“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that
all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical
rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses
that are blooming outside our windows today.”

- Dale Carnegie
(24 Nov 1888 - 01 Nov 1955)

   Happy Birthday today to          Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA AND    Jimmy DeBerry ('64) of VA, who were born in Riverside Hospital on the same night as their fathers paced the halls together. They are celebrating their 68th birthdays today.  Former      President Bill Clinton is also lighting the candles today, but he, of course, was born in Arkansas.
 

		Happy Birthday tomorrow to        The late Chip Clark ('65) (deceased 06/12/10) AND Eddie Vest ('68) of VA!    Many Happy Returns, Gentlemen!
About August 20, 1946
http://www.nnhs65. com/oddsends.html

   Happy Birthday this week to:  

100 YEARS AGO TODAY:

THIS DAY IN WWII:

THIS DAY IN 1964:

Wednesday, August 19, 1964 - Nothing/ Nada?? How can this be?!?

CONVERT OR DIE?  THE RUTHESS KILLINGS

By Harry M. Covert

No matter how ruthless local political fights may be, they are nothing in league with the genocide from radical Muslims in Iraq. Merely look at the television pictures from the mountainous Sinjar area.

Even the harshest partisans will be moved by the desperation of the Chaldean Christians and Yazidis running from the murderers called Islamic terrorists, ISIS or ISOL. When video news casts showed the words, “Convert or die” it was heartbreaking.

Despite all of the religious disagreements in the United States, no pulpiteers of any sort have ever resorted to such lyrics. No evangelists have needed such threats to preach the Gospel. Even those who purport to be atheists or agnostics don’t resort to such evil conduct.

In Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and other states people can attend any religious church or synagogue meeting they desire without fear of retribution or threats, even mosques.

Were any ecclesiastic dare utter “convert or die” in these parts chances are he or she would probably be slapped silly and dragged from the platform. In my view, that would be the proper action and throw in a little tar and feathers. There would be no collection plates on that occasion.

It’s probably more fun to talk partisan politics, to verbally beat up on popular candidates, either in office or out. But the idea is simply being alert as to what goes on around the world because, sooner or later, the canaille, the foreign riffraff that is, will be sneaking in to the Atlantic and Pacific shores. Yes, that includes the southern borders now at crisis proportions and even the northern climes of Canada.

WARLORDS’ SERIOUS THREATS AND THEFTS

I personally know of an Oklahoma evangelist who attempted to distribute humanitarian goods in Mexico some years ago. When a warlord had not given permission in Juarez, the preacher barely escaped with his life and staff. The goods were stolen by the warlord’s armed henchmen. El Paso, Texas, was nearby.

On another occasion, the same type of effort was under way in Zaire, now The Congo. The 10,000-plus crowd in Kinshasa erupted in chaos when they didn’t see miracles. Fortunately, the missionary had armed soldiers come to his rescue in the nick of time. These are not pleasant incidents to recall. They are real.

With changing mores and traditions don’t think for a moment the radicals will be challenging our society because that’s their design and plan.

While debate rages in jurisdictions on various and sundry matters, they may well be important and even vital, but our life is pretty good. This is a reminder that this comfortable and happy existence can change in the blink of an eye.

Since days of infancy, I have heard a zillion sermons, lessons and all sorts of evangelists of every breed, from beginners to the practiced and, frankly, the solid and smart ones. Fact is religious freedom is being seriously and fatally attacked these days. The church, as we know it, is a bit side-tracked from the “soul-winning” procedures and with a few exceptions, church-going suffers. It’s difficult to ignore the tragedies in Iraq and other world hot spots. Such events really affect every American and world democracies in one way or another believe it or not.

Be alert.
 

   From Bill Hobbs ('66) of Northern VA - 08/18/14 - "Chinese Supremacy":
 

Chinese Supremacy This article, though aimed at a US audience, gives a scary insight into China's growing economic power. A Little Known Reality: June 8, 2013. Source: Michael Snyder, Guest Post In future China will employ millions of American workers and dominate thousands of small communities all over the United States. Chinese acquisition of U.S. Businesses set a new all-time record last year, and it is on pace to shatter that record this year. The Smithfield Foods acquisition is an example. Smithfield Foods is the largest pork producer and processor in the world. It has facilities in 26 U.S. States and it employs tens of thousands of Americans. It directly owns 460 farms and has contracts with approximately 2,100 others. But now a Chinese company has bought it for $ 4.7 billion, and that means that the Chinese will now be the most important employer in dozens of rural communities all over America. Thanks in part to our massively bloated trade deficit with China, the Chinese have trillions of dollars to spend. They are only just starting to exercise their economic muscle. It is important to keep in mind that there is often not much of a difference between "the Chinese government" and "Chinese corporations". In 2011, 43 percent of all profits in China were produced by companies where the Chinese government had a controlling interest in. Last year a Chinese company spent $2.6 billion to purchase AMC entertainment - one of the largest movie theater chains in the United States. Now that Chinese company controls more movie ticket sales than anyone else in the world. But China is not just relying on acquisitions to expand its economic power. "Economic beachheads" are being established all over America. For example, Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. recently broke ground on a $100 million plant in Thomasville, Alabama. Many of the residents of Thomasville, Alabama will be glad to have jobs, but it will also become yet another community that will now be heavily dependent on communist China. And guess where else Chinese companies are putting down roots? Detroit. Chinese-owned companies are investing in American businesses and new vehicle technology, selling everything from seat belts to shock absorbers in retail stores, and hiring experienced engineers and designers in an effort to soak up the talent and expertise of domestic automakers and their suppliers. If you recently purchased an "American-made" vehicle, there is a really good chance that it has a number of Chinese parts in it. Industry analysts are hard-pressed to put a number on the Chinese suppliers operating in the United States. China seems particularly interested in acquiring energy resources in the United States. For example, China is actually mining for coal in the mountains of Tennessee. Guizhou Gouchuang Energy Holdings Group spent $616 million dollars to acquire Triple H Coal Co. in Jacksboro, Tennessee. At the time, that acquisition really didn't make much news, but now a group of conservatives in Tennessee is trying to stop the Chinese from blowing up their mountains and taking their coal. And pretty soon China may want to build entire cities in the United States just like they have been doing in other countries. Right now China is actually building a city larger than Manhattan just outside Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Are you starting to get the picture? China is on the rise. If you doubt this, just read the following: # When you total up all imports and exports, China is now the number one trading nation on the entire planet. # Overall, the U.S. has run a trade deficit with China over the past decade that comes to more than 2.3 trillion dollars. # China has more foreign currency reserves than anyone else on the planet. # China now has the largest new car market in the entire world. # China now produces more than twice as many automobiles as the United States does. After being bailed out by U.S. taxpayers, GM is involved in 11 joint ventures with Chinese companies. # China is the number one gold producer in the world. # The uniforms for the U.S. Olympic team were made in China. # 85% of all artificial Christmas trees the world over are made in China. # The new World Trade Center tower in New York is going to include glass imported from China. # China now consumes more energy than the United States does. # China is now in aggregate the leading manufacturer of goods in the entire world. # China uses more cement than the rest of the world combined. # China is now the number one producer of wind and solar power on the entire globe. # China produces 3 times as much coal and 11 times as much steel as the United States does. # China produces more than 90 percent of the global supply of rare earth elements. # China is now the number one supplier of components that are critical to the operation of any national defense system. # In published scientific research articles China is expected to become number one in the world very shortly. And what we have seen so far may just be the tip of the iceberg. For now, I will just leave you with one piece of advice - learn to speak Chinese. You are going to need it!

YOWZERONI! Thanks so much, Billy!

       From George Helliesen ('61) of MI - 08/18/14 - "YoYo Championships--------- UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!!":  

  From Ruth Ann Reece Horace ('67) of FL - 08/15/14 - "Cool Signs (#4 in a series of 26)":

		Need a chuckle today, read these!  Thanks, Ruthie!