Free Republic

Crested Butte Mountain Resort's five-year effort to push its ski area onto nearby Snodgrass Mountain hit a barrier. The U.S. Forest Service rejected the resort's master development plan and blocked its application for National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, review, a vital hurdle to expand the ski resort by 276 acres onto undeveloped terrain on neighboring Snodgrass Mountain. "It was a difficult decision; the Upper Crested Butte Valley is very divided on this issue, with strong opinions on both sides," said Charlie Richmond, supervisor of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, who signed the letter rejecting the expansion....

A Georgia judge has blasted attorney Orly Taitz, who has handled a number of court challenges to President Barack Obama's eligibility under the constitutional demand the Oval Office be occupied only by a "natural born" citizen, fining her $20,000 for what he called "frivolous" court actions, and he then mocked the concern over Obama's background. "Although counsel's present concern is the location of the president's birth, it does not take much imagination to extend the theory to his birthday," wrote U.S. District Judge Clay Land in an order released today. "Perhaps, he looks 'too young' to be president, and he...

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- A top Communist Party research chief said Thursday that China should buy gold and U.S. real estate rather than Treasurys, according to a Reuters report. Li Lianzhong, who is head of economics at the party's policy research office, said the U.S. dollar is poised for a fall, making gold and land better investments for China's $1.95 trillion in foreign exchange reserves, the report said. It quoted Li as saying Beijing should also focus on buying up energy and natural resources. His remarks followed just hours after China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. -- better known as Sinopec...

North Korea's nuclear threats are grabbing the world's attention. But if the North were to strike South Korea today, it would probably first try to savage Seoul with the men and missiles of its huge conventional army. The attack might well begin with artillery and missiles capable of hitting South Korea's capital with little or no warning. North Korea's vast cadre of commandos could try to infiltrate and cause chaos while the South tried to respond. The hair-trigger nature of the danger is reflected in the pledge of preparedness that American ground forces stationed just below the North-South divide have...

Wimbledon hopeful Simona Halep wants surgery to reduce the size of her breasts. Halep, 17, is seen as one of the tennis stars of the future after winning a host of junior titles and a place in the final of the junior French Open last year. But the 5-foot-5-inch Romanian tennis star said she thinks her 34DD bust is holding her back.

I spoke today with Richard Land, public policy chief of the Southern Baptist Convention—the nation's largest evangelical denomination—and was struck by his praise of President Obama for living out "family values": Not enough religious conservatives are saying this: It's terribly important that [Obama] gives every indication of being a moral man who is demonstrably fond of his wife and children. I think that's important in a president, be it a Democrat or a Republican. That's why I said I couldn't vote for Giuliani or Gingrich. I think [Obama's] making a real difference in this country in his example as a...

While getting a new clutch installed on our Ford pick-up in Petach Tiqvah, the garage accountant, wearing a kippa, noticed the B'nai No'ach bumper sticker and asked, "What is B'nai No'ach?" "You are a religious Jew and you have to ask me 'what is B'nai No'ach?'" "I know what is B'nai No'ach, but I want to know what B'nai No'ach is to you." In a few words I gave him an answer that satisfied him. Then, he asked, "Who do you think this Land of Israel belongs to, the Jews or the Arabs?" "This Land belongs neither to the Jews...

In a whimsical moment, Richard D. Land -- the generous Christian thinker -- said The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could make things easier for itself by simply declaring Mormonism to be the fourth, great religion in the Abrahamic tradition. We all know the first three. The Muslims trace their history from Abraham, through Ishmael to the prophet Mohammed. The Jews come down through Abraham and Moses. Christians descend through Abraham and Moses to Jesus. And Mormons claim Abraham, Moses and Jesus, but add the prophet Joseph Smith. Mormonism pulls from all three. Mormonism, the missing link that...

Israel has seized another 425 acres of West Bank Land. This will create challenges for President Obama who has promised to get quickly involved in Middle East peace. President Obama will have great difficulty working with the next government of Israel if it is led by hardliner Benjamin Netanyahu. No party has enough votes to form a government at the moment, but the right wing Likud party seems to have the best chance.

While everyone is distracted with the Pelosi Reid Obama artery–choking, cardiac arrest, Pork Barrel Spending Bill, congress is sneaking-ly trying to pass the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. Left-wing environmentalists are behind this bill to purposely undercut current progress toward affordable domestic energy. Essentially they will be stealing 300 million barrels of proven oil and 8.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from any future use.

It’s hard to pinpoint the worst part of the public lands legislation bill Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is calling up for an under-the-radar Sunday tomorrow. The 1200-page, pork-laden, $10 billion proposal locks up millions of acres of energy-rich property by designating it an environmentalist-friendly “federal wilderness” area where not even as much as a bicycle would be permitted to travel across the land. Many of these areas recently became available when the ban on domestic drilling in Western states expired last fall and the liberal left couldn’t muster the courage to keep it in place due to rising energy...

Joe Johnson's family has lived and worked on the same property near Columbus, N.M., for almost 100 years. "Our grandfather came here in 1918, right behind Pancho Villa," he says proudly. Yet he also admits, "If it wasn't home, I would move away from it." The Johnson ranch lies right up against the Mexican border, and illegal immigration has turned what was already a hard way to make a living on drought--plagued rangeland into a nightmare of stolen cattle, broken water lines,ruined fences and grass fi res. "In 2005, we had 500-plus people crossing our ranch every day," explains housewife,...

PRESS RELEASE from Kenneth J. Conner paid for by Kenneth J. Conner OBAMA CALLED ON TO RELEASE HOUSE APPRAISAL Kenneth J. Conner, a plaintiff against the bank that financed the Rezko purchase of 5050 S. Greenwood and released a portion of 5050 S. Greenwood for purchase by Obama, calls for immediate release of the Obama House Appraisal (OHA). OHA is conspicuously missing from hundreds of pages of document images at the Obama web site that purportedly comprise extensive, sufficient, and thorough disclosure of House and Lot transaction details related to: Obama purchase of a portion of 5050 S. Greenwood Obama...

WASHINGTON — Texas congressmen, citing skyrocketing costs to build a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, said Thursday they would push the next presidential administration for more cost-effective measures to control drug smuggling and illegal immigration. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, made the comments after a Rio Grande flyover to view efforts on the ground by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “Let's regroup and provide border security in a smart way and not just waste the taxpayers' dollars,” Cuellar said. McCaul called for more state and local funding to bolster law enforcement efforts, saying, “What spills...

Bobby Prigel says building an organic creamery will keep his farm alive. But preservationists say it will spoil the rural landscape. GLEN ARM, Md. -- Bobby Prigel seems like a poster child for the local-food movement. A fourth-generation dairy farmer, he wants to build a creamery to make organic butter, yogurt, cheese and ice cream. He wants to sell those products to consumers in nearby Baltimore instead of shipping his milk out of state. He wants to make enough money to pass on the farm to a fifth generation. But some neighbors and conservationists are challenging Prigel's plans. Opponents, led...

Annapolis – An argument sparked by the Democratic National Convention turned violent when an Eastport man punched and chased his girlfriend around the house with a knife, Annapolis police said.City police responded to a call Wednesday afternoon from a woman who said her boyfriend attacked her. Jessica Christine Oldenberg told police that an argument began when her boyfriend Lorenzo Prince Glenn, was watching coverage of the Democratic convention and shouted “(expletive Republicans”.Ms. Oldenberg responded: “My dad is a Republican,” to which he responded, “(expletive your dad.)”According to the police report, Ms. Oldenberg “wanted to further upset him” and followed with...

Speaking of Minnesota . . . Stephen Spruiell is sussing out the Twin Cities in advance of the Republican National Convention, and reports on the GOP's latest platform draft over on the homepage. Spruiell finds the platform plank on immigration, for example, is worded in such a way as to avoid driving a wedge between McCain and his conservative base: The passages on global warming provide another example. The draft acknowledges that human activity is contributing to warming and calls for “measured and reasonable” steps to curtail it. Policymakers should support solutions that are “technology-driven, market-based,” and not fall prey...

ISRAEL’S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE By Reverend Dr. ELDER CUMMING (At Glasgow Conference, June, 1894) Let us return to Romans 9:3-5: "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsman according to the flesh," &c. this is one of the most eloquent, and it is, without doubt, the most solemn passage in the writings of St. Paul. For what he declares them that passage is, that he has been brought into such sympathy and fellowship with Christ to that, if it were possible, which he well knows it is not, it is in his...

Foreign Affairs Minister says two-state solution only viable when 'nakba' stricken from Palestinian lexicon while Opposition leader Netanyahu warns Israel must learn from past, refuse to give up land with no return Ynet "With the establishment of a Palestinian state, we wish to see the end of the conflict. The Palestinians will be able to celebrate their independence if on that same day they also strike the word 'nakba' from their lexicon," Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni said on Thursday afternoon in her speech at the president's conference in Jerusalem. Livni addressed the events being held throughout the day by...

The peace treaty with the Palestinians doesn’t seem close, unless the Bush-Rice duo orchestrates a major political assault on Israeli government. Even so, Palestinian state exists de facto: with president, parliament, and even many countries’ embassies. Does anyone protest the media calling Abbas Palestinian president? Olmert negotiates the borders of Israel which include the settlement blocs. He is anxious to avoid the Gush Katif-type evacuation trouble. As long as the settlements remain inside Israel, most settlers won’t protest giving up Judea and Samaria. The government might leave the faraway and militant places like Kfar Tapuah alone, not evicting the settlers....

No, this isn’t about the subprime housing finance fiasco. It only relates in that some people are happy to let someone else pay for their responsibilities. This is about the dastardly institution known as the homeowners association. Mutual benefit corporations are formed and owners within a subdivision pay a membership fee for their equally shared benefits. I bought a home in such an association five years ago. Okay, these arrangements are socialistic at best, but I wanted to be a good immigrant and go with the flow, as long as the association was meeting it’s obligations. We have 2 benefits...

South Africa may force more white farmers to sell in order to speed up the transfer of land into nonwhite hands, the agriculture minister said Thursday. Lulu Xingwana also said the government was considering new regulations for foreign land ownership. She said that black South Africans, who make up nearly 80 percent of the population, currently own just 4.7 percent of the land — even though land reform has been a key part of government policy since 1994 to right the wrongs of apartheid. Xingwana and other officials have repeatedly ruled out Zimbabwe-style land grabs, but the public's patience is...

Chemung - Many neighbors along White Wagon Road are against the idea that a Fortune 100 distribution facility could soon replace the potato field across the street. "I don't really know that much about [the deal]," says neighbor Peggy Wolcott, who lives across the street from the farmland in question. "I would rather keep things the way they are now." The Chemung County Industrial Development Agency will not name the company who is interested in the site until they receive a letter of intent. They say the project will bring in an estimated 700 full-time jobs. But in order for...

FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU Google Earth: Israel 'stole Palestinian land' Says Jews drove out Arabs even though town was founded on empty sand dunes Posted: February 11, 2008 4:52 pm Eastern By Aaron Klein © 2008 WorldNetDaily TEL AVIV – An Israeli town is suing Internet giant Google after surprised municipal officials discovered Google Earth, the popular, user-driven satellite map, labels their city as stolen Palestinian land. "[The label] is simply complete nonsense," Yossi Ben-Artzi, a history professor at Israel's Haifa University told Yediot Ahronot, Israel's leading daily. "Kiryat Yam was built on sand dunes, and there wasn't any Palestinian...

Jesusland Not S'MITTen with Romney Abortion position deal breaker among Evangelicals Contact: David Jeffers, 850-565-0993, jeffers221@bellsouth.netMEDIA ADVISORY, Aug. 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- Mitt Romney's confusing statements on his support for a ban on abortion are not going to play well with the Evangelical vote, according to David Jeffers, author of Understanding Evangelicals: A Guide to Jesusland. "Evangelicals are clear on their position on abortion," Jeffers explains, "We not only see Roe v. Wade as bad law, but also as the first egregious case of judicial activism. We want to see it overturned, and believe abortion to be a curse upon this...

Drought provides advantages to scavengers and collectors who explore the expanded shorelines of the Triangle's shrinking reservoirs and lakes. The mud-encrusted fishing lures, waterlogged watches and other contemporary artifacts are theirs to keep. But pocketing the shards of Native American pottery, spearheads and other remains from past cultures can get people in trouble. Federal and state laws prohibit the removal of archaeological materials from public lands and carry stiff fines and potential jail time. That fact is unknown to many shore combers who think nothing of palming an arrowhead or other souvenir from a trip to Falls Lake or other...

Mitt Romney took his Mormon faith directly to the public Thursday, defining the relationship between religion and public office in a speech in Texas — and many Christian conservatives said they came away impressed with the Republican presidential candidate. The 20-minute address titled "Faith in America" was in large part an attempt by Romney to dispel concerns of evangelical Christians and Southern Baptists who have been skeptical of his religion. --- "He will get a second hearing or a second look from a lot of Southern Baptists," said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty...

    But we were told that the Arabs hate us because of supposedly being biased against Arab "Palestinians"...Nov/2007 REMEMBER? Wild Arabist writers/"activists" have been flooding us for years with brainwashing nonsense as if the Arab Muslim world is "enraged" mainly by the "Palestinian" Israeli conflict.If only... -- this is what they have been selling us for so many years -- if only we'd be on the side of the "palestinian" Arabs, all would be singing kumbaya, the "peace loving" Arab world would just come rushing to embrace us. LIARS! Never mind the blatant daring hypocrisy of that Arab world,...

Plan to Take Land Spurs Debate On Patriotism, Property Rights WALSENBURG, Colo. -- Herman Moltrer returned from Vietnam to be a cattle rancher on the broad shortgrass prairie that stretches as far as the eye can see in southern Colorado. The rugged work earned him a living and a little something extra for his soul, but now he fears he may have to sell his land, at someone else's price. The U.S. Army wants 418,000 acres of private ranch land to triple the size of its Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, a training area considered suitable -- some would say essential...

Measure passed in U.S. House aims to protect environment. A measure that would amend the General Mining Law of 1872 to establish environmental protections and eliminate land patenting passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo, voted with the 244-166 majority and hailed the legislation for its environmental protections and reclamation requirements on hard-rock mining. “I have heard from constituents in Crested Butte, the Summitville area, and throughout Colorado who want to protect our precious water resources,” said Salazar, whose 3rd Congressional District includes most of the Western Slope. “After 135 years, I am glad the...

Christian conservatives want more respect. They were instrumental in propelling George W. Bush to power—twice—and now they're feeling neglected. At a "Values Voters" summit in Washington last week, leading evangelicals gathered to speak out and take a straw poll. The survey showed how unhappy they are with the twice-divorced, pro-choice Republican front runner for the presidential nomination, Rudy Giuliani. He got less than two percent of the overall vote. (Some Christian activists have threatened to back a third-party candidate if Giuliani wins the GOP nomination.) Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney won the straw poll of 5,775 conservatives, which included voters...

THIS IS HUGE NEWS!!!!! CBN's David Brody is reporting tonight that a key leader among the nation's largest Protestant denomination - The Southern Baptist Convention (16 million members) -- is coming to the defense of Fred Thompson. In fact, Brody goes so far as to say, "In the end though, Land is still a Thompson supporter." Here is what Brody has to say: "Richard Land, the President of the influential Southern Baptist Convention, tells The Brody File that the criticism leveled at Fred Thompson by James Dobson and others is a tad bit over the top. Recently, Dr. Dobson, Founder...

Marijuana cultivation on public land in the U.S. is a multibillion-dollar business, run by Mexican drug cartels and guarded by heavily armed members of U.S.-based street gangs and Mexican nationals, says the head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). "Our national treasures are now ground zero for international and domestic drug cultivation and trafficking," said drug czar John P. Walters. "We must push back against the invasion of foreign drug-trafficking organizations through increased law-enforcement collaboration, enhanced intelligence and expanded investigations to reclaim our public lands." Mr. Walters made his comments last week during Operation Alesia,...

WASHINGTON -- Rudy Giuliani didn't score many points with social conservatives last week when he issued this impassioned endorsement of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold a federal ban on "partial-birth" abortion: "I agree with it." He certainly didn't win over Richard Land, who has said he would never vote for Mr. Giuliani...."If he'll lie to two wives, what makes you think he wouldn't lie to you?" Mr. Land might, on the other hand, vote for Mitt Romney. He says that evangelical voters may be able to get over their problems with a Mormon. "Charitably speaking," Mr. Land says, "they...

An article in Monday's editions incorrectly characterized the position of Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, on the 2008 candidates for president of the United States. Mr. Land has said he would not vote in the presidential election for any candidate if Rudolph W. Giuliani were the Republican presidential nominee. Mr. Land also has said he is "pro-life" and could never vote for a pro-choice candidate such as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in separate talks Sunday as she continued a quest for what she termed a "common agenda" to move forward on a two-state solution of the Middle East conflict. She'll complete her fourth mission to the region in as many months on Monday with a meeting in Amman with Jordan's King Abdullah and follow-up talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. VOA's David Gollust is traveling with Rice and has this report from Jerusalem. Condoleezza Rice speaks during a joint press conference with Palestinian President...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—If the choice for president in 2008 is between Rudi Giuliani and Hillary Clinton, Richard Land says he'll skip that portion of the ballot. The president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission made the comments March 9 during an appearance on the "Albert Mohler Radio Program," in which he and guest host Russell D. Moore discussed the presidential race. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, is leading in polls of Republicans nationwide, while Clinton, the Democratic senator from New York, is leading in Democratic polls. "Some would stay home, and I would counsel...

Translation of original article in German. The President of the Jewish Central Council of Germany Charlotte Knobloch- "insinuations which were right at the border of anti-semitism. " German Bishops have caused frictions on their visit to the Near East, Charlotte Knobloch says that the statements made by them were “at the border of anti-semitism”. The Bishops had compared Palestinian towns with the Warsaw Ghetto.

Source: University of Haifa Released: Mon 05-Mar-2007, 08:45 ET Ship Excavation Sheds Light on Napoleon's Attack on the Holy Land A ship that sunk off the coast of Acre during the battles between Napoleon and the British Royal navy is still shrouded in mystery. Marine archaeologists from the University of Haifa are analyzing the hull and the finds in an effort to solve the mystery. Steve Breitstein Marine archaeology excavations off the coast of Acre Newswise — Which navy commissioned the boat that sunk off the coast of Acre 200 years ago, which battles was it involved in and how...

South Africa to step up land seizure By Bill Corcoran in Johannesburg and Mike Pflanz Last Updated: 2:29am GMT 02/03/2007 White farmers in South Africa who refuse to sell their property to the government under a land redistribution scheme were told yesterday that their property would be seized. Under an election promise made in 1994, the ruling African National Congress said it would return all land taken during colonisation or apartheid back to black South Africans by 2008. Many of the deals have gone through under a "willing buyer, willing seller" scheme, but farmers still holding out for a better...

The Trans-Texas Corridor, Gov. Rick Perry’s massive transportation project, hit some speed bumps Friday. A sharply-worded report from the State Auditor’s Office was released - and a member of the Republican leadership in the House filed a bill to repeal the plan, which could encompass up to 8,000 miles. Brenham Rep. Lois Kolkhorst’s bill is almost identical to one already filed by Democrat state Rep. David Leibowitz of Helotes, near San Antonio. With lawmakers from both sides of the aisle questioning the project, organizers of a March 2 are hoping thousands of Texans will make their way to the state...

South Africa in first land grab By Christopher Munnion in Johannesburg Last Updated: 1:43am GMT 14/02/2007 South Africa has expropriated the country's first farm under its land reform programme aimed at returning agricultural land taken from black communities during the apartheid era, officials said yesterday. The South African Evangelical Lutheran Church, owners of the large farm in the Northern Cape Province, have been ordered to sell it for 35.5 million rand (about £2.5 million). The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights said the farm had been expropriated to meet the claim by locals, including several who worked there, that their...

When wind turbines began dotting the skyline around Dale Rankin's horse ranch near Abilene, he teamed up with other property owners to sue the company in charge of the project, FPL Energy. Brandon Wade: For the Chronicle JACKSBORO — The wind rustling the oak trees on the Squaw Mountain Ranch soon may be its undoing as a starkly empty, unspoiled corner of North Texas. Riding the boom that last year pushed Texas past California as the nation's leading wind energy producer, a wind power company wants to scatter 100 turbines across an area roughly nine miles long and two miles...

Eco-millionaire's land grab prompts fury Argentinian critics say an American campaigner is buying up vast wetlands for US strategic goals Uki Goñi in Buenos Aires Sunday February 4, 2007 The Observer (UK) Douglas Tompkins cals himself a 'deep ecologist'. He is a millionaire on a quest to preserve some of Argentina's last frontier lands from human encroachment by buying them and turning them into ecological reserves. But Argentina may not permit him such philanthropy. Opponents are branding him a new-age 'imperialist gringo' and claim he has a secret aim: to help the US military gain control of the country's natural...

If Harry Reid hadn't succeeded in politics, he could have done well in real estate. Actually, the Senate Democratic leader, who hails from Nevada, has managed both. In 2001, he made $1.1 million on a Las Vegas transaction that got him some unwanted attention from the Senate ethics committee because he failed to report some crucial information on his financial disclosure forms. Now, we learn that he bought out a business partner in another land deal at a price that looks too good to be true and that he has sponsored legislation that would benefit that former partner.

Moderate Arab governments plan to tell Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice they will help Washington stabilize Iraq if the U.S. takes more active steps to revive a broad peace initiative between Israel and its neighbors, Arab officials and media said Sunday. The deal, dubbed "Iraq for Land," is expected to be proposed during a meeting between Rice and her counterparts from eight Arab countries in Kuwait on Tuesday. It echoes widespread Arab feelings that a lasting Middle East peace cannot be achieved as long as Israel doesn't reach a settlement to hand over lands it occupied during the 1967 Mideast...

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/000920.php Mufti of Australia: this was Muslim land Mufti of Australia: this was Muslim land - Mufti of Australia and New Zealand, Taj Al-Din Hamed Abdallah Al-Hilali, is claiming that Australia was originally Muslim land, settled by Afghans. The Aborigines are their descendants: this is a key element of the claim to Israel put forward by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The same claim has been advanced, by the way, for America...

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie on Tuesday called for an attorney general's investigation of what he said was the use of inside information on purchases of land near the proposed route of the Trans-Texas Corridor. Richie attempted to draw a linkage between a company investing in land, one of its owners (former Texas Railroad Commissioner Barry Williamson) and GOP Gov. Rick Perry. "Inside information," in this case, could mean articles in the newspaper. The company's 2005 filing with federal regulators cited by Richie says the company, Wilson Holdings Inc., will focus on buying land "around the Central Texas region's...

Why I love America, Recited by John Wayne Written by John Mitchum. It’s one of those works that was written when Hollywood loved America, and we were "Land of the Free, and Home of the Brave." It will still give you that chill on how great America is, and why we should continue to fight for it. http://www.sagebrushpatriot.com/america.htm

Poor farmers invoke land law to get their hands on South Africa's richest diamond mine Stephen Bevan in Taaibosch (Filed: 01/10/2006) Deep in the bushveld of South Africa's far north, 20 miles down a dirt track from the nearest road, the dusty township of Taaibosch is an unlikely place to find the owners of one of the country's most valuable pieces of real estate. Yet the residents of its rows of tiny brick huts, baking in the harsh sun, may soon be declared joint proprietors of South Africa's richest diamond mine. John Matlathi, 66, the village's head man, and other...