CYPRUS: EMERGING GEO-STRATEGIC KEY PLAYER IN THE EASTER MEDITERRANEAN?

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACqsigUISNuGsnVpCMQo3LWKJscJf72xGpMiZ9_0BJKn-UpxgL8A_cocmwHfU5dCHimKad-ycsFQn3MrO65vNw5l6Jqwpp2xEmJo53atuKdbkYUWat4ZztCXYZbTsZ6Y57tm2sBOljMNl/s1600/cyprus_amo_2008239_lrg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACqsigUISNuGsnVpCMQo3LWKJscJf72xGpMiZ9_0BJKn-UpxgL8A_cocmwHfU5dCHimKad-ycsFQn3MrO65vNw5l6Jqwpp2xEmJo53atuKdbkYUWat4ZztCXYZbTsZ6Y57tm2sBOljMNl/s320/cyprus_amo_2008239_lrg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS AT ODDS WITH BRITAIN OVER SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS AND ITS GEOPOLITICAL IMPACT FOR THE REGION</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: orange; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">In view of recent developments in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, and the fact that CYPRUS for the first time openly demands the shutdown of the two BRITISH Bases, (ESBA and WSBA (Eastern and Western Sovereign Base Area) RAF Akrotiri, and Dhekelia, (<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_540345350" style="color: #444444;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Base_Areas</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Base_Areas%20" style="color: #444444;"></a>) is a direct result of the ongoing geopolitical shift in the LEVANTINE. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjMG45mqq0-uRN8wkrCX1jEYyV0sLsGw2BaIooZ0GrAyTUnhDNaOLu-_O1K9XLVqwvVWPfsFIhK6FtaPrBTHcK-F05Cht4pMJ2uVkTbk5FbCRM4toAwVIbbWTqTXFPCqHge56XdHHT0l_/s1600/Cyprus_SBAsInRed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjMG45mqq0-uRN8wkrCX1jEYyV0sLsGw2BaIooZ0GrAyTUnhDNaOLu-_O1K9XLVqwvVWPfsFIhK6FtaPrBTHcK-F05Cht4pMJ2uVkTbk5FbCRM4toAwVIbbWTqTXFPCqHge56XdHHT0l_/s400/Cyprus_SBAsInRed.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">CYPRUS for its part is depending strongly on RUSSIA because RUSSIA bailed out CYPRUS from possible default by granting a large loan, thus the country is committed to adhere to RUSSIA’S demands, which among “offshore benefits” is eager to increase its military presence in the Mediterranean by establishing more naval and air bases. Thus CYPRUS, who traditionally holds close ties with RUSSIA (both countries are part of the Christian Orthodox faith), is the logical location for RUSSIA to set base. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Apart from the geostrategic importance CYPRUS has, recent oil and gas discoveries prompted ISRAEL to join the “quest” for CYPRUS and strengthen ties between the countries, not only for energy resource exploration, but also to establish stronger military cooperation by stationing IAF fighter jets in Paphos and be able to make use of CYPRUS airspace for military training and operational purposes. According to undisclosed intelligence sources CYPRUS and RUSSIA together with GREECE and ISRAEL are planning to expand Paphos International airport and air base facilities as well as Paphos port facilities in order to accommodate larger navy vessels and submarines.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">TURKEYS HIGH GAMBLING BID</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">   </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">This comes at a time when TURKEY, the arch foe of CYPRUS decided to break its military and economic relations with ISRAEL for geopolitical reasons in exchange of become a key player and mentor of Arab countries in the region. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">In addition to TURKEY’S Geo-political ambitions, recent offshore gas and oil findings in CYPRUS and ISRAEL have severely hampered TURKEY’S economic ambition of becoming the main transition hub for various oil and gas pipeline projects in the region. Thus tensions between TURKEY and CYPRUS have increased even further in recent past. On the other hand BRITAIN and TURKEY, both NATO member countries, traditionally are close allies, a fact that CYPRUS remembers dearly during the 1974 TURKISH invasion during which BRITAIN cordoned off its 2 Sovereign Bases, not even provided humanitarian support to the islanders. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ALLEGEDLY BRITAIN PROVIDED INTELLIGENCE DATA TO TURKEY PRIOR TO THE INVASION </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHIDQSHziIJmSO7PiLMJGAI1K_fhbfZcm06LIBV9WowfZH7woPREtWZbb2W7OcJ3ptMy77hAzK7H7jDVrRjmqkiVYtJeQlshd9eu30JhQCst0gz3CCl4H78_T2vB3Gh3NxjNwxlAdzAtu/s1600/ayios_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHIDQSHziIJmSO7PiLMJGAI1K_fhbfZcm06LIBV9WowfZH7woPREtWZbb2W7OcJ3ptMy77hAzK7H7jDVrRjmqkiVYtJeQlshd9eu30JhQCst0gz3CCl4H78_T2vB3Gh3NxjNwxlAdzAtu/s400/ayios_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ayios Nikolaos ESBA listening and observation station</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Allegedly BRITAIN, through its Dhekelia ESBA Easter Sovereign Base Area, which is home to the Royal Signal Regiment and “listening post“ for the Middle East, using state of the art listening and observation devices, provided TURKEY intelligence data regarding the 1974 GREEK Military coup which led to the TURKISH invasion of CYPRUS. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Thus it becomes evident that because of Britain’s stance before and during the Turkish invasion, the two countries are not at best terms. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">As if all the current Geo-strategic reshuffling is not enough, GREECE suddenly also enters center stage after gas and oil findings in the Aegean Sea, thus making TURKEY even more nervous since ISRAEL, CYPRUS and GREECE have joint forces to strengthen ties, both economically as well as militarily. With the prospects of CYPRUS becoming a key gas exporter and distribution hub in the region it becomes obviously that they want the BRITISH to leave the island, especially since the two bases are occupying prime land which could be utilized for constructing energy distribution sights etc. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS HAS BEEN AND STILL IS THE LARGEST NATURAL “AIRCRAFT CARRIER” IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Realistically speaking though it is rather unlikely that BRITAIN will ever abandon such Geo-strategic important base, no matter how much CYPRUS will pressure it, especially since the USA and NATO have been using RAF Akrotiri as a forward logistics and operational base when conducting operations in IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, KUWAIT and in the not too distant future maybe IRAN. Thus once again it becomes evident as to what significant role CYPRUS plays when it comes to geopolitics and strategies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhnAirDJbUqS4Zz2qGtn7vJIwW3Twzz71YMVB4mg2Az8T-PpY5O36-1LEY1Tfrun2tzTrEZLRtiQAtRritCqVNtA1-0pMkQudb4RNHOUqtQI2RJc6M5RqUGZaFIvF0asTndBmVflgvgRs/s1600/n_africa_mid_east_pol_95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhnAirDJbUqS4Zz2qGtn7vJIwW3Twzz71YMVB4mg2Az8T-PpY5O36-1LEY1Tfrun2tzTrEZLRtiQAtRritCqVNtA1-0pMkQudb4RNHOUqtQI2RJc6M5RqUGZaFIvF0asTndBmVflgvgRs/s400/n_africa_mid_east_pol_95.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Strategic positions of Cyprus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Talking about Geo-strategic significance, the tiny island of CYPRUS has 8 airports.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Larnaka International Airport</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Ercan International Airport located in Turkish occupied northern Cyprus</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Paphos International Airport and Greek and National Guard Air force base</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Akrotiri WSBA (Western Sovereign Base Area) Royal Air force and NATO Air Base</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Kingsfield ESBA British Military (British Army AIRCOR Base)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Lakatamia National Guard Air Base</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Gonyeli Turkish Air Force Air Base</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Nicosia International airport abandoned in UN Buffer Zone but can be reactivated </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Thus Cyprus has been and still is the largest natural “Aircraft carrier” in the Mediterranean Sea</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;">Related topics:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/eastern-mediterranean-sea.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/12/energy-games-in-eastern-mediterranean.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_14.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none_14.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CYPRUS WANTS BRITISH BASES SHUT DOWN AS MPS PASS RESOLUTION</span></b></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Via Defense News </span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>BRITISH BASES IN CYPRUS ARE USED FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES</b></span></div><div style="color: blue; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">MPs have unanimously approved a resolution calling for an end to the presence of the BRITISH BASES in CYPRUS according to the rules of International Law and the relevant decisions of the UNITED NATIONS.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The resolution was approved after the members of the House completed the discussion of the issue “The provocative statements of BRITISH officials and the future of the BRITISH Bases in CYPRUS”, an issue which was debated following the request of MP George Perdikis of the Ecologists – Environmentalists Movement.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Noting that the “BRITISH Bases in CYPRUS are used for military operations against neighboring countries”, the House reconfirms previous relevant resolutions and denounces a series of violations by BRITAIN on the Treaty of Establishment”.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>BASES ARE IN AN AREA OF GEOPOLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM</b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the resolution, the House cites the statement made by BRITISH Secretary of State for Defence in December 2011 that the Bases are in an area of geopolitical significance and high priority for the long-term interests of the national security of the UNITED KINGDOM”, as well as BRITAIN’S firm commitment to the Bases in CYPRUS as well as similar statements made by Commander of the Bases.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The House calls on the government to take the necessary actions towards the BRITISH government for the payment of amounts owed since 1965.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It underlines that in many cases the actions of the authorities of the BRITISH Bases in CYPRUS are arbitrary and endanger the lives and health of citizens and the environment.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">CYPRIOT MPs said that the operation of the BRITISH Bases is a flagrant violation of the fundamental rights of the CYPRIOT citizens and severs the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the CYPRIOT state.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE BRITISH BASES IN CYPRUS HAD PROVED THEIR WORTH DURING AIR OPERATIONS IN LIBYA AND AS A LOGISTIC HUB FOR ACTIVITIES IN AFGHANISTAN</b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In December it was announced that BRITAIN would retain both its military bases in CYPRUS following the completion of a review of their operations by Lord Ashcroft.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a written statement to parliament Defense Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed BRITAIN’S “enduring commitment” to the bases, saying they had proved their worth during air operations in LIBYA and as a logistic hub for activities in AFGHANISTAN.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">About 2,500 military personnel and 1,500 civilians work at BRITISH installations on the island.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is widely reported that the bases cost the BRITISH taxpayer over €330 million annually to maintain and reductions may be sought in downsizing military personnel and civilian workers.</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The RAF base at Akrotiri and the army barracks at Dhekelia cover 254km² or around 3 per cent of the island’s landmass. BRITAIN has previously offered to return around half the territory if a peace deal is reached.</span></div>

CYPRUS: EMERGING GEO-STRATEGIC KEY PLAYER IN THE EASTER MEDITERRANEAN?

CYPRUS AT ODDS WITH BRITAIN OVER SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS AND ITS GEOPOLITICAL IMPACT FOR THE REGION In view of recent developments in the EASTE...

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5k Here I Come!

<p>Today I’m running my first race, of many, in 2012!! Its been almost 18 months since I’ve ran a race! My last race was the <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2010/10/applefest-5k.html">Applefest 5k</a> and little did I know I was 4 weeks pregnant!</p> <p>Lots has happened since then and I’m on the road to getting fit again! My hope is to use races as motivation to continue working out and eating healthy!</p> <p>Ok…back to today! I’m running a race 5k in my hometown! I love local races!!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMT9sQBx41ep0cJcAbXrgQwmpNp81bsYeDSNhwdj-Mf6ZyfHmBO0pVjQk2Kp6qvahBZiKQIOMs9b-xzlj9yVAh-csQBGTUa4fPchnCgZPYypiqBkJe8LyvFItTz4q2rw5dSM2ULwfmn2i/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiN8Pj5mzAwW-w2c2JHvqpNogMsX6X3FEMDSThKmWpNSXr82BNLE2YfnUz9oZGNAc_yJ9PRpkRUkRTO4xFaGYOFYm4f4XSqEXndmt9cBwXWNoYCdxM2nhwi3hVguBGCmxocnFuo8KNYMKc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" width="404"></a></p> <p>I have mixed feelings about today. I’m excited, nervous, and scared all together! I’ve been running 2-3 times/week for the past 3 weeks. My longest distance was 2.5 miles in 28 minutes. So we’ll see how today goes! I just have to keep telling myself “I can do this!”. </p> <p>I’ve had a good pre-race breakfast: 1/2 waffle topped with peanut butter and a 1/2 banana.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tGONYKBl93wXyxsAG3yLziLnffJROQwLSwspzkRxxY6RPPR-n7jGwwht5VLfXcIGHtBWatMCUCdtZrUkScCJ7kk23kfqnCRmZUT2GWz_tYoTV5bSjcyA1Jf7YDvSN8JA4B8g3Qv_dSyE/s1600-h/IMG_1405%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1405" border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf54Aq0f_xjZhVdz19_YhXLUoL3yma18p6Xbl-j_B2WxVRLJH7e6HPUMi4IE5qtJTB-7lkRDD7ap9KDVy0wjj3RhtkRobXmv61aogPqvNF6YdxmuV67e9W7IkQJihN0xYoZ1KZ-ADwqVBL/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1405" width="404"></a></p> <p>Oh and this little cutie helped me finish the other half of that banana! (in case you were wondering)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQvLalQ_dFaNj5_bWrIUmQPSTxQXjtSH-Qnccoo5U8ISGYSPxPtq2oFiOIudXX29vXtiaBLI0FwLsxcWi9izpQyhZFBsuSJMy9c_q3N_WYdu6zScWTGvy7Hd8E_JIuZM0FTKWwN6vEOIR/s1600-h/IMG_1407%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_1407" border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM_VbU2qD9BqIjYaK-eJ6k7iPAgqA3pGAPsaD3HIgEptg3t6f14U8w7dG6sXApalky7EczjY5rH62p0c08bTNrdUnX2yd2JZXDPmh1cTgSuDTt06uROwDvk_lOPjJmRVDgZY8Iv2aoknd/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1407" width="404"></a></p> <p>I’m off to the races! Wish me luck! </p>

5k Here I Come!

Today I’m running my first race, of many, in 2012!! Its been almost 18 months since I’ve ran a race! My last race was the Applefest 5k and ...

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Argentine Shale Gas Production could alter the Southern Cones Geopolitical Landscape

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><br /></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/AVvXsEhdnmKBmOpbC6hOnlcjZoyD1gD2DkBwbMlMshZx6NiOH8Jnhm-s0eQRGIi6hiLwWDT2WVr02_L7qbLMRUIZR2Y9Ab8071-G9H8bZ8qmrcc4MGvr8588MX2fdK0nTKFbyIOoYth1enpVw2Pt/s1600/Shale.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnmKBmOpbC6hOnlcjZoyD1gD2DkBwbMlMshZx6NiOH8Jnhm-s0eQRGIi6hiLwWDT2WVr02_L7qbLMRUIZR2Y9Ab8071-G9H8bZ8qmrcc4MGvr8588MX2fdK0nTKFbyIOoYth1enpVw2Pt/s320/Shale.jpeg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">read also <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/malvinas-30-years-on_30.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/malvinas-30-years-on_30.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARGENTINA: OBSTACLES TO SHALE GAS PRODUCTION </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Via Stratfor Global Intelligence </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><b>SUMMARY</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ARGENTINA relies heavily on fossil fuels for its energy needs. They account for roughly 89 percent of the country's overall energy consumption, and more than 40 percent of that consumption can be attributed to natural gas. ARGENTINE natural gas production peaked in 2006 at roughly 46 billion cubic meters (bcm), but since then production has not kept pace with demand. In fact, production has declined by 10 percent since 2006 while overall demand has increased by 4 percent. This trend culminated in 2008, when ARGENTINA became a net importer of natural gas after having been a net exporter since 1999. As of 2010, natural gas consumption outweighed production by approximately 3 bcm per year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But the future of natural gas in ARGENTINA may be more encouraging than recent production suggests, especially if Buenos Aires can harness the country's shale gas reserves. Estimates indicate that ARGENTINA has the third-highest recoverable shale gas reserves in the world -- roughly 22 trillion cubic meters (tcm). In addition to these potential reserves, ARGENTINA meets several other criteria that would enable it to quickly develop its resources and become a significant shale gas producer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The problem is that the ARGENTINE energy market operates under tight government control. This control is seen most visibly with government policies that have reduced the ability and will of energy companies to invest in new production. These policies have also placed a heavy financial burden on Buenos Aires, which in the past week revoked oil concessions for Repsol YPF, the country's largest energy company, accordingly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QSy96DGYkDCTBKvZGdULCmDF0vbUb3GfOstJ9xihGOVrxY8sjE73frmqNWgPVJvxo4NagTrPAMa62S4LmBiAHPYIMQ-5DgrvGe5ptT6z3W-tAh-Y30AX_uI2TbNxFccPULfE43CT0s5L/s1600/shale-gas-south-america.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QSy96DGYkDCTBKvZGdULCmDF0vbUb3GfOstJ9xihGOVrxY8sjE73frmqNWgPVJvxo4NagTrPAMa62S4LmBiAHPYIMQ-5DgrvGe5ptT6z3W-tAh-Y30AX_uI2TbNxFccPULfE43CT0s5L/s320/shale-gas-south-america.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Comment by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring: The model of Government control over the energy market has proven rather successful in countries such as AUSTRIA and formally state owned oil and energy company OMV, not to mention GERMANY and other EUROPEAN countries. Privatization of state assets is an IMF doctrine which has proven negative in many parts of the word. Government interferences in energy markets did prove to be a successful concept in Europe. The results of such interventions are still visible in Europe’s energy market which has been partially privatized but where the state still has the final decision making power.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><a href="http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5btt_news%5d=33704"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=33704</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.contrafedpublishing.co.nz/Energy+NZ/Vol.4+No.4+July-August+2010/Time+to+consider+State-owned+petroleum.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.contrafedpublishing.co.nz/Energy+NZ/Vol.4+No.4+July-August+2010/Time+to+consider+State-owned+petroleum.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The volatility of ARGENTINA'S regulatory environment makes the country a risky opportunity for foreign companies that could provide much-needed capital and technological investments. Given the promising geology and infrastructure associated with ARGENTINA'S shale gas basins, this regulatory environment is perhaps the only impediment for quickly producing shale gas on a large scale. If the current negotiations with YPF can be brought to a mutually acceptable end, ARGENTINA could once again achieve energy self-sufficiency and become a net exporter of natural gas.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ANALYSIS</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ARGENTINA has four shale basins, the most promising of which is the NEUQUEN BASIN in central-west ARGENTINA, where a portion of the country's conventional natural gas is produced. According to a 2011 U.S. Energy Information Administration assessment, this basin contains approximately half of ARGENTINA'S recoverable shale gas reserves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Conditions for Recovery</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To recover these reserves quickly, five conditions must be met. There must be high concentrations of shale gas; technical expertise in extraction techniques and working knowledge of the local geography; established pipeline infrastructure; access to fresh water (to complete the hydraulic fracturing treatments); and huge amounts of capital.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYmevoaB9xU8zInP0K3jQE3UPPdjYn2uT-GO9FIH0MzRXegWoDaL4dEnIJoKcDjBgN_QC1_pTc9SelZULi9g2KHt3R9Bl9YGoB-Wqafi2lgSoHTSjiwKUTCPJ94YCJWJ2Djdmzlfa_VKO/s1600/EIA_World_Shale_Gas_Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYmevoaB9xU8zInP0K3jQE3UPPdjYn2uT-GO9FIH0MzRXegWoDaL4dEnIJoKcDjBgN_QC1_pTc9SelZULi9g2KHt3R9Bl9YGoB-Wqafi2lgSoHTSjiwKUTCPJ94YCJWJ2Djdmzlfa_VKO/s640/EIA_World_Shale_Gas_Map.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ARGENTINA appears to be in good shape on most of these fronts. Though exploration is not complete, the shale formations of the NEUQUEN BASIN are believed to contain 11 tcm of recoverable reserves. Moreover, ARGENTINA has a robust pipeline system. Decreased conventional natural gas production has left ARGENTINA with extra pipeline capacity, and the NEUQUEN BASIN, where the preliminary shale gas exploration efforts are taking place, is already a production site for traditional natural gas extraction. In other words, most of the necessary pipeline infrastructure is already in place. Also, several rivers, including the Limay and Neuquen rivers, are close enough to the NEUQUEN BASIN to provide the requisite fresh water for hydraulic fracturing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To gain the necessary expertise and technology for exploiting its shale gas resources, ARGENTINA likely will need both domestic and foreign companies to participate in exploration. Already REPSOL YPF and CANADA'S AMERICA PETROGAS have drilled several exploratory wells in NEUQUEN. Additionally, EXXONMOBIL, TOTAL SA and ROYAL DUTCH/SHELL have invested or plan to invest in ARGENTINE basins but have not drilled any wells. Notably, the geology of the NEUQUEN BASIN is thought to be similar to several U.S. basins, likely making the adaptation of current extraction techniques a simpler task.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Getting financing may be the most difficult condition for ARGENTINA to meet. YPF has stated that developing the NEUQUEN BASIN'S VACA MUERTA field alone will cost $25 billion per year. To that end YPF is seeking foreign partners, including EXXONMOBIL, ITALY'S ENI and major CHINESE and RUSSIAN companies, to finance the operations. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But YPF is the major player in existing oil and natural gas production, and regardless of new investment, it will remain important for the development of the energy sector, both as a partner and as the company that controls the majority of ARGENTINA'S energy infrastructure.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But the nature of Argentina's energy markets will complicate YPF's ability to attract investment partners. Low consumer prices have cut into energy companies' revenues, and in YPF's case, the company has been allowed to return 90 percent of its profits to stockholders, leaving little for investment into more exploration at a time when domestic production is in decline. Because demand outstrips production, the government has been forced to subsidize natural gas and fuel oil to ensure that domestic demand is met. As a result, the government has directly engaged YPF in a battle to push the company to invest in new energy production, most recently using the provincial governments to revoke oil concessions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The ultimate goal for the ARGENTINE government is to keep fuel prices low domestically while forcing companies to increase energy production. Buenos Aires may be willing to provide some money to achieve that goal, but the majority of technology and financing will have to come from foreign sources, including YPF. Some foreign companies may be put off by price controls and the ARGENTINE government's erratic behavior. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">However, with only 2 bcm of additional natural gas needed to satisfy domestic consumption, the prospect of being able to export the natural gas may be enough of an incentive for foreign companies to brave the political winds of ARGENTINA. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Regional Implications</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It is unclear whether ARGENTINA can overcome its own regulatory environment and produce shale gas on a large scale. If successful, the implications for ARGENTINA and the region are extensive. Shale gas has the potential to eliminate ARGENTINA'S natural gas deficit, which means the SOUTH AMERICAN country could resume exporting its natural gas -- if it can garner enough investment to move beyond the current stage of basic exploration. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Buenos Aires would apply any initial production toward meeting domestic consumption. This will take at least an additional 3 bcm per year of production from the shale gas fields to eliminate the natural gas deficit and at least another 3 bcm per year from shale gas to increase overall natural gas production back to peak levels. Over the past decade, the UNITED STATES has increased shale gas production by more than 100 bcm per year. ARGENTINA would have to produce less than 10 percent as much as the UNITED STATES to regain export status.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">CHILE and BRAZIL are natural gas importers, and much of the natural gas they import comes from BOLIVIA and ARGENTINA. Given ARGENTINA'S decline in production and the 2007 nationalization of the natural gas sector in BOLIVIA, BRAZIL and CHILE have supplemented their natural gas imports with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from global markets -- a much more expensive operation than piping natural gas. CHILE would welcome lower natural gas prices brought on by increased ARGENTINE production, and BRAZIL would likewise benefit from increased production in the region.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If ARGENTINA produced enough shale gas to exceed its own demands and the demands of neighboring states, ARGENTINA could look toward the global LNG market. Argentina already has two import terminals, which could be expanded to include export capabilities with time, planning and money. It is the opportunity for global expansion that will attract foreign capital.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Despite ARGENTINA'S potential reserves, the extent of ARGENTINE shale gas production will not be realized for at least five years. Additional natural gas production would first liberate ARGENTINA from its own energy dependence and eliminate its natural gas deficit. From there, Buenos Aires could begin looking outward. But to do so, ARGENTINA must overcome its own obstacles to attract and then retain foreign investment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><b style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Reading headlines such as: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Next Big Shale gas Boom </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">How To Invest in Argentina</span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: red;">’s Emerging Shale Oil & Gas Play</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h1 class="entry-title" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size: small;">indicate that energy demand and subsequent investment opportunities will  have oil companies accept even government control, simply because there is too much money involved and the profit margins big enough for all parties involved the rest is a  "tug of war" between politics and oil companies. </span></h1><h1> <a href="http://www.investmentu.com/2011/October/shale-gas-boom-in-argentina.html"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.investmentu.com/2011/October/shale-gas-boom-in-argentina.html</span></span></a></h1><h1><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://oilandgas-investments.com/2011/oil-stocks/how-to-invest-in-argentinas-emerging-shale-oil-gas-play/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext;"> </span></span></a></h1><h1 class="entry-title" style="font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size: small;"></span><span id="pronsetspell"><span class="pronsetspell" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://oilandgas-investments.com/2011/oil-stocks/how-to-invest-in-argentinas-emerging-shale-oil-gas-play/"><span style="font-size: small;">http://oilandgas-investments.com/2011/oil-stocks/how-to-invest-in-argentinas-emerging-shale-oil-gas-play/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br />

Argentine Shale Gas Production could alter the Southern Cones Geopolitical Landscape

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shale read also http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/03/malvinas-30-years-on_30.html ARGENTINA: OBSTACLE...

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bathroom pop

I just realized after reading that title that it might sound a bit...disturbing. Eww. But I got your attention, didn't I?<div><br /></div><div>The bedroom patching (and there is a lot of patching in a house with 65 year old plaster) is done and I'm ready to <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/03/grass-cloth-without-grass-cloth.html" target="_blank">get my paint on</a>. And just getting my painting supplies ready puts a bee in my bonnet to possibly paint my bathroom. I've got a whole damn hive in my bonnet these days, so what's one more bee, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>We did the <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/p/bathroom.html" target="_blank">bathroom </a>when I was 8.75 months pregnant with our first daughter and we have loved it just as it is for the past 4 1/2 years. But I'm ready for a refresh. Nothing huge, just a new paint color or something.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love the green in Kate Spade's bathroom with all of the white tile and the black on the shower curtain. </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/AVvXsEjOcXVH8cdUCUTDO_j9LpNJ3qsqwyDvqgs9FAejYDMOO1xGut5dIQBZhSotkjgMLWBcsgK2ilM2zHabvkzowIi8fZ1y_rgVqBtMtgGaILfSqifzj5KYsyC1NXZcDRBqjDvY0H29kxdnfcAk/s1600/KateSpadebathroom.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcXVH8cdUCUTDO_j9LpNJ3qsqwyDvqgs9FAejYDMOO1xGut5dIQBZhSotkjgMLWBcsgK2ilM2zHabvkzowIi8fZ1y_rgVqBtMtgGaILfSqifzj5KYsyC1NXZcDRBqjDvY0H29kxdnfcAk/s320/KateSpadebathroom.jpeg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205649522648/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Of course, Kate's green is a wonderful (and pricey) <a href="http://www.passementeries.com/scalamandre/wallpaper/zebras.htm" target="_blank">Scalamandre wallpaper</a> but <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/babyfern" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore's Baby Fern</a> would be close. </div><div><br /></div><div>Or, maybe the reverse. A graphic black and white combo with a pop of color would be fun. And really, doesn't everyone want to have fun in the bathroom?</div><div><br /></div><div>Kate strikes again with this bathroom that was featured in <i>House & Garden,</i> October 2004. (no, Kate Spade is not sponsoring this post. I wish.)</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/AVvXsEhdM7pm0DEVQX77Z8ISLDiminTcdA0KsBmVgAo5TcA4pa22k7AaiDe6zxSni5Q1Y5hY-XTK2hCAg_IQ6LQbOoQ3ZVW7AurjFh6YM4AqRpY0pikTNXl2O6RvmDmE38Ld1BShGrLHZevhQKjq/s1600/kate-spade-perfection.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdM7pm0DEVQX77Z8ISLDiminTcdA0KsBmVgAo5TcA4pa22k7AaiDe6zxSni5Q1Y5hY-XTK2hCAg_IQ6LQbOoQ3ZVW7AurjFh6YM4AqRpY0pikTNXl2O6RvmDmE38Ld1BShGrLHZevhQKjq/s320/kate-spade-perfection.jpeg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205649522639/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Something for me to think about while I paint...the bedroom. One room at a time girlfriend!</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you ever get the urge to change a perfectly good room? Any rooms in your house that you're board with? </div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers to a good weekend!</div>

bathroom pop

I just realized after reading that title that it might sound a bit...disturbing. Eww. But I got your attention, didn't I? The bedroom pa...

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Weigh In Friday & Other Successes

I've finally gotten around to updating my stats on the left sidebar.  I'm now down 29.9 lbs as of today!  I'm working on getting back down to my lowest weight yet, of 227.1 lbs (during Terrible Awful) so that I can feel good about wearing my weight loss bracelet again.  But I'm not going to discount my recent success - it feels good to be at <i>almost </i>a 30 lbs loss!  This week I took off 2.3 lbs - go me!<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/AVvXsEjVa7f_q6xPnd1K1M8weaVtAA3KB8v-qbcHENDDzXJUJrLNt-PllZRX0GPAEYIQ7xV4sQfLadHmb6IHA2o_wNwFzcnWtM5JrN-quOSVqiXhHZkEqvn4m7cJ6DdkPc52k-OfYil0RbTMldc/s1600/Pansies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVa7f_q6xPnd1K1M8weaVtAA3KB8v-qbcHENDDzXJUJrLNt-PllZRX0GPAEYIQ7xV4sQfLadHmb6IHA2o_wNwFzcnWtM5JrN-quOSVqiXhHZkEqvn4m7cJ6DdkPc52k-OfYil0RbTMldc/s400/Pansies.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spring is in full swing in VA!</td></tr></tbody></table>A few weeks ago I <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2012/03/two-upcoming-5ks.html" target="_blank">wrote about the upcoming 5K's</a> I have for April and May.  I'm so excited to report that the donations are rolling in!  While the previous blog post only spoke of two 5K's, I've since enrolled in the Walk for MS (click on the badge on the left for more info) - another event that I wanted to participate in last year but couldn't due to a conflict with another walk.   To those who have donated, please know that they are much appreciated by myself and these organizations!  And to those who may still want to donate - there is still plenty of time!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJOIsLgEkr3fOoWRalI_iTN5qR6irCfBZGUMge-rhb54d3QyJFUmwtdgeiPALX7VoU2b_zH4p4pKB8rUYk9YOIdLlj8EyBVWJBOUB3tbW_CVL8PcPBM8_nzqHZG8wncn7YdSsKU1FzmM/s1600/Tulips+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJOIsLgEkr3fOoWRalI_iTN5qR6irCfBZGUMge-rhb54d3QyJFUmwtdgeiPALX7VoU2b_zH4p4pKB8rUYk9YOIdLlj8EyBVWJBOUB3tbW_CVL8PcPBM8_nzqHZG8wncn7YdSsKU1FzmM/s400/Tulips+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaIT4T49uYSAO9lkywwNlc84SgwSXJkJHI9Y3I0o_KpWCa8aUOR-5VxNisYfK7HYWRDIt4sotldv1fK-t5Uu5f34lb0aJHWmbf6T7UkEKfRINrVB7eT3fQJd_yWsGGIQ86NfWM0vxVyg/s1600/Tulips+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaIT4T49uYSAO9lkywwNlc84SgwSXJkJHI9Y3I0o_KpWCa8aUOR-5VxNisYfK7HYWRDIt4sotldv1fK-t5Uu5f34lb0aJHWmbf6T7UkEKfRINrVB7eT3fQJd_yWsGGIQ86NfWM0vxVyg/s400/Tulips+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I don't know about you, but I sure am looking forward to this weekend.  Heck, I'm looking forward to the entire month of April!  For starters, April is my birth month (April 4 to be exact!), Easter is just around the corner - my favorite Sunday, and lastly, every single weekend we have something planned.  I'm going to just pretend that those are all birthday celebration events :).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ88l81_9OysIZqOIGrQ5SgQiJAn7xkYmddkorY06R8takb9oQxwT2FyVKajfIezyBgbwX5J74qEbUm-mdpfktdpLma-dqgaEMCo3tFyAnaag3jElyKq3lIYW1isP_ewfE2IJh9_Bbi9k/s1600/Tulips+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ88l81_9OysIZqOIGrQ5SgQiJAn7xkYmddkorY06R8takb9oQxwT2FyVKajfIezyBgbwX5J74qEbUm-mdpfktdpLma-dqgaEMCo3tFyAnaag3jElyKq3lIYW1isP_ewfE2IJh9_Bbi9k/s400/Tulips+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Do you have anything planned this weekend?  Are you an April baby?  If so, what day?  </b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuDWgwiQUCtcnvV-V6KQeOnw47Nfvr8gXxFRiSyGVmd2jaE4V-ikYe-6F095LGpThdRSmZmBan96wCxA-YEyNe4_RKG0nXwFjq8wyZUnZoSQl228jKe192CxBi9_HPHqx8yAbB3Ij-OQ/s1600/Tulips+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuDWgwiQUCtcnvV-V6KQeOnw47Nfvr8gXxFRiSyGVmd2jaE4V-ikYe-6F095LGpThdRSmZmBan96wCxA-YEyNe4_RKG0nXwFjq8wyZUnZoSQl228jKe192CxBi9_HPHqx8yAbB3Ij-OQ/s400/Tulips+4.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br />Have a great 'on plan' weekend friends! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #999999;">*All pictures were taken with my Blackberry Torch outside of my office just this past week!*</i></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

Great Strides Loss March for Babies March of Dimes Success Walk MS weigh in Weigh In Friday & Other Successes

I've finally gotten around to updating my stats on the left sidebar.  I'm now down 29.9 lbs as of today!  I'm working on getting...

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MALVINAS: 30 YEARS ON

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><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/AVvXsEjMrGDKNKOIkYoJMx4ThcbjNP4mM8L03TJQpi8R51QYDOuxKuHBcta5rxefgd8RRYCZ5QTs0cdjGcetEzixIP9fXDwt3hDWMJ0u7LF_TnvsVU0kBqq1K7IaxqzI6VPt6WV2QC-azoyIXGSh/s1600/tasa-malvinas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrGDKNKOIkYoJMx4ThcbjNP4mM8L03TJQpi8R51QYDOuxKuHBcta5rxefgd8RRYCZ5QTs0cdjGcetEzixIP9fXDwt3hDWMJ0u7LF_TnvsVU0kBqq1K7IaxqzI6VPt6WV2QC-azoyIXGSh/s400/tasa-malvinas2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Controversial Coffee mug sold in Malvinas souvenir-shops at the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Malvinas war</span>   </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ARGENTINA: CORPORATE INTEREST VERSUS IMPARTIALITY</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Reading STRATFOR GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE analysis regarding the MALVINAS conflict between ARGENTINA and the UK one cannot avoid noticing certain bias towards ARGENTINA, for she does not adhered to the “Anglo Saxon” eco – political doctrines. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For example STRATFOR writes</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A couple of recent developments have aggravated the countries' long-running dispute over ownership of the islands. First, significant offshore oil and natural gas reserves have been discovered near the FALKLANDS. Second, as the economic situation in ARGENTINA has deteriorated over the last decade, rhetoric regarding the MALVINAS has served as a useful tool for promoting nationalistic sentiment in the country.</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;">Comment:</b> <span style="color: blue;">First of all the economic situation in ARGENTINA has not deteriorated over the last decade, (interesting that STRATFOR focuses on the last 10 years, the time the Kirchners’ took office and implemented unorthodox but successful fiscal policies which seemed to upset the International Financial Institutions eco political agenda) other then limited growth which was subject to the worldwide finance crisis. According to foreign economic sources,</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">ARGENTINE </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">'S </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">economy retracted only slightly, and thus is in good shape especially when compared with key industrial nations. Despite CHINA'S economic slowdown ARGENTINA still profits from never ending demand on agriculture products, thus the country is not endangered of run short of money. </span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here are some facts and figures on Argentine</b></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">'<b>s</b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Economy, one hardly will read in Argentine mainstream newspapers  such as Clarin and La Nacion</b></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>GDP - PURCHASING POWER PARITY 2012 COUNTRY RANKS, BY RANK</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Argentina ranks No. 22 out of 226 countries </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/gdp_purchasing_power_parity_2012_0.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/gdp_purchasing_power_parity_2012_0.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>GDP - OFFICIAL EXCHANGE RATE 2012 COUNTRY RANKS, BY RANK</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Argentina ranks No. 28 out of 215 countries</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/gdp_official_exchange_rate_2012_0.html">http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/gdp_official_exchange_rate_2012_0.html</a></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>GDP - REAL GROWTH RATE(%) 2012 COUNTRY RANKS, BY RANK</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Argentina ranks No. 11 out of 214 countries</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/gdp_real_growth_rate_2012_0.html">http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/gdp_real_growth_rate_2012_0.html</a></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To view the entire statistics see: </b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/argentina/argentina_economy.html">http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/argentina/argentina_economy.html</a>or</span></div><div style="color: black;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/Argentinien/Wirtschaft_node.html">http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/Argentinien/Wirtschaft_node.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">To reiterate above: Soybean has reached a higher market price, reaching almost U$S 510 a ton. These results are explained by the strong demand from ASIA – since they are increasing meat demand and feed livestock with soybean. <a href="http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=soybeans">http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=soybeans</a></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">This seems to be a trend that will remain stable despite any decrease in general demand and consumption around the globe, since food will remain in demand by markets. This has a positive impact for ARGENTINA as it ensures a consistent flow of dollars.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MALVINAS DISPUTE: STRATFOR NEGLECTS TO MENTION ANTARCTICA AND FISHING INDUSTRY </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQZWbanWvb-VchcIZlgOkPUZcB3P9Z5lhdut14EGy21uHR-rW8pVqWz4mXfvHY80OKB0Ma6gXz4eWpRZAUQkN6eS2eGHD_1y1JxvJeRUIKvan8SNmdflE1-4aQgSSX8rjyrqBn9jOCwSv/s1600/NSF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQZWbanWvb-VchcIZlgOkPUZcB3P9Z5lhdut14EGy21uHR-rW8pVqWz4mXfvHY80OKB0Ma6gXz4eWpRZAUQkN6eS2eGHD_1y1JxvJeRUIKvan8SNmdflE1-4aQgSSX8rjyrqBn9jOCwSv/s200/NSF.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Secondly STRATFOR mentions that recent oil and gas discoveries on the islands have aggravated ARGENTINA but fail to mention that the dispute is not only about gas and oil but also about ANTARCTICA and the FISHING INDUSTRY. See </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/from-mediterranean-persian-gulf-to.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/from-mediterranean-persian-gulf-to.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">STRATFOR further writes: </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Furthermore, ARGENTINA remains isolated from international credit markets and, with troubles meeting its own budgetary needs at home, it likely cannot afford a war. Nevertheless, Buenos Aires, aware of significant cuts to the UNITED KINGDOM'S defense budget, may sense an opportunity to challenge the UNITED KINGDOM'S stance.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ARGENTINE S NEW PILLAR: MINING INDUSTRY</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHB9XRs_SkQjM9qbn1WYOWkl4V_5NKsN6ITFWPfPpM4x2Hz-kEWZN5hI5cI88VA6M637okLMphE3e9Zxf3KN3OPD5MhfYiA9Tc0cgzqYDFdsKqBmhxwa4cCllwy8HQc0UD-CiVUjETy8H/s1600/tipo-de-produccion-por-mina.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHB9XRs_SkQjM9qbn1WYOWkl4V_5NKsN6ITFWPfPpM4x2Hz-kEWZN5hI5cI88VA6M637okLMphE3e9Zxf3KN3OPD5MhfYiA9Tc0cgzqYDFdsKqBmhxwa4cCllwy8HQc0UD-CiVUjETy8H/s400/tipo-de-produccion-por-mina.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Economically Argentina has done rather well, considering that the country is expelled from international credit markets; something the IMF, World Bank and the Paris Club simply can’t accept. For reasons explained previously, Argentina is still in the position to meet its budgetary needs, much to the despair of the orthodox International Financial Initiations, who would like to see Argentina depending on their doctrines and demands, in order to get an even larger slice of the “agricultural and natural resources cake” the country has to offer. Last but not least one should not forget that mining in Argentina is only just beginning to evolve and for which foreign enterprises are fighting over in order to obtain the best deals for the future. See: </span><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/10/corporatocracy.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/10/corporatocracy.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b><span style="color: yellow;">The full Article from STRATFOR GLOBAL Intelligence reads as follows:</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jE65DHaXH_jx84EbGPY-9QJGsHRc8kM7fQbAlVHp1Tg3q_W8303yXfMfD5M2_hBhRvBZ0lEuAhaLInM3Lc57TyeGCzu0zFkZTvw2GOQ3Z5mZ18HqhJRz7adwWwZ4pYRI8Ze-v15IzWop/s1600/chilenos-malvinas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jE65DHaXH_jx84EbGPY-9QJGsHRc8kM7fQbAlVHp1Tg3q_W8303yXfMfD5M2_hBhRvBZ0lEuAhaLInM3Lc57TyeGCzu0zFkZTvw2GOQ3Z5mZ18HqhJRz7adwWwZ4pYRI8Ze-v15IzWop/s320/chilenos-malvinas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHILE'S INTEREST IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS DISPUTE</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Via Stratfor</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Summary</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ARGENTINE President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner met with CHILEAN President Sebastian Pinera on March 15, just days after her meeting with BRITISH Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Jeremy Browne. In both meetings, ARGENTINA'S claim of sovereignty over the BRITISH FALKLAND Islands (known in ARGENTINA as the MALVINAS) was the topic of discussion. The UNITED KINGDOM and ARGENTINA have been courting CHILE'S support in the longstanding bilateral dispute because CHILE is the only country in the Southern Cone with a vested interest in the UNITED KINGDOM'S maintaining control over the FALKLANDS.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tension has been rising between ARGENTINA and the UNITED KINGDOM in the run-up to April 2, the 30th anniversary of the FALKLANDS War. CHILE, which has its own territorial disputes with neighboring countries, does not wish to see border changes in its region, but it also must take care not to upset relations with a regional player.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Analysis</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A couple of recent developments have aggravated the countries' long-running dispute over ownership of the islands. First, significant offshore oil and natural gas reserves have been discovered near the FALKLANDS. Second, as the economic situation in ARGENTINA has deteriorated over the last decade, rhetoric regarding the MALVINAS has served as a useful tool for promoting nationalistic sentiment in the country. </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Despite aggressive rhetoric and the bitter memories ARGENTINES harbor from the war, a military confrontation over the disputed islands is unlikely. ARGENTINA has not modernized its armed forces since the military dictatorship fell in 1983, in part because of the extremely poor relationship between the military and the current administration. Furthermore, <b>ARGENTINA remains isolated from international credit markets and, with troubles meeting its own budgetary needs at home,</b> it likely cannot afford a war. Nevertheless, Buenos Aires, aware of significant cuts to the UNITED KINGDOM'S defense budget, may sense an opportunity to challenge the UNITED KINGDOM'S stance. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">To push the UNITED KINGDOM toward a settlement, ARGENTINA has threatened to appeal to the UNITED NATIONS and has used the UNION OF SOUTH AMERICAN NATIONS (UNASUR) to impose a blockade against FALKLAND-flagged maritime vessels. ARGENTINA has also threatened to declare as illegal any oil activity in the waters surrounding the islands. BRAZIL, URUGUAY and CHILE have all agreed to the blockade. BOLIVIA, ECUADOR, PERU, PARAGUAY and VENEZUELA have all expressed support. Of these countries, BRAZIL and CHILE are the most important.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BRAZIL has many reasons to support Buenos Aires. BRAZIL is not only a major trading partner of ARGENTINA'S, but it is also the creator of UNASUR and has an interest in proving that the multilateral forum can be effective. BRAZIL'S support of ARGENTINA'S claims, however, likely will not extend to approval of military action. With major offshore oil projects in the works, a conflict in the South Atlantic could risk key strategic interests that BRAZIL'S military is not yet prepared to defend. BRAZIL has thus hedged its agreement to the blockade on FALKLAND-flagged vessels by saying it will allow any BRITISH-flagged vessels through the blockade, regardless of their origin. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Though BRAZIL is a much larger country, CHILE is in many ways more important regarding this issue. Currently, CHILE is the only South American country with direct flights to the FALKLAND Islands. Any blockade would thus require CHILE to go beyond merely restricting port access. Furthermore, CHILE has undermined ARGENTINA'S claim to the islands in the past: During the war in 1982, CHILE supplied intelligence about ARGENTINE military and radar systems to the UNITED KINGDOM.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHILES NEVER-ENDING TERRITORIAL CLAIMS <span style="font-size: small;">(title added </span></span></b></span></i><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><i>by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring</i></span></span></b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">)</span></span></b></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThAEUVJsXQ-43pJH10DK8oqaOX8MOapAL9rvqmvOCXxkxgEXeAmmHj3pm3c1lX6foUiZXzEbOq_jyjNW0YM4LP5iySZ5Goyz3PGCdbdDa-En0W__AZUM2EcWvwUMbmqFT04qcggG9IKce/s1600/470px-Map_of_the_War_of_the_Pacific.en.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThAEUVJsXQ-43pJH10DK8oqaOX8MOapAL9rvqmvOCXxkxgEXeAmmHj3pm3c1lX6foUiZXzEbOq_jyjNW0YM4LP5iySZ5Goyz3PGCdbdDa-En0W__AZUM2EcWvwUMbmqFT04qcggG9IKce/s640/470px-Map_of_the_War_of_the_Pacific.en.svg.png" width="499" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In addition to a longstanding rivalry with ARGENTINA, CHILE has an interest in preventing any border shifts in the region because the country has <b>territorial disputes with BOLIVIA and PERU</b>. The UNITED KINGDOM established its rule over the Falkland Islands in 1833; by agreeing that the islands belong to ARGENTINA, CHILE would set a precedent that could affect BOLIVIA and PERU'S territorial claims over the region of northern CHILE, which CHILE conquered in the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific. The war left BOLIVIA landlocked and created 37,900 square kilometers (14,600 square miles) of contested territory along the maritime border with PERU. BOLIVIA plans to bring a lawsuit against CHILE at THE HAGUE this year, claiming sovereign access to the Pacific coast. PERU presented its case against CHILE at THE HAGUE in 2008, and a decision on the case may be made in 2012. <i style="color: blue;">CHILE appears to have a never-ending thrive for “land grabbing”.(comment in blue added by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring)</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <span style="font-size: small;">See<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">:</span> </span><a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_the_War_of_the_Pacific.en.svg%20">http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_the_War_of_the_Pacific.en.svg </a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Realizing the regional interests in this issue, the UNITED KINGDOM over the last six months has sent top diplomats to BRAZIL and CHILE to seek support -- or at least neutrality -- from regional players as London attempts to settle its dispute with ARGENTINA. Although BRAZIL has no interest in a South Atlantic war, CHILE has an active interest in the FALKLANDS' remaining BRITISH. Though Pinera has publically said that CHILE supports ARGENTINA, he has at the same time asserted that CHILE has a special relationship with the UNITED KINGDOM. Going forward, CHILE will continue to be stuck in the middle of this dispute, supporting the BRITISH while trying to soothe relations with an increasingly confrontational ARGENTINA.</span></span></div>

MALVINAS: 30 YEARS ON

Controversial Coffee mug sold in Malvinas souvenir-shops at the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Malvinas war   ARGENTINA: CORPORATE INTE...

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Announcing the finalists in the Microsoft Partners in Learning Forum 2012

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Submitted by Fiona Beal</i><br />Join us to celebrate with Microsoft Partners in Learning and SchoolNet SA the 20 educators selected to attend the 2012 South African Partners in Learning Forum. (This competition was previously known as the Microsoft Innovative Teachers’ Forum).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">2011 winners</span></b> </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is a selection of photos of the winners from last year’s Partners in Learning Forum 2011 that was held in Johannesburg. More photos can be found <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/114485521154323474375/2011MicrosoftPartnersInLearningInnovativeTeacherAwards">here</a>.</span></span></div><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8BekZ2dx9Jb0dWoRSlIZb3ZWjBu4QLAlhnU5MopOhcZarV1u43Uh100wuXIoIQCqQalE1TbyUvDObE7ABo_GLseubOzrfi41lRShTlZRzgyOpOXWCYkQvBlGcy3tcR2mh05kLIXJXyo/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7WCzaZ8JD46Naw5PJHCWpRoioGw5VAiOzL7hVGJECPMv3KRQRVPw_25sG18RvsHETCgebmtUqqEMH7rDS0Vr0GG7cm2_RYc8nKIErLLvC5DKtOpYA4Vd_4mPX3rp5RXe3MADIAJPKLA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="224" /></a>      <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST5-SgLGwXMQaGzYbnMs-059XkS-U6kFDQ0cqPyV5pbtIw_gWNLnK9hyDTLqZNllUeYviABwr5bWXadXmt00v7p25ASe2VyORyXVZf9CfPOki4U7mFQz5BZx5xNo3Hdc_j_zzzKrItw8/s1600-h/image%25255B5%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBWX39lw_u9V2ZMr7mjEuLwaQ0bRB0bcA6Qtf3oOloqTbhIIqrK-K6SeUcF5Mmm0Xs5mqyqjNrdhQEY0YBnwi-LjBeUmC7omYIYZUgyVdOhIjUaHxnzlz-KQUXBAWwaiLoa8sgIjHwEM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="218" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1ySjLmTgK1NpAfAsgcEiA6FgDc5xp0_ftbKFNi8rlR1RqnYmzUi5soJO_11rw1CMjUHpUZ0XQiKnaD-vKFSxLTVusWW4U2sbPH8j6pt-Oc1BMa6sV88ETIfl0kX4_Cp_SDfHHSn92rs/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vhN_4-PYvuT33OaR_l-IM_rhG0OqI8GJSDUHLghyphenhyphenUc1Px13I9IUWYv6iVSCrx2ps1K0BcMjEfQvOtUd1un0L3PhuvpLWk1gLOY_oqBhEnfHP8q_nJPYunOFRa5Wyor2kehQ4nzSqDcs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="131" /></a>   <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsvRakw6RNnCC2XBdUd09CJYOLJiyxs9Op98_d2_CEs128045iWNypnfB0mKxSE7zIYZo_sAPJSM0XMCGsvalypFVK2UaQldRHa1tbizCCzjUrCBffJJ9LPwS2-NMzLTacuC3dhGlsG4/s1600-h/image%25255B17%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMaNdRVfFyWftmB0aQpUsfBxzEosyzG6WGL8YgvTcvSZHUPiQZ6gM6ig0eyFxVRwVgjVnXQqbu5ALqsTVz-5JhJzKrmcCZ79D0U5jNwD3ouBoedyeM6PZk0X8G1B674A1TSkJum7D9Kk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="154" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnetq33M-vRuKQL44CshKt-iybwJclLV07D1HT4c8kYGw3SqlTtc9uScFqUbMycipvMhEAK6UwNBG0uIn8Fn28DWTI-ezjWsT14uLTFW21VPquGq7riYI_dpdr3F7OlSVJOx_kU9-AiE/s1600-h/image%25255B16%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPOPkWUj5acGMvliH7NI0HBv-Bf0iJzrUeQ8Y0MAKVVWeetcIelJY9n1FOjvJG_Akx2NlqWYekECEbOfCN6VxicaeWhkcPi6w_t-8A7Wr0NIXFXUm6yeNAzyTrqeoeNecLDqQim2vGWA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="125" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year's finalists</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">This year’s twenty finalists, educators from all parts of South Africa, will be excitedly winging their way to Durban on Sunday 1st April to present their projects and to show the judges how they have used technology to creatively engage their learners. We wish our twenty finalists well as they get together all their bits and pieces such as evidence of work for this amazing event. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Part of the requirement of the day is that the finalists create a poster that illustrates their project. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Microsoft certainly puts a huge effort worldwide not only into </span><span style="font-size: small;">bringing next-generation ideas, technologies, and 21st century thinking into curricula and classrooms across the world, but also in providing motivational events such as this Forum where teachers can be recognised for their educational efforts. In South Africa Microsoft partners with SchoolNet SA in arranging all the aspects of this Forum.</span><br /><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><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/AVvXsEgAKa1YzevyUs5krQKZst2JfsVCdDBdEe8nV6g4gPryqWF7wrIhWmEw7HxTP3gsQPO_sgzm2W0w8Rx9TaPahBefYaGTczkNs7NArVhs5-1nPnElv0QMzS5q7mfU23_Za6zUcl79qu1bkyI/s1600-h/Children%252520who%252520care-Ngaka%25255B13%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Children who care-Ngaka" border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_s0TuF_QN8q3zMZOKv8m03NQyRbEvb5_-b7LWf-dR6XH4RZXZXQckHMDa2_t8eFv7DhrFnnW1F1pfhFU-e6zhGgEjkbK5n-Dm13V6Zjmo6OArkFqr39EFO8iTJ7Wd1sS204NCKDU3_Q/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Children who care-Ngaka" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winners 2010</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">This Forum is taking place on April 1^st and 2^nd in Durban KwaZulu-Natal. This year, the twenty finalists are not only invited to attend the Forum, they are also being sponsored by Microsoft to attend the South African Basic Education Conference as part of their prize. The Awards ceremony takes place at 6:30pm on Monday 2^nd April at the Conference.Five of these finalists will go through to the next round which is the Middle East and Africa Forum in Morocco in July. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: small;">You must be wondering who this year’s finalists are, and what their projects are called? The details follow below.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Watch this space! Next week we will update you on the Partners in Learning Forum South African finals.  </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">  </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 460px;"><tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="141"><div align="center"><b>NAME</b></div></td> <td valign="top" width="317"><div align="center"><b>SCHOOL AND PROJECT</b></div></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Caroline Adelaar</td> <td valign="top" width="317">St Mary’s College, Johannesburg<br /><i>Trees4Africa</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Mabore Lekalakala</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Toronto Primary School, Polokwane<br /><i>Lazily Learning</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Nkosilathi Dlodlo</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Batswana Secondary School, Mafikeng<br /><i>Serving water to save</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Michelle Dreyer</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Courtrai Primary School, Paarl<br /><i>Breadtags</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Riathe Engels </td> <td valign="top" width="317">Harmonie Primary School, Virginia<br /><i>Innovative Ways to recycle – Trash Art</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Mawell Funo</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Mkhanyiseli Primary, Cape Town<br /><i>Our community, our pride</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Gilmour Gordon</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Elkanah House School, Cape Town<br /><i>Fun with class music</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Lisa Gair</td> <td valign="top" width="317">The Rock Academy, Fish Hoek<br /><i>Cultural Exchange</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Sarah Hanton</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Victoria Girls High School, Grahamstown<br /><i>Good Vibrations through Social Networking</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Boudina McConnachie </td> <td valign="top" width="317">Victoria Girls High School, Grahamstown<br /><i>Good Vibrations through Social Networking</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Siobhan Lowe</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Somerset House, Somerset West<br /><i>ICT'd!Innovative and creative travel document</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Jenny Martin</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Somerset House, Somerset West<br /><i>T-ICT 7.0</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Joan Martin</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Durban Girl’s College, Durban<br /><i>Project Runway</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Gaye Pieterse</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Durban Girl’s College, Durban<br /><i>Inside Outside</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Hafeeza Mayet</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Marlboro Gardens Secondary School, Johannesburg<br /><i>Mathe City</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Lerato Mazimba </td> <td valign="top" width="317">St. Bernard's High School, Bloemfontein<br /><i>From Trash to Couture</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Nombuso Mnguni</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Asithuthuke Combined School, Balgowan<br /><i>Designing and building a model of a bridge</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Neith Moore</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Durban Girls’ High School, Durban<br /><i>The Mobile Digital Classroom – ’flipping’ a studio</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Anita van Vuuren </td> <td valign="top" width="317">Primêre Skool Universitas, Bloemfontein<br /><i>TjokvolLEER </i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Charli Wiggil</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Eden College, Durban<br /><i>Braille Memory Game and Toys for the Blind</i></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="141">Clair Dean</td> <td valign="top" width="317">Stirling Primary School<br /><i>Stop, Look, Save the rhino</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>

Microsoft Announcing the finalists in the Microsoft Partners in Learning Forum 2012

Submitted by Fiona Beal Join us to celebrate with Microsoft Partners in Learning and SchoolNet SA the 20 educators selected to attend the 20...

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Lucky Seven

<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBTzpGJFj4Ka_zJ3CfmvdYXMaBsQCkNT_AlV_-tvs8YiAXWNvtnLIaMhBREYk3Nd9EhhfIEnsxXCtkZDsrY1cqGnGhispefysq5gBCiLVq9ZaEMOp9tYm70ofLnXfcmvPNJF9RVZFlcAX/s1600/Warhol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBTzpGJFj4Ka_zJ3CfmvdYXMaBsQCkNT_AlV_-tvs8YiAXWNvtnLIaMhBREYk3Nd9EhhfIEnsxXCtkZDsrY1cqGnGhispefysq5gBCiLVq9ZaEMOp9tYm70ofLnXfcmvPNJF9RVZFlcAX/s1600/Warhol.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over the past few weeks the <i>7x7 Link Award</i> has been making its way across the classic film blogosphere. I’ve been kindly honored with this award by three of my favorite bloggers:  Ivan G. Shreve, Jr., of <a href="http://thrillingdaysofyesteryear.blogspot.com/" style="color: red;"><i>Thrilling Days of Yesteryear</i></a>, FlickChick of <a href="http://flickchick1953.blogspot.com/" style="color: red;"><i>A Person in the Dark</i></a> and Whistlingypsy of <a href="http://distant-voicesandflickering-shadows.blogspot.com/"><i><span style="color: red;">Distant Voices and Flickering Shadows</span></i></a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /><a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recipients of the <i>7x7</i> are obliged to do these things:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCy2IOXhs2kmMJQDg84ALHB4npGa0Px0OU-IBq5tBg8QfrMMEVnaeifmb5kG0pdMet1Q0tdDyjYNdvq3hLttsCdYDKU8OsjXZdQ1fy36adPhAaooqHu0qenV-xkVb2XIFbdFPkpAcgN4mA/s1600/don+and+sally+draper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCy2IOXhs2kmMJQDg84ALHB4npGa0Px0OU-IBq5tBg8QfrMMEVnaeifmb5kG0pdMet1Q0tdDyjYNdvq3hLttsCdYDKU8OsjXZdQ1fy36adPhAaooqHu0qenV-xkVb2XIFbdFPkpAcgN4mA/s320/don+and+sally+draper.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mad Men</i>'s Don and Sally Draper</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Reveal an unknown aspect of ourselves</u>. With my current blog event, <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2012/02/sunday-night-is-mad-men-nighta-blog.html" style="color: red;">a tribute to <i>Mad Men</i></a>, in mind, I’m disclosing that, in my distant youth I was a quintessential child of the ‘60s/’70s. To wit…my brother and I were taken with our parents to hear JFK deliver a speech during his presidential candidacy –I managed to grab and shake his hand by standing on an abandoned papier-mâché donkey in front of the podium. There's more, but that's enough for now. In other words, I think I have a pretty good idea where Sally Draper is headed…</span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Single out those posts we consider our</u>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. <b>Most beautiful piece</b> – Possibly, <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/05/cmba-movies-of-1939-blogathon-private.html"><i><span style="color: red;">The Private Lives of Elizabeth & Essex</span></i></a><span style="color: red;"> </span>– my entry in CMBA’s Movies of 1939 blogathon last year. Though <i>E&E</i> isn’t a favorite film of mine, I was fascinated by its history and tried to tell the story of what turned out to be one of the lesser films of that storied year in an interesting way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4sHAxIWP8a_JyGmPjRucxYY-qDRTafpGvARV9aLxZXqYtZu-ocsw3IcVahwcqdOB0R040VPZnPl0MSIEMyI_bfkaxYzQ0PhqZyjU5_nK89CPA5wSJER4xQNO8qrpbYG9FOXjNx-TA_UD/s1600/Edna+and+Hitch+2+resized+small+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4sHAxIWP8a_JyGmPjRucxYY-qDRTafpGvARV9aLxZXqYtZu-ocsw3IcVahwcqdOB0R040VPZnPl0MSIEMyI_bfkaxYzQ0PhqZyjU5_nK89CPA5wSJER4xQNO8qrpbYG9FOXjNx-TA_UD/s320/Edna+and+Hitch+2+resized+small+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Edna May Wonacott on the set </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">with Alfred Hitchcock</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. <b>Most helpful piece</b> – My pieces on child actress <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/08/akaann-newton-of-shadow-of-doubt.html"><i><span style="color: red;">Edna May Wonacott</span></i></a><span style="color: red;"> </span>(<i>Shadow of a Doubt</i>, <i>The Bells of St. Mary’s</i>) have had a positive impact on her life. When our first interview appeared - online, in her local paper and in a classic movie journal - she began hearing from fans from all over the world. She has since received invitations to speak about her movie-making experiences at local clubs and organizations. Earlier this month a British professor of film studies/ Hitchcock authority contacted me with an interest in interviewing Edna for an upcoming book; Edna has since responded to her questions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. <b>Most popular piece</b> –Hands down, <i><a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/02/marlene-dietrichadding-another-facet-to.html"><span style="color: red;">Marlene Dietrich: another facet of her legend</span></a>, </i>about the less glamorous side of the legendary goddess of screen and stage.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. <b>Most controversial piece</b> – I can’t think of one, but I’ll choose my pieces about <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/08/father-and-mother-were-movie-stars.html"><span style="color: red;">Leatrice Gilbert Fountain</span></a> if only because of the controversy surrounding the career of her father, John Gilbert.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. <b>Most surprisingly successful piece</b> – <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/06/location-location-location-catalina.html"><i><span style="color: red;">Location, Location Location</span></i></a>, about the movie history of Southern California’s Catalina Island. View #s for this post are through the roof. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJCV6uung4pq9RLvTV1dR4qZdt0aHvx8T58copFattg6nlJcQ3xx06hYvOPrnWZFiYJ5DyyLZCEka4TpeqDY6Z3RrpjWji2YtEA8z9Lp4PqHIMp8o-4s-xiykFIRZZ9tOhD0zlmxmlfdj/s1600/dietrich+and+von+sternberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJCV6uung4pq9RLvTV1dR4qZdt0aHvx8T58copFattg6nlJcQ3xx06hYvOPrnWZFiYJ5DyyLZCEka4TpeqDY6Z3RrpjWji2YtEA8z9Lp4PqHIMp8o-4s-xiykFIRZZ9tOhD0zlmxmlfdj/s320/dietrich+and+von+sternberg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Marlene Dietrich and Josef von Sternberg</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">6. <b>Most underrated piece</b> –<a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/search/label/Light%20Shadow%20and%20Synergy"><i><span style="color: red;">Light, Shadow and Synergy</span></i></a> a 3-part series on the collaboration of Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich that I posted very early in this blog’s life.  I suspect it would have been more popular had it appeared later.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">7. <b>Most pride-worthy piece</b> – It's not a piece but an event, this January’s <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/p/month-of-vertigo-schedule-of-bloggers.html"><i><span style="color: red;">A Month of Vertigo</span></i></a><span style="color: red;"> </span>which was successful beyond my wildest dreams.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Bestow the award upon seven bloggers we follow:</u></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fellow CMBA members Allen Hefner of <a href="http://bitactors.blogspot.com/"><i><span style="color: red;">Bit Part Actor</span></i></a>, John Greco of <a href="http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/"><i><span style="color: red;">Twenty Four Frames</span></i></a>, Kevin Deany of <a href="http://kevinsmoviecorner.blogspot.com/"><i><span style="color: red;">Kevin’s Movie Corner</span></i></a> and Jill of <i><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://sittinonabackyardfence.com/"><span style="color: red;">Sittin’ on a Backyard</span> </a>Fence</span></i><span style="color: red;"> </span>who is hosting the fantastic tribute to Fredric March, <i>March-in-March</i> this month -along with these classic film bloggers from other corners of the blogosphere: Yvette of <a href="http://yvettecandraw.blogspot.com/"><i><span style="color: red;">…in so many words</span></i></a>, prolific blogger on art, literature and film…Kay of the entertaining and canny <a href="http://moviestarmakeover.com/"><i><span style="color: red;">Movie Star Makeover</span></i></a> who I met on Twitter…and<i> <a href="http://vintagefilmpropsandcostumes.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: red;">The Vintage Film Costume Collector</span></a></i>, who I discovered through Chistian’s blog roll on <a href="http://www.silverscreenmodiste.com/"><i style="color: red;">Silver Screen Modiste</i></a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sXIE1L5JLtPkkXNQcp2rtQuyiXhvIBS_bMihS-ZigWBMwbMWlX33_xzEssSvQ_z3Bh8nU_crib3S2_dnf1kHzZ91HJxVB9n3cHlJLI7VK_wjNZg1tbMyUL_y9UGi3PNwuqglBsLT6r5W/s1600/7x7+Link+Award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sXIE1L5JLtPkkXNQcp2rtQuyiXhvIBS_bMihS-ZigWBMwbMWlX33_xzEssSvQ_z3Bh8nU_crib3S2_dnf1kHzZ91HJxVB9n3cHlJLI7VK_wjNZg1tbMyUL_y9UGi3PNwuqglBsLT6r5W/s320/7x7+Link+Award.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div>

7x7 Link Award Lucky Seven

Over the past few weeks the 7x7 Link Award has been making its way across the classic film blogosphere. I’ve been kindly honored with this ...

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