THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
This Thursday (Nov 22) will be Thanksgiving Day and Americans will be eating turkey or ham for dinner. The traditional meat is turkey but a lot of people prefer ham. full story
by Jane Custer

PLANE CRASHES IN NEW YORK
Once again people living in New York are witness to a plane crash. This time the plane went down in the suburbs of New York. The plane had just left the airport five minutes before it crashed into homes in the suburbs. People living in the area saw it heading toward their homes. Some saw the engine fall off the plane several miles from the crash site. full story
by Jane Custer

UNCLE SAM IS WATCHING YOU
The Congress has just passed what is called a "Sunset Law" which means it is only in effect for four years then must be renewed. This new law allows the government to tap phones, check E-mails, check on accounts, etc. to help prevent terrorist from communicating or sending funds to other terrorists. full story
by Jane Custer

ANTHRAX & TERRORISTS
The terrorists have decided to pollute the US with Anthrax. They are sending it through the mail to news station reporters and government officials. They sent it to a paper in Florida and it caused the death of an elderly man who was working in the mail room. full story
by Jane Custer

AMERICA IS NOT FOR SALE AT ANY PRICE
An Arab came to New York and handed the mayor a check for ten million dollars to help with the disaster. This money would have helped greatly to clean up the World Trade Towers yet the mayor gave the check back to the Arab. WHY you may ask well maybe to prove that American is not for sale. full story
by Jane Custer

INNOCENT VICTIMS
The Taliban have released pictures of "innocent victims" of the American bombings in Afghanistan. The people are clean and neatly bandaged. One man has a bandage on the left side of his head and is holding a baby. He states that his wife was killed in the bombing. full story
by Jane Custer

ATTACK ON TERRORISTS
The US and Britain with the cooperation of the NATO forces has attacked Afghanistan terrorists but bin Laden managed to hide from the bombs and allow the innocent to die in his place. He stated that innocent people will die because of the bombings yet neglects to admit how many innocent people have died in terrorist attacks. full story
by Jane Custer

THE US IS TRYING TO HELP AFGHANISTAN
If you have been listening to the news you have heard how the US has been sending food and medical supplies to the refugees in Afghanistan. The US is trying to help the people to break free of the Taliban and to be able to free themselves from the terrorists who rule their country. full story
by Jane Custer

A NATION PREPARED TO FIGHT TERRORISM
The US already has troops on route to Afghanistan to help find bin Laden. Aircraft carriers are already on their way or may even be there by the time this article reaches the public. The permanent military and the reserve have been prepared for this war with all their training and are making preparations before they leave for the Middle East. full story
by Jane Custer

PENNSYLVANIA PLANE CRASH
The site where the plane went down in Pennsylvania will be made into a Memorial site with a memorial marking the area and a stone naming the people who gave their lives to save the Capitol building. full story
by Jane Custer

MUSLIM & ISLAM CITIZENS
WILL BE PROTECTED
President Bush made a statement regarding the harassment and damaging of property of the Muslim and Islamic community will be protected by the government. full story
by Jane Custer

HARDEST DECISION I EVER MADE
President Bush said the hardest decision he ever made was to have the plane headed for the Capitol building shot down. He admitted that he could have done anything else to save the lives of the people on the plane he would have done it but he had to decided whether the lives of many were more important that the passengers on the plane headed for the nation's Capitol building. full story
by Jane Custer

A WORLD UNITED
On Sept. 11, 2001 many witnessed the terrorist attack on the US. First they flew two planes into the World Trade Center in New York City, then a plane hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The fourth plane which was to hit the nation's capital crashed in Pennsylvania due to the bravery of the passengers who felt that even they had to die they would prevent the deaths of others. full story
by Jane Custer

A COUNTRY UNITED BY HATE
Many people watched in horror as a second plane crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. A first plane hit one of the towers then a second plane struck the second tower. These planes were hijacked from American airports and filled with passengers who were innocent victims in this terrorist attack. full story
by Jane Custer

LABOR DAY
Labor Day is a national holiday. On this day our country celebrates all the improvements made over the years by the working class people. Not the office workers but even they profited by the efforts made to improve working conditions. full story
by Jane Custer

A NATION TO BE PROUD OF
In 1492 a large country was discovered by Christopher Columbus. This country later became know as the United States of America. The country flourished and became a world leader yet they forgot that they were actually one of the youngest countries in the world and that there were countries with a wealth of history and who had survived without this new nation to save them. Such a country is the CZECH REPUBLIC. full story
by Jane Custer

ABRAXAS
America is trying to save it's young men but it is a very expensive and difficult job. ABRAXAS is a institution which is trying to save American's young men from the path of destruction some of them have chosen. Young men with a drug problem are sent to ABRAXAS to get them out of the environment and hopefully back into society as a benefit to society.. full story
by Jane Custer

MOTHER'S DAY
Americans will be celebrating Mother's Day on Sunday, May 13, 2001. Children will be taking their mother out for dinner or preparing a meal for her to enjoy at their home. The family will gather to show their Mother how much she means to them. full story
by Jane Custer

EASTER IN THE US
Easter tradition in the US is really confusing unless you live in that country because everyone celebrates it in their own way. full story
by Jane Custer

CHINA
There are problems between the US and China because of a plane that the Chinese are holding and the servicemen who the American government wants released. The American people are extremely upset over this trouble and are asking the President to cut all ties with China once the plane and servicemen are returned. This includes all trading with that country. It may develop into a boycott of anything made in China. full story
by Jane Custer

TAX TIME IN THE USA
Starting January 31, everyone who works in the US receives their W2 forms from their employer. This tells them how much they made that year and how much they paid in taxes to the State and Federal government. They then have till April 15 to file their taxes or pay a penalty for being late. full story
by Jane Custer

ST. PATRICK'S DAY
St. Patrick's Day is March 17, 2001. On this day is traditional to wear green to honor the Irish on this their holiday. The Irish celebrate this day that St. Patrick took the snakes out of Ireland. full story
by Jane Custer

A HOLIDAY A MONTH
It seems that almost every month has a National or Federal holiday to celebrate. This means that workers get the day of with pay or if they need to work get their hourly wage plus half their hourly wage for each hour they worked. full story
by Jane Custer

USA THE RICHEST, POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
USA is on of the richest countries in the world fur agriculture and industry. The farmers fields produce enough grain to feed several nations yet the farmer says he doesn't get paid enough for his crop so the government buys part of his crop to send to other countries. full story
by Jane Custer

NEW YEAR'S EVE
How do Americans celebrate New Year's Eve? The bars stay open and have bands or a DJ play music to bring in customers. Free hot dogs and sauerkraut is given away between eleven at night till midnight to help sober up the drunk customers. full story
by Jane Custer

QUESTIONABLE PRESIDENT
The US has a new President but everyone is wondering if he was really the people's choice.. The news was full of debates over who won and who should have won. The state of Florida was the main problem with the voters because some did not understand the ballot and marked votes for Gore and another candidate who had his name close to Al Gore's name. full story
by Jane Custer

HUNTING SEASON
What does the term "Hunting Season" mean to an American. It means anyone over the age of twelve who wants to buy a hunting license can purchase one then hunt for wild animals ...
Hunting season is not only dangerous for the animals being hunted but the hunters as well because full story
by Jane Custer

HOLIDAYS OR ECONOMY BOOSTERS
The United States has many holidays, so it may make you wonder if they are really holidays or a way to boost the economy of the country. The truth is probably a little of both. full story
by Jane Custer

GUNS AND REVOLUTIONS
I imagine that many of you will have been watching TV reports or reading newspaper articles about the recent Serbian revolution. full story
by Duncan

THE OLYMPICS AND THE ELGIN MARBLES
The Sydney Olympics have been widely acknowledged as the best within living memory ... full story
by Duncan

HALLOWEEN
What is Halloween in the US? Some will tell you it is a "heathen holiday or Satan's night" but the truth is that it is just a night for children to dress up and ask for treats. Granted they often trick people by putting toilet paper on trees and bushes or throwing shelled corn on their porch but mostly it is done in fun. Of course some of older children can vandalize homes and cars but these are children who would do it even if it wasn't Halloween. full story
by Jane Custer

AMERICANS AND THEIR GUNS
We Americans cannot imagine why it all seems strange to foreigners. The subject even got me into a rather heated debate with a roommate while I was traveling in Argentina. You might find the subject interesting, too.
full story
by Kim Henry

A NORTH AMERICAN GOES SOUTH
The “New World” of the West that Columbus discovered in 1492 can be divided into the region of Spanish influence and the region of English influence. Geographically, North America (excepting Mexico) is the land of English influence, and Central and South America is the land of Spanish influence.
full story + picture
by Kim Henry

SNOW AND ICE
Pennsylvania and the states that neighbor it were hit by a snow storm and cold weather. The cold weather and cold created ice on the local rivers. The Alleghney river that flows through Parker and Foxburg was thick with ice and did not melt as the ice on the Allegheny river did as it flowed through East Brady.
by Jane Custer

JUST WHERE DO WE LIVE?
Housing in the USA is not on my list of most exciting topics for which to write. However, many of you readers have asked about it, so I will comment upon the subject, and even try to make it amusing! full story
by Kim Henry

OLD IS DEFINITELY GOLD!
I don’t know how many of you have heard of Betty Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable or Elizabeth Taylor. Each of them had a voice to please several souls, looks that send countless hearts beating and a talent that set Hollywood on fire! I hadn't seen an American Classic film till I stepped foot here. full story
by Maliha Suleman

CHRISTMAS TIME IN AMERICA
Oglebay in Wheeling, West Virginia is a tourist attraction especially during the winter months. During the winter over 150 acres are decorated in lights and tourist drive through the park to enjoy and photograph the lights. You drive through two tunnels of light. One is nothing but lights the other has giant snowflakes along with the lines of lights. They are very attractive.
full story
by Jane Custer

STREET SMART IN THE STATES
"Go up about four blocks. It is on the corner of Peachtree and Ralph McGill." What might such a person be talking about? They might be giving you directions to a building in downtown. full story
by Kim Henry

A PICTURE OF POVERTY
After nearly an hour of being on the road, the vehicle seemed to have moved just about a mile amongst the clogged traffic. With the window pulled down, I sat almost motionless in the face of pollution and poverty. full story
by Maliha Suleman

INTRODUCING KIM HENRY
Dr. Kim Henry lives in a tiny town very close to the Atlanta airport in the southern US state of Georgia. By day he repairs people's teeth, by night he is an amateur writer, athlete and musician. full story
by Kim Henry

CONGRATULATIONS ON TEN YEARS OF FREEDOM
Ten years ago this week you Czechs threw Communism out of your country and became a free people once again. There is much cause for rejoicing. Your nation has made remarkable progress in ten years. full story
by Kim Henry

THE AMISH
Pennsylvania is a state of many different nationalities. One type of group that lives in our state are the Amish. These people live in small communities without electricity, or modern conveniences.
full story
by Jane Custer

TRICK-OR-TREAT!
Ring-ring! Knock, knock! I hear simultaneously my doorbell being rung and knocking on my door at the same time. Someone is waiting outside for me very impatiently. Who could be at my house on this dark October night? full story
by Kim Henry

INTRODUCING KIM HENRY
Dr. Kim Henry lives in a tiny town very close to the Atlanta airport in the southern US state of Georgia. By day he repairs people's teeth, by night he is an amateur writer, athlete and musician. full story
by Kim Henry