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Sunday, November 29, 2009 8:07 PM EST

Since when does Santa say “Happy Thanksgiving?”

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition in our family going back to when I was a child. One year, my cousin Tom and I hauled out a portable manual typewriter at a Thanksgiving gathering and produced a family newspaper called “The Family Times.” (Yes, I was into newspapers even then.) the lead story told of our morning watching what the cub reporter described as “the Macy’s Day parade.”It was the first time (but not the last) this reporter had a reader challenge him on the facts.”What’s this Macy’s Day parade?” my Uncle Everett asked. “It isn’t Macy’s Day. It’s Thanksgiving Day.”He was right, of course, though no writer likes to be caught in an error. As much as Macy’s (and all the other products, stars and shows that get relentlessly plugged by the NBC hosts) may try to hijack Christmas through the proverbial miracle on 34th Street, it doesn’t own Thanksgiving.That was one of the points of the movie “Miracle on 34th Street,” of course. you know the film, or one of its remakes — the real Santa Claus is recruited at the last minute to substitute for Macy’s Santa in the parade. Doris Walker, the woman who runs the parade, and her daughter are Santa-deniers, so Kriss Kringle takes it upon himself to make them believe.Macy’s is so tied up with this theme that today it has adopted and adapted it into a Christmas slogan wrapped up in one word: “Believe.”There’s a lot of irony in this, because one of the themes of the film is that Christmas has become too commercialized. (”Yeah, there’s a lot of bad ‘isms’ floatin’ around this world, but one of the worst is commercialism,” Alfred, the Macy’s janitor, says.)For Christians, the word “believe” has a whole different meaning — belief in the virgin birth of a savior, the son of God. these believers have been battling, or coexisting with, commercialism for decades, perhaps centuries — think of Charles Dickens and “A Christmas Carol.”Now there’s a new “ism” floating around this world — secularism, or maybe generalism. People who are accustomed to saying “Merry Christmas” are upset about those who go around with “Happy Holidays” on their lips. I suppose the generic greeting is designed not to insult those of other faiths — or no faith — between the more universal holidays of Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Just about everyone celebrates one or both in some way.this brings us back to Thanksgiving and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as I have since learned to call it. the mother of one of my daughter’s friends holds a job that is today’s equivalent of Doris Walker’s, and the girl gets to ride on Santa’s float in the parade. so on Thursday morning, I watched and then called our middle-schooler in to see Santa, or rather Sophia.”There she is!” she gasped as the float pulled to a stop in front of Macy’s flagship store and Santa waved to the crowd with a merry (real or imagined) “ho-ho-ho.” Then, and I’m not imagining this part, he wished everyone: “Happy Thanksgiving!”Wait a minute. Since when does Santa Claus say “happy Thanksgiving?”Since Thanksgiving, I guess. after all, that’s what everyone else was wishing people on Thanksgiving Day.but Santa is a Christmas — if not necessarily a thoroughly Christian — symbol. What’s he doing saying “happy Thanksgiving” instead of “merry Christmas?”You can’t blame him or his script writer, I suppose. after all, it was Thanksgiving, and people give him and his employer so much grief about the commercialization of Christmas and leaving out the other faiths and genericizing “the holiday season.” why not be both specific and universal?now that Thanksgiving is behind us, though, Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat. I hope that Santa will wish the little ones a merry Christmas instead of going generic. If he — or anyone — slips up and says “merry Christmas” to someone who celebrates some other holiday, then there’s a very simple response the recipient can make instead of taking offense: “Thank you. the same to you!”Or, as one Jewish friend has wisely responded when I’ve (more than once) accidentally wished her a merry Christmas, then suddenly backpedaled when I realized my mistake: “I celebrate all holidays.”After all, isn’t “this holiday season” — whatever you choose to call it — all about giving thanks and sharing with others?Howard Fielding (hfielding@rep-am.com) lives in Southbury. Reader Comments Submit a Comment

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Mozilla posted the fourth public beta of Firefox 3.6 on Thanksgiving, code-named Namoroka after a Madagascar national park. The new beta arrives barely ten days after the non-profit organization released Firefox 3.6 Beta 3 on November 17. Firefox 3.6 Beta 4 has more than 140 bug fixes (full list) from the previous beta and a number of compatibility improvements, hinting that a final release could be around the corner.

For example, Facebook Chat now works without a hiccup and you’ll notice far fewer crashes than before. Mozilla also said this release lets you “kick the tires” with improved JavaScript performance, browser responsiveness, and startup time. A complete list of bug fixes since the mid-August alpha release is available here. The software also contains many improvements for web developers, add-on developers, and users.

Mozilla said that almost 70 percent of the thousands of Firefox add-ons have now been upgraded for Firefox 3.6, yet another indication that the release candidate is looming on the horizon. The vast majority of the existing add-ons should just work on the final release from day one. That’s a good sign considering this had been a major issue with previous Firefox upgrades. In case your favorite add-on isn’t yet compatible, Mozilla advises you install the Add-on Compatibility Reporter to report issues with add-ons.

Also new is support for local file handling via the HTML5 File API that will allow web apps to read the contents of the user-selected local files. Here’s how Mozilla Links described this functionality:

You would be able to load a bunch of local images to a web app without actually uploading them to the server. you would be able to edit them locally, save them locally, and optionally upload them once they are ready.

Firefox 3.6 Beta is built on a speedier Gecko 1.9.2 layout engine that has been optimized to run on small device operating systems such as Windows CE and Maemo. In fact. the upcoming mobile Firefox dubbed Fennec will share the same Gecko layout engine as Firefox 3.6. The browser sports a number of noteworthy features, like Personas – a lightweight theming engine that lets you dress up your browser in varied user interface themes which do not require a restart to install. I’ve included below the convenient Thanksgiving Turkey Persona by Robbins Design, you can wear it here.

Firefox 3.6 keeps you safe by automatically warning you about out-of-date plugins and it supports typography on the web through a new WOFF font format. Also, you can watch videos embedded with the <video> tag in the full screen mode (Theora encoders are supported out-of-the-box). last but not the least, a new API lets add-on developers access Firefox’s geolocation features.

It seems that the tab preview feature of the Windows 7 taskbar hasn’t been re-enabled in Beta 4 after it disappeared from Beta 3, suggesting that the final release might not support key Windows 7 features, namely jump lists, tab previews, and download progress in the taskbar. if you already have a beta of Firefox 3.6 installed on your system, the browser should automatically update itself. you can also invoke the update check manually, by choosing the Check for Updates option from the help menu. if you’re installing a fresh copy, download a standalone installer (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux).

Read more in the Firefox 3.6 Beta 4 release notes

Today is a day to count our blessings and keep the faith, even in the face of strife that sometimes enters our lives. That’s the overriding message from readers today. we asked readers to tell us what you’re thankful for this year and, as usual, we had a robust response. Some are very personal. Some are more global. Many are patriotic. Most are graced by faith. All are filled with heartwarming gratitude. so while the turkey is cooking or perhaps after you’ve had your fill of a delicious meal, take some time to read what many of your fellow readers have shared … and ponder your own blessings this special day. we at the Rome News-Tribune are so very thankful for each of our readers, advertisers, partners and employees and the chance to serve and cover our community each and every day of the year. we wish you a happy Thanksgiving and much joy in the holidays to come. Charlotte Atkins, editor

In April 2008 I was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. However, God put together an awesome team of doctors with himself as head of the team. I am so thankful for Dr. Kahn who never gave up on me and for Dr. Paul Brock who was strong enough and brave enough to do what God anointed him to do. Seventeen months ago I had two lobes removed from my lungs and therefore removing all signs of cancer. Whether I eat a hamburger or a feast fit for a king, I have so much to be thankful for. God brought me through incredibly impossible odds to let me know what was important in my life. Once again, thank you Dr. Kahn for all your care that you have shown me; Dr. Brock who already knows that he has a part of my heart that no one else could ever occupy. but most of all thanks to God for sending his only son that took the 39 stripes so I could be healed through the holy power of the sweet spirit. Alive and Well, Debra Hart

This year as always I am thankful for my very close relationship with my family. but more so this year I am thankful for the recovery of my mother, Cyndy Ferguson, who has battled breast cancer since 2007. You don’t realize what someone means to you until you see them at their worst. Family has always been a No. 1 priority in my life, but more so now than ever. Don’t take life for granted. Anything can happen … Amanda Owens

The Thanksgiving season has always been a special time of the year for me and my family. As Americans we enjoy the best that life has to offer. our country is far from perfect, but we are so very blessed. we should give thanks to our lord and savior Jesus Christ and remember to honor him in all that we do and say. William Fricks

As you get older you have more time to reflect on what you have accomplished and are thankful for. You have done almost all you can to make things better. It seems almost redundant and boring to say you are most thankful for your family, but I can’t think of anything I am more thankful for. my two beautiful children and the mates they have chosen are some of the most thoughtful and giving people I know. my wonderful husband of 51 years has been faithful and loving, bringing me breakfast in bed almost daily. Who could ask for more? and I can’t forget America and how blessed I am to be born in this great country. I have never been hungry, naked or homeless and I give all the glory to God. I wish all a happy Thanksgiving and most prosperous new Year. God bless America! Marion Whittle

As one columnist last week opined, Americans seem to be able for one day at Thanksgiving to trade grousing about what they don’t have for contemplating what they do. This year of economic strife perhaps will make us grateful on a more fundamental level than we have been in the past. and I hope so. because when I try and define the moments that have left an indelible imprint on my memory, I think of experiences that have little to do with money or possessions or status or titles:

Driving to work in the early morning, the multicolored Appalachian hills a backdrop to the ethereal clouds hovering above a frosted field; years ago watching my 13-year-old daughter – a student who always struggled – read an essay that left no eye dry at her eighth-grade graduation from Friends school; enjoying deliciously aromatic coffee on the porch swing in early summer, the air wooly with moisture and filled with birdsong; delivering homemade foods on Christmas Eve to friends who always welcome me; listening to tapes of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Cambridge College Choir perform Christmas music so beautiful it rattles my bone marrow. All these remain cemented in my brain. hardly a one cost money.

And aren’t they the kinds of awareness, events and memories that make our lives worthwhile? Aren’t they the way we are able to touch others with an equally lasting memory? I remember kindness more than anger, understanding more than confrontation, the simplicity of genuine good will more than the froufrou of outward extravagance, humility more than arrogance, modesty more than aggression.

And I am deeply thankful that I can count as real friends people I have known since childhood. I’m equally grateful that I discovered new friends as an adult, people who broadened my frame of reference. I put a face, a name, a personality, a character to difference and diversity for the first time. There’s nothing like getting to know different people to rid oneself of silly stereotypes and prejudices. I’m so proud to have a beautiful daughter who is kind and generous with all whom she encounters. I’m happy to be, at this moment in time, in good health.

Yes, I sometimes struggle to pay bills. and I’m furloughed, like all other state employees. but I have a charming house, enough heat in the winter and food on my table. What’s a meager bank account when I posses such wealth in family, friends and memories? Dana Davis

I am thankful to our Lord and Savior for giving me a wonderful and healthy family when there are so many others in this world who are not as fortunate as we are here in the United States. I am also most thankful to our troops at home and abroad for keeping us safe from harm’s way. Abeed Bawa

I am thankful to be able to care for my mother (she is 81 and has Alzheimer’s). She is precious and I hope and pray that I can continue to care for her, the patience to do so and give her the love she deserves and thankful to have friends that are there to listen when I need them. Kay Tucker

During this time of Thanksgiving holidays, we want to share with you what we are thankful for. we are thankful for our awesome God. God has blessed us with our wonderful children, Cali, Hannah, Logan and Mallory, our family, and our friends. we love you so much and are so grateful that we have you in our lives. we are thankful for this wonderful country and for the troops who help make freedom possible here. we are thankful for our health, home, and our jobs. God has blessed us so much! Jerry and Suzanne Osborne

When we first were embarking on Rome, seven years ago, I would pause between Rome and Georgia when my friends in South Carolina asked me where we were starting our new life. I loved to see the looks on their faces as they pondered the Walker’s in Rome, Italy! During my husband, Lance’s, first visit, I heard the clock tower ring in the background, over the telephone, as he was exploring our new downtown. he said, “You’re going to love it here!” and I wondered… As a stay-at-home mom with a 1 and 2 year old and pregnant with a third, I was nervous about a move. would I meet new friends easily in a small town? would people be open to an outsider starting a new business? As Lance called on doctors, he was stunned to find the openness that we have since known Rome to be all about. the willingness of this town to accept and almost “lift up” a new family trying to make a new business and new life work. a bank that would actually look at our dreams and say yes. a church family that beckoned for us to return again and again. and later, a family that would see us for who we are, sell us their home of 20 years (steps away from that clock tower!) and let us renovate it and make it ours. I love and am thankful for the ease in Rome. the ability to run 10 errands, with our now five children in the car, in 30 minutes. to be able to live in a town that appreciates WHO you are and is accepting and thankful for your business. to be accepted and loved by the city that we made our home in … that makes me thankful for my Rome, Georgia. Lori Walker

I am thankful that I have electricity daily. my hot water worked for a shower. my clothes were clean because I have a washer/dryer. my children are warm because we have jackets. our bellies are full because we have food and our souls are happy because we have Jesus … Can’t help but think about all those around the world that wake up every morning without these things. I have two healthy children, a strong marriage and a close family and for that I am greatly thankful. but most of all I am thankful for the military people who have committed to serve for our freedom. Many of which are not with their family due to either being at war or being stationed too far from home. so I would like to personally thank you all for your sacrifices you have made for me and my family. Cassie Camp

I am thankful for… Baseball played with wooden bats and without designated hitters, Coaches Baker, Miller, Wilson, Weatherford, Welch and Mullinax who collectively know one recipe (how to make a man), and a few friends that genuinely smile when they see me coming. the three girls I’ve been in love with, the puppy that has agreed to sleep at the foot of my bed until number four finds me, the twenty-something soul in my thirty-something body at the age of 46. Everyone who hasn’t bought Sarah Palin’s book, that Richie Underwood and Greg Herring were my friends, my brother, my sister and the Higher Power that decided I deserved not only a daughter, but the greatest one in the world. Len Seamon

I am thankful for the way I have been loved and taken care of by my children and friends as well as the wonderful health care personnel at Floyd Medical Center and the special doctors at Harbin Clinic during this past year. Last fall I had some major surgeries and was an in-patient for four months, then a time of recuperation. During that time my mom died at age 90, my husband was sick, but my faith in my Lord was never weakened. Then in October of this year my precious husband and friend of 53 years left this life. Why am I thankful for all of the above? It has strengthened my faith and made me aware of the many blessings we all have each day of our lives. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Judith J. Masters

As I reflect back over the past year I find myself not only “thankful” but blessed for many positive people and events that have strengthened by life and beliefs. at the top of my list is the recovery of my loving wife from breast cancer, being blessed with three wonderful children, the continued joy of watching my four grandchildren grow, the support of my mother, stepfather, and family … and the lifelong “connection” and love with my friends. Not to be forgotten is my successful continued recovery from heart disease, which has allowed me to continue my “work” with young people in my community. Finally I am thankful for our great country, for the leaders who lead us, and for the women and men who defend us. God bless them all. Happy Holidays! John W. Davis Jr.

First I am thankful to be alive. I thank God every day for my heath. I am so thankful for my husband Steve, who has fought two battles of cancer and survived. I am thankful for my mother of 82 years and my lovely children and grandchildren. we all have problems and suffer in these hard times and the holidays are the worst to get through. I try every year during the holidays to give to people that need it worse than I do. I am also thankful for my job and the work we do to help during the holidays. Whether it be like last year and find a needy family that has nothing to give money to or just a can-a-thon or toy collection. one of my most prized possessions is my little yorkie, Sophie. May you all have a happy Thanksgiving and remember there is someone out there a lot worse off that need you. Brenda McChargue

I was diagnosed with Leukemia five years ago. I have been in remission for three years now. I am thankful for God taking care of me and allowing me to be here to love and be with my son who I thought I would never have, who I know loves me. to have a life with my husband, who has always supported and loved me through it all. They have loved and cared for me without a complaint, been there for me. I am Thankful for God’s care for me. Faye Holbrook

I am thankful for a supportive family, good friends, a loving son, and a wonderful husband that means the world to me. I am also very thankful that I have a job and that it is at a wonderful place to work and serve (Shorter College). I am very grateful for some things I do not have any more like back pain, cancer treatments and debt. Most of all, I am grateful for the people in my life that care about me and that I live in a free country where I can achieve as much as I am willing to work for and not made to live or feel subservient to anyone. Joan Ledbetter

I’m thankful for life! what a wonderful one I have with the Lord leading my every day. Time with my adoring husband, my thoughtful daughter and my entertaining son is priceless. I love the home we share. I’m thankful to my dad for his unceasing guidance and insight and my mom for her continued love and support. I admire my brother for his willingness to serve family, friends and our country! I’m grateful for the time I had with my grandparents. They taught me the spirit of family. I’m thankful to my maternal grandmother for her welcoming home and baking among other things. I’m thankful for the generosity of my in-laws. I’m grateful for the memories of holidays and trips with aunts, uncles and cousins. You helped make my childhood unforgettable! I’m thankful for my best friends who have been part of my life since childhood. I’m grateful for my church home and the warmth of its atmosphere. I’m thankful for my hometown, my education and my job as a teacher. I’m thankful for my school friendships and the children that have touched my heart. I’m grateful for my health so that I can enjoy all of these blessings. Leann Fowler

I am thankful for the Thanksgiving letters my friend, Sue Spivey, sends me each year encouraging me to pause and ponder my many blessings. I am thankful for Sue’s kind words, for being such an excellent mentor to me, and for giving so much of herself in service to Summerville and Chattooga County. This year Sue shared, “There’s a special place within our hearts where we keep our favorite memories — the ones who never fail to make us smile. and when life becomes too hectic, it is such a special wonderful feeling to close our eyes and reminisce awhile. the things that matter most of all are often the close at hand … a touch, a hug, a gentle look that says ‘I understand.’ the smile that inspires us, the words that let us know the way our hearts are leading is the way that we should go. These right-before-us, simple things may seem to be so small, but they’re what life is made of, and they matter most of all.” I plan to hold closest to my heart this Thanksgiving the little things: the sun or cool breeze on my cheek, quiet time by the mountain stream. and the large things: God’s love, my family, especially my three precious grandchildren, health and friends like Sue, who are close to my heart, bring me hope and indeed are a blessing. Kay Dixon

What I am thankful for is my health and strength and that I can get around as good as I can. and for the roof over my head, the food on my table and shoes on my feet and my family and friends and the love of God in me for all people. Praying for men and women fighting for our freedom. Amen. Mary Ann House

First and most of all is for being a part of the family of God … the reason for all good things to be thankful for. my wonderful family, my pets, my fond memories I have of my loved ones gone to be with Jesus. the list can go on and on, with limited words running out. I’m thankful for the Senior Citizens Tallatoona bus for providing transportation, for true friends calling to see if I’m OK. I’m so thankful to open up the paper to the editorials, and read positive things from people who take a stand for God and right on so many different issues. Waking up in the morning and seeing the dew from heaven on the grass, to the beautiful sunset and the care God gives me through the night. now, doesn’t that want you to give God thanks for everything? Food, shelter, good health, God-called preachers, America. All from my heart. Shirley Patterson

It’s always a blessing to see another day, night, birthday, the holidays and new Year’s. I am truly thankful for my 34 years of living. I am thankful for the great family, church family and friends I have. I am thankful for all my many blessings. I am thankful and blessed to have the Lord watch over me and wakening me. I am blessed and truly thankful for the awesome Mom I have. I am thankful for my brother’s first born. She is a blessing and I am thankful for how she turned out and I am thankful for the woman she is growing up to be. Alfie D. Crawford-Glasco

The mornings are quieter now, the distant trees are often wrapped in fog and the sunlight is more subdued. our lawn is a jumbled quilt of fallen leaves; topaz-yellows, merlot-reds and muted greens. and it is time! my grandchildren and I head outside on our special annual mission – looking up in the trees with great anticipation – holding our breath (and our giggles), waiting to catch leaves before they touch the ground. These are magical leaves, our wishing leaves. such leaves are priceless, far better at granting wishes than wishing on the first evening star or throwing pennies in wishing wells. While it is a challenge to catch such a leaf, my 6-year-old granddaughter has become a pro. her 10-month old brother watches us — crinkling his nose and chortling at our silliness. we toss leaves at him and he grabs one, holding it up in victory before trying to eat it. we take our leaves and fervently make splendid wishes on them before pressing them between the pages of our big dictionary. for this small fragile moment of time – the world is truly filled with miracles and for that I am most thankful! Diana Lynn Davis West

What I am Thankful for!

I am thankful that I am 6 years old

and am in first grade at SMS.

I am thankful for my two families.

I am thankful for being able to speak two languages.

I am thankful for my friends and my school.

I am thankful I can read.

I am thankful for cats and books about dinosaurs.

I am very thankful for mud puddles and great piles of leaves that I can jump into.

I’m really, really thankful for the pancakes that my RARA makes for us on Sunday mornings.

He make funny shapes and they taste so good with lots of butter and honey.

I am thankful for french fries, pizza, chocolate milk and pumpkin pie.

I am even thankful for my little brother most days.

I have a lot of reasons to be thankful and one the best reasons is it is Thanksgiving Day!

Julianna Perez

There are so many things that I am thankful for! No. 1 is to have a God who loves me unconditionally and for a Savior who died for my sins so that I could have a personal relationship with such a God! Secondly, I am thankful for my wife Lenora and for her putting up with me and for giving me all the support that any one man could want! Thirdly, I’m thankful for my children, grandchildren and especially for my one and only great-grandchild (grandson). Fourthly, I’m thankful for something we don’t think about too much — which is hot water — just imagine life without hot water! Thank you, Lord! I’m also thankful for each breath that I take. Thank you, Lord, for waking me up this morning! I’m thankful for having grown up in Rome, Georgia — especially as a teen in the 50s! thanks Rome for the DeSoto, Gordon, Rivoli and first Avenue theaters — as there was nothing better than going to the movies in the 40s and 50s! It’s great that the DeSoto is still operating and doing what it does for the community (RLT). and last, but definitely not least, I’m thankful that my son Mark (now retired from USAF) who spent 15 months in Iraq and is now safely at home! Thank you, Lord! and thank you, RN-T, for allowing us to express our thanks through this media. Ron (Ronnie) Hall

I am thankful for my home, my children, my church and my church family, my wonderful friends, and most important is my God. one of the blessings in my life has been to meet Dr. Frank Stegall. he saved my life! almost 25 years ago, I went to see Dr. Stegall with what I thought was acute indigestion. he ran tests and determined that I needed heart surgery — a triple bypass. now, this was before we had heart surgeons in Rome, and he told me Emory was the best hospital to have the surgery. Well, I did not want to go. I thought I felt fine. I did go, and I had a triple bypass surgery. I was at Emory for seven days. since then I have regular appointments with Dr. Stegall, and I am doing very well. Thank you Dr. Stegall, and I hope this is a blessed Thanksgiving for you and your family. God promises to give us our daily bread. he doesn’t guarantee that it will be buttered! Vesta Avery Salmon

I am thankful for all my blessings, but I am particularly thankful for all of the opportunities that God has given me. I am a small business owner, a clinical dental hygienist and mother. my biggest blessing by far was when Andy was blessed with the gift of life without dialysis. Andy’s sister, Betsy, gave him a kidney in November 2007. Wow, what a blessing!! I am very thankful for my family. Andrea Edmondson

I am thankful that I am an American and I attend new Life Christian Ministries church in Aragon, Ga. I am also thankful that Joe Cox is a senior at UGA. Frank Osborne

Both of my parents are living and are both 87. need I say more. thank you! Robert Bearden

I am thankful for my wife Jennifer and my son Bo, my family, my good health, my savior Jesus Christ, my hometown, my friends and neighbors, my job, my iPod, the Rome-Floyd county YMCA and on-time flights back to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. (This was sent from the Canton-Akron airport in Ohio.) Jason Bennett

I’m thankful for my country “right or wrong.” I’m thankful for my family, my community and the organizations that seek to better it. I’m thankful for elections where I may vote as I please. I’m thankful for my church and the fellowship I find there when I worship. I’m thankful for the hospital where I am allowed to aide and comfort those I come in contact with as a Red Cross volunteer. I’m thankful for the food I raise as well as groceries where I supplement this food. I’m thankful for my means of transportation that allows me to be independent and travel. Lastly, I’m thankful for our military people who have kept our country free. God bless them all. I have too many blessings. It staggers the mind to name them all! Evie D. Watson

I am thankful for a mind that I can think with. I am thankful for my eyes so I can see. I am thankful for my voice so I can talk. I am thankful for my legs, hands and feet. You see, my mother is suffering from complications of a disease that won’t allow her to do any of these things. one thing I am very thankful for is the fact my mother had been in the hospital in Gadsden for 32 days with complications and the doctor said she would not make it through the night. She is in Floyd Medical Center at this time. I know a man who sits high and looks down low. His name is Jesus and he knows my mother taught us to pray because she is a praying mother. my brother Ray, sister-in-law Barbara and my husband Willie and myself are very thankful to have a mother that we can see, love and talk to even if she cannot comprehend what we say. Ray and Barbara Nash, Willie and Linda Harris we love you “Jesus” and mother, Lizzie Mae Russell Nash. Linda Harris

I am thankful for my life, health and just to see another Thanksgiving. but most of all I’d like to thank the two people that took care and looked after me when I cam home from the hospital. Sara, Debra and mrs. Sutton. I just thank you guys for being there when I needed you the most. Again thank you so much. Happy Thanksgiving. India Veal

What I am thankful for could fill a book too long to read and too heavy to carry. I am so blessed to be alive, to have a home and loving family with friends that are so good to me. I’m thankful for children’s happy laughter, for smiles that brighten up when I give them a hug. I’m thankful for the many seasons of my life here on earth, thankful for music that comforts me while I work and thankful that I am able to walk, for food and clothing. I am so thankful and prayerful for all those that fought and are still fighting for my freedom. Blessed to have firefighters and police to protect and serve. I am blessed to be at peace with God and know just where I was and where I am now. Blessed beyond measure for those that gave me courage to keep trying. I give thanks for my children, my pets, and for my flowers. I am so thankful and blessed for my grandchildren, Melissa, Trista and Cole. I am most thankful to God for his grace and to be born in America. Judy June Youngblood

I’m thankful for my wonderful parents who gave my four brother, four sisters and I such a happy childhood that I wrote a book in 1973 about it. I’m thankful to God for having survived cancer in January 1986. I’m thankful to have met a nice neighbor while living in Massachusetts whose family was related to Capt. John Smith who came over on the Mayflower. he was among the pilgrims who celebrated on Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Mass. I’m thankful my husband and I lived 16 miles from Plymouth Rock and Pilgrim Village. I’m thankful to God for all his love to everyone. I’m thankful for the Rome News-Tribune who gives us a nice paper to read every day. I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. Mildred Travers

Every day of my life I am thankful for having found my soul mate. Blessed with the perfect companion, I find the golden years to be the happiest years of my life. we have no need to travel the world, no need to think about what tomorrow will bring. we enjoy today. Blessed to be in our home together, share our meals, clasp warm hands, look into twinkling eyes — that’s my happiness. I give thanks to my God every day. Monte Howell Fricks

I thank God for a year of success and blessings, not only this day but every day of my life. I have learned to be joyful always. I pray and give thanks in all circumstances. I am thankful for my family, my church family and my pastor who taught me how to read and understand the Bible. what to be thankful for by studying the Bible learning more about Jesus Christ, what he did for me. I am so grateful and thankful. Frankie Shropshire

I am thankful for the health the Lord has given me and my special niece and nephew, Debbie and Derrick. I am the single caregiver of my husband, who has Alzheimer’s disease. without good health, and these two special people, my husband would have to be in a nursing home. They are my lifeline to the outside would. They get our groceries, take us to our doctor’s appointments and help with any of our needs. I feel so blessed to have my husband at home with me. Every time I see his big smile and hear him say “I love you, Mama,” I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world. Even though we have been married 36 years, I am “Mama” to him, and that is OK because he loved her so much. I wouldn’t have missed these blessings for anything. Mrs. Charles (Linda) Tate

This year in giving thanks, I look back on how and why I am here today. Earlier this year, I approached a fork in the road on my playing field of life. I had a choice to make that was entirely up to me. without knowing what lies ahead, I chose to embark on my chosen path with only my infant daughter by my side and my father, mother, sister, brother-in-law, and close friends standing nearby to cheer me on and offer endless encouragement, faith, guidance and support along the way. As I continue on my journey, I realize that I would not be where or who I am today without those that are constantly, without hesitation, by my side. I am indescribably thankful for them all, especially and most importantly my family. Lastly, I cannot find the words to describe how overwhelmingly thankful I am for the most important person in my life. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to be a mommy. before my daughter was born, I truly did not know that it was possible to love someone this much! my daughter has completely changed my life, and I know that our life together has numerous blessings in store for the two of us. Candi Cole

I’m most thankful for my salvation through Jesus Christ, for all the soldiers — past and present — who have given me the gift of freedom, for my family, for the best husband in the world, Gary, two wonderful, healthy children, Cullen and Paisley, and a bouncing baby on the way… Shae Crook

I am thankful for my life of this earth in 2009 no matter how challenging it has been. I am thankful for God giving me the will to love and be loved, to make my own decisions, to learn from my mistakes accepting any consequences, to laugh when I am happy and cry when I’m sad. I am most thankful for my family, my friends, my church family, my colleagues, my pets and for every other living creature I have come into contact as I traveled this journey in 2009. I am thankful for the strength God gave me to rise above all adversity and negativity met this 2009. I will continue to thank God for giving me hope for an ending to world suffering, pain and war and for a beginning of everlasting love and peace. This is what I am Thankful for. Lily Reynolds Miller

What I’m most thankful for is the favor that God has bestowed upon me. I have my life, health, strengthen love, family and a determined desire to live, so that God can use me. I have recovered from a heart attack, a stroke, three back surgeries, three total knee surgeries, three heart stints, 14 children, and 14 grandchildren, and a darling husband! yes, yes, I Debra Dillard North am truly thankful, because I am a miracle from God! Happy Thanksgiving. Debra Dillard North

This Thanksgivivg, I have much to be thankful for…. good heath at age 85; two wonderful children and spouses, who are good to me; one granddaughter, her husband, and their three children; good parents, who raised me right (now with the Lord); a good husband, who was good to me for 62 years (also with the Lord); parents-in-law, who treated me like their own daughter; his kin is just like my own and I accepted them as the same; a comfortable home and have never gone hungry; and “oodles” of friends, who are nice and kind to me. Opal P. Smith

When SFC Greg Simmons was deployed in Iraq during Thanksgiving, he sent a letter to his family. They wanted to share it with Rome News-Tribune readers today. “I pray that it will touch your heart the way that it touched ours. By the grace of God, he made it home to us, and we have spent the past two Thanksgivings with him and we will all be together this Thanksgiving too. I am so very thankful and so very blessed for my precious and very brave brother, SFC Greg Simmons,” his sister wrote.

I hope all of you have a very Happy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow. I am doing fine here in Iraq and will celebrate this holiday with some of the bravest men I have ever known. do not worry about me not being present this year. Instead, please be extra thankful for all the things we have in America that people on this side of God’s world do not have. be thankful that our children have shoes on their feet and do not have to run on hot pavement or sand barefooted. be thankful that their schools have pleasant things hanging on the walls instead of pictures of AK 47 rifles. be thankful that if our children are hurt, that we have a place to take them to get mended.

This Thanksgiving I will also give thanks for things that I normally would not have even thought about. I will thank God, as I do every day, for keeping me safe from roadside bombs and over 90 enemy projectiles that flew over my head every day while I was in the Sunni Triangle. I will thank him for keeping all our soldiers safe, but especially the ones I have under my direct supervision. I will bring all of them home safe. but most of all, I will thank God for all of you. thanks for all your love and support during this time. I love you all very much and look forward to a great Thanksgiving with you next year. Love always, Greg

Obama wishes troops Happy Thanksgiving

Hey Mr. Courage, you’ve just been pardoned by the President, what now?

“I’m going to Disneyland!”

So it was that a turkey named Courage left the White House on Wednesday to spend the rest of his days with Mickey and the gang.

“You know, there are certain days that remind me of why I ran for this office. And then there are moments like this where I pardon a turkey and send it to Disneyland,” President Barak Obama told a gaggle of reporters on the North Portico of the White House the day before Thanksgiving.

Courage will serve as the grand marshal of the Thanksgiving Day parade at the Magic Kingdom, said Obama. should Courage turn nervous or ruffle his feathers at the idea, fellow feathered former jailbird Carolina will be standing by to swoop in.

Noting it was another war time president, Abraham Lincoln, who started the uniquely American tradition of Thanksgiving during the Civil War, Obama said what “a tremendous honor it is to serve as commander in chief of the finest military in the world — and I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to every service member at home or in harm’s way. We’re proud of you and we are thinking of you and we’re praying for you.”

And he reminded Americans across the nation to do the same.

“As we give thanks for our loved ones, let us remember those who can’t be with us. And as we give thanks for our security, let’s in turn thank those who’ve sacrificed to make it possible, wherever they may be.”

Now, the National Turkey Federation has been bringing its finest turkeys to the White House for more than 50 years. I’m told Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson actually ate their turkeys. you can’t fault them for that; that’s a good-looking bird. (Laughter.) President Kennedy was even given a turkey with a sign around its neck that said, “Good Eatin’, Mr. President.” But he showed mercy and he said, “Let’s keep him going.” And 20 years ago this Thanksgiving, the first President Bush issued the first official presidential pardon for a turkey.

Today, I am pleased to announce that thanks to the interventions of Malia and Sasha — because I was planning to eat this sucker — (laughter) — “Courage” will also be spared this terrible and delicious fate. Later today, he’ll head to Disneyland, where he’ll be grand marshal of tomorrow’s parade. And just in case “Courage” can’t fulfill his responsibilities, Walter brought along another turkey, “Carolina,” as an alternate, the stand-in.

Now, later this afternoon, Michelle, Malia, Sasha and I will take two of their less fortunate brethren to Martha’s Table, an organization that does extraordinary work to help folks here in D.C. who need it the most. And I want to thank Jaindl’s Turkey Farm in Orefield, Pennsylvania, for donating those dressed birds for dinner. so today, all told, I believe it’s fair to say that we have saved or created four turkeys. (Laughter.)

You know, there are certain days that remind me of why I ran for this office. And then there are moments like this — (laughter) — where I pardon a turkey and send it to Disneyland. (Laughter.) But every single day, I am thankful for the extraordinary responsibility that the American people have placed in me. I am humbled by the privilege that it is to serve them, and the tremendous honor it is to serve as Commander-in-Chief of the finest military in the world — and I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to every service member at home or in harm’s way. We’re proud of you and we are thinking of you and we’re praying for you.

When my family and I sit around the table tomorrow, just like millions of other families across America, we’ll take time to give our thanks for many blessings. But we’ll also remember this is a time when so many members of our American family are hurting. There’s no question this has been a tough year for America. We’re at war. Our economy is emerging from an extraordinary recession into recovery. But there’s a long way to go and a lot of work to do.

In more tranquil times, it’s easy to notice our many blessings. It’s even easier to take them for granted. But in times like these, they resonate a bit more powerfully. when President Lincoln set aside the National Day of Thanksgiving for the first time — to celebrate America’s “fruitful fields,” “healthful skies,” and the “strength and vigor” of the American people — it was in the midst of the Civil War, just when the future of our very union was most in doubt. so think about that. when times were darkest, President Lincoln understood that our American blessings shined brighter than ever.

This is an era of new perils and new hardships. But we are, as ever, a people of endless compassion, boundless ingenuity, limitless strength. We’re the heirs to a hard-earned history and stewards of a land of God-given beauty. we are Americans. And for all this, we give our humble thanks — to our predecessors, to one another, and to God.

So on this quintessentially American holiday, as we give thanks for what we’ve got, let’s also give back to those who are less fortunate. as we give thanks for our loved ones, let us remember those who can’t be with us. And as we give thanks for our security, let’s in turn thank those who’ve sacrificed to make it possible, wherever they may be.

Now, before this turkey gets too nervous that Bo will escape and screw up this pardon — (laughter) — or before I change my mind, I hereby pardon “Courage” so that he can live out the rest of his days in peace and tranquility in Disneyland.

And to every American, I want to wish you, on behalf of myself, Malia, Sasha, and Michelle, the happiest of Thanksgivings. Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.)

By Dawn Wotapka

A Long Island family has plenty to be thankful for tomorrow: A judge just freed the Horoskis of East Patchogue from the crippling debt on their home, helping them avoid foreclosure, the New York Post reports.

As the housing crisis leaves plenty in troubling mortgage situations, this is a decision that undoubtedly has lenders jittery and homeowners jubilant. Here’s the skinny: Suffolk County Judge Jeffrey Spinner erased some $525,000 in mortgage payments demanded by OneWest Bank and its IndyMac mortgage division. Gone are up to $291,000 in principal and $235,000 in interest and penalties, according to the article.

The ruling – a clear slap against the lender and practically a winning lottery ticket for the family – came with tough words: IndyMac’s actions “since February 24, 2009 (and perhaps earlier) has been and is inequitable, unconscionable, vexatious and opprobrious.”

According to the Post, the Horoskis purchased the 3,400-square-foot home on Oakland Street 15 years ago for $200,000. in 2004, they refinanced, paying off the original mortgage with part of a $292,500 subprime loan from Deutsche Bank. The remainder was plowed into health care and the family’s online business.

The loan carried an initial adjustable rate of 10.375%. It later shot up to 12.375%, and the family struggled with payments.

The family, which had no equity in the home, wanted to restructure the agreement. But working with the bank was like “dealing with organized crime,” Greg Horoski is quoted as saying. The foreclosure approved last January was challenged.

Not surprisingly, OneWest told the Post it expects the decision to be overturned on appeal.

A Thanksgiving ad by Best Buy that wishes readers a happy Eid has upset some critics, but pleased American Muslims.

Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday, happens to fall this year on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the one of the busiest times of the year for retailers.

In the ad, Best Buy says to “Shop Thanksgiving Day at BestBuy.com,” according to a copy posted on Crunch Gear.

Right above in smaller print, it says “Happy Eid al-Adha.”

Some conservative blogs are angry over the ad, with a few calling for a boycott of the electronics retailer.

“Ill…be spending my Christmas money elsewhere,” said a writer on RightPundits.com.

On web forums at Best Buy’s website, some protested the ad.

“Clearly the liberal/PC culture in your corporate offices is biased against Christians and traditional American values,” wrote one poster.

It was signed, “A proud patriotic Christian American.”Muslim-Americans welcomed the ad, seeing it as a sign they are increasingly part of the American fabric.

“Thanksgiving and Eid al-Adha are now sharing the same spiritual and social space,” Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a statement Tuesday.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com

Posted by mark BelloNovember 24, 2009 6:14 PM

The holiday shopping season officially begins this Friday; the day is also known as “Black Friday”. Shopping during the holiday season can present additional safety risks to shoppers, especially women. The surge in shoppers and increased congestion in major outlets and strip malls is a paradise for criminal activity. The hustle and bustle of shopping will often result in carelessness and vulnerability to theft. Criminals use the holidays to target preoccupied shoppers. Taking a few precautions will help reduce your chance of being a criminal’s next victim. here are a few shopping safety tips:

1. Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you need to shop at night, go with someone else and park in a well-lit area. there is safety in numbers. Thieves look for those shopping alone. If shopping alone, try to walk to your car with a crowd or ask mall security for an escort to your car. have your keys out and stay alert. Always check inside the car before entering. Lock your doors as soon as you are inside the vehicle.

2. Be aware of your surroundings at all times – at the ATM machine, making purchases with a credit card. Be aware of strangers approaching you. Con-artists will try to distract you in order to take you money, belongings, or car. Avoid dark and isolated areas.

3. Avoid carrying a large amount of money. Pay with a credit card, debit card, or check as much as possible. Do not throw away credit card receipts

4. Avoid overloading yourself with packages. Always have one hand free. Do not leave packages visible in your car. If you continue to shop after placing packages in your trunk, move your vehicle to another location.

5. Always carry a cell phone and program 911 and other emergency numbers.

6. Never leave your purse or wallet unattended, and never leave them open.

7. Always trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Report suspicious activity to mall security or call the police. 8. Be careful in parking lots. some people are in such a rush that they back out of a parking spot without paying attention to other cars or pedestrians.

Don’t be the victim of a crime or an auto accident this holiday season. plan ahead; protect yourself. If you or your loved one is seriously injured in an automobile or pedestrian accident that was not your fault, you may be able to recover damages for medical bills, loss wages, and pain and suffering. it is important to contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in handling these types of cases.

Often, these cases take months, even years, to settle, but it is important to wait out the process, listen to your attorney, and obtain the best results possible. If you are worried about paying bills or other financial obligations, lawsuit funding may assist you and prevent you from settling too early for too little. A solid company should be able to evaluate your case and provide the funding you need within 24 – 48 hours (with attorney cooperation). Ask your attorney for advice on whether lawsuit funding would be advantageous for your situation. Lawsuit Financial, for instance, offers a streamlined process and one of the fastest turnaround times in the lawsuit funding industry. and, with most companies, if you lose your case, you keep the money, free of charge. have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.