Dear Readers,Tweeters and Friends of Little Bytes News...

Thank you for following along,stopping by and taking the time to visit my blog and/or leave comments and share my articles. I appreciate all of you and wish you and your family the best Thanksgiving! Enjoy time spent with family near and far, these are the moments that make memories and help to bond families. Keep your family and friends close and always show your thanks to God. Today is the day our Founders set aside for us to remember everything we are grateful for. I am most thankful for my beautiful family, my loving, hardworking husband and my two boys. May God bless you and yours and keep you healthy,safe and happy!

Happy Thanksgiving 

Thanksgiving is a particularly American holiday. The word evokes images of football, family reunions, roasted turkey with stuffing, pumpkin pie and, of course, the Pilgrims and Wampanoag, the acknowledged founders of the feast. But was it always so? Read on to find out...This article explores the development of our modern holiday. For information on food at the First Thanksgiving, go to Partakers of our Plenty. For additional children's resources on Thanksgiving, you might want to view Scholastic's Virtual Field Trip to Plimoth Plantation, explore our Online Learning Center, or visit our Homework Help page. If you'd like to join us for Thanksgiving dinner, please visit our Thanksgiving Dining and Special Events page.

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Giving thanks for the Creator’s gifts had always been a part of Wampanoag daily life. From ancient times, Native People of North America have held ceremonies to give thanks for successful harvests, for the hope of a good growing season in the early spring, and for other good fortune such as the birth of a child. Giving thanks was, and still is, the primary reason for ceremonies or celebrations.
As with Native traditions in America, celebrations - complete with merrymaking and feasting - in England and throughout Europe after a successful crop are as ancient as the harvest-time itself. In 1621, when their labors were rewarded with a bountiful harvest after a year of sickness and scarcity, the Pilgrims gave thanks to God and celebrated His bounty in the Harvest Home tradition with feasting and sport (recreation). To these people of strong Christian faith, this was not merely a revel; it was also a joyous outpouring of gratitude.
Jan van de Velde, August from The Twelve Months (series of engravings), 1616. Collection of Plimoth Plantation.
The arrival of the Pilgrims and Puritans brought new Thanksgiving traditions to the American scene. Today’s national Thanksgiving celebration is a blend of two traditions: the New England custom of rejoicing after a successful harvest, based on ancient English harvest festivals; and the Puritan Thanksgiving, a solemn religious observance combining prayer and feasting.

Florida, Texas, Maine and Virginia each declare itself the site of the First Thanksgiving and historical documents support the various claims. Spanish explorers and other English Colonists celebrated religious services of thanksgiving years before Mayflower arrived. However, few people knew about these events until the 20^th century. They were isolated celebrations, forgotten long before the establishment of the American holiday, and they played no role in the evolution of Thanksgiving. But as James W. Baker states in his book, Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday, "despite disagreements over the details" the 3-day event in Plymouth in the fall of 1621 was "the historical birth of the American Thanksgiving holiday."

So how did the Pilgrims and Wampanoag come to be identified with the First Thanksgiving?

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  ©2008-2011 Patricia Garza

 

©2008 Patricia Garza

Posted by Patty Littlebytesnews at 7:57 AM 0 comments blog comments powered by Disqus Links to this post    

Labels: family, Holidays and Special Days, thanksgiving

What a disgusting person this guy is. I hope he serves life in jail for this crime. Sadly, he probably won't,because pedophile laws&rape/abuse laws are too lenient. Pedophiles are the biggest creeps next to murderers and abortionists in my opinion. Personally I wouldn't hire a male babysitter either,not to say a female couldn't commit a heinous crime,but it is more likely a male would in these cases. Poor baby, I hope he/she will be ok and never remember what was done to him/her and that the child's aunt recovers and gets the help and support she'll need after being raped at 15.

ST. ANN, Mo. (KMOX) – A 24-year-old man has been charged with sodomizing and burning an 18-month-old infant.
According to St. Ann police reports obtained by KMOX, David Norton allegedly burned the child with cigarettes. Police believe this abuse was going on for six months.
Police also believe Norton talked the child’s 15-year-old aunt into having sex with him.

Read More

©2008-2011 Patricia Garza

 

©2008 Patricia Garza

Posted by Patty Littlebytesnews at 1:05 AM 0 comments blog comments powered by Disqus Links to this post    

Labels: abuse, child abuse prevention, child care, Child sexual abuse, Children and Youth, Crime, Kids and Teens, moms dads parents safety, parents, Sexual abuse

Sacerdotus: Disgusting Gay Ad: The Benneton Clothing company recently tried to promote the "Unhate" campaign. In this campaign, there are images showing homosexual acts ...
The Benneton Clothing company recently tried to promote the "Unhate" campaign.  In this campaign, there are images showing homosexual acts using altered photos of Pope Benedict XVI and an Imam.  Other photos include President Obama and Venezuelan President Chavez in the same disgusting pose.

This was sent to me by a twitter friend @Sacerdotus and it is disgusting to see that mainstream retailers tried to depict our President as a gay man,though there are some questions about his past, and a picture of the Pope kissing an Imam. This shows total disrespect for our country,our countries Christian heritage&the Catholic Church. Thankfully,there was enough outrage towards the marketing campaign it was cancelled immediately.


©2008-2011 Patricia Garza

 

©2008 Patricia Garza

Posted by Patty Littlebytesnews at 12:29 AM 0 comments blog comments powered by Disqus Links to this post    

By now we have all heard about the Pennsylvania State University child sex abuse scandal, yet it is hard to believe the coach accused, Jerry Sandusky, and his attorney claims, 'Showering with kids doesn't make him guilty'.

How can anyone in their right mind not see something wrong with that statement? Of course a grown man should not be taking showers with underage boys in a school locker room,or anywhere else, and 'horsing around' with them. That in itself is a form of public indecency and pedophilia. He can claim he's not attracted to young boys all he wants, but when you have him in a recent interview with Bob Costas saying he would put his hand on their legs,take showers with young boys after practice and enjoys spending time with young kids, particularly boys, I'm sorry but he sounds like a pedophile and his actions are beyond acceptable for an adult.

Asked the question of why so many alleged victims would come forward if nothing inappropriate or illegal had occurred, Sandusky told Costas, “I would guess that there are many young people who would come forward,’’ Sandusky said. “Many more young people who would come forward and say that my methods and what I had done for them made a very positive impact on their life.
“And I didn't go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I've helped. There are many that I didn't have — I hardly had any contact with who I have helped in many, many ways."
When asked if he was sexually attracted to young boys, Sandusky struggled at first: "Sexually attracted? You know, I enjoy young people. I love to be around them. But no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys."[my emphasis]

Of course he didn't go seeking them out, Sandusky was entrusted to care for and help those vulnerable children from his charity,Second Mile, instead he abused his position of power and their loyalty by grooming these children to believe he cared for them. Children who are vulnerable and feel unloved or lack self-esteem are at the greatest risk for being abused by sexual predators because they are seeking acceptance and love. It's a case where any attention is good attention to them. This is why some high risk children get involved with drugs or other criminal behavior, or in this case, become victims of sexual abuse.

Children want to feel loved more than anything else and sometimes they are so lacking in love they will accept any attention even if it is unacceptable under the law. Children don't always know what is right and wrong, some do, but they grow to trust the adults in their lives, especially if they are paying attention to them and doing things with them, like taking them to games or giving them gifts and treating them like they are special. This is why parent involvement and love must always be a priority in a child's life.

The assistant coach, then a graduate student Mike McQueary, who reportedly witnessed Sandusky in the shower with an 8-year old boy,several years ago, now claims he reported the incident to the police and stopped it from occurring. However, initial Grand Jury Testimony reports said that he called his father and then waited a day to report it to the head coach, Joe Paterno and then left it to him to deal with the situation. But according to CBS News, after investigating further, it has come to light that the assistant coach who witnessed this horrible incident, Mike McQueary, did not report the incident to the police and stop the child rape he witnessed.

Both Penn State's campus police and the State College police department say they never received reports from then-Penn State graduate assistant Mike McQueary related to an allegation of child sexual abuse against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

There is so much more to come and involved in this horrific case. I pray the victims all get justice and find the help they need to move on and I hope Sandusky and any others who covered it up or were involved in this heinous crime are charged. What upsets me most is the cover up and the act of committing such heinous acts on vulnerable children. But, I've said it before and will say it again, until respect for all human life from conception to natural death becomes the law,child abuse and other forms of abuse will continue. Sadly, there are some "experts", even in Congress who seem to think pedophilia is a 'sexual orientation' worth protecting under the law. God forbid this ever becomes the norm and acceptable in our society.  They believe, "pedophiles are people too",and like homosexuality and gender identity  that they should be protected under the law, because it's not who you love,but who you identify as that matters. However, these are behavioral problems, not sexual orientation or gender related. Homosexuality, for example, was once classified as a mental/sexual disorder  until the homosexual movement had it removed from the DSM IV, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th. Edition. How soon before pedophilia and other unacceptable/unsafe behavior problems become protected under the law???


©2008-2011 Patricia Garza

 

©2008 Patricia Garza

Posted by Patty Littlebytesnews at 9:46 AM 0 comments blog comments powered by Disqus Links to this post    

Labels: abortion, abuse, behavior, child abuse, Child sexual abuse, Children and Youth, Kids and Teens, moms dads parents safety, pedophiles, prolife, Sexual abuse

2011 Veteran’s Day Free Meals and Discounts

[Note:some discounts apply after November 11, 2011]

Two notes before jumping in:

• Proof of Military Service. First, most companies require some form of military ID – including a U.S. Uniform Services ID Card (active/reserve/retired), Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), Photograph in uniform, be wearing uniform (if your service permits), Veterans Organization Card (e.g., American Legion and VFW), DD214, discharge paperwork, or other form of identification. Other restaurants and companies may only require a photo of you in uniform, or go by the honor system.
• Participation. Second, always call ahead to verify locations, times, and participation. Many of the listed companies are franchises and may have different policies. We will do our best to keep this page updated as we find new info.

2011 Free Veterans Day Meals

Applebee’s – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11: Last year, Applebee’s served 1,024,000 million free meals to military veterans and active servicemembers. Applebee’s is again offering a free meal to military veterans and active-duty service members on Veteran’s Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. There will be 7 entrées to choose from. Military ID or proof of service required. Find locations at http://applebees.com/.
Bar Louie, Free meal on Veterans Day. Active duty military members and veterans can receive a free meal, up to $10 in value, and a free non-alcoholic beverage. Available at all locations, military ID or proof of service is required. See FaceBook page for more info.
BJs Restaurant and Brewhouse, Fri. Nov. 11th. Complimentary lunch entree or a one topping mini pizza for dinner. Offer valid to all active duty military and veterans, with proof of service. More info.
Champps Americana. We’re celebrating our Veterans with an All American Meal! All Veterans and Active Military will receive a free burger on November 11th! Proof of service required. Offer not valid for the Pepperjack Bacon Stack Burger or Kobe Burger. Dine in only, valid at participating locations. Find a location near you.
Chili’s – free meal, Friday, Nov. 11. Chili’s is offering all military veterans past and present their choice of one of 6 meals. This offer is available from 11am – 5pm on November 11, 2011 at participating Chili’s in the U.S. only. Dine-in from limited menu only; beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty military simply show proof of military service. Visit their website to find locations.
Denny’s Veterans Day Appreciation Event, Nov. 11. 2011. Free Grand Slam breakfast to any veteran from. Participating markets include select diners in Maryland, Virginia, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Indiana, Colorado and Washington, DC (from 6:00am – 2:00pm), as well as the following New York locations: Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo areas (from 6:00am – 10:00pm). Call ahead to verify, and check with your local Denny’s if you live in another area. Source.
Fox & Hound and Bailey’s Sports Bar. Veterans and Active Duty Military will receive a free item from the 7 under $7 menu. Active military ID, retiree card, or other proof of service required. Visit site for location information.
Golden Corral – Free meal, Monday Nov. 14: The 10th annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation dinner will be held on Monday, November 14, 2011 from 5 pm to 9 pm in all Golden Corral Restaurants nationwide. The free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to participate in Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner. For more information visit http://www.goldencorral.com/military/.

Special thanks to Golden Corral: To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.5 million free meals and contributed over $4.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.

Read more from source article: Please credit this resource: We are frequently updating this list with new deals and offers for the military community. If you use items this list, please direct your visitors to this page so they can find the most up to date information: http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/ Thanks!



©2008-2011 Patricia Garza

 

©2008 Patricia Garza

Posted by Patty Littlebytesnews at 5:00 PM 0 comments blog comments powered by Disqus Links to this post    

Labels: Holidays and Special Days, military, patriotism, veterans day

It's not islamophobia when they really believe in killing under sharia law.

AsiaNews has reported the stoning of two women, a mother and daughter, both accused of adultery.

According to the organisation, the two were killed Thursday in Ghazni, 138 kikometres southeast of Kabul, only a few hundreds metres from government offices.

Sources told AsiaNews that a group of armed men entered the house where the young widow lived with her daughter.

After accusing them of adultery, they were taken out of the house and stoned before being shot dead.

Despite the sound of screams and gunshots, it appears authorities were not immediately contacted by friends or neighbours.

Officials have said a number of religious leaders in the city have been issuing fatwas, a part of sharia law, asking people to report any one who has allegedly been "involved in adultery".



Afghani mother and daughter stoned to death for adultery

©2008-2011 Patricia Garza

 

©2008 Patricia Garza

Posted by Patty Littlebytesnews at 2:39 PM 1 comments blog comments powered by Disqus Links to this post