Typical Tea Party Dialogue

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
Alice: How do you know I'm mad?
The Cat: You must be. Or you wouldn't have come here.

"Adopt A Meter" Program Will Benefit Nashville's Homeless Community

Mayor Karl Dean today announced the launch of the Adopt A Meter program in Nashville, an innovative awareness campaign that places specially marked refurbished parking meters throughout the city where people can deposit change and dollar bills that will benefit the city’s homeless outreach efforts.

The program is being coordinated by the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission with assistance from Public Works. The Homelessness Commission is seeking private donations to cover the cost of the signage and the program startup. Sponsoring businesses will have their logo displayed on a meter.

“Homelessness is not a government issue. It is not a nonprofit issue. Homelessness is a community issue,” Dean said. “The Adopt A Meter program is a way for citizens to channel funding directly toward the outreach efforts that benefit homeless individuals and families in our city.”

The City of Denver implemented a similar meter program in 2007 and now has 86 meters displayed that generate more than $100,000 annually. The meters have effectively educated the public about the need to support the city’s solutions to end homelessness and have reduced the occurrence of panhandling downtown.

Howard Gentry, CEO of the Nashville Chamber Public Benefit Foundation and a member of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission, said Mayor Karl Dean approached the Commission after a Chamber-sponsored leadership trip to Denver last spring.

“Several business leaders expressed their interest in getting involved in homelessness initiatives after they saw Denver’s programs,” Gentry said. “The Adopt A Meter program is a great way to start because it is financed through sponsorships from local businesses.”

Donations deposited in the meters will benefit the city’s homeless outreach programs. This fundraising strategy will be coordinated by the Key Alliance, an initiative of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission that brings together nonprofit, faith-based, government, and for-profit organizations to create more low-income housing opportunities for the homeless.

“Nashville currently has six full-time outreach workers assisting the roughly 4,000 individuals and families who are homeless on any given night,” Clifton Harris, director of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission, said. “Street outreach workers are essential to building relationships with homeless individuals and families, and connecting them to services that remove barriers to housing.”

Harris explained that Housing First, which is permanent housing coupled with intensive case management, is the solution to homelessness. “However, without the outreach programs needed we are unable to reach the most vulnerable individuals and families in our midst,” Harris said. “Through the Adopt A Meter program the entire Nashville community will be able to help us move toward our goal of ending chronic homelessness and reducing overall homelessness in Nashville.”

Meters in Nashville will be placed in prominent city locations that have a high volume of pedestrian traffic. The Key Alliance is working closely with Public Works to designate the sites. Public Works has donated 30 meters to start the program. The meters will be installed as the Homelessness Commission receives sponsorships for them.

Mayor Dean announced the program and called for area businesses to participate during the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville’s inaugural Bowtie Awards ceremony today, where businesses were honored for their support of the arts. Several hundred business people attended the awards luncheon. The first meter sponsored by Southwest Airlines was on display to demonstrate the sponsorship opportunities for businesses.

“We are excited to be working with The Key Alliance on a special arts element for the Adopt a Meter program,” said Connie Valentine, CEO of the Arts & Business Council. “The adopting companies will eventually have opportunity to sculpt or display art on or around their adopted meter – creating a powerful combination of arts and business in support of this important initiative.”

Exit 196

Bruce Zupa In Haiti, Following The Tropical Storms And Hurricans That Devasted The Country In 2008


Dozens of travelers leave Interstate 40 at Exit 196 everyday, some to visit friends and family, others for fuel, refreshment or lodging. They all have a story to tell and we are here to share a tale or two that we heard at Exit 196.

For the past two weeks, we spent a lot of time talking about the devastation that followed the earthquake in Haiti. Our hearts go out to the victims of the tragedy and we want to offer them help and hope.

Since 1995 the Bellevue Church of Christ has partnered with "Hope For Haiti's Children" to help support the Cazeau Christian Orphanage, a facility that prior to the earthquake housed 48 children ranging in age from 4 to 22 years old. Fortunately the orphanage is located about ten miles from the earth quake's epicenter and the building suffered little or no structural damage. Also none of the orphanage's children or workers were killed or injured in the disaster. Immediately after the quake, the Cazeau Christian Orphanage opened it's doors to receive and offer assistance to survivors of the calamity providing them with a safe place to rest and be cared for.

In 2008, following the series of tropical storms and hurricanes that devastated Haiti's crops and caused catastrophic flooding throughout the nation, Bruce Zupa of the Bellevue Church of Christ visited the tiny country, representing his local church to bring encouragement to the challenged workers and to deliver much needed supplies. Regarding the current situation in Haiti Zupa said "the Bellevue Church of Christ will be involved in assisting with the needs of the earthquake victims and that aid will most likely be directed through Hope for Haiti's Children". He also stated that "we have complete confidence in their ability to identify and fund the greatest need."

During services on Sunday January 31 the Bellevue Church of Christ will take up a special collection to assist the victims of the earthquake. The funds will be donated to Help for Haiti's Children and to Healing Hands International a Nashville based church associated agency that is also providing aid to Haiti.

At Exit 196 we are happy that we belong to a community that has a global heart and to know that we are working together to help Haiti and it's children, who hold the hope for that nation's future. On January 20th, desiring to be part of this community effort and to assist the Bellevue Church of Christ's missionary vision, donation jars were placed inside Shoney's restaurant at Exit 196 where they will remain through February 6th. Please stop by to say hello and drop some change in the jars, there is important work to be done and we know our community will do it's part.

Free Income Tax Preparation Services Available At West Nashville's St. Lukes Community House

Saint Luke's Community House is offering free income tax preparation services to local residents with less than a $49,000 annual household income. Working with the IRS sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, trained community volunteers help tax payers with special credits, such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, the program also offers free electronic filing (e-filing). Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program will receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper, and clients who have their refunds deposited directly into their bank account typically receive their refund in seven to ten days.

Last year the VITA volunteers at Saint Luke's Community House served more than 300 clients and helped the collective local community save approximately $70,000 dollars in income tax preparation fees. VITA services at Saint Luke's are available to anyone living in Davidson County, residents from communities such as White Bluff and Pegram are also welcome at the site. VITA services are offered to Williamson County residents at the Fairview Public Library.

To find out more about VITA or to make a free income tax preparation appointment at Saint Luke's Community House, call Jessica Brady at 350-1134. For information on the VITA program at the Fairview Public Library call 799-0235.

Visit Cheekwood Throughout The Month Of January For Fifty Cents, The 1960 Admission Price

Imperial Caucasus Egg, 1893, Imperial Napoleonic Egg, 1912, Imperial Danish Palaces Egg, 1890
On loan from the Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation
Photo Courtesy Cheekwood Botanical Garden And Museum Of Art

On May 30, 1960 the Cheekwood Botanical Garden And Museum Of Art first opened it's doors to the public. To mark their 50th anniversary Cheekwood is offering visitors admission for the original price of fifty cents throughout the month of January.

Exhibits currently on display include "William Edmondson: The Hand and the Spirit," and "The Matilda Geddings Gray Collection of Fabergé." The winter garden tour features, evergreens, flowering apricots in the Japanese Garden, pansies, violas, and the red and yellow foliage of twig dogwoods. During this special month guests will have many choices for exploring all of the wonderful offerings at Cheekwood including the popular art class "Tuesday For Tots."

Cities of Service and Rockefeller Foundation Award First-Ever Leadership Grant to Nashville on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Group of 17 City Mayors, Including Nashville's Mayor, Karl Dean, At Rockefeller Center September 10, 2009


Grant to Fund Chief Service Officer Position to Lead Local Efforts to Increase Volunteerism

Cities of Service and the Rockefeller Foundation today announced the winners of the first-ever Cities of Service Leadership grants. As one of the ten winning cities, Nashville will receive the $200,000 two-year grant, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, to hire a Chief Service Officer dedicated to developing and implementing a citywide plan to increase volunteerism.

Cities of Service is a bipartisan coalition of mayors from across the country, representing more than 38 million Americans in 80 cities, dedicated to engaging more Americans in service and channeling volunteers toward each city’s most pressing challenges.

Each of the winners displayed a strong commitment to service and outlined thoughtful, thorough, and creative approaches to expanding local opportunities for volunteers to make an impact in their city. Of the ten grant recipients, five are founding members of the Cities of Service coalition, including Nashville.

“I first learned of this funding opportunity when I joined Mayor Bloomberg in New York in September for the formation of Cities of Service. These are tight times for city budgets. This grant will allow us to have dedicated staff for developing service opportunities, something we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. I look forward to engaging our citizens to in our cities greatest needs and priorities, especially education,” Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said.

“I can think of no better way to celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, co-founder of Cities of Service. “His words – as eloquent as you will ever find - were about more than our highest aspirations. They were also a call to action. That is something that mayors know well. We are the ones who confront challenges, day in and day out, and we have quickly learned that service is an important tool that we can use to solve local problems. These grants will quickly allow mayors to expand their local service opportunities and deepen their impact.”

The Cities of Service Leadership grants will allow each city to hire a Chief Service Officer, a senior-ranking official who will develop and implement a citywide service plan by June 1, 2010. To do so, each Chief Service Officer will convene a strategic committee of service experts and stakeholders, conduct an assessment of existing service levels, and identify collaborative partnerships to deepen the effects of local volunteerism. By December 1, 2010, recipient cities must submit a progress report tracking the results of the comprehensive service plan and launch a website that allows both volunteers to search for service opportunities and service organizations seeking to engage citizens.

A selection committee – made up of the Rockefeller Foundation, national service experts, and city representatives – awarded the grants based upon the ability of the applicant to outline how they would: conduct an assessment of existing service levels; produce a coordinated citywide plan to increase service; engage local universities; and appoint a Chief Service Officer who would report directly to the mayor or another high-ranking official in the administration. Applications were limited to members of the coalition in cities that have more than 100,000 residents, according to the 2000 census, and have at least one community college or four-year public or private university. In total, 50 cities applied for a leadership grant.

CIRCUS OF THE UMBRELLA ART SHOW TO HIGHLIGHT HUSBAND AND WIFE’S COMBINED TALENTS

Show Features Unique Blend of Sculpting and Painting

Local husband and wife artists Aaron and Michelle Grayum will bring their dazzling parade of clowns, circus tents and whimsical creatures to Crema Coffee for their Circus of the Umbrella art show. An artists’ reception will be held at Crema on Friday, January 22 at 7pm, and the show will run through February 27. A portion of sales will be donated to the Wonderful Life Foundation as well as to Haitian Relief Efforts.

Circus of the Umbrella, a fanciful ode to the high-flying magic and splendor of the circus, features pieces of art that uniquely blend the painting talents of Aaron Grayum with the sculpting talents of wife Michelle, all on the same canvases. The couple, who have shared show spaces before, have never worked together this closely on an entire show from start to finish.

“This show is our first collaboration where we’ve combined painting and sculpture on each and every piece of an entire exhibition,” said Michelle. “Considering that both our styles reflect a sense of childlike whimsy and that they complement each other so well, collaboration seems to be a natural step in our careers. With 'Circus of the Umbrella,' we are bringing together our fascinations for the real and the surreal, for faith and disbelief, and for childlike amazement wrapped in the paradox that is the circus."

Aaron and Michelle met as art students at MTSU and have been working together in graphic design ever since, winning nearly a dozen Addy awards along the way. Aaron's particular style of painting has been well-received in many Nashville art galleries and shows over the years. He has recently started showing nationally, including galleries in Alabama, Florida, and Chicago. Michelle, in addition to showing her sculptures in local galleries and shows, has used her sculpting talent to start a successful custom wedding cake-topper business, Zoë Tops.

Weekly Address By President Barack Obama January 16, 2010

Weekly Address: Getting Our Money Back from Wall Street

As the President continues to work on immediate job creation, he discusses his proposal for a new fee on the largest financial institutions to ensure that every cent of taxpayer assistance gets paid back. Saying that, "we're not going to let Wall Street take the money and run," he then to discusses the ongoing push to make sure banks can never put our economy at risk again.



Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
Weekly Address
January 16, 2010

Over the past two years, more than seven million Americans have lost their jobs. Countless businesses have been forced to shut their doors. Few families have escaped the pain of this terrible recession. Rarely does a day go by that I do not hear from folks who are hurting. That is why we have pushed so hard to rebuild this economy.

But even as we work tirelessly to dig our way out of this hole, it is important that we address what led us into such a deep mess in the first place. Much of the turmoil of this recession was caused by the irresponsibility of banks and financial institutions on Wall Street. These financial firms took huge, reckless risks in pursuit of short-term profits and soaring bonuses. They gambled with borrowed money, without enough oversight or regard for the consequences. And when they lost, they lost big. Little more than a year ago, many of the largest and oldest financial firms in the world teetered on the brink of collapse, overwhelmed by the consequences of their irresponsible decisions. This financial crisis nearly pulled the entire economy into a second Great Depression.

As a result, the American people – struggling in their own right – were placed in a deeply unfair and unsatisfying position. Even though these financial firms were largely facing a crisis of their own creation, their failure could have led to an even greater calamity for the country. That is why the previous administration started a program – the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP – to provide these financial institutions with funds to survive the turmoil they helped unleash. It was a distasteful but necessary thing to do.

Many originally feared that most of the $700 billion in TARP money would be lost. But when my administration came into office, we put in place rigorous rules for accountability and transparency, which cut the cost of the bailout dramatically. We have now recovered most of the money we provided to the banks. That’s good news, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s not good enough. We want the taxpayers’ money back, and we’re going to collect every dime.

That is why, this week, I proposed a new fee on major financial firms to compensate the American people for the extraordinary assistance they provided to the financial industry. And the fee would be in place until the American taxpayer is made whole. Only the largest financial firms with more than $50 billion in assets will be affected, not community banks. And the bigger the firm – and the more debt it holds – the larger the fee. Because we are not only going to recover our money and help close our deficits; we are going to attack some of the banking practices that led to the crisis.

That’s important. The fact is, financial firms play an essential role in our economy. They provide capital and credit to families purchasing homes, students attending college, businesses looking to start up or expand. This is critical to our recovery. That is why our goal with this fee – and with the common-sense financial reforms we seek – is not to punish the financial industry. Our goal is to prevent the abuse and excess that nearly led to its collapse. Our goal is to promote fair dealings while punishing those who game the system; to encourage sustained growth while discouraging the speculative bubbles that inevitably burst. Ultimately, that is in the shared interest of the financial industry and the American people.

Of course, I would like the banks to embrace this sense of mutual responsibility. So far, though, they have ferociously fought financial reform. The industry has even joined forces with the opposition party to launch a massive lobbying campaign against common-sense rules to protect consumers and prevent another crisis.

Now, like clockwork, the banks and politicians who curry their favor are already trying to stop this fee from going into effect. The very same firms reaping billions of dollars in profits, and reportedly handing out more money in bonuses and compensation than ever before in history, are now pleading poverty. It’s a sight to see.

Those who oppose this fee say the banks can’t afford to pay back the American people without passing on the costs to their shareholders and customers. But that’s hard to believe when there are reports that Wall Street is going to hand out more money in bonuses and compensation just this year than the cost of this fee over the next ten years. If the big financial firms can afford massive bonuses, they can afford to pay back the American people.

Those who oppose this fee have also had the audacity to suggest that it is somehow unfair. That because these firms have already returned what they borrowed directly, their obligation is fulfilled. But this willfully ignores the fact that the entire industry benefited not only from the bailout, but from the assistance extended to AIG and homeowners, and from the many unprecedented emergency actions taken by the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and others to prevent a financial collapse. And it ignores a far greater unfairness: sticking the American taxpayer with the bill.

That is unacceptable to me, and to the American people. We’re not going to let Wall Street take the money and run. We’re going to pass this fee into law. And I’m going to continue to work with Congress on common-sense financial reforms to protect people and the economy from the kind of costly and painful crisis we’ve just been through. Because after a very tough two years, after a crisis that has caused so much havoc, if there is one lesson that we can learn, it’s this: we cannot return to business as usual.

Thank you very much.

Mayor Karl Dean Asks Nashville Citizens To Make Martin Luther King Day, a "Day Of Service"

Mayor Karl Dean today issued a call today to all Nashville citizens to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18, a “Day of Service” and to commit to serving the community year long. “This is an opportunity for all Nashville residents to join together in the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy to help shape and transform this city through service,” Dean said. “I call on all of our residents to join me in rolling up our sleeves on this holiday to work together to tackle the toughest problems facing our city from homelessness to crime.” Mayor Dean demonstrated his commitment to service by signing on as a member of the Cities of Service coalition earlier this year. On Monday, the mayor will join Hands On Nashville volunteers for an art service project at the Nashville Rescue Mission at 1 p.m. More than 80 participants from Allstate, which is sponsoring the event, the Youth Volunteer Corps of Nashville and the community will be painting four inspirational murals created by artist Anthony Billups on the walls of the homeless facility. Nashville residents can visit Serve.gov/MLKDay to find out about King Day service opportunities and design their own service projects. The site also features tool kits and other resources that will help area residents mobilize their neighbors to support a service project that addresses local challenges. Non-profit and service organizations can also use the site to register their projects and recruit volunteers. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is led by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The effort to make the King Holiday a “day on, not a day off,” focuses on engaging Americans in service to honor Dr. King’s legacy. More than 1.5 million volunteers served in 13,000 projects last year that took place in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Founded in New York City on September 10, 2009, Cities of Service is a bipartisan coalition of mayors who have answered the historic Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act’s call to action. Cities – often at the front lines of our nation’s most pressing challenges – are perfectly positioned to work together to engage millions more volunteers in service and develop strategies to increase the amount and impact of local service efforts. Coalition members, by signing a Declaration of Service, will work together to lead a multi-year effort to expand community service and volunteerism in cities across the country.

For more information about Nashville’s participation in Cities of Service and opportunities to volunteer year long visit nashville.gov/mayor/volunteer.

Shoney's Company Server Teresa Cline Remembered By Co-Workers, Family And Friends

Shoney's supervisors from 1976 to present came to show their respect for Teresa Cline, pictured at her memorial service on January 2nd, are Eric Prirtle , Don Mc Wright, Larry Bowles, Bob Hartung,, Wayne Lady, Ronnie Stinson, not pictured but present, former supervisors, Glenn Gossard and Steve Hopkins and her current supervisors, Barry Hesse and Bart Pickard

By Betsy Thorpe

On December 29th, Shoney's lost a loyal and valued employee when veteran server Teresa Cline unexpectedly passed away in her home from an apparent heart attack. Starting to work for Shoney's on August 8th 1973 at the age of 16, Teresa spent her first years with company at the store once located
on Murphy Road and at the store situated on White Bridge Road, however, she is most remembered by past patrons of the former Belle Meade store and by the many frequent customers she served in Bellevue, a store she helped open more than 12 years ago and where she was employed at the time of her death.

Teresa Cline's memorial service was held on January 2nd. Her life and service to Shoney's Company was celebrated by many former and current co-workers and members of management who with her family joined numerous restaurant patrons to remember Teresa as a friend and loved one who brought joy to those who new her best and who offered a welcoming smile to strangers. She will be missed.

EATHQUAKE IN HAITI: Learn how to contribute to the relief effort for Haiti after the earthquake, either online or by text message.

The President has been receiving updates on the urgent situation in Haiti late into last night and this morning, and top members of his team have been convening to formulate the government response.

You can also help immediately by donating to the Red Cross to assist the relief effort. Contribute online here, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999."

Families of Americans living in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 888-407-4747

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO VACCINATE

Tennessee Department Of Health Observes National Influenza Vaccination Week and Launches Social Media

The Tennessee Department of Health is reminding all residents that it is not too late to get vaccinated against the flu in the new year, as Governor Phil Bredesen has declared January 10-16, 2010 as National Influenza Vaccination Week in Tennessee. This national health observance highlights the importance of flu vaccinations and continuing steps to keep you and your family healthy during the peak
cold and flu season of January and beyond.

“One of the many goals for National Influenza Vaccination Week is to engage at-risk audiences who are not yet vaccinated, hesitant about vaccination or unsure about where to get vaccinated,” said Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN. “Flu activity from both H1N1 and seasonal flu viruses is expected to continue for months, making it vital that we continue to promote the importance of vaccination and flu
prevention.”

According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 60 million people in the United States have already received their dose of an estimated 108 million total available doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine. To date, Tennessee has distributed more than 2.4 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine to health providers across the state. This unprecedented turnout of people who have received flu vaccinations has helped to lessen the impact of the H1N1 flu pandemic.


Tennessee and other states across the country have seen declining numbers in hospital visits and cases of the flu virus over recent weeks. Recent statistics from the Department of Health show the beginnings of a decline in patients admitted to hospitals with influenza or influenza-like illnesses from 9.39 percent at the peak of the most recent second wave of flu to 9.14 percent in late December. There is
still sporadic flu activity across the country as well as the possibility of future waves of the virus that leaves room for improvement in vaccination rates among every age and risk group. Tennessee health departments continue to offer the vaccine to anyone who wishes to receive it. To find your nearest flu vaccine locations, visit
the Tennessee Department of Health Flu Shot Locator at http://health.state.tn.us/fluclinic/default.aspx.

As part of its continuing efforts to share information with the public,the Department is integrating social networking into its arsenal of communication tools. The Tennessee Department of Health is now using Facebook and Twitter to interact with and inform residents of important information related to the flu, and soon will expand to include a variety of health-related topics. Similar to information posted on the Department’s Web site, these quickly updated and readily accessible sites can be used in the event of a health or other emergency to get news and advice to the public in the most time-sensitive manner possible.

“The Department of Health is hoping to use these social media tools as additional methods to educate Tennesseans, promote health awareness and curb disease,” said Cooper. “The capabilities of Facebook and Twiitter to promote health observances such as National Influenza Vaccination Week and provide critical updates on other health topics have greatly expanded the reach of our message to our audiences.”

To follow the Tennessee Department of Health’s updates, Twitter subscribers can follow "TNDeptofHealth". To subscribe to Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/TNDeptofHealth.

On Facebook, find TDOH’s fan page by searching for Tennessee Department of Health. By clicking the button to become a fan, users will receive regular updates in their Facebook news feeds. To subscribe to Facebook, go to www.facebook.com.

The Tennessee Department of Health is currently distributing flu prevention posters free of charge to businesses, government agencies and the public encouraging residents to get vaccinated, practice respiratory etiquette and stay home when sick. “What do you do to prevent the flu?” posters are readily available for pick-up at local county health departments for distribution and display at public locations throughout the community.

STATE OF TENNESSEE OFFERS FREE TOOLS FOR BETTER HEALTH IN 2010

GetFitTN.com Provides Resources to Help Tennesseans Keep Their Resolutions

January is a time when people promise themselves they will be healthier over the next year. Many make resolutions to lose weight, exercise more or quit smoking in the New Year. Residents across Tennessee may find it difficult, or even expensive, to stay motivated and keep their well-intentioned goals in 2010.

Commissioner of Health Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, reminds all Tennesseans of the importance of making healthy choices in 2010 and of the free tools and resources offered by the Tennessee Department of Health at GetFitTN.com. "We all wake up on the first of January with the best of intentions to make a new start," said Cooper. "I understand how difficult making life changes can be, and want everyone in Tennessee to know there are free tools available to help them on their journey to better health."

The Get Fit Tennessee interactive Web site offers numerous tools to help residents stay committed to their health resolutions this year. The site features a fitness tracker and nutrition tracker that allow users to set goals and chart their progress, along with a number of calculators that measure everything from the number of calories in favorite foods to the amount of money saved by quitting smoking. Other features on the site include healthy recipes, fitness challenges and an "Ask the Expert" section where users can e-mail health and fitness questions directly to professionals around the state. Cooper reminds Tennesseans everything offered on the site is free of charge.

"We made some wonderful updates to GetFitTN.com last year," she said. "Our hope is that the people of Tennessee will use these free tools to make positive changes in their health and their daily lives."

Get Fit Tennessee was developed by Gov. Phil Bredesen to address the rising epidemic of Type 2 diabetes and risk factors that lead to diabetes, such as obesity. The initiative is aimed at educating both adults and children that Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or even prevented with modest lifestyle changes like increasing physical activity and eating healthier. For more information on Get Fit Tennessee, including free fitness and nutrition tools, visit GetFitTN.com

Feel Good Friday

The Battle of New Orleans,
By Johnny Horton



The Battle of New Orleans was faught on January 8, 1815

General Andrew Jackson Defeated British Forces In New Orleans On January 8, 1815

1928 program cover with scene from the Battle of New Orleans,
Captioned, January 8, 1815, "The Americans under the leadership of General Andrew Jackson defeated the British Army of twice his own force."



With the commanders of American and British troops unaware of the peace treaty that was signed in *Ghent, on December 24, 1814, the final major battle of the War of 1812 took place in New Orleans Louisiana on January 8th 1815. American forces, under the leadership of General Andrew Jackson defeated the British Army, preventing them from invading America's western territories.

News of the peace treaty reached New Orleans in February 1815.
*In 1815 Ghent was located in The Netherlands, today it is located in Belgium.

Treaty of Peace and Amity between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America.

His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America desirous of terminating the war which has unhappily subsisted between the two Countries, and of restoring upon principles of perfect reciprocity, Peace, Friendship, and good Understanding between them, have for that purpose appointed their respective Plenipotentiaries, that is to say, His Britannic Majesty on His part has appointed the Right Honourable James Lord Gambier, late Admiral of the White now Admiral of the Red Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet; Henry Goulburn Esquire, a Member of the Imperial Parliament and Under Secretary of State; and William Adams Esquire, Doctor of Civil Laws: And the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, has appointed John Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan Russell, and Albert Gallatin, Citizens of the United States; who, after a reciprocal communication of their respective Full Powers, have agreed upon the following Articles.

ARTICLE THE FIRST.
There shall be a firm and universal Peace between His Britannic Majesty and the United States, and between their respective Countries, Territories, Cities, Towns, and People of every degree without exception of places or persons. All hostilities both by sea and land shall cease as soon as this Treaty shall have been ratified by both parties as hereinafter mentioned. All territory, places, and possessions whatsoever taken by either party from the other during the war, or which may be taken after the signing of this Treaty, excepting only the Islands hereinafter mentioned, shall be restored without delay and without causing any destruction or carrying away any of the Artillery or other public property originally captured in the said forts or places, and which shall remain therein upon the Exchange of the Ratifications of this Treaty, or any Slaves or other private property; And all Archives, Records, Deeds, and Papers, either of a public nature or belonging to private persons, which in the course of the war may have fallen into the hands of the Officers of either party, shall be, as far as may be practicable, forthwith restored and delivered to the proper authorities and persons to whom they respectively belong. Such of the Islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy as are claimed by both parties shall remain in the possession of the party in whose occupation they may be at the time of the Exchange of the Ratifications of this Treaty until the decision respecting the title to the said Islands shall have been made in conformity with the fourth Article of this Treaty. No disposition made by this Treaty as to such possession of the Islands and territories claimed by both parties shall in any manner whatever be construed to affect the right of either.

ARTICLE THE SECOND.
Immediately after the ratifications of this Treaty by both parties as hereinafter mentioned, orders shall be sent to the Armies, Squadrons, Officers, Subjects, and Citizens of the two Powers to cease from all hostilities: and to prevent all causes of complaint which might arise on account of the prizes which may be taken at sea after the said Ratifications of this Treaty, it is reciprocally agreed that all vessels and effects which may be taken after the space of twelve days from the said Ratifications upon all parts of the Coast of North America from the Latitude of twenty three degrees North to the Latitude of fifty degrees North, and as far Eastward in the Atlantic Ocean as the thirty sixth degree of West Longitude from the Meridian of Greenwich, shall be restored on each side:-that the time shall be thirty days in all other parts of the Atlantic Ocean North of the Equinoctial Line or Equator:-and the same time for the British and Irish Channels, for the Gulf of Mexico, and all parts of the West Indies:-forty days for the North Seas for the Baltic, and for all parts of the Mediterranean-sixty days for the Atlantic Ocean South of the Equator as far as the Latitude of the Cape of Good Hope.- ninety days for every other part of the world South of the Equator, and one hundred and twenty days for all other parts of the world without exception.

ARTICLE THE THIRD.
All Prisoners of war taken on either side as well by land as by sea shall be restored as soon as practicable after the Ratifications of this Treaty as hereinafter mentioned on their paying the debts which they may have contracted during their captivity. The two Contracting Parties respectively engage to discharge in specie the advances which may have been made by the other for the sustenance and maintenance of such prisoners.

ARTICLE THE FOURTH.
Whereas it was stipulated by the second Article in the Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America that the boundary of the United States should comprehend "all Islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the United States and lying between lines to be drawn due East from the points where the aforesaid boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one part and East Florida on the other shall respectively touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting such Islands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of Nova Scotia, and whereas the several Islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy, which is part of the Bay of Fundy, and the Island of Grand Menan in the said Bay of Fundy, are claimed by the United States as being comprehended within their aforesaid boundaries, which said Islands are claimed as belonging to His Britannic Majesty as having been at the time of and previous to the aforesaid Treaty of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three within the limits of the Province of Nova Scotia: In order therefore finally to decide upon these claims it is agreed that they shall be referred to two Commissioners to be appointed in the following manner: viz: One Commissioner shall be appointed by His Britannic Majesty and one by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and the said two Commissioners so appointed shall be sworn impartially to examine and decide upon the said claims according to such evidence as shall be laid before them on the part of His Britannic Majesty and of the United States respectively. The said Commissioners shall meet at St Andrews in the Province of New Brunswick, and shall have power to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit. The said Commissioners shall by a declaration or report under their hands and seals decide to which of the two Contracting parties the several Islands aforesaid do respectely belong in conformity with the true intent of the said Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three. And if the said Commissioners shall agree in their decision both parties shall consider such decision as final and conclusive. It is further agreed that in the event of the two Commissioners differing upon all or any of the matters so referred to them, or in the event of both or either of the said Commissioners refusing or declining or wilfully omitting to act as such, they shall make jointly or separately a report or reports as well to the Government of His Britannic Majesty as to that of the United States, stating in detail the points on which they differ, and the grounds upon which their respective opinions have been formed, or the grounds upon which they or either of them have so refused declined or omitted to act. And His Britannic Majesty and the Government of the United States hereby agree to refer the report or reports of the said Commissioners to some friendly Sovereign or State to be then named for that purpose, and who shall be requested to decide on the differences which may be stated in the said report or reports, or upon the report of one Commissioner together with the grounds upon which the other Commissioner shall have refused, declined or omitted to act as the case may be. And if the Commissioner so refusing, declining, or omitting to act, shall also wilfully omit to state the grounds upon which he has so done in such manner that the said statement may be referred to such friendly Sovereign or State together with the report of such other Commissioner, then such Sovereign or State shall decide ex parse upon the said report alone. And His Britannic Majesty and the Government of the United States engage to consider the decision of such friendly Sovereign or State to be final and conclusive on all the matters so referred.

ARTICLE THE FIFTH.
Whereas neither that point of the Highlands lying due North from the source of the River St Croix, and designated in the former Treaty of Peace between the two Powers as the North West Angle of Nova Scotia, nor the North Westernmost head of Connecticut River has yet been ascertained; and whereas that part of the boundary line between the Dominions of the two Powers which extends from the source of the River st Croix directly North to the above mentioned North West Angle of Nova Scotia, thence along the said Highlands which divide those Rivers that empty themselves into the River St Lawrence from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean to the North Westernmost head of Connecticut River, thence down along the middle of that River to the forty fifth degree of North Latitude, thence by a line due West on said latitude until it strikes the River Iroquois or Cataraquy, has not yet been surveyed: it is agreed that for these several purposes two Commissioners shall be appointed, sworn, and authorized to act exactly in the manner directed with respect to those mentioned in the next preceding Article unless otherwise specified in the present Article. The said Commissioners shall meet at se Andrews in the Province of New Brunswick, and shall have power to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit. The said Commissioners shall have power to ascertain and determine the points above mentioned in conformity with the provisions of the said Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, and shall cause the boundary aforesaid from the source of the River St Croix to the River Iroquois or Cataraquy to be surveyed and marked according to the said provisions. The said Commissioners shall make a map of the said boundary, and annex to it a declaration under their hands and seals certifying it to be the true Map of the said boundary, and particularizing the latitude and longitude of the North West Angle of Nova Scotia, of the North Westernmost head of Connecticut River, and of such other points of the said boundary as they may deem proper. And both parties agree to consider such map and declaration as finally and conclusively fixing the said boundary. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing, or both, or either of them refusing, declining, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations, or statements shall be made by them or either of them, and such reference to a friendly Sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth Article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated.

ARTICLE THE SIXTH.
Whereas by the former Treaty of Peace that portion of the boundary of the United States from the point where the fortyfifth degree of North Latitude strikes the River Iroquois or Cataraquy to the Lake Superior was declared to be "along the middle of said River into Lake Ontario, through the middle of said Lake until it strikes the communication by water between that Lake and Lake Erie, thence along the middle of said communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of said Lake until it arrives at the water communication into the Lake Huron; thence through the middle of said Lake to the water communication between that Lake and Lake Superior:" and whereas doubts have arisen what was the middle of the said River, Lakes, and water communications, and whether certain Islands lying in the same were within the Dominions of His Britannic Majesty or of the United States: In order therefore finally to decide these doubts, they shall be referred to two Commissioners to be appointed, sworn, and authorized to act exactly in the manner directed with respect to those mentioned in the next preceding Article unless otherwise specified in this present Article. The said Commissioners shall meet in the first instance at Albany in the State of New York, and shall have power to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit. The said Commissioners shall by a Report or Declaration under their hands and seals, designate the boundary through the said River, Lakes, and water communications, and decide to which of the two Contracting parties the several Islands lying within the said Rivers, Lakes, and water communications, do respectively belong in conformity with the true intent of the said Treaty of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three. And both parties agree to consider such designation and decision as final and conclusive. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing or both or either of them refusing, declining, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations, or statements shall be made by them or either of them, and such reference to a friendly Sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth Article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated.

ARTICLE THE SEVENTH.
It is further agreed that the said two last mentioned Commissioners after they shall have executed the duties assigned to them in the preceding Article, shall be, and they are hereby, authorized upon their oaths impartially to fix and determine according to the true intent of the said Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, that part of the boundary between the dominions of the two Powers, which extends from the water communication between Lake Huron and Lake Superior to the most North Western point of the Lake of the Woods;-to decide to which of the two Parties the several Islands lying in the Lakes, water communications, and Rivers forming the said boundary do respectively belong in conformity with the true intent of the said Treaty of Peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, and to cause such parts of the said boundary as require it to be surveyed and marked. The said Commissioners shall by a Report or declaration under their hands and seals, designate the boundary aforesaid, state their decision on the points thus referred to them, and particularize the Latitude and Longitude of the most North Western point of the Lake of the Woods, and of such other parts of the said boundary as they may deem proper. And both parties agree to consider such designation and decision as final and conclusive. And in the event of the said two Commissioners differing, or both or either of them refusing, declining, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations or statements shall be made by them or either of them, and such reference to a friendly Sovereign or State shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth Article is contained, and in as full a manner as if the same was herein revealed. ARTICLE THE EIGHTH. The several Boards of two Commissioners mentioned in the four preceding Articles shall respectively have power to appoint a Secretary, and to employ such Surveyors or other persons as they shall judge necessary. Duplicates of all their respective reports, declarations, statements, and decisions, and of their accounts, and of the Journal of their proceedings shall be delivered by them to the Agents of His Britannic Majesty and to the Agents of the United States, who may be respectively appointed and authorized to manage the business on behalf of their respective Governments. The said Commissioners shall be respectively paid in such manner as shall be agreed between the two contracting parties, such agreement being to be settled at the time of the Exchange of the Ratifications of this Treaty. And all other expenses attending the said Commissions shall be defrayed equally by the two parties. And in the case of death, sickness, resignation, or necessary absence, the place of every such Commissioner respectively shall be supplied in the same manner as such Commissioner was first appointed; and the new Commissioner shall take the same oath or affirmation and do the same duties. It is further agreed between the two contracting parties that in case any of the Islands mentioned in any of the preceding Articles, which were in the possession of one of the parties prior to the commencement of the present war between the two Countries, should by the decision of any of the Boards of Commissioners aforesaid, or of the Sovereign or State so referred to, as in the four next preceding Articles contained, fall within the dominions of the other party, all grants of land made previous to the commencement of the war by the party having had such possession, shall be as valid as if such Island or Islands had by such decision or decisions been adjudged to be within the dominions of the party having had such possession.

ARTICLE THE NINTH.
The United States of America engage to put an end immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty to hostilities with all the Tribes or Nations of Indians with whom they may be at war at the time of such Ratification, and forthwith to restore to such Tribes or Nations respectively all the possessions, rights, and privileges which they may have enjoyed or been entitled to in one thousand eight hundred and eleven previous to such hostilities. Provided always that such Tribes or Nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against the United States of America, their Citizens, and Subjects upon the Ratification of the present Treaty being notified to such Tribes or Nations, and shall so desist accordingly. And His Britannic Majesty engages on his part to put an end immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty to hostilities with all the Tribes or Nations of Indians with whom He may be at war at the time of such Ratification, and forthwith to restore to such Tribes or Nations respectively all the possessions, rights, and privileges, which they may have enjoyed or been entitled to in one thousand eight hundred and eleven previous to such hostilities. Provided always that such Tribes or Nations shall agree to desist from all hostilities against His Britannic Majesty and His Subjects upon the Ratification of the present Treaty being notified to such Tribes or Nations, and shall so desist accordingly.

ARTICLE THE TENTH.
Whereas the Traffic in Slaves is irreconcilable with the principles of humanity and Justice, and whereas both His Majesty and the United States are desirous of continuing their efforts to promote its entire abolition, it is hereby agreed that both the contracting parties shall use their best endeavours to accomplish so desirable an object.

ARTICLE THE ELEVENTH.
This Treaty when the same shall have been ratified on both sides without alteration by either of the contracting parties, and the Ratifications mutually exchanged, shall be binding on both parties, and the Ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington in the space of four months from this day or sooner if practicable. In faith whereof, We the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed this Treaty, and have hereunto affixed our Seals.

Done in triplicate at Ghent the twenty fourth day of December one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.

GAMBIER.
HENRY GOULBURN
WILLIAM ADAMS
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
J. A. BAYARD
H. CLAY.
JON. RUSSELL
ALBERT GALLATIN

Nashville Rescue Mission's "Cold Patrol" Will Work Throughout The Night

Nashville Rescue Mission Sends Out the Cold Patrol

For local school children the cold winter front and icy conditions means they get to stay home and enjoy "snow days," however to Nashville's homeless population the frigid inclement weather is hazardous and sometimes fatal. At least four people have died of hypothermia on the streets of Nashville since Monday night. This is why the Nashville Rescue Mission journeys out on cold nights with the “Cold Patrol” to encourage men, women and children to come in from the harsh elements. “We really hate the thought of the homeless sleeping on the streets, on grates or on church steps. We want people sleeping in beds,” said Director of Transient Services, Ed Grimes. According to the The Metro Homeless Commission there are more 4,000 people currently living on the streets Nashville and with many those people either unwilling or unable to go to a shelter the dedicated volunteers of the "Cold Patrol" offer them life saving services.

Go here to find out more about the Nashville Rescue Mission.

EXIT 196

Shoney's supervisors from 1976 to present came to show their respect for Teresa Cline, pictured, Eric Pirtle , Don Mc Wright, Larry Bowles, Bob Hartung,, Wayne Lady, Ronnie Stinson, not pictured but present, former supervisors, Glenn Gossard and Steve Hopkins and current supervisors, Barry Hesse and Bart Pickard

By Betsy Thorpe

Dozens of travelers leave I-40 at Exit 196 everyday, some to visit friends and family, others for fuel, refreshment or lodging. They all have a story to tell and we are here to share a tale or two that we heard at Exit 196.

Many readers of Exit 196 may not know that for the past nine years I have held a part time job as a server at the Shoney's Restaurant located in Bellevue near Exit 196. Last summer my good friend and co-worker Teresa Cline suggested I develop a column designed to relate the experiences of the many interesting patrons who dined at our restaurant. Teresa, who took a keen interest in everyone she served would often direct me to an individual or group saying "talk to them they have a good story, you should meet them. " On August 8th 2009 the column Exit 196 was launched and with Teresa's help I was able to uncover and write many interesting stories relevant to our community.

On Tuesday December 29, Teresa unexpectedly passed away in her home. She was 52 years old. First hired by Shoney's on August 8th 1973 at the age of 16 her employment with the company lasted throughout the remainder of her life.

During the Vietnam war Teresa's father Glen Twyford served in the United States Navy. Teresa would often recall how when her "Daddy" called home she and her sister Shelia would laugh when they had to say "over" signifying the end of a comment, she also remembered refusing to say "over" when she knew their conversation was coming to end, hoping to prolong her time with her father.

Teresa was sensitive to the needs of others. She was especially kind to her Spanish speaking co-workers, always helping them find the services they needed to improve their lives. She loved little children and enjoyed watching her friends and customers babies develop and grow. A good listener Teresa was expert at picking out the perfect gift for birthdays and anniversaries. Former kitchen manager Antonio Gonzalez was especially fond of hamburgers, his favorite American food, and one year for his birthday Teresa custom ordered a cake replicating a huge hamburger. An animal lover, Teresa was known to rescue abandoned dogs and to feed the stray cats and geese that often appeared at the restaurant's back door.

An avid supporter of the local community Teresa continued to shop at the Bellvue Mall long after it was announced that its demise was imminent. On October 24th Teresa helped to remove graffiti, pick up trash and beautify the community when she participated in the Bellevue Cleanup Day sponsored by her friends in the local Exchange Club.

The memory of Teresa Cline will continue and linger at Exit 196 where her friendship will be missed and her presence will be mourned. It is my hope that in remembrance of Teresa, those who were touched by her life will quietly remember her by extending a simple act of kindness toward a person or an animal, offering her a tribute that would greatly please her and honor her heart and recognize her life of service.

NASHVILLE MAYOR ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR’S PLAN TO COMPETE FOR ‘RACE TO THE TOP’ GRANT

NASHVILLE Mayor Karl Dean released this statement on Monday:

“I strongly support Governor Bredesen’s call for a special session of the legislature next week, and I join him in urging our state legislators to take the necessary action to make Tennessee competitive for ‘Race to the Top’ funds.

“President Obama has created a historic opportunity to reform public education in our country. As the mayor of the only school district in state of Tennessee to be in ‘Restructuring I’ under No Child Left Behind, I feel a tremendous sense of urgency for education reform. It’s our students who will reap the consequences if we simply keep doing things the way they’ve always been done.

“Since taking office, we’ve brought two national nonprofit organizations focused on education reform to Nashville to work in our schools – Teach for America and The New Teacher Project. With The New Teacher Project embedded in our schools’ human resources department, our district stands at the threshold of completely changing the way it recruits and retains its teachers. In December, I announced the launch of the Center for Charter School Excellence in Tennessee, which will recruit and support high quality charter school operators in Nashville, and eventually the state. And I’m working with Director of Metro Schools Dr. Jesse Register on an effort to transform the traditional teacher compensation model in Nashville.

“Governor Bredesen has always been a strong advocate for public education, and has made great strides, most recently with the implementation of the Tennessee Diploma Project. This next step – changing the way we evaluate our teachers – is right in line with my areas of focus. While others talk about reform, Governor Bredesen is on the frontline pushing for the changes this state needs in order to raise the bar.

“I too plan to remain on the frontlines, as I did with the recent charter school legislation, and advocate for the needed changes that will place Nashville and this state in a position for long-term success.”

Scouts From Nashville Christian School Participate In Home Depot Kids Workshop

Nashville Christian School, Bear Cubs From Pack 382 Sam Nestor, Thomas Sellers, Gabe Nestor, Will Taylor Future Scout Julie Nestor And Girl Scouts From Troop 1851 Ellie Sellers and Isabel Nestor in their Home Depot Kid Workshop Aprons January 2, 2009


Teaching children do-it-yours self skills and tool safety, Home Depot's award winning Kids Workshop helps instill a sense of accomplishment and self esteem in its' participants. Offered nationally in all Home Depots on the first Saturday of every month, from 9:00 am to noon the workshops are free how-to clinics designed for children ages 5-12. Since the program's inception in 1997 children and their accompanying adult have developed useful woodworking skills by creating objects that can be used in and around their homes or communities. Through the years, these projects have included the creation of toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers, as well as more educational projects, such as a window birdhouse, bughouse or Declaration of Independence frame kit.

According to Bellevue Home Depot Store Manager Greg Fagley the program attracts almost one hundred local children every month. Fagley also stated that both parents and children enjoy the workshop's creative activities. For more information on the Home Depot Kids Workshop please call 662 7400.

Weekly Address By President Barack Obama, January 2, 2010

The Fight Against Al Qaeda

The President discusses the recent attempted act of terrorism on the
Christmas day flight to Detroit, and his broader strategy to fight Al Qaeda.



President Obama Outlines Steps Taken to Protect the Safety and Security of the American People

In his weekly address, President Barack Obama discussed his solemn responsibility to protect the nation and the steps the administration has taken to that end. From ordering reviews into the attempted act of terrorism in Detroit to a comprehensive strategy that has refocused our efforts on the fight against al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan and strengthened international partnerships to keep unrelenting pressure on extremists across the globe, the President will continue to do everything in his power to uphold the nation’s security.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
January 2, 2010

It has now been more than a week since the attempted act of terrorism aboard that flight to Detroit on Christmas Day. On Thursday, I received the preliminary findings of the reviews that I ordered into our terrorist watchlist system and air travel screening. I've directed my counterterrorism and homeland security advisor at the White House, John Brennan, to lead these reviews going forward and to present the final results and recommendations to me in the days to come.

As I said this week, I will do everything in my power to make sure our hard-working men and women in our intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security communities have the tools and resources they need to keep America safe. This includes making sure these communities-and the people in them-are coordinating effectively and are held accountable at every level. And as President, that is what I will do.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the Christmas Day incident continues, and we're learning more about the suspect. We know that he traveled to Yemen, a country grappling with crushing poverty and deadly insurgencies. It appears that he joined an affiliate of al Qaeda, and that this group-al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula-trained him, equipped him with those explosives and directed him to attack that plane headed for America.

This is not the first time this group has targeted us. In recent years, they have bombed Yemeni government facilities and Western hotels, restaurants and embassies-including our embassy in 2008, killing one American. So, as President, I've made it a priority to strengthen our partnership with the Yemeni government-training and equipping their security forces, sharing intelligence and working with them to strike al Qaeda terrorists.

And even before Christmas Day, we had seen the results. Training camps have been struck; leaders eliminated; plots disrupted. And all those involved in the attempted act of terrorism on Christmas must know-you too will be held to account.

But these efforts are only part of a wider cause. It's been nearly a year since I stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and took the oath of office as your President. And with that oath came the solemn responsibility that I carry with me every moment of every day-the responsibility to protect the safety and security of the American people.

On that day I also made it very clear-our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred, and that we will do whatever it takes to defeat them and defend our country, even as we uphold the values that have always distinguished America among nations.

And make no mistake, that's exactly what we've been doing. It's why I refocused the fight-bringing to a responsible end the war in Iraq, which had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks, and dramatically increasing our resources in the region where al Qaeda is actually based, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's why I've set a clear and achievable mission-to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies and prevent their return to either country.

And it's why we've forged new partnerships, as in Yemen, and put unrelenting pressure on these extremists wherever they plot and train-from East Africa to Southeast Asia, from Europe to the Persian Gulf. And though often out of sight, our progress has been unmistakable. Along with our partners, we've disrupted terrorist financing, cut off recruiting chains, inflicted major losses on al Qaeda's leadership, thwarted plots here in the United States, and saved countless American lives.

Yet as the Christmas Day attempt illustrates, and as we were reminded this week by the sacrifices of more brave Americans in Afghanistan-including those seven dedicated men and women of the CIA-the hard work of protecting our nation is never done. So as our reviews continue, let us ask the questions that need to be asked. Let us make the changes that need to be made. Let us debate the best way to protect the country we all love. That is the right and responsibility of every American and every elected official.

But as we go forward, let us remember this-our adversaries are those who would attack our country, not our fellow Americans, not each other. Let's never forget what has always carried us through times of trial, including those attacks eight Septembers ago.

Instead of giving in to fear and cynicism, let's renew that timeless American spirit of resolve and confidence and optimism. Instead of succumbing to partisanship and division, let's summon the unity that this moment demands. Let's work together, with a seriousness of purpose, to do what must be done to keep our country safe.

As we begin this New Year, I cannot imagine a more fitting resolution to guide us-as a people and as a nation.

Charlie Brown On Ice Was Very "Cool"

Adriana is in the doghouse (again)!