arrangements and backing vocals really made this album special. We hope everyone loves it at least half as much as we do!"
The EP is widely available on your favorite online music sites including: Spotify, Tidal, Napster, Google Play, iHeart Radio, Apple Music, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Pandora, and many international sites in China, Europe and Australia. More
Founded in 2016, Pure Music | Nashville is a multimedia production, marketing and distribution company dedicated to Bluegrass and Americana music and artists who love to perform and produce content for audiences around the globe. Founded by Managing Partners, Luke Bulla and John Heithaus, Pure Music Nashville works with both well-established and emerging artists from concept to launch on their musical, entertainment and educational endeavors. Pure Music Nashville is proud to be a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), the Grammy Foundation, Americana Music Association, NSAI, ASCAP and various local/regional/national/global charitable initiatives.
2020 ISSA Silver Award Winner for USA Female Single of the Year for her song "Someday", and ISSA nominee for USA Female Songwriter of the Year and Female Vocalist of the year, Rhonda Funk has just released her first EP under the Pure Music Nashville label with a powerful six-pack called "Ain't Your Momma". In the summer of 2018, just one and a half years after surviving brain surgery for an aneurysm, Rhonda packed what she could into her car on her birthday and moved from Central Oregon to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue her dream of being a professional songwriter. There she has found herself writing with hit songwriters such as Wood Newton, Billy Lee, and Blue Foley. She's been featured in several songwriter rounds and showcases such as Nashville Rising Star, Rise 615, Radio Sobro showcases, and recently was given the opportunity to host Lines & Rhymes, a new breakthrough crowd songwriting experience at the popular 3rd and Lindsley. In the fall of 2019, she landed her first cut, a Christmas duet titled "Holiday With You" co-written with Corey Lee Barker and Clare Cunningham, which was recorded by country icon T. Graham Brown and Claudette King (daughter of blues legend BB King). One of her songs "Too Close To Home" was featured on an episode of This American Life (December, 2019, titled Too Close To Home).
For the original version of this press release, please visit 24-7PressRelease.com here


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Blues Shuffle
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Luxury rentals in The Bahamas
Find and book unique accommodation on Airbnb
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From private homes to a private paradise island, Luxury Retreats offers a very exclusive selection of Bahamas villa rentals for your next holiday. The islands of the Bahamas themselves are unbeatable in terms of their variety and splendor, with 700 islands and almost 2500 cays making up the chain, all surrounded by temperate waters and coral reefs.
Experience Bahamas luxury villas
No matter which Bahamas vacation villa you choose, you will be treated to a postcard scene of sand and palm trees. All of Luxury Retreats' Bahamas luxury villas are either beachfront or a short walk to the beach, where you can spend your days working on your tan and taking advantage of the exceptional watersports.
The Bahamas offer some of the best snorkeling and scuba-diving in the Caribbean, as well as great sailing conditions, thanks to the constant trade winds. Your Bahamas vacation villa can also be the ideal starting point for some island-hopping - there are intra-island flights as well as a few ferry services between islands, or you can rent a yacht if you're the adventurous type. Visitors staying at a Bahamas luxury villa might want to check out Nassau, the nation's capital, with its well-preserved architecture; Paradise Island, home to the lush Royal Victoria Gardens; or the Biminis, made famous by Ernest Hemingway, where you can swim with the wild dolphins.
Dining out is always a treat - try one of the island's specialties, conch - or you can dine in at your Bahamas rental villa, many of which come with your own private chef to cook up local dishes. Whether you're in the mood to relax and kick back, or indulge in some fabulous shopping and sightseeing, Bahamas villa rentals are sure to live up to all your holiday dreams.


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This 10 piece pack of papers are printable at 8.5" x 11" at 300 ppi. This lovely Winter Sunrise color collection features a variety of textured patterns in pale blue and peach. They are high quality images in .jpg format at 300 ppi. Please be aware that these are not seamless tiles. They can be printed out or used as a background in a design project, or even as a photo overlay.
Instant download after purchase.
Download is 91 MB
These great digital graphics are available for personal or commercial use. To view the Terms of Use/EULA please click on the MORE INFORMATION link directly below, or you will see a direct link underneath the product images to the left.
Due to the digital nature of our files, all sales are final and are non-refundable once downloaded unless significantly different than advertised.
Commercial Use
- You can't give away, share, resell or redistribute the graphics on their own in physical or digital form. If you have a friend that wants to use the graphics, please refer them to my store.
- You cannot use the graphics as a primary design element in your end product (please see graphic below) regardless of whether it is a physical or digital product. They must be combined with other design resources to create a new end product/original design that took you time and effort to produce. If you would like to purchase an Extended License that would allow you to use the graphics as-is please contact me.
- You can't post the stand-alone graphics as they are on your website or blog in a manner that would make them available to download.
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If an item is marked as "Personal Use Only" you may go ahead and use them however you want for your personal projects. Sharing with others is not allowed, however. You may not use the items to create anything that you will offer for sale. Have fun!


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Does your desk look like it's made of sticky notes? If so, you may well find a friend in StickySorter. This freebie does far, far more than either paper-based notes or other sticky notes software. Think of it as a sticky note program on steroids.
StickySorter goes far beyond the basics of letting you create sticky notes. You can also put notes into separate groups and color code them, search through all of your notes, create formatted data fields for notes, and arrange them in just about any way you can imagine. It can also import notes from any program that can export data in the .csv format, such as Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Access, by choosing File–>Open, and then navigating to the file you want to open. You can export your notes in that format as well.
The program does have one shortcoming: The sticky notes can't be arranged on your PC's desktop, as with some other sticky notes programs. If you're a fan of sticky notes and can live with that, though, you'll find this program a boon.
Note that in order to use the program, you'll have to allow StickySorter to send your usage information to Microsoft. Microsoft claims the information will not be used to personally identify you. Still, if that makes you uncomfortable, don't download the program.


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
The monthly crime data presented here reflect preliminary crime data for most Part I felony crimes as they were known at the time of original publication and are not official crime statistics. Preliminary crime data often change at a later date due to further investigation and /or updated classification before they become official crime statistics. In addition, information presented here may include human error.
View the most recent and archived Police Crime Reports.
Some data presented here are organized by "Platoons," which represent the "Overnight," "Day," and "Early Night" shifts. Definitions for the three Platoons are as follows, displayed in military time:
Arrest data for October, November, and December of 2015 were updated on March 15, 2016.
May, June, and July 2016 data have been updated and are reflected in the August 2016 document.


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The Montana Historical Society has just created the Centennial Farm and Ranch Program, joining similar programs in other states. The new program, at the direction of the Legislature, is "to identify and honor the families that have kept a farm or ranch for 100 years or more." As in other states, the designation requires that a farm or ranch must have stayed in the same family and been passed down through "spouses, children, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or adopted children in a continuous sequence of ownership." The Billings Gazette states: "The form is detailed and includes questions about the history of the farm or ranch and the people who lived on it." That last sentence is what family historians want to hear. Click here to read the article.
What is a Century Farm? In general, it is a farm in which ownership has stayed in the same family for a designated length of time such as 100 or 200 years or for operation since the formation of a state or county, province, or other milestone. Such programs exist across the U.S. and Canada. Even New Zealand honors Century Farms. Another requirement might be that the farm must be a minimum size or have a minimum farm, animal, crop, or other product output.
What might Century Farm records hold for you? In many cases the programs add new farms and families each year. The applications range from a few line statement to special multi-page forms which require documentation. In most cases, these are programs not created by genealogists, but the records and clues provided are valuable in our research as the cart below shows. Not all applications have survived once the award was granted. In Minnesota, the older forms are housed at the Minnesota Historical Society.
What might you find in such old forms? Family photos, original and then current farm acreage, legal description of land, photos of buildings, detailed genealogy, list of owners from past to present, name of original owner(s) and spouse, relationships of each to present owner, land abstract, how purchased, tax records, date land purchased, date and birthplace of original owner, deeds (including copies of originals held by family), past and current farm crops and products, place original owner first lived, original cost of farm, and even the names of the children of the original owner. .
Who or what operates the program? It might be run by a state or county fair, state agricultural society, the Grange, a private group, a farming industry magazine, state level agriculture department, farm extension agency, or other organization. The earliest program I have found is New York in 1937 with many of the honored farms dating back to the 17th century. Oregon's began in 1958 just prior to the state's centennial in 1959. North Carolina's awards began in 1970. Many of the programs in the U.S. began at the time of the 1976 Bicentennial of the country. Some farming-related magazines publish yearly updates of farms added. As of 1986 there were 783 Century Farms in Tennessee. Iowa had over 8,000 century farms in 1985; today there are more than 15,000 in Iowa.
Locating the records. Not all programs make the applications available for research. Older applications might be found in a variety of places: state and local archives, historical societies, large public library, or a university library special collections department. With so many repository catalogs online it is relatively easy to check for a location of older applications. A program may have an online listing of the honored farms or an index might be found via USGenWeb.com. If there is no website for a state's program, check agricultural magazines, rural newspapers, and the state's genealogical and historical periodicals.
Some websites to check out
Alberta Century Farm and Ranch Award
Marathon County, Wisconsin
Minnesota Century Farms
Missouri Century Farms
Tennessee Century Farms
Selected Century Farm Publications
Baer, M. Teresa, et al., eds. Centennial farms of Indiana. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press, 2003. [Includes genealogical indexes by Ruth Dorrel.]
Century Farms of Wisconsin. Shawnee Mission, KS: Inter-Collegiate Press, 1984.
Gorman, Libby, et al. North Carolina Century Farms: 100 Years of Continuous Agricultural Heritage. [Raleigh, NC]: North Carolina Department of Agriculture, 1989.
Harriger, Jean K., ed. The Century Farms of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. Brookville, PA: Jefferson County Historical Society, 1988.
Kant, Joanita. A History of South Dakota Century Farms. Sioux Falls, SD: Century Farms Book Committee. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Co., 1985.
Ladell, John and Monica. Inheritance: Ontario's Century Farms Past & Present. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1979.
Leonard, Deach Ford. Century Farms of Vermont. Montpelier: Vermont Hist. Soc., 1986.
Men of the Soil: Century Farms. n.p.: Nova Scotia Rural Beatification Committee, 1970.
Morain, Thomas J. and David Miles. Century Farms of Iowa: The History of Farming in Iowa. Dallas: Taylor Pub. Co., 1986.
Wanless, Dorothy L. Century Farms of Minnesota: One Hundred Years of Changing Life Styles on the Farm. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Co., 1985.
Washington's Centennial Farms: Yesterday and Today. Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Agriculture, [1989].
Wermuth, Mary L. Michigan's Centennial Family Farm Heritage, 1986: A Michigan Sesquicentennial History. Hillsdale, MI: Ferguson Communications, 1986.
West, Carroll Van. Tennessee Agriculture: A Century Farms Perspective. [Nashville, TN]: Tennessee Department of Agriculture, 1986.
© 2009 – 2014, Paula Stuart-Warren. All rights reserved.


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Las Vegas, Nev. — January 8, 2013 — Walmart and Straight Talk Wireless, America's largest and top rated no-contract cell phone provider, today put the power back in the hands of customers with an industry game changing offer. Starting on January 11, 2013 in more than 2,000 Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com, customers now have access to the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4 on Straight Talk's $45 no contract unlimited talk, text and data plan. To make this offer even more affordable, Walmart will be offering customers who purchase the phone in the store, a no interest fixed-monthly payments special financing offer for only $25 a month with a Walmart Credit Card.
The Straight Talk wireless no contract plan, exclusive to Walmart, saves consumers on average $950 a year when they switch from conventional contract plans with similar unlimited plans. To learn more about how Straight Talk Wireless saves consumers $950 a year, please visit: www.straighttalk.com.
"We are thrilled to be bringing the remarkable iPhone 5 to customers looking for one of the most advanced smartphones with one of the most affordable No Contract plans ever," said F.J. Pollak, CEO and President, TracFone Wireless. "The advanced iPhone 5 with our unlimited $45 monthly plan and Walmart's $25 special financing offer is a marriage made in heaven – making it the most affordable premium smartphone offer in America. With this exclusive offer the last reason for not purchasing the No Contract Straight Talk plan is gone."
"We believe customers shouldn't have to choose between saving money and having the latest technology," said Seong Ohm, senior vice president of Entertainment for Walmart U.S. "Now customers can have the coveted iPhone with unlimited talk, text and data without a contract for $70 a month thanks to our exclusive Straight Talk plan and industry first financing offer."
Pricing and Details for iPhoneThe Apple iPhones for Straight Talk will be available for purchase at the following prices:
Walmart will offer a special financing on the purchase of the phone for $25 a month with a Walmart Credit Card on these select models. GE Capital Retail Bank is the issuer of the Walmart Credit Cards.
Pricing for the Straight Talk no-contract plans include:
iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology—all while delivering even better battery life. iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world's most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features including: the all new Maps app; Facebook integration; Passbook organization and even more Siri features and languages. For more information on iPhone 5, please visit: www.apple.com/iphone.
For more information see: www.straighttalk.com/iphone and www.walmart.com/iphone
About Straight Talk WirelessStraight Talk Wireless® is a brand of TracFone Wireless, Inc., America's largest no-contract cellular service provider with over 21.6 million subscribers, and a subsidiary of América Móvil S.A.B. de C.V. ("AMX") (BMV: AMX; NYSE: AMX; Nasdaq: AMOV; LATIBEX: XAMXL). AMX is the leading provider of wireless services in Latin America. As of September 30, 2012, it had 255.9 million wireless subscribers -- more wireless customers than AT&T and Verizon combined -- and 62.8 million fixed revenue generating units in the Americas.
About Walmart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 200 million customers and members visit our 10,400 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2012 sales of approximately $444 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visitinghttp://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmartnewsroom. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.


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User-level firewalling with Portsmith
Best Behavior
The Linux packet filter iptables lacks a function that dynamically enables ports for authenticated users. Portsmith plugs this gap, allowing users to enable their own connections.
Check Point and Cisco administrators are familiar with firewalls that enable ports after a user logs in. Unfortunately, this technique, sometimes referred to as Client Authentication or Cut-Through Proxy, is often subject to restrictions. Because of the problems associated with authenticating firewalls, iptables does not include this functionality out of the box. Of course, you could add your own custom authentication feature with some scripting, but few admins go to so much effort.
Portsmith [1] offers a free and easy option for authentication at the firewall, and this innovative tool even lets authenticated users enable ports in their own web browsers. To avoid potential security threats, the administrator still keeps control of the permissions. Each user is assigned a set of required communication links and can only access the resources assigned to those links. This approach stops users from simply punching holes in the firewall ruleset anytime they feel the urge.
One potential application for a Portsmith firewall is as a replacement for a virtual private network (VPN). The traffic is stopped at the firewall until a user authenticates, and once the user logs in, only traffic from the user's IP address is admitted. By ensuring that a specific service is only available to the authenticated user, the admin can avoid the need for a dedicated VPN server. On the other end, the client also does not need special software to initiate the connection. According to the Portsmith website, "… you can take control of your office computer from home, from a friend's house, from a WiFi hotspot, or from any other location with Internet access. Since there is no software requirement, after you leave the location, there will be no trace that you were ever there, and nothing is installed on the computer you were using." Another of Portsmith's goodies is an integrated, browser-based backup solution. Just point and click to write the ruleset, critical files, and database to a CD.
Portsmith prefers Ubuntu 8.0.4 Server LTS [2]. Of course, you can also use other distributions, although you will need to modify the paths and component handling to match Portsmith's requirements. Portsmith is designed to work with the Apache web server [3], the PHP5 module [4], and the PostgreSQL database module [5]. Tough luck if you prefer a different database system; other systems are not supported.
The web server acts as a front end for the administrator and users. Accounts are stored in the database. The dynamic ruleset is also stored in the database and retrieved from the database whenever it is needed. Scripts running in the background regularly generate the corresponding iptables commands from database extracts and then add them to the ruleset.
To start, install the Ubuntu 8.04 server framework. If you opt for a more complex partitioning scheme for security or performance reasons, you are well advised to swap out the /var filesystem, which is where both the logfiles and the database reside later on.
The Portsmith documentation tells you to install the ubuntu-desktop package macro, which provides a complete, Gnome-based user interface. However, you will not actually need a full Gnome desktop, unless the thought of using vi and the command line worries you. On the other hand, the documentation does not tell you anything about more meaningful tasks, such as basic hardening of the operating system. (Because Portsmith has a direct Internet connection, it requires far more attention to security than a normal end-user system.)
The next step is to configure the network interfaces and then go on to install the remaining packages. Users working on a graphical desktop can use the GUI tools for this; everyone else should just fire up their favorite editor and edit /etc/network/interfaces.
The command
aptitude install -y openssh-server apache2 libapache2-mod-php5 libapache2-mod-auth-pgsql postgresql-8.3 php5-pgsql
drops the required packages onto your system. If you will be using the internal backup solution, you will additionally need the mkisofs and cdrecord packages.
Setting up the web servers takes a couple more steps. If you haven't configured DNS entries for your firewall, set the ServerName parameter, then enable the SSL module with a2enmod ssl.
To avoid transmitting user logins in the clear, it makes sense to use SSL-encrypted connections. Whether you use self-signed certificates or have them signed by a commercial CA is up to you and your company's security policy.
Portsmith is a 17MB ISO image download [6] , which you can either burn onto a CD or mount by typing:
mount -o loop /tmp/Portsmith_4.iso /media/cdrom
The Portsmith package includes a number of tarballs with shell and PHP scripts, the database table structure, and a sample configuration that helps you set up your Portsmith machine as a DNS or DHCP server. On top of this, you will find a short installation guide, as well as two Windows binaries (one for Internet Explorer and the other for Firefox) that support the use of RDP (Remote Desktop) via a Portsmith-empowered firewall.
To install Portsmith, unpack the tarball:
tar xvf /media/cdrom/server/ports.tar -C /
The shell scripts, which are copied into /usr/local/bin, contain variables that reflect the network structure; the Portsmith admin will need to modify the scripts accordingly. The scripts are located in the fw_policy and fw_lookup files. Among other things, you need to specify the external network and the official firewall IP address. It is easier to have a static IP address; however, users with a dynamic IP can use DynDNS [7] or a scripting workaround to publish the current address.
According to the documentation, you should launch Portsmith directly by adding it to your /etc/rc.local file. If your firewall has a direct Internet link, this would mean the firewall and the networks hiding behind it would not be protected by the packet filter for a short period after you launch the machine because the firewall would be the last item processed at boot time. When you enable the network interfaces, you might prefer to run an init script or call Portsmith.
The database also needs some preparation. Unfortunately, the documentation tells users to cut and paste, an error-prone process; psql < /media/cdrom/server/TABLES.txt is an easier approach. Because the hard work in the background is handled by a couple of shell scripts that need to run periodically, you need to set up cron entries for the scripts.
Relaunch the server by typing /etc/init.d/apache2 restart, and Portsmith should be up and running.
Administrative Activities
Administrators can use their browser for all system management activities: https://Firewall/ports/ takes you to a login window. The login defaults to admin with admin as the password. Although the documentation points out that you should change this, it could be too late if your firewall is already connected to the Internet – these defaults are very easy to guess.
After logging in, administrative users can configure the system, manage users, and enable a couple of features for themselves. The two main areas of system management are user administration and the ruleset. The list of users is fairly simple, and it gives administrators a large selection of entries and search functions (Figure 1). The drop-down list at top right lets you sort, add, modify, or delete accounts. When adding or modifying, you need to specify a username and password. The user is then assigned a role as a standard user or an admin; admins have full access to the system.
Instead of deleting accounts you no longer need, you can simply disable them. However, Portsmith does not have a time-controlled function for blocking temporary accounts; again manual attention by the admin is required. The admin can also set up a default rule, revoke rules, or add new rules. Ruleset management is similar to user management (Figure 2). Again, the Portsmith admin can search for, modify, add, and delete rules.
When adding or modifying, you can specify the protocol to use (TCP, UDP, ICMP), the action to perform (permit or forward), and the target port. Also, you can target a host via its IP or (assuming you have DNS name resolution working) its hostname. The admin interface also gives you access to a couple of useful tools: the Log Manager (Figure 3) tells you exactly which rules were enabled by which users from which IP. A handy search function helps you keep track of a larger number of log entries.
The tools button takes you to four more helpers that are worth examining. The Login Analyzer (Figure 4) not only gives the administrator a useful overview of who logged in when, but it also reports the number and times of recent invalid login attempts.
To avoid brute force attacks, the client source IP is blocked after 3 logins until the administrator resets it. The locking function does not rely on a packet filter; instead, the potential attacker is told You are up to no good – you are now going to be blocked, and the username and password fields disappear to prevent login attempts with an alternative user account. If worst comes to worst, the administrator will not even be able to use an administrative account to unblock the account, in which case, the only alternative is to modify the database manually.
Under normal circumstances, you can also release a computer blocked because of an excessive number of login attempts through the Login Analyzer. Unfortunately, this function is fairly well hidden: You need to enable the checkbox to the left of the entry and then click Submit.
The status display lists the current Firewall ruleset, although this is just the output from iptables -L -v. Anybody who is not familiar with iptables will probably be more confused after reading the list; a more readable report would be useful for newcomers.
The restart button restores the original status of any rules that were set by admins and users. This step keeps any existing connections.
User Viewpoint
Portsmith is really easy from the user's point of view. As with admin access, user access is browser-based, and users need to enter their credentials. After logging in, users are shown a list of available firewall rules. A user can select a rule and then click it to enable.
As you can see from Figure 5, the list of enabled functions is fairly technical. Most end users are unlikely to understand the meanings of the individual ports and really do need a description in plain English. Some creativity is required from the administrator, since the database restricts the length of the description to 25 characters. Of course, you could change the size of the database column manually.
In contrast to a VPN, Portsmith does not send connections directly to the target machine; instead, it forwards incoming packets from the firewall once the user is authenticated. End users might therefore need to take some action. For example, if you want to access an internal printer remotely, you would have to set up a printer on the client side for the user to select.
It is a good idea to start with a clear definition of the tasks you want to handle with Portsmith (e.g., the previous example with the printer would be easy enough to implement, but you have to question the security of transmitting printed output in the clear across the Internet.)
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I am so excited that THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER by Renée Ahdieh releases today! The Wrath and the Dawn was my favorite read of 2015, and I have been anxiously awaiting the sequel since the moment I finished the last page.
If you haven't yet heard about this book, be sure to check out all the details below. This blitz also includes a giveaway for a paperback copy of The Wrath and the Dawn, a hardcopy of The Rose and the Dagger, and a candle from The Melting Library's Easy Store. If you'd like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.
Title: THE ROSE & THE DAGGER
Author: Renée Ahdieh
Pub. Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: G.P.
Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Pages: 432
Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads
The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."
I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.
In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.
While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.
Renée lives in North Carolina (Go Heels!) with her husband Victor and their dog Mushu. Her YA fantasy novel, THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, published on May 12th, 2015. In her spare time, she likes to cook, dance salsa, and wreak havoc on the lives of her characters. She's also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, as well as an active member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.


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Baseball: Piazza book a bizarre page-turner
Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 24, 2013
There's always a danger when a former athlete sets himself down, pen in hand, and bares his soul.
Some get it right in tomes that can be revealing, even therapeutic. My personal favorite is Andre Agassi's admission in his autobiography that he dabbled in methamphetamine, hated the sport that made him a star, and was depressed during his short-lived marriage to Brooke Shields.
And the iconic hair that cascaded out from his sweat band in a mullet that wouldn't quit? A wig, sorry to say.
Other books aren't quite as forthcoming. Marion Jones told us all about winning five golds in Sydney, but neglected to add the part about being juiced while she ran past everyone.
Lance Armstrong had similar issues. He wrote two books, both inspiring tales of how he defied all odds to overcome cancer and become the best bicycle rider ever.
They were best sellers, even though they were filled with lies. Unfortunately for Armstrong, the same readers who bought his story are now suing him in federal court for fraud and false advertising.
And then there's Mike Piazza. He, too, denies he was a cheat and until there is hard evidence to indicate otherwise, I guess we have to accept at face value that his 427 career home runs were legitimate.
Some Hall of Fame voters apparently don't, which is a big reason why Piazza didn't make it on his first turn on the ballot. The rejection surely stung since Piazza makes it clear in his book "Long Shot" that getting in the Hall would be the ultimate vindication of his life and career.
Piazza says he never used steroids. But he does admit to using just about everything else, including androstenedione, amphetamines, Creatine, ephedra and a type of asthma medicine that made him more alert and focused.
It's all there in a bizarre book that does nothing to make Piazza even remotely interesting or likable. If anything, he looks like a fool in spots — training with a karate instructor in case of a fight with Roger Clemens.
Mostly, though, Piazza comes off as petty, vindictive and unbelievably thin-skinned. The overriding theme is that even though he was a child of privilege and Tommy Lasorda (a friend of his dad's) looked out for his career, it was pure hard work and determination that got him to the top.
And it all somehow happened despite everyone from his first minor league manager to Vin Scully being against him.
Fair enough, a guy's entitled to his own opinion. But when he tries to blame Scully for turning the fans of Los Angeles against him, the book went from simply self-serving into a paranoid kind of fantasyland inhabited only by ex-stars.
At issue was a 1998 spring training interview where the venerable Dodgers broadcaster asked Piazza about giving the team a deadline for signing him to a long-term contract. It was all quite innocuous, with Scully actually offering Piazza a chance to look good and the catcher responding with typical jock generalities.
It ended with Scully complimenting Piazza, saying his response was "well said." Somehow, though, Piazza sees it differently.
"The fans of Los Angeles were beating me up on a daily basis," he wrote. "On top of that, Vin Scully was crushing me."
Apparently Piazza also believes Scully tipped the 1996 MVP award to Ken Caminiti by praising him too much on his broadcasts.
This is where I have my own confession to make: I grew up listening to Scully, and I've been in the booth with him at Dodger Stadium before games listening to him talk baseball and tell stories. I don't think I've ever heard him knock a player or a coach.
He's not just an 85-year-old gem who means more to baseball than 10 Mike Piazzas ever will, he's aghast anyone would think he goes around bad-mouthing players.
"I can't imagine saying something about a player and his contract," Scully told the Los Angeles Times. "I just don't do that, ever. I'm really flabbergasted by that reference."
If there's another theme in the book, it's that Piazza doesn't believe he was ever appreciated enough for what he did on the baseball field. Yes, he became incredibly wealthy and women chased him and teammate Eric Karros down freeways after games, but LA fans, in particular, never seemed to embrace him.
He believes he was snubbed for many awards because he didn't show up at a dinner after being voted Rookie of the Year in 1993. And then, of course, his New York Mets teammates badmouthed him for staying in the game past his prime just to get more home runs.
It's truly strange stuff. Then again we're dealing with someone whose father wouldn't let him eat candy or play the trombone as a kid because it might have interfered with his batting-cage sessions.
It's not until the last few pages that Piazza is most candid.
"I fully realize that I've alienated plenty of people over the years," he writes.
On that we can agree. The difference is that it makes no sense to keep alienating them today.


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Glycosylated hemoglobin: Hemoglobin to which glucose is bound. Glycosylated hemoglobin is tested to monitor the long-term control of diabetes mellitus.
The level of glycosylated hemoglobin is increased in the red blood cells of persons with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Since the glucose stays attached to hemoglobin for the life of the red blood cell (normally about 120 days), the level of glycosylated hemoglobin reflects the average blood glucose level over the past 3 months.
The normal level for glycosylated hemoglobin is less than 7%. Diabetics rarely achieve such levels, but tight control aims to come close to it. Levels above 9% show poor control, and levels above 12% show very poor control. It is commonly recommended that glycosylated hemoglobin be measured every 3 to 6 months in diabetes.
The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) showed that diabetics who keep their glycosylated hemoglobin levels close to 7% have a much better chance of delaying or preventing diabetes complications that affect the eyes, kidneys, and nerves than people with levels 8% or higher. A change in treatment is almost always needed if the level is over 8%. Lowering the level of glycosylated hemoglobin by any amount improves a person's chances of staying healthy.
Glycosylated hemoglobin is also known as glycohemoglobin or as hemoglobin A1C (the main fraction of glycosylated hemoglobin).


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It's that time of the year—the mountains are calling and you are ready to hit the slopes. There's no better place than ski hotels in New York. With access to various places to ski, from bunny hills for the newbies to black diamonds for the experts, New York ski resorts are your best bet to enjoy some wintry fun.
If you're a beginner skier and want to start with a few trips down the bunny slopes, see if your New York ski hotel or the nearby facilities offer lessons. If you're a veteran on the slopes, take the chair lift up to the top of the mountain and take in the views as you slalom down the fresh snow. After a full day on the slopes, retreat to your New York ski resort to warm up. Take a dip in the hot tub on property, drink some cocktails at the lobby bar to warm you up or get cozy in your hotel room and order room service.
Travelocity is here to help you find the best deals on New York ski hotels and resorts, so you can hit the ski lift without breaking the bank! Book today and Wander Wisely.
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|Edelweiss Lodge, The Inn At Holiday Valley, High Peaks Resort, Cadence Lodge at Whiteface, Ledge Rock at Whiteface, Hotel Vienna, Crowne Plaza Lake Placid, an IHG Hotel, Mountain Brook Lodge, Wolfjaw Lodge, Lake House, Gore Mountain Lodge, The Hungry Trout