Tuesday, March 31, 2009

April Month-Long Sale at Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

GREAT NEWS! From April 1 through April 30, ALL items in our CHShops Mall online store will be 10% off the listed price.

See all the bargains at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Our Friend's Links:
CHShops Online Mall Stores
RAL TimeShare Resorts
A Father's Perspective
The Selling Lounge

P.S. Our computer has been sick recently, so we have not been able to access all of our nice pictures. The pictures will return very soon.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Old Ed

It happened every Friday evening, almost without fail, when the sun
resembled a giant orange and was starting to dip into the blue ocean.

Old Ed came strolling along the beach to his favorite pier. Clutched
in his bony hand was a bucket of shrimp. Ed walks out to the end of
the pier, where it seems he almost has the world to himself. The
glow of the sun is a golden bronze now.

Everybody's gone, except for a few joggers on the beach. Standing
out on the end of the pier, Ed is alone with his thoughts....and his
bucket of shrimp.

Before long, however, he is no longer alone. Up in the sky a
thousand white dots come screeching and squawking, winging their way
toward that lanky frame standing there on the end of the pier.

Before long, dozens of seagulls have enveloped him, their wings
fluttering and flapping wildly. Ed stands there tossing shrimp to
the hungry birds. As he does, if you listen closely, you can hear
him say with a smile, 'Thank you. Thank you.'
In a few short minutes the bucket is empty. But Ed doesn't leave.

He stands there lost in thought, as though transported to another
time and place. Invariably, one of the gulls lands on his
sea-bleached, weather-beaten hat - an old military hat he's been
wearing for years.

When he finally turns around and begins to walk back toward the
beach, a few of the birds hop along the pier with him until he gets
to the stairs, and then they, too, fly away. And old Ed quietly
makes his way down to the end of the beach and on home.

If you were sitting there on the pier with your fishing line in the
water, Ed might seem like 'a funny old duck,' as my dad used to say.
Or, 'a guy that's a sandwich shy of a picnic,' as my kids might say.
To onlookers, he's just another old codger, lost in his own weird
world, feeding the seagulls with a bucket full of shrimp.

To the onlooker, rituals can look either very strange or very empty.
They can seem altogether unimportant ...maybe even a lot of nonsense.

Old folks often do strange things, at least in the eyes of Boomers
and Busters.

Most of them would probably write Old Ed off, down there in Florida.
That's too bad. They'd do well to know him better.

His full name: Eddie Rickenbacker. He was a famous hero back in
World War II. On one of his flying missions across the Pacific, he
and his seven-member crew went down. Miraculously, all of the men
survived, crawled out of their plane, and climbed into a life raft.

Captain Rickenbacker and his crew floated for days on the rough
waters of the Pacific. They fought the sun. They fought sharks. Most
of all, they fought hunger. By the eighth day their rations ran out.
No food. No water. They were hundreds of miles from land and no one
knew where they were.

They needed a miracle. That afternoon they had a simple devotional
service and prayed for a miracle. They tried to nap. Eddie leaned
back and pulled his military cap over his nose. Time dragged. All he
could hear was the slap of the waves against the raft.

Suddenly, Eddie felt something land on the top of his cap. It was a
seagull!

Old Ed would later describe how he sat perfectly still, planning his
next move. With a flash of his hand and a squawk from the gull, he
managed to grab it and wring its neck. He tore the feathers off, and
he and his starving crew made a meal - a very slight meal for eight
men - of it. Then they used the intestines for bait. With it, they
caught fish, which gave them food and more bait......and the cycle
continued. With that simple survival technique, they were able to
endure the rigors of the sea until they were found and rescued.
(after 24 days at sea...)

Eddie Rickenbacker lived many years beyond that ordeal, but he never
forgot the sacrifice of that first lifesaving seagull. And he never
stopped saying, 'Thank you.' That's why almost every Friday night he
would walk to the end of the pier with a bucket full of shrimp and a
heart full of gratitude.

Reference: (Max Lucado, In The Eye of the Storm, pp.221, 225-226)

PS: Eddie was also an Ace in WW I and started Eastern Airlines.

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Rickenbacker was a pilot during WW I who became an ace and was presented with The Medal of Honor. He went on to be a race car driver, an aviation consultant, and airline executive. He brought together two existing airlines to become Eastern airlines that went on to become a major presence in commercial aviation.

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See our Squidoo Lens, "Tidbits of Military History" at: Tidbits of Military History

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Depression Glass From A To Z, Part II

Floral Poinsettia
These shakers can be found in colbalt blue, red and deep green, which are all reproductions as none of those colors were made. The pink however was made originally and the pink reproduction is very close to that original color.
The reproduction shakers will give you a continuous threading on the screw on top, while the older one will have a pair of threads that will end prior to the mold seams.

Additionally, you will find that the pattern is on top of the base on the new shakers and under the base on the old ones, so that you have to turn them over to see the base pattern.

Florentine 1
Shakers have been found in pink, red, and cobalt. The pattern is very badly done, red & cobalt are not original colors.

Florentine 2
Pitcher & tumbler sets in red, dark green, cobalt, and two different pinks have been made. None of these colors were originally made.

Iris & herringbone
The reproduction iris & herringbone, 6 inch, crystal, water tumblers, and the originals are both the exact same size. They both have the smooth rays on the foot. Although the repro’s ray edges may be just slightly sharper than on the originals, but it’s probably way too close for the novice collector to tell the difference. The herringbone pattern is one key. It’s not even near as clear, sharp and vivid as on the originals. But still close enough to fool even a good eye.
Now…just like on the 6 1/2 inch ice tea tumbler, one quick way to tell the difference is, flip your tumbler upside down. Can you see the “mold” line at all on the foot? On the originals, the “mold” line is “very” visible when you look at it from this perspective. However, with the reproduction tumbler, if you have a very good eye and or an magnifying glass, you might could see the “mold” line when looking at it from the bottom side. If you have to look that hard to see it, it’s probably a reproduction.

One other way to tell is, on the original 6 inch water tumbler, just like on the original 6 1/2 inch ice tea tumbler, there are (4) sides to each of these tumblers. Let me explain. There are (4) iris flower designs. The two opposite each other should be exactly the same identical design, matching each other perfectly. If there’s any difference at all, then it’s probably a reproduction.

You can’t tell the difference between the two by feeling the hole in the bottom of the tumbler foot. They both have the exact same type and style of hole in them both, with the exact same number of rays on the foot as well.

One sure fire way to tell if your 6 inch water tumbler is the “real deal” or not is, just to the right of the iris flower design, you have a very long stem, kind of thick one, coming from the bottom of the tumbler to the top edge of the flower on the right side of the flower, curving slightly to the left at the top as it ends. It has been crossed, or x ‘ed towards the top of the stem, with a partial stem. If you turn the tumbler to the exact opposite side it should match exactly. If it doesn’t and it’s only half x’ed, or not x’ed at all, it’s an reproduction. The opposing sides will not match this side, the pattern is different, but should match each other exactly perfectly as well. To be continued
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See our selection of Depression Glass at our CHShops Online Mall Store at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Our Favorite Links:
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A Father's Perspective
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Saturday, March 28, 2009

This Is Why I Carry A Gun

A Recent Craig's List Ad

To the Guy Who Mugged Me Downtown (Downtown, Savannah)

Date: 2 009-01-06, 3:43AM EST

I was the white guy with the black Burrberry jacket that you demanded I hand over shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend. You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings. I hope you somehow come across this message. I'd like to apologize.

I didn't expect you to crap your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket. Truth is, I was wearing the jacket for a reason that evening, and it wasn't that cold outside. You see, my girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber 1911 .45 ACP pistol for Christmas, and we had just picked up a shoulder holster for it that evening. Beautiful pistol, eh? It's a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head, isn't it?

I know it probably wasn't a great deal of fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with that brown sludge flopping about in your pants. I'm sure it was even worse since you also ended up leaving your shoes, cellphone, and wallet with me. I couldn't have you calling up any of your buddies to come help you try to mug us again. I took the liberty of calling your mother, or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, and explaining to her your situation. I also bought myself some gas on your card. I gave your shoes to one of the homeless guys over by Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all of the cash in your wallet, then I threw the wallet itself in a dumpster.

I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell. They'll be on your bill in case you'd like to know which ones. Alltel recently shut down the line, and I've only had the phone for a little over a day now, so I don't know what's going on with that. I hope they haven't permanently cut off your service. I was about to make some threatening phone calls to the DA's office with it. Oh well.

So, about your pants. I know that I was a little rough on you when you did this whole attempted mugging thing, so I'd like to make it up to you. I'm sure you've already washed your pants, so I'd like to help you out. I'd like to reimburse you for the detergent you used on the pants. What brand did you use, and was it liquid or powder? I'd also like to apologize for not killing you and instead making you walk back home humiliated. I'm hoping that you'll reconsider your choice of path in life. Next time you might not be so lucky. If you read this message, email me and we'll do lunch and laundry. Peace!

Alex

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Visit Our Squidoo Lens for more interesting articles on Gun Sports and Related Activity at: AnnieAmerica, Get Your Gun!

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Dig This!! Greenhouse Gas Guzzlers

Scientists have discovered that peridotite, a rock in the upper mantle of the earth's crust, actually consumes greenhouse gases. Peridotite is so hungry for greenhouse gas that some scientists are proposing that we pump carbon-dioxide emissions into the areas where the rock is abundant, such as in Oman, some Pacific Islands, Croatia, Greece and parts of the United States.

As reported in "The Economist", scientists believe that by drilling into the rock and fracturing it, they can increase the absorption rate. Oman alone may be capable of absoring 4 billion tons of carbon-dioxide each year--a substantial portion of the 30 billion tons annually produced from the burning of fossil fuels.
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Peridotite is named for the gemstone peridot, a glassy green gem mined in Asia and Arizona (Peridot Cove). Some peridotite is mined for ornamental stone.


Coming soon to our CHShops online mall store, are Rock Hound Jewelry: faceted, cabochon, and uncut rubies, sapphires, garnets, and more. See them soon at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Turquoise Necklaces

Turquoise Necklaces

Necklaces are one of the oldest forms of jewelry, rivaled in age and popularity only by the bracelet. With the workability and availability of turquoise, it is no surprise it was used frequently for necklace decoration. The turquoise necklace became a fashion success with the different styles and its excellent complexion compatibility. The necklace is one of the most artistically functional articles, complementing the wearer's face, body shape, height, and age. To suit many fashion requirements and tastes, the turquoise necklace has taken on many forms, all of which fit broadly into the pendant, beaded, or the squash blossom categories.

Turquoise Pendant Necklace
Taking advantage of the relative softness of turquoise, ancient peoples easily fashioned it into pendants. The inlaid turquoise pendant necklace style became more common and popular as people became more versed in the metalworking trade. The inlay process allows for greater creative reign with turquoise pendant necklace designs, providing a setting for individual stones and detailed stone mosaics. Whether inlaid or stone, turquoise pendants harmonize with leather cord, leather strips, and chain. The pendant throughout history has been a very popular type of turquoise necklace. As attractive and well-crafted as a pendant necklace may be, its true beauty and character shines while being worn. Those with youthful necklines should wear smaller pendants to subtly show off their smooth skin; while larger pendants should be worn, when desired, as a featured fashion item.

Turquoise Beaded Necklace
The soft nature of turquoise allows it to be cut into many sizes and shapes, from nugget, to chip, to heishi, which opens up myriad and beautiful turquoise necklace designs. Because there are so many turquoise-compatible gemstones, wood, and metal beads, the only limitations are the imagination and skill of the designer. They are available in various lengths and are available in single and multi-strand versions. As fashion trends steer towards chunky turquoise necklaces, large turquoise nugget necklaces are becoming more popular. Though, it is important to remember, the larger the stone, the less real it can look. If the chunky look is not for you, there are more subtle designs; graduated chip, pebble, and heishi offer a more simple and still elegant look.

Turquoise Squash Blossom Necklace
A relative newcomer to the turquoise necklace scene, the squash blossom necklace was popularized in the mid-19th century by Navajo and Zuni silversmiths. Since then it has become synonymous with American Indian art and jewelry. No Indian jewelry collection can be complete without a squash blossom necklace. It features a crescent shaped pendant called a "naja", which is "crescent" in Navajo, and beads resembling a squash or pomegranate blossom. The squash blossom is famous for its bold features - while this may deter some, it should be noted there are many versions of the necklace with more subtle and streamlined features.

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See our selection of Turquoise jewelry at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Monday, March 23, 2009

March Sale In Progress at Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

March Sales At Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Two categories are on sale this month: All Collectibles are 10% off and all Pottery & Glass sales are 10% off. Browse our online catalog and find our extra specials at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry. Sale ends Midnight, March 31, 2009.

Pictured: examples of the variety of items on sale until March 31.

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Depression Glass From A To Z, Part I

Depression Glass

For many years depression glass has been reproduced by companies all over the world. Some of the patterns and things you may see from those companies are listed below. (We gratefully acknowledge the research work of the Glass Reproduction website, as well as About.com for some of this information).

Adam
Butter dish- on the green reproduction you will see that the veins in the leaves on lid do not join or touch in center of leaf, bottom: on the old, large leaves point to center of each side (north, south, east, west) on the reproduction, they point off center (northeast, etc) very poor mold quality will show up on both top and bottom.

Avocado
Avocado was originally made in pink, green and crystal: white pitcher & tumbler sets were made by Indiana Glass in the 1950’s. Yellow, red, blue, amethyst and frosted colors are all reproductions which were made by Tiara from 1974 through the 1980’s. Pink and green were also made by Tiara but are different from the original colors as follows: new pink has an orange-ish tint rather than the soft pink of the old color. The newer green is darker than the original one was.

Baltimore pear
Compote, marked with a paper label on the base, made in France.

Cameo
The Shakers have been made in green, pink and cobalt. On the reproductions the patternis weak, with a little too much glass in the bottom of shaker, and additionally the cobalt was never originally made. Above the foot is filled in with about 1/4-1/2 of glass. Mosser company has made a line of children’s miniature sets (called ‘the Jennifer line’) with the cameo pattern. As children’s dishes were never made, these miniatures don’t present a problem telling reproductions from originals.

Cherry blossom
The following pieces have been reproduced in any or all of these colors: pink, green, light blue, delphite, cobalt, red and iridized colors. The only original colors that were made were the pink, green and delphite, and some of these reproductions are quite good so they may fool you. The round 2 handled tray, footed cake plate, cereal bowl, footed tumbler, butter dish and a divided platter are among those things that have been reproduced. As a general rule you’re going to find that the reproduction pieces are less carefully molded, with the pattern more crudely in place, branches and leaves on the blossom pattern will lack the original serrated texture of the leaves and the bark of the branch. The flowers will not look as detailed to you. The pieces are also somewhat heavier in glass than the originals.

Columbia
Juice glasses will be marked “France”

To be Continued
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See our available Depression Glass at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry





Quote of the Day:
"On every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." --Thomas Jefferson

Saturday, March 21, 2009

People Ask Why?




PEOPLE ASK WHY?

Why I Carry a Gun

My old grandpa said to me son,' there comes a time in every man's life
when he stops bustin' knuckles and starts bustin' caps and usually it's
when he becomes too old to take an ass whoopin'.

I don't carry a gun to kill people.
I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

I don't carry a gun to scare people.
I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.

I don't carry a gun because I'm paranoid.
I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.

I don't carry a gun because I'm evil.
I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the
world.

I don't carry a gun because I hate the government.
I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.

I don't carry a gun because I'm angry.
I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating
myself for failing to be prepared.

I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone.
I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and
not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.

I don't carry a gun because I'm a cowboy.
I carry a gun because, when I die and go to heaven, I want to be a
cowboy.

I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man.
I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the
ones they love.

I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate.
I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am
inadequate.

I don't carry a gun because I love it.
I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful
to me.

Police Protection is an oxymoron. Free citizens must protect themselves.
Police do not protect you from crime, they usually just investigate the
crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.

Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to
take an ass whoopin'.

author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

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See our Squidoo Lens for more info on Gun Sports and Related Activity at: AnnieAmerica, Get Your Gun

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Friday, March 20, 2009

Gloriously Gold Filled




Exerpts from:

Gloriously Gold Filled!
for "Focus on Design" - The Jewelry Ring
by Cheri Van Hoover

Since ancient times, gold has been the metal most prized for jewelry. Soft yet durable, it can be shaped, etched, and rolled out into sheets just microns thick. It can be melted down and reused over and over again. Best of all, it never leaves black or green marks on your skin! Because it has been so highly prized, the price of gold has remained high throughout the millennia.

Pure gold is too soft to withstand regular wear, so early metallurgists learned to add other metals to gold to make it stronger. These metal alloys have included copper, silver, zinc, and nickel. In addition to making the gold stronger, these materials can also be used to change the color of gold. If copper is the controlling alloy, the gold is yellow or red. If the controlling alloy is nickel, the gold is white. An alloy of silver and zinc creates green gold. In addition to adding strength and altering color, these alloys make gold less expensive. Pure gold is called 24 karat. Other karat designations (10, 12, 14, 18) indicate the amount of alloy which has been added to the gold. For example, 14K gold is 14 parts pure gold by weight and 10 parts other metals.

Even in these lesser concentrations, karat gold is expensive. The 1742 discovery that silver could be fused to copper to create what became known as “Sheffield plate” set metalsmiths on a quest to develop a process for doing the same thing with gold. In 1817 an Englishman named John Turner discovered a technique for applying a thin layer of karat gold over base metal. He patented his discovery and entitled it: “Certain improvements in the plating of copper or brass, or a mixture of copper and brass, with pure or standard gold or gold mixed with a greater portion of alloy, and the preparation of the same for rolling into sheets.”

During the Victorian era larger pieces of jewelry were frequently made using this “rolled gold” technology, but standards regarding the quality and thickness of this plating did not yet exist. This lack of standards led to considerable variation in durability and appearance. The terminology used to describe this technique also varied. The rolled gold Victorian era brooch shown in Figure 2 is marked “GILT.” Rolled gold jewelry became less popular during the Edwardian era as fashions changed and jewelry became smaller and lighter. Delicate filigree became common. This type of jewelry was fairly affordable for the middle class without the use of plating. The economic boom times of the 1920s, combined with the demand for white metals such as platinum and silver, decreased the popularity of rolled gold even further. During the mid to late 1930s, however, a combination of social forces, economic hardship, government regulation, and changing fashions created a huge increase in the production of what had come to be called “gold filled” jewelry.

Price became an important factor for those buying jewelry during the Great Depression. Disposable income largely disappeared, and although women still wanted to adorn themselves they simply couldn’t afford the precious metal jewelry that had been popular in the previous decade. Fashions changed, as well. Beginning in the late 1930s, the style we now call Retro or Retro Modern replaced the Art Deco designs of the 1920s and early 1930s. Retro jewelry was big, bold, and consisted mainly of metals. Warm yellow and rose gold colors dominated the Retro styles, largely replacing the white metals of the Art Deco period. The United States Department of Commerce played a role in the new popularity of heavily gold-plated jewelry by issuing Commercial Standard CS 47-34 which created a precise definition for “gold filled,” decreeing that the total weight of gold filled jewelry had to be 1/20 or more (5% or greater) 10K or higher karat gold.

Gold filled jewelry is made from karat gold which has been bonded to the surface of a supporting base metal through a process of fusing and rolling. It is always marked with the karat designation and an indication that it meets the legal standard. Look for marks such as 1/20 12K G.F. or 12 Kt. Gold Filled. Rolled gold plate is also made by fusing and rolling gold onto base metal, but the plating is significantly thinner. Rolled gold plate may be marked 12 Kt. R.G.P. or 1/40 12K R.G.P. Another mark you will sometimes encounter is G.E., or gold electroplate. This is the thinnest of all gold plating techniques. The gold or gold alloy is not fused and rolled onto the base metal beneath, but rather plated in solution using an electrical charge to make the bond. By law, gold electroplate must be at least 7/1,000,000-inch thick, but this is extremely thin when compared with gold filled.
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Pictured above: Wedgwood Egyptian Pendant Necklace available at our CHShops online Mall Store at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Thursday, March 19, 2009

All Female Marine Team in Afghanistan



All-Female Marine Team Conducts First Mission in Southern Afghanistan.

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Monty Burton
Special to American Forces Press Service

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan, March 10, 2009 - Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment -- the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan -- now have a special group of people to help them complete their mission in Afghanistan.

Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Johanna Shaffer shares a cookie and a smile with an Afghan child while under the watchful security of Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, during her all-female team's first mission in Farah province, Feb. 9, 2009.

The task force's all-female Marine team is interacting with the Afghan female population in southern Afghanistan -- a task considered culturally unacceptable for the male Marines operating there. A similar program has been used in combat operations in Iraq, but this is the first time Marine forces in Afghanistan have employed the concept, officials said.

Marine Corps Capt. Mike Hoffman, commanding officer of 3/8's Company I, said the all-female team is an important asset for his Marines. "[The team] provides us access to half of the population that we normally do not have access to," Hoffman said. "They did extremely well interacting with the female villagers."

Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Johanna Shaffer, the team leader, said their first mission, a cordon-and-search operation in support of Operation Pathfinder, was very successful. "We were accepted by both the men and women villagers and were able to obtain valuable information about the way they lived and what they thought about the Marine Corps operating in the area," Shaffer said.

During the mission, the female Marines donned brightly colored head and neck scarves as a sign of cultural respect to the Afghan women. "The scarves showed the Afghan women that we were women too, and we respect their culture," Shaffer said. "They automatically felt more comfortable with us. They showed us their homes, and even though they didn't have much, they were still very generous to us. They accepted us as sisters, and we're glad that we were here to help them."

Although Afghan women tend to be more reserved than Afghan men, they still have a large influence on their children, Shaffer said, so engaging with them is important.
"If the women know we are here to help them, they will likely pass that on to their children," she said. "If the children have a positive perspective of alliance forces, they will be less likely to join insurgent groups or participate in insurgent activities."

Hoffman said the female Marines also were accepted by the village men. "They were not opposed by the villagers," Hoffman said. "They had no problem allowing [the team] the chance to interact with their women."

The concept employed by her team varies greatly from the program in Iraq because of differences in Afghan culture, Shaffer said. "The cultural background here is completely different than that of Iraq," Shaffer said. "Women here are more timid than in Iraq. There is less of a chance that an Afghan women would try to harm us, because they understand that we are here to help them.

"We also do not know much about the daily life of Afghan women," she continued. "This provides us not only the opportunity to learn about the women, but also to build and maintain faith and trust of the Afghan women."

(Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Monty Burton serves with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan.)
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See our Squidoo Lens at: Tidbits of Military History

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry



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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Ruby Red Depression Glass



Royal Ruby Depression Glass Pattern:
Royal Ruby Depression Glass

Manufacturer:
Anchor Hocking Glass Company

Dates Manufactured:
1938 to 1960s

Colors:
Ruby Red

This started as a Depression Glass item but continued on for many years beyond the depression era. This is a very popular pattern that is widely available at very affordable prices. Anchor Hocking began making glassware in the Royal Ruby color in 1938, using their existing patterns. The "Royal Ruby" name is patented by Anchor Hocking, so only glassware made by them can be called by that name. As it was made for many, many years, there is an almost endless variety of pieces available. Most of the pieces in the market today, however, were made in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

There are also some very rare pieces of Royal Ruby, including pieces made in the Miss America pattern. Other Anchor Hocking patterns that were made in Royal Ruby include Oyster and Pearl, Coronation, Colonial, Ring, Manhattan, Queen Mary, Early American Prescut, Bubble and Charm. The pieces made in the Charm and Bubble patterns are by far the most widely available. The Royal Ruby goblets with crystal (or clear) stems are called "Boopies" by collectors.

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Pictured above: Ruby Red Depresssion Glass Tumbler, available at our CHShops Mall Store at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Penny and Doug
cupenny@tds.net
Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry



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Monday, March 16, 2009

March Sales At Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry





March Sale in Progress at Penny's Pantry

Two categories are on sale this month: All Collectibles are 10% off and all Pottery & Glass sales are 10% off. Browse our online catalog and find our extra specials at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry. Sale ends Midnight, March 31, 2009.

Pictured: examples of the variety of items on sale until March 31.

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11 Yr Old Boy Earned Top Ham Radio License


Pleasant Grove 11-year-old acquires top ham-radio license
By James Davis

Deseret News

Published: March 15, 2009

PLEASANT GROVE — Most people know him as Adam Lee, but the 11-year-old Pleasant Grove boy has another identity: KE7UZK.

The Barratt Elementary School sixth-grader isn't a spy or secret agent. Adam is a ham radio operator, and KE7UZK is his call sign.

At BYU's Howard W. Hunter Law Library on Feb. 18, Adam passed the Federal Communications Commission's extra-class, amateur radio-licensing exam, making him one of the youngest ham radio operators on the airwaves. Extra is the highest of three U.S. amateur radio-licensing classes, and it gives Adam the privilege of operating any type of ham radio on any amateur band.

Adam said he caught the ham radio bug last year while working on the Boy Scout radio merit badge.

"I wanted to learn more about ham radio," he said. "So I got my technician (license) in July, and then I just kept going and got my general and extra."

Technician is the lowest license class for ham radio operators, and general is the middle class. Adam said the exam for the technician class focused more on logic, and the general- and extra-class exams become more technical.

For now, Adam is the man around the Lee house when it comes to radios. His dad, Sam Lee, only recently passed the technician exam.

"A lot of adults try to pass the extra," the elder Lee said. "And it's not an easy test to pass, so (other operators are) impressed that he's already passed the test."

For Christmas, Adam wanted an amateur-extra study manual full of technical information and practice test questions. Prior to taking the test, operators must understand radio-wave propagation, electrical principles, circuit components, signals and emissions, antennas and transmission lines.

From January until his test last month, Adam read the study book three times from cover to cover, evidenced by his book's worn corners, highlighted pages and bookmarks. Sometimes his father would help by quizzing the boy.

"Without even giving him the choices, he would know the answer," Sam Lee said. "He just knew this inside and out. It was amazing."

With new privileges afforded him thanks to his amateur-extra license, Adam has hopes to upgrade his radio this summer. Right now, he has a small hand-held device with a maximum range of about 400 miles. He said the most distant operator he's contacted was up in North Salt Lake.

"I'm saving for a bigger radio so I can go all the way around the world," Adam said, adding that he particularly wants to talk to radio operators in Europe.

Also on his wish list is a new call sign. Amateur-extra operators usually have a shorter call sign than the six-digit identifier he currently uses.

"Right now my call is KE7UZK, but when I passed my extra, I told them to change it," Adam said. "So I'm still waiting for the new call and my new license to come in the mail."

The oldest of five kids, Adam excels at school — especially in math. The young ham radio operator participates in Alpine School District's accelerated learning lab with classmates who learn at a faster pace than others.

School, Scouting and other activities prevent Adam from spending as much time radioing as he'd like — "probably once a week or maybe a little bit more," he said.
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Congratulations to Adam!

See our Squidoo Lens on Amateur Radio at: Hams & Ham Shows

Penny N6HWB
Doug N3DAB
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Sunday, March 15, 2009

Do You Use A Needle Threader?


How to Use a Needle Threader

They come with some sewing needles and can be purchased in almost all sewing notion sections but many people set them aside rather then figure out how to use them. Here you'll find step by step instructions to using a needle threader. You'll never want to thread a needle without one again!

The Needle threader consists of two parts. The handle and the wire. The end of the wire that is away from the holder is folded.

1. Place the folded wire of the needle threader through the eye of the sewing needle.

2. Place the thread into the wire loop of the needle threader.

3. Holding on to the body of the needle threader, pull the wire part back through the eye of the needle, stopping when you have one thread in the eye of the needle.

4. Remove the thread from the wire part of the needle threader.

5. Knot your thread and sew.

See our sewing notions available at our CHShops Mall Store at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

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Saturday, March 14, 2009

TimeSharing in Orlando, FL





February is a good time to vacation in Orlando; and this year was no exception. We did a timeshare exchange and spent two lovely weeks at the Orange Lake Country Club, North Village, which actually is in Kissimmee.

The Orange Lake Country Club covers alot of acreage, situated on adjoining property lines with Disney World. There are four "resort villages" within Orange Lake--North Village, West Village, East Village, and River Island. But no matter which village you stay at, you have access to all of the amenities in all of the villages. They offer continuous daily shuttles to and from each village; And I think they even have a complimentary daily shuttle to Disney. There are on-site restaurants, shops, and pools galore, along with hot tubs and lazy river rafting; and of course golfing and tennis.

Since we go to Orlando every year at this time for the Orlando Amateur Radio Club HamCation, we will definitely stay at Orange Lake again.

Pictured above: Interior and exterior view of Orange Lake Country Club

See our timeshare rentals and sales available at our CHShops Mall Online Store at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Penny and Doug
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Friday, March 13, 2009

Google Checkout

From Google Checkout

Google Checkout's transaction processing fees will be changing. We'll be
transitioning from our 2.0% + $0.20 per transaction rate to a new
tiered fee structure, where the rates will vary depending on the
dollar amount of your monthly sales processed through Checkout.
The rate you'll be charged beginning on May 5, 2009 will be based
on your sales processed through Checkout during the month of April
2009. Each month thereafter, we'll continue to use the prior
month's sales volume to determine your transaction processing
rate. For more details about the new rates, please visit
http://checkout.google.com/seller/fees.html

We'll also be discontinuing the AdWords free transaction
processing promotion on May 5, 2009. Any AdWords transaction
processing credits accrued during April 2009 will be applied
towards transactions that occur on May 1-4, 2009.

Fees are the same for all payment types (Visa, MasterCard,
American Express, and Discover) and there are still no monthly,
setup, or gateway fees. For cross-border transactions, there will
be an additional 1% fee assessed per transaction. To learn more
about Google Checkout fees, please visit
Google Checkout

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Thursday, March 12, 2009

Product for Good Supports Our Troops



In the spring of 2003, US and British coalition soldiers in Iraq were called upon to secure the banks in Basra, Iraq from looters. The soldiers found three forms of currency in the banks: 1) US currency that was ultimately used to inject into the Iraqi economy, 2) Iraqi paper currency that was burned, and 3) Iraqi coins that were melted down for scrap metal content....with one exception. A group of British soldiers led by Captain Chris McGinley & Reservist Robert Brannagan found roughly 70,000 pounds of brilliant un-circulated Iraqi coins that were decommissioned by Saddam Hussein at the end of the first Gulf War. Captain McGinley and his men came up with a brilliant idea, and obtained all permissions necessary to auction off those coins in London and use the proceeds to rebuild an orphanage in Basra (pictured above left) that had been destroyed during Saddam’s reign of terror. Saddam’s coins were sold, the orphanage in Basra was rebuilt, and the miraculous story of the coins was only just beginning....

In late 2004, through an unbelievable string of connections and coincidences that can only be described as divine intervention; the Products for Good team was offered the opportunity to purchase the entire collection of Saddam’s coins. The team immediately acted on the opportunity and developed a plan around utilizing these coins in accordance with Captain McGinely’s original intent....selling what had at one time been Saddam's property to create good works for as many people as possible.

A product line was designed that would display the coins in a patriotic and high quality fashion. Using the coins themselves, in a beautifully designed frame, surrounded by pictures, memorabilia and quotes that honor and reflect the sacrifices made by our military to protect our freedoms. The four coin shadowbox and the Products for Good story have been featured on several television shows and a nationally syndicated morning radio show.

In keeping with the mission to help as many Americans as possible with this project (and in lieu of less expensive foreign assembly), Products for Good chose to assemble the shadowboxes at the Cleveland Vocational Industries (CVI). CVI is a facility which provides work opportunities for mentally and physically challenged individuals with barriers to entry into the traditional workforce. The workers at CVI take tremendous pride in making a contribution and great self-satisfaction from being able to provide for themselves. Products for Good is excited and privileged to have CVI participating in the project and is thrilled to be able to create up to one hundred and fifty full-time jobs at peak production.

The last piece of the puzzle was to find a national spokesperson to represent the project in the best way possible and Products for Good was excited to land Lee Greenwood for the role. Lee has been committed to the project from the beginning and has even permitted Products for Good to use God Bless the USA for the first time in history to support a commercial venture.

With the shadowboxes in production and retail sales being generated, and Lee Greenwood on board, Products for Good put the last piece of the story in place...creating a plan to donate over $20 million to the families of our wounded heroes! A percentage of every dollar generated from the sale of these coins (before any expenses are paid) is sent immediately to charities such as the Aleethia Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Project for Survivors (TAPS), Helping a Hero and The Gerald T. Parks Memorial Foundation. Products for Good has been fortunate to see its donation money at work, and the help it has provided to those in need. Monies donated so far have been utilized to help families of wounded warriors keep their homes through difficult times, build new homes for permanently injured soldiers so their handicap will not diminish their ability to live comfortably, and to help build a nursing home facility on a VA hospital property...just to name a few.

Although the good generated by Saddam's coins has been miraculous to date, Products for Good is only getting started. The next generation of the story is just under way! To accelerate the money being given to the charities, Products for Good changed its business model from selling products on a retail basis to devising a distributor strategy. By signing up distributors around the country, Products for Good can not only get money to the troops and their families more quickly (by selling coins faster), but we can also provide substantial money making opportunities for the distributors and their families. Just another way the coins are being used to help American families! If you are interested in learning more about opportunities to become a Products for Good distributor in your area, please email Rick at rabrams@productsforgood.com.

Products for Good has expanded the product line to include hats, dog tags, clocks, patriot packs, and 20 other products that will soon be up on the web site and available to distributors for re-sale. Products are sold at the retail prices, Products for Good makes donations off of the wholesale prices we charge the distributor, and the profit belongs to the distributor. From the initial orphans in Basra, to the mentally and physically challenged Americans that assemble the products, to the wounded and their families that benefit from Products for Good donations to the families of the distributors that profit from helping us with sales....EVERYONE IS A WINNER!

Thank you for taking the time to visit our site and may God Bless You and our military heroes. Products For Good

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See our Squidoo Lens for more ways to support our Troops at: All Things Military

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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Do You Like Guns? Well, So Do We!


Equipment Guide: Guns, Tanks and More
Do you like guns? Well so do we. Check out Military.com's equipment guide to browse the biggest military guns, hot new gadgets, and coolest aircrafts and tanks....More at: Military.com

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Press Releases Drive Traffic--By EcommerceBytes



Press Releases Drive Traffic to Ecommerce Websites
By Phil Davies
EcommerceBytes
March 11, 2009

Your marketing budget is tight or nonexistent, but you still need to attract new customers to your website. One low cost way to draw traffic is to establish yourself as an expert in your field. Publishing news releases online allow you to reach out to both the public and the media with interesting news about your business.

A press release informs the public and the media about news related to your organization or business. "News" is defined as information about a recent or important event. For example, if your organization or business hires a new CEO or introduces a new product or service, you could write a news release about those events. Other newsworthy topics include promotions you are running, price changes, a new line of products, and even tips for consumers who use your types of products.

A good release should also give some type of valuable information to attract potential customers. For the past 10 years, TIAS.com has been publishing a monthly list of the top antiques and collectibles that people have searched for on their Web site during the previous month. This list is valuable to collectors and sellers of antiques and collectibles because it gives an interesting insight into that vertical market. Many publications and websites republish these releases as well, because the information has value for their readers. As a result of these releases, tens of thousands of people have visited the TIAS website.

See entire article at: EBAuctionBytes

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Should You Be Clinging To Your Gun?



Should You Be Clinging To Your Gun?
Beware of "Common Sense" Measures.

An article from the Gilmer County, Ga. Times Courier by Becky Antworth

You may recall the surge in gun sales last Fall surrounding Barack Obama's election. Purchases and permit requests shot up 20 percent. Stores across the county set six-figure sales records on Nov 4--only to break them on Nov 5. Dallas sold over $300,000 in merchandise in the three days after Election Day. Colorado set a state record--1,500 new owners in a single day.

Buy 'em while you can, people said. President Obama plus a Democratic Congress signaled a gun rights disaster waiting to happen.

So four months after the election, I wondered what the feeling was among gun enthusiasts. Were they still stocking up? Had store owners seen any signs the Second Amendment was about to be frisked?

See the entire article here: TimesCourier

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Just remember what the real issue is. Any why defending it is more than "common sense".

See our Squidoo Lens, AnnieAmerica, Get Your Gun at: AnnieAmerica, Get Your Gun

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Kennehoochee Amateur Radio HamFest



This year's Kennehoochee HamFest will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the Jim R. Miller Park (Cobb County Fairgrounds), Marietta, Ga, from 8AM to 3PM.

There will be Dealers, Flea Market, Bone Yard, FCC Exams--all in a covered area! Free parking, Handicapped accessible, Free RV hook-ups.

Come join the fun and the opportunity to win great door prizes.

Penny N6HWB
Doug N3DAB
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Monday, March 09, 2009

There's No Such Thing As A Used Book



Exerpts from an article that appeared in Epinions.com several year ago. Just like an old book, this article still has much to offer.
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There's No Such Thing As a Used Book

The Bottom Line Buy used books! The brain you save may be your own.

When you think about it, there really is no such thing as a used book. Not in the sense we as consumers think of used, anyway. Consider my whim, if you will. Most people, if given the choice, prefer new cars to used cars. Cars, however, are not books. Ever tried to read a car? You just can't do it. Cars have a rather finite lifetime, for the most part. The more that they’re driven, the more likely they are to require repairs, or to become unusable.

Books, on the other hand, are much more forgiving. Oh sure, they may become a little dog eared, and the spine may have a crease. Maybe somebody spilled a little beer on a few pages (would I do that?). But as long as a book is complete and you can read it, it’s just as good on the 42nd reading as it was on the first.

And there’s just something about the wonderful, musty, heady smell of an old paperback that really makes you feel alive. It’s really something to stop and savor, I think.

Used Books vs. New Books
So, of course you should buy used books, instead of new ones anyway. You can save a lot of money doing so, too. Used books are often easy to find on Ebay, although shipping costs mean that you usually have to buy them in lots in order to realize any significant savings.

Flea markets are a great place to buy used books. They can often be purchased very cheaply here, although you usually have to go with what you can find. If you’re looking for a particular book, your local used book store is a great place to go. They usually have a great selection, and you can even trade in “old” used books towards the purchase of “new” used books.

Used Books vs. Library Books
Which brings us to a question: should you buy used books instead of going to the library? That all depends on your reading habits. How long do you take to read a book? Can you read it before it’s due to be returned? I almost always can.

Unfortunately, I’m one of the worst people in the world when it comes to taking things back on time. I’ve pretty much stopped renting movies, because by the time I add up my late fees it’s usually cheaper just to buy the DVD outright. Same goes for library books.

But I will confess that I have a personality quirk about books. If I’ve read a book, and enjoyed it, I want to own a copy. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I like to loan them out to friends. Maybe it’s because it’s nice to have them to refer back to. Or maybe I think I’ll re-read them some day. Whatever the reason, I like to hang on to my books, and buying used books gives me the flexibility to do just that.

See entire article at www.epinions.com

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See our used media and books section at our CHShops.com Mall Store at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

Pictured above: Reader's Digest Condensed Book, one of several vintage books available at Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry.

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Sunday, March 08, 2009

March Sale in Progress at Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry





March Sale in Progress at Penny's Pantry

Two categories are on sale this month: All Collectibles are 10% off and all Pottery & Glass sales are 10% off. Browse our online catalog and find our extra specials at: Penny's Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry. Sale ends Midnight, March 31, 2009.

Pictured: examples of the variety of items on sale until March 31.

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Saturday, March 07, 2009

Wilhelm Wagenfeld, German Crystal Glass Maker, Part 2 of 2




One of Wagenfeld’s most successful posts was as artistic director (1935–44) of the Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke (VLG) in Weisswasser. With his team of colleagues, which included such people as Heinrich Löffelhardt (1901–79) and Hermann Gretsch (1895–1950), he produced high-quality functional glassware sold under the name of Rautenglas. He also carried out decisive improvements in the field of compressed glass, an important result of which is the Kubusgeschirr storage ware (1938), rectangular stackable containers of various sizes (Berlin, Tiergarten, Kstgewmus., 1981, 108).

World War II brought Wagenfeld’s career at VLG to an end. After military service and a period as a prisoner in the USSR (1944–5), he went to Dresden (1946), before spending two years in Berlin (1947–9), where his posts included a professorship at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste. From 1949 he was based in Stuttgart. After a brief period as an industrial design consultant (1949–50), Wagenfeld devoted himself exclusively to independent work as a designer and model-maker in manufacturing industry, working from 1954 to 1978 in his own workshop with a small team of colleagues. He also worked for a number of firms including WMF/Geislingen (hollow stainless steel and silverware, cutlery, glass containers), Peill & Putzler/Düren (drinking glasses and lamps), Lindner GmbH/Bamberg (lamps) and Joh. Buchsteiner/Gingen Fils (plastic ware). He designed services and other consumer products for the porcelain industry (Rosenthal AG/Selb; Fürstenberg/Weser).

Wagenfeld discussed his aims and experiences in a large number of publications. His work was not concerned with selective improvements but with generally raising the level of quality of industrial consumer items, a task that would have been impossible without the equally important contribution of those involved in the production process. Walter Gropius described Wagenfeld’s work as a consistent application of the ideas of the Werkbund and the Bauhaus in his emphasis on socially responsible work. His designs are characterized by their functionalism and unobtrusive beauty and by being reworked several times.

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Pictured above: Wagenfeld Crystal Vase, available at our CHShops.com Mall Store at: Pennys Antiques & Wedgwood Pantry

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Friday, March 06, 2009

VI Day in IRAQ - June 13, 2009


An article from Gathering of Eagles:

This will be the scene on the National Mall on June 13th, 2009, as tens of thousands of Americans gather to do what must be done:

DECLARE VICTORY IN IRAQ

Americans! If we don't do it, it won't be done; join us as we gather in the nation's capital on June 13th to commemorate "Victory in Iraq Day" and to thank our military for their sacrifices on behalf of a grateful nation. The time has come to recognize our brave troops for bringing victory to the Iraqi people and to the cause of freedom around the world.

What has happened in Iraq reflects what our nation can do when the stakes are high, and the stakes in Iraq were VERY high. While Operation Desert Storm was an important victory in the fight for freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom was immeasurably more vital in terms of defending the values we hold dear, and yet the government will not organize a victory parade like it did for General Schwarzkopf's troops. Why? Desert Storm was supported by the American public, and OIF has been the "orphan" of the last decade.

Well, the orphan has parents now, and, as Pogo said, "They is us."

Let's take ownership of our troops' victory in Iraq by gathering in the uncounted thousands to give them a national "thank-you."

There will be patriotic speakers, fabulous music, a sea of flags, and a general atmosphere of celebration and thanksgiving for what our military men and women have done under the most difficult of circumstances. Be a part of it!

Victory in Iraq Rally
Published: 01/14/2009 Author: Chris Hill
Posted On: January 14, 2009 at 9:40 AM By: Kathy

Yes, you read that correctly. On 13 June, 2009 , The Band of Mothers, Gathering of Eagles, Eagles Up and all our usual partners in the pro-troop movement will once again come together on the Mall in Washington , DC to celebrate the Victory of our brave troops in Iraq .

Many have argued for some time now that victory in Iraq was not only impossible, but that it was not even quantifiable. “Define victory!” was the cry from many in the anti-American groups like Code Pink and ANSWER. Well here it is: Baghdad is under Iraqi control, as are fully three-quarters of the provinces in a country that was written off as lost by too many of our politicians and all of our adversaries.

Elections are held with regularity in Iraq now. Their politicians squabble over banalities in a way all too reminiscent of the U.S. Congress. Bombings are down, American combat troops are rotating out, Iraqi recruits are graduating at record rates and schools, hospitals and government agencies are opening all over the country. In fact, more Americans were killed in a handful of American cities last year than in the entire country of Iraq .

One American death is terrible and hard to take, but our brave men and women in uniform shouldered their burden and liberated a country that had been in the hands of a truly dangerous U.S. hating despot. The situation in Iraq will not turn around completely, but turn around it will and all because brave American heroes saw to it. The Middle-East will not begin to love us over night, but 10 or 20 years down the road some Iraqi child who benefited from the company of an American warrior will marvel at how anyone could hate such good, kind men and women.

That is what we are going to celebrate in DC this June: the best and brightest Americans went to a brutally inhospitable land and made friends of former enemies. They fought in conditions alien and incomprehensible to most of us and they succeeded against terrible odds because that is what our service members do. Join us in saying thanks to these men and women. If you’re uncertain what the thanks should be let me sum it up for you: THANK YOU SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, MARINES & COASTIES FOR SAVING THE WORLD. WE ARE FOREVER IN YOUR DEBT.

Chris Hill
Executive Director
Gathering of Eagles
www.gatheringofeagles.org

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