Topic: Charles Dickens

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A piece in the Dec. 27, 2007, Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Vote on fate of Kirkuk postponed," by Tina Susman and Asso Ahmed of the LA Times, reported that "Kurdish lawmakers agreed Wednesday to a six-month delay in a referendum on whether the oil-rich city of Kirkuk should join the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan or remain under Iraqi central government control. …

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- It is that time of year again, when we both look back at what happened and what will be. Just as Ebenezer Scrooge did, aided by the Ghosts of Christmas Past and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come in Charles Dickens' famous classic, "A Christmas Carol." So in the spirit of Christmas let's look at the issue of national security and privatization.

Seattle man crosses Pacific Ocean solo ... Suess family re-creates 'Whoville' ... Soccer ref uses gun to control game ... Wild boars run amok in France ... Real-life Scrooge was Dutch gravedigger ... Watercooler stories from UPI.

LOS ANGELES, July 6 (UPI) -- Jim Carrey will star in a high-tech movie version of Charles' Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol," The Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

ROME, June 14 (UPI) -- One of the Catholic Church's holiest relics in Rome, the Santa Scala or Holy Stairs, have been cleaned and restored.

POWYS, Wales, May 27 (UPI) --

CANNES, France, May 21 (UPI) --

LONDON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The director of the National Association for the Teaching of English says British Education Secretary Alan Johnson is a "bird brain."

UPI almanac for Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007.

MONTEREY, Calif., June 6 (UPI) --