News for today's 2018: 06/02/12

The First Daguerrotype Of A Human Being

11:13 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">March 7, 1839,</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>a tall man wearing a hat</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>got a shoe shine </div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>on a Paris street.</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We know this because</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>Daguerre standing at a distance</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>captured this, his first human form,</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>on a silvered copper plate.</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The tall man getting a shoe shine</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>appears not to have noticed </div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>– taken unawares.</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Perhaps the street </div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>hummed, sang, rattled</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>with people scurrying,</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>ambling, proceeding apace.</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">But that is at best</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>a reasonable surmise,</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>a likely conjecture,</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>a mere supposition.</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We do not know because</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>if they were there,</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>they were moving and so </div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>invisible to Daguerre’s camera.</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Only the tall man </div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>wearing a hat</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>getting his shoes shined</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>on a Paris street</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">stood still long enough</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">            </span>to become immortal. </div>

The First Daguerrotype Of A Human Being

March 7, 1839, a tall man wearing a hat got a shoe shine on a Paris street. We know this because ...

CHINA AND SYRIA

3:36 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFT-1pqTnEzCdOMeil7x4Vjriik794UipGUWqHx-S6c25pS2oCztH5RXdiny6LL1j7oKb2FpUPLw0qnVOJz7S0bVb4Zvbgqxt0qVix7ONZU1hTBEcisp1OK45am-kKRt9Cr-tGWpXUojC/s1600/China-Syria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFT-1pqTnEzCdOMeil7x4Vjriik794UipGUWqHx-S6c25pS2oCztH5RXdiny6LL1j7oKb2FpUPLw0qnVOJz7S0bVb4Zvbgqxt0qVix7ONZU1hTBEcisp1OK45am-kKRt9Cr-tGWpXUojC/s1600/China-Syria.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #134f5c; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CAN CHINA HELP SAVE SYRIA?</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; tab-stops: 105.0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Joel Wuthnow</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>              </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As the international community considers how to respond to the recent massacre of 108 civilians in the SYRIAN town of Houla, many eyes are focused on the position of RUSSIA. This makes sense, given Moscow’s strategic interests in SYRIA, and its reluctance to approve international sanctions in the past. Yet attention should also be given to attitudes in CHINA, which not only holds a permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council, but also has significant economic leverage at its disposal.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It’s understandable that observers, including Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, should encourage the Obama administration to redouble its pressure on Moscow. RUSSIA, after all, is the SYRIAN government’s top arms supplier, and maintains a link to the MEDITERRANEAN through its naval base at Tartus.</span></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;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA’S OVERALL STAKES IN THE SYRIAN ECONOMY SURPASS THOSE OF RUSSIA</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But RUSSIA isn’t the only great power with significant interests in SYRIA – CHINA also deserves mention. Indeed, CHINA’S overall stakes in the SYRIAN economy surpass those of RUSSIA. In 2011, SYRIA imported at least $2.4 Billion in goods from CHINA. Imports from RUSSIA were less than $1.9 Billion. CHINA’S trade is facilitated, in part, by a SYRIAN - CHINESE Businessmen Council, formed after Assad’s inaugural visit to CHINA in 2004.</span></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;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA HOLDS LARGE EQUITIES IN SYRIA’S OIL INDUSTRY</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Perhaps more importantly, CHINA holds large equities in SYRIA’S oil industry. The CHINA National Petroleum Corporation holds minority stakes in two of SYRIA’S largest petroleum companies, and has signed multi-billion dollar deals to assist in the exploration and development of SYRIA’S oil producing regions. CHINA has also stepped in as an important consumer of SYRIAN oil in the aftermath of an EU embargo.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Might CHINA be willing to break with RUSSIA and support an elevation of pressure on SYRIA, such as sanctions or even an International Criminal Court indictment for individual perpetrators?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The answer depends on two factors. One is the situation on the ground. Continued bloodshed not only poses a grave humanitarian challenge, it also jeopardizes CHINA’S economic interests and the lives of any remaining CHINESE citizens in the country. As a result, further violence may give CHINA’S leaders doubts about the viability of a hands-off approach. </span></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;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">COLLAPSE OF THE ASSAD REGIME WILL LEAD TO A DESTABILIZING POWER VACUUM</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The problem with this argument is that CHINESE officials and experts are concerned that a potential collapse of the Assad regime will lead to a destabilizing power vacuum. One Middle East expert that I talked with in Beijing, who had received delegations from the SYRIAN opposition, reported that he was not convinced that the opposition would be able to form a sustainable unity government, and that instability in a post-Assad SYRIA may precipitate a wider regional conflict.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Similarly, in contrast to LIBYA, Beijing has retained positive ties with the Assad regime. It was arguably easier for the U.S. to enlist CHINA'S support against Gaddafi, who had alienated CHINA just as he had alienated states in the region, than against Assad. For these reasons, CHINA will be even more reluctant to embrace regime change, or even policies that may result in a collapse of the regime. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><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/AVvXsEgypF-zWfAwG2obNLIezVlso8kPYv-Eo750lNXDmrk2YWpudd5nUtLEZlsYI5PcjGg585_qbAmDgJr5HSLjpGf_qX7PiNlDOyV9NUJZkgbav6D6AzU0qBIO9oEcK5qPkXPeDYIFKSfhqhez/s1600/syrianrussianchineseflag138301017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypF-zWfAwG2obNLIezVlso8kPYv-Eo750lNXDmrk2YWpudd5nUtLEZlsYI5PcjGg585_qbAmDgJr5HSLjpGf_qX7PiNlDOyV9NUJZkgbav6D6AzU0qBIO9oEcK5qPkXPeDYIFKSfhqhez/s320/syrianrussianchineseflag138301017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">axis of evil or counterbalance?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The second factor is the political costs associated with shielding the regime. CHINA has already encountered regional opposition. During the Security Council’s deliberation on a draft resolution aimed at the violence in SYRIA in February, CHINA’S U.N. ambassador found himself surrounded by delegates from the Arab world urging his government to abstain, and not use the veto. To the surprise of some Western observers, CHINA ultimately did use the veto.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There has been comparatively little pressure on Beijing from Washington, London, Paris and other Western governments. With attention focused on RUSSIA, and with Beijing’s support needed on a raft of other issues, including NORTH KOREA and IRAN, there hasn’t been a sustained effort to convince CHINA that international pressure is necessary to alleviate the suffering in SYRIA.</span></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;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">STEM VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIANS AND AVOID A COLLAPSE OF THE REGIME SEEMS TO BE A GOAL SHARED BY THE U.S., WHICH IS SIMILARLY SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE SYRIAN OPPOSITION</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Might such a campaign be effective? It’s certainly possible.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> The message to Beijing should be twofold. First, coercion, when done properly, may be able to stem violence against civilians and avoid a collapse of the regime, a goal shared by the U.S., which is similarly skeptical about the SYRIAN opposition. A case must be made to CHINA that any U.N. resolution, or other types of multilateral action, aren’t aimed at regime change, but at preventing further atrocities by the government or government-directed militias.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Second is that a willingness to use its economic and political interests will accrue diplomatic goodwill to CHINA, in the same way that its bilateral interventions with the SUDANESE government over Darfur did. The case of SYRIA – and, in particular, its reaction to the crimes against humanity perpetrated in Houla – offers CHINA an opportunity to prove that it has the intention to play a constructive, and not merely a reactive, role on the world stage. It’s up to the UNITED STATES and its allies to make clear that there are benefits to cooperation, and costs to continued opposition.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">See also next article: <b style="color: blue;">THE SYRIAN EQUATION </b><span style="color: black;">to be published soon</span><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></span></span></div>

CHINA AND SYRIA

CAN CHINA HELP SAVE SYRIA? By Joel Wuthnow As the international community considers how to respond to the recent massacre o...

Now it's time to work on me

9:09 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As in the case of most weight loss blogger disappearances, no news is usually not good news. I've been gone from here almost a whole month. It's not been a good month. Let's start with my weight. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">208</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I feel really awful about my weight gain. I hate being this fat. I feel and look terrible. The emotional and physical pain of being obese is overwhelming. I'm angry at myself that I let this happen. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've been wallowing in self-pity for weeks, actually, more like months.  Once I lost control, I couldn't get it back. No food was off limits, and portion control wasn't even something I thought about. The gym, I think I went three times in the last month. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After being in control for most of the last four years and maintaining my weight under 180 after starting out at 240 in 2008, I thought I had beat my food demons. I was wrong. I wasn't safe from my crazy obsession with food. I struggled but I was slowing losing the battle. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is a bit of good news to this sad post. I feel ready to get back in the game. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've been reading Bob Harper's book,</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Skinny-Rules-Nonnegotiable-Principles/dp/0345533127/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338646767&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Skinny Rules: The Simple, Nonnegotiable Principles for Getting to Thin</a>. A</span>lthough I haven't been following any of the rules, I've been thinking about them. I'm ready to start. Today. This very minute. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Almost everything else in my life has been difficult as well, but things are finally starting to turn a corner. Life goes on, things are getting better.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My husband and I are getting along really well the last few weeks. Probably because he went back to work at a great job that he loves. He was out of work for ten months. That was a lot of stress on both of us, a lot of arguments, and he was depressed. He's definitely a lot happier now which is good for both of us.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Things have finally settled down with all things involving my sister. I don't speak to my crazy niece (her oldest daughter). Our last conversation, which was hideous, was in mid-February. There's a Vulnerable Adult Order of Protection filed with the court for my sister against my crazy niece. It's good for five years. My niece has been hospitalized twice for psychiatric issues in the past month and has been diagnosed as bipolar and schizophrenic. I told you she was crazy. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All of my sister's property in Fairbanks has been sold. Her house closed last week, and it was a cash sale. It was the easiest real estate transaction I've ever been involved in. It closed exactly two weeks from the time of the offer. Best real estate agent ever, Fairbanks, Alaska, Somers and Associates, Judy Somers. The person that bought my sister's house is a surgeon in Fairbanks and he's going to clear some of the 123 acres of land and have a hobby farm. Just like my sister and her husband did 15 years ago. That made me smile.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've had an auction of all my sister's personal belongings and her farm equipment. Faribanks Auction, Joe Campbell, best auctioneer I've ever met. Okay, the only one I've ever met but he was wonderful. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My sister's 2010 and 2011 income tax has been filed (that was a major task). My permanent guardianship has been granted and the Inventory and Guardianship Implementation Plan has been filed with State of Alaska. They told me it looked great and there shouldn't be any problems on getting it approved. It took me weeks days to pull it together. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My sister and I have settled into a comfortable relationship. I pick her up on Sunday and we do something fun together. The outings vary, and she always seems to enjoy herself. Last week we went to a movie and out to dinner. The weekend before we went to the <a href="http://www.museumofglass.org/" target="_blank">Museum of Glass</a> in Tacoma (ever heard of Dale Chihuly?). We watched a glass blowing demonstration, toured the museum and had lunch at the museum (delicious Argentinian food), then a movie. This weekend I'm thinking about taking her to the <a href="http://www.pdza.org/page.php?id=2" target="_blank">Pt. Defiance Zoo</a> if the weather is half-way decent (not looking like it now), or maybe lunch and the Most Exotic Marigold Hotel movie. She loves movies. Next weekend it's the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/" target="_blank">Prometheus </a>for sure. My sister loves science fiction (I do too!).</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My sister's condition hasn't changed for several months. She's stabilized. She talks all the time, but I can't understand a word she says, other than an occasional okay or bye-bye. She can't write and I'm unsure if she can read. She acts she can read but then when she orders food at restaurants she always points to the pictures. If there aren't any pictures, she asks me to pick something. She's still completely paralyzed on the right side. There's very little hope that she'll ever get better. She nods yes and no, but often gets them mixed up.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a last ditch attempt to see if there's anything else that can help my sister, I'm taking her to see a neurologist in Seattle next month. I'm not hopeful, but it's worth a try.  </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I adore my sister and I'm happy I can be there for her. One thing I've learned from all of this is that having a severe stroke like my sister is probably one of the most horrific things that can happen to a person. Not being able to communicate is the worst part. I could handle being paralyzed on one side and being in a wheelchair, but not being able to speak or write is unbelievably frustrating for her and everyone around her. We manage and make the best of it, but it's not easy. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One last thing to mention, my job. It has been a really rough few months with a lot of 55+ hour weeks and working on weekends. We made our deadline on our project, and it's in the testing phase by our QA team. Now there's a hard push to fix all the bugs. I currently have 35 bugs assigned to me. A lot of them are because I took on the bugs of another developer that's still working on writing code for the reporting piece of the project. It's going to be tough to get through the next three weeks, but it still won't be as bad as the past three months. The past three months have been a tiny piece of hell at work.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So that's my life in a nutshell. Work was rough, but better now. My sister's situation has finally settled down. My marriage is in a good place. So now it's time to work on me. My weight loss and my health. Diet and exercise - here I come!</span></div>

Now it's time to work on me

As in the case of most weight loss blogger disappearances, no news is usually not good news. I've been gone from here almost a whole mon...

Waiting on Winston

5:18 AM Tukiyooo 0

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Winston_S_Churchill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Sir Winston Churchill." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="374" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Sir_Winston_S_Churchill.jpg/300px-Sir_Winston_S_Churchill.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">English: Sir Winston Churchill. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Winston_S_Churchill.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table>I've been reading <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Last-Lion-Boxed-Set/dp/0316058165%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dhttpwwwbrighc-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0316058165" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="The Last Lion : 2 Volume Boxed Set">The Last Lion</a> by William Manchester. It is a biography of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Winston Churchill">Winston Churchill</a> and a must-read for those who love history or understanding the lives of great men.<br /><br />As I read about how "Sir Winston" was catered to by his maids, secretaries, butlers, valets, etc. it might be easy to look down on that as an excess. Manchester says that he never even drew a bath for himself. However, he used the time he gained - really, just about every bit of time in reading, polishing speeches, and writing as well as building relationships. He focused his time for where he could do the most good.<br /><br /><h3>Is it OK to hire help?</h3>While I don't want anyone to "draw my bath" or wait on me to the nth degree, I think that there are times when the "help" in doing things makes sense. For example, I have a wonderful young lady who has become my right arm over the past few years since I started writing extensively. Without her help with the loads of laundry, getting food on the table, and cleaning - I wouldn't be able to write at all. That six hours of help is literally the 6 hours a week I have to blog. I still do at least 10 loads of laundry a week and a 6 hour set of chores and errands on Saturdays that help my family run well the rest of the week. But that little bit of time, I believe, makes me more productive and (hopefully) helps me improve the lives of others.<br /><br />I've just hired a very faithful, trustworthy student (she just graduated) to help me with my filing and email. She organized my files in four hours and I've spent days trying to do that. I don't think like that but she helped me so greatly.<br /><br />There are those who look down upon me for getting any help. Others assume this means I have no housework at all or that somehow I'm shirking my responsibilities. However, for me, I ask myself how I'm using that time. Am I improving the lives of others? Am I improving the lives of my family? Am I fulfilling the mission for which I have been placed on this planet. <br /><br />But I also wonder if there is yet another double standard eeking through the crevices of the comments I get. If my husband were a single Dad and responsible for all the cooking, cleaning, and home management, would anyone look down upon him for getting help 3 days a week? <br /><br /><h3>Wowing your family!</h3>When Sir Winston arrived home every day, he exclaimed "Wow!" to which his family would reply "Wow!" and run into his arms, to which he is reported to have often teared up. His own mother didn't really pay him attention until he was "old enough to become interesting" and spent her time in many dallyings with great men on both sides of the pond but Sir Winston wanted to pay attention to his family.<br /><br />I want to as well. So, when I consider getting help for anything, I ask myself:<br /><br /><ul><li>Can I afford it?</li><li>Will I directly use the time for a task that will make more money so I can afford it?</li><li>Is the person I want to help me trustworthy? Does this person "have my back?"</li><li>Is this something that my children should be doing instead?</li><li>Is this something that only I can or should do?</li></ul><br /><br />Winston Churchill is certainly one of the great men of history. I think history is the better for him having people around him help with running his household so he could focus on affairs of state.<br /><br />I think that there are also times that it is ok to guiltlessly get help with tasks around the home.Some of you would look down upon Winston Churchill and the amount of catering he had done for him in his life, but when viewed in the grand context of his accomplishments, it is one of those things that is excusable. Yet, oftentimes we turn a leering eye in judgement of others who we think don't have problems, don't have to work as hard, or don't have to struggle like we do. The fact is, unless we can see into the heart, soul, mind, and pocketbook of the object of our judging eye, we cannot know what that person is really going through. I think women, in particular, are pretty hard on other women who "get help."<br /><br /><h3><span style="font-weight: normal;">Don't live your life for the approval of others</span></h3>If you spend your life trying to somehow achieve some sort of friendly stasis with the world's attitude towards you, you're not a very smart person. <br /><br />If you're doing anything and work very hard, you'll have those who look down upon you who want what you have by doing nothing.<br /><br />Do your something and do it with everything you've got. Don't go on petty guilt trips for the decisions you make about how you spend your money that the petty people would like to send you on. As my Mom always says "If you go on a guilt trip, you have to pack your own bags."<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by for a bit of a random rambling today as I sit and ponder the life of a great man.<br /><br /><div class="zemanta-related" style="margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;"><h4 class="zemanta-related-title">Related articles</h4><ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin-left: 0; padding: 0;"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 12px; height: 240px; list-style: none; margin: 10px 40px 20px 0px; text-align: left; width: 80px;"><a href="http://greatfinds.icrossing.com/winston-churchill-the-ultimate-ceo/" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/87757173_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #999; margin: 0; padding: 0;" width="80" /></a><a href="http://greatfinds.icrossing.com/winston-churchill-the-ultimate-ceo/" style="display: block; height: 90px; line-height: 14pt; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 80px;" target="_blank">Winston Churchill: The Ultimate CEO</a><div style="clear: both; margin: 10px 0 10px 0;"><hr style="margin: 0;" /></div></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 12px; height: 240px; list-style: none; margin: 10px 40px 20px 0px; text-align: left; width: 80px;"><a href="http://jamesdez.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/a-moment-with-sir-winston-churchill/" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/89734081_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #999; margin: 0; padding: 0;" width="80" /></a><a href="http://jamesdez.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/a-moment-with-sir-winston-churchill/" style="display: block; height: 90px; line-height: 14pt; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 80px;" target="_blank">A Moment With Sir Winston Churchill.</a><div style="clear: both; margin: 10px 0 10px 0;"><hr style="margin: 0;" /></div></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 12px; height: 240px; list-style: none; margin: 10px 40px 20px 0px; text-align: left; width: 80px;"><a href="http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/8a3e2671-6203-49fb-8063-fa227076bc30.aspx" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/88847228_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #999; margin: 0; padding: 0;" width="80" /></a><a href="http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/8a3e2671-6203-49fb-8063-fa227076bc30.aspx" style="display: block; height: 90px; line-height: 14pt; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 80px;" target="_blank">5 writing tips from Winston Churchill</a><div style="clear: both; margin: 10px 0 10px 0;"><hr style="margin: 0;" /></div></li></ul></div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=f930cc07-4485-49ea-9447-43b6e7e35158" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

English: Sir Winston Churchill. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) I've been reading The Last Lion by William Manchester. It is a biography of ...

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 06/02/2012

2:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6242834">In the news - Children should have body image lessons - Resources - TES</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">A report out of the UK shows that children as young as five are concerned about their shape and size. Our media is sending a message of perfection that is unattainable even by the models they photoshop. (A girl recently petitioned for 17 magazine to have one non photoshopped image and 17 would not agree) This article includes a video discussion of the findings of this report.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/health">health</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6243095">Teaching in a climate of despair - News - TES</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">I find the story of what is happening to the education system in Greece heartbreaking.With some budgets cut in half and many parents unemployed, student and teacer morale is plummeting. Schools have closed because of no heat and some schools wait for months for textbooks. If you think you've got it tough, it could be worse. </p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/greece">greece</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/worldwonders/education/">Education – Google World Wonders Project</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">This page has guides that you can download by age level for how you can use the World Wonders project in your classroom. You'll want to get the PDF and email it to all of the history teachers so they can import it into their ebook reader for sure. (Of course you can print if you don't have a way to distribute epaper.) there are also some suggested topics like "How the Romans Lived," "the Industrial Revolution," and the "Italian Renaissance" along with tour points. </p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/worldwonders/shark-bay/">Shark Bay – Google World Wonders Project</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">So, in this example of a World Wonder - Shark Bay in Australia - You can see a description on the right. There is an information tab, a link to videos about the area, a link to photos about the area and away to explore nearby sites. If you're going on vacation to an area with a local wonder, it might be a great thing to explore before you explore so you can get the most out of your trip. </p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/worldwonders/">Google World Wonders Project</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Google has released their world wonders website as part of the "Google Cultural Institute" website. This is a definite "must investigate" over the summer. Click on education in the top right to see how you can integrate it into learning. There are many points all over the globe. Fascinating. experience. The museum is online.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a></p>                                <ul class="diigo-comments">                  </ul>                      </li>  </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href="http://www.diigo.com">Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher">here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 06/02/2012

In the news - Children should have body image lessons - Resources - TES A report out of the UK shows...