I miss my left hand

Since my bike accident last Saturday when I sprained my left wrist, my left hand has been pretty useless. I can type (although even typing hurts a little), but I can't even lift a coffee cup without wincing with pain. I accidentally lifted my purse with my left hand today, and it almost brought me to my knees with pain. <br /><br />I'm really regretting my decision not to see the doctor after my accident. It took the swelling in my hand three days to go down so that it looked more human (it looked like a fake hand), and it's still a bit swollen. I can't wear my wedding ring or my watch. Since it sort of hurts all the time, I've decided to go see the doctor. Even if there's nothing they can do, at least I'll feel better knowing it will heal someday (I hope!).<br /><br />My most favorite part of going to the gym is the weight lifting. I detest cardio, always have and probably always will. Since lifting even a five-pound dumbbell this week was out of the question, I stayed out of the gym (it kind of broke my heart, but I didn't go). Plus I was trying to give my body time to heal, especially my wrist.<br /><br />My bike accident was actually pretty serious, and I have the bruises all over my body to prove it. The bruise on the inside of my right knee is amazing. I've never seen anything like it. It's eight inches in length and four inches across. It's still a deep reddish purple, and it's still very sore to the touch and kind of burns all the time (maybe the doctor should look at this too). I was looking at it tongiht and thought it looked swollen. I measured my knees and the bruised one is <b>two </b>inches bigger than my undamaged knee. No wonder it looks so fat!<br /><br />Even though I stayed out of the gym all week, my <a href="http://www.bodymedia.com/">BodyMedia</a> really motivated me to still get in my exercise. I set it to give me goals to meet so I would lose two pounds a week. It set my goal at 10,000 steps, one hour of moderate exercise and 30 minutes of vigorous exercise per day. Calorie intake at 1910 per day, although I'm aiming more at 1,300-1500.<br /><br />These are tough goals to make but I'm amazed at how motivated I am to make them. This BodyMedia is the best investment I've ever made in my weight loss journey (that and my Polar heart rate monitor - I still use it). I know I sound like a commercial, but I really love this thing. I bought the armband and the Bluetooth display. At first I thought the Bluetooth display was a waste of money (for another $99). But it's really fun to check it during the day to see how many calories burned or how many steps I've taken. It makes me get up from my desk and run downstairs to get water and ice (no ice machine on my floor). Just that little jaunt is 100 steps and they all add up.<br /><br />When I get home, I can't wait to sync up my BodyMedia on my computer to see how I've done during the day and where I am on the calorie deficit. Entering my meals is so much easier than Weight Watchers and a lot more fun because you can see all the details of what you eat.<br /><br />I was surprised that my total calories each day are almost always a balance of the following: Carbs = 50%, Protein = 25% ,and Fat = 25%. It various a little, but it's been pretty close to that every day, and I'm eating different foods and a different calorie amount almost every day so I can't figure out how this is happening. I don't know if that's a good balance or not, but I think the Zone Diet is 40 / 30 /30. I've never done the Zone Diet but I have a friend that swears by it.<br /><br />For my exercise I've been walking/running at lunch. When I get home, if I haven't made my exercise goals I go for another walk/run, usually it only takes another 20 minutes. Tonight at 8pm I went for a 25 minute walk/run. I met and actually went above my exercise and step goals.<br /><br />I've done a fair job of meeting these goals most days. A couple days I either ate too much fruit (darn those nectarines, plums, cherries and apricots!) and/or got stuck at my desk during lunch (like yesterday) and didn't get any exercise. <br /><br />I was down to 189 on Tuesday, but then my weight jumped back up to 191 the next morning, and I didn't overeat. My guess is it's the swelling in my knee, and my other bruised and injured body parts. <br /><br />My night binge eating has basically stopped. I don't really know why, other than I can't bear the idea of entering my binge foods into the BodyMedia website. The one night that I did go crazy on the fruit, I entered in every bite. I was at 2005 calories, which is more than I think I should be eating, but seeing how many calories I'd burned that day made me feel a little better.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscWRU401z4AsBuv2mFdOgvsWlDrS1exCqcmDMy8jhsPReneR7W_5i-a_u68M1NSNzIwHwYeog8CS-kv3aHzb01anqqCs9oa_G32__ddDfoG2Z6fR4FZR_dhtjimgzEeRDRy3tv9dWEKaP/s1600/mon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscWRU401z4AsBuv2mFdOgvsWlDrS1exCqcmDMy8jhsPReneR7W_5i-a_u68M1NSNzIwHwYeog8CS-kv3aHzb01anqqCs9oa_G32__ddDfoG2Z6fR4FZR_dhtjimgzEeRDRy3tv9dWEKaP/s400/mon.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Tomorrow morning I'm going to the gym to do some lower body weight machines and maybe the StairMaster. When I ballooned up to 199 a couple weeks ago I couldn't even think about the StairMaster, but I'm feeling more fit and ready to tackle it now.<br /><br /><br />I usually never post what I eat, but just for fun, I thought I'd post my 2005 calorie day from Monday. You can all see what a pig I can be at times. My late night snack was 761 calories!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRZ0qfrNBhN_CmzwpaHCo0YpLKtGndXQKHHwWT-rsvtAcCfd4bp4UAfEqrJdUf9UzHh8BAytFcb5CZD1uQT3MZ7Altf3TCkXFo2d1jpIGM1FBSSs4g4ujdOQT1c3VDY06UbfR6oDoopGE/s1600/2005.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRZ0qfrNBhN_CmzwpaHCo0YpLKtGndXQKHHwWT-rsvtAcCfd4bp4UAfEqrJdUf9UzHh8BAytFcb5CZD1uQT3MZ7Altf3TCkXFo2d1jpIGM1FBSSs4g4ujdOQT1c3VDY06UbfR6oDoopGE/s400/2005.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsP6cSZCZ1BEM1OB47EOUD4yKKm-BBbtVaVizYN1D8FBRYIUYeinwTECWDwZDDs6RzBrgP7aF2Nf1ejq2mSisnTy2JROvKU-ZC13ap8nr5Pip_Qa6plSHhl_BwhsPAq_rOee7MC-c1Jkj/s1600/2005_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsP6cSZCZ1BEM1OB47EOUD4yKKm-BBbtVaVizYN1D8FBRYIUYeinwTECWDwZDDs6RzBrgP7aF2Nf1ejq2mSisnTy2JROvKU-ZC13ap8nr5Pip_Qa6plSHhl_BwhsPAq_rOee7MC-c1Jkj/s400/2005_2.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a fairly decent review on the BodyMedia & BodyBugg (both made by the same company):</div>http://www.livestrong.com/article/366271-bodymedia-vs-bodybugg/

I miss my left hand

Since my bike accident last Saturday when I sprained my left wrist, my left hand has been pretty useless. I can type (although even typing h...

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Will you be the next to attend a Microsoft Partners in Learning Institute week?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Submitted by Fiona Beal</span></i><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Any teacher interested in integrating technology with the curriculum would jump at a chance to visit Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond to attend their Partners in Learning Institute, wouldn’t they? Well I consider myself in that category and from 24th – 31st July I had the privilege of such a visit! This PIL Institute is a new part of Microsoft's vision for teachers, and you could be one of the next attendees! Microsoft is planning many more of these training events… </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Who attended this training?</span></b><br />Microsoft’s educational wing known as Partners in Learning shortlisted 50 innovative teachers from 31 countries to attend the inaugural training in Redmond. Three South African teachers were selected - Cheryl Douglas, Ngaka Ralekoala and myself.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><i></i></span><br /><script src="http://zoom.it/Onlc.js?width=auto&height=400px"></script><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Where did we stay?</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">We lodged at the incredibly luxurious Hyatt-Bellevue Hotel in an area between Seattle and Redmond known as Bellevue. The hotel had magnificent views from the rooms. The conference staff organised a very busy week right down to the last detail late at night – but I must say that every second was well worth it</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ouYs1RqjNDygFCwhNZ03TXnRpBa4dz4TYWJE6oOlQeR3TExfWGukCQ0Q1CWZJrA4rln6qA7TTaefiSzuxBW1UCNbdoXe6AbhAWpmDRABN3UphyphenhyphenZ2lz69aIoM-1XU1h1H-9XxLPbgCNA/s1600/hotel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ouYs1RqjNDygFCwhNZ03TXnRpBa4dz4TYWJE6oOlQeR3TExfWGukCQ0Q1CWZJrA4rln6qA7TTaefiSzuxBW1UCNbdoXe6AbhAWpmDRABN3UphyphenhyphenZ2lz69aIoM-1XU1h1H-9XxLPbgCNA/s320/hotel2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">A room with a view at the Hyatt-Bellevue in Bellevue</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><b>What was the purpose of the PIL Institute? </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The purpose of the Microsoft Partners in learning Institute is to grow innovative teaching and learning </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">practices</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> around the world through a cadre of teacher trainers who will take what they have learned to their communities to coach and train other educators</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuc_8VMKBnIxWc0uUEwU7nInffFGZ_5O5Dhuirqp76iE8FWtP5xoqGDjy2fSMtKMR59n0DWB7mfsSOeV-iu963fdXdK7zNSywpttyuHvXEk7bLRKTDzLrudYgspU8QuZUZX4FjhGR1N0E/s1600/baldev1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuc_8VMKBnIxWc0uUEwU7nInffFGZ_5O5Dhuirqp76iE8FWtP5xoqGDjy2fSMtKMR59n0DWB7mfsSOeV-iu963fdXdK7zNSywpttyuHvXEk7bLRKTDzLrudYgspU8QuZUZX4FjhGR1N0E/s320/baldev1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Baldev Singh from <a href="http://www.imagineeducation.net/">www.imagineeducation.net</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><b>What did we do each day?</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">D</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">uring the day we had training, workshops, discussions, field trips, work sessions and some learning excursions around which we created a project. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">I also enjoyed the </span><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">TeachMeet</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">  where we got the chance to give two minute presentations on something successful we have done in technology integration. I would LOVE to introduce this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TeachMeet </i>idea in South Africa. It would really enhance technology integration, I think. We also learned at length about 21^st century skills and how to create and assess activities using 21^st century skills. (We have homework to do on this due for the 15^th August). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">It was marvelous to get to talk to teachers from all the different countries and find out how education happens in their country. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Another treat was to be able to view the 102 USA finalist entries for the Microsoft Innovative competition. I always love to see what teachers come up with. </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Us1y2BRhphJK3cX1tGvzBinDat53LbqaLZRwJEuyYosc1LAK52Gn4G0NM8QBiOX4sanGSxkyXrdQBO5VCJ3TQ-0mdRxLOwekuymW07b5rwSRyi5ryeN2DysEGn3ifJAjZlQLwURVme8/s1600/DSCF4715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Us1y2BRhphJK3cX1tGvzBinDat53LbqaLZRwJEuyYosc1LAK52Gn4G0NM8QBiOX4sanGSxkyXrdQBO5VCJ3TQ-0mdRxLOwekuymW07b5rwSRyi5ryeN2DysEGn3ifJAjZlQLwURVme8/s320/DSCF4715.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">One of the USA PIL Innovative Teacher entries</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Here is a slideshow of some of the USA PIL Innovative teacher entries:<br /><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Ffionabeal%2Falbumid%2F5637820872517497249%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></embed><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here is a summary of the USA projects:<br /><a href="http://bit.ly/qfUTvX">http://bit.ly/qfUTvX</a> </span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The winners of the USA IEF have now been announced:</span><br /><div><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/aug11/08-01IEF11PR.mspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2011/aug11/08-01IEF11PR.mspx</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">One of the highlights was to visit the Microsoft Home of the Future at Their Headquarters in Redmond.</span><br /><div style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/mshome/VideoGallery.aspx">http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/mshome/VideoGallery.aspx</a></span></div><div style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Who were our presenters?</b></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.65pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Institute was run under the Directorship of Maureen Cain. Our presenters were of the highest quality and everyone benefitted from their professional input as well as from the warm friendship and enthusiasm of the fifty teacher participants. <span class="Apple-style-span">One of the conference presenters was a Technology Integration specialist, Sonja Delafosse, from the Lake Washington school district. Now that is a job I would enjoy – helping teachers integrate technology into their lessons, because then both the students and the teachers benefit. What do you think?  Their classes seem to have netbooks at their disposal.  Sonja explained how technology integration in schools is very important to the parents of that area, since Seattle houses Microsoft, Boeing, Amazon.com, and Google also has offices there. In fact while we were participating in our Partners in Learning Institute, Google was holding one of its Google certified teacher courses at the same time.  </span></span></div></div><div style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Did we do a lot of sight seeing? </span></b></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.65pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The 50 of us were transported everywhere by luxury coach.  Seattle is a great city. It is very green with beautiful trees and fresh clean air. Some call it the Emerald City. We didn’t have time for much sight-seeing in our busy schedule, but as mentioned, Microsoft cleverly arranged learning excursions in groups, with each group visiting a tourist site, and creating and completing a project about it. We stored these in our Partners in Learning Network shared folder, and shared them with one another. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HvDk0Vm97JS3qH5Fi0o2aZ0MlBHPAEi2SYKGjcJ5GcUHBbi55Wu7HBzilx_sJuFj-j-U71p9UhQwbhBppgR2L1OLwFdBcsxGsU6umgG8D0K1D4oeRpHekHmRX9KIJlEUZcWx4433KKo/s1600/Our+group+for+underground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HvDk0Vm97JS3qH5Fi0o2aZ0MlBHPAEi2SYKGjcJ5GcUHBbi55Wu7HBzilx_sJuFj-j-U71p9UhQwbhBppgR2L1OLwFdBcsxGsU6umgG8D0K1D4oeRpHekHmRX9KIJlEUZcWx4433KKo/s320/Our+group+for+underground.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Our group visited the Seattle Underground</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.65pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With so many great Microsoft tools tools at our disposal everyone felt as though they had been everywhere...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.65pt;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Seattle Underground via a photosynth made by Wichai...</span></i><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/rntjow"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">http://bit.ly/rntjow </span></a></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://photosynth.net/embed.aspx?cid=7fb39566-4f35-4d75-8e13-a44e3f088a10&m=false&i=0:4:2&c=0.00205078:-0.108068:0.00120274&z=595.845555452404&d=2.32396468923907:-2.45784581855064:-2.38653051201723&p=0:0&t=False&delayLoad=true&slideShowPlaying=false" width="500"></iframe><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.65pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>The Space Needle via a photosynth made by their group</i>...</span><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/pkSuZD">http://bit.ly/pkSuZD</a></span></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://photosynth.net/embed.aspx?cid=869b4d72-195a-437c-a1cc-395a544fb4d4&delayLoad=true&slideShowPlaying=false" width="500"></iframe><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.65pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>The Pike Place Market via a video made by Jugoslava..</i>.</span><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/ogWCcU">http://bit.ly/ogWCcU</a></span></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CUAS_bcV1_8" width="425"></iframe><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.65pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Seattle using a flashcard application made by Birgy...</i><br /><a href="http://flashcards.educationlabs.com/#/Play/?deckid=4721">http://flashcards.educationlabs.com/#/Play/?deckid=4721</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.65pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>The Seattle Art Museum via photosynth made by their group..</i>.</span><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/nvcofi"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">http://bit.ly/nvcofi </span></a></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://photosynth.net/embed.aspx?cid=352a6d31-ee70-43b9-97f1-aeaf674bbfc2&delayLoad=true&slideShowPlaying=false" width="500"></iframe><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.65pt;"><i>A video to sum it all up made by Bram...</i></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/r57qWJEOkpM" width="560"></iframe><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.65pt;">Honestly I can’t believe Microsoft’s commitment to teachers – it is awesome! The company is playing such an active role in education. We saw previews of how Partners in Learning wants to facilitate change through educators. They are launching a completely new Partners in Learning Network in November, which we saw a preview of, and I think this will facilitate a powerful network of teachers world-wide. I loved this sign at Microsoft. After eventually working out that it stood for ‘Pedestrian crossing’, for me it still seemed to say… ‘Xing into pedagogical change’.  I have come back with a renewed vision for professional development. <i>Thank you</i> to Microsoft. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAXSYN8KsRbW1gVgzQDCMTy-l7aluIDw0OwqJEwt8Cx3A15RO2vR4SCAQQ08x0rSQpVg9RyfJao44YF_4TvZTEyxXdXRSuLxIIp4UalG3mGmeCpAqk5WWVLt4XJVPHcN4TSvfFhQOqGA/s1600/dsc06188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAXSYN8KsRbW1gVgzQDCMTy-l7aluIDw0OwqJEwt8Cx3A15RO2vR4SCAQQ08x0rSQpVg9RyfJao44YF_4TvZTEyxXdXRSuLxIIp4UalG3mGmeCpAqk5WWVLt4XJVPHcN4TSvfFhQOqGA/s320/dsc06188.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.65pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">THE END</span></div></div></div>

conferences Microsoft Will you be the next to attend a Microsoft Partners in Learning Institute week?

Submitted by Fiona Beal Any teacher interested in integrating technology with the curriculum would jump at a chance to visit Microsoft’s hea...

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Post Baby Update

<p>Howdy friends! I wanted to give everyone an update! Tuesday I had my 6 week check up with my doctor. I had to wait until this appointment to start any type of exercise and…other things! <img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l-x9qkg8mszI7otce9WcWCQEIFsm3c3jdHCBUZbX_lapHZbt-OWw-hu6nO2K6SVFeEZz9csZXkRyqq_LIUbE0MwdRUI8yPhOU445W_mtSw1m5Ld9akRvEA2Zp7wDQUdHVsxSOFCnGxt_/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none"> Anyway…she said that I was good to go with exercise, but just to listen to my body, which was my exact plan! </p> <p>I had already researched and decided on using the couch to 5K plan. Click <a href="http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml">here</a> to see the program I printed. Yep, I printed it! I’m putting it on my fridge and going to check each day off as I complete it!</p> <p>Wednesday was day 1! I got my (new) running shorts on, grabbed my garmin, buckled Adelyn in our new (to us) jogging stroller, and we were off! Day 1 was a 5 minute power walk warm up and then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-erMPGxdySLXk7ZOF9H4oF6Ck9Cw6sZ-eVSZuRV3ztTwPr1jRG-5i9-vPhV54sEQITa02mH7sN0KcxHTtQWBPEyCW5JPGoSkscNmSpR51NzRLxOSCgVC4T9HpQRkbLB6nYNtA_Ah5o-1/s1600-h/DSC004815.jpg"><img alt="DSC00481" border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAksa3Gvvj-RryM_fb06N7l08cKChXzsaj3e2plfFyZgomKeBcxokbXBJi9B5QCsXpCCw2g5r2_4YCxxFD8JClITXmKU5yOIdu_eMb44OeN4f07uk8XB1HUl54hJvWHQuYNyXMG1uIecI6/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC00481" width="342"></a></p> <p>I didn’t know what to expect, but I sure didn’t expect my rear to feel like it gained an extra 10 lbs!! Seesh!! I felt like I had a ba-donk-a-donk! I talked to a few other fellow new mama’s and happily found out it gets better! Thank goodness!</p> <p>I found day 1 to be completely do-able and I’m looking forward to more runs with my baby girl!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPT8Of-ENTnPp0TY-lEvxxv66ADrOb4iNDyZ539D6N66ltiG0SadP9Jn8fEH2EO8K7kurN0pARJ9WhfRJd-rUTnXuiVT5esOUHRiOoi64hoVeWQMXQ9ETdwif8U2-oFBL24skG8_NPe-y6/s1600-h/DSC004865.jpg"><img alt="DSC00486" border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitG9uaKY_RQlT0M1xj6osd6eBnc_IenVkqXDvtmdX8sP-wrDRakXUFJsHV40Dv6wWftE1LivzgNvcD02HXsPCBto0916_PeiAemwYEexw0_Hcqo-jCrATDzNy6Ulau0ulhLqK9QnUVhtTW/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC00486" width="351"></a></p> <p>Speaking of Adelyn, check out what she thought of her first time in the bumbo! That toothless grin melts my heart every time!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymtNETu7ZRoARrfai1HvKyVUtvfoW9xky4HIauNHDAS-NwIuzK5u_kuhoJ375dNNelhjKe2KGXyHQ0uk8ECTlPv1NXJOM2nCRUuNCrzkjwQNMWIZcEb_RUKUxkVxe1hzY64JlVShwdgFr/s1600-h/DSC004784.jpg"><img alt="DSC00478" border="0" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESOXVAvd6EvDGHB6_kfkjuah_69CWh3XPaiq3FLYDgWxCau2g8iZkM6YzeQ-pdbKkH850SqdeiOn1JWeHh51mlnt6ARwqaT8asujjxMHfCGexZw-9Muuc8DSoRpCXKboUZELs0c1TWxyj/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC00478" width="324"></a></p> <p>So the other part of this post baby plan is focusing on my eats as well. I think it would be hard not to with a fridge filled with all these fruits & veggies! Monday I cleaned, chopped, & packaged carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, grapes, cantaloupe, strawberries, pineapple, and watermelon!<img alt="DSC00476" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV2UbyzzB7GHzuPdKlk2Yu6f-zIJO3gHOkSE48QakF-r9ruOUzOLwy4Z_MdK13ptvbs5eZxML9LmA6kFtmFYvhtoWJ3eWU5VU2nPwVAAQMiUq0Xlr-UOItqRYEVwnOtSLos2aX2H50faA/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-top: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="DSC00476" width="404"></a></p> <p>I’m hoping with adding exercise into my routine it boost the weight loss and help me tone! I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!</p> <p>Adios <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmh4zvEp-d5QWHTgNZGj-vOV4wnW172KR9tqcUzHrMQ0lj5DtFT5QbpfpMmu8zimo8V3uek8nexk0Y6lcqKgeixx4hiCPJd48Ic5h3OLymtIzOOih20LmfZCQNATiKhZaPirxCcmNCKVo/?imgmax=800" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none"></p>

Post Baby Update

Howdy friends! I wanted to give everyone an update! Tuesday I had my 6 week check up with my doctor. I had to wait until this appointment to...

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Food for Thought

<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE INCAPABILITY OF THE WEST TO INTERVENE IN SYRIA</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ROqAcX2BJk?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">On 24 and 30 June I mentioned in my blog that the Syrian regime will most likely survive the upraising. We are now into the 6^th month of uprising in SYRIA and the regime is still in power and will most probably stay, the reasons of which have been analyzed by mainstream media and basically reiterate what I have been stating in the first place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The fear of total chaos and subsequent takeover by Islamic fundamentalists, after the tumble of the regime are simply too high. The close proximity to Israel and Lebanon are additional reasons the West is reluctant to intervene. It seems that the West has also learned its lesson with Iraq and thus will not want to do the same mistake with Syria.  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thus the regime will stay in power, make one or two cosmetic concessions to calm the international community in order to obtain financial aid for its stagnating economy which is the only real threat that could tumble the regime.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PI6JQ7gjYv8?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/REmG8Zij8EI?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Since Syria has always shared close relationships with Russia and China it will in most likelihood receive aid from these countries easier then Europe or the USA, who are too occupied solving their own financial crisis. In return Syria will purchase arms and at the same time increase its ties with Iran in order to counterbalance the threat from Saudi Arabia who has their own agenda regarding Syria. (See <a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MD28Ak01.html">http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MD28Ak01.html</a> )</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SUPPRESSED ARAB SPRING</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Has the so called Arab Spring brought democracy to these countries? What changes have really been implemented by the new governments or interim authorities as is the case in Egypt? The longer the “revolution” is ongoing the less we read in mainstream media and the lesser are the chances that the Arab uprising is likely to succeed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Looking at the current situation it seems that no real changes have occurred to implement democratic systems. Thus the more time elapses, the more the upraise is losing its momentum it originally generated.    There is also the danger that with each month passing without the creation of a democratic government the chances of Islamic fundamentalist taking over are growing.      </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">    </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>DOUBLE STANDARDS OF US RATING AGENCIES</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It simply is amazing how manipulative US rating agencies are and the double standard they use when it comes to protect US interests. I have voiced my opinion about rating agencies in various articles on this blog. The question is why are the Big 3 US rating agencies not downgrading the USA in the wake of a looming default? The entire hype and influence rating agencies have over countries and international markets reflect the current state of mind financial as well economic wheelers and dealers have in an economic system which is becoming more and more like a casino monopoly game. What has become of society which bases their economy on speculation? ( economics are more complex then portrayed, but  I try to express the current situation in layman’s terms.)      </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hLzP86UZwwM?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/1233.html"><span style="color: #1c4680;"></span></a></span></div></div></div></div>

Food for Thought

THE INCAPABILITY OF THE WEST TO INTERVENE IN SYRIA On 24 and 30 June I mentioned in my blog that the Syrian regime will most likely survive ...

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