IMO the must UNSUNG heroes, and bravest Patriots of our Country were these men: George Read Caesar Rodney Thomas McKean George Clymer Benjamin Franklin Robert Morris John Morton Benjamin Rush George Ross James Smith James Wilson George Taylor John Adams Samuel Adams John Hancock Robert Treat Paine Elbridge Gerry Josiah Bartlett William Whipple Matthew Thornton Stephen Hopkins William Ellery Lewis Morris Philip Livingston Francis Lewis William Floyd Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall George Walton Richard Henry Lee Francis Lightfoot Lee Carter Braxton Benjamin Harrison Thomas Jefferson George Wythe Thomas Nelson, Jr. William Hooper John Penn Joseph Hewes Edward Rutledge Arthur Middleton Thomas Lynch, Jr. Thomas Heyward, Jr. Abraham Clark John Hart Francis Hopkinson Richard Stockton John Witherspoon Samuel Huntington Roger Sherman William Williams Oliver Wolcott Charles Carroll Samuel Chase Thomas Stone William Paca They were the brave men that signed their names to this document knowing full well the penalty for doing sou would be DEATH, if they were captured by the British Army. Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr, noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few weeks. John Hart was driven from his wifes bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didnt fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government. Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldnt.

Well, it's 12:30 a.m and I too have problems sleeping. Reading about your loss brought tears to my eyes thinking of your husband. I have no idea what emotions your feeling but want you to know that I send my good thoughts and prayers your way. We never really know what will happen . . . my husband's the same age. Do post again when you feel up to it. I hope your trip at least helps distract you from the sorrow you are feeling even if it's just a little bit.

I found myself wishing that Piers would have let loose on Omarosa -- making ugly comments about her and her husband, like she was doing about his family. He could have come up with some zingers about how incredibly proud (not!) her husband must be that she's showing the world what a crackpot he must be for having married her; that she had to get her boobs done to keep her husband interested, etc. She can dish it out, but I sincerely doubt that she can take it. I would love, love, love to see someone make her cry. And a comment about Donald Trump "breaking the rules" to not fire someone in the boardroom... There was more than one occasion when he fired more than one person during the boardroom confrontations, and I think there was a time when he fired THREE (I seem to recall the three folks all being crammed into the back seat of the cab). So, he very easily could have fired Omarosa even though she was on the winning team.

by Martin//And in one of those little ironies - the year the World Cup returns to Italy is the year that Juventus, Lazio, Fiorentina and AC Milan are implicated in the biggest match-fixing scandal of all time. I know you personally are upset about it Grelobe, and my sympathies are with you. What I was curious about is - what's the feeling "on the street", so to speak? Do most people feel that they've been caught red-handed, and deserve their punishment? Or do people feel that it's all a bit much?\\ And, if you don't mind me asking - who do you personally support? How does it affect you directly? First of all, sorry if I am late, but it is because I usually spend my week ends at the sea side. How is the feeling "on the street" ,it is a question to which is rather difficult to answer. Because I think we (Italians) have some good qualities, but one difect we have for sure, (of course more than one but..) we are always ready to join the winner's side; we say " to climb up the winner's cart". For instance, before the World Cup started our team gathered at Coverciano, somewhere in Tuscany, to start their training. Well, people would go over there not to support them, but for yelling things like: you son of b... or, go to do a real work or, you are only piece of s..... This because, a few players , especially Cannavaro our captain, at the outset of the scandal backed the way of acting kept by his executive's team (juventus). Polls showed that the majority demanded Lippi resignation (our coach) , this also if Lippi is not directly involved in the scandal, but his son is. He, Lippi's son with Moggi's son, rules one company that "trades" players and coaches, and this company was so powerfull that could even effected other teams market-players; for instance Inter F.C some time plays with 11, I say it again, eleven foreign players , and this because "Gea" the compnay rule by Moggi and Lippi's sons didn't let promising Italian football player to be enrolled by Inter F.C. To answer your question Martin , I dare say that normal people think the punishment is well deserved (less Juve, Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina's supporters of course) :) This because this way to act, not only effects direct rivals , like Inter, Rome , Lazio itself and others, but also other teams. I'm tryng to explain: Janalyn you ask how it is possible to fix a match without getting involve players. Martin has already answered you in part, but referees can do other things. Let's do an example, today there's Juve vs X and Bologna vs Y , and next turn will be Juve vs Bologna. So today, Bologna vs Y referee can shows a yellow or better a red card to the better Bologna's midlefield or striker, so Juve will have an easier way next turn, and in this way Bologna is damaged twice. Besides as I already said Moggi and Lippi's sons are the manager of a great number of skilled players and other players not so skilled , so...